WEBVTT

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 Acts chapter 4 verse 1 to 31. My name's Linda for those who don't know me.

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 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,

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 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

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 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.

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 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of men came to about 5,000.

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 On the next day, the rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander,

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 all of whom were high priestly family.

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 And when they set them in the midst, they inquired,

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 By what power or by what name did you do this?

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 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them,

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 Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man,

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 by what means this man has been healed?

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 Let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

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 whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead,

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 by him this man is standing before you well.

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 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.

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 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

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 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated common men,

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 they were astonished.

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 And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

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 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.

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 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, saying,

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 What should we do with these men?

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 For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

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 We cannot deny it.

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 But in order that it may spread no further among the people,

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 let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.

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 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

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 But Peter and John answered them,

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 Whether it's right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge.

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 For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.

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 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go,

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 finding no way to punish them because of the people.

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 For they were all praising God for what had happened.

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 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than 40 years old.

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 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

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 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said,

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 Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and earth and the sea and everything in them,

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 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,

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 Why did the Gentiles rage and the people's plot in vain?

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 The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his anointed.

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 For truly in this city they were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus,

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 whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate,

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 along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,

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 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.

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 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants

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 to continue to speak your word with all boldness,

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 while you stretch out your hand to heal,

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 and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.

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 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken,

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 and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit

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 and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

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 Amen.

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 Well, my name's Dave.

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 I'm one of the pastors here.

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 If you're new this morning, a warm welcome to you.

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 And there's a few people who used to be in this church who are here today.

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 I see Sam and Heidi.

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 Good to see you guys from town.

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 And Nick.

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 It's great to see you.

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 All right.

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 Why don't we pray as we come to God's word?

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 Let's pray.

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 Lord, we always need your help to understand what you say.

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 But Lord, perhaps especially this morning,

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 as we contemplate who you are in and of yourself,

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 that you are Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

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 and that you are sovereign over heaven and earth and everything in it.

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 Lord, these are weighty, wonderful truths.

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 And so I pray that your spirit would be speaking to each one of us,

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 giving us the eyes of faith to see you and love you and trust you

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 and obey you.

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 In Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Well, my prayer is probably going to contradict my opening question,

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 but does it really matter in life to know that God is three persons,

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 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all fully God, but there is one God?

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 Do you find that that's necessary to know in your everyday life?

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 Does it really matter?

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 Have you already switched off because of the incomprehensibility of that statement?

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 It sounds like something that belongs in academic textbooks

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 and between big-brained Christians having some philosophical discussion.

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 It sounds like that's where you talk about the Trinity.

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 Now, obviously, you're expecting me to say, of course it matters in real life,

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 but simply just saying, of course it matters, Scripture teaches it,

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 I'm not okay with that.

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 How does it matter?

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 Why does it matter?

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 Let me come at this from a different angle,

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 and partly because we're trying to do two massive doctrines here,

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 the doctrine of the Trinity and God's sovereignty,

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 and, yeah, it's been a weighty week.

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 Good luck.

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 Let's bring drawing this together in one sermon,

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 and it'll take a lifetime.

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 I think it actually gives us a helpful question,

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 looking at the doctrine of the Trinity from this angle.

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 What comfort is it simply knowing that God is totally sovereign over all things?

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 What comfort is it knowing simply that he's in control?

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 Because our hearts might think, okay, he's sovereign, but that terrifies me.

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 He might take my loved one.

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 He might frustrate my goals.

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 He might never forgive me.

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 Sovereignty alone, I suggest, is not a great comfort if it's on its own.

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 What we need to know is, is God inherently loving?

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 So this morning we continue our travels through worldview-shaping truths

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 that we learn from the beginning in Genesis,

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 and my goal this morning as we consider the Trinity and God's sovereignty

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 is not to prove to you or justify to you that they're scriptural.

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 That would take too long to do,

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 and I'll leave it to you to do your own study and research.

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 That's not my goal this morning.

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 My goal primarily is working out what difference does it make

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 that God is triune when it comes to thinking about who God is in himself,

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 why he created everything and us,

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 what sin is and what salvation is and how he brought it about.

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 And once we know all that in the light of the Trinity,

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 I think we can come back to that question of

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 why it's so comforting to know that he is completely sovereign.

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 So if I've lost you already, let's try and step through this, okay?

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 Let's start by first considering who God is in and of himself.

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 If we see God as essentially the creator,

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 the power who made everything else,

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 if that's how you view God, he is the creator.

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 Of course that is true.

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 We've seen that clearly in Genesis.

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 He is the only creator.

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 But if that is fundamental to who God is,

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 then he needs a creation to be the creator.

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 He's dependent on there being a creation to be a creator.

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 The principal of a Bible college in the UK, Michael Reeves,

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 he's the author of the Bulletin article,

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 he puts this humorously and hopefully you see the humor in it.

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 He's very much a scriptural man, so don't be put off by what he says.

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 Pretending that God is on a dating website, he says,

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 single God, non-smoker, seeks attractive creation with good sense of humor.

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 His point is, if God is a singular God,

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 then for him to be creator,

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 he needs creation to fulfill him in who he is.

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 In what sense, if God is singular,

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 can we say that he is essentially loving?

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 Because for eternity past,

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 who has he been loving?

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 Before anything existed,

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 if he was by himself, satisfied on his own,

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 he can't love another.

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 Why would he be motivated to?

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 To help us even further to appreciate the wonder of the Trinity,

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 I want to look at a critique of it.

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 I heard just a few months ago a prominent Muslim speaker

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 trying to refute it.

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 His name is Muhammad Hijab from the UK

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 and apparently, according to this podcast,

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 he has formal permission to speak about the Islamic faith.

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 So somehow he's got formal religious permission.

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 Here's what he says.

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 Look at the Trinity, for example.

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 The idea of three all-powerful entities,

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 that the Father is all-powerful,

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 that the Son is all-powerful,

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 the Holy Spirit's all-powerful.

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 The Quran says about this,

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 chapter 22, verse 91,

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 it says,

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 Allah has not taken any Son,

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 and he did not have any Creator with him.

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 Had that been the case,

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 they would have competed

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 and tried to outstrip one another for power.

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 End quote.

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 Do you see the objection to the Trinity that Muhammad is raising?

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 Of course the Trinity is a mystery.

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 Like, Christians can't quite define it.

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 We can say what it isn't,

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 but that's not the fundamental objection here.

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 Muhammad is saying, and he says that the Quran says this,

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 he can't imagine a God who would share power.

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 He could not be threatened by the glory going to the other two persons in the Godhead.

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 They would compete.

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 They would try to outstrip one another.

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 I think that just is a backdrop that sheds light on what the Christian Scriptures say.

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 That the Father has forever poured all of who he is into his Son.

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 And the Son has delighted in giving himself to the Father,

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 in the joy of the Holy Spirit.

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 There's no competition.

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 There's no trying to outstrip one another.

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 The Trinity isn't a mathematical problem for you to solve.

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 It tells us that at the core of who God is,

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 is relationship.

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 Mutual, self-giving love is core to who God is.

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 That all his power is to the service of love.

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 Completely united and harmonious,

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 as in their purposes to create the world

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 and move all of history towards the cross

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 and then towards their common goal for all history.

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 They are completely united.

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 So, do you think of God as fundamentally power, creator?

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 Or do you think of God as fundamentally the eternal loving community?

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 Relational, self-giving,

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 Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

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 So, why?

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 Why did the eternal divine community create a universe

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 if they had no need to?

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 They were self-sufficient in their love for one another.

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 Why?

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 Well, the ultimate answer is to display his glory.

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 But what does that mean?

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 What does it mean to display his glory?

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 A way to understand that is that

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 God wants others to know him.

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 I'm going to quote Michael Reeves again

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 because he can say it better than me.

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 Jesus Christ, God the Son,

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 is the logic, the blueprint for creation.

