WEBVTT

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 So this evening we're going to look at this story, the next story in the life of Elisha.

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 So that we can see what it is to have faith in the God of resurrection life.

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 But we're going to begin by thinking about airline pilots.

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 I am told that very early on in pilot school, pilot training,

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 a vital skill that they need to learn is the ability to fly by their instruments,

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 to be able to look at those super complicated dials and controls in order to fly straight,

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 to land safely, to know where they're going in any weather conditions.

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 You know, when the storm clouds come in, when the fog gathers, when you can't see naturally,

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 you need to be able to fly by the instruments.

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 And there's something helpful, I think, in that as we think about the picture of our own lives

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 as something of a journey.

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 Times in our lives when those storm clouds gather.

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 And at that point we will find ourselves instinctively turning to something

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 to give us guidance and stability.

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 What is it that will keep us steady?

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 What is it that will guide us home safely?

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 We perhaps recognize that many people in our world are in a moment where they have rejected

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 ideas of God and ultimate meaning and higher purpose.

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 And lots of people are beginning to see, this is not working for me.

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 There's that sense of instability, especially perhaps in times of trouble.

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 And so you listen to commentators on society and they say, well, we're living in the age of anxiety.

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 Whether that's about the environment or politics or about our own financial situation.

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 Or people will say, we live in the age of consumption.

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 And so we've never had it better and we're always consuming more.

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 But the things that we are consuming are not tracking with happiness,

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 but rather we're becoming more anxious and struggling with more fears.

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 We live in what's known as the disenchanted age.

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 We're being told, people have been told for years, there is nothing beyond ourselves.

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 So just kind of make what you can of the world.

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 But again, people are beginning to wrestle with this reality of knowing that there is something more.

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 And so we live in a really interesting moment where people are turning to consider the spiritual

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 and people are looking and seeking for transcendence.

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 Where can hope be found?

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 It's a question in every age and it's certainly a question in ours.

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 It was a question in the time of Elisha as well.

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 We have seen, especially in the time of Elijah, that most of the people in Israel,

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 as they were looking for hope, had turned to the idol Baal.

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 But it wasn't just then that people turned to idols.

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 There's that instinct within our hearts at all times.

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 If we think about Martin Luther, I think, has a really helpful definition of idolatry.

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 Whatever we expect to provide all good and in which we take refuge in our distress,

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 that's what our idol is.

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 And so again, people are still looking for where am I going to find ultimate good?

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 Where am I going to find a safe refuge?

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 But outside of the God of the Bible, people are failing to provide and find solid hope.

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 And in that setting, and relevant for our setting, we see in this woman from Shunem a picture of faith.

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 Here is a woman who knows her God.

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 And as we see, she lives for her God.

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 And when things go wrong in her life, and they absolutely do, she runs to her God to find hope.

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 And for us, as we pick up her story, and as we see the beginning and the end,

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 we know that there is wonderful joy beyond the sorrow.

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 And the story as a whole offers hope to us too, especially as we think about it in light of the gospel.

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 When we think about the reality that God has sent His man Jesus to offer us renewal and resurrection life.

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 He is God's final prophet.

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 He is God's final word.

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 And to lay hold on Him is to lay hold on a hope that will not fail.

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 That in knowing God through His Son Jesus, we find that stability that we are looking for.

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 We find that direction and meaning in the fog.

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 And we have the promise of a true homecoming.

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 And the joy of resurrection life.

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 So we're going to do a couple of things this evening.

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 First, we're going to put faith in focus.

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 And then we'll think about having faith in the God of resurrection life.

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 So, to our story, verse 8.

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 One day, Elisha went to Shunem and a well-to-do woman was there who urged him to stay for a meal.

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 So it's interesting.

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 If you were here last week, we saw Elisha encountering a poor, starving woman.

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 This time, a well-to-do woman who has enough to offer generous hospitality.

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 God's going to show grace to them both.

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 God's going to exercise His power in both of their stories, which always reminds us that God's grace runs wide.

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 His kingdom is wide.

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 Here is a woman who lives for God's glory.

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 Here is a woman who's learned to rest in God's grace to her.

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 And we see it, first of all, in her service.

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 She urges Elisha to stay for a meal.

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 And then she said to her husband in verse 9,

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 I know this man who comes our way is a holy man of God.

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 Let's make a small room for him.

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 So there are their meals.

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 She uses her resources to build an additional room up on the roof.

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 Her life is one that makes room to encourage and to serve God's prophet.

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 This is mission support.

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 Because she knows Elisha is God's man, God's representative, who is bringing God's word into her region.

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 So as she offers support and a base of operations, it becomes evident she wants the kingdom of God to grow.

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 She wants others to hear the true message from God that they might believe and trust.

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 Jesus would approve of her faith.

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 We know this because in Matthew 10, he says,

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 whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet's reward.

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 But then he goes on to say,

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 even a cup of water offered in my name, well, that'll get a reward too.

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 So her service is showing her faith.

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 But I think we can also say that her secure identity shows that she has a real faith in her God.

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 So here we find in verse 11 through to 13, first of all, Elisha and Gehazi are having a chat.

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 And then Elisha says to Gehazi, his servant, tell her,

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 you've gone to all this trouble for us.

