WEBVTT 00:00:00.380 --> 00:00:07.540 Father, you know the different things in our hearts, in our minds, in our wills that we are anxious about. 00:00:08.939 --> 00:00:13.560 You know if we sort of have a bit of a relief from anxiety right now because we're together, 00:00:13.720 --> 00:00:16.219 or if being together has caused more anxiety. 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:19.960 Father, you know what's going on. 00:00:20.519 --> 00:00:24.740 And you know how hard it is sometimes, Father, for us to bring these things to you in prayer. 00:00:24.739 --> 00:00:30.640 We ask, Father, that the Holy Spirit would move very powerfully in each one of our lives 00:00:30.640 --> 00:00:34.879 and bring your word home to us in a very real and personal way. 00:00:35.539 --> 00:00:39.599 Bring Jesus more real to us and what he's accomplished for us on the cross. 00:00:39.739 --> 00:00:41.200 Make that more real to us. 00:00:41.739 --> 00:00:45.159 And we ask this in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. Amen. 00:00:45.719 --> 00:00:46.619 Please be seated. 00:00:46.619 --> 00:00:46.719 Amen. 00:00:51.579 --> 00:00:57.320 We might be one of the first churches to have offered services this week just for a variety of reasons. 00:00:57.479 --> 00:01:02.039 We were one of the last churches to actually have a church service as well on the 15th of March. 00:01:02.839 --> 00:01:07.019 I don't know how many of you were there for that, but it's good to see you here this morning. 00:01:07.620 --> 00:01:13.319 One of the things you can just do for us in the weeks to come is pray that the Lord will help us have wisdom 00:01:13.319 --> 00:01:18.379 about how to manage the different things that have to be managed as we just go through this, 00:01:18.439 --> 00:01:19.959 the different regulations and all. 00:01:21.780 --> 00:01:24.599 I don't know if you can notice, but it's sort of actually really interesting. 00:01:25.139 --> 00:01:29.159 This is the stage which was here on the 15th of March because the Ottawa Little Theatre was closed. 00:01:29.479 --> 00:01:32.679 So all the posters are about dead, death, actually. 00:01:33.219 --> 00:01:34.639 So it's sort of very interesting. 00:01:34.780 --> 00:01:37.299 As you're looking at this and you're looking at me, 00:01:37.299 --> 00:01:43.500 it's the dark garden, cold secrets, west of death, one last look, five down. 00:01:44.079 --> 00:01:49.000 The other thing about this, if you're a guest, this is actually a very classic Anglican setup 00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:53.039 because just behind me are bottles of alcohol and a library. 00:01:53.900 --> 00:02:02.099 And on one level, nothing says Anglican as much as a library and alcohol while you read the Bible. 00:02:02.420 --> 00:02:04.259 So those of you who are just listening to this as an audio, 00:02:04.260 --> 00:02:08.319 you just have to imagine that's the stage set up, posters about death, 00:02:10.140 --> 00:02:13.840 maker's mark, and books, and the Bible. 00:02:16.360 --> 00:02:20.340 Those of you who know me know that I don't do seeker-sensitive things very well. 00:02:20.460 --> 00:02:22.319 We don't talk about Mother's Day on Mother's Day. 00:02:22.439 --> 00:02:23.280 We don't talk about Father's Day. 00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:25.040 If you're going to come here next week for Father's Day, 00:02:25.099 --> 00:02:26.640 I'm not going to talk about Father's Day. 00:02:27.180 --> 00:02:28.800 I'll just say Happy Father's Day. 00:02:28.860 --> 00:02:29.700 That will be about it. 00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:33.140 But believe it or not, we're going to talk about anxiety this morning. 00:02:33.139 --> 00:02:36.019 And that's just because we're going through the book of Philippians 00:02:36.019 --> 00:02:39.179 and we're going to look at a text which is all about anxiety. 00:02:39.919 --> 00:02:44.099 And if you're here as a guest or if you're listening to this later on through a podcast 00:02:44.099 --> 00:02:46.659 and you don't know much about Christians, 00:02:47.339 --> 00:02:51.619 you should know that Christians are very conflicted about anxiety 00:02:51.619 --> 00:02:55.319 and they're very conflicted about the biblical teaching on anxiety. 00:02:55.539 --> 00:02:59.599 And in fact, ironically, the biblical text like we're going to look at today 00:02:59.599 --> 00:03:03.139 often makes Christians more anxious rather than less anxious. 00:03:03.979 --> 00:03:06.620 Because if you're listening to Matt read the text, 00:03:06.699 --> 00:03:11.099 it sounds as if the Bible is forbidding you to be anxious, 00:03:11.939 --> 00:03:15.079 which in an odd way, if that was actually what the Bible was saying, 00:03:15.560 --> 00:03:18.740 if you feel anxious and then the Bible says you shouldn't feel anxious, 00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:20.259 it would make you more anxious. 00:03:21.780 --> 00:03:23.439 So we're going to look at that. 00:03:23.479 --> 00:03:25.379 What does the Bible say about anxiety? 00:03:25.379 --> 00:03:30.099 You know, some of you maybe are anxious because we're here today. 00:03:31.340 --> 00:03:34.719 A bit uneasy about what it's like to be with other people. 00:03:35.819 --> 00:03:37.319 And anyway, there's lots of anxiety. 00:03:37.479 --> 00:03:37.879 So let's look. 00:03:37.960 --> 00:03:40.740 It's Philippians chapter 4, verses 1 to 7. 00:03:41.620 --> 00:03:43.639 Philippians chapter 4, verses 1 to 7. 00:03:44.359 --> 00:03:52.659 And there's like four or five different topics in these seven little verses that we're going to look at. 00:03:52.659 --> 00:03:55.960 There's four or five different topics, any one of which I could make as a sermon. 00:03:56.340 --> 00:03:58.199 I don't have that much time to do them all. 00:03:58.359 --> 00:03:59.520 And I'm just going to read the text. 00:03:59.639 --> 00:04:02.219 But we're really just going to look at two and a half verses. 00:04:02.759 --> 00:04:08.000 And I'm going to say it over and over and over again because I want us to really sort of camp and memorize it. 00:04:08.919 --> 00:04:10.740 I just don't have time to deal with the other issues. 00:04:10.819 --> 00:04:12.139 So look, this is how it begins. 00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:17.379 Therefore, my brothers and sisters whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, 00:04:17.959 --> 00:04:19.839 stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. 00:04:19.839 --> 00:04:26.639 And we could talk a little bit about standing firm in the Lord and what it means that Paul talks about them as the beloved. 00:04:26.819 --> 00:04:31.259 And it's sort of bringing to a close the stuff that's gone on in the previous three chapters 00:04:31.259 --> 00:04:37.779 and entering us into sort of some of the more practical type of exhortations and encouragement that the letter is going to begin. 00:04:38.479 --> 00:04:40.659 And then it talks about something which is always relevant, 00:04:40.899 --> 00:04:46.219 which is Bill Hybels famously said that whenever two or more are together, there is friction. 00:04:46.220 --> 00:04:49.340 And we know that's true in churches. 00:04:49.500 --> 00:04:50.620 We know it's true in families. 00:04:50.820 --> 00:04:51.780 And we know it's in friendship. 00:04:52.500 --> 00:04:54.700 And so the very next part addresses it in a little bit. 00:04:54.900 --> 00:04:55.520 And we won't really. 00:04:55.600 --> 00:04:56.240 I'll just read it. 00:04:56.520 --> 00:04:56.940 Verse two. 00:04:57.200 --> 00:05:02.340 I entreat Iodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 00:05:03.480 --> 00:05:05.620 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, 00:05:05.860 --> 00:05:09.160 help these women who have labored side by side with me in the gospel, 00:05:09.700 --> 00:05:12.040 together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, 00:05:12.180 --> 00:05:13.600 whose names are in the book of life. 00:05:13.600 --> 00:05:18.320 And we could talk about conflict and what it means to have a same mind 00:05:18.320 --> 00:05:22.600 and what it means to sort of deal with each other, 00:05:22.640 --> 00:05:24.980 knowing that we're all written equally in the book of life. 00:05:25.820 --> 00:05:27.700 If you think about a conflict right now, 00:05:27.720 --> 00:05:30.620 and then you have to think about the fact that you're going to spend eternity with that person, 00:05:30.700 --> 00:05:32.439 then maybe you should be trying to deal with it. 00:05:33.379 --> 00:05:34.480 And we could talk about that. 00:05:34.520 --> 00:05:36.040 We don't because there's other things to do. 00:05:36.100 --> 00:05:36.860 And look at the next thing. 00:05:36.939 --> 00:05:38.820 A great thing to preach about, but I don't have time. 00:05:38.960 --> 00:05:39.420 Verse four. 00:05:39.620 --> 00:05:40.740 Rejoice in the Lord always. 00:05:40.879 --> 00:05:42.120 Again, I will say rejoice. 00:05:42.120 --> 00:05:42.319 Rejoice. 00:05:42.920 --> 00:05:44.199 We could talk about that. 00:05:44.280 --> 00:05:45.600 This exhortation to rejoice. 00:05:45.840 --> 00:05:46.620 I don't have time. 00:05:47.019 --> 00:05:49.959 Next bit also, really good stuff, worth meditating upon. 00:05:51.160 --> 00:05:53.000 The very next verse, verse five. 00:05:54.040 --> 00:05:55.840 It goes, let your reasonableness. 00:05:56.379 --> 00:05:58.720 And some of your Bible translations say gentleness. 00:05:59.060 --> 00:06:01.939 And some of your Bible translations say forbearance. 00:06:01.939 --> 00:06:07.819 And the original language, if you triangulate this idea of forbearance, reasonableness, and gentleness, 00:06:07.980 --> 00:06:15.660 it's the three words together sort of encapture this virtue that the Bible says that you should try to pursue. 00:06:15.660 --> 00:06:18.200 What does it go again? 00:06:18.200 --> 00:06:22.820 It goes, let your reasonableness, forbearance, gentleness be known to everyone. 00:06:23.300 --> 00:06:26.320 And that would be a really good thing to talk about because we all need those things. 00:06:26.880 --> 00:06:29.220 But we're going to talk about anxiety. 00:06:30.420 --> 00:06:34.840 And so verses five, B, six, and seven, a very famous text in the Bible. 