WEBVTT

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 Good evening, everyone. I was going to start with rugby as well. I was going to say, if you felt a bit down after rugby this afternoon, I'm going to really depress you over the next half hour or so, as usual, John find the more positive message than I did.

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 But we're in Amos, we're in the difficult part of Amos in that the message is one of judgment, it's one of God's holiness, and yet I'm sure we've got lots that we can learn from it together this evening.

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 So let's read together Amos chapter 4.

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 Amos chapter 4, we'll read the whole chapter, it's not that long, and it says,

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 Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria. You women who oppress the poor and crush the needy and say to your husbands, bring us some drinks.

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 The sovereign Lord has sworn by his holiness. The time will surely come when you will be taken away with hooks, the last of you with fish hooks.

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 You will each go straight out through breaks in the wall, and you will be cast out towards Harman, declares the Lord.

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 Go to Bethel and sin. Go to Gilgal and sin yet more.

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 Bring your sacrifices every morning.

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 Your tithes every three years.

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 That's probably every three days, actually, for better translation.

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 Burn leavened bread as a thank offering,

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 and brag about your freewill offerings.

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 Boast about them, your Israelites,

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 for this is what you love to do,

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 declares the sovereign Lord.

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 I give you empty stomachs in every city

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 and lack of bread in every town.

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 Yet you have not returned to me,

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 declares the Lord.

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 I also withheld rain from you

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 when the harvest was still three months away.

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 I sent rain on one town,

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 but withheld it from another.

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 One field had rain,

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 the other had none,

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 and dried up.

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 People staggered from town to town for water,

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 but did not get enough to drink.

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 Yet you have not returned to me,

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 declares the Lord.

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 Many times I struck your gardens

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 and vineyards,

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 I struck them with blight and milled you.

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 Locusts devoured your fig and olive trees.

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 Yet you have not returned to me,

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 declares the Lord.

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 I sent plagues among you as I did to Egypt.

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 I killed your young men with the sword,

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 along with your captured horses.

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 I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camp.

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 Yet you have not returned to me,

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 declares the Lord.

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 I overthrew some of you

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 as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

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 You were like a burning stick

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 snatched from the fire.

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 Yet you have not returned to me,

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 declares the Lord.

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 Therefore, this is what I will do to you, Israel.

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 And because I will do this to you,

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 prepare to meet your God, O Israel.

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 He who forms the mountains,

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 creates the wind,

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 and reveals his thoughts to man.

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 He who turns dawn to darkness

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 and treads the high places of the earth.

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 The Lord God Almighty

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 is his name.

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 I'm sure God will be with us

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 as we try to make some sense

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 of this chapter this evening.

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 If you ever watch soaps on television,

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 not recommending you do,

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 but if you ever do watch soaps on television,

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 there's one sure sign

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 that things are about to go wrong.

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 You have two people talking together

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 and they say,

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 we've been through really difficult times,

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 it's been tough for the last little while,

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 but things are going fine now,

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 nothing can go wrong in the future.

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 And that's immediately followed by a murder

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 or a big fire

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 or a confession of adultery

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 or something

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 that just blows everything up again.

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 It's when people think things are going okay,

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 when they become a bit complacent,

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 that then they start to go badly wrong.

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 I think if you can get that picture in your mind,

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 you've essentially got what Amos 4 is all about.

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 You can imagine the people in Israel saying,

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 we've had pretty tough times.

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 We've had famines.

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 We've had droughts.

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 We've had locusts come and devour all our crops.

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 We've had wars.

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 But that's all behind us now.

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 We're doing well.

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 We're wealthy.

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 We're having a religious revival.

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 We've never had so many sacrifices on the altars.

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 God must be really pleased with us.

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 And God says to them,

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 and not in a good way,

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 prepare to meet your God.

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 It was when they felt things were going well,

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 when they had become complacent

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 in their religion,

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 in their society,

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 that God comes and says,

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 you are about to be faced with judgment.

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 One of the things that's come across

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 very powerfully to me

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 as I've been studying Amos

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 and particularly chapter 4

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 is the danger that we can become complacent

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 in that kind of way.

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 We can look at a chapter like this

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 and say,

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 well, this is about people a long time ago.

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 It's about a godless people.

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 It's about a people

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 who were under God's judgment.

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 We're not under judgment.

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 We're under grace.

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 It doesn't really apply to us.

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 And I hope this evening

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 we can see that a lot of this

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 really does apply to us.

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 Not the ultimate judgment of God.

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 If we are believing in the Lord Jesus

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 and we have the grace of God in our lives,

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 then we can have confidence

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 that when we meet God

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 that we will be declared righteous

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 through the blood of the Lord Jesus.

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 But some of the practicalities

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 of the way that the Israelites were acting

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 and were thinking

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 can be very relevant indeed to us.

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 Before we get into the chapter,

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 let's just orientate ourselves.

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 A reminder for those

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 who've been here the last couple of weeks

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 or if you haven't,

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 just a brief introduction to Amos.

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 So Amos is a preacher, a prophet

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 who came from the southern kingdom of Judah.

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 He was a shepherd

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 and God sent him to be prophet

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 in the northern kingdom of Israel.

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 And John presented to us very clearly

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 two weeks ago

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 that the code for understanding Amos

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 is 8351.

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 If you remember 8351,

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 then you're starting to begin

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 to understand what it's about.

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 It starts with eight oracles of judgment.

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 There are then three sermons of rebuke.

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 There are then five visions of judgment.

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 And right at the end,

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 there's one oracle of salvation.

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 And in 08351,

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 we're halfway through three.

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 So we had the eight oracles of judgment

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 a couple of weeks ago from John.

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 We had the first sermon of rebuke

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 from Mike last week.

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 We're on the second sermon of rebuke this week.

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 And then John will be back next week

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 to give us the third one.

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 So what we're looking at this evening

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 is very much a continuation

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 of what we looked at last Sunday with Mike

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 and it will be continued next Sunday with John.

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 And this chapter, I think,

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 divides into three main sections.

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 So section one,

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 it goes from verse one to verse three.

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 And I've given that the title,

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 Uncaring Comfort.

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 You'll see why hopefully in a minute.

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 The second section goes from verse four to verse five.

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 And I've called that unworthy worship.

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 And then the third section goes from verse six

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 to the end of the chapter.

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 And I've called that unrecognized rebuke.

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 And then at the end,

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 there is God's message of judgment on the people.

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 So with that in mind,

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 let's get ahead into the chapter.

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 The first thing we've called Uncaring Comfort.

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 And Amos, having talked largely to the men

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 in chapter three,

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 or God three,

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 Amos having talked largely to men in chapter three,

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 he concentrates to begin with on the woman

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 at the start of chapter four.

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 And he describes them as cows of Bashan.

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 Now, in our culture,

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 to describe a woman as a cow

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 is about as bad an insult

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 as you could ever get.

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 But this wasn't in itself an insult.

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 In that culture,

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 cows were very important.

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 They were a very important part of society.

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 And to describe someone or a woman as a cow

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 was not the insight we'd be today.

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 To describe them as a cow of Bashan

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 might even be treated as a bit of a compliment.

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 The cows of Bashan lived in a part of the country

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 or exist in a part of the country

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 where there was lush grass,

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 where there was lots of feeding for the cows,

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 where they could go brig and fat.

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 And the Bashan cows would have been,

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 I suppose,

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 a bit like the Aberdeen Angus in our day.

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 They were the best of the best.

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 And they were the cows that people would want,

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 the beef that they ate it,

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 that the people would want to have.

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 And so it's not in itself

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 describing them as cows of Bashan

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 an insult.

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 But what God takes from it

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 is certainly a condemnation

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 of the woman here.

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 Because he says,

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 your comparison to the cows of Bashan

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 isn't because you're the best of the best,

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 you're the ones everyone would want.

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 Rather it's because the cows of Bashan

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 have this lovely pasture,

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 they have these great fields

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 full of grass and flowers and everything else,

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 and they just tramp around,

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 they take whatever they want,

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 and they don't care what they leave behind.

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 And he says,

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 you're a bit like that.

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 You oppress the poor and crush the needy

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 and say to your husband,

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 bring us some drinks.

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 He says to the woman

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 that they're,

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 what they are thinking of,

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 what they want to remember,

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 their luxury,

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 their luxury is important to them,

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 but they want to forget

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 the poor and the downtrodden.

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 Now when it says,

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 they said to her husband,

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 bring us some drinks,

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 I don't think the picture is

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 of sitting beside the pool,

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 sipping pina coladas and saying,

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 hey husband,

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 come and give me another drink.

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 I think rather it's saying to her husband,

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 you go out

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 and you make sure my lifestyle is funded.

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 So I can live a life of comfort

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 and of ease,

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 you go and do that,

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 and I don't really care

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 what you do to achieve it.

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 The women probably weren't

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 directly oppressing the poor,

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 but they were encouraging their husbands

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 to exploit others,

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 and so God says,

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 you are oppressing the poor

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 and crushing the needy.

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 You who think you're the cream of society,

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 who think that God has really blessed you,

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 and you've got everything you need.

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 Actually,

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 you're getting it

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 only through your own greed

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 and only through exploiting others.

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 And so God says,

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 there's a judgment coming on you.

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 Verse two,

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 very strong,

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 the sovereign Lord

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 has sworn by his holiness.

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 So we have to say,

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 well,

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 God has said you will be judged,

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 but it actually says,

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 the sovereign Lord

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 has sworn by his holiness.

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 The holy God has looked on them,

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 and he has said,

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 I am a God of justice,

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 I am a God of holiness,

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 and because of that,

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 I must do something about it.

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 And then you get the picture,

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 and we're in quite difficult territory

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 in terms of the translations here,

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 but I think the NIV

00:10:42.980 --> 00:10:44.740
 has probably got it about right here,

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 and the picture is of

00:10:46.299 --> 00:10:47.919
 the woman being led away.

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 If you imagine a cow being led,

00:10:50.220 --> 00:10:51.120
 it'll often have something

00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:52.019
 through its nose,

00:10:52.019 --> 00:10:53.319
 a hook through its nose,

00:10:53.500 --> 00:10:55.460
 and is led by that.

00:10:56.100 --> 00:10:57.199
 And God's saying to the woman,

00:10:57.519 --> 00:10:59.659
 it will be the same for you.

00:11:00.419 --> 00:11:02.659
 Now we know from contemporary history,

00:11:02.840 --> 00:11:04.500
 and from pictures that we see,

00:11:04.899 --> 00:11:05.679
 that the Assyrians,

00:11:05.799 --> 00:11:07.379
 who would ultimately conquer the Israelites,

00:11:07.939 --> 00:11:09.980
 quite often they led their captives away

00:11:09.980 --> 00:11:11.639
 with a hook through their nose,

00:11:11.799 --> 00:11:13.439
 or through their mouths.

00:11:13.960 --> 00:11:15.220
 So perhaps quite literally,

00:11:15.340 --> 00:11:16.659
 what God is saying here,

00:11:16.840 --> 00:11:17.980
 would come true.

00:11:18.539 --> 00:11:19.720
 That these women who thought

00:11:19.720 --> 00:11:20.720
 they were in great comfort,

00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:21.879
 that they were secure,

00:11:22.220 --> 00:11:24.399
 that they had everything they needed.

00:11:25.320 --> 00:11:25.639
 Ultimately,

00:11:25.800 --> 00:11:26.820
 what would happen to them

00:11:26.820 --> 00:11:29.220
 would be led away in disgrace,

00:11:29.779 --> 00:11:31.279
 into exile,

00:11:31.480 --> 00:11:32.779
 or into slavery.

00:11:33.820 --> 00:11:34.940
 And they wouldn't even be led

00:11:34.940 --> 00:11:36.879
 through the gates of the city.

00:11:36.960 --> 00:11:37.820
 That's what verse 4,

00:11:38.060 --> 00:11:38.899
 verse 3 is about.

00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:40.540
 They would go through breaches

00:11:40.540 --> 00:11:41.460
 in the wall.

00:11:41.500 --> 00:11:41.980
 In other words,

00:11:42.040 --> 00:11:43.420
 a conquering eye would come in,

00:11:43.740 --> 00:11:45.560
 it would destroy the walls of the city,

00:11:45.920 --> 00:11:47.460
 and as part of the humiliation

00:11:47.460 --> 00:11:49.420
 of the residents of the city,

00:11:49.740 --> 00:11:51.160
 it would drag them out of it

00:11:51.160 --> 00:11:52.320
 through the holes

00:11:52.320 --> 00:11:54.700
 that had been made in the wall.

00:11:56.019 --> 00:11:58.100
 We don't know what cast out towards Harmon,

00:11:58.480 --> 00:11:58.800
 and mean,

00:11:58.879 --> 00:11:59.759
 Alec Matier says,

00:11:59.800 --> 00:12:01.759
 it's one of the great unsolved mysteries of Amos.

00:12:01.900 --> 00:12:03.400
 Let's not try and solve it this evening,

00:12:03.400 --> 00:12:05.240
 but I guess it wasn't a good place

00:12:05.240 --> 00:12:06.960
 for them to be going.

00:12:07.639 --> 00:12:09.379
 This was a message of God

00:12:09.379 --> 00:12:11.440
 against the luxury of people,

00:12:11.540 --> 00:12:13.700
 people who depended on luxury,

00:12:13.700 --> 00:12:14.879
 and saying,

00:12:15.560 --> 00:12:17.060
 because you've got your luxury

00:12:17.060 --> 00:12:18.540
 through exploiting others,

00:12:19.240 --> 00:12:22.000
 then you are going to be judged for it.

00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:24.980
 What's the relevance of that for us today?

00:12:25.820 --> 00:12:27.180
 Well, we live in a society

00:12:27.180 --> 00:12:28.520
 that in many ways

00:12:28.520 --> 00:12:30.460
 has been built on exploitation,

00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:33.360
 on people in positions of power

00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:34.120
 and authority

00:12:34.120 --> 00:12:35.879
 and exploiting others.

00:12:35.940 --> 00:12:37.300
 Now, whether it's in our own country,

00:12:37.620 --> 00:12:38.960
 or whether it's the way our country

00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:40.840
 in some ways has treated other countries,

00:12:40.940 --> 00:12:41.980
 certainly in the past,

00:12:41.980 --> 00:12:45.340
 and taking advantage of them

00:12:45.340 --> 00:12:47.279
 in a way which is not fair.