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 Now what can be done for you?

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 Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?

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 So remember, she knows this is God's holy man.

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 She knows that Elisha works with God's power.

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 So when Elisha comes to her house and says to her, what can I do for you?

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 This is a massive offer.

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 This is a finding the golden ticket kind of a moment.

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 But the woman, even as she's offered like prestige and new connections,

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 how does she reply?

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 I have a home among my own people.

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 She is content.

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 She is content among her family, her connections within the community.

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 She has this privilege of knowing and serving the God of glory by welcoming Elisha.

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 God has given me this life and I'm content.

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 She has a secure identity because her faith is in God.

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 But we also see her faith and focus in her suffering.

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 Because there is this wonderful announcement that God would give her a son.

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 But this son that brings so much joy will also bring grief.

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 We know that principle, don't we?

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 Sometimes the gifts that we give or that we get,

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 they can bring both gladness and they can bring sadness.

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 We in our family, we can still remember getting our new puppy,

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 a cute little bundle of fluff, joy.

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 But then when you want to kind of settle down and just pet them and you discover

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 and you've brought into the house a tiny shark that wants to chew your arm off,

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 it's a little bit sad and frustrating.

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 Sometimes the gifts that we receive, they bring gladness and sadness.

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 And that's true of the gifts that God gives also.

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 That this wonderful, precious gift of a son will become, in time, a source of her grief.

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 We read of it, didn't we?

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 We read of the boy's sudden illness.

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 This promised, precious son, one day comes out to his father complaining,

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 my head, my head.

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 And he's carried home and he spends some hours in his mother's arms and he dies there.

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 And all of a sudden life has taken a very different, unexpected turn

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 and faith is shaken to the core.

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 And she is very honest.

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 We know in verse 27, as she arrives to meet Elisha, that her bitter distress is clear.

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 Verse 28, we hear her words,

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 Did I ask you for a son, my Lord?

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 Didn't I tell you don't raise my hopes?

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 So the storm clouds of grief, absolutely they've come rolling in.

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 The light of God's love and kindness perhaps isn't evident in her situation,

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 but she doesn't fall apart.

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 And she doesn't give way to bitterness,

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 but rather she runs to her God.

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 There's a very clear direction of travel in her life.

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 What does she do?

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 It's really interesting.

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 The first thing she does in verse 21 is she takes the boy and laid him on the bed of the man of God.

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 What's she saying there?

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 It's a recognition that she's going to bring this situation,

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 bring her son to the Lord through Elisha.

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 And then immediately that's what she does.

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 She saddles up and prepares for her journey.

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 And on this journey, she's not going to be distracted.

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 She doesn't tell her husband.

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 She tells her servant, make sure that we don't slow down.

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 When Gehazi comes and greets her, is everything okay?

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 We understand that no one else but God's prophet will do in her story.

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 But when she comes to God's man, when she reached the man of God at the mountain,

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 she took hold of his feet.

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 And she pours out her heart.

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 Because prayer is the breath of faith.

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 She says to him in verse 30,

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 As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.

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 Actually, the same words that Elisha spoke about Elijah back in chapter 2

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 when he knew that Elijah was going to be taken up to heaven.

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 As the storm clouds roll in,

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 as she flies by the instruments of her faith,

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 we see so clearly,

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 here is a woman who looks to God.

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 Here is God's man,

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 and therefore I am going to him with my problem,

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 with my lament.

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 He is going to be my refuge in distress.

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 He is where I'm going to look to find good in this situation.

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 And she is not disappointed.

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 And that matters for us when we understand that for us,

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 the man of God we run to is none other than the Lord Jesus.

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 He is the one who is full of compassion.

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 He invites us to pour out our hearts to him,

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 to rest in his promise that he will be with us,

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 that he will show us mercy.

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 We look to our Lord and our Savior

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 for that renewal that we need,

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 for the promise of resurrection life in our experience.

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 So as God brings the woman's faith into focus for ourselves,

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 it helps us, I think, to reflect on our own faith

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 and to ask ourselves some questions.

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 As we see her sacrificial service,

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 and as we understand that she saw herself as a vehicle,

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 as a means for God's kingdom to be extended,

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 as we understand what the Bible says,

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 that the local church is God's plan,

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 his mission plan for spreading his glory,

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 and as we thought this morning,

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 we have the wonderful privilege of being united together

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 by God's grace within a local church family,

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 are we involving ourselves in that privilege that God gives?

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 Are we willing to serve and to commit ourselves?

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 Here we get a wonderful little picture

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 of how somebody can use their resources

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 for the good of others.

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 Here in particular, it was Elisha.

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 How can we use our home, our money, our time

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 as a tangible way to bless someone else?

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 I think we've been encouraged as a church

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 to see that from grace and peace.

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 It's not going to look the same for us,

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 but what will it look like?

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 How will we as individuals and as a collective

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 show that we want our life to be guided

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 by the glory of Jesus and a concern for his kingdom?

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 As we think about this woman's contentment

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 and her secure identity,

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 and as we recognize that we live in a time

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 where advertising and social media

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 is set up to fuel our discontent,

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 psychologists are talking about that.

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 You know, I read an article this week

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 on social comparison, advertising,

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 and consumer discontent.

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 It's not subtle.