00:06:34.839 --> 00:06:41.339 And if all that comes out of this sermon is that you desire to memorize this passage of Scripture and meditate upon it, 00:06:41.399 --> 00:06:42.439 then I've done a good job. 00:06:43.399 --> 00:06:47.679 And in fact, those of you who like to have sermon points, there's no sermon points this morning. 00:06:47.799 --> 00:06:53.719 And the reason there's no sermon points is if you all went home and remembered my pithy little saying 00:06:53.719 --> 00:06:56.039 and didn't remember the Bible, I failed. 00:06:57.779 --> 00:07:01.279 I want you to remember the Bible because that's God's word written 00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:04.359 rather than just I come up with a pithy little saying, you know, 00:07:04.360 --> 00:07:06.439 that tickles your ears or something like that. 00:07:06.939 --> 00:07:08.420 So what is it that the Bible says? 00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:15.080 And those of you who listen to it, you'll hear how it is that this verse is often intimidated and depressed Christians. 00:07:15.699 --> 00:07:17.480 It doesn't sound wise. 00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:21.319 But I'm going to suggest that if you think about the text, 00:07:21.980 --> 00:07:25.819 it ends up being extremely wise and very practical. 00:07:26.580 --> 00:07:27.560 Here's how it goes. 00:07:28.080 --> 00:07:29.240 The Lord is at hand. 00:07:29.800 --> 00:07:31.319 Do not be anxious about anything, 00:07:31.319 --> 00:07:34.500 but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, 00:07:34.620 --> 00:07:36.319 let your requests be made known to God. 00:07:36.980 --> 00:07:40.939 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, 00:07:41.459 --> 00:07:44.060 will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 00:07:45.120 --> 00:07:46.860 And just some of you notice this. 00:07:46.899 --> 00:07:48.959 It does look almost as if Jesus is saying, 00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:51.279 or the Bible is saying one of two things. 00:07:51.319 --> 00:07:54.060 It looks almost as if it's saying the Christian shouldn't be anxious. 00:07:54.060 --> 00:07:56.000 And the other thing is it almost talks about, 00:07:56.560 --> 00:07:59.339 well, maybe you begin like you're a bad Christian like me, 00:08:00.139 --> 00:08:02.220 but after you become a better Christian, 00:08:02.339 --> 00:08:05.300 you'll be less anxious because the peace of God is going to guard your heart. 00:08:05.379 --> 00:08:06.860 And that's just how that normally goes. 00:08:07.060 --> 00:08:09.360 And let's read the text again, 00:08:09.360 --> 00:08:10.860 and then let's just unpack it a bit. 00:08:10.860 --> 00:08:31.980 So is the Bible saying that Christians shouldn't be anxious? 00:08:32.840 --> 00:08:34.279 Simple answer, no. 00:08:35.159 --> 00:08:36.019 It's not saying that. 00:08:36.480 --> 00:08:38.560 If you look at it, it's a big but. 00:08:38.559 --> 00:08:40.359 I know I love saying that. 00:08:41.299 --> 00:08:43.399 There's a lot of big buts in the Bible. 00:08:43.559 --> 00:08:44.559 Let's put it that way. 00:08:45.339 --> 00:08:48.039 That's a good thing to get tattooed, I guess, on your arm. 00:08:48.419 --> 00:08:50.479 I like the big buts of the Bible. 00:08:51.059 --> 00:08:52.279 And this is a big but. 00:08:52.719 --> 00:08:55.519 It's not saying that you should never be anxious. 00:08:55.739 --> 00:08:58.419 It's talking about where you go with your anxiety. 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:00.899 That's what's going on. 00:09:01.559 --> 00:09:01.699 Right? 00:09:01.799 --> 00:09:05.439 It's saying the Lord is at hand, 00:09:05.500 --> 00:09:06.719 which we're going to get back to in a moment. 00:09:06.719 --> 00:09:08.339 Do not be anxious about anything. 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:11.719 But in everything. 00:09:12.179 --> 00:09:13.559 So it's anything and everything. 00:09:13.739 --> 00:09:16.219 It's saying, you know, it doesn't matter if you're anxious just because, 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:20.139 I don't know, you can't remember your PIN number for your bank machine. 00:09:20.299 --> 00:09:23.659 Or it's just something because somebody didn't greet you the right way in church 00:09:23.659 --> 00:09:25.259 and now you're getting anxious about it. 00:09:25.399 --> 00:09:28.619 Or you just got a cancer diagnosis, a really big thing. 00:09:28.679 --> 00:09:32.339 Or you're unemployed and you're maxed out on your credit card. 00:09:32.399 --> 00:09:34.279 Those are big things to be anxious about. 00:09:34.339 --> 00:09:34.899 Or you're moving. 00:09:34.899 --> 00:09:36.619 That's a big thing to be anxious about. 00:09:36.620 --> 00:09:39.740 But it's saying, for everything, the smallest thing, 00:09:40.340 --> 00:09:42.600 that if you even shared it with your best friend, 00:09:42.679 --> 00:09:43.220 they'd go, really? 00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:44.379 You're anxious about that? 00:09:44.460 --> 00:09:47.279 Like you're too caught up with being a mature adult 00:09:47.279 --> 00:09:50.399 to actually want to acknowledge that you're anxious about something so small? 00:09:50.580 --> 00:09:53.700 Or something that everybody would recognize, obviously, 00:09:53.700 --> 00:09:55.620 is a matter that would cause anxiety. 00:09:55.759 --> 00:09:57.520 The big getting a cancer diagnosis. 00:09:57.660 --> 00:09:58.480 Something like that. 00:09:59.879 --> 00:10:01.640 Like a serious, serious, serious. 00:10:01.660 --> 00:10:02.460 I mean, they're all serious. 00:10:02.980 --> 00:10:05.840 But it's saying, what do you do with your anxiety? 00:10:06.620 --> 00:10:07.800 Because here's the thing. 00:10:08.500 --> 00:10:10.759 You can't be human without being anxious. 00:10:12.420 --> 00:10:15.600 You cannot be human without being anxious. 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:19.080 And the Bible doesn't tell you to stop being human. 00:10:20.519 --> 00:10:25.040 The Bible addresses human realities at the deepest level 00:10:25.040 --> 00:10:29.659 in the context of the fact that the triune God actually exists. 00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:34.360 And so the Bible is unfailingly realistic 00:10:34.360 --> 00:10:37.620 in a way that is compassionate and just and merciful 00:10:37.620 --> 00:10:41.620 as it tries to get us to understand who we are as human beings 00:10:41.620 --> 00:10:44.360 in a world where the triune God really exists. 00:10:44.360 --> 00:10:47.419 And the fact of the matter is, if you think about it for a second, 00:10:47.580 --> 00:10:52.779 every human being is an unending torrent of needs. 00:10:54.600 --> 00:10:59.039 Every human being is an unending torrent of needs. 00:10:59.580 --> 00:11:01.220 If you talk to my friend Jason at the back, 00:11:01.259 --> 00:11:03.899 he would talk about, tell you that human beings are contingent, 00:11:04.300 --> 00:11:10.159 which is a $153 word, which means we depend on something else. 00:11:10.680 --> 00:11:13.560 We depended upon our mother and father for us to be born. 00:11:13.559 --> 00:11:16.719 We depended upon our mom to keep us in the womb. 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:19.519 We depended upon our parents to carry us. 00:11:19.619 --> 00:11:21.259 We learned language from other people. 00:11:21.419 --> 00:11:23.399 We're dependent upon the ozone layer. 00:11:23.500 --> 00:11:24.639 We're dependent upon gravity. 00:11:24.799 --> 00:11:28.500 Like, we are one, we want to pretend that we're gods, 00:11:28.500 --> 00:11:36.539 but we are one unending torrent of needs that will continue until we die. 00:11:37.460 --> 00:11:41.080 And if we are an unending torrent of needs, 00:11:41.080 --> 00:11:43.740 we will experience anxiety. 00:11:44.379 --> 00:11:46.259 What will it be like in the new heaven and the new earth? 00:11:46.360 --> 00:11:49.600 Well, that's a whole other thing that we can't talk about 00:11:49.600 --> 00:11:51.419 because the Bible doesn't reveal what it will be like 00:11:51.419 --> 00:11:54.480 to be in redeemed bodies in a redeemed relationship with God, 00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:55.700 the triune God. 00:11:55.840 --> 00:11:58.820 But right now we are an unending torrent of needs, 00:11:58.920 --> 00:12:00.139 so we will always be anxious. 00:12:00.300 --> 00:12:03.460 So the Bible isn't saying if you follow Jesus enough, 00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:04.960 you will turn into an angel. 00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:06.600 No. 00:12:07.139 --> 00:12:10.019 What the Bible does is it helps you to understand 00:12:10.019 --> 00:12:13.639 and become more human. 00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:16.480 And so there will always be anxiety. 00:12:16.580 --> 00:12:18.300 The question is, where do you go with your anxiety? 00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:19.460 What do you do with your anxiety? 00:12:19.460 --> 00:12:21.820 And that's a big human problem. 00:12:21.980 --> 00:12:24.700 It's part of the human experience as to how you deal with anxiety. 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:27.600 For a lot of people, once anxiety gets to a certain level, 00:12:27.700 --> 00:12:31.200 they take the Jack Daniels method of dealing with their anxiety 00:12:31.200 --> 00:12:33.820 or they go and get some legal marijuana 00:12:33.820 --> 00:12:35.580 to help them to deal with their anxiety. 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:38.000 In our culture, it's very common now 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:41.680 to go towards learning a certain meditation technique 00:12:41.680 --> 00:12:43.700 from some type of Hinduism or Buddhism 00:12:43.700 --> 00:12:46.440 or to learn some type of yoga technique 00:12:46.440 --> 00:12:49.180 from some type of Hinduism from Hinduism 00:12:49.179 --> 00:12:51.399 or to practice Buddhist mindfulness 00:12:51.399 --> 00:12:53.799 as a way of dealing with the anxiety 00:12:53.799 --> 00:12:55.620 and the stress that we have in our lives. 