00:12:47.800 --> 00:12:50.100
 So whether it's the sweatshops in China,

00:12:50.659 --> 00:12:53.399
 whether it's the banana planters in Africa,

00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:54.420
 or whatever it is,

00:12:54.659 --> 00:12:55.759
 in our society,

00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:57.560
 we have been quite happy

00:12:57.560 --> 00:12:59.860
 to see others exploited.

00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:02.019
 But actually, most of us,

00:13:02.259 --> 00:13:03.820
 I say we're happy to see them exploited,

00:13:04.100 --> 00:13:05.060
 we're actually quite happy

00:13:05.060 --> 00:13:06.300
 not to see them exploited.

00:13:07.019 --> 00:13:08.840
 We'd like to turn a blind eye

00:13:08.840 --> 00:13:10.560
 to the fact that there is injustice

00:13:10.559 --> 00:13:11.379
 in our world,

00:13:11.719 --> 00:13:13.899
 and it makes us more comfortable,

00:13:14.199 --> 00:13:15.899
 then almost so be it.

00:13:15.939 --> 00:13:16.779
 Now, we wouldn't express it

00:13:16.779 --> 00:13:17.659
 in that kind of way,

00:13:17.899 --> 00:13:19.259
 but that actually is probably

00:13:19.259 --> 00:13:21.539
 how our society has acted.

00:13:21.679 --> 00:13:22.399
 And I've seen things,

00:13:22.479 --> 00:13:23.259
 certainly in the past,

00:13:23.339 --> 00:13:25.679
 perhaps changing slightly now.

00:13:26.739 --> 00:13:28.579
 And so there is a message here for us.

00:13:29.859 --> 00:13:31.219
 God has prospered us

00:13:31.219 --> 00:13:32.819
 as a society,

00:13:33.239 --> 00:13:34.279
 as a country.

00:13:34.279 --> 00:13:37.240
 But has he prospered us,

00:13:37.939 --> 00:13:39.799
 has our prosperity,

00:13:40.339 --> 00:13:41.419
 to some extent,

00:13:41.819 --> 00:13:43.139
 come through taking advantage

00:13:43.139 --> 00:13:45.179
 through exploiting others?

00:13:45.740 --> 00:13:47.759
 Do we have a real concern

00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:49.100
 as Christians

00:13:49.100 --> 00:13:51.620
 for those who are being downtrodden

00:13:51.620 --> 00:13:53.659
 in our world?

00:13:54.299 --> 00:13:54.899
 I struck this morning

00:13:54.899 --> 00:13:56.079
 when John was praying

00:13:56.079 --> 00:13:57.579
 for other churches,

00:13:57.939 --> 00:13:59.379
 when he mentioned P's and G's,

00:13:59.379 --> 00:14:00.639
 he talked about their passion

00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:02.139
 for social justice.

00:14:02.139 --> 00:14:03.679
 That's a passion

00:14:03.679 --> 00:14:06.039
 that all of us should have.

00:14:06.120 --> 00:14:06.480
 And I'm not saying

00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:07.699
 we go out with placards

00:14:07.699 --> 00:14:08.340
 on the streets

00:14:08.340 --> 00:14:08.939
 and demonstrate

00:14:08.939 --> 00:14:10.080
 and that kind of things,

00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:12.080
 but we shouldn't be willing

00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:13.080
 to see injustice

00:14:13.080 --> 00:14:14.819
 or to ignore injustice

00:14:14.819 --> 00:14:17.100
 and to let it happen.

00:14:17.620 --> 00:14:17.960
 Now, hopefully,

00:14:18.039 --> 00:14:19.639
 none of us would directly exploit.

00:14:19.740 --> 00:14:21.199
 Others Christians do sometimes.

00:14:21.559 --> 00:14:21.799
 Hopefully,

00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:23.120
 none of us would do that.

00:14:23.699 --> 00:14:24.279
 But perhaps,

00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:25.879
 in some of the actions we take,

00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:27.460
 even the things we go out and buy,

00:14:27.939 --> 00:14:29.659
 in the way we treat others,

00:14:29.720 --> 00:14:31.039
 in the way we look at situations

00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:31.960
 like what's happening,

00:14:32.139 --> 00:14:34.059
 in the Middle East at the moment,

00:14:34.699 --> 00:14:35.720
 can we look at them

00:14:35.720 --> 00:14:37.000
 with the eye that says,

00:14:37.159 --> 00:14:38.539
 how would God view this?

00:14:39.080 --> 00:14:40.779
 And is our society,

00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:41.679
 in some ways,

00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:43.279
 going against God's way

00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:45.960
 and exploiting others?

00:14:47.159 --> 00:14:47.620
 Christians and I,

00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:48.299
 early in the year,

00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:49.759
 were in Miami Beach.

00:14:50.299 --> 00:14:51.580
 And when we were in Miami Beach,

00:14:51.639 --> 00:14:52.980
 there was only really one church

00:14:52.980 --> 00:14:54.259
 that was very easy to go to,

00:14:54.519 --> 00:14:56.399
 which was the community church there.

00:14:57.159 --> 00:14:57.840
 Now, it wasn't,

00:14:57.960 --> 00:14:59.220
 by any stretch of the imagination,

00:14:59.639 --> 00:15:00.120
 evangelical.

00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:02.000
 We went to the service on Sunday

00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:03.980
 and the minister sent quite a long time

00:15:03.980 --> 00:15:05.060
 trying to defend himself

00:15:05.060 --> 00:15:05.899
 against charges

00:15:05.899 --> 00:15:07.539
 that he didn't teach the gospel.

00:15:08.179 --> 00:15:09.419
 And as far as I gathered,

00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:09.919
 the gospel,

00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:10.980
 where he was concerned,

00:15:11.259 --> 00:15:12.580
 was God accepts everybody

00:15:12.580 --> 00:15:13.899
 and we should too.

00:15:14.299 --> 00:15:15.899
 So it wasn't the kind of sermon

00:15:15.899 --> 00:15:16.600
 we'd expect here.

00:15:16.840 --> 00:15:17.720
 It might be quite time

00:15:17.720 --> 00:15:18.620
 to send him Graham's sermon

00:15:18.620 --> 00:15:19.379
 from this morning,

00:15:19.379 --> 00:15:21.480
 to teach what the gospel

00:15:21.480 --> 00:15:22.740
 really is about.

00:15:23.500 --> 00:15:24.799
 But the slogan of the Miami

00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:25.480
 community,

00:15:25.659 --> 00:15:26.919
 Miami Beach Community Church

00:15:26.919 --> 00:15:27.500
 was,

00:15:27.820 --> 00:15:29.320
 we do justice.

00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:31.120
 And they do.

00:15:31.960 --> 00:15:33.000
 We went to a soup kitchen

00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:33.799
 while they were there,

00:15:34.059 --> 00:15:35.779
 inviting the many poor

00:15:35.779 --> 00:15:37.179
 and homeless in Miami Beach

00:15:37.179 --> 00:15:38.100
 to come in

00:15:38.100 --> 00:15:39.600
 and to see something

00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:41.340
 of real love.

00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:43.299
 If you look on their website,

00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:44.340
 there are lots and lots

00:15:44.340 --> 00:15:45.379
 of things that they do

00:15:45.379 --> 00:15:46.439
 that make it clear

00:15:46.439 --> 00:15:47.939
 that they see justice

00:15:47.939 --> 00:15:50.100
 as being a key element

00:15:50.100 --> 00:15:52.360
 of Christian faith.

00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:54.840
 Now, very easy for us

00:15:54.840 --> 00:15:55.240
 to think,

00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:56.799
 well, we do gospel.

00:15:57.159 --> 00:15:57.700
 And we do.

00:15:58.139 --> 00:15:59.259
 And quite rightly so.

00:15:59.340 --> 00:15:59.620
 At first,

00:15:59.679 --> 00:16:00.799
 it doesn't preach the gospel.

00:16:01.179 --> 00:16:02.480
 It is dreadfully failing

00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:04.700
 the world round about us.

00:16:05.439 --> 00:16:06.740
 But as we do gospel,

00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:08.980
 it is really important also

00:16:08.980 --> 00:16:10.840
 that we do justice.

00:16:11.419 --> 00:16:12.600
 If our lives really

00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:13.700
 are being transformed

00:16:13.700 --> 00:16:15.200
 by the grace of the Lord Jesus,

00:16:15.379 --> 00:16:16.559
 which is our vision

00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:18.039
 as a church,

00:16:18.559 --> 00:16:19.879
 part of that transformation

00:16:19.879 --> 00:16:21.439
 is being able to look

00:16:21.439 --> 00:16:22.639
 with the eyes of God

00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:24.320
 and to see what's wrong

00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:25.860
 in the world round about us

00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:27.939
 and to do whatever we can

00:16:27.939 --> 00:16:30.220
 to make things better

00:16:30.220 --> 00:16:31.340
 for the poor

00:16:31.340 --> 00:16:33.600
 and for the downtrodden.

00:16:35.220 --> 00:16:36.939
 Remember the words of God

00:16:36.939 --> 00:16:38.059
 in Hosea,

00:16:38.580 --> 00:16:40.000
 I desire mercy,

00:16:40.539 --> 00:16:41.899
 not sacrifice.

00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:44.100
 And it's great for us

00:16:44.100 --> 00:16:46.480
 to come and to enjoy

00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:47.600
 as church

00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:48.899
 and being together,

00:16:49.340 --> 00:16:50.639
 studying God's word,

00:16:51.060 --> 00:16:52.300
 preaching the gospel,

00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:53.279
 inviting others

00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:54.279
 to come to know

00:16:54.279 --> 00:16:55.040
 the Lord Jesus.

00:16:55.779 --> 00:16:57.259
 But alongside that,

00:16:57.680 --> 00:16:58.440
 we have to have

00:16:58.440 --> 00:16:59.040
 the concern

00:16:59.040 --> 00:17:00.080
 that God has

00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:01.220
 for those

00:17:01.220 --> 00:17:02.620
 who are not in such

00:17:02.620 --> 00:17:04.240
 a privileged position

00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:05.460
 as us.

00:17:06.099 --> 00:17:06.860
 The Lord Jesus,

00:17:07.099 --> 00:17:07.440
 remember,

00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:08.579
 came to preach

00:17:08.579 --> 00:17:09.599
 good news

00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:10.839
 to the poor.

00:17:10.839 --> 00:17:13.419
 And while the proclamation

00:17:13.419 --> 00:17:14.199
 of the gospel

00:17:14.199 --> 00:17:15.419
 is our key thing

00:17:15.419 --> 00:17:16.859
 as a church,

00:17:17.319 --> 00:17:18.279
 we need also

00:17:18.279 --> 00:17:19.720
 to have that passion

00:17:19.720 --> 00:17:21.379
 for social justice

00:17:21.379 --> 00:17:22.659
 and desire

00:17:22.659 --> 00:17:24.159
 to see real justice

00:17:24.159 --> 00:17:26.039
 in our world.

00:17:26.500 --> 00:17:27.179
 And not to say,

00:17:27.339 --> 00:17:28.019
 I'm all right,

00:17:28.220 --> 00:17:29.139
 I'm comfortable,

00:17:29.559 --> 00:17:30.519
 so I'm not going to bother

00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:31.379
 about anything else

00:17:31.379 --> 00:17:32.480
 or where things come from

00:17:32.480 --> 00:17:33.539
 or how I came

00:17:33.539 --> 00:17:34.299
 to be comfortable.

00:17:34.699 --> 00:17:35.919
 We need to have

00:17:35.919 --> 00:17:36.720
 that passion

00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:37.779
 for justice

00:17:37.779 --> 00:17:38.759
 that God has

00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:41.779
 that Amos displays here.

00:17:42.099 --> 00:17:43.960
 So no uncaring comfort

00:17:43.960 --> 00:17:45.160
 for us.

00:17:46.259 --> 00:17:47.160
 Let's move on, though.

00:17:48.019 --> 00:17:50.460
 Verses 4 and 5,

00:17:51.180 --> 00:17:52.480
 Amos moves on

00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:54.339
 to the people's religion.

00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:56.099
 And so I've called this

00:17:56.099 --> 00:17:58.039
 unworthy worship.

00:17:58.960 --> 00:17:59.379
 Now what you need

00:17:59.379 --> 00:17:59.819
 to understand

00:17:59.819 --> 00:18:00.619
 with these verses

00:18:00.619 --> 00:18:01.819
 is that God

00:18:01.819 --> 00:18:02.799
 is being very,

00:18:02.940 --> 00:18:04.160
 very sarcastic

00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:05.639
 in what he says.

00:18:05.640 --> 00:18:07.580
 that he is making

00:18:07.580 --> 00:18:08.280
 the point

00:18:08.280 --> 00:18:10.280
 by mimicking

00:18:10.280 --> 00:18:11.160
 what would be

00:18:11.160 --> 00:18:12.340
 a call to worship.

00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:13.740
 So the call

00:18:13.740 --> 00:18:15.860
 to go to Bethel

00:18:15.860 --> 00:18:17.220
 or to Gilgal.

00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:18.320
 That would have been

00:18:18.320 --> 00:18:19.120
 a call that would have

00:18:19.120 --> 00:18:20.500
 been legitimately used

00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:22.360
 for people to come

00:18:22.360 --> 00:18:23.520
 and to worship God

00:18:23.520 --> 00:18:25.200
 at his altars.

00:18:25.800 --> 00:18:26.800
 But God is saying,

00:18:27.220 --> 00:18:28.500
 you only do that

00:18:28.500 --> 00:18:31.500
 because you are there

00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:32.360
 to sin.

00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:33.340
 Go to Bethel

00:18:33.339 --> 00:18:33.919
 and sin,

00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:35.659
 go to Gilgal

00:18:35.659 --> 00:18:38.500
 and sin yet more.

00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:40.399
 Now this would have come

00:18:40.399 --> 00:18:41.799
 as a real shock

00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:42.879
 to the people.

00:18:43.639 --> 00:18:44.199
 Because the people

00:18:44.199 --> 00:18:45.199
 of Amos' day

00:18:45.199 --> 00:18:46.439
 thought that they were

00:18:46.439 --> 00:18:48.139
 okay from a religious

00:18:48.139 --> 00:18:49.279
 viewpoint.

