WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.080 Thank you, Day. Thank you, Jojo. Yeah, we actually had Aaron share at the beginning of the summer about Young Life, and it was always nice for us just to circle back and say, hey, this is what they did in the summer of the camp. 00:00:11.080 --> 00:00:29.920 And if you are interested, if you're like, okay, I think I can help in some way, then please do let us know. So we have the Friday evening, which is the gathering youth that happens on the 14th floor. But if you're like, okay, well, I can't do that. There's actually also Saturdays, the Chinese youth, which is the Explorer Fellowship. 00:00:30.199 --> 00:00:43.200 They actually are in deep need of mentors as well. So if your Cantonese is actually stronger than your English, then now you have no excuse. And if you're like, oh, but on Sundays, I still prefer to be here. Well, ha, because we're moving the youth to Saturday. 00:00:43.920 --> 00:00:57.900 So now that's also no excuse for you. So on a Saturday evening at 5 p.m. is when the Cantonese youth meet, and they also meet on the 14th floor as well. So plenty of opportunities. You don't just have to be young and cool like Jojo. 00:00:57.899 --> 00:01:01.539 So you just have to love the Lord and have to love the next generation. That's it. 00:01:02.739 --> 00:01:09.679 You know, it's funny. As I was hearing about just youth camp, it reminded me that actually that's where Christina and I, we also grew up. 00:01:09.799 --> 00:01:13.099 I was around the same age as Ruben when I went to my first youth camp. 00:01:13.099 --> 00:01:23.799 And it's a blast. It's a blast. And actually, it's part of the growth of a Christian, you know, especially if you've grown up in a Christian household. 00:01:23.799 --> 00:01:28.119 It's just instrumental in how it actually helps take you on this journey. 00:01:28.259 --> 00:01:31.479 It doesn't mean it doesn't mean that the journey is easy. 00:01:31.480 --> 00:01:40.300 It doesn't mean that it's just kind of this straight path from hating everything about God to eventually being in heaven and being like Christ. 00:01:40.460 --> 00:01:42.980 It's rarely ever just like that, right? 00:01:43.439 --> 00:01:47.420 Those of us who, actually, who has been a Christian for the longest here? 00:01:47.500 --> 00:01:50.960 I wonder. I wonder who has been a Christian for the longest here. 00:01:51.280 --> 00:01:54.380 Who's been a Christian here for 10 years or more? Put your hand up. 00:01:54.379 --> 00:01:57.039 10 years. 00:01:57.679 --> 00:02:00.060 15. Keep your hand up if you're 15 years. 00:02:02.459 --> 00:02:03.259 20. 00:02:06.259 --> 00:02:06.939 25. 00:02:08.340 --> 00:02:09.840 Oh, 30. 00:02:11.000 --> 00:02:11.979 Let's go, Rotho. 00:02:12.099 --> 00:02:12.560 It's over there. 00:02:12.879 --> 00:02:13.439 35. 00:02:15.780 --> 00:02:16.379 40. 00:02:17.979 --> 00:02:18.579 45. 00:02:20.199 --> 00:02:20.400 Okay. 00:02:21.400 --> 00:02:22.000 50. 00:02:24.379 --> 00:02:26.139 55. 00:02:29.479 --> 00:02:30.560 I think it's close. 00:02:30.680 --> 00:02:31.680 It's on one of these sides. 00:02:32.859 --> 00:02:34.659 Wait, how many years is it, Hank and Shirley? 00:02:38.620 --> 00:02:39.099 1971. 00:02:41.139 --> 00:02:41.620 Woo! 00:02:43.379 --> 00:02:43.780 1971. 00:02:44.500 --> 00:02:49.419 So I have this really cool story of Hank because I actually know one of his high school friends. 00:02:50.259 --> 00:02:53.859 And actually, he went to this school in Hong Kong, which apparently isn't a very good school. 00:02:53.860 --> 00:02:55.880 I think it's called DBS or something. 00:02:56.720 --> 00:02:58.080 Yeah, it's not a very good one. 00:02:59.240 --> 00:03:10.260 And his high school friend told me, actually, before he was a Christian, he would notice this group of, like, nerdy Christians go into the chapel at lunchtime to pray. 00:03:10.259 --> 00:03:14.259 And he was like, that was a guy called Henry Zhang, which is now who we know as Hank. 00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:16.060 And I was like, wow. 00:03:16.560 --> 00:03:20.159 Hank, you've been on just this journey of faith for so, so many years. 00:03:21.159 --> 00:03:26.620 What's the most challenging part about staying in the faith? 00:03:26.759 --> 00:03:27.299 What would you say? 00:03:27.699 --> 00:03:28.819 Sorry, I'm putting you on the spot. 00:03:28.819 --> 00:03:30.819 I know you don't like speaking usually, but... 00:03:33.759 --> 00:03:36.259 When we're so different from the rest of the world. 00:03:36.379 --> 00:03:38.620 Man, that's the biggest one, right? 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:40.819 When we're so different from... 00:03:40.819 --> 00:03:43.439 The temptation to fit in. 00:03:44.099 --> 00:03:49.740 The temptation to fit in and go, well, if everyone else is doing that, then maybe I should do that too. 00:03:49.959 --> 00:03:51.400 Because I don't want to be isolated. 00:03:51.620 --> 00:03:52.599 I don't want to... 00:03:52.599 --> 00:03:54.699 I'm fearful, is what you're saying. 00:03:55.439 --> 00:03:58.299 I've been reading a book recently called The Hour and Forming. 00:03:58.659 --> 00:04:02.079 And it was trying to kind of really dive into how we approach the faith. 00:04:02.259 --> 00:04:07.479 And so often they say that we think spiritual formation is this linear line. 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:09.219 Okay, who's a type A personality? 00:04:09.359 --> 00:04:10.019 Just put your hand up. 00:04:10.299 --> 00:04:12.019 I'm not asking for the other one because you won't put your hand up. 00:04:12.060 --> 00:04:12.680 Who's a type A? 00:04:12.919 --> 00:04:13.959 Come on, just loud and proud. 00:04:14.039 --> 00:04:15.639 Just put it up and say, yeah, I am a type A. 00:04:16.060 --> 00:04:16.279 Okay? 00:04:17.519 --> 00:04:18.860 If you're a type A, right? 00:04:18.939 --> 00:04:20.699 If you're a type A personality, you're kind of... 00:04:20.699 --> 00:04:21.120 I love it. 00:04:21.120 --> 00:04:22.819 Just the wife just shoving her husband's hand up. 00:04:22.899 --> 00:04:23.639 You are type A. 00:04:24.360 --> 00:04:24.720 Confess. 00:04:27.899 --> 00:04:32.879 When you're a type A personality, or actually when you're just so used to a society like Hong Kong and how it works, 00:04:33.220 --> 00:04:36.660 you're just expecting that the moment you accept Christ is you're just going up. 00:04:37.160 --> 00:04:41.240 You're just making this journey from A to Z and you're getting better and better and better. 00:04:41.459 --> 00:04:43.560 You're getting stronger and stronger and stronger as a Christian. 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:45.019 You're looking more and more like Christ. 00:04:45.019 --> 00:04:50.259 And who's ever felt that anxiety, that low-grade hum anxiety where you're like, 00:04:50.259 --> 00:04:52.199 I'm just not where I should be. 00:04:53.420 --> 00:04:54.659 You start from A. 00:04:54.920 --> 00:04:59.139 You're hoping you end Z, but you get stuck at D or E. 00:04:59.459 --> 00:05:02.039 And you're like, I'm still here again. 00:05:02.439 --> 00:05:04.560 I'm still struggling with that same stuff. 00:05:05.279 --> 00:05:06.399 And then you get angry. 00:05:06.539 --> 00:05:07.159 You get annoyed. 00:05:07.259 --> 00:05:08.199 Like, why am I still here? 00:05:08.219 --> 00:05:10.259 I shouldn't be dealing with this problem anymore. 00:05:10.599 --> 00:05:14.219 Why am I still dealing with the same thing that I dealt with as a teenager? 00:05:14.220 --> 00:05:20.660 Because we've brought into this idea that spiritual formation is just like this, when actually it's not. 00:05:21.480 --> 00:05:23.640 If anything, it's more like this. 00:05:24.340 --> 00:05:27.340 It's more like cycles and seasons. 00:05:27.339 --> 00:05:33.979 When you understand that, you start getting less anxious about how you're progressing. 00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:36.399 And you kind of just accept it. 00:05:36.679 --> 00:05:41.359 You know, and the book carries on and says, the reason why we get so anxious is because we think life is this. 00:05:41.500 --> 00:05:43.120 And then we get frustrated when it's not. 00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:50.160 When actually, since the beginning of time, humans have known that seasons dictate everything. 00:05:51.180 --> 00:05:51.620 Winter. 00:05:52.780 --> 00:05:53.280 Spring. 00:05:54.220 --> 00:05:54.500 Summer. 00:05:55.079 --> 00:05:55.340 Autumn. 00:05:56.139 --> 00:05:56.579 Day. 00:05:57.240 --> 00:05:57.620 Night. 00:05:58.340 --> 00:05:58.939 Life. 00:05:59.579 --> 00:05:59.879 Death. 00:06:01.259 --> 00:06:08.079 It's only when we started to industrialize society and we came up with electricity and we realized we can actually dictate when it's night. 00:06:08.079 --> 00:06:09.980 We can actually create light ourselves. 00:06:09.980 --> 00:06:14.060 Suddenly we lose that sense of rhythm, that sense of season. 00:06:15.180 --> 00:06:16.620 And then we wonder why we're so anxious. 