00:12:55.959 --> 00:12:57.459 But one of the things which is common 00:12:57.459 --> 00:12:59.259 to all of those types of things 00:12:59.259 --> 00:13:01.219 is that all they do 00:13:01.219 --> 00:13:04.219 is they just either numb you 00:13:04.219 --> 00:13:07.059 to the anxiety you're feeling, 00:13:07.639 --> 00:13:09.379 which is what Jack Daniels does, 00:13:09.439 --> 00:13:11.379 or if it's not Jack Daniels, it's shopping 00:13:11.379 --> 00:13:13.259 or, I don't know, 00:13:13.259 --> 00:13:15.539 some type of adrenaline junkie type of thing. 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:17.559 But it either just numbs you 00:13:17.559 --> 00:13:20.000 or helps you to have a bit of a break from it, 00:13:20.279 --> 00:13:22.339 but that which causes the anxiety 00:13:22.339 --> 00:13:24.579 was there when you began the meditation 00:13:24.579 --> 00:13:26.299 and it's still there when you ended it. 00:13:26.759 --> 00:13:29.039 And you actually aren't dealing with the anxiety. 00:13:29.139 --> 00:13:30.719 You're just taking a break from it. 00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:33.759 I don't know if bookstores are open yet, 00:13:34.619 --> 00:13:36.179 but once the bookstores are open, 00:13:36.259 --> 00:13:37.539 you can go to the Indigo bookstore 00:13:37.539 --> 00:13:40.139 and you can see a completely different way 00:13:40.139 --> 00:13:41.459 of trying to handle anxiety, 00:13:41.639 --> 00:13:42.939 which is the secular method, 00:13:43.239 --> 00:13:45.239 often mixed with different spiritual things. 00:13:45.240 --> 00:13:47.799 There's a huge section of books, 00:13:47.899 --> 00:13:48.860 self-help books, 00:13:48.980 --> 00:13:50.180 to basically tell you 00:13:50.180 --> 00:13:51.340 how to manage your emotions, 00:13:51.500 --> 00:13:52.519 how to manage your job, 00:13:52.620 --> 00:13:53.620 how to manage your spouse, 00:13:53.720 --> 00:13:54.759 how to manage your kids, 00:13:54.860 --> 00:13:55.820 how to manage your money, 00:13:56.159 --> 00:13:57.220 how to manage this 00:13:57.220 --> 00:13:58.340 and how to manage that 00:13:58.340 --> 00:13:59.480 and how to manage this. 00:13:59.539 --> 00:14:01.460 It's all ways to try to think through 00:14:01.460 --> 00:14:03.460 how we can stop feeling anxiety 00:14:03.460 --> 00:14:04.139 and handle it. 00:14:04.440 --> 00:14:05.680 And here's two truths 00:14:05.680 --> 00:14:06.899 about all those books. 00:14:07.340 --> 00:14:09.259 One is, none of them work. 00:14:09.259 --> 00:14:12.259 Because if they worked, 00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:13.919 there'd only be one book. 00:14:15.139 --> 00:14:16.559 And we'd all read it. 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:17.720 Right? 00:14:18.659 --> 00:14:19.939 And the other thing about them 00:14:19.939 --> 00:14:22.220 is if you read those books like I have, 00:14:22.319 --> 00:14:23.039 what do they do? 00:14:23.399 --> 00:14:24.500 They almost always, 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:25.759 after the first week, 00:14:25.860 --> 00:14:27.419 make you feel more anxious, 00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:28.319 not less. 00:14:29.879 --> 00:14:30.720 Because you know what? 00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:32.519 The author seems to be able to do this. 00:14:32.600 --> 00:14:33.600 Why can't I? 00:14:33.740 --> 00:14:35.159 Like, what's wrong with me? 00:14:35.159 --> 00:14:38.159 And now you have 53 new things 00:14:38.159 --> 00:14:40.319 to be anxious and down on yourself about 00:14:40.319 --> 00:14:41.319 than you had before 00:14:41.319 --> 00:14:43.139 because you can't manage the secret. 00:14:43.299 --> 00:14:44.779 You can't manage the process. 00:14:45.959 --> 00:14:47.399 No, I'm not saying that you can't learn 00:14:47.399 --> 00:14:48.439 certain things that help. 00:14:49.860 --> 00:14:51.879 I'm not saying that there's better ways 00:14:51.879 --> 00:14:53.839 or worse ways to handle certain situations. 00:14:53.899 --> 00:14:54.480 I'm not saying that. 00:14:54.519 --> 00:14:55.100 I'm just saying, 00:14:55.439 --> 00:14:56.600 the fact of the matter is, 00:14:57.000 --> 00:15:00.120 is that we will always have anxiety in our lives. 00:15:01.139 --> 00:15:02.799 And the Bible isn't saying 00:15:02.799 --> 00:15:03.899 never be anxious. 00:15:05.159 --> 00:15:06.000 It's saying, 00:15:06.519 --> 00:15:06.759 listen, 00:15:06.939 --> 00:15:08.360 all the different things you're anxious, 00:15:08.719 --> 00:15:09.740 how do you deal with it? 00:15:09.839 --> 00:15:10.419 What does it say? 00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:11.740 Listen to what the text says again. 00:15:12.360 --> 00:15:13.079 And this whole thing, 00:15:13.159 --> 00:15:14.219 it's very, very wise. 00:15:14.360 --> 00:15:15.759 This is why it's so wise 00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:17.039 to try to memorize this text. 00:15:17.179 --> 00:15:17.759 Listen to it. 00:15:18.299 --> 00:15:19.399 The Lord is at hand. 00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:22.439 Do not be anxious about anything, 00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:23.319 but in everything, 00:15:23.480 --> 00:15:25.620 by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, 00:15:25.719 --> 00:15:27.539 let your requests be made known to God. 00:15:28.039 --> 00:15:29.240 And the peace of God, 00:15:29.539 --> 00:15:31.220 which surpasses all understanding, 00:15:31.339 --> 00:15:32.919 will guard your hearts and your minds 00:15:32.919 --> 00:15:33.740 in Christ Jesus. 00:15:33.740 --> 00:15:35.860 So where do you go with your anxiety, 00:15:35.960 --> 00:15:37.259 whether it's a small thing or a big thing? 00:15:37.299 --> 00:15:38.100 You bring it to Jesus. 00:15:38.279 --> 00:15:39.580 You remember that the Lord is near. 00:15:40.580 --> 00:15:41.560 You bring it to Jesus. 00:15:41.799 --> 00:15:42.680 The smallest thing, 00:15:42.740 --> 00:15:43.519 the biggest things, 00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:44.779 you bring it to Jesus, 00:15:44.919 --> 00:15:46.019 you bring it to other Christians 00:15:46.019 --> 00:15:47.860 who can pray about it for you as well. 00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:50.980 And in a sense, 00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:52.500 the text is reminding you 00:15:52.500 --> 00:15:54.860 that it's not just that you can pray about this issue, 00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:56.299 and I'm going to talk about this more in a moment, 00:15:56.299 --> 00:15:58.500 but that you don't have to face it alone 00:15:58.500 --> 00:15:59.259 if you're a Christian. 00:16:01.559 --> 00:16:02.939 Like Jesus is with me. 00:16:04.659 --> 00:16:06.719 I'm anxious because I've had a breakdown 00:16:06.719 --> 00:16:08.079 in a relationship with a person 00:16:08.079 --> 00:16:09.019 I don't know how to deal with it. 00:16:09.079 --> 00:16:10.639 I don't have to deal with it by myself. 00:16:10.819 --> 00:16:11.559 Jesus is near. 00:16:12.379 --> 00:16:13.059 And who is he? 00:16:13.059 --> 00:16:13.959 He's not just Jesus. 00:16:14.979 --> 00:16:15.839 He's the Lord. 00:16:16.959 --> 00:16:18.059 The Lord is near. 00:16:18.059 --> 00:16:21.919 And the Lord is near to them as well. 00:16:23.159 --> 00:16:24.439 So you can pray about it, 00:16:24.759 --> 00:16:25.939 and there's this remembrance, 00:16:26.139 --> 00:16:26.819 this reminding, 00:16:26.959 --> 00:16:28.019 remember the Lord is near. 00:16:28.419 --> 00:16:29.419 Remember the Lord is near. 00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:30.539 Remember the Lord is near. 00:16:30.579 --> 00:16:32.259 Have you remembered that the Lord is near? 00:16:33.219 --> 00:16:34.159 But some of you might say, 00:16:34.239 --> 00:16:34.679 George, though, 00:16:34.719 --> 00:16:35.619 doesn't it talk about this, 00:16:35.699 --> 00:16:37.719 the peace that surpasses all understanding? 00:16:37.839 --> 00:16:38.959 Doesn't that sort of imply, 00:16:39.659 --> 00:16:41.179 because I've talked to lots of Christians, 00:16:41.299 --> 00:16:41.639 by the way, 00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:43.019 who said I used to be very anxious, 00:16:43.019 --> 00:16:44.619 but now I know this peace of God. 00:16:44.739 --> 00:16:46.000 I don't feel anxiety anymore. 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:48.679 And I've heard testimonies about that. 00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:49.700 I've had all sorts of people 00:16:49.700 --> 00:16:51.340 say things like that to me over the years. 00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:53.740 I no longer feel anxious like I do. 00:16:54.460 --> 00:16:55.419 George, you know, 00:16:55.480 --> 00:16:57.139 if you really let go and let God, 00:16:57.259 --> 00:16:58.919 if you really just are fully surrendered 00:16:58.919 --> 00:16:59.720 to the Holy Spirit, 00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:01.000 if you really are motivated 00:17:01.700 --> 00:17:02.980 in your spiritual disciplines, 00:17:03.100 --> 00:17:05.019 if you're really just following Jesus, 00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:06.119 you'll have this peace 00:17:06.119 --> 00:17:07.000 that surpasses all understanding, 00:17:07.900 --> 00:17:09.920 which means that you'll no longer be anxious. 00:17:11.339 --> 00:17:12.859 And we listen to these things, 00:17:12.900 --> 00:17:14.140 and we want to listen to these things, 00:17:14.200 --> 00:17:15.299 because on one level, 00:17:15.299 --> 00:17:17.240 we want to actually wish 00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:18.759 that there's the day will come 00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:19.960 when we're no longer anxious. 00:17:20.919 --> 00:17:22.919 Just before I say something about this, 00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:23.639 you know one of the things 00:17:23.639 --> 00:17:24.819 which is at the heart of this? 00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:26.399 Bit of a time out here. 00:17:28.180 --> 00:17:30.039 What motivates our desire 00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:31.339 to read self-help books 00:17:31.339 --> 00:17:32.500 to think that we can learn 00:17:32.500 --> 00:17:33.579 some type of method 00:17:33.579 --> 00:17:34.700 or set of techniques 00:17:34.700 --> 00:17:36.379 by which we will no longer be anxious? 