WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.860 After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua, the son of Nun, Moses' assistant. 00:00:07.860 --> 00:00:21.580 Moses, my servant, is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:29.000 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon, I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 00:00:29.000 --> 00:00:42.179 From the wilderness and this Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, to the great sea, toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. 00:00:43.480 --> 00:00:54.019 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. 00:00:54.020 --> 00:01:02.020 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 00:01:02.820 --> 00:01:10.840 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses, my servant, commanded you. 00:01:12.100 --> 00:01:17.920 Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:28.980 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. 00:01:29.920 --> 00:01:35.560 For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 00:01:36.719 --> 00:01:40.320 For have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. 00:01:41.320 --> 00:01:46.659 Do not be frightened. Do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. 00:01:46.659 --> 00:01:52.579 We are starting a new sermon series this morning. It's on the book of Joshua. 00:01:54.000 --> 00:02:00.079 But just a bit of information that will help situate us as we get into the text. 00:02:00.979 --> 00:02:06.519 So Joshua comes at the very, it comes immediately after the five books of Moses. 00:02:07.259 --> 00:02:12.139 If you're unfamiliar with the Bible, the Bible opens up with five books, but they're really like a chunk. 00:02:12.280 --> 00:02:14.699 They're like a big story in and of themselves. 00:02:14.699 --> 00:02:20.899 It's the history of God's interaction with his creation, and then with the nation of Israel. 00:02:21.539 --> 00:02:26.519 We see in it the nation of Israel becoming slaves in Egypt. 00:02:26.759 --> 00:02:34.179 And then the huge chunk of the rest of these five books really detail God's salvation. 00:02:34.180 --> 00:02:49.300 But then this wandering season of Israel through the desert as they're making their way to this promised land flowing with milk and honey that was promised to them by God to Abraham, their father. 00:02:49.300 --> 00:02:59.740 So in many ways, Joshua is, it's like a sequel to like a trilogy, but in this case, whatever trilogy with five, I don't know. 00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:01.880 But it's, it comes immediately after. 00:03:02.219 --> 00:03:06.600 But it's really a continuing story of what the Bible opened with. 00:03:07.080 --> 00:03:11.320 So it's really important for us to know as we get into it, who is this Joshua figure? 00:03:11.319 --> 00:03:18.699 Three important details, and I am skimming, like skimming of skimming here when I'm outlining these for us. 00:03:18.780 --> 00:03:21.000 So three important details about Joshua. 00:03:21.299 --> 00:03:22.599 He's a military commander. 00:03:23.359 --> 00:03:32.159 He was one of Israel's mighty men who fought against, specifically this one great battle against this people called the Amalekites. 00:03:32.159 --> 00:03:41.659 As Israel was leaving Egypt, they were weak, they were vulnerable, and this very cruel tribe came to attack them, to take advantage of them. 00:03:42.259 --> 00:03:47.500 And the Lord used Joshua as a military commander to win the day. 00:03:48.219 --> 00:03:53.780 The second big detail about Joshua is that he was an assistant to Moses. 00:03:53.900 --> 00:04:00.259 Now, it says that right in verse one, but it'll say that throughout the Mosaic books as well. 00:04:00.259 --> 00:04:04.719 He is Moses' assistant, like his right-hand man. 00:04:04.840 --> 00:04:11.959 So he was there, not beside Moses, but very close to Moses, when Moses received the law from God. 00:04:12.359 --> 00:04:18.319 When Moses would commune with God and mediate between God and the nation of Israel. 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:24.500 And then the third and final point that I want to draw your attention to when we're considering Joshua, 00:04:24.500 --> 00:04:31.060 is that after Israel left Egypt, they made their way to the Promised Land. 00:04:31.660 --> 00:04:33.779 And they were on the verge of crossing it. 00:04:33.879 --> 00:04:39.759 And Moses sent a representative from each of the 12 tribes into the land to scout it out. 00:04:39.959 --> 00:04:41.879 They were like a recon party. 00:04:42.519 --> 00:04:52.720 And they came back, and the information that they had about this place was that it was full of very scary, scary people. 