00:06:17.460 --> 00:06:22.879 When actually built into the way we were is this idea that growth is seasonal. 00:06:23.700 --> 00:06:26.879 Growth is life and death, life and death. 00:06:27.439 --> 00:06:28.960 The farmers would understand this. 00:06:29.400 --> 00:06:30.920 Those in agriculture would understand this. 00:06:31.020 --> 00:06:32.800 Those in the city really struggle. 00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:36.500 And when we really struggle, we are so annoyed and frustrated. 00:06:37.259 --> 00:06:38.879 And that low-grade harm is where we have. 00:06:38.879 --> 00:06:40.360 And actually, it's on that. 00:06:40.439 --> 00:06:50.620 We're going to continue our story into the book of Genesis where we're going to talk about one of the most important people in the history of mankind, Abraham himself, the father of the faith. 00:06:51.639 --> 00:06:52.759 And it's really interesting. 00:06:53.519 --> 00:06:56.000 You see him living in seasons. 00:06:56.399 --> 00:06:57.740 You see him living in cycles. 00:06:57.740 --> 00:07:01.680 You see him oscillating between faith and fear. 00:07:02.439 --> 00:07:06.079 And it's really annoying when you read it because you're like, you are such an idiot. 00:07:08.019 --> 00:07:11.160 And yet we go, oh, actually, that's actually us. 00:07:11.280 --> 00:07:13.259 And I actually forgot to ask someone to read. 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:14.259 So, J1, you're the closest. 00:07:14.439 --> 00:07:15.460 So, you are up. 00:07:15.980 --> 00:07:19.680 Can I invite you to stand for the word of the Lord as we read Genesis chapter 20? 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:22.120 There's a lot of cities names here. 00:07:22.980 --> 00:07:24.699 That's why I was like, I'm not doing it either. 00:07:26.439 --> 00:07:26.860 All right. 00:07:26.920 --> 00:07:27.720 This is the word of the Lord. 00:07:27.720 --> 00:07:34.320 From there, Abraham journeyed towards the territory of the Negev and lived between Kaddish and Shur. 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:36.540 And he sojourned in Gerar. 00:07:36.920 --> 00:07:39.760 And Abraham said of Sarah, his wife, she is my sister. 00:07:40.300 --> 00:07:42.820 And Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent and took Sarah. 00:07:43.340 --> 00:07:49.280 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken. 00:07:49.620 --> 00:07:50.860 For she is a man's wife. 00:07:51.340 --> 00:07:53.500 Now, Abimelech had not approached her. 00:07:53.720 --> 00:07:56.020 So, he said, Lord, will you kill an innocent people? 00:07:56.019 --> 00:07:59.019 Did he not himself say to me, she is my sister? 00:07:59.379 --> 00:08:01.060 And she herself said, he is my brother. 00:08:01.579 --> 00:08:05.279 In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands, I have done this. 00:08:05.699 --> 00:08:10.359 Then God said to him in the dream, yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart. 00:08:10.579 --> 00:08:13.039 And it was I who kept you from sinning against me. 00:08:13.479 --> 00:08:15.019 Therefore, I did not let you touch her. 00:08:15.659 --> 00:08:20.539 Now then, return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you and you shall live. 00:08:20.939 --> 00:08:26.000 But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours. 00:08:26.379 --> 00:08:30.819 So, Abimelech rose early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things. 00:08:31.159 --> 00:08:32.840 And the men were very much afraid. 00:08:33.500 --> 00:08:37.259 Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, what have you done to us? 00:08:37.419 --> 00:08:42.279 And how have I sinned against you that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? 00:08:42.779 --> 00:08:45.079 You have done to me things that ought not to be done. 00:08:45.879 --> 00:08:50.679 And Abimelech said to Abraham, what did you see that you did this thing? 00:08:51.399 --> 00:08:57.500 Abraham said, I did it because I thought, there is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife. 00:08:58.120 --> 00:09:02.659 Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, though not the daughter of my mother. 00:09:02.919 --> 00:09:03.979 And she became my wife. 00:09:03.980 --> 00:09:10.720 And when God caused me to wander from my father's house, I said to her, this is the kindness you must do to me. 00:09:10.920 --> 00:09:13.940 At every place to which we come, say of me, he is my brother. 00:09:13.940 --> 00:09:20.960 Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen and male servants and female servants and gave them to Abraham and returned Sarah, his wife, to him. 00:09:21.320 --> 00:09:23.900 And Abimelech said, behold, my land is before you. 00:09:24.200 --> 00:09:25.300 Dwell where it pleases you. 00:09:25.660 --> 00:09:29.500 To Sarah, he said, behold, I have given you your brother a thousand pieces of silver. 00:09:29.960 --> 00:09:34.980 It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you and before everyone you are vindicated. 00:09:34.980 --> 00:09:41.700 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. 00:09:42.259 --> 00:09:46.300 For the Lord had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham's wife. 00:09:46.379 --> 00:09:47.180 This is the word of the Lord. 00:09:48.460 --> 00:09:49.379 Thank you so much, Jay. 00:09:49.460 --> 00:09:50.120 Please take a seat. 00:09:55.120 --> 00:10:00.560 So isn't it interesting that actually Abraham, the father of the faith, well, actually you're reading this and you're like, wait, hold on a second. 00:10:00.940 --> 00:10:02.080 I think I've read this story before. 00:10:02.740 --> 00:10:03.980 And I'll tell you, actually you have. 00:10:04.039 --> 00:10:04.659 It's a similar one. 00:10:04.659 --> 00:10:05.659 It's in Genesis 12. 00:10:06.459 --> 00:10:07.659 He does the same thing. 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:19.339 He goes into a foreign land, and then he's afraid of his life because the culture there is if the foreign kings saw someone they wanted to take, a woman they wanted to take, they would take that woman, and then they would actually kill the husband. 00:10:20.500 --> 00:10:22.959 And so for the second time, he does this. 00:10:23.639 --> 00:10:29.100 And it reminds me that just our lives, our Christian journey is this one of oscillating between faith and fear. 00:10:29.179 --> 00:10:31.879 This is Abraham, the father of the faith. 00:10:31.879 --> 00:10:37.039 So if you are young here and you've gone to camps and you're starting to grow, I'd like to encourage you. 00:10:37.299 --> 00:10:40.279 Well, actually, I'd like to warn you first that it's actually not going to be easy from here. 00:10:40.559 --> 00:10:42.080 In fact, often it gets harder and harder. 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:46.900 And when you have that inevitable down cycle, don't get annoyed. 00:10:47.259 --> 00:10:48.000 Don't get frustrated. 00:10:48.500 --> 00:10:49.139 Don't get worried. 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:50.700 Life is seasons. 00:10:50.900 --> 00:10:52.280 Spiritual formation is seasons. 00:10:52.420 --> 00:10:52.879 It's cycles. 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:53.420 It's growth. 00:10:53.419 --> 00:10:58.059 Because you see Abraham doing the exact same thing that he did only eight chapters ago. 00:10:58.199 --> 00:10:59.519 And it's really interesting. 00:10:59.620 --> 00:11:02.879 I was talking to a good friend, a dear, dear friend of mine who actually was saying, 00:11:02.979 --> 00:11:06.959 it's so annoying that I'm still struggling with the same thing. 00:11:07.959 --> 00:11:11.539 And actually, it happens every time I make a big step towards God. 00:11:11.839 --> 00:11:14.079 Every time I serve, just that little bit more. 00:11:14.299 --> 00:11:15.559 Every time I speak. 00:11:15.679 --> 00:11:16.439 Every time I preach. 00:11:16.500 --> 00:11:16.799 Every time. 00:11:16.799 --> 00:11:20.219 And then the inevitable fall comes immediately after. 00:11:20.359 --> 00:11:20.819 That week. 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:21.919 Who's experienced that before? 00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:26.120 When you serve and you take that leap of faith and go out and serve at Young Life Camp 00:11:26.120 --> 00:11:26.899 or do whatever it is. 00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:28.879 And then the next week, things come crashing down. 00:11:29.059 --> 00:11:29.219 Right? 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:31.819 Adults are nodding because you're like, yep, that's just life. 00:11:33.419 --> 00:11:34.839 And then it made me think, you know what? 00:11:34.899 --> 00:11:36.039 Abraham was the same thing. 00:11:36.179 --> 00:11:36.979 Genesis chapter 12. 00:11:37.079 --> 00:11:37.679 God says, go. 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:39.139 Go to the new land. 00:11:39.539 --> 00:11:40.899 What happens straight after that? 00:11:41.079 --> 00:11:42.120 He falls and he lies. 00:11:42.120 --> 00:11:46.980 And then he has the promises in Genesis chapter, well, from 14 onwards. 