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:38.700 What is it that makes Christians 00:17:38.700 --> 00:17:39.440 wish they can, 00:17:39.579 --> 00:17:40.940 believe that they can listen 00:17:40.940 --> 00:17:41.720 to a testimony 00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:43.099 about being fully surrendered 00:17:43.099 --> 00:17:44.500 to Jesus 00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:45.339 or fully surrendered 00:17:45.339 --> 00:17:46.299 to the Holy Spirit 00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:47.659 or fully committed 00:17:47.659 --> 00:17:48.599 to the Rosary 00:17:48.599 --> 00:17:49.819 or fully committed 00:17:49.819 --> 00:17:50.980 to Bible memorizing 00:17:50.980 --> 00:17:51.699 or whatever it is, 00:17:51.719 --> 00:17:52.539 it will mean you no longer 00:17:52.539 --> 00:17:53.459 are going to be anxious. 00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:56.619 It's actually appealing 00:17:56.619 --> 00:17:58.079 to our desire to be God. 00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:02.719 It's actually appealing 00:18:02.719 --> 00:18:04.159 to our desire to be God. 00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:08.440 to refuse to acknowledge 00:18:08.440 --> 00:18:11.900 that I am an unending torrent 00:18:11.900 --> 00:18:12.680 of needs. 00:18:14.180 --> 00:18:15.240 And if I was just 00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:16.860 an unending torrent of needs, 00:18:16.860 --> 00:18:18.279 that can be depressing, 00:18:18.620 --> 00:18:20.240 but the Father and the Son 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:21.180 and the Holy Spirit, 00:18:21.500 --> 00:18:22.580 they don't need, 00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:24.240 God doesn't need me, 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:25.880 but He loves me, 00:18:25.940 --> 00:18:27.140 not with a need love, 00:18:27.259 --> 00:18:28.220 but a gift love. 00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:31.820 I am an unending torrent of needs 00:18:31.819 --> 00:18:33.519 and the triune God 00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:35.200 is an unending fount 00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:37.139 of blessing and goodness. 00:18:39.319 --> 00:18:40.759 But go back to these Christians 00:18:40.759 --> 00:18:41.779 who say these things. 00:18:42.299 --> 00:18:44.539 I have one word to say to them. 00:18:44.599 --> 00:18:46.059 I don't say it to their face. 00:18:46.659 --> 00:18:47.839 Inwardly, I say this. 00:18:48.639 --> 00:18:49.679 You are in denial. 00:18:51.559 --> 00:18:53.639 I don't think you're so holy. 00:18:54.679 --> 00:18:55.960 I'm a bad person. 00:18:56.259 --> 00:18:56.720 I'm sorry. 00:18:56.799 --> 00:18:57.659 I don't want to encourage you 00:18:57.659 --> 00:18:58.039 to be... 00:18:58.039 --> 00:18:59.419 But the fact of the matter is 00:18:59.419 --> 00:19:00.500 that's not true. 00:19:00.500 --> 00:19:02.180 I'm going to describe the three reasons 00:19:02.180 --> 00:19:03.480 why that's not possibly true. 00:19:03.539 --> 00:19:04.299 The first one is that 00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:05.339 there's four. 00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:06.799 One I've already talked about. 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:08.900 You're in an ending torrent of needs. 00:19:09.460 --> 00:19:10.480 So that means there's going to be 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:11.380 anxiety there. 00:19:11.839 --> 00:19:13.019 And so people who say... 00:19:13.019 --> 00:19:13.759 Christians who say 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:14.759 they're so surrendered 00:19:14.759 --> 00:19:15.660 to the Holy Spirit 00:19:15.660 --> 00:19:17.380 that they're never anxious anymore, 00:19:17.579 --> 00:19:18.539 I say to them, 00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:19.900 you are in denial. 00:19:20.180 --> 00:19:21.599 How do I know they're in denial? 00:19:21.900 --> 00:19:23.480 Because I'm Exhibit A. 00:19:25.180 --> 00:19:26.059 Some of you have heard 00:19:26.059 --> 00:19:26.859 this story before 00:19:26.859 --> 00:19:28.119 and after the service, 00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:29.619 we have a doctor in the room. 00:19:29.619 --> 00:19:30.599 Maybe he can remind me 00:19:30.599 --> 00:19:31.739 what my condition is. 00:19:32.419 --> 00:19:33.619 But I... 00:19:33.619 --> 00:19:34.219 I... 00:19:34.219 --> 00:19:34.759 I... 00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:35.939 Quite a few years ago, 00:19:36.099 --> 00:19:37.939 I had a racing... 00:19:37.939 --> 00:19:39.399 I keep wanting to put my heart here, 00:19:39.500 --> 00:19:40.459 which shows how much I know 00:19:40.459 --> 00:19:41.019 about medicine. 00:19:41.439 --> 00:19:43.059 The heart's closer to this side. 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:44.539 And I had a problem 00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:45.559 of racing heart. 00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:47.219 My heart was just racing. 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:48.599 And at the same time, 00:19:48.639 --> 00:19:49.500 it felt sometimes 00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:51.059 as if my heart was pounding 00:19:51.059 --> 00:19:52.159 or the odd pound, 00:19:52.259 --> 00:19:52.899 almost as if it was going 00:19:52.899 --> 00:19:53.899 to pound out of my chest. 00:19:54.379 --> 00:19:55.500 And sometimes it would feel 00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:56.559 as if I was missing... 00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:57.979 My heart would skip a beat. 00:19:57.980 --> 00:20:00.140 Now, I was a typical guy. 00:20:00.220 --> 00:20:01.400 I still am a typical guy. 00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:03.680 So I did what all typical men do. 00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:06.079 Don't tell anybody about it, 00:20:06.200 --> 00:20:08.339 which is not the right way 00:20:08.339 --> 00:20:09.200 to ever handle it. 00:20:09.400 --> 00:20:10.000 So eventually, 00:20:10.140 --> 00:20:11.400 I got so worried about it 00:20:11.400 --> 00:20:12.519 that I told my wife. 00:20:12.539 --> 00:20:13.380 And my wife did 00:20:13.380 --> 00:20:14.660 the typical wife thing. 00:20:15.700 --> 00:20:16.779 Why haven't you gone 00:20:16.779 --> 00:20:18.880 to a doctor about this yet? 00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:19.700 Oh, yeah. 00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:20.559 There's doctors. 00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:21.660 That's when you're supposed to go. 00:20:21.900 --> 00:20:22.880 So I went to the doctor. 00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:24.000 I was misdiagnosed 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:24.860 and all at first 00:20:24.860 --> 00:20:26.280 as if I had a very serious 00:20:26.280 --> 00:20:27.060 heart condition 00:20:27.060 --> 00:20:28.980 and valve problems 00:20:28.980 --> 00:20:29.660 and all this other 00:20:29.660 --> 00:20:30.880 really depressing stuff, 00:20:30.940 --> 00:20:31.980 which just made my heart 00:20:31.980 --> 00:20:32.960 go way worse. 00:20:33.380 --> 00:20:34.240 And I finally went 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:35.440 to the Ottawa Heart Institute. 00:20:35.600 --> 00:20:36.820 They did a whole barrage 00:20:36.820 --> 00:20:37.660 of tests on me. 00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:38.400 At the end of it, 00:20:39.060 --> 00:20:39.760 he said, 00:20:40.280 --> 00:20:41.800 you have this condition. 00:20:41.880 --> 00:20:42.940 He gave me the long name. 00:20:43.580 --> 00:20:44.000 He said, 00:20:44.040 --> 00:20:44.840 you have a condition 00:20:44.840 --> 00:20:46.200 when you have too much stress 00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:46.920 in your life, 00:20:47.420 --> 00:20:48.360 you're going to have 00:20:48.360 --> 00:20:49.320 these heart symptoms. 00:20:49.660 --> 00:20:50.560 You're young and healthy 00:20:50.560 --> 00:20:51.020 and strong. 00:20:51.079 --> 00:20:51.819 You don't need drugs. 00:20:52.420 --> 00:20:53.180 And I was at the time 00:20:53.180 --> 00:20:54.160 I was in a rural church. 00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:54.519 He said, 00:20:54.579 --> 00:20:55.819 next time you start to have this, 00:20:55.859 --> 00:20:57.039 you need to take two weeks off 00:20:57.039 --> 00:20:57.720 and go fishing. 00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:00.379 That's the solution. 00:21:00.879 --> 00:21:01.599 Or you need to go 00:21:01.599 --> 00:21:02.460 talk to somebody. 00:21:03.079 --> 00:21:04.299 You have too much stress 00:21:04.299 --> 00:21:04.819 in your life 00:21:04.819 --> 00:21:05.460 and it's showing up 00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:05.960 in your body 00:21:05.960 --> 00:21:06.980 and you're not handling it right. 00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:07.879 And you know what? 00:21:07.879 --> 00:21:09.200 I would have said 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:11.599 that I had the peace of Jesus 00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:12.799 and wasn't anxious. 00:21:14.379 --> 00:21:16.680 It was a huge wake-up call 00:21:16.680 --> 00:21:17.720 to me that I 00:21:17.720 --> 00:21:20.359 was either not recognizing 00:21:20.359 --> 00:21:21.219 my anxiety 00:21:21.219 --> 00:21:22.579 or I was numbing 00:21:22.579 --> 00:21:23.519 my anxiety 00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:25.119 in ways that definitely 00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:26.119 were not healthy. 00:21:27.539 --> 00:21:28.899 So here's the thing. 