00:04:52.720 --> 00:04:54.160 They were strong. 00:04:54.300 --> 00:04:55.720 They were technologically advanced. 00:04:55.840 --> 00:04:58.260 In fact, nobody could stand up against them. 00:04:58.740 --> 00:05:01.000 Ten of the 12 said that. 00:05:01.660 --> 00:05:06.780 But Joshua and another character, which we won't touch on too much in this series, Caleb, 00:05:07.300 --> 00:05:08.580 they said, no, no, no, no, no, no. 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:11.300 Yeah, the reports are completely right. 00:05:11.780 --> 00:05:14.960 But we should go in there because God has promised us victory. 00:05:15.300 --> 00:05:17.040 And he will be the one who fights for us. 00:05:17.040 --> 00:05:25.720 So we see in Joshua this remarkable character who really was like the right-hand man of God's right-hand man. 00:05:27.939 --> 00:05:36.040 So we find ourselves now 40 years later after what I just described with those 12 spies, 00:05:36.780 --> 00:05:40.300 those 12 representatives who went in for a recon mission. 00:05:40.300 --> 00:05:45.740 40 years had passed because 10 of them were naysayers. 00:05:45.879 --> 00:05:48.819 Two of them were like, we're going to seize this place with God's help. 00:05:49.160 --> 00:05:51.879 But the rest of the nation of Israel, they fell into fear. 00:05:52.699 --> 00:05:56.160 And God saw their unbelief and said, not now. 00:05:57.000 --> 00:05:58.160 They went back into the desert. 00:05:58.300 --> 00:06:03.480 And 40 years would go by until Joshua 1 takes place. 00:06:03.680 --> 00:06:04.900 40 years later. 00:06:04.899 --> 00:06:08.479 So Joshua, we find, he is not a young man. 00:06:09.299 --> 00:06:13.879 He is a seasoned military general. 00:06:14.699 --> 00:06:18.399 He is a remarkable man in the hierarchy of Israel. 00:06:18.560 --> 00:06:19.459 He is a man of faith. 00:06:20.620 --> 00:06:21.239 And here we are. 00:06:21.519 --> 00:06:26.039 This book was written some 1,200 years ago, maybe even 1,200 years ago, 00:06:26.099 --> 00:06:29.439 3,200 years ago, maybe even 3,500 years ago. 00:06:29.439 --> 00:06:38.500 And yet, in these 20-odd chapters, we see a remarkable story that's worthy of our study this morning. 00:06:39.699 --> 00:06:41.699 But I'll say this before we get into it. 00:06:41.720 --> 00:06:44.480 One last point, and then we'll get into the text. 00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:46.120 This book isn't without controversy. 00:06:47.159 --> 00:06:55.879 This book will, at first glance, seem to endorse divinely mandated genocide, 00:06:55.879 --> 00:07:03.060 slavery, collective punishment, racial supremacy, among other things. 00:07:03.759 --> 00:07:09.800 Again, I said on first glance, on our first reading. 00:07:10.339 --> 00:07:12.480 And these are things that are reprehensible. 00:07:13.019 --> 00:07:14.219 There's no way around it. 00:07:14.319 --> 00:07:18.379 We're going to encounter some really difficult passages that we're going to wrestle through. 00:07:18.920 --> 00:07:19.579 But that's the thing. 00:07:19.620 --> 00:07:20.519 We're going to wrestle through it. 00:07:20.659 --> 00:07:23.459 So our commitment as a church, my commitment as a pastor, 00:07:23.459 --> 00:07:29.699 as I open up God's Word, is always to walk towards the difficulties that we find in Scripture 00:07:29.699 --> 00:07:32.199 and ask the tough questions and wrestle with the text. 00:07:32.799 --> 00:07:35.419 So that's what we'll be doing in the weeks to come. 00:07:35.759 --> 00:07:37.680 We're not going to be doing it so much today. 00:07:38.319 --> 00:07:43.439 For today, we're going to look just at these first nine verses that David read for us 00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:46.819 that really will set the stage for the entire book. 00:07:47.659 --> 00:07:50.759 And in them, we'll find something deeply reassuring. 00:07:50.759 --> 00:07:53.920 These verses are deeply reassuring. 00:07:54.459 --> 00:07:58.060 For they're going to communicate the Lord's infinite love for his people. 00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:02.420 And these people that he's going to communicate his infinite love for, 00:08:02.519 --> 00:08:03.699 they are a broken people. 00:08:04.539 --> 00:08:05.879 They're a fearful people. 00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:07.039 They're a confused people. 00:08:07.399 --> 00:08:09.680 A people constantly given over to temptation. 00:08:10.240 --> 00:08:14.360 To not trust the God who time and again has rescued them. 00:08:14.360 --> 00:08:18.160 But to trust in other gods or the strength of men. 00:08:19.840 --> 00:08:24.400 There are people stricken with deep doubt that the Lord is not actually truly for them. 00:08:25.300 --> 00:08:27.520 There are people that are scared and cowardly. 