00:11:47.379 --> 00:11:51.320 So chapter 15, God comes back and says, hey, remember, I promised you something. 00:11:51.500 --> 00:11:52.360 What happens in 16? 00:11:52.539 --> 00:11:53.159 He lies. 00:11:54.580 --> 00:11:58.820 He hears from God and the very next chapter he lies and he goes to Hagar. 00:11:59.580 --> 00:12:03.759 And then chapter 17 and 18, you just see Abraham is just going through this cycle. 00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:08.840 And you read chapter 20 and you're like, wow, we still have not learned. 00:12:08.840 --> 00:12:11.899 We still have not decided to choose faith. 00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:13.220 Over fear. 00:12:14.840 --> 00:12:15.820 It is so hard. 00:12:16.060 --> 00:12:17.039 It's just what Hank just said. 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:24.100 That temptation to fit in, that temptation to survive is one that's dictated from us going, 00:12:24.220 --> 00:12:27.840 actually, I'm going to live out of fear here and not out of faith. 00:12:28.379 --> 00:12:30.159 And you see this happening in Abraham's life. 00:12:30.220 --> 00:12:30.960 Just a side note here. 00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:32.179 Chapter 20 from verse 1. 00:12:32.379 --> 00:12:37.419 From there, Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur and he sojourned in Jerob. 00:12:37.419 --> 00:12:40.360 For me, I'm just like, this has been my story. 00:12:40.360 --> 00:12:46.580 I had, again, another dear friend this week who said, Christina and I, our lives reminded them of Abraham and Sarah. 00:12:46.700 --> 00:12:48.379 And I was like, Abraham's a bit of a douche. 00:12:51.259 --> 00:12:52.800 And I'm like, yes, because I am too. 00:12:53.659 --> 00:12:59.539 And Abraham, even though he was promised so much, spends most of his life living in tents, sojourning. 00:12:59.539 --> 00:13:01.539 And that just hit me deeply. 00:13:01.860 --> 00:13:04.439 I'm just like, wow, this might just be it. 00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:07.879 We just might be going from place to place, never feeling truly at home. 00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:09.919 And that's actually what we're supposed to do. 00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:14.519 In Hebrews 13, when it says, actually, we're living for this eternal city. 00:13:15.620 --> 00:13:17.679 I'm just like, wow, Abraham is doing just that. 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:18.500 And so verse 2. 00:13:18.620 --> 00:13:21.179 And Abraham said of Sarah, his wife, she is my sister. 00:13:21.899 --> 00:13:23.279 So again, he does the same thing. 00:13:23.559 --> 00:13:24.379 It's interesting, though. 00:13:24.419 --> 00:13:25.959 He's not telling a complete lie. 00:13:26.019 --> 00:13:27.120 He's telling a half-truth. 00:13:27.559 --> 00:13:30.739 Because actually, she was his half-sister. 00:13:31.620 --> 00:13:34.359 How many of us have told half-truths to try and get out of problems? 00:13:35.139 --> 00:13:36.879 People are like, look, I'm not telling a lie. 00:13:37.579 --> 00:13:38.759 It is kind of true. 00:13:39.219 --> 00:13:42.579 I also just need to tell you what you need to hear so that you won't kill me. 00:13:43.359 --> 00:13:44.679 How many of us have done that at work? 00:13:45.339 --> 00:13:46.839 How many of us have done that at school? 00:13:46.840 --> 00:13:49.440 I, again, was convicted of that. 00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:53.700 I was like, wow, sometimes I just shy away from those honest, clear truths. 00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:56.100 We call them white lies. 00:13:57.200 --> 00:14:01.580 And yet Abraham here falls into that same cycle, the father of the faith. 00:14:01.860 --> 00:14:03.639 So what is the response to all of this? 00:14:03.660 --> 00:14:04.860 And how does it all play out? 00:14:05.259 --> 00:14:09.840 And as we look at this story, I want to kind of debunk some myths that we have about the Christian faith. 00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:12.379 But actually, I realized that I had growing up as well. 00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:13.920 And the first thing is what I just said. 00:14:14.139 --> 00:14:15.639 Spiritual formation is not linear. 00:14:15.639 --> 00:14:18.460 It just keeps going in cycles. 00:14:19.299 --> 00:14:20.759 And we have to embrace that. 00:14:20.840 --> 00:14:21.939 We have to lean into that. 00:14:22.340 --> 00:14:31.120 The author, Cindy Lee, talks about it and says that actually God is not really in a hurry to complete the project that is us. 00:14:31.659 --> 00:14:35.699 He said he will bring it to completion, Philippians 1, but actually it's a slow one. 00:14:35.779 --> 00:14:36.720 It's a seasonal one. 00:14:37.559 --> 00:14:38.659 He's not in a rush. 00:14:38.659 --> 00:14:44.899 The whole point of life here and the challenges is to form us. 00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:48.120 The word that we're talking about is what? 00:14:49.480 --> 00:14:53.039 The journey of being, say it Kelly, say it loud. 00:14:54.319 --> 00:14:54.639 Sanctification. 00:14:54.639 --> 00:14:54.919 Sanctification. 00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:58.500 Who thought of that word this week? 00:14:58.860 --> 00:15:00.600 Who kind of just in their everyday life is like, you know what? 00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:02.179 Sanctification is my thing. 00:15:03.299 --> 00:15:04.939 I'm all about sanctification. 00:15:06.059 --> 00:15:09.899 Life sucks, but I know that God's put me in this place because he's trying to sanctify me. 00:15:10.019 --> 00:15:11.120 What does that word actually mean? 00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:14.379 That word actually simply means he's trying to mold us to be like Christ. 00:15:14.840 --> 00:15:16.899 The moment we accept Jesus, we are now justified. 00:15:17.539 --> 00:15:21.259 That means we are ready to enter into God's presence. 00:15:21.559 --> 00:15:26.919 But on the whole, there's this life journey that happens, which is sanctification, where actually he's molding us. 00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:30.919 And he's using life and he's using suffering and he's using resistance to do it. 00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:35.319 This is exactly, and I've said many times before, this is exactly like going to the gym. 00:15:35.620 --> 00:15:40.279 And I've told you and I've confessed to all of you that this year I feel that God's been convicting me that I also need to, 00:15:40.340 --> 00:15:43.819 Ethan's just smiling, he's like, that I should be going to the gym. 00:15:43.820 --> 00:15:51.040 And God felt so, so strongly about this that he put a brand new gym just downstairs from our church in Far East Finance Center. 00:15:52.060 --> 00:15:53.000 And it's beautiful. 00:15:53.100 --> 00:15:54.020 24-7 is beautiful. 00:15:54.100 --> 00:15:55.400 It's a basketball hoop, by the way, ballers. 00:15:57.240 --> 00:16:04.740 And as I was down there, as I was down there, Jojo, I was there, just to take a look around, just to see what's up. 00:16:06.060 --> 00:16:07.360 I realized we're in a basement. 00:16:08.700 --> 00:16:09.640 I was like, there's no light here. 00:16:10.260 --> 00:16:11.380 These conditions are not great. 00:16:11.379 --> 00:16:15.500 And it just made me think that's what time on this planet is. 00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:16.679 We're in a basement. 00:16:16.939 --> 00:16:18.460 We've got gym machines around everywhere. 00:16:18.559 --> 00:16:19.519 We're working on resistance. 00:16:19.919 --> 00:16:24.840 We're undergoing the process of sanctification to prepare ourselves for an eternity with Christ. 00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:25.779 But this isn't the end. 00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:26.860 The basement is not the end. 00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:31.419 The basement is simply the place that we're getting prepared to head into eternity. 00:16:32.600 --> 00:16:34.220 And so that's what God is doing here. 00:16:34.220 --> 00:16:39.160 And so our job is to lean into that and also to live with conviction, to not live with hard truths. 00:16:39.340 --> 00:16:40.759 Sometimes we live with hard truths. 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:44.639 Sometimes you tell white lies in your workplace or in your family homes or with your friends. 00:16:44.980 --> 00:16:45.440 Why? 00:16:45.820 --> 00:16:47.080 Because John Stott says this. 00:16:47.320 --> 00:16:52.240 We tell half truths when we want the benefits of honesty while keeping the safety of deceit. 00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:53.040 Ouch. 00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:59.320 We tell half truths because we want the benefits of honesty while keeping the safety of deceit. 