00:21:30.119 --> 00:21:31.099 One of the reasons 00:21:31.099 --> 00:21:32.240 that Christians can say 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:33.919 that they now have 00:21:33.919 --> 00:21:34.839 the peace of Jesus 00:21:34.839 --> 00:21:35.699 and all of that 00:21:35.699 --> 00:21:36.479 and that they no longer 00:21:36.479 --> 00:21:37.159 feel anxiety, 00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:38.879 sometimes when they say that, 00:21:39.219 --> 00:21:40.179 if you're saying that, 00:21:40.219 --> 00:21:41.179 it means you're in denial 00:21:41.179 --> 00:21:41.839 probably. 00:21:41.959 --> 00:21:42.919 There's two other reasons. 00:21:43.099 --> 00:21:44.240 One other reason in particular. 00:21:44.919 --> 00:21:45.799 And I don't mean 00:21:45.799 --> 00:21:46.539 to offend you. 00:21:47.579 --> 00:21:48.159 One of the ways 00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:49.180 to reduce anxiety 00:21:49.180 --> 00:21:49.720 in your life 00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:50.600 is to stop doing 00:21:50.600 --> 00:21:51.759 hard things for Jesus. 00:21:53.779 --> 00:21:54.279 By the way, 00:21:54.320 --> 00:21:54.900 that's not a point 00:21:54.900 --> 00:21:55.660 to do something. 00:21:55.779 --> 00:21:56.380 I'm just telling you 00:21:56.380 --> 00:21:57.240 that's what happens. 00:21:58.680 --> 00:21:58.860 You know, 00:21:58.900 --> 00:21:59.640 so the Holy Spirit 00:21:59.640 --> 00:22:00.920 starts to whisper to me 00:22:00.920 --> 00:22:02.740 that I should share 00:22:02.740 --> 00:22:03.279 the gospel 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:04.279 at some point in time 00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:05.840 with the fellow 00:22:05.840 --> 00:22:06.779 that I've become friends 00:22:06.779 --> 00:22:07.500 with who's gay 00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:09.000 and I start to think 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:09.640 maybe I should share 00:22:09.640 --> 00:22:10.620 the gospel with them 00:22:10.620 --> 00:22:12.200 and I can feel 00:22:12.200 --> 00:22:12.800 the Holy Spirit 00:22:12.800 --> 00:22:13.440 pressing me on 00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:13.700 and say, 00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:13.840 no, 00:22:13.900 --> 00:22:14.380 I'm not going to do 00:22:14.380 --> 00:22:15.060 something like that. 00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:15.200 Well, 00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:16.000 that's an easy way 00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:17.519 to reduce your tension 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:19.240 and anxiety in your life. 00:22:19.679 --> 00:22:20.679 Or you're working 00:22:20.679 --> 00:22:21.659 in your workplace 00:22:21.659 --> 00:22:22.720 and your boss 00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:23.679 is doing something 00:22:23.679 --> 00:22:25.159 which is just unjust, 00:22:25.379 --> 00:22:25.799 unfair, 00:22:25.940 --> 00:22:26.980 breaking the rules. 00:22:27.779 --> 00:22:28.879 The powerful people 00:22:28.879 --> 00:22:29.519 in the company 00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:30.879 say you have to go ahead 00:22:30.879 --> 00:22:31.619 and do this 00:22:31.619 --> 00:22:33.179 and you just feel 00:22:33.179 --> 00:22:33.759 the conviction 00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:34.500 from within you 00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:35.440 that you have to tackle 00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:36.019 your boss 00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:36.779 and confront them 00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:37.359 for the evil 00:22:37.359 --> 00:22:37.940 or the wrong 00:22:37.940 --> 00:22:38.720 that they're doing 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:39.839 and you decide 00:22:39.839 --> 00:22:40.440 you don't do it 00:22:40.440 --> 00:22:41.759 and your stress goes down. 00:22:42.899 --> 00:22:44.679 Or you get the conviction 00:22:44.680 --> 00:22:45.519 of the Holy Spirit 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:46.140 that you have to start 00:22:46.140 --> 00:22:47.480 being more financially generous. 00:22:47.660 --> 00:22:48.600 I know that when I was 00:22:48.600 --> 00:22:49.480 beginning to learn 00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:50.180 how to tithe, 00:22:50.680 --> 00:22:51.759 there was some real stress 00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:52.340 in my life. 00:22:52.539 --> 00:22:53.299 All of a sudden 00:22:53.299 --> 00:22:54.299 when I had to increase 00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:55.000 the amount of giving 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:55.539 that I gave 00:22:55.539 --> 00:22:57.539 by $60 every two weeks, 00:22:57.580 --> 00:22:58.920 that was a stressful thing. 00:23:00.460 --> 00:23:01.320 You do it 00:23:01.320 --> 00:23:02.160 and the roof 00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:03.080 didn't fall down. 00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:04.900 I still ate. 00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:08.620 My kids still had clothes. 00:23:10.340 --> 00:23:11.140 But you see, 00:23:11.500 --> 00:23:12.460 if you stop 00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:14.160 doing the hard things 00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:15.340 that God is calling you 00:23:15.340 --> 00:23:15.860 to do, 00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:17.759 you will feel less anxious. 00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:18.440 But that's not 00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:19.320 a sign of holiness. 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:19.920 It's a sign 00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:20.700 that you're no longer 00:23:20.700 --> 00:23:21.680 following Jesus. 00:23:22.980 --> 00:23:24.340 And the third thing is 00:23:24.340 --> 00:23:25.480 is that you're becoming 00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:26.420 a sociopath 00:23:26.420 --> 00:23:27.580 in a Christian way. 00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:28.019 Sorry. 00:23:29.400 --> 00:23:30.900 There's a famous actress 00:23:30.900 --> 00:23:31.880 who I'm not going to tell you 00:23:31.880 --> 00:23:32.580 but it was about 00:23:32.580 --> 00:23:33.600 four or five years ago 00:23:33.600 --> 00:23:34.279 they had a thing 00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:35.380 in the National Post 00:23:35.380 --> 00:23:36.100 about the things 00:23:36.100 --> 00:23:36.640 that you wish 00:23:36.640 --> 00:23:37.380 that you could have 00:23:37.380 --> 00:23:37.940 if you could wish 00:23:37.940 --> 00:23:38.360 one thing 00:23:38.360 --> 00:23:38.920 what it would be. 00:23:39.400 --> 00:23:40.220 And one of the things 00:23:40.220 --> 00:23:41.240 that this famous actress 00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:41.960 said is she wished 00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:42.700 that she'd ever feel 00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:43.319 any guilt 00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:44.799 for the rest of her life. 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:45.740 And I thought to myself 00:23:45.740 --> 00:23:46.539 she's just wished 00:23:46.539 --> 00:23:47.220 that she becomes 00:23:47.220 --> 00:23:48.039 a sociopath. 00:23:49.539 --> 00:23:50.460 Why is it that 00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:51.380 nobody in the paper 00:23:51.380 --> 00:23:52.600 realized she just wished 00:23:52.600 --> 00:23:53.880 to become a sociopath 00:23:53.880 --> 00:23:56.039 where you feel no guilt? 00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:57.340 Because the fact 00:23:57.340 --> 00:23:58.240 of the matter is 00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:59.640 is if you become 00:23:59.640 --> 00:24:00.299 more and more 00:24:00.299 --> 00:24:01.000 you don't care 00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:01.779 about people 00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:02.860 like you really 00:24:02.860 --> 00:24:03.680 just don't care 00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:04.840 about people at all 00:24:04.840 --> 00:24:05.740 and you don't care 00:24:05.740 --> 00:24:06.720 about right and wrong 00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:08.500 you'll feel less anxiety. 00:24:08.500 --> 00:24:11.400 But you know what 00:24:11.400 --> 00:24:12.539 if you love people 00:24:12.539 --> 00:24:15.119 if you love your friends 00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:16.420 if you love your nephew 00:24:16.420 --> 00:24:17.180 or your niece 00:24:17.180 --> 00:24:18.339 you love your kid 00:24:18.339 --> 00:24:19.640 there's always 00:24:19.640 --> 00:24:20.920 going to be anxiety. 00:24:22.119 --> 00:24:23.660 There always will be 00:24:23.660 --> 00:24:24.880 because life 00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:26.200 can be really hard 00:24:26.200 --> 00:24:27.460 and it breaks 00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:27.960 your heart 00:24:27.960 --> 00:24:28.519 to see what 00:24:28.519 --> 00:24:29.519 they're going through. 00:24:30.299 --> 00:24:31.319 And the only way 00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:32.380 you stop being anxious 00:24:32.380 --> 00:24:33.720 is to start 00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:34.819 killing love 00:24:34.819 --> 00:24:36.039 and killing concern 00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:37.240 and killing your conscience 00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:38.559 and who wants that? 00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:41.859 If you wanted that 00:24:41.859 --> 00:24:42.779 coming into the service 00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:44.220 hopefully now you don't. 00:24:45.940 --> 00:24:46.779 So whatever 00:24:46.779 --> 00:24:47.819 the peace that passes 00:24:47.819 --> 00:24:48.680 all understanding 00:24:48.680 --> 00:24:50.000 means it doesn't mean 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:51.660 thank you Jesus 00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:52.319 as a result 00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:53.240 of the Holy Spirit 00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:54.880 you're now 00:24:54.880 --> 00:24:56.079 permanently in denial 00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:57.180 permanently stopping 00:24:57.180 --> 00:24:58.039 listening to Jesus 00:24:58.039 --> 00:24:59.299 and becoming a sociopath. 