00:18:50.359 --> 00:18:51.279
 Bethel and Gilgal

00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:52.480
 had been shrines

00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:53.759
 to false gods

00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:54.379
 since the day

00:18:54.379 --> 00:18:55.799
 of Jeroboam.

00:18:56.220 --> 00:18:57.259
 But there's no suggestion

00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:58.379
 here that they're going

00:18:58.379 --> 00:18:59.279
 to sacrifice

00:18:59.279 --> 00:19:00.379
 to false gods.

00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:01.279
 The suggestion

00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:01.939
 appears to be

00:19:01.940 --> 00:19:02.240
 they're going

00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:02.940
 to sacrifice

00:19:02.940 --> 00:19:04.299
 to the true God,

00:19:04.680 --> 00:19:06.299
 the God of Israel.

00:19:07.019 --> 00:19:08.160
 And as the people go,

00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:08.940
 they say,

00:19:09.080 --> 00:19:09.960
 we are really going

00:19:09.960 --> 00:19:11.320
 to show our devotion

00:19:11.320 --> 00:19:12.640
 to God.

00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:14.660
 So the normal thing

00:19:14.660 --> 00:19:15.279
 would have been

00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:16.240
 to bring a sacrifice

00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:17.400
 once a year

00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:18.500
 to God.

00:19:19.299 --> 00:19:19.759
 People say,

00:19:19.820 --> 00:19:20.660
 we don't just do it

00:19:20.660 --> 00:19:21.380
 once a year,

00:19:21.640 --> 00:19:23.480
 we do it every single day.

00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:23.720
 Now,

00:19:23.860 --> 00:19:25.140
 probably some exaggeration

00:19:25.140 --> 00:19:26.799
 here for effect,

00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:27.400
 but they're saying

00:19:27.400 --> 00:19:28.279
 not once a year,

00:19:28.840 --> 00:19:29.660
 every morning.

00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:31.019
 Normal thing,

00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:31.259
 again,

00:19:31.319 --> 00:19:31.680
 would have been

00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:32.519
 to bring your tithes

00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:33.099
 to God

00:19:33.099 --> 00:19:34.420
 every third year.

00:19:34.500 --> 00:19:34.799
 And I think

00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:36.059
 with the right translation

00:19:36.059 --> 00:19:36.700
 which the ESV

00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:37.480
 and others use,

00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:38.660
 the people are saying,

00:19:38.920 --> 00:19:39.259
 actually,

00:19:39.400 --> 00:19:40.379
 we bring our tithes

00:19:40.379 --> 00:19:40.960
 to God

00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:42.920
 every three days,

00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:45.279
 not every three years.

00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:46.519
 The significance

00:19:46.519 --> 00:19:47.599
 of the leavened bread

00:19:47.599 --> 00:19:49.779
 is slightly less clear cut.

00:19:50.299 --> 00:19:50.940
 It might be

00:19:50.940 --> 00:19:51.879
 that the leavened bread

00:19:51.879 --> 00:19:53.579
 was a kind of voluntary extra

00:19:53.579 --> 00:19:55.099
 in the thank offering.

00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:55.619
 So you brought

00:19:55.619 --> 00:19:56.879
 your animal sacrifice,

00:19:57.079 --> 00:19:57.400
 you brought

00:19:57.400 --> 00:19:58.319
 your leavened bread,

00:19:58.319 --> 00:19:59.299
 and if you're really,

00:19:59.460 --> 00:20:00.000
 really spiritual,

00:20:00.379 --> 00:20:01.179
 you brought your

00:20:01.179 --> 00:20:03.139
 unleavened bread as well.

00:20:03.179 --> 00:20:04.159
 Or perhaps it was the fact

00:20:04.159 --> 00:20:04.939
 that it was burnt,

00:20:05.019 --> 00:20:06.039
 that the offerings normally

00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:06.839
 would be given

00:20:06.839 --> 00:20:07.519
 and would be taken

00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:08.299
 by the priest.

00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:09.740
 This was totally devoted

00:20:09.740 --> 00:20:10.819
 to God.

00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:13.220
 Or perhaps in this context,

00:20:13.299 --> 00:20:14.119
 it was simply the fact

00:20:14.119 --> 00:20:15.379
 that unleavened bread

00:20:15.379 --> 00:20:16.859
 would be a bit more obvious

00:20:16.859 --> 00:20:17.859
 than leavened bread

00:20:17.859 --> 00:20:18.419
 because the yeast

00:20:18.419 --> 00:20:19.659
 had made it rise.

00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:20.779
 And so people could

00:20:20.779 --> 00:20:21.779
 very clearly see,

00:20:22.099 --> 00:20:22.439
 oh yes,

00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:22.819
 you've brought

00:20:22.819 --> 00:20:23.740
 a really good sacrifice

00:20:23.740 --> 00:20:24.419
 to God

00:20:24.420 --> 00:20:26.180
 and you might then

00:20:26.180 --> 00:20:27.980
 get credit for it.

00:20:29.360 --> 00:20:30.360
 But the point in what

00:20:30.360 --> 00:20:31.840
 Amos is saying here

00:20:31.840 --> 00:20:33.380
 is these people

00:20:33.380 --> 00:20:34.860
 weren't coming to God

00:20:34.860 --> 00:20:36.539
 with real worship.

00:20:37.560 --> 00:20:38.740
 They were coming to God

00:20:38.740 --> 00:20:39.620
 from their lives

00:20:39.620 --> 00:20:40.720
 of injustice,

00:20:41.380 --> 00:20:42.240
 of oppression,

00:20:42.620 --> 00:20:43.440
 of others,

00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:44.600
 and they were doing

00:20:44.600 --> 00:20:45.420
 what they saw

00:20:45.420 --> 00:20:47.019
 as their religious duty

00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:48.200
 and they thought,

00:20:48.320 --> 00:20:48.400
 well,

00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:50.500
 that will be okay for me.

00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:50.960
 And I'll just do

00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:51.800
 a bit of extra

00:20:51.800 --> 00:20:53.140
 in my religious duty

00:20:53.140 --> 00:20:54.840
 to particularly please God

00:20:54.840 --> 00:20:55.820
 and everything

00:20:55.820 --> 00:20:57.480
 will be all right.

00:20:59.080 --> 00:20:59.700
 And when they looked

00:20:59.700 --> 00:21:00.480
 at their worship,

00:21:00.820 --> 00:21:01.500
 the first thing

00:21:01.500 --> 00:21:02.040
 they wanted

00:21:02.040 --> 00:21:03.420
 was that it would

00:21:03.420 --> 00:21:04.780
 look good.

00:21:05.520 --> 00:21:06.460
 So that's in

00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:08.200
 verse 5.

00:21:08.620 --> 00:21:09.340
 Brag about your

00:21:09.340 --> 00:21:10.300
 freewill offerings,

00:21:10.880 --> 00:21:11.840
 boast about them,

00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:12.540
 you Israelites,

00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:13.820
 for this is what

00:21:13.820 --> 00:21:15.380
 you love to do.

00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:17.220
 They were coming

00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:18.180
 to God,

00:21:18.560 --> 00:21:19.600
 coming ostensibly

00:21:19.600 --> 00:21:20.860
 to worship God.

00:21:21.480 --> 00:21:21.920
 Actually,

00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:22.759
 what they were doing

00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:23.440
 was they were looking

00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:24.799
 around and saying,

00:21:25.160 --> 00:21:25.960
 everyone should be

00:21:25.960 --> 00:21:26.779
 really impressed

00:21:26.779 --> 00:21:27.400
 with me

00:21:27.400 --> 00:21:28.500
 and with how often

00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:29.119
 I worship

00:21:29.119 --> 00:21:30.680
 and with all the things

00:21:30.680 --> 00:21:31.480
 that I bring

00:21:31.480 --> 00:21:32.619
 to the altar.

00:21:33.539 --> 00:21:34.420
 They really weren't

00:21:34.420 --> 00:21:35.220
 coming to worship

00:21:35.220 --> 00:21:36.160
 God at all,

00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:37.259
 they were coming

00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:38.160
 to look good

00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:39.420
 to others.

00:21:40.819 --> 00:21:41.519
 They also think,

00:21:41.579 --> 00:21:41.879
 I think,

00:21:41.940 --> 00:21:43.240
 coming to feel good.

00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:44.980
 If you think

00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:45.480
 you've come

00:21:45.480 --> 00:21:45.980
 and you've done

00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:47.059
 your religious duty

00:21:47.059 --> 00:21:48.539
 and you say,

00:21:48.599 --> 00:21:49.559
 God has prospered me

00:21:49.559 --> 00:21:50.359
 and I'm giving back

00:21:50.359 --> 00:21:50.720
 to God,

00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:51.440
 I'm making these

00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:52.120
 sacrifices,

00:21:52.120 --> 00:21:53.080
 you're thinking,

00:21:53.220 --> 00:21:53.320
 well,

00:21:53.340 --> 00:21:54.039
 I'm all right.

00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:55.940
 God's going to really

00:21:55.940 --> 00:21:57.059
 think I'm a great

00:21:57.059 --> 00:21:58.620
 believer in him

00:21:58.620 --> 00:22:00.180
 and follower of him.

00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:01.660
 I feel good

00:22:01.660 --> 00:22:03.759
 about my worship

00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:05.100
 of God.

00:22:06.120 --> 00:22:06.759
 But perhaps what

00:22:06.759 --> 00:22:07.759
 Amos is saying,

00:22:08.080 --> 00:22:08.840
 what God is saying

00:22:08.840 --> 00:22:09.539
 through Amos,

00:22:10.140 --> 00:22:10.740
 it's no good

00:22:10.740 --> 00:22:11.500
 looking good,

00:22:12.120 --> 00:22:12.640
 it's no good

00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:13.580
 feeling good

00:22:13.580 --> 00:22:14.640
 if you're not

00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:16.120
 actually doing

00:22:16.120 --> 00:22:16.960
 good.

00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:18.720
 if your worship

00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:19.819
 isn't genuine,

00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:21.200
 if your lives

00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:22.279
 deny what you

00:22:22.279 --> 00:22:23.019
 would attempt

00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:23.660
 to portray

00:22:23.660 --> 00:22:24.440
 to others,

00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:26.100
 then your worship

00:22:26.100 --> 00:22:27.700
 is absolutely

00:22:27.700 --> 00:22:28.860
 worthless.

00:22:30.019 --> 00:22:30.799
 Looking good,

00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:32.039
 feeling good,

00:22:32.420 --> 00:22:33.120
 may make you

00:22:33.120 --> 00:22:34.340
 think you're good,

00:22:34.779 --> 00:22:35.660
 but actually

00:22:35.660 --> 00:22:36.720
 it's the way you act,

00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:37.660
 it's the difference

00:22:37.660 --> 00:22:39.299
 that God in your life

00:22:39.299 --> 00:22:40.759
 makes in your

00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:41.680
 everyday living

00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:42.840
 that really

00:22:42.840 --> 00:22:43.740
 matters.

00:22:43.740 --> 00:22:45.240
 remember the

00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:45.839
 parable of the

00:22:45.839 --> 00:22:46.420
 Lord Jesus,

00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:47.680
 of the traditionally

00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:48.480
 called the Pharisee

00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:49.359
 and the publican,

00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:50.299
 and this guy

00:22:50.299 --> 00:22:50.880
 goes into the

00:22:50.880 --> 00:22:51.559
 temple and says,

00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:52.420
 really thankful

00:22:52.420 --> 00:22:53.420
 God that I'm not

00:22:53.420 --> 00:22:54.299
 like other people,

00:22:54.700 --> 00:22:55.880
 I do my fasting,

00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:57.039
 I do my tithing,

00:22:57.359 --> 00:22:59.019
 and I do my

00:22:59.019 --> 00:22:59.960
 religious duty,

00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:01.099
 unlike this guy

00:23:01.099 --> 00:23:01.759
 in the corner,

00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:03.359
 and it's the one

00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:03.940
 in the corner

00:23:03.940 --> 00:23:05.380
 who is so repentant

00:23:05.380 --> 00:23:06.279
 and so broken

00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:07.920
 that God hears

00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:10.059
 and God forgives.

00:23:11.120 --> 00:23:11.660
 Well, the people

00:23:11.660 --> 00:23:12.960
 were like the

00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:13.579
 Pharisee.

00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:14.920
 How should we

00:23:14.920 --> 00:23:15.620
 come to God?

00:23:16.539 --> 00:23:17.220
 Psalm 24,

00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:18.240
 Who shall ascend

00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:18.920
 the hill of the

00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:19.259
 Lord?

00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:20.559
 Who shall stand

00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:21.660
 in his holy place?

00:23:22.259 --> 00:23:22.940
 He who has

00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:24.039
 clean hands

00:23:24.039 --> 00:23:25.960
 and a pure

00:23:25.960 --> 00:23:26.960
 heart.

00:23:27.779 --> 00:23:28.440
 What does that

00:23:28.440 --> 00:23:29.019
 mean for us?

00:23:29.980 --> 00:23:30.859
 I think it means

00:23:30.859 --> 00:23:31.519
 when we come

00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:32.299
 on a Sunday

00:23:32.299 --> 00:23:33.299
 or at other times,

00:23:33.640 --> 00:23:34.220
 when we come

00:23:34.220 --> 00:23:36.059
 to do our

00:23:36.059 --> 00:23:37.000
 obvious acts

00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:37.599
 of worship

00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:38.460
 for God,

00:23:38.859 --> 00:23:40.880
 that we don't

00:23:40.880 --> 00:23:41.720
 come with the

00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:41.980
 attitude,

00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:42.940
 either I'm here

00:23:42.940 --> 00:23:43.700
 so that I can

00:23:43.700 --> 00:23:44.279
 look good to

00:23:44.279 --> 00:23:44.720
 others,

00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:45.799
 or I'm here

00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:46.400
 so that I can

00:23:46.400 --> 00:23:47.120
 feel good

00:23:47.120 --> 00:23:48.480
 before God.