00:16:59.320 --> 00:17:02.940 But God is never honored by our calculated compromises. 00:17:03.980 --> 00:17:06.140 We have to make a decision to not be compromised. 00:17:06.279 --> 00:17:08.380 We have to make a decision to choose faith over fear. 00:17:08.660 --> 00:17:09.680 And it's not just today. 00:17:09.840 --> 00:17:11.160 And it's not even just next week. 00:17:11.200 --> 00:17:13.559 It's every single day. 00:17:14.840 --> 00:17:16.600 Our journey is that. 00:17:17.380 --> 00:17:19.620 I've been reading the Bible this week with Lobo. 00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:21.700 And he introduced me to a corporate term. 00:17:21.779 --> 00:17:22.700 Well, I think it's a corporate term. 00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:24.680 Well, maybe I'm just too ignorant. 00:17:25.080 --> 00:17:27.160 He said, actually, we've been reading through the book of James. 00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:29.720 And it's like, oh, the improvement loop is what you talked about. 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:31.860 That actually life is just an improvement loop. 00:17:32.440 --> 00:17:36.220 It's just us counting trials of all kinds as joy. 00:17:36.340 --> 00:17:36.900 Because why? 00:17:36.980 --> 00:17:43.920 God's using them to help improve us, to help grow us, to help improve us, to sanctify us, is what he's saying here. 00:17:44.380 --> 00:17:45.360 And so it's really interesting. 00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:46.820 So he does the same thing. 00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:51.840 But Abimelech, the king, this is very similar to the story in chapter 12, but it's different as well. 00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:57.980 And it says, and Abimelech, king of Jeroz, sent and took Sarah, takes her into a harem. 00:17:58.119 --> 00:18:05.179 Again, Abraham, the same guy who sent his wife to be in the harem of another king, does it again for the second time. 00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:10.279 Wives can look at their husbands and go, if you ever did that to me, it'll be over. 00:18:11.419 --> 00:18:12.419 And yet he does it again. 00:18:12.899 --> 00:18:13.939 But the same thing again. 00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:18.119 This foreign king who doesn't know God at all has a dream and God speaks to him. 00:18:18.119 --> 00:18:20.579 And imagine you don't know God at all and then you have a dream. 00:18:20.659 --> 00:18:22.479 And this is what the dream says, verse 3. 00:18:22.619 --> 00:18:27.719 Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man's wife. 00:18:28.199 --> 00:18:29.299 Imagine waking up to that dream. 00:18:30.859 --> 00:18:31.879 So the king's like, what? 00:18:32.439 --> 00:18:33.339 I didn't realize this. 00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:34.439 I'm just following my customs. 00:18:34.579 --> 00:18:35.819 I've seen someone that I like. 00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:39.199 Now, yes, she did come with a whole crew, but that's only her brother. 00:18:39.299 --> 00:18:41.779 So I'm taking her because I like her. 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:45.679 Interestingly, he replies. 00:18:45.680 --> 00:18:50.299 Now, Abelina had not approached her, which meant that he actually hadn't been close with her just yet. 00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:53.620 And so he replies to God, Lord, will you kill an innocent people? 00:18:53.720 --> 00:18:56.140 Did he not himself say to me, she is my sister? 00:18:56.220 --> 00:18:57.620 And she herself said, he is my brother. 00:18:57.799 --> 00:19:01.380 In the integrity of my heart, the innocence of my hands, I have done this. 00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:02.480 Isn't that interesting? 00:19:03.560 --> 00:19:09.840 In case you are prone to religious elitism, where you think God only speaks to you because you're a Christian, 00:19:10.120 --> 00:19:11.660 I want to assure you that's not the case here. 00:19:11.860 --> 00:19:13.460 God can speak to anyone he pleases to. 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:14.880 He speaks to the outsiders. 00:19:14.880 --> 00:19:16.200 He speaks to those inside. 00:19:16.300 --> 00:19:16.460 Why? 00:19:16.660 --> 00:19:20.960 Because to him, everyone, everyone belongs to his family. 00:19:22.280 --> 00:19:23.440 So you have to see it from that. 00:19:23.560 --> 00:19:25.980 You look at some people, you go, I judge the way you live. 00:19:26.280 --> 00:19:28.000 You will never hear from God as well because you have turned. 00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:28.740 No, no, no. 00:19:30.040 --> 00:19:31.740 God's grace covers all of us. 00:19:31.820 --> 00:19:32.700 It's called common grace. 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:36.200 And so what he has here is he hears from God. 00:19:36.340 --> 00:19:39.780 And then what we see here is that we as Christians, we as those who follow God, 00:19:39.800 --> 00:19:42.840 we have to have a sense of humility that we don't look down on other people and say, 00:19:42.920 --> 00:19:43.980 well, they're not living the right way. 00:19:43.980 --> 00:19:46.980 God has the ability to reach and speak to anyone he wants to. 00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:52.380 And so he speaks to him and he says, hey, you need to give her back. 00:19:52.380 --> 00:19:57.980 Ironically, this foreign king, this pagan king says, look, I have done nothing wrong. 00:19:58.700 --> 00:20:01.460 And then God says something really interesting, which is this, verse six. 00:20:02.140 --> 00:20:05.620 Then God said to him in the dream, yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart. 00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:08.060 And it was I who kept you from sinning against me. 00:20:08.340 --> 00:20:10.020 Therefore, I did not let you touch her. 00:20:10.360 --> 00:20:11.600 Now then return the man's wife. 00:20:14.120 --> 00:20:14.780 Common grace. 00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:16.879 So actually God is sovereign. 00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:18.240 He is in control. 00:20:18.339 --> 00:20:19.500 There is evil that he allows. 00:20:20.160 --> 00:20:23.899 But there's also moments where he decides, OK, this is not going to be part of the plan. 00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:30.099 I'm going to protect Epimelech from committing this grievous crime. 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:31.559 I'm going to protect him. 00:20:32.039 --> 00:20:32.899 And he doesn't even know it. 00:20:33.240 --> 00:20:38.500 How many of us have lived a life before Christ where actually God has protected us from things that we didn't even know? 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:41.819 They're like, oh, I'm so glad that didn't work out. 00:20:41.819 --> 00:20:45.059 And you see, and that's when we weren't even trusting in him. 00:20:46.379 --> 00:20:49.179 And yet we get a glimpse here of God's heart again. 00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:51.200 He's not here just to condemn people. 00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:52.519 He's not here to send judgment. 00:20:54.659 --> 00:20:55.819 But he's also here to love. 00:20:56.599 --> 00:20:57.720 He's also here to show mercy. 00:20:58.379 --> 00:20:59.899 He's also here to show grace. 00:21:00.399 --> 00:21:01.879 And then it gets really ironic. 00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:03.839 Verse seven. 00:21:03.939 --> 00:21:06.599 And now then return the man's wife for he is a prophet. 00:21:07.159 --> 00:21:10.119 Did you know that this is the first time the Bible mentions the word prophet? 00:21:10.119 --> 00:21:10.959 Okay. 00:21:13.619 --> 00:21:14.459 Imagine with me again. 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:19.399 God's talking to this pagan king and he's saying, you're a dead man because you've done something that you're not supposed to do. 00:21:19.719 --> 00:21:21.179 And then the king says, wait, wait, wait. 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:22.799 I didn't know about this. 00:21:22.919 --> 00:21:23.399 I'm innocent. 00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:24.479 And then God says, I know you are. 00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:25.500 I'm actually trying to protect you. 00:21:25.739 --> 00:21:27.619 Just give him back to the man who lied to you. 00:21:27.739 --> 00:21:30.739 Give her back to the man who lied to you because he is a prophet. 00:21:32.379 --> 00:21:34.419 A prophet caught in compromise. 00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:37.419 Isn't that interesting? 00:21:37.420 --> 00:21:50.420 This should actually burst the bubble for us as to how we approach people in leadership, people who are deemed as pastors and Christian leaders and all these things. 