00:24:59.559 --> 00:24:59.799 No! 00:25:00.140 --> 00:25:01.079 That's not what 00:25:01.079 --> 00:25:02.400 the peace of Christ means 00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:03.220 it can't. 00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:06.099 Listen to the text again. 00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:08.680 The Lord is at hand 00:25:08.680 --> 00:25:10.000 do not be anxious 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:10.680 about anything 00:25:10.680 --> 00:25:11.400 but in everything 00:25:11.400 --> 00:25:12.859 by prayer and supplication 00:25:12.859 --> 00:25:13.579 with thanksgiving 00:25:13.579 --> 00:25:14.400 let your requests 00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:15.160 be made known 00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:16.160 to God 00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:17.759 and the peace of God 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:18.599 which surpasses 00:25:18.599 --> 00:25:19.620 all understanding 00:25:19.620 --> 00:25:20.759 will guard your hearts 00:25:20.759 --> 00:25:21.359 and your mind 00:25:21.359 --> 00:25:22.160 in Christ Jesus. 00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:23.559 It's such a beautiful text. 00:25:23.980 --> 00:25:25.259 I'm going to read it again 00:25:25.259 --> 00:25:26.980 because if all you do 00:25:26.980 --> 00:25:27.859 is remember the text 00:25:27.859 --> 00:25:28.940 I've done a good work. 00:25:29.120 --> 00:25:29.720 If all you do 00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:30.519 is you go home 00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.700 and you start to wrestle 00:25:31.700 --> 00:25:32.279 with God 00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:32.900 with this text 00:25:32.900 --> 00:25:34.559 that's what my job is. 00:25:34.660 --> 00:25:35.480 I'm a herald. 00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:36.400 I'm a pointer. 00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:39.500 Listen to it again. 00:25:39.580 --> 00:25:40.759 The Lord is at hand 00:25:40.759 --> 00:25:42.400 do not be anxious 00:25:42.400 --> 00:25:43.080 about anything 00:25:43.080 --> 00:25:43.920 but in everything 00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:45.240 by prayer and supplication 00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:45.940 with thanksgiving 00:25:45.940 --> 00:25:46.700 let your requests 00:25:46.700 --> 00:25:47.840 be made known to God 00:25:47.840 --> 00:25:49.259 and the peace of God 00:25:49.259 --> 00:25:50.019 which surpasses 00:25:50.019 --> 00:25:50.640 all understanding 00:25:50.640 --> 00:25:51.800 will guard your hearts 00:25:51.800 --> 00:25:52.440 and your minds 00:25:52.440 --> 00:25:53.360 in Christ Jesus. 00:25:54.400 --> 00:25:55.960 So what does this peace mean? 00:25:56.340 --> 00:25:57.860 Does it mean it replaces anxiety? 00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:58.560 No, it's referring 00:25:58.560 --> 00:25:59.500 to something different. 00:26:00.140 --> 00:26:01.100 In the Bible 00:26:01.100 --> 00:26:03.080 the word peace 00:26:03.080 --> 00:26:04.259 primarily refers 00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:05.140 to an objective 00:26:05.140 --> 00:26:06.180 state of affairs. 00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:07.700 not an emotion. 00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:10.759 It refers primarily 00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:11.680 to an objective 00:26:11.680 --> 00:26:12.540 state of affairs 00:26:12.540 --> 00:26:13.340 not an emotion. 00:26:13.980 --> 00:26:14.759 Now the objective 00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:15.680 state of affairs 00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:16.840 will start to influence 00:26:16.840 --> 00:26:17.620 your emotions. 00:26:19.280 --> 00:26:20.580 It will influence 00:26:20.580 --> 00:26:21.620 your affections. 00:26:21.980 --> 00:26:22.840 It will influence 00:26:22.840 --> 00:26:23.540 your plans. 00:26:23.980 --> 00:26:24.840 It will influence 00:26:24.840 --> 00:26:25.720 your courage. 00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:27.240 It will influence 00:26:27.240 --> 00:26:28.040 your desires. 00:26:28.039 --> 00:26:28.180 state of affairs. 00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:31.859 But it's an objective 00:26:31.859 --> 00:26:32.599 state of affairs 00:26:32.599 --> 00:26:33.659 that starts to influence 00:26:33.659 --> 00:26:34.259 how you feel. 00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:35.039 It would be as if 00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:36.799 you go to a doctor 00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:38.759 and they treat 00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:39.619 that you go through 00:26:39.619 --> 00:26:40.319 some surgery 00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:41.299 and you have the drug 00:26:41.299 --> 00:26:41.680 treatments 00:26:41.680 --> 00:26:42.579 and you're restored 00:26:42.579 --> 00:26:43.039 to health. 00:26:43.420 --> 00:26:44.480 The health is an objective 00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:45.139 thing and it starts 00:26:45.139 --> 00:26:46.000 to have other types 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:47.139 of effects. 00:26:47.319 --> 00:26:47.399 Right? 00:26:47.400 --> 00:26:48.680 You get your health 00:26:48.680 --> 00:26:49.240 and all of a sudden 00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:49.800 you have energy. 00:26:49.940 --> 00:26:50.540 You get your health 00:26:50.540 --> 00:26:51.640 and you're in less pain. 00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:52.400 You get your health 00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:53.400 and you feel like 00:26:53.400 --> 00:26:54.400 you can tackle things. 00:26:54.519 --> 00:26:55.080 You get health 00:26:55.080 --> 00:26:56.540 and you want to go 00:26:56.540 --> 00:26:57.240 like you know what I mean 00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:58.259 like it's an objective thing 00:26:58.259 --> 00:26:59.019 and what it is. 00:26:59.320 --> 00:27:00.680 So the way to understand it 00:27:00.680 --> 00:27:01.519 is to think of 00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:02.980 you know that people 00:27:02.980 --> 00:27:03.980 don't make them anymore 00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:05.180 and maybe some of you do. 00:27:05.620 --> 00:27:06.380 But if you imagine 00:27:06.380 --> 00:27:07.920 that as a bit of a project 00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:10.680 in somebody's garage 00:27:10.680 --> 00:27:11.380 you wanted to make 00:27:11.380 --> 00:27:12.820 the world's most elaborate 00:27:12.820 --> 00:27:13.660 mobile. 00:27:14.860 --> 00:27:15.640 And so you get 00:27:15.640 --> 00:27:16.640 the fishing wire 00:27:16.640 --> 00:27:18.580 and you get the fine 00:27:18.580 --> 00:27:19.440 pieces of wood 00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:20.360 and you have it 00:27:20.360 --> 00:27:21.320 be really elaborate. 00:27:21.560 --> 00:27:22.100 You have different 00:27:22.100 --> 00:27:22.840 lengths of wood 00:27:22.840 --> 00:27:23.480 some like this 00:27:23.480 --> 00:27:24.279 some like this 00:27:24.279 --> 00:27:25.160 and you have different 00:27:25.160 --> 00:27:25.900 lengths of wire 00:27:25.900 --> 00:27:26.640 and you have different 00:27:26.640 --> 00:27:28.080 objects of different weight 00:27:28.080 --> 00:27:29.920 and the fishing line 00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:31.299 some are long like this 00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:32.080 and some are short 00:27:32.080 --> 00:27:33.539 and you work on it 00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:34.200 and you work on it 00:27:34.200 --> 00:27:35.319 until it's all completely 00:27:35.319 --> 00:27:36.700 balanced and really beautiful 00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:37.539 and that's peace. 00:27:39.700 --> 00:27:40.519 That's peace. 00:27:44.180 --> 00:27:46.000 And at the heart of peace 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:48.559 is peace with God. 00:27:49.700 --> 00:27:51.140 At the heart of peace 00:27:51.140 --> 00:27:52.740 is peace with God. 00:27:53.740 --> 00:27:55.180 If you just turn in your Bibles 00:27:55.180 --> 00:27:57.100 with me to John chapter 20 00:27:57.100 --> 00:28:00.259 John chapter 20 00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:04.440 there's this very short 00:28:04.440 --> 00:28:05.900 three verse narrative 00:28:05.900 --> 00:28:08.000 there's more to the narrative 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:09.339 but there's very short 00:28:09.339 --> 00:28:11.359 parts of two and a half verses 00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:14.220 which at a narrative level 00:28:14.220 --> 00:28:15.200 and plant an idea 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:15.980 into your head 00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:17.480 that now that I start 00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:18.000 to point it out 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:18.319 you go 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:19.420 oh yeah. 00:28:20.940 --> 00:28:21.420 That's the way 00:28:21.420 --> 00:28:22.480 narrative works, right? 