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 It's deliberate.

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 How can we stand apart?

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 How can we show that we find our identity in Christ

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 and not the stuff that we purchase

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 and not in our digital presence?

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 When Paul wrote to Timothy,

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 he said to him,

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 godliness with contentment is great gain.

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 That's very countercultural,

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 to be godly and to be content.

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 But what a wonderful opportunity for us

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 to bear witness to the fact

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 that all we have is Christ.

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 All that we need is Christ.

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 We have something that money can't buy.

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 We have a secure identity

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 that is not based on the whims

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 of social media likes or dislikes.

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 Are we hearing,

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 are we preaching the gospel to ourselves

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 that we are saved by Christ?

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 We are united to Christ.

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 We are loved by our Father in heaven in Christ.

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 The Spirit dwells in us

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 that we belong to the Lord.

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 And when suffering comes,

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 and the Bible is so honest

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 and tells us that in a fallen,

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 in a broken world,

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 suffering does come.

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 Everybody hurts.

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 That in a life of faith,

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 we're not spared those hurts,

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 that tests and trials

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 do come our way.

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 What is our response?

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 Will we run to the God

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 whose ways we don't

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 and won't always understand?

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 Because we know that he is good

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 and he does what is good.

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 Can we trust that God has established

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 an everlasting covenant

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 to delight in doing us good,

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 even when we can't understand

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 how our present circumstance

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 could possibly be called good?

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 Are we able to have faith

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 that says with Paul,

00:17:41.059 --> 00:17:43.419
 I know that God works all things,

00:17:43.960 --> 00:17:44.960
 all things,

00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:47.159
 for the good of those who love him?

00:17:47.960 --> 00:17:49.599
 Can we pray with King David,

00:17:49.720 --> 00:17:50.619
 when I am afraid,

00:17:51.500 --> 00:17:53.240
 I put my trust in you,

00:17:53.879 --> 00:17:56.220
 in God whose word I praise,

00:17:56.339 --> 00:17:59.240
 in God I trust and am not afraid.

00:17:59.240 --> 00:18:02.839
 Can we follow the example

00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:05.140
 of Jesus our Savior

00:18:05.140 --> 00:18:07.240
 going through the unimaginable

00:18:08.359 --> 00:18:10.400
 spiritual agony

00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:13.299
 of bearing the sins of his people

00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:15.220
 and suffering the wrath of God

00:18:15.220 --> 00:18:16.620
 still able to cry,

00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:18.559
 my God, my God.

00:18:22.819 --> 00:18:25.500
 Because as Joe was reflecting with us

00:18:25.500 --> 00:18:26.440
 this morning,

00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:28.900
 a vital part of our witness

00:18:28.900 --> 00:18:31.360
 a vital part of our good news

00:18:31.360 --> 00:18:32.920
 is going to be communicating

00:18:32.920 --> 00:18:35.480
 how we are able to live with hope.

00:18:36.500 --> 00:18:39.740
 How is it that we don't fall apart?

00:18:40.900 --> 00:18:42.180
 And those moments

00:18:42.180 --> 00:18:43.200
 and those situations

00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:44.360
 give us the privilege

00:18:44.360 --> 00:18:45.920
 of pointing to Jesus,

00:18:46.780 --> 00:18:49.019
 our strength and our hope.

00:18:50.580 --> 00:18:52.380
 To point people to Jesus

00:18:52.380 --> 00:18:54.580
 who is God's great gift to the world,

00:18:55.400 --> 00:18:58.080
 his own son sent to save us,

00:18:58.079 --> 00:19:01.199
 the one who came to enter this broken world

00:19:01.199 --> 00:19:02.899
 to bring healing.

00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:04.619
 And every miracle that we find

00:19:04.619 --> 00:19:06.099
 in the life of Jesus

00:19:06.099 --> 00:19:08.539
 speaks to that great reality.

00:19:10.539 --> 00:19:13.819
 We remember the Jesus we encounter

00:19:13.819 --> 00:19:15.259
 in John chapter 11.

00:19:16.539 --> 00:19:19.259
 When Jesus encountered another family mourning,

00:19:19.419 --> 00:19:21.819
 Mary and Martha had lost their brother Lazarus.

00:19:21.819 --> 00:19:23.799
 And we're told at the beginning of the text,

00:19:23.939 --> 00:19:26.559
 Jesus will demonstrate his glory.

00:19:27.639 --> 00:19:30.319
 And Jesus speaks words of truth

00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:31.700
 to Martha.

00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:34.599
 I am the resurrection and the life.

00:19:35.700 --> 00:19:37.179
 He who believes in me will live

00:19:37.179 --> 00:19:38.639
 even though they die.

00:19:38.839 --> 00:19:40.659
 Do you believe this?

00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:42.939
 A question for Martha.

00:19:44.220 --> 00:19:46.559
 But it becomes a question for us all.

00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:51.259
 Do we believe that God gives hope

00:19:51.259 --> 00:19:53.099
 beyond death?

00:19:53.799 --> 00:19:55.779
 That he gives resurrection life?

00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:58.039
 On that day, he proved it.

00:19:58.419 --> 00:20:00.279
 Calling Lazarus from the grave.

00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:03.240
 And he would prove it in his own life.