00:21:50.620 --> 00:21:53.680 You see here the very first mention of the word prophet. 00:21:56.019 --> 00:21:57.779 It's almost just comical. 00:21:59.279 --> 00:22:02.500 That, hey, I know he lied to you, but go and talk to him and he'll pray for you. 00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:03.960 He's a prophet. 00:22:03.960 --> 00:22:06.539 Just let that sink in for a second. 00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:12.299 Let that confront your perceptions of what pastors and prophets should be like. 00:22:13.380 --> 00:22:15.259 You think, oh, they should be these perfect people. 00:22:15.620 --> 00:22:20.340 From the very beginning, it was never about the pastor or the prophet. 00:22:22.120 --> 00:22:26.600 From the very beginning, it was about them doing whatever it is that God called them to do. 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:27.660 What does a prophet even mean? 00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:31.700 The prophet just simply means they are a mouthpiece of God's heart. 00:22:31.700 --> 00:22:35.580 They're not the authority, necessarily. 00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:41.700 This first prophet was compromised in telling half-truths. 00:22:43.380 --> 00:22:47.440 It makes me think who I am as a leader. 00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:50.240 It makes me think what I should be like. 00:22:51.140 --> 00:22:56.680 What about you as leaders of your households, as leaders of your workplaces, as leaders of your small groups and your friendship circles? 00:22:56.680 --> 00:22:59.880 Do you recognize who you are? 00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:02.259 Is there compromise in your life? 00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:07.440 God knows and God sees and he remains in control. 00:23:07.539 --> 00:23:10.640 It's ironic because he was supposed to bring blessing to the nations. 00:23:11.140 --> 00:23:16.920 And yet, because of this lie, because of him tricking this pagan king, he now brings a curse on this nation. 00:23:17.560 --> 00:23:18.220 What is the curse? 00:23:18.380 --> 00:23:19.340 This is even more interesting. 00:23:19.339 --> 00:23:27.980 The curse is because Sarah was part of the king's harem, all the women of their people could not get pregnant. 00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:30.439 The wounds were closed because of this. 00:23:32.059 --> 00:23:35.199 He was supposed to bring blessing and yet he brings curse. 00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:38.679 And it tells me something else about sin, which is it never just affects you. 00:23:39.179 --> 00:23:43.539 Whatever compromise you're in, whatever slippery slope that you're on and you've kind of let yourself believe that, 00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:46.700 hey, it's just me, it's never just you. 00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:49.440 What you're doing never just affects you. 00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:52.920 Last week I described sin as disrupting social harmony. 00:23:53.879 --> 00:23:55.700 All our actions have consequences. 00:23:56.059 --> 00:23:59.379 We are forgiven, we are freed because Christ paid the price. 00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:02.960 But there are still consequences to our actions. 00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:10.819 And you see here, Abraham, this prophet caught in compromise actually brings a curse onto this people instead of a blessing. 00:24:10.819 --> 00:24:17.019 It tells me something about leaders as well, that God doesn't choose perfect people to use because there are none. 00:24:17.559 --> 00:24:20.819 He uses broken people, he uses imperfect people to carry out his perfect plan. 00:24:21.439 --> 00:24:22.139 That's you and I. 00:24:23.159 --> 00:24:28.359 This should be sobering for us as we're looking at this because we're like, wow, Abraham, the father of the faith, 00:24:28.639 --> 00:24:31.339 oscillating between faith and fear, going up and down. 00:24:31.419 --> 00:24:33.579 Every time he has a high, he drops back down to a low. 00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:37.899 Now he's lying and now the other king who doesn't even know God finds out that he's lying, 00:24:37.900 --> 00:24:39.200 but yet he's still a prophet. 00:24:39.360 --> 00:24:41.080 All of this just feels comical. 00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:45.200 And that is actually how we're supposed to even approach this holy God. 00:24:45.380 --> 00:24:46.980 We have no business being here. 00:24:48.340 --> 00:24:51.759 So in some sense, the testimony there is like, I can't even be a Christian. 00:24:51.840 --> 00:24:52.440 I'm not worthy. 00:24:52.820 --> 00:24:57.519 It's actually not too far off from the biblical truth, which is what Peter does whenever he meets Jesus. 00:24:57.580 --> 00:24:58.560 He's like, depart from me. 00:24:58.759 --> 00:24:59.259 I'm a sinner. 00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:00.240 Get away from me. 00:25:00.540 --> 00:25:02.360 I am not worthy to even be close to you, God. 00:25:02.359 --> 00:25:08.179 So half of it is right, but then the second half is actually we can now come and approach Christ. 00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:08.399 Why? 00:25:09.579 --> 00:25:10.939 Because he came to us. 00:25:11.659 --> 00:25:12.579 It is ridiculous. 00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:14.939 If you're sat here going, hey, I'm actually a good Christian. 00:25:15.059 --> 00:25:16.339 I've earned the right to be here. 00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:17.399 Then you are wrong. 00:25:20.479 --> 00:25:24.259 What we're supposed to feel is, man, I have no business being here. 00:25:24.339 --> 00:25:26.259 How amazing is this grace? 00:25:26.719 --> 00:25:30.759 Despite everything that I've done, yet Christ would still love me and Christ would still die for me. 00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:33.200 That's the approach that we should have. 00:25:33.339 --> 00:25:35.099 So spiritual formation is not linear. 00:25:35.420 --> 00:25:36.220 We are no better. 00:25:36.359 --> 00:25:37.579 God speaks to anyone he wants to. 00:25:37.859 --> 00:25:44.019 And leaders are not perfect because leaders often, often operate out of a place of fear. 00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:47.539 One of my favorite devotionals is called My Upmost for His Highest. 00:25:47.839 --> 00:25:51.319 And the writer Oswald Chambers says, it talks about this idea of fear. 00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:54.779 That actually when we fear God, we won't fear anything else. 00:25:54.859 --> 00:25:57.420 But if we don't fear God, we will fear everything else. 00:25:58.299 --> 00:25:59.259 Goes back to Hank's point. 00:25:59.259 --> 00:25:59.299 Right? 00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:02.079 Actually, we have this desire to want to fit in. 00:26:02.140 --> 00:26:05.500 We have desire to be tempted to basically do what everyone else does. 00:26:05.579 --> 00:26:05.700 Why? 00:26:05.819 --> 00:26:07.599 Because we have a fear of being isolated. 00:26:07.700 --> 00:26:08.920 We have a fear of disapproval. 00:26:09.400 --> 00:26:12.019 What we're actually saying is that we're actually not afraid of God. 00:26:12.660 --> 00:26:14.879 It's really ironic because if you fast forward a little bit, 00:26:15.180 --> 00:26:17.500 Abimelech wakes up from the dream and goes, what the heck? 00:26:17.660 --> 00:26:20.339 And then goes and finds Abraham and says, what have you done to us? 00:26:20.440 --> 00:26:23.339 And how have I sinned against you that you have brought on me in my kingdom a great sin? 00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:25.180 You have done to me things that ought not to be done. 00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:31.180 Isn't it interesting that a non-Christian, a pagan king actually knows what is right and what is wrong more than Abraham himself? 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:34.019 He says, what have you done? 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:36.240 No one does this to people. 00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:42.000 And then Abimelech said to Abraham, what did you see that you did this thing? 00:26:42.059 --> 00:26:47.220 Abraham said, I did it because I thought there is no fear of God at all in this place and they will kill me because of my wife. 00:26:47.559 --> 00:26:49.420 What an ironic statement. 00:26:50.240 --> 00:26:53.599 He looked and said, I looked at you guys and judged you guys and thought, you know what? 00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:55.319 I can't trust my life with you guys. 00:26:55.740 --> 00:26:57.400 And actually, you don't have any fear of God. 00:26:57.599 --> 00:27:00.480 When in reality, the truth is he didn't trust God. 00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:02.000 He didn't fear God. 