00:23:49.019 --> 00:23:50.160
 We must come

00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:50.980
 with the attitude

00:23:50.980 --> 00:23:52.320
 of the publican,

00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:53.640
 the attitude of

00:23:53.640 --> 00:23:54.640
 the one who can

00:23:54.640 --> 00:23:54.880
 say,

00:23:55.080 --> 00:23:56.059
 I'm not worthy

00:23:56.059 --> 00:23:57.340
 to be in God's

00:23:57.340 --> 00:23:57.880
 presence,

00:23:58.460 --> 00:23:59.360
 and yet by the

00:23:59.360 --> 00:24:00.259
 grace of God,

00:24:00.660 --> 00:24:01.620
 by the marvellous

00:24:01.620 --> 00:24:02.340
 things that he's

00:24:02.340 --> 00:24:03.120
 done in my life,

00:24:03.320 --> 00:24:04.279
 I am able

00:24:04.279 --> 00:24:05.580
 to be here.

00:24:06.860 --> 00:24:07.680
 And we must

00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:08.720
 also come looking

00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:10.059
 back at our

00:24:10.059 --> 00:24:10.600
 lives,

00:24:11.299 --> 00:24:12.079
 looking back

00:24:12.079 --> 00:24:12.519
 and saying,

00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:13.500
 in the past

00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:14.039
 week,

00:24:14.620 --> 00:24:15.860
 has my life,

00:24:16.380 --> 00:24:17.440
 has my testimony

00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:18.519
 as a Christian

00:24:18.519 --> 00:24:20.059
 been consistent

00:24:20.059 --> 00:24:21.160
 with how I am

00:24:21.160 --> 00:24:22.220
 portraying myself

00:24:22.220 --> 00:24:23.240
 today?

00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:24.980
 Or am I

00:24:24.980 --> 00:24:25.640
 actually as

00:24:25.640 --> 00:24:26.579
 hypocritical as

00:24:26.579 --> 00:24:27.519
 these Israelites

00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.079
 here,

00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:29.559
 that I come

00:24:29.559 --> 00:24:30.539
 to present

00:24:30.539 --> 00:24:31.700
 apparently to

00:24:31.700 --> 00:24:33.380
 God and to

00:24:33.380 --> 00:24:34.279
 engage fully

00:24:34.279 --> 00:24:35.480
 in worship,

00:24:36.299 --> 00:24:36.839
 and yet the

00:24:36.839 --> 00:24:37.679
 real worship,

00:24:38.179 --> 00:24:38.740
 the worship

00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:39.779
 that is in

00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:40.659
 my transformed

00:24:40.659 --> 00:24:42.039
 life before

00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:42.500
 God,

00:24:42.599 --> 00:24:43.539
 that is just

00:24:43.539 --> 00:24:44.959
 not there.

00:24:46.059 --> 00:24:46.559
 The fact that

00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:47.039
 I come to

00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:47.720
 three services

00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:48.199
 on a Sunday,

00:24:48.279 --> 00:24:48.879
 however many I

00:24:48.879 --> 00:24:49.079
 do,

00:24:49.159 --> 00:24:49.579
 the fact that

00:24:49.579 --> 00:24:50.319
 I'm enthusiastic

00:24:50.319 --> 00:24:51.619
 in my worship,

00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:52.339
 the fact perhaps

00:24:52.339 --> 00:24:53.059
 I lead worship

00:24:53.059 --> 00:24:53.899
 or lead services

00:24:53.899 --> 00:24:54.399
 or preach,

00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:55.339
 or whatever I

00:24:55.339 --> 00:24:55.659
 do,

00:24:56.199 --> 00:24:57.139
 these things

00:24:57.139 --> 00:24:57.919
 are all

00:24:57.919 --> 00:24:58.819
 worthless,

00:24:59.419 --> 00:25:00.500
 unless I come

00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:01.439
 before God

00:25:01.439 --> 00:25:02.720
 in sincerity

00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:03.839
 and with a

00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:04.539
 desire that

00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:05.779
 he is glorified

00:25:05.779 --> 00:25:06.779
 and not

00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:07.660
 that I

00:25:07.660 --> 00:25:09.579
 am glorified.

00:25:10.180 --> 00:25:10.700
 It is so

00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:11.480
 important that

00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:12.079
 when we come

00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:12.839
 before God,

00:25:12.940 --> 00:25:13.819
 we come to

00:25:13.819 --> 00:25:14.399
 give our

00:25:14.399 --> 00:25:14.859
 thanks,

00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:15.599
 our praise,

00:25:15.940 --> 00:25:16.680
 our worship

00:25:16.680 --> 00:25:17.220
 to him,

00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:18.619
 and that we

00:25:18.619 --> 00:25:19.220
 come with our

00:25:19.220 --> 00:25:20.139
 sins confessed,

00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:21.379
 and that we

00:25:21.379 --> 00:25:22.700
 come with lives

00:25:22.700 --> 00:25:23.339
 where we are

00:25:23.339 --> 00:25:24.200
 trying to follow

00:25:24.200 --> 00:25:25.339
 him and to

00:25:25.339 --> 00:25:26.200
 live for him

00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:27.279
 and to be

00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:28.480
 obedient servants

00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:29.960
 of the Lord

00:25:29.960 --> 00:25:30.339
 Jesus.

00:25:31.079 --> 00:25:32.180
 So easy to be

00:25:32.180 --> 00:25:33.160
 guilty of

00:25:33.160 --> 00:25:33.980
 unworthy

00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:34.980
 worship.

00:25:35.779 --> 00:25:38.180
 Finally,

00:25:38.359 --> 00:25:39.440
 unrecognised

00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:40.139
 rebuke.

00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:40.379
 Now I'm

00:25:40.379 --> 00:25:40.639
 going to have

00:25:40.639 --> 00:25:41.000
 to turn around

00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:41.299
 because I

00:25:41.299 --> 00:25:41.639
 can't read

00:25:41.639 --> 00:25:42.079
 that on

00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:42.559
 the back

00:25:42.559 --> 00:25:42.940
 screen.

00:25:44.039 --> 00:25:44.359
 The words

00:25:44.359 --> 00:25:44.700
 of C.S.

00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:44.839
 Lewis,

00:25:44.879 --> 00:25:47.859
 very well

00:25:47.859 --> 00:25:48.200
 known,

00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:49.039
 God

00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:49.740
 whispers to

00:25:49.740 --> 00:25:50.000
 us in

00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:50.160
 our

00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:50.639
 pleasures,

00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:51.759
 speaks to

00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:52.019
 us in

00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:52.180
 our

00:25:52.180 --> 00:25:52.819
 conscience,

00:25:53.259 --> 00:25:53.859
 but shouts

00:25:53.859 --> 00:25:54.599
 in our

00:25:54.599 --> 00:25:55.139
 pains.

00:25:55.779 --> 00:25:56.160
 It is

00:25:56.160 --> 00:25:57.139
 his megaphone

00:25:57.139 --> 00:25:58.180
 to rouse

00:25:58.180 --> 00:25:59.160
 a deaf

00:25:59.160 --> 00:26:00.200
 world.

00:26:01.160 --> 00:26:01.460
 In other

00:26:01.460 --> 00:26:01.740
 words,

00:26:01.879 --> 00:26:02.619
 very often

00:26:02.619 --> 00:26:03.500
 the way in

00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:03.960
 which God

00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:04.720
 tries to

00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:05.200
 gain our

00:26:05.200 --> 00:26:05.740
 attention

00:26:05.740 --> 00:26:06.620
 and to

00:26:06.620 --> 00:26:07.319
 point out

00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:08.059
 what's wrong

00:26:08.059 --> 00:26:08.360
 in our

00:26:08.360 --> 00:26:09.440
 life can

00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:09.900
 be through

00:26:09.900 --> 00:26:10.440
 the bad

00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:11.480
 things that

00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:12.620
 happen to

00:26:12.620 --> 00:26:13.000
 us.

00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:14.220
 And that's

00:26:14.220 --> 00:26:14.600
 what the

00:26:14.600 --> 00:26:15.120
 rest of

00:26:15.120 --> 00:26:15.680
 this chapter

00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:16.580
 is all

00:26:16.580 --> 00:26:17.000
 about.

00:26:17.840 --> 00:26:18.840
 Five times

00:26:18.840 --> 00:26:20.100
 God describes

00:26:20.100 --> 00:26:21.259
 bad things

00:26:21.259 --> 00:26:22.160
 that happened

00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:23.039
 to the nation

00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:23.620
 of Israel.

00:26:24.360 --> 00:26:25.100
 And five

00:26:25.100 --> 00:26:25.680
 times he

00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:25.920
 says,

00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:26.940
 despite that

00:26:26.940 --> 00:26:27.840
 you have

00:26:27.840 --> 00:26:29.279
 not returned

00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:30.360
 to me.

00:26:31.019 --> 00:26:31.860
 The megaphone

00:26:31.860 --> 00:26:32.460
 was on at

00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:33.180
 full blast.

00:26:33.180 --> 00:26:34.259
 It should

00:26:34.259 --> 00:26:34.480
 have been

00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:35.580
 obvious to

00:26:35.580 --> 00:26:36.120
 the people

00:26:36.120 --> 00:26:37.060
 that God

00:26:37.060 --> 00:26:37.640
 was trying

00:26:37.640 --> 00:26:38.140
 to say

00:26:38.140 --> 00:26:39.460
 something to

00:26:39.460 --> 00:26:39.840
 them.

00:26:40.620 --> 00:26:41.160
 And yet

00:26:41.160 --> 00:26:42.039
 they totally

00:26:42.039 --> 00:26:43.420
 ignored it.

00:26:44.120 --> 00:26:44.779
 They didn't

00:26:44.779 --> 00:26:46.080
 realise that

00:26:46.080 --> 00:26:46.660
 God was

00:26:46.660 --> 00:26:47.299
 speaking to

00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:48.160
 them through

00:26:48.160 --> 00:26:48.940
 the pains

00:26:48.940 --> 00:26:49.900
 they were

00:26:49.900 --> 00:26:50.360
 suffering.

00:26:51.100 --> 00:26:51.380
 So I have

00:26:51.380 --> 00:26:51.539
 to look

00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:52.539
 briefly at

00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:53.160
 these five

00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:53.640
 things.

00:26:55.799 --> 00:26:56.360
 Verse six,

00:26:56.519 --> 00:26:57.039
 I've called it

00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:57.740
 clean teeth and

00:26:57.740 --> 00:26:58.640
 empty stomachs.

00:26:59.080 --> 00:26:59.740
 NIV talks

00:26:59.740 --> 00:27:00.420
 about empty

00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:01.080
 stomachs.

00:27:01.079 --> 00:27:01.679
 The literal

00:27:01.679 --> 00:27:02.399
 translation with

00:27:02.399 --> 00:27:02.779
 some other

00:27:02.779 --> 00:27:03.519
 versions use

00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:04.279
 is clean

00:27:04.279 --> 00:27:04.720
 teeth.

00:27:04.899 --> 00:27:05.159
 Now the

00:27:05.159 --> 00:27:05.720
 idea is if

00:27:05.720 --> 00:27:05.960
 you've got

00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:06.559
 clean teeth

00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:07.240
 it suggests

00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:07.579
 you've not

00:27:07.579 --> 00:27:08.139
 been eating

00:27:08.139 --> 00:27:08.879
 so it has

00:27:08.879 --> 00:27:09.240
 the same

00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:10.319
 idea as

00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:10.599
 empty

00:27:10.599 --> 00:27:11.199
 stomachs but

00:27:11.199 --> 00:27:11.419
 it's just

00:27:11.419 --> 00:27:11.859
 a slightly

00:27:11.859 --> 00:27:12.779
 different

00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:13.539
 idiom.

00:27:14.199 --> 00:27:14.399
 So in

00:27:14.399 --> 00:27:14.720
 other words

00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:15.519
 God says

00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:16.299
 in the

00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:17.319
 past I've

00:27:17.319 --> 00:27:18.279
 sent famine

00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:18.759
 to you.

00:27:19.199 --> 00:27:19.679
 You've had

00:27:19.679 --> 00:27:20.319
 times when

00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:20.839
 you couldn't

00:27:20.839 --> 00:27:21.240
 eat when

00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:21.740
 there wasn't

00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:22.480
 enough when

00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:23.000
 I was trying

00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:23.500
 to speak

00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:23.960
 to you

00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:24.659
 through that

00:27:24.659 --> 00:27:26.000
 famine and

00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:26.480
 yet you

00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:27.240
 ignored me.

00:27:28.359 --> 00:27:28.939
 When things

00:27:28.939 --> 00:27:29.679
 got better,

00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:30.279
 when you got

00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:30.819
 the food,

00:27:31.079 --> 00:27:31.599
 you forgot

00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:32.299
 about it

00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:33.259
 and my

00:27:33.259 --> 00:27:34.099
 message to

00:27:34.099 --> 00:27:35.139
 you wasn't

00:27:35.139 --> 00:27:36.059
 received.

00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:37.839
 He then

00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:38.099
 said you

00:27:38.099 --> 00:27:38.699
 had parched

00:27:38.699 --> 00:27:39.679
 fields and

00:27:39.679 --> 00:27:40.980
 dry mouths.

00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:41.899
 So with a

00:27:41.899 --> 00:27:42.399
 picture of

00:27:42.399 --> 00:27:43.359
 God withholding

00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:44.839
 rain and

00:27:44.839 --> 00:27:45.139
 the quite

00:27:45.139 --> 00:27:45.859
 strong imagery

00:27:45.859 --> 00:27:46.220
 of there'd

00:27:46.220 --> 00:27:46.679
 be rain in

00:27:46.679 --> 00:27:47.220
 one place and

00:27:47.220 --> 00:27:47.579
 everyone would

00:27:47.579 --> 00:27:48.139
 rush to that

00:27:48.139 --> 00:27:49.059
 place, find the

00:27:49.059 --> 00:27:49.480
 rain had gone

00:27:49.480 --> 00:27:49.799
 there and

00:27:49.799 --> 00:27:50.299
 rush somewhere

00:27:50.299 --> 00:27:50.980
 else and

00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:51.279
 it'd be going

00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:51.839
 all over the

00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:52.619
 place trying

00:27:52.619 --> 00:27:53.359
 to get water,

00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:54.179
 trying to get

00:27:54.179 --> 00:27:54.779
 something to

00:27:54.779 --> 00:27:55.579
 drink and

00:27:55.579 --> 00:27:56.119
 hoping that

00:27:56.119 --> 00:27:57.379
 somewhere the

00:27:57.379 --> 00:27:58.240
 crops would

00:27:58.240 --> 00:27:59.179
 have come at

00:27:59.179 --> 00:28:00.279
 the time of

00:28:00.279 --> 00:28:00.839
 harvest.