00:20:03.319 --> 00:20:04.419
 The Lord of life

00:20:04.419 --> 00:20:06.759
 who rises from the dead in victory.

00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:10.299
 And so faith for us

00:20:10.299 --> 00:20:13.500
 focuses on the Lord Jesus.

00:20:13.500 --> 00:20:17.380
 That regardless of circumstances

00:20:17.380 --> 00:20:19.539
 to know that he is the Lord,

00:20:19.640 --> 00:20:20.660
 he is present,

00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:22.220
 he does supply grace,

00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:24.640
 he does speak words that are true

00:20:24.640 --> 00:20:26.579
 and words that speak life.

00:20:31.140 --> 00:20:34.200
 Well, let's flip from having faith

00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:36.460
 in focus in the context of the women

00:20:36.460 --> 00:20:38.980
 to think about faith in the God

00:20:38.980 --> 00:20:41.880
 of resurrection life.

00:20:41.880 --> 00:20:43.280
 Because what happens next

00:20:43.280 --> 00:20:44.700
 in the story is really striking.

00:20:45.220 --> 00:20:46.060
 You know, from time to time,

00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:47.300
 we will come across

00:20:47.300 --> 00:20:49.020
 or we'll hear powerful stories

00:20:49.020 --> 00:20:51.400
 of someone choosing to identify

00:20:51.400 --> 00:20:52.900
 with others in their suffering.

00:20:53.080 --> 00:20:54.360
 You know, maybe we hear

00:20:54.360 --> 00:20:56.220
 extreme examples on the news

00:20:56.220 --> 00:20:58.820
 of maybe doctors without borders

00:20:58.820 --> 00:21:00.620
 going into war zones

00:21:00.620 --> 00:21:01.600
 and risking everything

00:21:01.600 --> 00:21:03.140
 for the sake of patience.

00:21:04.420 --> 00:21:06.020
 Maybe closer to home.

00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:07.600
 You know, the powerful witness

00:21:07.600 --> 00:21:09.060
 of the body of Christ

00:21:09.060 --> 00:21:10.200
 caring for a new mom

00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:11.860
 or for a grieving family.

00:21:11.880 --> 00:21:13.620
 But the power of seeing

00:21:13.620 --> 00:21:15.400
 someone identify with

00:21:15.400 --> 00:21:17.280
 and stand with another.

00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:20.500
 Well, central to the hope

00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:21.400
 of this story

00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:24.020
 and actually central to

00:21:24.020 --> 00:21:26.360
 the hope that we have,

00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:27.240
 central to the hope

00:21:27.240 --> 00:21:28.720
 that we offer to the world

00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:32.700
 is this reality of God's prophet

00:21:32.700 --> 00:21:35.000
 coming so close

00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:38.000
 as to identify with this boy

00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:39.900
 in his death.

00:21:40.900 --> 00:21:42.140
 And through that action,

00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:43.660
 resurrection life comes.

00:21:44.920 --> 00:21:46.140
 So we'll pick up the action

00:21:46.140 --> 00:21:48.720
 as the woman reaches Elisha.

00:21:50.019 --> 00:21:51.300
 Verse 27,

00:21:52.300 --> 00:21:53.380
 Which reached the man of God

00:21:53.380 --> 00:21:53.880
 at the mountain.

00:21:54.019 --> 00:21:55.280
 She took hold of his feet.

00:21:55.420 --> 00:21:56.960
 Gehazi came over to push her away.

00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:57.920
 But the man of God said,

00:21:58.019 --> 00:21:58.780
 Leave her alone.

00:21:58.880 --> 00:21:59.880
 She's in bitter distress.

00:22:00.100 --> 00:22:01.360
 But the Lord has hidden it from me

00:22:01.360 --> 00:22:03.519
 and has not told me why.

00:22:04.680 --> 00:22:06.180
 That's significant, isn't it?

00:22:06.180 --> 00:22:08.200
 There is going to be

00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:09.380
 absolutely no doubt

00:22:09.380 --> 00:22:10.580
 within this story

00:22:10.580 --> 00:22:13.320
 who the power and glory belongs to.

00:22:13.400 --> 00:22:14.759
 And it's not to Elisha

00:22:14.759 --> 00:22:15.500
 because in this moment

00:22:15.500 --> 00:22:16.759
 we see his limited wisdom.

00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:19.640
 It belongs to Almighty God.

00:22:20.039 --> 00:22:21.840
 As the story moves on,

00:22:21.900 --> 00:22:22.860
 the cause of distress

00:22:22.860 --> 00:22:25.779
 is clear in verse 28

00:22:25.779 --> 00:22:28.039
 that the boy has died.

00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:30.140
 And so the question now becomes,

00:22:30.460 --> 00:22:32.220
 How will the boy be revived?

00:22:32.220 --> 00:22:36.360
 Will there be hope found in this story?

00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:37.579
 And if so, how?

00:22:39.600 --> 00:22:41.380
 And to think about the wider question,

00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:42.940
 How can the wreckage

00:22:42.940 --> 00:22:45.100
 and the rubble of our society,

00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:46.039
 of our life,

00:22:46.380 --> 00:22:47.819
 become something beautiful?