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:07.420 That fear of God, that healthy fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. 00:27:07.539 --> 00:27:09.279 It's actually knowing how to live. 00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:10.660 What about your life? 00:27:10.680 --> 00:27:17.779 When we are caught in those moments where we are tempted to compromise, where we are tempted to tell half-truths, where's that coming from? 00:27:19.220 --> 00:27:23.640 And it doesn't matter whether you've been a Christian for two days or whether you've been a Christian for 51 years. 00:27:24.359 --> 00:27:26.000 Every day is that same decision. 00:27:26.640 --> 00:27:29.059 Am I going to choose faith over fear? 00:27:29.059 --> 00:27:34.200 Am I going to choose my faith in God, knowing that this is the thing to do? 00:27:34.259 --> 00:27:36.259 This is what I'm going to do because of my trust in God. 00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:43.639 Some of you have decisions to make right now about your career, about your relationships, about your family, about your conduct, whatever it is. 00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:46.200 Some of you have those decisions that you're wondering right now. 00:27:46.379 --> 00:27:47.759 The question I have for you is simple. 00:27:49.500 --> 00:27:52.359 Your decision, is it going to be based on faith or is it going to be based on fear? 00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:54.720 Faith or fear? 00:27:54.899 --> 00:27:55.940 We do oscillate. 00:27:56.019 --> 00:27:56.539 We keep going. 00:27:56.899 --> 00:27:58.579 But that's part of the journey. 00:27:59.059 --> 00:28:05.319 The goal is, as we live in this cycle, this seasonal cycle, this cycle starts to trend upwards. 00:28:06.559 --> 00:28:08.440 Or our capacity for God starts to grow bigger. 00:28:09.859 --> 00:28:13.279 Our ability to choose faith over fear gets stronger and stronger. 00:28:13.899 --> 00:28:15.879 And then, what happens after this? 00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:16.799 So he says, 00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:18.159 There is no fear of God at all in this place. 00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:21.819 Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, though not the daughter of my mother. 00:28:21.940 --> 00:28:22.819 Then she became my wife. 00:28:22.879 --> 00:28:26.019 So he's like, look, I know I did lie, but I kind of told the truth. 00:28:26.099 --> 00:28:29.759 It's like, calm down, chill out, even though now your whole nation is about to die. 00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:34.119 And when God calls me to wander from my father's house, I said to her, this is the kindness you must do. 00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:36.539 And every place to which you may come, say of me, he is my brother. 00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:37.940 I just want to stop there for a second. 00:28:38.859 --> 00:28:45.319 Because only a few chapters ago, God shows up to the tent of strangers and says, this time next year, I'm coming back and you're going to have a son. 00:28:45.319 --> 00:28:47.759 So he has that promise. 00:28:47.859 --> 00:28:48.700 He has that reminder. 00:28:48.939 --> 00:28:50.559 And then he falls again straight away. 00:28:50.639 --> 00:28:52.200 Can you see the pattern that he's living? 00:28:52.899 --> 00:28:54.759 And can you see our own patterns of living? 00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:58.759 So in one year's time, he's going to have a baby. 00:28:58.879 --> 00:29:00.939 And yet, when he gets there, he still operates out of fear. 00:29:02.119 --> 00:29:03.700 He still can't do it. 00:29:05.559 --> 00:29:08.359 And so he says, because at this point, she's not pregnant yet. 00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:09.319 But it's getting close. 00:29:09.740 --> 00:29:13.079 Because remember, if the stranger said, the angel said, it's going to be one year. 00:29:13.539 --> 00:29:14.759 So that's one calendar year. 00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:16.700 The baby should be nine to ten months. 00:29:17.019 --> 00:29:21.319 So this is probably just one or two months after that encounter in the tent. 00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:23.579 So she's not pregnant yet. 00:29:25.099 --> 00:29:25.940 And they're traveling. 00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:30.579 And he's still operating from a place of fear and not faith. 00:29:31.900 --> 00:29:39.460 And ironically, verse 14, then Abimelech took sheep and oxen and male servants and female servants and gave them to Abraham and returned Sarah and his wife to them. 00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:41.259 And Abimelech said, behold, my land is before you. 00:29:41.559 --> 00:29:42.480 Dwell wherever it pleases you. 00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:44.680 I just think this story gets more and more strange as we go. 00:29:45.460 --> 00:29:46.359 He's done something wrong. 00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:47.319 Have we all agreed with that? 00:29:47.359 --> 00:29:47.960 Just nod with me. 00:29:48.079 --> 00:29:49.839 If you're like, okay, this is not a great move, Abraham. 00:29:50.240 --> 00:29:53.279 Like, now what you've done is now for everyone to see for the rest of history. 00:29:53.480 --> 00:29:54.519 This is not a cool move. 00:29:54.519 --> 00:29:57.259 And then something happens again. 00:29:57.259 --> 00:29:58.819 He tells a lie. 00:29:58.819 --> 00:29:59.099 He tells a lie. 00:29:59.899 --> 00:30:01.039 Puts a whole nation in danger. 00:30:01.859 --> 00:30:06.899 And then God says to the king, go to this prophet and he will pray for you and he will heal. 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:09.659 So he still has a role to play. 00:30:10.299 --> 00:30:12.439 And God turns it around from a curse into a blessing. 00:30:12.440 --> 00:30:22.620 And this king, actually, even though he was the innocent party in all of this, still gives Abraham a lot of stuff. 00:30:23.039 --> 00:30:24.240 He says, look, now you're here. 00:30:24.500 --> 00:30:24.960 Look around. 00:30:25.180 --> 00:30:25.820 Where do you want to live? 00:30:25.860 --> 00:30:26.480 You go and live there. 00:30:26.519 --> 00:30:26.740 Okay. 00:30:26.779 --> 00:30:27.740 You want to live in Repulse Bay? 00:30:27.820 --> 00:30:28.840 You go and live in Repulse Bay. 00:30:29.580 --> 00:30:30.299 Just go there. 00:30:30.460 --> 00:30:30.960 Go hang out there. 00:30:30.980 --> 00:30:31.460 It's beautiful. 00:30:31.559 --> 00:30:32.180 The view is great. 00:30:32.580 --> 00:30:33.519 You go and live there. 00:30:33.720 --> 00:30:35.080 Choose wherever you want to live. 00:30:35.320 --> 00:30:35.519 Okay. 00:30:35.580 --> 00:30:36.279 You want to go to Stanley? 00:30:36.420 --> 00:30:36.579 Okay. 00:30:36.639 --> 00:30:37.480 You go to Stanley instead. 00:30:37.619 --> 00:30:38.240 Move over there. 00:30:38.519 --> 00:30:39.599 Take all your whole party. 00:30:39.700 --> 00:30:40.119 Go over there. 00:30:40.980 --> 00:30:42.259 This doesn't make sense, right? 00:30:42.920 --> 00:30:47.279 And this challenges something else that I think a lot of us have when it comes to the Christian faith, which is this. 00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:50.079 When I do something bad, God will punish me. 00:30:51.660 --> 00:30:52.639 How many of you have that? 00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:58.799 How many of you are having a tough time or something bad is happening to you and you're like, oh, maybe it's because I'm not close to God. 00:30:59.700 --> 00:31:01.359 Maybe it's because I've stopped reading the Bible. 00:31:02.099 --> 00:31:03.440 Maybe it's because I've stopped praying. 00:31:03.440 --> 00:31:11.500 And I'm going to be here to challenge you and say that is a wrong perception of who God is. 00:31:11.640 --> 00:31:15.759 If he really did judge us by our actions and by our merits, we would all be screwed. 00:31:15.840 --> 00:31:16.600 I tell you that now. 00:31:17.580 --> 00:31:19.279 That is not how he works. 00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:27.340 The irony here, and I hope you see this, is even though he keeps making these mistakes, somehow he still keeps getting blessed. 00:31:27.600 --> 00:31:31.380 Is this an excuse to then say, well, maybe I should just keep doing wrong because God's going to keep blessing me? 00:31:31.380 --> 00:31:33.560 That is not the point of this sermon either. 00:31:34.060 --> 00:31:39.920 But the point of this sermon is to tell you, what perception of God do you have that is actually wrong? 