00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:02.220
 God says

00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:02.699
 to them,

00:28:03.419 --> 00:28:03.779
 you had

00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:04.960
 this as a

00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:05.659
 second warning.

00:28:06.559 --> 00:28:06.819
 You had

00:28:06.819 --> 00:28:08.019
 these droughts

00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:08.740
 that should have

00:28:08.740 --> 00:28:09.599
 spoken to you

00:28:09.599 --> 00:28:10.500
 and help you

00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:11.259
 to recognise

00:28:11.259 --> 00:28:12.179
 that I was

00:28:12.179 --> 00:28:12.899
 judging you

00:28:12.899 --> 00:28:13.899
 and you

00:28:13.899 --> 00:28:14.639
 ignored them,

00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:15.220
 you still

00:28:15.220 --> 00:28:16.659
 didn't return

00:28:16.659 --> 00:28:17.679
 to me.

00:28:19.399 --> 00:28:19.939
 Third thing

00:28:19.939 --> 00:28:20.259
 that God

00:28:20.259 --> 00:28:20.859
 sent was

00:28:20.859 --> 00:28:21.399
 blighted

00:28:21.399 --> 00:28:22.639
 plants and

00:28:22.639 --> 00:28:23.379
 devoured

00:28:23.379 --> 00:28:23.939
 fruits.

00:28:24.599 --> 00:28:25.240
 Verse 9,

00:28:25.240 --> 00:28:25.779
 I struck

00:28:25.779 --> 00:28:26.460
 your gardens

00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:27.140
 and vineyards

00:28:27.140 --> 00:28:27.579
 destroying

00:28:27.579 --> 00:28:27.920
 them with

00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:28.359
 blight and

00:28:28.359 --> 00:28:28.900
 mildew,

00:28:29.380 --> 00:28:29.819
 locusts

00:28:29.819 --> 00:28:30.240
 devoured

00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:30.700
 your fig

00:28:30.700 --> 00:28:31.019
 and olive

00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:31.539
 trees,

00:28:31.960 --> 00:28:32.380
 yet you

00:28:32.380 --> 00:28:32.759
 have not

00:28:32.759 --> 00:28:33.420
 returned to

00:28:33.420 --> 00:28:33.680
 me,

00:28:33.980 --> 00:28:34.480
 declares

00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:35.400
 the Lord.

00:28:35.740 --> 00:28:36.200
 So plants

00:28:36.200 --> 00:28:37.160
 were diseased,

00:28:37.700 --> 00:28:38.099
 became

00:28:38.099 --> 00:28:38.859
 unfruitful,

00:28:38.940 --> 00:28:39.599
 inedible because

00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:40.180
 of that,

00:28:40.539 --> 00:28:41.059
 or when there

00:28:41.059 --> 00:28:41.640
 was fruit,

00:28:41.900 --> 00:28:42.380
 the locusts

00:28:42.380 --> 00:28:43.019
 came along

00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:43.940
 and they

00:28:43.940 --> 00:28:44.660
 took it all

00:28:44.660 --> 00:28:45.440
 so the people

00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:46.099
 had nothing,

00:28:46.539 --> 00:28:47.680
 again a time

00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:49.900
 of a shortage

00:28:49.900 --> 00:28:50.859
 of what the

00:28:50.859 --> 00:28:51.519
 people needed,

00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:52.519
 a time when

00:28:52.519 --> 00:28:52.980
 they should have

00:28:52.980 --> 00:28:53.360
 looked and

00:28:53.360 --> 00:28:53.559
 said,

00:28:53.660 --> 00:28:54.019
 what is

00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:54.660
 God saying

00:28:54.660 --> 00:28:55.200
 to us?

00:28:55.380 --> 00:28:55.920
 But they

00:28:55.920 --> 00:28:56.420
 didn't,

00:28:56.819 --> 00:28:57.920
 they ignored

00:28:57.920 --> 00:28:58.259
 him.

00:29:00.319 --> 00:29:00.960
 Number 4,

00:29:01.799 --> 00:29:02.539
 called diseased

00:29:02.539 --> 00:29:03.620
 bodies and

00:29:03.620 --> 00:29:04.000
 rocked

00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:04.799
 corpses.

00:29:05.059 --> 00:29:05.380
 I sent

00:29:05.380 --> 00:29:05.740
 plagues

00:29:05.740 --> 00:29:06.319
 among you

00:29:06.319 --> 00:29:06.819
 as I did

00:29:06.819 --> 00:29:07.279
 to Egypt,

00:29:07.420 --> 00:29:07.799
 I killed

00:29:07.799 --> 00:29:08.259
 your young

00:29:08.259 --> 00:29:08.680
 men with

00:29:08.680 --> 00:29:09.140
 the sword

00:29:09.140 --> 00:29:09.660
 along with

00:29:09.660 --> 00:29:10.220
 your captured

00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:10.680
 horses,

00:29:11.299 --> 00:29:11.799
 I filled

00:29:11.799 --> 00:29:12.460
 your nostrils

00:29:12.460 --> 00:29:13.120
 with the stench

00:29:13.120 --> 00:29:13.420
 of your

00:29:13.420 --> 00:29:13.940
 camps,

00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:14.880
 yet you

00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:15.360
 have not

00:29:15.360 --> 00:29:16.039
 returned to

00:29:16.039 --> 00:29:16.319
 me,

00:29:16.700 --> 00:29:17.180
 declares

00:29:17.180 --> 00:29:18.279
 the Lord.

00:29:19.579 --> 00:29:20.099
 Comparison

00:29:20.099 --> 00:29:21.000
 of Israel

00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:22.579
 and Egypt.

00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:24.200
 Egypt for

00:29:24.200 --> 00:29:24.759
 the Israelites

00:29:24.759 --> 00:29:25.299
 was the

00:29:25.299 --> 00:29:25.880
 place where

00:29:25.880 --> 00:29:26.099
 there had

00:29:26.099 --> 00:29:26.900
 been slavery,

00:29:27.500 --> 00:29:27.680
 it had

00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:27.940
 been a

00:29:27.940 --> 00:29:28.400
 place of

00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:29.220
 wickedness

00:29:29.220 --> 00:29:30.220
 where God

00:29:30.220 --> 00:29:30.920
 had judged

00:29:30.920 --> 00:29:31.640
 the people

00:29:31.640 --> 00:29:32.140
 of Egypt

00:29:32.140 --> 00:29:33.120
 to force

00:29:33.120 --> 00:29:33.579
 the Pharaoh

00:29:33.579 --> 00:29:34.460
 to let

00:29:34.460 --> 00:29:35.220
 the Israelites

00:29:35.220 --> 00:29:35.720
 go.

00:29:36.660 --> 00:29:37.039
 And Amos

00:29:37.039 --> 00:29:37.480
 says,

00:29:38.339 --> 00:29:39.000
 God says

00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:39.339
 to Amos,

00:29:39.460 --> 00:29:40.059
 I sent

00:29:40.059 --> 00:29:40.860
 the kind

00:29:40.860 --> 00:29:41.339
 of things

00:29:41.339 --> 00:29:41.920
 on you

00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:42.599
 that I

00:29:42.599 --> 00:29:43.079
 sent on

00:29:43.079 --> 00:29:43.539
 Egypt

00:29:43.539 --> 00:29:45.259
 and even

00:29:45.259 --> 00:29:46.299
 then you

00:29:46.299 --> 00:29:46.620
 didn't

00:29:46.620 --> 00:29:47.539
 recognize it

00:29:47.539 --> 00:29:48.740
 and didn't

00:29:48.740 --> 00:29:49.700
 return to

00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:49.980
 me.

00:29:49.980 --> 00:29:52.339
 And

00:29:52.339 --> 00:29:52.599
 then the

00:29:52.599 --> 00:29:53.019
 final one

00:29:53.019 --> 00:29:53.120
 I've

00:29:53.120 --> 00:29:53.420
 called

00:29:53.420 --> 00:29:54.000
 destroyed

00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:54.500
 cities

00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:54.740
 and

00:29:54.740 --> 00:29:55.140
 scarred

00:29:55.140 --> 00:29:55.599
 survivors,

00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:56.200
 not quite

00:29:56.200 --> 00:29:56.740
 so clear

00:29:56.740 --> 00:29:57.720
 exactly

00:29:57.720 --> 00:29:58.039
 what's

00:29:58.039 --> 00:29:58.420
 in mind

00:29:58.420 --> 00:29:58.839
 here,

00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:00.380
 but it

00:30:00.380 --> 00:30:00.900
 appears to

00:30:00.900 --> 00:30:01.480
 be again

00:30:01.480 --> 00:30:02.019
 that there

00:30:02.019 --> 00:30:02.339
 was some

00:30:02.339 --> 00:30:02.700
 kind of

00:30:02.700 --> 00:30:03.200
 distraction.

00:30:03.360 --> 00:30:03.400
 I

00:30:03.400 --> 00:30:03.799
 overthrew

00:30:03.799 --> 00:30:04.240
 some of

00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:04.480
 you as

00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:04.559
 I

00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:04.900
 overthrew

00:30:04.900 --> 00:30:05.500
 Sodom and

00:30:05.500 --> 00:30:05.920
 Gomorrah.

00:30:06.360 --> 00:30:06.620
 You

00:30:06.620 --> 00:30:06.980
 were like

00:30:06.980 --> 00:30:07.440
 a burning

00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:07.940
 stick

00:30:07.940 --> 00:30:08.319
 snatched

00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:08.700
 from the

00:30:08.700 --> 00:30:09.079
 fire,

00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:10.059
 yet you

00:30:10.059 --> 00:30:10.500
 have not

00:30:10.500 --> 00:30:10.940
 returned

00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:11.440
 to me,

00:30:11.860 --> 00:30:12.279
 declares

00:30:12.279 --> 00:30:12.880
 the Lord.

00:30:13.700 --> 00:30:13.960
 If

00:30:13.960 --> 00:30:14.480
 Egypt

00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:15.380
 was bad,

00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:16.500
 Sodom and

00:30:16.500 --> 00:30:17.019
 Gomorrah

00:30:17.019 --> 00:30:17.960
 was much

00:30:17.960 --> 00:30:18.759
 worse.

00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:19.519
 Sodom and

00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:20.000
 Gomorrah

00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:20.519
 would speak

00:30:20.519 --> 00:30:20.799
 of the

00:30:20.799 --> 00:30:21.039
 utter

00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:21.860
 depravity

00:30:21.860 --> 00:30:23.079
 of man,

00:30:23.160 --> 00:30:23.600
 the cities

00:30:23.600 --> 00:30:24.019
 which were

00:30:24.019 --> 00:30:24.779
 so wicked

00:30:24.779 --> 00:30:25.779
 that God

00:30:25.779 --> 00:30:26.279
 had to

00:30:26.279 --> 00:30:27.180
 destroy them

00:30:27.180 --> 00:30:28.160
 completely.

00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:29.460
 And God

00:30:29.460 --> 00:30:30.059
 says to

00:30:30.059 --> 00:30:30.600
 Amos,

00:30:30.819 --> 00:30:31.519
 you were

00:30:31.519 --> 00:30:32.579
 like that.

00:30:33.460 --> 00:30:34.440
 I came

00:30:34.440 --> 00:30:34.980
 and visited

00:30:34.980 --> 00:30:35.220
 you,

00:30:35.259 --> 00:30:35.500
 and we don't

00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:35.740
 know what

00:30:35.740 --> 00:30:35.940
 it was,

00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:36.120
 it might

00:30:36.120 --> 00:30:36.340
 be the

00:30:36.340 --> 00:30:36.480
 earth

00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:36.660
 grace,

00:30:36.740 --> 00:30:36.840
 it might

00:30:36.840 --> 00:30:37.100
 be something

00:30:37.100 --> 00:30:37.539
 like that,

00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:38.160
 but something

00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:39.180
 happened that

00:30:39.180 --> 00:30:39.720
 God could

00:30:39.720 --> 00:30:40.059
 say it was

00:30:40.059 --> 00:30:40.640
 a bit like

00:30:40.640 --> 00:30:41.299
 my judgment

00:30:41.299 --> 00:30:42.319
 of Sodom and

00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:42.680
 Gomorrah,

00:30:42.779 --> 00:30:43.299
 but in my

00:30:43.299 --> 00:30:44.480
 mercy I

00:30:44.480 --> 00:30:45.220
 spared you

00:30:45.220 --> 00:30:45.579
 like a

00:30:45.579 --> 00:30:45.799
 burning

00:30:45.799 --> 00:30:46.180
 stick

00:30:46.180 --> 00:30:46.559
 snatched

00:30:46.559 --> 00:30:46.960
 from the

00:30:46.960 --> 00:30:47.380
 fire,

00:30:47.380 --> 00:30:48.040
 so you

00:30:48.040 --> 00:30:48.760
 just about

00:30:48.760 --> 00:30:49.820
 got away,

00:30:50.540 --> 00:30:51.340
 and yet

00:30:51.340 --> 00:30:52.580
 still you

00:30:52.580 --> 00:30:53.100
 didn't

00:30:53.100 --> 00:30:54.040
 return

00:30:54.040 --> 00:30:55.080
 to me.

00:30:56.280 --> 00:30:56.600
 And so

00:30:56.600 --> 00:30:57.280
 says God,

00:30:57.900 --> 00:30:58.420
 now is

00:30:58.420 --> 00:30:59.020
 the time

00:30:59.020 --> 00:31:00.300
 to prepare

00:31:00.300 --> 00:31:01.420
 to meet

00:31:01.420 --> 00:31:02.220
 your

00:31:02.220 --> 00:31:03.120
 God.

00:31:03.640 --> 00:31:03.960
 You've

00:31:03.960 --> 00:31:04.200
 had all

00:31:04.200 --> 00:31:04.740
 the warnings,

00:31:05.400 --> 00:31:05.680
 you've

00:31:05.680 --> 00:31:05.980
 had all

00:31:05.980 --> 00:31:06.940
 the opportunities

00:31:06.940 --> 00:31:08.160
 to turn

00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:08.680
 back to

00:31:08.680 --> 00:31:08.860
 me.