00:22:48.019 --> 00:22:49.500
 How can we see renewal

00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:51.220
 come out of the wreckage?

00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:54.900
 That's the tension within the story.

00:22:56.940 --> 00:22:58.299
 Well, we discover one way

00:22:58.299 --> 00:22:59.480
 that's not going to happen.

00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:01.360
 It's not going to happen

00:23:01.360 --> 00:23:02.940
 through the staff,

00:23:03.740 --> 00:23:04.680
 the stick.

00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:06.440
 In verse 29,

00:23:06.599 --> 00:23:07.720
 we discover that Elisha

00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:09.380
 sends Gehazi

00:23:09.380 --> 00:23:11.640
 to take Elisha's staff

00:23:11.640 --> 00:23:13.339
 and to lay the staff

00:23:13.339 --> 00:23:14.720
 on the boy's face.

00:23:15.299 --> 00:23:16.420
 But as we discover

00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:17.519
 in verse 31,

00:23:17.660 --> 00:23:18.620
 there was no sound,

00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:19.900
 no response.

00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:21.140
 The boy has not awakened.

00:23:21.940 --> 00:23:23.880
 The staff worked in Moses' day.

00:23:24.920 --> 00:23:26.039
 Remember in the book of Exodus,

00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:27.960
 power and glory of God

00:23:27.960 --> 00:23:29.380
 demonstrated through the symbol

00:23:29.380 --> 00:23:30.160
 of the staff.

00:23:30.259 --> 00:23:31.000
 It was held out

00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:32.039
 and judgments came.

00:23:32.120 --> 00:23:32.819
 It was held out

00:23:32.819 --> 00:23:34.200
 and the Red Sea parted.

00:23:34.600 --> 00:23:35.620
 Moses struck the rock

00:23:35.620 --> 00:23:36.920
 and water came gushing out.

00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:38.079
 But that's not how it works

00:23:38.079 --> 00:23:38.779
 in this story.

00:23:39.160 --> 00:23:41.720
 How will the boy be revived?

00:23:43.900 --> 00:23:45.160
 It's as the prophet

00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:48.920
 literally stretches himself out

00:23:48.920 --> 00:23:52.340
 to identify with him

00:23:52.340 --> 00:23:53.740
 in his death.

00:23:53.840 --> 00:23:55.319
 It's there in verse 34,

00:23:55.319 --> 00:23:57.139
 he lay on the boy

00:23:57.139 --> 00:23:58.079
 mouth to mouth,

00:23:58.279 --> 00:23:59.299
 eyes to eyes,

00:23:59.799 --> 00:24:00.779
 hands to hands.

00:24:00.859 --> 00:24:02.099
 As he stretched himself out

00:24:02.099 --> 00:24:03.700
 and the boy's body grew warm,

00:24:04.139 --> 00:24:05.379
 he walks around some more,

00:24:05.460 --> 00:24:06.419
 he stretched out on him

00:24:06.419 --> 00:24:06.899
 once more,

00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:07.759
 the boy sneezed

00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.980
 and opened his eyes.

00:24:10.919 --> 00:24:12.639
 God breathes life

00:24:12.639 --> 00:24:14.960
 as his prophet enters in

00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:17.839
 and identifies with him

00:24:17.839 --> 00:24:19.079
 in his day.

00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:22.099
 And this woman has the privilege

00:24:22.099 --> 00:24:24.279
 and the joy of resurrection life

00:24:24.279 --> 00:24:26.719
 because she ran to the God

00:24:26.719 --> 00:24:28.980
 of resurrection life.

00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:32.359
 It's amazing to see

00:24:32.359 --> 00:24:35.119
 in this single Old Testament story

00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:38.000
 so many truths revealed about God

00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:39.839
 that he is infinitely complex,

00:24:40.359 --> 00:24:41.399
 that he's always bigger

00:24:41.399 --> 00:24:42.319
 than our ability

00:24:42.319 --> 00:24:44.859
 to place him within a box.

00:24:44.919 --> 00:24:45.579
 So we discover

00:24:45.579 --> 00:24:47.519
 that he is good and gracious.

00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:49.939
 You know, often in the Bible

00:24:49.940 --> 00:24:52.600
 when somebody can't have a child

00:24:52.600 --> 00:24:53.660
 and then a child is given,

00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:55.620
 it's because the child to be born

00:24:55.620 --> 00:24:57.180
 will be so significant

00:24:57.180 --> 00:24:58.799
 within the storyline of redemption.

00:24:58.960 --> 00:24:59.680
 But not here.

00:25:00.059 --> 00:25:01.580
 God just wants to be kind

00:25:01.580 --> 00:25:02.600
 to this woman

00:25:02.600 --> 00:25:04.680
 because he loves to be kind

00:25:04.680 --> 00:25:05.259
 and generous.

00:25:06.680 --> 00:25:08.340
 We discover in verse 16

00:25:08.340 --> 00:25:09.920
 from the woman's words

00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:10.880
 a reminder that

00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:13.420
 God cannot mislead anybody.

00:25:13.720 --> 00:25:16.660
 God is absolute rock-solid truth.