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 He is the one eternally loved by the Father.

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 Creation is about the extension of that love

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 outwards so that it might be enjoyed by others.

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 The fountain of love brimmed over.

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 The Father so delighted in his Son

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 that his love for him overflowed

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 so that the Son might be the firstborn among many sons.

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 We saw in Genesis 1 and 2,

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 the Lord's goal in creation is rest with his people,

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 with his image bearers.

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 I think this makes more sense of why God speaks of himself

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 in Genesis in the plural.

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 Let us make man, mankind in our image, in our likeness.

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 Now some see this plural us as a plural of majesty,

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 like a king might say, we welcome you.

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 So some think it's not talking about the Trinity

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 but majesty of God.

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 But apparently there's very few examples of that

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 in the Old Testament.

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 So it seems unlikely.

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 Others suggest that it's talking about angels.

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 God is talking about angels.

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 Let us make man in our image.

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 But nowhere in Scripture does it say

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 that we are in the image of angels.

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 Repeatedly we're told we're in the image of the Creator.

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 Could this triune love be why we image God

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 best or fully, completely in community?

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 Why he made male and female?

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 Why?

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 Where the clearest image in creation,

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 before the church came into being at least,

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 is the climax of Genesis 2,

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 two people becoming one flesh in marriage.

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 Could that be why?

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 To display persons united in self-giving love.

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 Not to compete and outstrip one another for power,

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 but self-giving love.

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 That's the picture of marriage.

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 Because it images who God is, the triune God.

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 Now knowing all this,

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 God creating, because he is triune,

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 it tells us about his purpose.

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 We aren't slaves to do the hack work

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 that God doesn't want to do.

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 He doesn't need us to do the hack work.

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 He didn't need us out of loneliness

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 or because he needs a creation to be the Creator.

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 If creation is the overflow

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 or the extension of the Father's love for the Son,

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 then the purpose of the creation is

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 he wants to share his life with us.

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 He wants to draw us in.

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 So what about sin?

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 How does the Trinity help us understand sin?

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 Well, knowing all this gives us a new angle.

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 In previous weeks,

00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:36.480
 we could see that sin is,

00:17:36.620 --> 00:17:37.400
 at the root of sin,

00:17:37.460 --> 00:17:39.620
 is not listening to the speaking God,

00:17:40.180 --> 00:17:43.380
 not trusting that his words are the words to life.

00:17:44.520 --> 00:17:46.700
 Last week, we looked at the idea of worship,

00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:50.000
 that we were created to love, trust and obey God,

00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:52.839
 and yet we turn away and try and love and trust

00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:54.140
 and obey created things.

00:17:56.359 --> 00:17:57.380
 Now we can add,

00:17:58.779 --> 00:18:00.240
 considering God is triune,

00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:03.980
 sin is a rejection of relationship with God.

00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:09.000
 Now, rejection is something we've all experienced

00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:10.400
 to one degree or another, isn't it?

00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:13.900
 And it cuts to the bone of what we were made for,

00:18:13.960 --> 00:18:14.360
 doesn't it?

00:18:15.640 --> 00:18:18.259
 Whether it's the critical or absent parent

00:18:18.259 --> 00:18:20.960
 or peers targeting you,

00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:22.580
 just shredding you with words

00:18:22.580 --> 00:18:23.740
 or completely letting,

00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:25.700
 not including you,

00:18:25.960 --> 00:18:28.019
 or whether it's a lover leaving you,

00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:31.380
 either literally or withdrawing their emotional warmth,

00:18:31.380 --> 00:18:32.780
 rejection is,

00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:35.880
 it cuts to the bone, doesn't it?

00:18:35.880 --> 00:18:37.700
 Of what we were made for.

00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:43.000
 I think this shows us,

00:18:43.180 --> 00:18:47.780
 it gives us a taste of how offensive rejecting God is

00:18:47.780 --> 00:18:49.340
 and his love for us.

00:18:52.520 --> 00:18:56.000
 Christian psychologist Larry Crabb puts it like this,

00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:59.259
 each of us fervently wants someone to see us

00:18:59.259 --> 00:19:00.380
 exactly as we are,

00:19:00.500 --> 00:19:01.099
 warts and all,

00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:02.980
 and still accept us.

00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:06.960
 But our sin is,

00:19:07.339 --> 00:19:09.259
 we don't look to the Lord to be that someone.

00:19:10.119 --> 00:19:11.400
 We turn to other people,

00:19:11.539 --> 00:19:13.319
 other relationships to be that someone,

00:19:13.940 --> 00:19:16.240
 and they are empty systems,

00:19:16.420 --> 00:19:17.279
 they let us down.

00:19:18.660 --> 00:19:20.220
 They can't know us completely.

00:19:21.460 --> 00:19:23.660
 They're not gracious like the Lord.

00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:29.420
 In our darkened thinking,

00:19:29.579 --> 00:19:30.559
 we look to people

00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:33.180
 to satisfy our relational thirst

00:19:33.180 --> 00:19:36.299
 when it should have been found

00:19:36.299 --> 00:19:38.119
 in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:40.640
 When Adam and Eve were in the garden,

00:19:40.859 --> 00:19:42.599
 they were dependent on God.

00:19:43.140 --> 00:19:44.539
 They wouldn't have known it at first

00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:46.779
 because they were just being totally full

00:19:46.779 --> 00:19:48.000
 of relationship.

00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:51.279
 But once they turned and rejected God,

00:19:52.660 --> 00:19:55.099
 suddenly that dependence turned into an emptiness

00:19:55.099 --> 00:19:56.599
 that we still feel today.

00:20:02.879 --> 00:20:04.899
 So the Trinity helps us understand

00:20:04.899 --> 00:20:05.679
 who God is,

00:20:05.919 --> 00:20:08.059
 helps us understand why he created us

00:20:08.059 --> 00:20:09.119
 to overflow,

00:20:09.480 --> 00:20:11.139
 to draw us into knowing him.

00:20:11.419 --> 00:20:13.439
 It helps us understand what sin is.

00:20:13.959 --> 00:20:16.159
 It's rejecting that relationship with him,

00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:18.719
 seeking it in other things,

00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:19.299
 other people.

00:20:19.299 --> 00:20:22.579
 So let's have a look at salvation.

00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:28.059
 How does the Trinity help us understand salvation?

00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:30.659
 I think it helps us understand what it is,

00:20:30.879 --> 00:20:31.919
 what salvation is,

00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:32.799
 the essence of it.

00:20:33.659 --> 00:20:35.539
 I think the Trinity helps us understand

00:20:35.539 --> 00:20:36.579
 how we're saved

00:20:36.579 --> 00:20:40.579
 and what the saved life produces.

00:20:42.460 --> 00:20:43.039
 And for this,

00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:46.639
 I want to base it in Acts 4,

00:20:46.740 --> 00:20:47.619
 our reading this morning.

00:20:50.539 --> 00:20:51.539
 Now Peter and John,

00:20:51.639 --> 00:20:52.839
 just for context in Acts 4,

00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:54.740
 Peter and John have just been released

00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:57.659
 from their own arrest and trial.

00:20:58.200 --> 00:20:59.220
 I've never been arrested,

00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:01.000
 not yet,

00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:03.359
 and I don't know what it's like,

00:21:03.420 --> 00:21:05.159
 but that must be a scary experience.

00:21:05.160 --> 00:21:07.560
 All the more,

00:21:07.900 --> 00:21:10.820
 they appeared before the same high priests

00:21:10.820 --> 00:21:13.500
 who weeks earlier,

00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:14.519
 Annas and Caiaphas,

00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:15.519
 who condemned Jesus.

00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:18.380
 These are the same authorities

00:21:18.380 --> 00:21:20.000
 and yes,

00:21:20.120 --> 00:21:22.880
 public opinion is protecting them at this point.