00:28:22.980 --> 00:28:24.279 It's planted there 00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:26.440 but one of the main ideas 00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:27.640 of what happens 00:28:27.640 --> 00:28:28.820 as a result of Jesus' 00:28:29.080 --> 00:28:29.780 life, death 00:28:29.780 --> 00:28:30.480 and resurrection 00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:32.540 is that human beings 00:28:32.540 --> 00:28:33.720 can now have peace 00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:34.340 with God 00:28:34.340 --> 00:28:36.820 and you can't get 00:28:36.820 --> 00:28:38.200 that mobile right 00:28:38.200 --> 00:28:39.540 if you don't have peace 00:28:39.540 --> 00:28:40.040 with God. 00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:43.880 You can't get that mobile right 00:28:43.880 --> 00:28:44.600 if you don't have peace 00:28:44.600 --> 00:28:45.100 with God 00:28:45.100 --> 00:28:46.980 and look what happens 00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:48.720 so John is an eyewitness 00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:50.520 of all of the events 00:28:50.520 --> 00:28:51.120 in this 00:28:51.120 --> 00:28:52.020 he writes a biography 00:28:52.020 --> 00:28:52.700 of Jesus 00:28:52.700 --> 00:28:54.440 it's an eyewitness biography 00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:57.180 and the very first words 00:28:57.180 --> 00:28:58.039 that Jesus speaks 00:28:58.039 --> 00:28:58.539 to somebody 00:28:58.539 --> 00:28:59.620 after his resurrection 00:28:59.620 --> 00:29:00.880 is to Mary Magdalene 00:29:00.880 --> 00:29:03.000 we know from other biographies 00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:04.440 that Jesus saw other people 00:29:04.440 --> 00:29:05.860 but none of the first words 00:29:05.860 --> 00:29:06.420 are recorded 00:29:06.420 --> 00:29:07.580 these are the first words 00:29:07.580 --> 00:29:07.860 of Jesus 00:29:07.860 --> 00:29:08.500 other than the words 00:29:08.500 --> 00:29:09.580 recorded to Mary Magdalene 00:29:09.580 --> 00:29:10.660 these are the first words 00:29:10.660 --> 00:29:11.920 recorded by Jesus 00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:13.940 that Jesus spoke 00:29:13.940 --> 00:29:14.620 that are recorded 00:29:14.620 --> 00:29:16.059 when he speaks 00:29:16.059 --> 00:29:16.740 to his disciples 00:29:16.740 --> 00:29:17.539 in the upper room 00:29:17.539 --> 00:29:18.880 look at verse 19 00:29:18.880 --> 00:29:20.860 on the evening of that day 00:29:20.860 --> 00:29:22.880 so it was in that morning 00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:23.380 they discovered 00:29:23.380 --> 00:29:24.460 that the grave is empty 00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:25.740 the grave clothes 00:29:25.740 --> 00:29:26.640 were left behind 00:29:26.640 --> 00:29:27.540 and Jesus had risen 00:29:27.540 --> 00:29:28.200 from the dead 00:29:28.200 --> 00:29:29.800 the first day of the week 00:29:29.800 --> 00:29:31.300 the door is being locked 00:29:31.300 --> 00:29:32.620 where the disciples were 00:29:32.620 --> 00:29:34.020 for fear of the Jewish leaders 00:29:34.020 --> 00:29:35.580 Jesus came and stood 00:29:35.580 --> 00:29:36.040 among them 00:29:36.040 --> 00:29:36.660 and said to them 00:29:36.660 --> 00:29:37.380 what's the first thing 00:29:37.380 --> 00:29:37.900 he says 00:29:37.900 --> 00:29:40.020 peace be with you 00:29:40.020 --> 00:29:41.900 and then what does he do 00:29:41.900 --> 00:29:43.800 he ties this message 00:29:43.800 --> 00:29:44.460 of peace 00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:46.120 to his crucifixion 00:29:46.120 --> 00:29:48.200 look what he does next 00:29:48.200 --> 00:29:49.480 when he had said this 00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:50.660 he showed them 00:29:50.660 --> 00:29:51.240 his hands 00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:52.020 in his side 00:29:52.019 --> 00:29:53.519 he shows them 00:29:53.519 --> 00:29:54.559 this part of the hand 00:29:54.559 --> 00:29:55.259 and he must have 00:29:55.259 --> 00:29:56.279 lifted up his jersey 00:29:56.279 --> 00:29:57.259 or whatever he was wearing 00:29:57.259 --> 00:29:58.019 and showed the 00:29:58.019 --> 00:30:00.119 the wound of the spear 00:30:00.119 --> 00:30:01.099 that went into his side 00:30:01.099 --> 00:30:02.180 that showed that he was dead 00:30:02.180 --> 00:30:04.720 and then he says 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:05.339 to them again 00:30:05.339 --> 00:30:06.980 peace be with you 00:30:06.980 --> 00:30:09.660 he directly connects 00:30:09.660 --> 00:30:10.839 his death upon 00:30:10.839 --> 00:30:12.059 his life and death 00:30:12.059 --> 00:30:12.900 and resurrection 00:30:12.900 --> 00:30:14.619 to the fact that 00:30:14.619 --> 00:30:15.779 they now have peace 00:30:15.779 --> 00:30:17.559 now the fact of the matter is 00:30:17.559 --> 00:30:17.879 is that 00:30:17.879 --> 00:30:19.500 God doesn't have to have 00:30:19.500 --> 00:30:19.940 Jesus 00:30:19.940 --> 00:30:21.019 God the Father 00:30:21.019 --> 00:30:21.680 doesn't have to have 00:30:21.680 --> 00:30:22.619 Jesus do something 00:30:22.619 --> 00:30:23.139 so that 00:30:23.139 --> 00:30:24.019 you know 00:30:24.019 --> 00:30:24.819 he's no longer 00:30:24.819 --> 00:30:25.680 at war with us 00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:26.579 because God is never 00:30:26.579 --> 00:30:27.400 the Father is never 00:30:27.400 --> 00:30:28.440 I mean how could the Father 00:30:28.440 --> 00:30:29.500 be at war with us 00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:30.180 I mean he doesn't even 00:30:30.180 --> 00:30:30.740 have to blink 00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:32.099 and I just would stop existing 00:30:32.099 --> 00:30:33.379 like that's just 00:30:33.379 --> 00:30:34.139 like 00:30:34.139 --> 00:30:35.460 and the fact of the matter is 00:30:35.460 --> 00:30:36.039 is that God's 00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:36.859 unfailingly good 00:30:36.859 --> 00:30:37.900 he's unfailingly just 00:30:37.900 --> 00:30:39.119 he's unfailingly merciful 00:30:39.119 --> 00:30:40.379 he's unfailingly kind 00:30:40.379 --> 00:30:41.139 he has nothing 00:30:41.139 --> 00:30:42.879 he's not at enmity with us 00:30:42.879 --> 00:30:44.299 but we're at enmity with him 00:30:44.299 --> 00:30:47.379 and we're at enmity with him 00:30:47.380 --> 00:30:48.340 and we can't fix 00:30:48.340 --> 00:30:49.480 our enmity with him 00:30:49.480 --> 00:30:51.420 and if you don't think 00:30:51.420 --> 00:30:52.440 you're at enmity with him 00:30:52.440 --> 00:30:54.060 if the enmity with him 00:30:54.060 --> 00:30:54.620 comes up 00:30:54.620 --> 00:30:55.380 when he 00:30:55.380 --> 00:30:56.780 his presence 00:30:56.780 --> 00:30:57.700 and his sovereignty 00:30:57.700 --> 00:30:58.660 and his rule 00:30:58.660 --> 00:31:00.800 goes against my desire 00:31:00.800 --> 00:31:02.700 would I have to reconcile 00:31:02.700 --> 00:31:03.580 with that person 00:31:03.580 --> 00:31:04.900 would I'm not allowed 00:31:04.900 --> 00:31:06.000 to sleep with that person 00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:08.520 you want me to be generous 00:31:08.520 --> 00:31:09.920 it's not my money 00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:10.480 it's yours 00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:11.000 what do you mean 00:31:11.000 --> 00:31:12.160 it's not my money 00:31:12.160 --> 00:31:12.840 and yours 00:31:12.839 --> 00:31:15.179 I need to actually 00:31:15.179 --> 00:31:16.480 speak up to my boss 00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:17.419 about justice 00:31:17.419 --> 00:31:19.099 I need to repent 00:31:19.099 --> 00:31:19.819 of racism 00:31:19.819 --> 00:31:21.899 like how dare you say that 00:31:21.899 --> 00:31:22.419 like you know 00:31:22.419 --> 00:31:22.939 whoa 00:31:22.939 --> 00:31:23.439 you know 00:31:23.439 --> 00:31:24.500 it's that's when we start 00:31:24.500 --> 00:31:25.379 to realize our enmity 00:31:25.379 --> 00:31:25.919 against God 00:31:25.919 --> 00:31:27.179 and we can't fix it ourselves 00:31:27.179 --> 00:31:29.759 and that's what Jesus does 00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:32.039 the demands of justice 00:31:32.039 --> 00:31:33.659 so that the war 00:31:33.659 --> 00:31:34.439 that our enmity 00:31:34.439 --> 00:31:35.179 can be over 00:31:35.179 --> 00:31:36.399 the demands 00:31:36.399 --> 00:31:37.720 of penitence 00:31:37.720 --> 00:31:38.139 so that 00:31:38.139 --> 00:31:39.579 the war 00:31:39.579 --> 00:31:40.359 could be over 00:31:40.359 --> 00:31:42.339 the demands 00:31:42.339 --> 00:31:43.139 of apologies 00:31:43.139 --> 00:31:43.939 the demands 00:31:43.939 --> 00:31:44.759 of a new life 00:31:44.759 --> 00:31:45.379 the demands 00:31:45.379 --> 00:31:47.079 of a new way 00:31:47.079 --> 00:31:47.500 of living 00:31:47.500 --> 00:31:48.679 all of these demands 00:31:48.679 --> 00:31:49.699 which we could not 00:31:49.699 --> 00:31:50.359 accomplish 00:31:50.359 --> 00:31:52.699 to bring about peace 00:31:52.699 --> 00:31:54.240 Jesus does 00:31:54.240 --> 00:31:55.220 on our behalf 00:31:55.220 --> 00:31:56.599 through his sinless life 00:31:56.599 --> 00:31:57.659 and his sin bearing death 00:31:57.659 --> 00:31:58.319 and his resurrection 00:31:58.319 --> 00:32:00.379 and when we put our faith 00:32:00.379 --> 00:32:01.240 and trust in him 00:32:01.240 --> 00:32:03.679 I have peace with God 00:32:03.679 --> 00:32:06.379 at an objective level 00:32:06.379 --> 00:32:08.159 and now you see 00:32:08.159 --> 00:32:09.199 the power of the teaching 00:32:09.199 --> 00:32:10.439 and how it's all connected 00:32:10.439 --> 00:32:11.959 George 00:32:11.960 --> 00:32:13.819 you have all these anxieties 00:32:13.819 --> 00:32:15.259 and George 00:32:15.259 --> 00:32:15.819 as I've shared 00:32:15.819 --> 00:32:16.559 in some of the last things 00:32:16.559 --> 00:32:17.440 one of the main problems 00:32:17.440 --> 00:32:18.180 that George has 00:32:18.180 --> 00:32:19.220 and if George is all like you 00:32:19.220 --> 00:32:20.759 is I keep getting amnesia 