00:25:16.660 --> 00:25:18.980
 And at the same time,

00:25:19.040 --> 00:25:19.680
 we discover

00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:21.980
 that God can perplex

00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:23.660
 and confuse us

00:25:23.660 --> 00:25:26.600
 because he does allow

00:25:26.600 --> 00:25:28.440
 unexpected and painful things

00:25:28.440 --> 00:25:29.019
 to happen.

00:25:29.600 --> 00:25:31.400
 And he is able

00:25:31.400 --> 00:25:32.900
 to bring ultimate good

00:25:32.900 --> 00:25:34.320
 even from awful

00:25:34.320 --> 00:25:35.820
 and evil things.

00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:38.320
 And we discover

00:25:38.320 --> 00:25:40.000
 that he is the Lord of life,

00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:41.680
 he gave the gift of life,

00:25:41.840 --> 00:25:42.779
 and he is the Lord

00:25:42.779 --> 00:25:44.160
 of resurrection life.

00:25:44.160 --> 00:25:47.200
 And it's as if God

00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:48.259
 is saying to the woman

00:25:48.259 --> 00:25:49.820
 and saying to Israel

00:25:49.820 --> 00:25:51.040
 and saying to the church

00:25:51.040 --> 00:25:52.400
 and saying to us today,

00:25:52.940 --> 00:25:53.519
 trust me,

00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:55.660
 place your hope in me.

00:25:55.740 --> 00:25:56.779
 Don't place your hope

00:25:56.779 --> 00:25:58.800
 in a small, limited idol.

00:25:59.060 --> 00:26:01.259
 Rather, live by faith

00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:03.740
 in the God of the Bible,

00:26:05.100 --> 00:26:06.300
 the one who gives

00:26:06.300 --> 00:26:07.519
 resurrection life.

00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:12.279
 We read in Luke chapter 7.

00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:14.819
 So we fast forward

00:26:14.819 --> 00:26:15.759
 hundreds of years,

00:26:15.879 --> 00:26:16.460
 but we're still

00:26:16.460 --> 00:26:18.720
 in the same geographical area.

00:26:18.899 --> 00:26:19.519
 Shunem and Nain

00:26:19.519 --> 00:26:20.879
 are just two miles apart.

00:26:21.599 --> 00:26:23.119
 And here we find Jesus

00:26:23.119 --> 00:26:24.039
 coming into this

00:26:24.039 --> 00:26:25.019
 mountainous region,

00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:26.519
 and he comes upon

00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:28.220
 a funeral procession.

00:26:28.299 --> 00:26:29.079
 There's more grief

00:26:29.079 --> 00:26:29.920
 and there's mourning,

00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:31.779
 and Jesus canceled the funeral.

00:26:33.139 --> 00:26:34.399
 And how did he do it?

00:26:35.740 --> 00:26:36.779
 He identified

00:26:36.779 --> 00:26:38.500
 with the dead man.

00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:40.200
 He did what was unthinkable.

00:26:40.279 --> 00:26:41.279
 He touched the coffin.

00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:43.500
 And he spoke to the man

00:26:43.500 --> 00:26:44.559
 to command life.

00:26:46.019 --> 00:26:47.180
 And life came.

00:26:48.440 --> 00:26:49.839
 Remember what the crowd said?

00:26:50.660 --> 00:26:51.559
 A great prophet

00:26:51.559 --> 00:26:52.700
 has appeared among us.

00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:54.079
 God has come

00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:55.119
 to help his people.

00:26:55.899 --> 00:26:56.759
 Did they remember

00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:58.259
 the story passed down

00:26:58.259 --> 00:26:58.980
 from their region

00:26:58.980 --> 00:27:00.480
 of what Elisha had done

00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:01.480
 from the women of Shunem?

00:27:01.879 --> 00:27:02.119
 Perhaps.

00:27:03.420 --> 00:27:04.519
 But they understand

00:27:04.519 --> 00:27:05.299
 the connection

00:27:05.299 --> 00:27:06.879
 that when someone comes

00:27:06.879 --> 00:27:08.660
 and speaks to a dead man

00:27:08.660 --> 00:27:09.820
 and life comes,

00:27:10.820 --> 00:27:12.820
 this is a man from God.

00:27:13.140 --> 00:27:14.380
 And he's come to help

00:27:14.380 --> 00:27:15.060
 and to save.

00:27:18.940 --> 00:27:19.900
 And then we move

00:27:19.900 --> 00:27:20.840
 to another mountain.

00:27:21.620 --> 00:27:23.380
 We move to Mount Calvary.

00:27:24.380 --> 00:27:25.600
 And there we see

00:27:25.600 --> 00:27:27.200
 Jesus, the great prophet,

00:27:27.400 --> 00:27:29.060
 stretched out in death

00:27:29.059 --> 00:27:31.339
 to identify

00:27:31.339 --> 00:27:33.720
 with his people

00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:36.059
 so that in his death

00:27:36.059 --> 00:27:37.139
 and his resurrection,

00:27:37.879 --> 00:27:40.220
 we can find resurrection life

00:27:40.220 --> 00:27:41.960
 if we believe in him.

00:27:43.099 --> 00:27:44.240
 And that's only possible

00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:45.779
 because Jesus identifies

00:27:45.779 --> 00:27:46.919
 with us.

00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:48.299
 We know that

00:27:48.299 --> 00:27:49.179
 because he became

00:27:49.179 --> 00:27:50.039
 one of us.