00:21:23.900 --> 00:21:24.820
 It's protecting them,

00:21:25.040 --> 00:21:26.040
 but they saw,

00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:26.920
 in the case of Jesus,

00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:28.100
 how quickly that could change.

00:21:28.660 --> 00:21:28.820
 Like,

00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:30.560
 Hosanna in the highest one week,

00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:32.540
 crucify him the next.

00:21:33.380 --> 00:21:33.940
 So yes,

00:21:33.940 --> 00:21:36.259
 I don't think they took comfort from that.

00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:39.360
 The people who hold the keys in society

00:21:39.360 --> 00:21:42.320
 had orchestrated their leader's death

00:21:42.320 --> 00:21:44.420
 and now they threaten them.

00:21:44.660 --> 00:21:45.700
 You better stop speaking.

00:21:46.980 --> 00:21:48.039
 Now I'd be terrified.

00:21:50.180 --> 00:21:52.160
 What harm they could cause me

00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:53.320
 and my family

00:21:53.320 --> 00:21:55.220
 and this new church

00:21:55.220 --> 00:21:57.000
 that is very young.

00:21:58.500 --> 00:22:00.440
 That is a scary situation.

00:22:01.580 --> 00:22:03.019
 But what do they pray for?

00:22:03.940 --> 00:22:05.920
 They don't pray for safety.

00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:08.480
 It's an incredible prayer.

00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:12.519
 They don't pray for deliverance.

00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:15.420
 I'm not saying it would be wrong

00:22:15.420 --> 00:22:16.200
 not to pray for that.

00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:17.900
 They don't pray for it.

00:22:19.460 --> 00:22:20.200
 Their prayer

00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:23.980
 even highlights the case of Christ.

00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:27.200
 That suffering was the Lord's will

00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:28.880
 and so suffering might be

00:22:28.880 --> 00:22:30.380
 the Lord's will for them.

00:22:30.380 --> 00:22:35.160
 They know full well

00:22:35.160 --> 00:22:38.400
 that the world is gathered against Christ

00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:41.060
 and so to follow him

00:22:41.060 --> 00:22:43.200
 is putting yourself in the firing line.

00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:46.840
 They pray for boldness

00:22:46.840 --> 00:22:49.060
 to keep drawing attention to Jesus,

00:22:49.160 --> 00:22:50.600
 to keep speaking about Jesus.

00:22:51.080 --> 00:22:52.300
 It's an incredible prayer.

00:22:52.299 --> 00:22:54.419
 I can think of only two reasons

00:22:54.419 --> 00:22:56.359
 why they would pray for boldness

00:22:56.359 --> 00:22:57.419
 rather than safety.

00:23:00.359 --> 00:23:02.220
 I think the first option

00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:02.879
 is that

00:23:02.879 --> 00:23:05.539
 they pray for boldness

00:23:05.539 --> 00:23:06.539
 because the mission

00:23:06.539 --> 00:23:07.700
 that God has given them

00:23:07.700 --> 00:23:10.740
 is so essential to who they are.

00:23:11.099 --> 00:23:11.940
 It's their identity.

00:23:12.879 --> 00:23:14.240
 It's their life.

00:23:15.419 --> 00:23:17.399
 They must carry out this mission

00:23:17.399 --> 00:23:19.259
 for them to be who they are.

00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:21.059
 They must succeed.

00:23:23.859 --> 00:23:25.480
 I think that's one explanation

00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:26.400
 but

00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:28.420
 my own experience is that

00:23:28.420 --> 00:23:29.440
 such zeal

00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:31.220
 if it's who you are

00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:31.980
 this mission

00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:33.960
 I don't think that kind of zeal

00:23:33.960 --> 00:23:35.940
 produces humble self-sacrifices.

00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:36.980
 I think that produces

00:23:36.980 --> 00:23:38.759
 demanding results.

00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:39.500
 It produces

00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:41.079
 bulldozing people

00:23:41.079 --> 00:23:42.099
 to make sure

00:23:42.099 --> 00:23:42.319
 you

00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:43.539
 you

00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:44.940
 you fulfill your mission.

00:23:46.519 --> 00:23:47.079
 Why?

00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:48.599
 Because my sense of self

00:23:48.599 --> 00:23:49.299
 is at stake.

00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:51.159
 I have to have it.

00:23:55.019 --> 00:23:56.460
 I think the second option

00:23:56.460 --> 00:23:57.919
 is much more likely

00:23:57.919 --> 00:23:59.480
 and I think it's much more

00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:00.659
 in line with the New Testament

00:24:00.659 --> 00:24:01.679
 the rest of the New Testament.

00:24:02.059 --> 00:24:03.099
 They pray for boldness

00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:04.199
 even though it could cost them

00:24:04.199 --> 00:24:04.659
 their life.

00:24:04.779 --> 00:24:04.980
 Why?

00:24:05.539 --> 00:24:06.859
 Because they already have

00:24:06.859 --> 00:24:07.659
 eternal life.

00:24:10.399 --> 00:24:12.019
 And this eternal life

00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:12.899
 is producing

00:24:12.899 --> 00:24:14.500
 a new desire in them.

00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:17.480
 Jesus describes

00:24:17.480 --> 00:24:19.099
 what eternal life is

00:24:19.099 --> 00:24:20.640
 like this

00:24:20.640 --> 00:24:22.359
 and hear the Trinity in this

00:24:22.359 --> 00:24:24.700
 this is what eternal life is

00:24:24.700 --> 00:24:25.319
 this is what

00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:26.480
 we enjoy now

00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:27.740
 and we'll have in full later.

00:24:28.539 --> 00:24:29.460
 John 17 3

00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:31.240
 and this is eternal life

00:24:31.240 --> 00:24:32.500
 that they know you

00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:34.420
 it's relational

00:24:34.420 --> 00:24:35.359
 know you

00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:36.519
 the only true God

00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:38.140
 and Jesus Christ

00:24:38.140 --> 00:24:39.019
 whom you have sent.

00:24:39.019 --> 00:24:43.599
 here the believers

00:24:43.599 --> 00:24:44.400
 are confident

00:24:44.400 --> 00:24:45.519
 that they are

00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:46.700
 in right relationship

00:24:46.700 --> 00:24:47.920
 with the sovereign Lord

00:24:47.920 --> 00:24:49.200
 who created all things.

00:24:50.400 --> 00:24:51.400
 Here they are confident

00:24:51.400 --> 00:24:52.460
 that they belong

00:24:52.460 --> 00:24:53.379
 to the Christ

00:24:53.379 --> 00:24:54.460
 of Psalm 2

00:24:54.460 --> 00:24:56.420
 that they have found

00:24:56.420 --> 00:24:57.400
 refuge in him.

00:24:58.259 --> 00:24:59.319
 Here they are confident

00:24:59.319 --> 00:25:00.279
 that they've

00:25:00.279 --> 00:25:01.240
 tasted

00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:02.799
 the promised Holy Spirit.

00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:05.279
 Here they're confident

00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:06.039
 that they are

00:25:06.039 --> 00:25:07.200
 the true people of Israel

00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:08.259
 they are the true people

00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:08.799
 of God

00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:10.200
 not the Jewish leaders

00:25:10.200 --> 00:25:12.099
 because they've already

00:25:12.099 --> 00:25:13.539
 tasted eternal life.

00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:15.039
 They know the Father

00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:16.279
 through the Son

00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:17.440
 by the Holy Spirit.

00:25:22.680 --> 00:25:23.539
 And I think

00:25:23.539 --> 00:25:24.700
 they draw to mind

00:25:24.700 --> 00:25:26.259
 in the case of

00:25:26.259 --> 00:25:27.240
 what happened to Christ

00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:28.400
 how it is

00:25:28.400 --> 00:25:29.180
 they were saved.