00:31:09.940 --> 00:31:10.640
 It's too

00:31:10.640 --> 00:31:11.180
 late now,

00:31:11.700 --> 00:31:12.020
 and this

00:31:12.020 --> 00:31:12.300
 isn't a

00:31:12.300 --> 00:31:12.980
 gospel message

00:31:12.980 --> 00:31:13.420
 that Amos

00:31:13.420 --> 00:31:13.960
 is preaching

00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:14.280
 or God

00:31:14.280 --> 00:31:14.700
 is preaching

00:31:14.700 --> 00:31:15.300
 through Amos,

00:31:15.460 --> 00:31:16.040
 this is a

00:31:16.040 --> 00:31:16.460
 message that

00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:16.880
 says you

00:31:16.880 --> 00:31:17.380
 are going

00:31:17.380 --> 00:31:17.720
 to be

00:31:17.720 --> 00:31:18.140
 judged

00:31:18.140 --> 00:31:19.040
 because you

00:31:19.040 --> 00:31:19.980
 have ignored

00:31:19.980 --> 00:31:20.280
 me,

00:31:20.640 --> 00:31:21.320
 prepare for

00:31:21.320 --> 00:31:22.100
 that time

00:31:22.100 --> 00:31:23.820
 of judgment.

00:31:24.520 --> 00:31:24.820
 Look in a

00:31:24.820 --> 00:31:25.220
 minute at

00:31:25.220 --> 00:31:26.380
 verse 13,

00:31:26.480 --> 00:31:26.760
 but let's

00:31:26.760 --> 00:31:27.680
 just apply

00:31:27.680 --> 00:31:28.020
 this a

00:31:28.020 --> 00:31:28.440
 little bit

00:31:28.440 --> 00:31:29.340
 just now.

00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:30.660
 God

00:31:30.660 --> 00:31:31.380
 speaks to

00:31:31.380 --> 00:31:31.800
 us as

00:31:31.800 --> 00:31:32.200
 C.S.

00:31:32.260 --> 00:31:32.460
 Lewis

00:31:32.460 --> 00:31:32.940
 says,

00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:33.620
 he shouts

00:31:33.620 --> 00:31:34.160
 at us

00:31:34.160 --> 00:31:35.020
 through our

00:31:35.020 --> 00:31:35.780
 pain.

00:31:36.600 --> 00:31:36.900
 And I

00:31:36.900 --> 00:31:37.500
 wonder how

00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:38.060
 often when

00:31:38.060 --> 00:31:38.700
 things happen

00:31:38.700 --> 00:31:39.260
 to us,

00:31:39.260 --> 00:31:40.040
 when things

00:31:40.040 --> 00:31:40.840
 go wrong

00:31:40.840 --> 00:31:41.700
 and are not

00:31:41.700 --> 00:31:42.260
 the way that

00:31:42.260 --> 00:31:42.580
 we would

00:31:42.580 --> 00:31:43.040
 want them

00:31:43.040 --> 00:31:43.520
 to be,

00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:44.579
 how often

00:31:44.579 --> 00:31:44.960
 do we

00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:45.379
 look and

00:31:45.379 --> 00:31:45.579
 say,

00:31:45.680 --> 00:31:45.759
 well,

00:31:45.819 --> 00:31:46.220
 what is

00:31:46.220 --> 00:31:47.039
 God saying

00:31:47.039 --> 00:31:47.579
 to us

00:31:47.579 --> 00:31:48.420
 through it?

00:31:49.019 --> 00:31:49.460
 We might

00:31:49.460 --> 00:31:49.879
 pray that

00:31:49.879 --> 00:31:50.299
 God will

00:31:50.299 --> 00:31:50.700
 take us

00:31:50.700 --> 00:31:51.099
 out of

00:31:51.099 --> 00:31:51.339
 it.

00:31:51.639 --> 00:31:52.099
 We might

00:31:52.099 --> 00:31:52.500
 pray that

00:31:52.500 --> 00:31:52.920
 God will

00:31:52.920 --> 00:31:53.720
 send healing

00:31:53.720 --> 00:31:54.859
 or restoration

00:31:54.859 --> 00:31:55.480
 or whatever

00:31:55.480 --> 00:31:56.019
 it is.

00:31:56.019 --> 00:31:56.680
 We will

00:31:56.680 --> 00:31:57.099
 pray to

00:31:57.099 --> 00:31:57.779
 God for

00:31:57.779 --> 00:31:58.480
 his help

00:31:58.480 --> 00:31:59.259
 in the

00:31:59.259 --> 00:31:59.879
 situation.

00:32:00.680 --> 00:32:01.319
 How often

00:32:01.319 --> 00:32:01.680
 do we

00:32:01.680 --> 00:32:02.099
 examine

00:32:02.099 --> 00:32:02.700
 ourselves

00:32:02.700 --> 00:32:03.160
 and say,

00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:03.819
 what is

00:32:03.819 --> 00:32:04.500
 it that

00:32:04.500 --> 00:32:05.139
 God is

00:32:05.139 --> 00:32:05.680
 saying to

00:32:05.680 --> 00:32:05.980
 me

00:32:05.980 --> 00:32:06.619
 through

00:32:06.619 --> 00:32:07.619
 this?

00:32:07.619 --> 00:32:09.259
 Sometimes

00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:10.159
 God sends

00:32:10.159 --> 00:32:11.159
 bad things

00:32:11.159 --> 00:32:12.019
 or allows

00:32:12.019 --> 00:32:12.539
 bad things

00:32:12.539 --> 00:32:13.039
 to happen

00:32:13.039 --> 00:32:13.739
 so that

00:32:13.739 --> 00:32:14.119
 he will

00:32:14.119 --> 00:32:15.459
 be glorified.

00:32:15.979 --> 00:32:16.619
 Not always

00:32:16.619 --> 00:32:17.419
 remember

00:32:17.419 --> 00:32:18.299
 John 9

00:32:18.299 --> 00:32:18.579
 and the

00:32:18.579 --> 00:32:19.139
 blind man

00:32:19.139 --> 00:32:19.879
 disciples say,

00:32:19.939 --> 00:32:19.979
 well,

00:32:20.019 --> 00:32:20.359
 who's in

00:32:20.359 --> 00:32:20.779
 this man

00:32:20.779 --> 00:32:21.019
 or his

00:32:21.019 --> 00:32:21.319
 mother

00:32:21.319 --> 00:32:21.859
 or his

00:32:21.859 --> 00:32:22.239
 parents?

00:32:22.559 --> 00:32:22.959
 And the

00:32:22.959 --> 00:32:23.419
 Lord says

00:32:23.419 --> 00:32:23.739
 it's so

00:32:23.739 --> 00:32:24.179
 that God

00:32:24.179 --> 00:32:24.519
 will be

00:32:24.519 --> 00:32:25.159
 glorified

00:32:25.159 --> 00:32:25.879
 that he's

00:32:25.879 --> 00:32:26.319
 in this

00:32:26.319 --> 00:32:27.099
 condition.

00:32:27.599 --> 00:32:28.239
 So sometimes

00:32:28.239 --> 00:32:29.199
 it is

00:32:29.199 --> 00:32:29.599
 God

00:32:29.599 --> 00:32:30.439
 sending

00:32:30.439 --> 00:32:30.879
 things for

00:32:30.879 --> 00:32:31.359
 his glory

00:32:31.359 --> 00:32:31.779
 and through

00:32:31.779 --> 00:32:32.179
 the way

00:32:32.179 --> 00:32:32.619
 that we

00:32:32.619 --> 00:32:32.879
 are able

00:32:32.879 --> 00:32:33.379
 to trust

00:32:33.379 --> 00:32:33.939
 in God

00:32:33.939 --> 00:32:34.259
 and be

00:32:34.259 --> 00:32:34.799
 a witness

00:32:34.799 --> 00:32:36.039
 to his

00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:36.359
 grace

00:32:36.359 --> 00:32:36.679
 in our

00:32:36.679 --> 00:32:37.059
 lives.

00:32:37.059 --> 00:32:37.700
 That can

00:32:37.700 --> 00:32:38.299
 be a

00:32:38.299 --> 00:32:38.659
 powerful

00:32:38.659 --> 00:32:39.119
 thing

00:32:39.119 --> 00:32:39.839
 that he

00:32:39.839 --> 00:32:40.220
 uses.

00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:41.299
 I think

00:32:41.299 --> 00:32:41.759
 we also

00:32:41.759 --> 00:32:42.240
 need to

00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:42.779
 recognize

00:32:42.779 --> 00:32:43.319
 that those

00:32:43.319 --> 00:32:43.859
 whom God

00:32:43.859 --> 00:32:44.379
 loves,

00:32:44.779 --> 00:32:45.419
 he disciplines

00:32:45.419 --> 00:32:46.720
 and God

00:32:46.720 --> 00:32:47.399
 does send

00:32:47.399 --> 00:32:47.700
 things,

00:32:47.839 --> 00:32:48.220
 sometimes

00:32:48.220 --> 00:32:48.899
 allow things

00:32:48.899 --> 00:32:49.339
 to happen

00:32:49.339 --> 00:32:49.819
 to us

00:32:49.819 --> 00:32:50.720
 because there

00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:51.200
 is something

00:32:51.200 --> 00:32:51.539
 in our

00:32:51.539 --> 00:32:52.039
 lives that

00:32:52.039 --> 00:32:52.419
 needs to

00:32:52.419 --> 00:32:52.759
 be put

00:32:52.759 --> 00:32:53.679
 right and

00:32:53.679 --> 00:32:54.179
 we need

00:32:54.179 --> 00:32:54.500
 to be

00:32:54.500 --> 00:32:55.039
 willing to

00:32:55.039 --> 00:32:55.579
 listen to

00:32:55.579 --> 00:32:56.000
 God's

00:32:56.000 --> 00:32:56.960
 voice in

00:32:56.960 --> 00:32:57.399
 these

00:32:57.399 --> 00:32:58.599
 circumstances.

00:33:00.079 --> 00:33:00.819
 Five times

00:33:00.819 --> 00:33:01.679
 he's spoken

00:33:01.679 --> 00:33:02.019
 to the

00:33:02.019 --> 00:33:02.440
 Israelites,

00:33:02.599 --> 00:33:03.019
 five times

00:33:03.019 --> 00:33:03.480
 he's spoken

00:33:03.480 --> 00:33:04.460
 very powerfully

00:33:04.460 --> 00:33:05.259
 to things

00:33:05.259 --> 00:33:05.700
 that happened

00:33:05.700 --> 00:33:06.139
 to them,

00:33:06.140 --> 00:33:07.460
 five times

00:33:07.460 --> 00:33:08.460
 they ignored

00:33:08.460 --> 00:33:08.759
 him.

00:33:09.300 --> 00:33:09.780
 We need

00:33:09.780 --> 00:33:10.140
 to make

00:33:10.140 --> 00:33:10.560
 sure that

00:33:10.560 --> 00:33:11.120
 we don't

00:33:11.120 --> 00:33:11.480
 ignore

00:33:11.480 --> 00:33:12.560
 God when

00:33:12.560 --> 00:33:13.200
 he comes

00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:14.240
 with warnings

00:33:14.240 --> 00:33:15.360
 to us.

00:33:16.680 --> 00:33:17.040
 But then

00:33:17.040 --> 00:33:17.400
 there is

00:33:17.400 --> 00:33:18.680
 the message

00:33:18.680 --> 00:33:19.780
 of judgment.

00:33:20.580 --> 00:33:21.080
 By the

00:33:21.080 --> 00:33:21.580
 grace of

00:33:21.580 --> 00:33:21.940
 the Lord

00:33:21.940 --> 00:33:22.300
 Jesus

00:33:22.300 --> 00:33:22.900
 through his

00:33:22.900 --> 00:33:23.220
 death

00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:23.780
 for us,

00:33:24.140 --> 00:33:24.860
 we don't

00:33:24.860 --> 00:33:25.480
 need to

00:33:25.480 --> 00:33:26.340
 be concerned

00:33:26.340 --> 00:33:26.820
 about the

00:33:26.820 --> 00:33:27.560
 fact that

00:33:27.560 --> 00:33:28.580
 when the

00:33:28.580 --> 00:33:29.259
 Lord returns

00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:29.700
 or when we

00:33:29.700 --> 00:33:30.140
 go to be

00:33:30.140 --> 00:33:30.420
 with him,

00:33:30.480 --> 00:33:30.720
 if our

00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:31.259
 trust is

00:33:31.259 --> 00:33:31.700
 in him,

00:33:32.040 --> 00:33:32.540
 then we

00:33:32.540 --> 00:33:33.500
 are secure,

00:33:33.620 --> 00:33:34.060
 not because

00:33:34.059 --> 00:33:34.339
 of any

00:33:34.339 --> 00:33:34.799
 good in

00:33:34.799 --> 00:33:35.159
 us,

00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:36.019
 but by

00:33:36.019 --> 00:33:36.619
 the blood

00:33:36.619 --> 00:33:36.940
 of the

00:33:36.940 --> 00:33:37.519
 Lord Jesus

00:33:37.519 --> 00:33:38.539
 and by

00:33:38.539 --> 00:33:39.299
 his wonderful

00:33:39.299 --> 00:33:40.460
 grace to

00:33:40.460 --> 00:33:40.839
 us.

00:33:41.559 --> 00:33:41.839
 And yet

00:33:41.839 --> 00:33:42.279
 there is a

00:33:42.279 --> 00:33:42.839
 world round

00:33:42.839 --> 00:33:43.799
 about that

00:33:43.799 --> 00:33:44.419
 doesn't know

00:33:44.419 --> 00:33:44.659
 him.

00:33:45.259 --> 00:33:45.819
 There is a

00:33:45.819 --> 00:33:46.299
 world round

00:33:46.299 --> 00:33:46.960
 about of

00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:47.839
 people who

00:33:47.839 --> 00:33:48.519
 are going

00:33:48.519 --> 00:33:50.440
 towards an

00:33:50.440 --> 00:33:50.919
 eternal

00:33:50.919 --> 00:33:52.099
 destiny which

00:33:52.099 --> 00:33:52.700
 is separate

00:33:52.700 --> 00:33:53.460
 from God

00:33:53.460 --> 00:33:54.059
 where they

00:33:54.059 --> 00:33:54.599
 will face

00:33:54.599 --> 00:33:55.319
 the full

00:33:55.319 --> 00:33:56.440
 wrath of

00:33:56.440 --> 00:33:56.859
 God.