00:27:50.839 --> 00:27:52.200
 He humbled himself

00:27:52.200 --> 00:27:53.059
 to add humanity

00:27:53.879 --> 00:27:55.059
 to his perfect divinity.

00:27:55.059 --> 00:27:57.919
 He entered into the world

00:27:57.919 --> 00:27:59.059
 that he made

00:27:59.059 --> 00:28:00.419
 to live that life

00:28:00.419 --> 00:28:01.579
 of perfect obedience

00:28:01.579 --> 00:28:02.599
 and perfect love

00:28:02.599 --> 00:28:03.220
 that you and I

00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:04.220
 should but can.

00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:06.899
 And he came

00:28:06.899 --> 00:28:08.519
 to take death

00:28:08.519 --> 00:28:09.879
 as the punishment

00:28:09.879 --> 00:28:10.879
 for law-breaking,

00:28:11.839 --> 00:28:14.139
 for our lack of love,

00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:15.500
 the punishment

00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:16.859
 that we should take,

00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:18.859
 but now we don't have to

00:28:18.859 --> 00:28:22.019
 if our faith is in Jesus.

00:28:22.879 --> 00:28:24.359
 He takes our humanity,

00:28:24.359 --> 00:28:26.000
 he takes our death,

00:28:26.079 --> 00:28:27.500
 he completes God's plan

00:28:27.500 --> 00:28:28.319
 of salvation

00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:29.619
 and by his wounds,

00:28:30.439 --> 00:28:32.119
 we are healed

00:28:32.119 --> 00:28:34.319
 because Jesus is the Lord

00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:35.479
 of resurrection life.

00:28:36.719 --> 00:28:37.859
 Risen from the dead,

00:28:38.219 --> 00:28:39.859
 he now gives spiritual life

00:28:39.859 --> 00:28:40.939
 in the place

00:28:40.939 --> 00:28:42.559
 of spiritual death

00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:45.000
 when we turn from our sin

00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:46.059
 to trust in him.

00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:48.419
 He gives us living hope

00:28:48.419 --> 00:28:50.299
 in place of despair

00:28:50.299 --> 00:28:51.879
 when our eyes are fixed

00:28:51.879 --> 00:28:52.619
 on him.

00:28:52.619 --> 00:28:56.699
 This is a story

00:28:56.699 --> 00:28:57.619
 that matters.

00:28:58.579 --> 00:28:59.519
 It matters

00:28:59.519 --> 00:29:00.719
 because it reminds us

00:29:00.719 --> 00:29:01.319
 that Jesus

00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:02.939
 is our hope

00:29:02.939 --> 00:29:04.519
 for salvation.

00:29:05.619 --> 00:29:06.500
 How can I be right

00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:07.079
 with God?

00:29:08.119 --> 00:29:09.459
 How can I be forgiven

00:29:09.459 --> 00:29:10.299
 of my sin?

00:29:10.819 --> 00:29:12.319
 How can I be welcomed

00:29:12.319 --> 00:29:13.559
 back into friendship

00:29:13.559 --> 00:29:15.299
 with the God

00:29:15.299 --> 00:29:15.859
 that I've turned

00:29:15.859 --> 00:29:16.759
 my back on?

00:29:16.759 --> 00:29:19.640
 It's through God's grace

00:29:19.640 --> 00:29:20.599
 to us in Jesus.

00:29:21.980 --> 00:29:23.319
 His finished work

00:29:23.319 --> 00:29:24.180
 on the cross.

00:29:24.779 --> 00:29:25.640
 His call

00:29:25.640 --> 00:29:26.180
 to repent

00:29:26.180 --> 00:29:26.859
 and believe.

00:29:28.859 --> 00:29:30.420
 But it also matters

00:29:30.420 --> 00:29:30.799
 for us

00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:31.259
 when we think

00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:32.000
 about the mission

00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:34.099
 of the church.

00:29:35.319 --> 00:29:36.379
 Because we are not

00:29:36.379 --> 00:29:37.539
 called into mission

00:29:37.539 --> 00:29:39.140
 to rely on our own

00:29:39.140 --> 00:29:39.980
 strength and power.

00:29:40.099 --> 00:29:40.400
 Rather,

00:29:40.539 --> 00:29:41.079
 we rely

00:29:41.079 --> 00:29:42.099
 on the power

00:29:42.099 --> 00:29:43.019
 of God.

00:29:43.019 --> 00:29:43.839
 We go

00:29:43.839 --> 00:29:44.680
 in the strength

00:29:44.680 --> 00:29:45.639
 of God's

00:29:45.639 --> 00:29:46.779
 gospel promises.

00:29:48.119 --> 00:29:48.859
 He is the one

00:29:48.859 --> 00:29:50.039
 who can change

00:29:50.039 --> 00:29:51.220
 the hardest heart.

00:29:52.579 --> 00:29:53.559
 He is the one

00:29:53.559 --> 00:29:54.799
 who can enter

00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:55.519
 into

00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:56.980
 the most broken

00:29:56.980 --> 00:29:57.859
 of lives.

00:29:59.240 --> 00:30:00.000
 He is the one

00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:01.339
 who is pleased.