00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:33.320
 that it was

00:25:33.320 --> 00:25:34.460
 the Father's plan

00:25:34.460 --> 00:25:35.539
 from the very beginning

00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:37.940
 to forgive them

00:25:37.940 --> 00:25:39.640
 and draw them

00:25:39.640 --> 00:25:40.920
 into eternal life

00:25:40.920 --> 00:25:41.940
 at the cross.

00:25:43.080 --> 00:25:44.660
 That this self-giving God

00:25:44.660 --> 00:25:45.980
 who created all things

00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:47.440
 pursues sinners

00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:48.120
 like me

00:25:48.120 --> 00:25:49.440
 who rejected his love

00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:51.000
 and treated his love

00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:51.940
 as if it's cheap

00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:53.320
 as if it's an optional

00:25:53.320 --> 00:25:53.860
 add-on.

00:25:54.420 --> 00:25:55.700
 He pursues us

00:25:55.700 --> 00:25:57.480
 how does he save us?

00:25:58.860 --> 00:26:00.259
 Instead of pouring out

00:26:00.259 --> 00:26:00.860
 his love

00:26:00.860 --> 00:26:01.700
 on his Son

00:26:01.700 --> 00:26:02.259
 that he's done

00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:02.960
 for eternity

00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:04.000
 he pours out

00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:04.779
 his wrath.

00:26:08.580 --> 00:26:09.819
 They know eternal.

00:26:09.960 --> 00:26:11.140
 They know they are saved.

00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:13.160
 They know that they can

00:26:13.160 --> 00:26:13.980
 call on him

00:26:13.980 --> 00:26:14.940
 as Abba Father.

00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:17.019
 And I think

00:26:17.019 --> 00:26:17.740
 this explains

00:26:17.740 --> 00:26:18.660
 why they pray

00:26:18.660 --> 00:26:19.440
 for boldness

00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:20.319
 and not for safety.

00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:21.819
 they have eternal life.

00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:25.399
 And a new energy

00:26:25.399 --> 00:26:26.259
 moves in them

00:26:26.259 --> 00:26:27.179
 a new passion.

00:26:27.919 --> 00:26:29.099
 It's not an energy

00:26:29.099 --> 00:26:30.099
 of self-seeking

00:26:30.099 --> 00:26:31.720
 and self-protection.

00:26:31.859 --> 00:26:32.460
 It's an energy

00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:33.659
 that goes outwards

00:26:33.659 --> 00:26:35.439
 that wants others

00:26:35.439 --> 00:26:36.779
 to come into this life.

00:26:38.679 --> 00:26:40.379
 They want to draw attention

00:26:40.379 --> 00:26:42.119
 to the life

00:26:42.119 --> 00:26:42.819
 they've found

00:26:42.819 --> 00:26:43.599
 in knowing Jesus.

00:26:46.599 --> 00:26:47.799
 Now I don't think

00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:48.359
 these believers

00:26:48.359 --> 00:26:49.000
 are heroes.

00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:50.279
 I think their prayer

00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:51.099
 for boldness

00:26:51.099 --> 00:26:52.599
 is actually admitting

00:26:52.599 --> 00:26:55.059
 that they don't have

00:26:55.059 --> 00:26:55.640
 the boldness.

00:26:57.599 --> 00:26:57.920
 They

00:26:57.920 --> 00:26:59.559
 don't have

00:26:59.559 --> 00:27:00.339
 this energy

00:27:00.339 --> 00:27:01.400
 in themselves

00:27:01.400 --> 00:27:02.740
 to sacrifice themselves

00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:03.460
 so that others

00:27:03.460 --> 00:27:04.319
 will come

00:27:04.319 --> 00:27:05.039
 to have life.

00:27:05.359 --> 00:27:05.819
 That's not

00:27:05.819 --> 00:27:06.539
 come naturally.

00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:09.400
 But

00:27:09.400 --> 00:27:10.920
 they have a desire

00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:11.359
 for it.

00:27:11.400 --> 00:27:11.920
 There's a new

00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:12.640
 orientation

00:27:12.640 --> 00:27:14.299
 and the Sovereign Lord

00:27:14.299 --> 00:27:15.440
 as the Holy Spirit

00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:16.859
 comes and shakes them

00:27:16.859 --> 00:27:18.319
 and fills them

00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:18.939
 with their spirit

00:27:18.939 --> 00:27:19.879
 to keep pointing

00:27:19.879 --> 00:27:20.399
 to Jesus.

00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:21.460
 The Sovereign Lord

00:27:21.460 --> 00:27:22.740
 is only too pleased

00:27:22.740 --> 00:27:25.000
 to answer their prayer.

00:27:26.139 --> 00:27:27.000
 It's the Lord

00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:28.679
 who wants

00:27:28.679 --> 00:27:29.460
 to draw others

00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:30.000
 to himself.

00:27:30.439 --> 00:27:30.919
 It's not that

00:27:30.919 --> 00:27:31.659
 these believers

00:27:31.659 --> 00:27:33.419
 are the heroes.

00:27:33.919 --> 00:27:34.919
 It's that the Spirit

00:27:34.919 --> 00:27:36.619
 is the one

00:27:36.619 --> 00:27:37.899
 producing this energy

00:27:37.899 --> 00:27:38.299
 in them.

00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:44.279
 So if God

00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:45.359
 in and of himself

00:27:45.359 --> 00:27:46.139
 is essentially

00:27:46.139 --> 00:27:46.919
 relational

00:27:46.919 --> 00:27:47.980
 and self-giving,

00:27:48.879 --> 00:27:49.779
 if creation

00:27:49.779 --> 00:27:50.579
 is the

00:27:50.579 --> 00:27:51.259
 eternal

00:27:51.259 --> 00:27:52.339
 community's love

00:27:52.339 --> 00:27:53.220
 overflowing

00:27:53.220 --> 00:27:54.200
 to draw us in,

00:27:54.980 --> 00:27:55.579
 if

00:27:55.579 --> 00:27:56.940
 we were brought

00:27:56.940 --> 00:27:58.000
 into salvation

00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:58.919
 by the Father

00:27:58.919 --> 00:27:59.680
 pouring out

00:27:59.680 --> 00:28:00.319
 his wrath

00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:01.099
 on his Son

00:28:01.099 --> 00:28:03.179
 to forgive

00:28:03.179 --> 00:28:03.959
 our rejection

00:28:03.959 --> 00:28:04.699
 of his love,

00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:07.599
 then

00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:08.839
 to come back

00:28:08.839 --> 00:28:09.439
 to that question

00:28:09.439 --> 00:28:09.879
 at the beginning,

00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:12.159
 it is a great comfort

00:28:12.159 --> 00:28:13.419
 to know

00:28:13.419 --> 00:28:14.799
 that this

00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:16.059
 triune God

00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:18.000
 is the Sovereign Lord

00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:19.399
 of all things.

00:28:22.299 --> 00:28:23.419
 Look at how

00:28:23.419 --> 00:28:24.179
 the disciples

00:28:24.179 --> 00:28:25.899
 focus on the cross.

00:28:26.939 --> 00:28:27.740
 Verse 27,

00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:28.659
 they recall

00:28:28.659 --> 00:28:29.099
 what happened

00:28:29.099 --> 00:28:29.519
 to Jesus.

00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:30.460
 The peoples

00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:31.059
 were rallied

00:28:31.059 --> 00:28:32.319
 against Jesus.