00:33:57.740 --> 00:33:58.059
 And we

00:33:58.059 --> 00:33:58.460
 can still

00:33:58.460 --> 00:33:58.980
 go out to

00:33:58.980 --> 00:33:59.200
 them and

00:33:59.200 --> 00:33:59.480
 we can

00:33:59.480 --> 00:33:59.839
 say,

00:34:00.440 --> 00:34:01.099
 perhaps not

00:34:01.099 --> 00:34:01.339
 in these

00:34:01.339 --> 00:34:01.539
 words,

00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:01.959
 perhaps in

00:34:01.959 --> 00:34:02.119
 these

00:34:02.119 --> 00:34:02.299
 words,

00:34:02.359 --> 00:34:02.539
 we can

00:34:02.539 --> 00:34:02.719
 say,

00:34:02.799 --> 00:34:03.339
 prepare to

00:34:03.339 --> 00:34:03.740
 meet your

00:34:03.740 --> 00:34:04.139
 God,

00:34:04.279 --> 00:34:04.699
 but we

00:34:04.699 --> 00:34:04.939
 can go

00:34:04.939 --> 00:34:05.219
 with a

00:34:05.219 --> 00:34:05.659
 message that

00:34:05.659 --> 00:34:06.079
 is not

00:34:06.079 --> 00:34:06.539
 hopeless,

00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:07.439
 this is not

00:34:07.439 --> 00:34:07.799
 a saying

00:34:07.799 --> 00:34:08.519
 that judgment

00:34:08.519 --> 00:34:09.460
 for you is

00:34:09.460 --> 00:34:10.079
 inevitable.

00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:11.199
 We can go

00:34:11.199 --> 00:34:11.759
 with a message

00:34:11.759 --> 00:34:13.000
 of hope that

00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:13.500
 says if you

00:34:13.500 --> 00:34:14.219
 do prepare,

00:34:14.699 --> 00:34:15.239
 if you do

00:34:15.239 --> 00:34:16.380
 trust in the

00:34:16.380 --> 00:34:16.960
 Lord Jesus,

00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:18.079
 then you

00:34:18.079 --> 00:34:18.500
 can have

00:34:18.500 --> 00:34:19.000
 forgiveness,

00:34:19.639 --> 00:34:20.299
 you can be

00:34:20.299 --> 00:34:21.299
 ready to

00:34:21.299 --> 00:34:22.360
 meet your

00:34:22.360 --> 00:34:22.839
 God.

00:34:24.119 --> 00:34:24.779
 What a

00:34:24.779 --> 00:34:25.599
 motivation it

00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:26.279
 should be to

00:34:26.279 --> 00:34:26.639
 us.

00:34:27.119 --> 00:34:27.400
 There are

00:34:27.400 --> 00:34:27.940
 people around

00:34:27.940 --> 00:34:28.860
 about who

00:34:28.860 --> 00:34:29.719
 are going not

00:34:29.719 --> 00:34:30.480
 knowing anything

00:34:30.480 --> 00:34:30.960
 about the

00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:31.579
 Lord Jesus,

00:34:31.860 --> 00:34:32.519
 not knowing

00:34:32.519 --> 00:34:33.000
 the message

00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:33.320
 of the

00:34:33.320 --> 00:34:33.740
 gospel,

00:34:34.340 --> 00:34:35.380
 heading towards

00:34:35.380 --> 00:34:36.139
 judgment.

00:34:36.840 --> 00:34:37.099
 And we

00:34:37.099 --> 00:34:37.380
 have the

00:34:37.380 --> 00:34:38.300
 opportunity to

00:34:38.300 --> 00:34:38.659
 give them

00:34:38.659 --> 00:34:39.320
 that warning

00:34:39.320 --> 00:34:40.460
 and to

00:34:40.460 --> 00:34:40.699
 give them

00:34:40.699 --> 00:34:41.440
 the opportunity

00:34:41.440 --> 00:34:42.480
 to trust

00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:42.780
 in the

00:34:42.780 --> 00:34:43.360
 Lord Jesus

00:34:43.360 --> 00:34:44.480
 and to

00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:45.099
 know his

00:34:45.099 --> 00:34:45.980
 forgiveness.

00:34:46.119 --> 00:34:46.480
 Let it be

00:34:46.480 --> 00:34:47.300
 a motivation

00:34:47.300 --> 00:34:48.139
 to us as

00:34:48.139 --> 00:34:48.559
 well as

00:34:48.559 --> 00:34:49.380
 a self

00:34:49.380 --> 00:34:49.880
 examination

00:34:49.880 --> 00:34:51.079
 as we

00:34:51.079 --> 00:34:51.940
 look at

00:34:51.940 --> 00:34:52.320
 these

00:34:52.320 --> 00:34:53.079
 verses.

00:34:53.579 --> 00:34:53.820
 Let me

00:34:53.820 --> 00:34:54.219
 look briefly

00:34:54.219 --> 00:34:54.579
 at verse

00:34:54.579 --> 00:34:55.119
 13.

00:34:55.559 --> 00:34:55.900
 This is

00:34:55.900 --> 00:34:56.760
 verse 13

00:34:56.760 --> 00:34:57.740
 where the

00:34:57.740 --> 00:34:58.280
 Lord having

00:34:58.280 --> 00:34:58.599
 said,

00:34:58.699 --> 00:34:59.159
 prepare to

00:34:59.159 --> 00:34:59.500
 meet your

00:34:59.500 --> 00:34:59.880
 God,

00:34:59.880 --> 00:35:00.720
 he presents

00:35:00.720 --> 00:35:01.119
 his

00:35:01.119 --> 00:35:01.860
 credentials.

00:35:02.800 --> 00:35:03.280
 Why should

00:35:03.280 --> 00:35:03.660
 they be

00:35:03.660 --> 00:35:04.420
 concerned about

00:35:04.420 --> 00:35:05.039
 falling into

00:35:05.039 --> 00:35:05.559
 the hands

00:35:05.559 --> 00:35:05.860
 of the

00:35:05.860 --> 00:35:06.559
 living God?

00:35:06.680 --> 00:35:07.640
 Because he

00:35:07.640 --> 00:35:08.619
 is all

00:35:08.619 --> 00:35:09.440
 powerful.

00:35:10.119 --> 00:35:10.599
 He is the

00:35:10.599 --> 00:35:10.920
 one who

00:35:10.920 --> 00:35:11.380
 created,

00:35:11.880 --> 00:35:12.260
 he is the

00:35:12.260 --> 00:35:12.579
 one who

00:35:12.579 --> 00:35:12.960
 sustained,

00:35:13.140 --> 00:35:13.380
 he formed

00:35:13.380 --> 00:35:13.920
 the mountains

00:35:13.920 --> 00:35:14.260
 so the

00:35:14.260 --> 00:35:14.599
 physical

00:35:14.599 --> 00:35:15.200
 things around

00:35:15.200 --> 00:35:15.840
 about us

00:35:15.840 --> 00:35:16.700
 are his.

00:35:17.200 --> 00:35:17.720
 He created

00:35:17.720 --> 00:35:18.300
 the wind

00:35:18.300 --> 00:35:19.140
 so it's not

00:35:19.140 --> 00:35:19.480
 just the

00:35:19.480 --> 00:35:19.800
 visible,

00:35:19.940 --> 00:35:20.119
 it's the

00:35:20.119 --> 00:35:20.880
 invisible as

00:35:20.880 --> 00:35:21.220
 well.

00:35:21.700 --> 00:35:22.200
 And he

00:35:22.200 --> 00:35:22.940
 reveals his

00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:23.940
 thoughts to

00:35:23.940 --> 00:35:24.380
 mankind.

00:35:25.300 --> 00:35:26.140
 He is able

00:35:26.140 --> 00:35:27.059
 to provide

00:35:27.059 --> 00:35:28.940
 information for

00:35:28.940 --> 00:35:29.280
 us that

00:35:29.280 --> 00:35:29.860
 is vital

00:35:29.860 --> 00:35:31.000
 to life.

00:35:31.500 --> 00:35:31.740
 We live,

00:35:31.820 --> 00:35:32.119
 they tell

00:35:32.119 --> 00:35:32.320
 us,

00:35:32.380 --> 00:35:32.700
 in the

00:35:32.700 --> 00:35:33.380
 information

00:35:33.380 --> 00:35:34.260
 superhighway,

00:35:34.320 --> 00:35:34.980
 more information

00:35:34.980 --> 00:35:35.639
 available now

00:35:35.639 --> 00:35:35.860
 at the

00:35:35.860 --> 00:35:36.300
 top of a

00:35:36.300 --> 00:35:37.039
 button than

00:35:37.039 --> 00:35:37.820
 the whole

00:35:37.820 --> 00:35:38.500
 of human

00:35:38.500 --> 00:35:39.000
 history.

00:35:39.760 --> 00:35:40.039
 And yet

00:35:40.039 --> 00:35:41.220
 anything that

00:35:41.220 --> 00:35:41.559
 has been

00:35:41.559 --> 00:35:42.360
 truly revealed

00:35:42.360 --> 00:35:43.420
 to us has

00:35:43.420 --> 00:35:43.940
 been revealed

00:35:43.940 --> 00:35:44.420
 by God.

00:35:44.500 --> 00:35:44.639
 Now,

00:35:44.700 --> 00:35:45.720
 that revelation,

00:35:45.920 --> 00:35:46.300
 of course,

00:35:46.659 --> 00:35:47.460
 is in his

00:35:47.460 --> 00:35:48.340
 word.

00:35:49.179 --> 00:35:49.559
 And he is the

00:35:49.559 --> 00:35:50.159
 one who turns

00:35:50.159 --> 00:35:50.920
 on to

00:35:50.920 --> 00:35:51.400
 darkness,

00:35:51.559 --> 00:35:51.960
 night and

00:35:51.960 --> 00:35:52.280
 day,

00:35:52.740 --> 00:35:53.119
 treads the

00:35:53.119 --> 00:35:53.519
 height of

00:35:53.519 --> 00:35:53.900
 the earth,

00:35:53.980 --> 00:35:54.440
 the Lord

00:35:54.440 --> 00:35:55.940
 God Almighty

00:35:55.940 --> 00:35:57.119
 is his

00:35:57.119 --> 00:35:57.940
 name.

00:35:58.179 --> 00:35:58.500
 What a

00:35:58.500 --> 00:35:58.960
 marvellous

00:35:58.960 --> 00:35:59.460
 God it

00:35:59.460 --> 00:35:59.860
 is we

00:35:59.860 --> 00:36:00.920
 know and

00:36:00.920 --> 00:36:02.039
 we worship.

00:36:02.760 --> 00:36:03.320
 The one who

00:36:03.320 --> 00:36:03.599
 is the

00:36:03.599 --> 00:36:04.059
 creator,

00:36:04.639 --> 00:36:05.420
 the sustainer

00:36:05.420 --> 00:36:05.940
 of life,

00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:06.480
 without whom

00:36:06.480 --> 00:36:07.099
 the universe

00:36:07.099 --> 00:36:07.559
 could not

00:36:07.559 --> 00:36:08.119
 exist.

00:36:08.659 --> 00:36:09.380
 He is our

00:36:09.380 --> 00:36:11.079
 God and

00:36:11.079 --> 00:36:11.500
 he is

00:36:11.500 --> 00:36:12.980
 all-powerful.

00:36:14.539 --> 00:36:15.000
 But as he

00:36:15.000 --> 00:36:15.840
 is all-powerful,

00:36:15.960 --> 00:36:16.639
 so he is

00:36:16.639 --> 00:36:18.139
 all-just as

00:36:18.139 --> 00:36:18.440
 well.

00:36:18.840 --> 00:36:19.320
 He is the

00:36:19.320 --> 00:36:20.579
 holy God and

00:36:20.579 --> 00:36:21.200
 that is why

00:36:21.200 --> 00:36:21.519
 we have

00:36:21.519 --> 00:36:22.240
 chapters like

00:36:22.240 --> 00:36:23.119
 Amos chapter

00:36:23.119 --> 00:36:23.480
 four,

00:36:23.619 --> 00:36:24.339
 pointing out

00:36:24.339 --> 00:36:25.099
 that there

00:36:25.099 --> 00:36:25.940
 are consequences

00:36:25.940 --> 00:36:26.739
 for those

00:36:26.739 --> 00:36:27.699
 who don't

00:36:27.699 --> 00:36:28.619
 believe in

00:36:28.619 --> 00:36:28.779
 him,

00:36:28.839 --> 00:36:29.259
 who don't

00:36:29.259 --> 00:36:30.339
 follow in

00:36:30.339 --> 00:36:31.559
 his ways.

00:36:32.159 --> 00:36:32.500
 Our time's

00:36:32.500 --> 00:36:32.880
 pretty well

00:36:32.880 --> 00:36:33.139
 gone,

00:36:33.219 --> 00:36:33.539
 so let me

00:36:33.539 --> 00:36:34.139
 just finish

00:36:34.139 --> 00:36:35.159
 with three

00:36:35.159 --> 00:36:35.859
 conclusions just

00:36:35.859 --> 00:36:36.619
 to summarise

00:36:36.619 --> 00:36:37.319
 the key

00:36:37.319 --> 00:36:37.859
 points that

00:36:37.859 --> 00:36:38.259
 we've looked

00:36:38.259 --> 00:36:38.559
 at.

00:36:40.239 --> 00:36:41.000
 The first

00:36:41.000 --> 00:36:41.440
 thing is

00:36:41.440 --> 00:36:42.179
 let's examine

00:36:42.179 --> 00:36:42.859
 ourselves and

00:36:42.859 --> 00:36:43.380
 see have

00:36:43.380 --> 00:36:44.099
 we got an

00:36:44.099 --> 00:36:44.880
 attitude of

00:36:44.880 --> 00:36:45.779
 uncaring

00:36:45.779 --> 00:36:46.779
 comfort.

00:36:47.900 --> 00:36:48.319
 Thou do

00:36:48.319 --> 00:36:49.159
 my selfish

00:36:49.159 --> 00:36:50.619
 desires blunt

00:36:50.619 --> 00:36:51.500
 my desire

00:36:51.500 --> 00:36:52.500
 for justice

00:36:52.500 --> 00:36:53.519
 in this

00:36:53.519 --> 00:36:54.239
 world.