00:30:01.460 --> 00:30:02.160
 He delights

00:30:02.160 --> 00:30:03.500
 to show grace

00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:04.700
 to those

00:30:04.700 --> 00:30:05.200
 who seem

00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:06.019
 the most unlikely

00:30:06.619 --> 00:30:07.019
 candidates.

00:30:08.299 --> 00:30:08.859
 And because

00:30:08.859 --> 00:30:10.099
 that's true

00:30:10.099 --> 00:30:11.399
 and because

00:30:11.399 --> 00:30:12.159
 it's God

00:30:12.159 --> 00:30:12.939
 who saves,

00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:13.819
 it's God

00:30:13.819 --> 00:30:14.259
 who gives

00:30:14.259 --> 00:30:14.719
 new life,

00:30:14.859 --> 00:30:15.939
 that gives us

00:30:15.939 --> 00:30:16.740
 confidence

00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:18.139
 that God

00:30:18.139 --> 00:30:19.179
 will save,

00:30:19.639 --> 00:30:20.099
 will give

00:30:20.099 --> 00:30:20.519
 new life

00:30:20.519 --> 00:30:21.019
 to all

00:30:21.019 --> 00:30:22.059
 He is calling.

00:30:23.359 --> 00:30:23.879
 And so we

00:30:23.879 --> 00:30:24.959
 can share faith,

00:30:25.519 --> 00:30:26.259
 we can present

00:30:26.259 --> 00:30:26.939
 the gospel,

00:30:27.419 --> 00:30:28.079
 trusting in the

00:30:28.079 --> 00:30:28.859
 God who can bring

00:30:28.859 --> 00:30:29.339
 life where

00:30:29.339 --> 00:30:30.039
 previously there

00:30:30.039 --> 00:30:30.459
 was death.

00:30:33.419 --> 00:30:34.539
 But it also

00:30:34.539 --> 00:30:35.419
 matters

00:30:35.419 --> 00:30:37.240
 when we find

00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:38.079
 ourselves

00:30:38.079 --> 00:30:39.939
 like this woman

00:30:39.939 --> 00:30:40.539
 going through

00:30:40.539 --> 00:30:41.159
 the storms

00:30:41.159 --> 00:30:41.799
 of life.

00:30:42.399 --> 00:30:42.919
 Because we know

00:30:42.919 --> 00:30:43.419
 it won't always

00:30:43.419 --> 00:30:43.960
 be sunshine

00:30:43.960 --> 00:30:44.939
 and smooth sailing

00:30:44.939 --> 00:30:45.359
 and Jesus

00:30:45.359 --> 00:30:46.079
 never promised

00:30:46.079 --> 00:30:46.559
 us that.

00:30:47.779 --> 00:30:48.539
 But in the

00:30:48.539 --> 00:30:49.439
 story of

00:30:49.439 --> 00:30:50.559
 the death

00:30:50.559 --> 00:30:51.159
 and resurrection

00:30:51.159 --> 00:30:51.980
 of the Lord

00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:52.419
 Jesus,

00:30:53.179 --> 00:30:54.179
 in His identifying

00:30:54.179 --> 00:30:55.159
 with us in order

00:30:55.159 --> 00:30:55.919
 to save us,

00:30:56.240 --> 00:30:57.240
 we have found

00:30:57.240 --> 00:30:58.179
 who we are to

00:30:58.179 --> 00:30:59.399
 fix our eyes on

00:30:59.399 --> 00:31:00.199
 as the right

00:31:00.199 --> 00:31:00.819
 source of our

00:31:00.819 --> 00:31:01.199
 hope,

00:31:01.699 --> 00:31:02.359
 none other than

00:31:02.359 --> 00:31:03.179
 the risen ruling

00:31:03.179 --> 00:31:03.879
 Lord Jesus.

00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:05.679
 There's where we

00:31:05.679 --> 00:31:06.519
 go for that hope

00:31:06.519 --> 00:31:07.539
 that will not fail.

00:31:08.079 --> 00:31:09.919
 So as God

00:31:09.919 --> 00:31:11.259
 reveals to us

00:31:11.259 --> 00:31:12.299
 through this story

00:31:12.299 --> 00:31:13.199
 His power to

00:31:13.199 --> 00:31:14.059
 bring resurrection

00:31:14.059 --> 00:31:14.619
 life,

00:31:15.500 --> 00:31:16.220
 He invites us

00:31:16.220 --> 00:31:17.559
 all to find

00:31:17.559 --> 00:31:18.220
 living hope

00:31:18.220 --> 00:31:18.740
 in Him,

00:31:19.720 --> 00:31:20.319
 to find that

00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:21.119
 powerful hope,

00:31:21.199 --> 00:31:21.779
 to find that

00:31:21.779 --> 00:31:22.980
 life and death

00:31:22.980 --> 00:31:24.559
 hope through

00:31:24.559 --> 00:31:25.399
 knowing Jesus

00:31:25.399 --> 00:31:27.059
 as our Lord

00:31:27.059 --> 00:31:28.460
 and our Savior.

00:31:29.919 --> 00:31:30.859
 Let's pray.

00:31:30.859 --> 00:31:34.859
 holy

00:31:34.859 --> 00:31:34.859


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00:31:34.859 --> 00:31:34.859