00:28:32.940 --> 00:28:35.079
 The motives,

00:28:35.259 --> 00:28:35.740
 Pilate,

00:28:36.599 --> 00:28:37.160
 through wanting

00:28:37.160 --> 00:28:38.200
 to keep the peace

00:28:38.200 --> 00:28:39.660
 in his area

00:28:39.660 --> 00:28:40.440
 rather than

00:28:40.440 --> 00:28:41.599
 administering justice,

00:28:42.059 --> 00:28:42.759
 that sinful

00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:44.000
 motive of Pilate,

00:28:44.400 --> 00:28:44.920
 the sinful

00:28:44.920 --> 00:28:45.660
 motives of the

00:28:45.660 --> 00:28:46.420
 religious leaders

00:28:46.420 --> 00:28:47.000
 who wanted to

00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:48.079
 keep their system

00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:48.579
 of religion

00:28:48.579 --> 00:28:49.299
 so that they're

00:28:49.299 --> 00:28:49.799
 on top,

00:28:50.639 --> 00:28:51.440
 that sinful

00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:51.980
 motive.

00:28:53.579 --> 00:28:54.519
 God didn't

00:28:54.519 --> 00:28:55.420
 prevent them.

00:28:56.420 --> 00:28:56.839
 He allowed

00:28:56.839 --> 00:28:57.359
 that to happen

00:28:57.359 --> 00:28:58.539
 but verse 28,

00:28:58.680 --> 00:28:59.220
 all this

00:28:59.220 --> 00:29:00.640
 was to do

00:29:00.640 --> 00:29:01.380
 whatever your

00:29:01.380 --> 00:29:02.460
 hand and

00:29:02.460 --> 00:29:03.200
 your plan

00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:03.960
 had predestined

00:29:03.960 --> 00:29:04.740
 to take place.

00:29:07.579 --> 00:29:08.660
 Our hope

00:29:08.660 --> 00:29:09.640
 is that the

00:29:09.640 --> 00:29:10.779
 Lord that we

00:29:10.779 --> 00:29:11.640
 see at creation

00:29:11.640 --> 00:29:12.440
 is still the

00:29:12.440 --> 00:29:12.799
 Lord.

00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:13.960
 He is above

00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:14.779
 the darkness

00:29:14.779 --> 00:29:15.620
 and the chaos.

00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:17.059
 He is the one

00:29:17.059 --> 00:29:17.839
 who brings order

00:29:17.839 --> 00:29:18.440
 out of chaos.

00:29:18.579 --> 00:29:19.000
 He is the one

00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:19.880
 who brings light

00:29:19.880 --> 00:29:20.720
 out of darkness

00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:21.759
 but he does it,

00:29:21.960 --> 00:29:22.579
 he wins,

00:29:22.940 --> 00:29:23.980
 by letting darkness

00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:24.839
 win the day

00:29:24.839 --> 00:29:26.279
 and then turning

00:29:26.279 --> 00:29:26.919
 the results

00:29:26.919 --> 00:29:27.779
 for his purposes.

00:29:29.220 --> 00:29:30.339
 That's incredibly

00:29:30.339 --> 00:29:30.799
 sovereign.

00:29:32.099 --> 00:29:32.799
 I think that's

00:29:32.799 --> 00:29:33.439
 more sovereign

00:29:33.439 --> 00:29:34.279
 than just stopping

00:29:34.279 --> 00:29:35.139
 darkness from

00:29:35.139 --> 00:29:36.119
 doing anything.

00:29:39.259 --> 00:29:40.339
 The sovereign

00:29:40.339 --> 00:29:41.399
 Lord is totally

00:29:41.399 --> 00:29:42.139
 hands-on

00:29:42.139 --> 00:29:43.559
 in every moment

00:29:43.559 --> 00:29:44.740
 and the cross

00:29:44.740 --> 00:29:45.599
 gives us

00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:46.619
 every confidence

00:29:46.619 --> 00:29:47.480
 that the Lord

00:29:47.480 --> 00:29:48.139
 is working for

00:29:48.139 --> 00:29:49.139
 our personal good

00:29:49.139 --> 00:29:50.119
 and that he is

00:29:50.119 --> 00:29:51.319
 going to restore

00:29:51.319 --> 00:29:52.399
 all things.

00:29:53.779 --> 00:29:54.500
 So I just want

00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:55.000
 to finish by

00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:55.559
 looking at those

00:29:55.559 --> 00:29:56.039
 two things.

00:29:56.220 --> 00:29:56.679
 How does

00:29:56.679 --> 00:29:59.059
 knowing that

00:29:59.059 --> 00:30:00.019
 the trying God

00:30:00.019 --> 00:30:00.579
 is sovereign

00:30:00.579 --> 00:30:01.539
 give us confidence

00:30:01.539 --> 00:30:02.259
 for ourselves

00:30:02.259 --> 00:30:03.139
 and for the

00:30:03.139 --> 00:30:03.599
 whole world?

00:30:06.079 --> 00:30:07.019
 I just realised

00:30:07.019 --> 00:30:07.579
 what I asked

00:30:07.579 --> 00:30:07.759
 there,

00:30:07.819 --> 00:30:08.399
 they're pretty

00:30:08.399 --> 00:30:09.079
 big questions

00:30:09.079 --> 00:30:10.139
 that I won't

00:30:10.139 --> 00:30:11.339
 satisfactorily answer

00:30:11.339 --> 00:30:12.500
 but let's have

00:30:12.500 --> 00:30:12.799
 a go.

00:30:14.259 --> 00:30:14.919
 So what about

00:30:14.919 --> 00:30:15.279
 ourselves?

00:30:17.639 --> 00:30:18.399
 Now obviously

00:30:18.399 --> 00:30:19.059
 there's so much

00:30:19.059 --> 00:30:19.599
 we don't know

00:30:19.599 --> 00:30:20.220
 about the Lord's

00:30:20.220 --> 00:30:21.019
 purposes in our

00:30:21.019 --> 00:30:21.619
 sufferings,

00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:23.139
 our circumstances