00:36:55.840 --> 00:36:56.300
 Have I

00:36:56.300 --> 00:36:57.059
 got that

00:36:57.059 --> 00:36:58.159
 consumerist

00:36:58.159 --> 00:36:59.019
 attitude that

00:36:59.019 --> 00:37:00.019
 says I

00:37:00.019 --> 00:37:00.780
 want everything

00:37:00.780 --> 00:37:01.739
 I can get

00:37:01.739 --> 00:37:02.480
 I'm not

00:37:02.480 --> 00:37:02.800
 going to

00:37:02.800 --> 00:37:03.239
 ask too

00:37:03.239 --> 00:37:04.099
 many questions

00:37:04.099 --> 00:37:05.179
 about how

00:37:05.179 --> 00:37:05.880
 it came

00:37:05.880 --> 00:37:06.340
 to be.

00:37:08.639 --> 00:37:09.239
 Second

00:37:09.239 --> 00:37:09.719
 thing is

00:37:09.719 --> 00:37:10.699
 about unworthy

00:37:10.699 --> 00:37:11.539
 worship.

00:37:12.300 --> 00:37:12.699
 When I

00:37:12.699 --> 00:37:13.159
 come to

00:37:13.159 --> 00:37:13.760
 God in

00:37:13.760 --> 00:37:15.059
 my acts

00:37:15.059 --> 00:37:15.840
 of worship

00:37:15.840 --> 00:37:16.599
 whether it's

00:37:16.599 --> 00:37:17.360
 in church

00:37:17.360 --> 00:37:17.619
 or in

00:37:17.619 --> 00:37:18.380
 other contexts

00:37:18.380 --> 00:37:18.900
 in private

00:37:18.900 --> 00:37:19.440
 as well,

00:37:19.699 --> 00:37:20.260
 is my

00:37:20.260 --> 00:37:21.119
 worship God

00:37:21.119 --> 00:37:21.760
 honouring?

00:37:21.760 --> 00:37:22.800
 Or is

00:37:22.800 --> 00:37:23.240
 it sinful?

00:37:23.340 --> 00:37:23.560
 It's going

00:37:23.560 --> 00:37:23.900
 to be one

00:37:23.900 --> 00:37:24.140
 or the

00:37:24.140 --> 00:37:24.380
 other.

00:37:24.780 --> 00:37:24.900
 There's

00:37:24.900 --> 00:37:25.120
 going to be

00:37:25.120 --> 00:37:25.860
 no middle

00:37:25.860 --> 00:37:26.400
 course on

00:37:26.400 --> 00:37:26.540
 this.

00:37:26.640 --> 00:37:26.820
 Either

00:37:26.820 --> 00:37:27.160
 when I

00:37:27.160 --> 00:37:27.560
 come to

00:37:27.560 --> 00:37:27.960
 God,

00:37:28.220 --> 00:37:28.500
 it's

00:37:28.500 --> 00:37:28.920
 honouring

00:37:28.920 --> 00:37:29.300
 to God

00:37:29.300 --> 00:37:29.620
 because I

00:37:29.620 --> 00:37:29.960
 come with

00:37:29.960 --> 00:37:30.320
 the right

00:37:30.320 --> 00:37:31.360
 motives and

00:37:31.360 --> 00:37:31.960
 with the

00:37:31.960 --> 00:37:32.200
 right

00:37:32.200 --> 00:37:32.680
 lifestyle,

00:37:33.060 --> 00:37:33.700
 or it's

00:37:33.700 --> 00:37:34.200
 dishonouring

00:37:34.200 --> 00:37:34.720
 to God,

00:37:34.940 --> 00:37:35.620
 it's sinful

00:37:35.620 --> 00:37:36.540
 because I've

00:37:36.540 --> 00:37:36.860
 come with

00:37:36.860 --> 00:37:37.260
 the wrong

00:37:37.260 --> 00:37:38.360
 motives or

00:37:38.360 --> 00:37:38.780
 with a

00:37:38.780 --> 00:37:39.520
 life that

00:37:39.520 --> 00:37:39.920
 is not

00:37:39.920 --> 00:37:40.480
 consistent

00:37:40.480 --> 00:37:41.360
 with what

00:37:41.360 --> 00:37:41.720
 I would

00:37:41.720 --> 00:37:42.840
 present in

00:37:42.840 --> 00:37:43.220
 my

00:37:43.220 --> 00:37:43.840
 worship.

00:37:43.960 --> 00:37:44.220
 Let our

00:37:44.220 --> 00:37:44.840
 worship be

00:37:44.840 --> 00:37:45.280
 worthy

00:37:45.280 --> 00:37:46.660
 before God.

00:37:47.440 --> 00:37:47.760
 And then

00:37:47.760 --> 00:37:48.020
 there's the

00:37:48.020 --> 00:37:48.720
 unrecognised

00:37:48.720 --> 00:37:49.280
 rebuke.

00:37:49.280 --> 00:37:50.140
 Do I

00:37:50.140 --> 00:37:51.060
 hear God's

00:37:51.060 --> 00:37:51.460
 voice?

00:37:51.940 --> 00:37:52.360
 Am I

00:37:52.360 --> 00:37:52.940
 willing to

00:37:52.940 --> 00:37:53.519
 listen to

00:37:53.519 --> 00:37:54.080
 what God

00:37:54.080 --> 00:37:54.580
 has to

00:37:54.580 --> 00:37:55.080
 say to

00:37:55.080 --> 00:37:55.360
 me?

00:37:55.700 --> 00:37:56.280
 And am I

00:37:56.280 --> 00:37:56.720
 willing to

00:37:56.720 --> 00:37:57.240
 put it into

00:37:57.240 --> 00:37:57.780
 practice and

00:37:57.780 --> 00:37:58.420
 to change my

00:37:58.420 --> 00:37:59.280
 life if

00:37:59.280 --> 00:37:59.820
 necessary?

00:38:00.460 --> 00:38:01.060
 And have I

00:38:01.060 --> 00:38:01.540
 got that

00:38:01.540 --> 00:38:02.560
 desire to

00:38:02.560 --> 00:38:03.340
 help others

00:38:03.340 --> 00:38:04.440
 to hear it

00:38:04.440 --> 00:38:05.060
 too?

00:38:05.820 --> 00:38:06.640
 To bring to

00:38:06.640 --> 00:38:07.260
 them the

00:38:07.260 --> 00:38:08.380
 glorious news

00:38:08.380 --> 00:38:08.740
 of the

00:38:08.740 --> 00:38:09.880
 gospel of

00:38:09.880 --> 00:38:10.340
 the Lord

00:38:10.340 --> 00:38:10.700
 Jesus,

00:38:11.320 --> 00:38:11.800
 that they

00:38:11.800 --> 00:38:12.400
 may truly

00:38:12.400 --> 00:38:13.200
 be prepared

00:38:13.200 --> 00:38:14.060
 to meet

00:38:14.060 --> 00:38:14.720
 their God

00:38:14.719 --> 00:38:15.679
 and prepare

00:38:15.679 --> 00:38:16.179
 to meet

00:38:16.179 --> 00:38:16.939
 them because

00:38:16.939 --> 00:38:17.579
 they know

00:38:17.579 --> 00:38:18.419
 the saviour,

00:38:18.500 --> 00:38:18.919
 because they

00:38:18.919 --> 00:38:19.839
 know their

00:38:19.839 --> 00:38:20.359
 sins have

00:38:20.359 --> 00:38:21.519
 been forgiven.

00:38:22.959 --> 00:38:23.719
 So a

00:38:23.719 --> 00:38:25.319
 hard passage

00:38:25.319 --> 00:38:26.159
 in many ways

00:38:26.159 --> 00:38:27.319
 in terms of

00:38:27.319 --> 00:38:27.859
 the messages

00:38:27.859 --> 00:38:28.699
 that God

00:38:28.699 --> 00:38:29.079
 would bring

00:38:29.079 --> 00:38:29.399
 to us.

00:38:29.439 --> 00:38:29.739
 But let's

00:38:29.739 --> 00:38:30.279
 take them,

00:38:30.679 --> 00:38:31.299
 let's apply

00:38:31.299 --> 00:38:32.199
 them in

00:38:32.199 --> 00:38:32.919
 our hearts

00:38:32.919 --> 00:38:33.759
 and let's

00:38:33.759 --> 00:38:34.759
 go out and

00:38:34.759 --> 00:38:35.379
 live lives

00:38:35.379 --> 00:38:35.679
 that are

00:38:35.679 --> 00:38:36.659
 worthy of

00:38:36.659 --> 00:38:37.039
 the Lord

00:38:37.039 --> 00:38:38.179
 Jesus who

00:38:38.179 --> 00:38:38.939
 died for

00:38:38.939 --> 00:38:39.699
 us and

00:38:39.699 --> 00:38:40.179
 who called

00:38:40.179 --> 00:38:41.179
 us to be

00:38:41.179 --> 00:38:41.679
 his own.

00:38:42.019 --> 00:38:42.379
 Let's pray

00:38:42.379 --> 00:38:42.759
 together.

00:38:42.760 --> 00:38:44.700
 Father,

00:38:44.740 --> 00:38:45.040
 we thank

00:38:45.040 --> 00:38:45.320
 you for

00:38:45.320 --> 00:38:45.680
 your word

00:38:45.680 --> 00:38:46.040
 to us.

00:38:46.120 --> 00:38:46.380
 We thank

00:38:46.380 --> 00:38:46.620
 you for

00:38:46.620 --> 00:38:47.140
 this prophet

00:38:47.140 --> 00:38:48.340
 Amos and

00:38:48.340 --> 00:38:48.680
 for the

00:38:48.680 --> 00:38:49.140
 way that

00:38:49.140 --> 00:38:49.400
 you,

00:38:49.600 --> 00:38:50.040
 through him,

00:38:50.440 --> 00:38:51.100
 are able

00:38:51.100 --> 00:38:52.200
 to present

00:38:52.200 --> 00:38:53.400
 your truth

00:38:53.400 --> 00:38:53.980
 to us.

00:38:54.540 --> 00:38:55.120
 We thank

00:38:55.120 --> 00:38:55.400
 you for

00:38:55.400 --> 00:38:56.060
 your passion

00:38:56.060 --> 00:38:56.940
 for justice,

00:38:57.400 --> 00:38:57.760
 that you

00:38:57.760 --> 00:38:58.620
 hate injustice,

00:38:59.360 --> 00:38:59.820
 that you

00:38:59.820 --> 00:39:00.860
 hate hypocrisy

00:39:00.860 --> 00:39:02.180
 and those

00:39:02.180 --> 00:39:02.560
 who would

00:39:02.560 --> 00:39:03.120
 present

00:39:03.120 --> 00:39:03.880
 themselves as

00:39:03.880 --> 00:39:04.720
 being religious

00:39:04.720 --> 00:39:05.280
 and upright

00:39:05.280 --> 00:39:06.040
 before you,

00:39:06.420 --> 00:39:06.940
 but actually

00:39:06.940 --> 00:39:07.280
 in their

00:39:07.280 --> 00:39:07.880
 hearts and

00:39:07.880 --> 00:39:08.560
 their actions

00:39:08.560 --> 00:39:09.840
 disprove it.

00:39:10.320 --> 00:39:10.620
 We pray

00:39:10.620 --> 00:39:11.060
 that we may

00:39:11.060 --> 00:39:11.640
 not be like

00:39:11.640 --> 00:39:12.020
 that.

00:39:12.760 --> 00:39:13.160
 That we

00:39:13.160 --> 00:39:13.520
 may have

00:39:13.520 --> 00:39:14.180
 a concern

00:39:14.180 --> 00:39:15.260
 for justice

00:39:15.260 --> 00:39:15.760
 in our

00:39:15.760 --> 00:39:16.220
 world,

00:39:16.660 --> 00:39:17.120
 that we

00:39:17.120 --> 00:39:17.460
 may have

00:39:17.460 --> 00:39:18.100
 a concern

00:39:18.100 --> 00:39:18.680
 for those

00:39:18.680 --> 00:39:18.940
 in our

00:39:18.940 --> 00:39:19.480
 world who

00:39:19.480 --> 00:39:20.000
 don't know

00:39:20.000 --> 00:39:20.360
 the Lord

00:39:20.360 --> 00:39:21.600
 Jesus and

00:39:21.600 --> 00:39:21.960
 a real

00:39:21.960 --> 00:39:23.020
 desire to

00:39:23.020 --> 00:39:23.480
 bring them

00:39:23.480 --> 00:39:24.020
 to him.

00:39:24.660 --> 00:39:24.980
 And that

00:39:24.980 --> 00:39:25.380
 when we

00:39:25.380 --> 00:39:25.720
 worship,

00:39:25.900 --> 00:39:26.300
 when we

00:39:26.300 --> 00:39:27.340
 actively come

00:39:27.340 --> 00:39:28.080
 before you

00:39:28.080 --> 00:39:28.880
 with our

00:39:28.880 --> 00:39:29.420
 songs of

00:39:29.420 --> 00:39:30.020
 thanksgiving,

00:39:30.180 --> 00:39:30.480
 with our

00:39:30.480 --> 00:39:31.600
 words of

00:39:31.600 --> 00:39:32.060
 praise,

00:39:32.620 --> 00:39:33.000
 that it

00:39:33.000 --> 00:39:33.300
 may be

00:39:33.300 --> 00:39:33.820
 done with

00:39:33.820 --> 00:39:34.640
 clean hands

00:39:34.640 --> 00:39:35.660
 and pure

00:39:35.660 --> 00:39:36.160
 hearts,

00:39:36.620 --> 00:39:37.120
 and that it

00:39:37.120 --> 00:39:37.940
 may truly be

00:39:37.940 --> 00:39:38.960
 honouring to

00:39:38.960 --> 00:39:39.240
 you.

00:39:39.760 --> 00:39:40.200
 Thank you for

00:39:40.200 --> 00:39:40.580
 our presence

00:39:40.580 --> 00:39:41.140
 this evening.

00:39:41.139 --> 00:39:41.940
 We ask

00:39:41.940 --> 00:39:42.199
 for your

00:39:42.199 --> 00:39:42.759
 blessing now

00:39:42.759 --> 00:39:43.179
 on us as

00:39:43.179 --> 00:39:43.599
 we part,

00:39:43.679 --> 00:39:43.920
 as we

00:39:43.920 --> 00:39:44.460
 give thanks

00:39:44.460 --> 00:39:44.879
 in Jesus'

00:39:45.059 --> 00:39:45.259
 name.

00:39:45.940 --> 00:39:46.179
 Amen.