00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:46.100 The parable of the tenants, where that person who wastes his tenant because he buries it. 00:31:47.360 --> 00:31:48.160 And then what does he say? 00:31:49.240 --> 00:31:51.080 He says, oh, I thought you were a harsh man. 00:31:51.079 --> 00:31:56.699 I think a lot of us have this perception that we only get good things when we do good. 00:31:57.919 --> 00:31:59.579 That when we lie, we'll get punished. 00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:02.519 But I don't think that's how God works. 00:32:03.159 --> 00:32:11.919 For the second time, he lies and makes a mistake, yet God still pours out blessing onto Abraham through a pagan foreign king. 00:32:11.920 --> 00:32:14.840 God still blesses. 00:32:17.180 --> 00:32:24.560 I don't know how that should challenge the way you think, but somehow what we see here is he is a God of justice, but he is also a God of love. 00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:31.160 So what's this really story about? 00:32:33.240 --> 00:32:35.000 It's not really about Abraham. 00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:41.019 The person who, in Hebrews 11, in the Hall of Fame, has the most written about him. 00:32:41.839 --> 00:32:46.160 Yet he is just constantly trapped in this cycle of faith and fear. 00:32:47.859 --> 00:32:51.740 The story isn't here to tell us about Abraham. 00:32:51.880 --> 00:32:53.440 The story is here to tell us about God. 00:32:54.539 --> 00:33:02.799 That despite our fickleness, despite us constantly going in these cycles, God remains sovereign. 00:33:03.299 --> 00:33:04.859 God remains in control. 00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:09.519 God remains loving, and he keeps blessing regardless. 00:33:13.920 --> 00:33:15.700 I don't know where you are in your cycle. 00:33:16.819 --> 00:33:21.420 If I'm correct, and if my pastoral senses are right, and through the conversations I've had with you, 00:33:21.640 --> 00:33:25.980 I think most of us feel as though we're probably trending downwards, or we're just stuck in this stale place. 00:33:27.579 --> 00:33:32.000 And I'm here to say, well, actually, that's a great place to be, because that's exactly the place Abraham was when God kept using him. 00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:35.599 Just lean in to that cycle. 00:33:36.079 --> 00:33:37.099 Lean in for the ride. 00:33:37.980 --> 00:33:41.940 And each day, just decide in your heart, in your mind, to choose faith over fear. 00:33:42.900 --> 00:33:48.220 Every time you're confronted with an opportunity, should I tell a half-truth or should I not tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth? 00:33:48.220 --> 00:33:50.180 When someone asks you, what did you do on the weekend? 00:33:50.480 --> 00:33:54.500 Tell them that I went to church and I worshiped God, and then I spent time with my brothers and sisters. 00:33:54.500 --> 00:34:06.339 Let us commit to being the faithful people that God calls us to be, not because we are faithful, but because he is faithful. 00:34:07.319 --> 00:34:14.440 Because irregardless of our actions, irregardless of our fickleness, God seems to keep being here for us. 00:34:14.440 --> 00:34:19.519 Because why was God so concerned about protecting Sarah this time? 00:34:21.760 --> 00:34:25.539 That he would show up in a dream of a pagan king and said, you're a dead man. 00:34:26.019 --> 00:34:28.019 Or if you carry on this road, it's going to lead to death. 00:34:30.780 --> 00:34:31.159 Why? 00:34:31.159 --> 00:34:38.639 Because he knew that within a few months, in the womb of Sarah, there would come a boy. 00:34:40.259 --> 00:34:42.379 And this boy would start this line. 00:34:43.139 --> 00:34:46.440 This boy is Isaac, and he would start this line and will continue to go down. 00:34:46.719 --> 00:34:51.379 It was imperative, it was essential for the salvation of mankind that God protected this. 00:34:51.379 --> 00:34:58.500 Because if he didn't protect Sarah from King Abimelech, we would have thought, wait, is that son Abraham's or is that son Abimelech's? 00:35:01.159 --> 00:35:08.339 It was imperative for the survival of humans that Isaac would be born of Abraham. 00:35:09.239 --> 00:35:17.319 And the line will keep going down and down and down, eventually to the boy who brings blessing onto mankind. 00:35:18.739 --> 00:35:22.519 And of course, you all know by now, that boy is Jesus. 00:35:23.519 --> 00:35:29.839 That boy who ends up growing in stature and wisdom, ends up standing in front of government officials 00:35:29.840 --> 00:35:33.220 who challenge him and say, are you really the son of God? 00:35:33.420 --> 00:35:35.260 Saying, tell me your true identity. 00:35:35.460 --> 00:35:37.519 And he didn't operate in half-truths. 00:35:39.800 --> 00:35:44.340 Actually, all he needed to say at that moment was, well, am I the son of God? 00:35:44.420 --> 00:35:47.740 Well, it depends who you ask, and theologically, if you look at the Greek and you look at the Hebrew, 00:35:48.059 --> 00:35:51.019 or like, I'm kind of son of man and son of God, and I'm son of David. 00:35:51.260 --> 00:35:52.039 Like, it could be anything. 00:35:52.140 --> 00:35:52.960 Like, what do you think? 00:35:53.039 --> 00:35:54.559 Like, well, how's it going to get me out of prison? 00:35:54.700 --> 00:35:55.940 How's it going to get me away from the cross? 00:35:55.940 --> 00:35:59.539 No, he stood there, and he said to Pilate, yes, it is as you say. 00:36:00.380 --> 00:36:01.659 He owned up to his identity. 00:36:01.920 --> 00:36:04.820 He owned up to the truth, knowing that this would cost him his life. 00:36:04.960 --> 00:36:10.860 When the father of the faith, all the way back to Abraham, hid behind a half-truth to preserve his own life, 00:36:10.960 --> 00:36:15.280 to the point where he would give up his own wife, now we have Jesus standing there going, 00:36:15.380 --> 00:36:19.720 yes, I am who I say I am, and I am here to give up myself for the sake of mankind. 00:36:19.920 --> 00:36:21.720 I am here to pay for the ransom of all. 00:36:24.340 --> 00:36:25.159 That is Jesus. 00:36:25.940 --> 00:36:31.340 If you're wondering, what's the secret to choosing faith over fear? 00:36:32.659 --> 00:36:33.420 Look to Jesus. 00:36:35.639 --> 00:36:39.659 In 2 Corinthians 1.20, it says, all of God's promises are yes and amen. 00:36:40.280 --> 00:36:43.400 If you're wondering, is God really going to look after me? 00:36:43.440 --> 00:36:44.539 Is he really going to provide for me? 00:36:44.579 --> 00:36:45.760 Is he really going to care for my children? 00:36:45.840 --> 00:36:47.240 Is he going to bring my children back to him? 00:36:47.280 --> 00:36:48.260 Is he going to give me the right job? 00:36:48.360 --> 00:36:50.619 Am I going to have enough food to eat next year? 00:36:50.619 --> 00:36:56.679 All of these questions, God says, all of these promises are yes and amen. 00:36:56.819 --> 00:36:57.019 Why? 00:36:57.139 --> 00:36:58.099 Because of Jesus. 00:36:58.920 --> 00:37:02.019 All these promises are yes and amen because of Christ Jesus. 00:37:02.019 --> 00:37:07.460 And how would he who gave his only son not graciously give us all the things that we need? 00:37:07.460 --> 00:37:11.579 And we will not be separated from the love of Christ ever again. 00:37:11.579 --> 00:37:22.960 If you are worried, if you are tempted to choose fear over faith in your seasonal growth as a Christian, as a follower of Christ, then I encourage you to look to Christ and say, you know what? 00:37:22.960 --> 00:37:27.119 I'm going to choose faith today because I'm looking at Jesus and God will not let me down. 00:37:30.720 --> 00:37:32.099 I think that's how we hold on. 00:37:32.800 --> 00:37:33.960 That's how we hold on. 00:37:34.400 --> 00:37:35.079 Roller coasters. 00:37:35.340 --> 00:37:36.280 They are up and down. 00:37:36.380 --> 00:37:38.500 Life, the Christian journey is a roller coaster. 00:37:38.820 --> 00:37:40.539 But guess what that seatbelt is there for? 00:37:40.659 --> 00:37:42.400 Guess what that bar when you raise down is for? 00:37:42.579 --> 00:37:45.340 That's the thing that's going to hold you even when you start going upside down. 00:37:45.420 --> 00:37:46.820 That bar is Jesus himself. 00:37:46.900 --> 00:37:50.880 You hold on to that bar and you say, God's promises to me are yes and amen because of Christ Jesus. 00:37:50.880 --> 00:37:54.980 So I will go up and down, but I'm going to hold on to this bar. 00:37:55.840 --> 00:38:00.940 The flood will come, but I'm going to get into the ark because that's the only place that is safe. 00:38:03.900 --> 00:38:13.740 Can we, as a spiritual family, be committed to going on this journey, this roller coaster, this oscillating, this seasonal growth, but choose faith over fear? 00:38:14.460 --> 00:38:19.780 I'm going to invite Kelly to start preparing us, but I want to just leave a quick few action points for you today. 00:38:20.880 --> 00:38:22.340 What does this look like for you? 00:38:23.280 --> 00:38:25.960 As I invite you to think about your seasonal growth, where are you? 00:38:26.340 --> 00:38:26.880 I mean, I don't know. 00:38:26.960 --> 00:38:30.340 Are you in spring where things are really on the up and growing? 