00:30:23.139 --> 00:30:24.119
 are not

00:30:24.119 --> 00:30:25.099
 self-interpreting

00:30:25.099 --> 00:30:25.660
 in the moment

00:30:25.660 --> 00:30:27.759
 but

00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:30.779
 you know this

00:30:30.779 --> 00:30:31.379
 verse well

00:30:31.379 --> 00:30:32.500
 or I hope you

00:30:32.500 --> 00:30:32.720
 do,

00:30:33.400 --> 00:30:34.500
 Romans 8.28

00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:35.059
 this is what

00:30:35.059 --> 00:30:35.619
 he's promised

00:30:35.619 --> 00:30:37.920
 and we know

00:30:37.920 --> 00:30:38.519
 that for those

00:30:38.519 --> 00:30:39.420
 who love God

00:30:39.420 --> 00:30:41.259
 all things

00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:41.859
 work together

00:30:41.859 --> 00:30:42.319
 for good

00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:43.900
 for those

00:30:43.900 --> 00:30:44.559
 who are called

00:30:44.559 --> 00:30:45.099
 according to

00:30:45.099 --> 00:30:45.680
 his purpose

00:30:45.680 --> 00:30:46.180
 and what is

00:30:46.180 --> 00:30:46.759
 that good

00:30:46.759 --> 00:30:47.720
 in verse 29

00:30:47.720 --> 00:30:48.220
 we're told

00:30:48.220 --> 00:30:49.859
 for those

00:30:49.859 --> 00:30:50.180
 whom he

00:30:50.180 --> 00:30:50.759
 foreknew

00:30:50.759 --> 00:30:51.379
 he also

00:30:51.379 --> 00:30:52.259
 predestined

00:30:52.259 --> 00:30:53.079
 to be

00:30:53.079 --> 00:30:53.839
 conformed

00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:54.119
 to the

00:30:54.119 --> 00:30:54.539
 image

00:30:54.539 --> 00:30:55.039
 of his

00:30:55.039 --> 00:30:55.559
 son

00:30:55.559 --> 00:30:57.299
 in order

00:30:57.299 --> 00:30:57.700
 that he

00:30:57.700 --> 00:30:58.079
 might be

00:30:58.079 --> 00:30:58.960
 the firstborn

00:30:58.960 --> 00:30:59.599
 among many

00:30:59.599 --> 00:31:00.019
 brothers

00:31:00.019 --> 00:31:00.599
 that's the

00:31:00.599 --> 00:31:00.859
 good

00:31:00.859 --> 00:31:02.279
 that we're

00:31:02.279 --> 00:31:02.660
 promised

00:31:02.660 --> 00:31:03.660
 we're going

00:31:03.660 --> 00:31:04.019
 to be made

00:31:04.019 --> 00:31:04.539
 more like

00:31:04.539 --> 00:31:04.920
 Jesus

00:31:04.920 --> 00:31:05.799
 in everything

00:31:05.799 --> 00:31:06.200
 that we

00:31:06.200 --> 00:31:06.759
 come across

00:31:06.759 --> 00:31:09.299
 whatever

00:31:09.299 --> 00:31:10.160
 sin you

00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:10.599
 feel is

00:31:10.599 --> 00:31:11.440
 too strong

00:31:11.440 --> 00:31:11.839
 for you

00:31:11.839 --> 00:31:12.140
 to get

00:31:12.140 --> 00:31:12.599
 rid of

00:31:12.599 --> 00:31:13.539
 whatever

00:31:13.539 --> 00:31:14.079
 sin

00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:14.480
 others

00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:14.700
 have

00:31:14.700 --> 00:31:15.220
 caused

00:31:15.220 --> 00:31:15.660
 or done

00:31:15.660 --> 00:31:15.980
 harm

00:31:15.980 --> 00:31:16.299
 against

00:31:16.299 --> 00:31:16.680
 you

00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:17.379
 whatever

00:31:17.379 --> 00:31:17.919
 loss

00:31:17.919 --> 00:31:18.119
 and

00:31:18.119 --> 00:31:18.659
 heartache

00:31:18.659 --> 00:31:20.039
 we can

00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:20.639
 be confident

00:31:20.639 --> 00:31:21.399
 he's using

00:31:21.399 --> 00:31:21.960
 it all

00:31:21.960 --> 00:31:22.639
 to make

00:31:22.639 --> 00:31:23.039
 us like

00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:23.519
 his son

00:31:23.519 --> 00:31:25.279
 now why

00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:25.619
 is that

00:31:25.619 --> 00:31:26.079
 such good

00:31:26.079 --> 00:31:26.460
 news

00:31:26.460 --> 00:31:29.359
 it's such

00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:29.879
 good news

00:31:29.879 --> 00:31:30.359
 because

00:31:30.359 --> 00:31:32.139
 being more

00:31:32.139 --> 00:31:32.539
 like the

00:31:32.539 --> 00:31:32.779
 son

00:31:32.779 --> 00:31:33.240
 and knowing

00:31:33.240 --> 00:31:33.720
 the son

00:31:33.720 --> 00:31:34.539
 means we

00:31:34.539 --> 00:31:34.940
 know the

00:31:34.940 --> 00:31:35.559
 father better

00:31:35.559 --> 00:31:36.659
 we're being

00:31:36.659 --> 00:31:37.720
 drawn into

00:31:37.720 --> 00:31:38.559
 that eternal

00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:39.259
 community

00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:41.680
 or to put

00:31:41.680 --> 00:31:42.339
 a long

00:31:42.339 --> 00:31:42.519
 term

00:31:42.519 --> 00:31:42.920
 perspective

00:31:42.920 --> 00:31:43.220
 on it

00:31:43.220 --> 00:31:43.680
 he's getting

00:31:43.680 --> 00:31:44.279
 us ready

00:31:44.279 --> 00:31:45.660
 for glory

00:31:45.660 --> 00:31:46.379
 an eternal

00:31:46.379 --> 00:31:47.140
 weight of

00:31:47.140 --> 00:31:47.579
 glory

00:31:47.579 --> 00:31:48.200
 that's not

00:31:48.200 --> 00:31:48.980
 worth comparing

00:31:48.980 --> 00:31:49.519
 to our

00:31:49.519 --> 00:31:50.000
 sufferings

00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:52.339
 he's getting

00:31:52.339 --> 00:31:52.839
 us ready

00:31:52.839 --> 00:31:53.279
 for that

00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:53.759
 eternal

00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:54.420
 community

00:31:54.420 --> 00:32:01.839
 and I

00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:02.039
 think

00:32:02.039 --> 00:32:02.819
 Romans 12

00:32:02.819 --> 00:32:05.500
 says it

00:32:05.500 --> 00:32:05.700
 really

00:32:05.700 --> 00:32:06.400
 succinctly

00:32:06.400 --> 00:32:07.039
 what this

00:32:07.039 --> 00:32:07.379
 kind of

00:32:07.379 --> 00:32:07.859
 confidence

00:32:07.859 --> 00:32:08.480
 that God

00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:09.380
 is working

00:32:09.380 --> 00:32:09.960
 good in

00:32:09.960 --> 00:32:10.279
 us

00:32:10.279 --> 00:32:11.099
 can give

00:32:11.099 --> 00:32:11.319
 us

00:32:11.319 --> 00:32:12.500
 we can

00:32:12.500 --> 00:32:13.120
 be joyful

00:32:13.120 --> 00:32:13.819
 in hope

00:32:13.819 --> 00:32:15.900
 we can

00:32:15.900 --> 00:32:16.740
 be patient

00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:17.539
 in affliction

00:32:17.539 --> 00:32:19.059
 and we

00:32:19.059 --> 00:32:19.319
 can be

00:32:19.319 --> 00:32:19.779
 faithful

00:32:19.779 --> 00:32:20.380
 in prayer

00:32:20.380 --> 00:32:23.460
 joyful

00:32:23.460 --> 00:32:24.120
 in hope

00:32:24.120 --> 00:32:26.200
 patient

00:32:26.200 --> 00:32:26.960