00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:22.579 I walk out of here 00:32:22.579 --> 00:32:23.840 and within minutes 00:32:23.840 --> 00:32:24.500 or hours 00:32:24.500 --> 00:32:25.400 or the next day 00:32:25.400 --> 00:32:26.519 I forget about the fact 00:32:26.519 --> 00:32:27.559 that the Lord is near 00:32:27.559 --> 00:32:29.400 I forget about the fact 00:32:29.400 --> 00:32:30.559 that not only is the Lord near 00:32:30.559 --> 00:32:31.539 in terms of he's present 00:32:31.539 --> 00:32:32.100 with me now 00:32:32.100 --> 00:32:32.960 but that one day 00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:34.779 hopefully soon 00:32:34.779 --> 00:32:36.019 I will see him 00:32:36.019 --> 00:32:36.940 face to face 00:32:36.940 --> 00:32:39.039 and I forget about the fact 00:32:39.039 --> 00:32:39.900 that in Jesus 00:32:39.900 --> 00:32:40.720 by faith with him 00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:41.940 I have peace with God 00:32:41.940 --> 00:32:43.340 I forget about the fact 00:32:43.340 --> 00:32:45.880 that the Lord is near 00:32:45.880 --> 00:32:46.960 it means that my destiny 00:32:46.960 --> 00:32:47.740 is secure 00:32:47.740 --> 00:32:49.040 I forget about the fact 00:32:49.040 --> 00:32:50.000 that my identity 00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:50.820 is now rooted 00:32:50.820 --> 00:32:51.560 in the fact that 00:32:51.560 --> 00:32:52.900 Jesus is my Savior and Lord 00:32:52.900 --> 00:32:53.680 he loves me 00:32:53.680 --> 00:32:54.680 and he died for me 00:32:54.680 --> 00:32:57.100 and that's my primary identity 00:32:57.100 --> 00:32:58.700 and I forget his presence 00:32:58.700 --> 00:32:59.820 I forget my destiny 00:32:59.820 --> 00:33:01.000 I forget these things 00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:01.560 I forget 00:33:01.560 --> 00:33:02.800 that the one 00:33:02.800 --> 00:33:03.519 whose judgment 00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:04.400 most matters 00:33:04.400 --> 00:33:05.640 and a lot of our anxiety 00:33:05.640 --> 00:33:06.759 is over judgments 00:33:06.759 --> 00:33:07.600 about ourselves 00:33:07.599 --> 00:33:08.799 and judgments of others 00:33:08.799 --> 00:33:10.299 and senses of what it means 00:33:10.299 --> 00:33:11.099 to be a man 00:33:11.099 --> 00:33:11.699 or a woman 00:33:11.699 --> 00:33:12.500 or to be hip 00:33:12.500 --> 00:33:13.299 or not hip 00:33:13.299 --> 00:33:14.199 or alt-right 00:33:14.199 --> 00:33:15.159 or progressive 00:33:15.159 --> 00:33:16.179 or all those things 00:33:16.179 --> 00:33:17.399 that are so connected to us 00:33:17.399 --> 00:33:18.519 all those judgments 00:33:18.519 --> 00:33:19.699 we impose on ourselves 00:33:19.699 --> 00:33:20.559 and others say 00:33:20.559 --> 00:33:21.539 and all of our fears 00:33:21.539 --> 00:33:23.199 there's only one judgment 00:33:23.199 --> 00:33:24.519 that really matters 00:33:24.519 --> 00:33:28.559 and that is what 00:33:28.559 --> 00:33:30.059 the Father says 00:33:30.059 --> 00:33:31.399 at the end of our life 00:33:31.399 --> 00:33:32.819 and when you put 00:33:32.819 --> 00:33:33.659 your faith and trust 00:33:33.659 --> 00:33:34.099 in Jesus 00:33:34.099 --> 00:33:34.939 you already know 00:33:34.939 --> 00:33:35.759 what he will say 00:33:35.759 --> 00:33:38.559 welcome 00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:40.099 welcome 00:33:40.099 --> 00:33:42.440 I am so glad 00:33:42.440 --> 00:33:43.000 you're here 00:33:43.000 --> 00:33:45.279 I have loved you 00:33:45.279 --> 00:33:46.839 with an eternal 00:33:46.839 --> 00:33:48.099 and unfailing love 00:33:48.099 --> 00:33:48.680 from the moment 00:33:48.680 --> 00:33:49.519 you were conceived 00:33:49.519 --> 00:33:51.140 in your mom's womb 00:33:51.140 --> 00:33:53.700 and I love you so much 00:33:53.700 --> 00:33:54.599 my son died 00:33:54.599 --> 00:33:56.000 and I love you so much 00:33:56.000 --> 00:33:57.039 the Holy Spirit 00:33:57.039 --> 00:33:58.660 I just so love you 00:33:58.660 --> 00:33:59.879 and I am so glad 00:33:59.879 --> 00:34:00.420 you are here 00:34:00.420 --> 00:34:01.019 welcome 00:34:01.019 --> 00:34:05.519 and so that as we 00:34:05.519 --> 00:34:06.579 pour out our hearts 00:34:06.579 --> 00:34:07.680 remembering the Lord 00:34:07.680 --> 00:34:08.219 is near 00:34:08.219 --> 00:34:10.019 and sometimes 00:34:10.019 --> 00:34:10.840 when it says 00:34:10.840 --> 00:34:12.019 the peace that surpasses 00:34:12.019 --> 00:34:12.800 all understanding 00:34:12.800 --> 00:34:13.579 what that means 00:34:13.579 --> 00:34:14.480 is that in every 00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:15.280 Christian's life 00:34:15.280 --> 00:34:15.840 and we will 00:34:15.840 --> 00:34:17.099 in heaven only 00:34:17.099 --> 00:34:18.259 realize it fully 00:34:18.259 --> 00:34:20.019 that there is 00:34:20.019 --> 00:34:20.940 every one of 00:34:20.940 --> 00:34:22.079 in our lives 00:34:22.079 --> 00:34:23.000 times 00:34:23.000 --> 00:34:23.739 that the 00:34:23.739 --> 00:34:24.820 something of the 00:34:24.820 --> 00:34:25.340 supernatural 00:34:25.340 --> 00:34:26.679 about how we have 00:34:26.679 --> 00:34:27.980 responded to anxiety 00:34:27.980 --> 00:34:31.280 and we don't realize 00:34:31.280 --> 00:34:31.960 that it was just 00:34:31.960 --> 00:34:33.340 a surpassing 00:34:33.340 --> 00:34:34.539 of our understanding 00:34:34.539 --> 00:34:36.420 as a gracious gift 00:34:36.420 --> 00:34:38.840 friends 00:34:38.840 --> 00:34:41.980 what does the Bible say 00:34:41.980 --> 00:34:43.820 oh I have the wrong text 00:34:43.820 --> 00:34:45.380 what does the Bible say 00:34:45.380 --> 00:34:46.340 let your 00:34:46.340 --> 00:34:47.400 the Lord is at hand 00:34:47.400 --> 00:34:48.300 do not be anxious 00:34:48.300 --> 00:34:48.900 about anything 00:34:48.900 --> 00:34:49.599 but in everything 00:34:49.599 --> 00:34:51.000 by prayer and supplication 00:34:51.000 --> 00:34:51.760 with thanksgiving 00:34:51.760 --> 00:34:52.860 let your requests 00:34:52.860 --> 00:34:54.019 be made known to God 00:34:54.019 --> 00:34:55.400 and the peace of God 00:34:55.400 --> 00:34:56.159 which surpasses 00:34:56.159 --> 00:34:57.039 all understanding 00:34:57.039 --> 00:34:58.139 will guard your hearts 00:34:58.139 --> 00:34:58.739 and your minds 00:34:58.739 --> 00:34:59.539 in Christ Jesus 00:34:59.539 --> 00:35:04.219 don't be afraid 00:35:04.219 --> 00:35:05.379 of your anxieties 00:35:05.379 --> 00:35:07.480 pour out your heart 00:35:07.480 --> 00:35:08.059 to the Lord 00:35:08.059 --> 00:35:09.679 there's nothing too small 00:35:09.679 --> 00:35:10.599 nothing too big 00:35:10.599 --> 00:35:13.359 and not just for yourself 00:35:13.359 --> 00:35:14.159 as you look around 00:35:14.159 --> 00:35:14.699 your neighbors 00:35:14.699 --> 00:35:15.379 as you look around 00:35:15.379 --> 00:35:15.839 the church 00:35:15.839 --> 00:35:16.899 and you see the anxieties 00:35:16.899 --> 00:35:17.739 that others have 00:35:17.739 --> 00:35:19.579 pour out your heart 00:35:19.579 --> 00:35:20.799 and pray for them as well 00:35:20.799 --> 00:35:22.739 pour out your heart 00:35:22.739 --> 00:35:23.779 and pray that the Lord 00:35:23.779 --> 00:35:25.199 will meet them 00:35:25.199 --> 00:35:26.099 in their anxiety 00:35:26.099 --> 00:35:27.460 and that rather than 00:35:27.460 --> 00:35:28.799 turning to Jack Daniels 00:35:28.799 --> 00:35:29.460 and rather than 00:35:29.460 --> 00:35:30.960 turning to adrenaline 00:35:30.960 --> 00:35:31.839 junky stuff 00:35:31.839 --> 00:35:32.539 or rather than 00:35:32.539 --> 00:35:34.099 turning to excessive shopping 00:35:34.099 --> 00:35:34.799 or rather than 00:35:34.799 --> 00:35:36.019 turning to whatever it is 00:35:36.019 --> 00:35:37.619 pray that they'll 00:35:37.619 --> 00:35:38.360 turn to the Lord 00:35:38.360 --> 00:35:40.460 and pray for me 00:35:40.460 --> 00:35:40.920 a sinner 00:35:40.920 --> 00:35:43.039 who gets amnesia 00:35:43.039 --> 00:35:43.599 like you 00:35:43.599 --> 00:35:45.360 and needs to learn 00:35:45.360 --> 00:35:46.159 to pour out my heart 00:35:46.159 --> 00:35:46.659 to the Lord 00:35:46.659 --> 00:35:47.799 please stand 00:35:56.099 --> 00:36:02.099 Father 00:36:02.639 --> 00:36:04.579 we are 00:36:04.579 --> 00:36:05.099 these things 00:36:05.099 --> 00:36:05.599 that you know us 00:36:05.599 --> 00:36:06.259 perfectly 00:36:06.259 --> 00:36:07.659 and still you love us 00:36:07.659 --> 00:36:09.339 we thank you 00:36:09.339 --> 00:36:09.699 Father 00:36:09.699 --> 00:36:10.239 that you know 00:36:10.239 --> 00:36:11.139 those things about us 00:36:11.139 --> 00:36:12.239 that are really immature 00:36:12.239 --> 00:36:12.819 and childish 00:36:12.819 --> 00:36:13.299 and you know 00:36:13.299 --> 00:36:13.779 those things 00:36:13.779 --> 00:36:14.360 that are mature 00:36:14.360 --> 00:36:15.339 and still you love us 00:36:15.339 --> 00:36:15.639 you know 00:36:15.639 --> 00:36:16.619 those things about us 00:36:16.619 --> 00:36:19.119 that are very shameful 00:36:19.119 --> 00:36:19.460 and you know 00:36:19.460 --> 00:36:19.900 those things 00:36:19.900 --> 00:36:20.699 that are very excellent 00:36:20.699 --> 00:36:21.799 and still you love us 00:36:21.799 --> 00:36:22.599 we give you thanks 00:36:22.599 --> 00:36:27.500 and praise that you do not weigh our merits, but pardon our offenses. We give you thanks and praise 00:36:27.500 --> 00:36:32.679 that Jesus knew everything there was to know about us when he died upon the cross, and still he loved 00:36:32.679 --> 00:36:37.679 us, and still he died for us. And we thank and praise you that when we could not make peace with 00:36:37.679 --> 00:36:46.259 you, because we found you as our enemy, that you still loved us and sent Jesus to be the one 00:36:46.260 --> 00:36:54.240 who makes peace with you, that he is our peace. Father, we ask that you deliver us from amnesia, 00:36:55.160 --> 00:37:02.280 that you help us to remember our identity in Jesus and our destiny in Jesus and his never-failing 00:37:02.280 --> 00:37:07.640 presence in those things in our lives that make us anxious. Father, make us mindful of these things, 00:37:07.820 --> 00:37:13.320 and all these things we ask in the name of Jesus and all God's people said, Amen.