00:38:30.680 --> 00:38:36.300 Are you in summer where it's just, well, are you in summer in a place where it's not kind of suffocating with humidity, 00:38:36.900 --> 00:38:41.820 that it's just a nice soft breeze and you're just living life and you're just like Olaf dancing in the summer fields? 00:38:41.820 --> 00:38:49.960 Or are you in autumn where you're like, look, I just had a really good season, but things feel like they're kind of like slowing down a little bit. 00:38:50.019 --> 00:38:52.480 The leaves are kind of turning color. 00:38:53.100 --> 00:38:56.180 Or are you just in deep, dark winter and it's just cold? 00:38:56.179 --> 00:39:02.319 I'll say to you, whatever season that you are in, God is there. 00:39:04.319 --> 00:39:05.379 Don't be ashamed of it. 00:39:06.139 --> 00:39:08.480 The enemy uses shame as his number one weapon. 00:39:08.659 --> 00:39:13.179 It is his special power because he's making you believe that you're the only one in winter. 00:39:13.179 --> 00:39:21.960 Just lean into it and get, okay, I'm in winter right now, but God is with me. 00:39:24.460 --> 00:39:26.759 And I'm going to trend back up again. 00:39:28.179 --> 00:39:29.379 The seasons keep coming. 00:39:30.299 --> 00:39:32.119 And actually, there's beauty in every season. 00:39:33.019 --> 00:39:34.519 That's why I would never live in Singapore. 00:39:34.519 --> 00:39:43.500 Let us embrace the seasons where we can put on down jackets. 00:39:46.500 --> 00:39:49.199 Let us embrace the seasons where things start to grow. 00:39:50.199 --> 00:39:53.300 Let us embrace the seasons where things start to die. 00:39:56.480 --> 00:39:58.460 Knowing that God is faithful through it all. 00:39:59.199 --> 00:40:00.719 Is your fear a fear of worth? 00:40:01.259 --> 00:40:02.460 Are you working to prove yourself? 00:40:03.199 --> 00:40:03.980 Then look to the cross. 00:40:04.679 --> 00:40:05.679 The work is already done. 00:40:05.780 --> 00:40:10.239 Can you imagine if we could only get to heaven because of how we behave and what grade we get in life? 00:40:13.219 --> 00:40:14.559 Then we wouldn't need the cross. 00:40:14.659 --> 00:40:15.460 Jesus wouldn't have to die. 00:40:15.719 --> 00:40:20.199 But because of the cross, you now know that you are of infinite worth. 00:40:20.579 --> 00:40:25.960 So you don't have to choose the fear of worth anymore because you can choose that I truly believe that I am worth it. 00:40:27.000 --> 00:40:28.380 Is your fear a fear of identity? 00:40:28.500 --> 00:40:31.239 Maybe like Abraham, you're like, look, I actually don't even know who I am. 00:40:31.719 --> 00:40:33.039 So many of us go through that. 00:40:33.039 --> 00:40:36.019 Am I Western or am I Eastern? 00:40:36.360 --> 00:40:36.820 I don't know. 00:40:37.900 --> 00:40:39.779 Every dinner time I'm trying to choose between the two. 00:40:39.780 --> 00:40:45.040 But what if I told you you were a child of God? 00:40:47.160 --> 00:40:50.460 With a loving father just there waiting to embrace you. 00:40:50.800 --> 00:40:53.660 Regardless of what season, regardless of whatever cuisine you want to eat. 00:40:55.440 --> 00:40:56.040 Who are you? 00:40:56.100 --> 00:40:56.880 You are you. 00:40:58.680 --> 00:40:59.280 His beloved. 00:41:01.220 --> 00:41:02.360 Choose faith in that. 00:41:02.360 --> 00:41:03.640 Do you have a fear of failure? 00:41:05.340 --> 00:41:06.680 How do you know you have a fear of failure? 00:41:06.800 --> 00:41:07.920 It's because you're trying to control everything. 00:41:10.200 --> 00:41:12.000 Every little decision that your children makes. 00:41:14.640 --> 00:41:16.200 Every little thing that you do in your career. 00:41:17.180 --> 00:41:18.620 You're trying to control everything. 00:41:18.840 --> 00:41:18.960 Why? 00:41:19.039 --> 00:41:20.660 Because you're terrified of failure. 00:41:22.579 --> 00:41:23.099 Choose faith. 00:41:24.980 --> 00:41:25.579 Choose faith. 00:41:25.579 --> 00:41:27.840 Because the Lord said it is finished. 00:41:28.519 --> 00:41:31.420 Choose faith because he says that unless I build it, you build it in vain anyway. 00:41:35.480 --> 00:41:36.539 Or is it the fear of the future? 00:41:38.500 --> 00:41:39.559 You just don't know what will happen. 00:41:39.659 --> 00:41:40.920 You don't know what will happen to your loved one. 00:41:41.000 --> 00:41:42.039 You don't know what will happen to your parents. 00:41:42.099 --> 00:41:43.039 You don't know what will happen to your kids. 00:41:43.119 --> 00:41:43.840 You don't know what will happen to you. 00:41:43.840 --> 00:41:49.460 You're acting as though you know just because you're worried about it, that you will be able to control it. 00:41:49.600 --> 00:41:51.320 Isn't that what Jesus says in Matthew 6? 00:41:52.200 --> 00:41:54.940 It's like, what are you worried about? 00:41:56.620 --> 00:42:00.860 This week was my niece Lily's birthday. 00:42:02.000 --> 00:42:03.860 She has no care or fear in the world. 00:42:03.860 --> 00:42:08.559 She's just currently being suffocated by her dad with the baby carrier. 00:42:08.559 --> 00:42:15.759 Zero worries about whether there will be food. 00:42:15.900 --> 00:42:16.679 Zero worries. 00:42:17.559 --> 00:42:21.299 They named her Lily and it reminds you of the lilies of the field that God clothes. 00:42:23.279 --> 00:42:29.179 If you have a fear of the future, then I offer to you a cheesy fridge magnet quote. 00:42:29.820 --> 00:42:34.820 If you do not know what your future holds, it's okay because you know who holds your future. 00:42:36.739 --> 00:42:37.599 So choose faith. 00:42:38.559 --> 00:42:40.199 Choose faith over fear. 00:42:40.960 --> 00:42:43.719 And I guarantee you, you will still oscillate. 00:42:43.900 --> 00:42:45.179 You will still go up and down. 00:42:45.239 --> 00:42:46.000 I am so sorry. 00:42:48.940 --> 00:42:51.599 Well, we're currently in the basement of a gym. 00:42:52.820 --> 00:42:53.900 And this is what it is. 00:42:56.579 --> 00:42:57.739 But we're being sanctified. 00:42:58.900 --> 00:42:59.820 We're being molded. 00:43:00.279 --> 00:43:02.679 And he will bring to completion what he started. 00:43:02.799 --> 00:43:05.380 His promises are yes and amen in Christ Jesus. 00:43:05.779 --> 00:43:06.699 He is sovereign. 00:43:06.880 --> 00:43:07.380 He is here. 00:43:07.380 --> 00:43:08.099 He is good. 00:43:08.099 --> 00:43:09.019 He loves us. 00:43:09.239 --> 00:43:10.159 Let us worship with that. 00:43:11.279 --> 00:43:12.299 Father, we thank you. 00:43:14.339 --> 00:43:15.420 We declare your goodness. 00:43:15.599 --> 00:43:16.480 We declare your sovereignty. 00:43:17.619 --> 00:43:19.360 You are the king of every season. 00:43:19.360 --> 00:43:26.860 So whether we're grieving or we're fearful. 00:43:26.860 --> 00:43:27.420 We are fearful. 00:43:27.420 --> 00:43:29.740 And to be honest, we are all fearful. 00:43:30.740 --> 00:43:32.300 Help us choose faith today. 00:43:33.180 --> 00:43:35.740 Help us put one step in front of the other today. 00:43:36.280 --> 00:43:37.780 Help us choose you today. 00:43:38.059 --> 00:43:39.780 Help us look to you today. 00:43:39.780 --> 00:43:43.160 Help us learn from Lily today. 00:43:43.160 --> 00:43:44.000 Help us learn from Lily today. 00:43:46.320 --> 00:43:47.660 That we are deeply loved. 00:43:47.659 --> 00:43:52.099 by our father who just desires to hold us. 00:43:52.099 --> 00:43:55.879 And wrap his loving arms around us. 00:43:57.519 --> 00:43:59.199 Propping up our necks as we rest. 00:44:03.519 --> 00:44:04.859 Jesus, today we choose you. 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.019 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.019 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.019 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.019 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.019 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.019 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.019 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.019 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.019 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.019 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.019 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.019 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.019 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.019 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.019 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.019 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.019 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.019 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.019 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.019 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.019 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.019 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.019 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.019 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:05.019 00:44:05.019 --> 00:44:35.000 Thank you.