 in affliction

00:32:26.960 --> 00:32:28.640
 and faithful

00:32:28.640 --> 00:32:29.220
 in prayer

00:32:29.220 --> 00:32:33.259
 well how

00:32:33.259 --> 00:32:33.500
 is the

00:32:33.500 --> 00:32:33.779
 trying

00:32:33.779 --> 00:32:34.339
 God

00:32:34.339 --> 00:32:35.120
 working

00:32:35.120 --> 00:32:36.019
 all things

00:32:36.019 --> 00:32:36.480
 for good

00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:38.400
 what we're

00:32:38.400 --> 00:32:38.759
 told in

00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:39.420
 Colossians 1

00:32:39.420 --> 00:32:39.900
 that he

00:32:39.900 --> 00:32:40.519
 is moving

00:32:40.519 --> 00:32:41.400
 all history

00:32:41.400 --> 00:32:42.339
 towards his

00:32:42.339 --> 00:32:42.799
 goal

00:32:42.799 --> 00:32:45.220
 sin

00:32:45.220 --> 00:32:45.599
 and

00:32:45.599 --> 00:32:46.480
 Satan

00:32:46.480 --> 00:32:47.220
 and darkness

00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:47.539
 and the

00:32:47.539 --> 00:32:47.819
 world

00:32:47.819 --> 00:32:48.420
 opposed to

00:32:48.420 --> 00:32:48.819
 Christ

00:32:48.819 --> 00:32:49.700
 are not

00:32:49.700 --> 00:32:50.440
 in control

00:32:50.440 --> 00:32:52.279
 not ultimately

00:32:52.279 --> 00:32:54.220
 he is

00:32:54.220 --> 00:32:55.640
 going to

00:32:55.640 --> 00:32:56.500
 Colossians 1

00:32:56.500 --> 00:32:57.980
 through Christ

00:32:57.980 --> 00:32:59.319
 reconcile to

00:32:59.319 --> 00:32:59.819
 himself

00:32:59.819 --> 00:33:01.140
 all things

00:33:01.140 --> 00:33:03.059
 whether on

00:33:03.059 --> 00:33:03.640
 earth or in

00:33:03.640 --> 00:33:04.180
 heaven making

00:33:04.180 --> 00:33:05.019
 peace by the

00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:05.500
 blood of his

00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:05.940
 cross

00:33:05.940 --> 00:33:08.819
 our own

00:33:08.819 --> 00:33:09.220
 sin

00:33:09.220 --> 00:33:10.259
 won't have

00:33:10.259 --> 00:33:10.660
 the last

00:33:10.660 --> 00:33:11.059
 word

00:33:11.059 --> 00:33:12.180
 death

00:33:12.180 --> 00:33:12.640
 won't have

00:33:12.640 --> 00:33:13.039
 the last

00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:13.440
 word

00:33:13.440 --> 00:33:15.200
 the world

00:33:15.200 --> 00:33:15.680
 rejecting

00:33:15.680 --> 00:33:16.079
 Jesus

00:33:16.079 --> 00:33:16.640
 won't have

00:33:16.640 --> 00:33:17.059
 the last

00:33:17.059 --> 00:33:17.519
 word

00:33:17.519 --> 00:33:18.859
 the sovereign

00:33:18.859 --> 00:33:19.539
 Lord will

00:33:19.539 --> 00:33:19.819
 have the

00:33:19.819 --> 00:33:20.539
 final word

00:33:20.539 --> 00:33:21.299
 he will

00:33:21.299 --> 00:33:21.839
 unite

00:33:21.839 --> 00:33:22.920
 all things

00:33:22.920 --> 00:33:23.619
 in his

00:33:23.619 --> 00:33:23.940
 son

00:33:23.940 --> 00:33:24.559
 do you

00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:24.960
 hear the

00:33:24.960 --> 00:33:26.259
 trinity

00:33:26.259 --> 00:33:26.700
 statement

00:33:26.700 --> 00:33:27.759
 he's

00:33:27.759 --> 00:33:28.420
 uniting

00:33:28.420 --> 00:33:30.019
 all things

00:33:30.019 --> 00:33:30.579
 in his

00:33:30.579 --> 00:33:31.000
 son

00:33:31.000 --> 00:33:34.059
 he will

00:33:34.059 --> 00:33:34.539
 have the

00:33:34.539 --> 00:33:35.200
 final say

00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:35.619
 that's

00:33:35.619 --> 00:33:36.099
 our hope

00:33:36.099 --> 00:33:38.380
 and

00:33:38.380 --> 00:33:38.779
 obviously

00:33:38.779 --> 00:33:40.079
 we can't

00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:40.519
 get this

00:33:40.519 --> 00:33:40.980
 confidence

00:33:40.980 --> 00:33:41.900
 by looking

00:33:41.900 --> 00:33:42.240
 at our

00:33:42.240 --> 00:33:42.599
 own

00:33:42.599 --> 00:33:43.240
 lives

00:33:43.240 --> 00:33:44.380
 because

00:33:44.380 --> 00:33:45.700
 my heart

00:33:45.700 --> 00:33:46.759
 is often

00:33:46.759 --> 00:33:47.279
 a sinful

00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:47.720
 mess

00:33:47.720 --> 00:33:48.619
 and the

00:33:48.619 --> 00:33:49.240
 pain is

00:33:49.240 --> 00:33:50.359
 too big

00:33:50.359 --> 00:33:50.640
 for me

00:33:50.640 --> 00:33:51.019
 to bear

00:33:51.019 --> 00:33:52.259
 and we

00:33:52.259 --> 00:33:52.619
 can't look

00:33:52.619 --> 00:33:52.839
 at it

00:33:52.839 --> 00:33:53.180
 looking at

00:33:53.180 --> 00:33:53.500
 the state

00:33:53.500 --> 00:33:53.700
 of the

00:33:53.700 --> 00:33:53.900
 world

00:33:53.900 --> 00:33:54.299
 going

00:33:54.299 --> 00:33:55.000
 oh wow

00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:55.359
 I see

00:33:55.359 --> 00:33:55.940
 progress

00:33:55.940 --> 00:33:57.460
 our

00:33:57.460 --> 00:33:57.860
 confidence

00:33:57.860 --> 00:33:58.480
 has to

00:33:58.480 --> 00:33:58.840
 be looking

00:33:58.840 --> 00:33:59.080
 at the

00:33:59.080 --> 00:33:59.480
 cross

00:33:59.480 --> 00:34:04.160
 that he

00:34:04.160 --> 00:34:04.779
 turned the

00:34:04.779 --> 00:34:05.440
 worst evil

00:34:05.440 --> 00:34:06.720
 for the

00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:07.100
 greatest

00:34:07.100 --> 00:34:07.500
 good

00:34:07.500 --> 00:34:08.000
 that we

00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:08.340
 might be

00:34:08.340 --> 00:34:08.880
 reconciled

00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:09.240
 to him

00:34:09.240 --> 00:34:11.159
 as we

00:34:11.159 --> 00:34:11.740
 gaze at

00:34:11.740 --> 00:34:12.360
 the cross

00:34:12.360 --> 00:34:13.740
 that's when

00:34:13.740 --> 00:34:14.019
 we get

00:34:14.019 --> 00:34:14.480
 this new

00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:14.900
 energy

00:34:14.900 --> 00:34:16.019
 bubbling

00:34:16.019 --> 00:34:16.460
 in us

00:34:16.460 --> 00:34:16.760
 because

00:34:16.760 --> 00:34:17.320
 we've

00:34:17.320 --> 00:34:17.780
 tasted

00:34:17.780 --> 00:34:18.440
 the love

00:34:18.440 --> 00:34:19.119
 of God

00:34:19.119 --> 00:34:19.400
 the

00:34:19.400 --> 00:34:19.880
 triune

00:34:19.880 --> 00:34:20.300
 God

00:34:20.300 --> 00:34:21.780
 a God

00:34:21.780 --> 00:34:22.920
 that is

00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:23.860
 essentially

00:34:23.860 --> 00:34:25.500
 self-giving

00:34:25.500 --> 00:34:26.219
 wanting

00:34:26.219 --> 00:34:26.800
 to draw

00:34:26.800 --> 00:34:27.159
 people

00:34:27.159 --> 00:34:27.420
 into

00:34:27.420 --> 00:34:27.940
 life

00:34:27.940 --> 00:34:30.079
 when

00:34:30.079 --> 00:34:30.320
 that

00:34:30.320 --> 00:34:30.679
 energy

00:34:30.679 --> 00:34:30.960
 is

00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:31.679
 flowing

00:34:31.679 --> 00:34:32.199
 in us

00:34:32.199 --> 00:34:33.900
 it

00:34:33.900 --> 00:34:34.079
 just

00:34:34.079 --> 00:34:34.340
 gives us

00:34:34.340 --> 00:34:34.619
 a new

00:34:34.619 --> 00:34:35.139
 orientation

00:34:35.139 --> 00:34:35.599
 in life

00:34:35.599 --> 00:34:35.920
 that we

00:34:35.920 --> 00:34:36.239
 want to

00:34:36.239 --> 00:34:36.599
 draw

00:34:36.599 --> 00:34:37.199
 as much

00:34:37.199 --> 00:34:37.639
 attention

00:34:37.639 --> 00:34:38.659
 to the

00:34:38.659 --> 00:34:38.980
 son

00:34:38.980 --> 00:34:39.460
 to the

00:34:39.460 --> 00:34:39.820
 life

00:34:39.820 --> 00:34:40.000
 we've

00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:40.360
 found

00:34:40.360 --> 00:34:40.699
 in the

00:34:40.699 --> 00:34:40.860
 son

00:34:40.860 --> 00:34:41.280
 of God

00:34:41.280 --> 00:34:42.500
 whether

00:34:42.500 --> 00:34:42.699
 in

00:34:42.699 --> 00:34:43.079
 prosperous

00:34:43.079 --> 00:34:43.699
 times

00:34:43.699 --> 00:34:44.920
 or in

00:34:44.920 --> 00:34:45.079
 the

00:34:45.079 --> 00:34:45.599
 trials

00:34:45.599 --> 00:34:46.099
 we want

00:34:46.099 --> 00:34:46.219
 the

00:34:46.219 --> 00:34:46.679
 attention

00:34:46.679 --> 00:34:47.079
 for

00:34:47.079 --> 00:34:47.320
 others

00:34:47.320 --> 00:34:47.500
 to

00:34:47.500 --> 00:34:47.719
 see

00:34:47.719 --> 00:34:48.199
 life

00:34:48.199 --> 00:34:48.400
 is

00:34:48.400 --> 00:34:48.820
 found

00:34:48.820 --> 00:34:49.539
 in

00:34:49.539 --> 00:34:50.000
 Christ

00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:52.360
 let me

00:34:52.360 --> 00:34:52.619
 pray

00:34:52.619 --> 00:34:53.320
 let's

00:34:53.320 --> 00:34:53.500
 pray

00:34:53.500 --> 00:35:09.619
 sovereign

00:35:09.619 --> 00:35:09.900
 Lord

00:35:09.900 --> 00:35:10.920
 we thank

00:35:10.920 --> 00:35:11.280
 you that

00:35:11.280 --> 00:35:12.599
 we can

00:35:12.599 --> 00:35:12.940
 address

00:35:12.940 --> 00:35:13.559
 you as

00:35:13.559 --> 00:35:14.079
 father

00:35:14.079 --> 00:35:15.960
 and I

00:35:15.960 --> 00:35:16.500
 pray that

00:35:16.500 --> 00:35:17.800
 you would

00:35:17.800 --> 00:35:18.940
 help each

00:35:18.940 --> 00:35:19.500
 one of us

00:35:19.500 --> 00:35:20.119
 and as a

00:35:20.119 --> 00:35:20.659
 church go

00:35:20.659 --> 00:35:21.179
 deeper and

00:35:21.179 --> 00:35:21.719
 deeper in

00:35:21.719 --> 00:35:22.459
 understanding

00:35:22.459 --> 00:35:24.159
 what it

00:35:24.159 --> 00:35:24.939
 means for

00:35:24.939 --> 00:35:25.159
 you to

00:35:25.159 --> 00:35:25.699
 be father

00:35:25.699 --> 00:35:27.199
 as we

00:35:27.199 --> 00:35:27.559
 look at

00:35:27.559 --> 00:35:27.980
 how you

00:35:27.980 --> 00:35:28.459
 relate to

00:35:28.459 --> 00:35:28.939
 your son

00:35:28.939 --> 00:35:30.239
 Lord help

00:35:30.239 --> 00:35:31.239
 those of us

00:35:31.239 --> 00:35:31.659
 who have

00:35:31.659 --> 00:35:32.000
 had

00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:34.079
 fathers that

00:35:34.079 --> 00:35:34.899
 haven't been a

00:35:34.899 --> 00:35:35.459
 good image

00:35:35.459 --> 00:35:35.939
 of you

00:35:35.939 --> 00:35:36.980
 help

00:35:36.980 --> 00:35:38.619
 those of us

00:35:38.619 --> 00:35:39.279
 in particular

00:35:39.279 --> 00:35:41.019
 to discard

00:35:41.019 --> 00:35:41.659
 that image

00:35:41.659 --> 00:35:42.439
 and see

00:35:42.439 --> 00:35:43.139
 who you are

00:35:43.139 --> 00:35:43.839
 through Jesus

00:35:43.839 --> 00:35:45.819
 and Lord

00:35:45.819 --> 00:35:46.559
 I pray that

00:35:46.559 --> 00:35:48.399
 you would

00:35:48.399 --> 00:35:48.919
 fill us

00:35:48.919 --> 00:35:49.339
 with this

00:35:49.339 --> 00:35:50.399
 same spirit

00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:51.680
 your spirit

00:35:51.680 --> 00:35:52.400
 that wants

00:35:52.400 --> 00:35:52.920
 to draw

00:35:52.920 --> 00:35:53.800
 others

00:35:53.800 --> 00:35:54.660
 into your

00:35:54.660 --> 00:35:56.019
 eternal

00:35:56.019 --> 00:35:57.400
 love

00:35:57.400 --> 00:35:59.180
 Lord we

00:35:59.180 --> 00:35:59.820
 confess that

00:35:59.820 --> 00:36:01.019
 this

00:36:01.019 --> 00:36:03.460
 isn't

00:36:03.460 --> 00:36:05.559
 an energy

00:36:05.559 --> 00:36:06.460
 that naturally

00:36:06.460 --> 00:36:07.200
 resides in

00:36:07.200 --> 00:36:07.420
 us

00:36:07.420 --> 00:36:08.599
 I would

00:36:08.599 --> 00:36:09.280
 much rather

00:36:09.280 --> 00:36:09.820
 be self

00:36:09.820 --> 00:36:10.280
 protecting

00:36:10.280 --> 00:36:10.720
 and looking

00:36:10.720 --> 00:36:11.180
 after my

00:36:11.180 --> 00:36:11.800
 own interests

00:36:11.800 --> 00:36:12.380
 but I

00:36:12.380 --> 00:36:12.800
 thank you

00:36:12.800 --> 00:36:13.019
 that

00:36:13.019 --> 00:36:14.740
 in Jesus

00:36:14.740 --> 00:36:15.880
 we have

00:36:15.880 --> 00:36:16.539
 your spirit

00:36:16.539 --> 00:36:17.579
 to

00:36:17.579 --> 00:36:19.139
 want

00:36:19.139 --> 00:36:19.440
 to

00:36:19.440 --> 00:36:19.860
 and have

00:36:19.860 --> 00:36:20.460
 the power

00:36:20.460 --> 00:36:21.159
 and courage

00:36:21.159 --> 00:36:22.119
 to draw

00:36:22.119 --> 00:36:22.779
 attention to

00:36:22.779 --> 00:36:23.179
 the life

00:36:23.179 --> 00:36:23.519
 we found

00:36:23.519 --> 00:36:23.920
 in him

00:36:23.920 --> 00:36:25.380
 and I

00:36:25.380 --> 00:36:26.019
 pray that

00:36:26.019 --> 00:36:26.779
 for each

00:36:26.779 --> 00:36:27.219
 one of us

00:36:27.219 --> 00:36:27.539
 whatever

00:36:27.539 --> 00:36:29.199
 hardships

00:36:29.199 --> 00:36:29.880
 that might

00:36:29.880 --> 00:36:30.279
 mean

00:36:30.279 --> 00:36:30.579
 whether

00:36:30.579 --> 00:36:31.380
 relationally

00:36:31.380 --> 00:36:32.759
 or at

00:36:32.759 --> 00:36:33.259
 work

00:36:33.259 --> 00:36:34.299
 or our

00:36:34.299 --> 00:36:34.860
 plans

00:36:34.860 --> 00:36:35.219
 I pray

00:36:35.219 --> 00:36:35.440
 that you

00:36:35.440 --> 00:36:35.659
 would give

00:36:35.659 --> 00:36:36.420
 us boldness

00:36:36.420 --> 00:36:38.019
 to count

00:36:38.019 --> 00:36:38.719
 your love

00:36:38.719 --> 00:36:39.840
 as more

00:36:39.840 --> 00:36:40.599
 important to

00:36:40.599 --> 00:36:41.099
 draw attention

00:36:41.099 --> 00:36:41.739
 to than

00:36:41.739 --> 00:36:42.340
 whatever else

00:36:42.340 --> 00:36:42.860
 we're chasing

00:36:42.860 --> 00:36:44.300
 in Jesus

00:36:44.300 --> 00:36:44.660
 name I

00:36:44.660 --> 00:36:44.860
 pray

00:36:44.860 --> 00:36:45.500
 Amen