00:08:27.680 --> 00:08:30.120 And I'll humbly put forward to you this morning, 00:08:30.800 --> 00:08:32.659 there are people a lot like us. 00:08:34.139 --> 00:08:36.600 So this book is actually very relevant for us. 00:08:36.600 --> 00:08:40.700 Again, it could be potentially 3,500 years old. 00:08:40.779 --> 00:08:46.480 And yet it somehow, in a brilliant way, captures the human condition for us. 00:08:47.100 --> 00:08:49.740 That still exists in 2026 in Ottawa. 00:08:50.600 --> 00:08:56.620 So this morning, we will see how the Lord, he sees that brokenness. 00:08:56.659 --> 00:08:57.620 He sees that fear. 00:08:57.740 --> 00:09:00.360 He sees that lack of courage. 00:09:00.620 --> 00:09:03.420 And he reassures his people and strengthens them. 00:09:03.879 --> 00:09:05.360 And assures them of his goodness. 00:09:05.360 --> 00:09:07.399 And he does it in two ways. 00:09:07.460 --> 00:09:09.120 Or at least that's the way I'm going to break up this text. 00:09:09.639 --> 00:09:12.560 He does that through his kept promises, one. 00:09:13.460 --> 00:09:15.980 And then second, through his loving presence. 00:09:16.180 --> 00:09:19.000 So his kept promises and loving presence. 00:09:19.139 --> 00:09:21.519 Why don't we jump right into our text. 00:09:21.720 --> 00:09:24.460 I'll read verse 1 and you can follow along. 00:09:24.539 --> 00:09:26.919 We're on page 6 on the scripture journals. 00:09:28.919 --> 00:09:31.580 After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, 00:09:31.580 --> 00:09:37.600 The Lord said to Joshua, the son of Nun, or Nun, Moses' assistant. 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:38.720 I'll read verse 2. 00:09:39.080 --> 00:09:41.440 Moses, my servant, is dead. 00:09:42.700 --> 00:09:44.080 Moses, my servant, is dead. 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:47.360 The book takes place right after a funeral. 00:09:48.820 --> 00:09:50.400 And a very significant funeral. 00:09:50.740 --> 00:09:52.960 Moses was the servant of the Lord. 00:09:53.160 --> 00:09:54.040 It's interesting. 00:09:54.580 --> 00:09:57.340 This is like, keep in the back of your mind and make like a little note here. 00:09:57.340 --> 00:10:03.180 Moses is the servant of the Lord, but Joshua's called Moses' assistant. 00:10:04.240 --> 00:10:06.780 The servant of the Lord is like a very lofty title. 00:10:07.379 --> 00:10:08.560 It's not just thrown around. 00:10:08.680 --> 00:10:10.519 God just doesn't give it to anybody. 00:10:10.660 --> 00:10:11.660 He's given it to Moses. 00:10:11.879 --> 00:10:14.379 Moses is something of like a superstar. 00:10:15.379 --> 00:10:19.680 He is Israel's, I mean, God is the one who rescued Israel. 00:10:19.920 --> 00:10:22.440 But Moses is the one, humanly speaking, 00:10:23.019 --> 00:10:24.879 he is the one who led them through the Red Sea. 00:10:24.879 --> 00:10:27.139 He is the one who led them through the wilderness. 00:10:27.399 --> 00:10:32.620 He is the one who stood up to the most powerful regional king in that day. 00:10:33.460 --> 00:10:38.759 He is the one of faith who received the law from God on Mount Sinai. 00:10:38.919 --> 00:10:42.939 If you've seen The Ten Commandments with Charlton Heston, fantastic movie. 00:10:43.580 --> 00:10:48.439 He has the two tablets, the two big giant stone tablets that he brings down from the mountain. 00:10:49.179 --> 00:10:52.960 He's the one who disciplines and chastises the people. 00:10:52.960 --> 00:10:58.340 Well, he is, okay, again, apart from God, Moses is everything to Israel. 00:10:59.400 --> 00:11:02.560 And now they're on the verge of going into the promised land. 00:11:03.780 --> 00:11:07.240 The time when they'll need Moses the most, okay? 00:11:08.040 --> 00:11:09.480 And he's dead. 00:11:09.480 --> 00:11:18.159 I wonder if there was great dread that fell on the people in this moment. 00:11:18.920 --> 00:11:22.100 Their savior, their champion, he had died. 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:26.860 Who would mediate between the Lord and his people? 00:11:27.820 --> 00:11:29.620 Who would lead them into the promised land? 00:11:30.560 --> 00:11:31.360 Moses is gone. 00:11:31.460 --> 00:11:32.779 Who would step up? 00:11:32.779 --> 00:11:37.379 And then we see Joshua here. 00:11:38.639 --> 00:11:38.759 Okay? 00:11:39.100 --> 00:11:40.779 Again, Joshua has done wonderful things. 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:43.980 He has not been given this title of servant of the Lord. 00:11:44.059 --> 00:11:47.240 He is the assistant to the servant of the Lord. 00:11:48.120 --> 00:11:52.919 And does he have what it takes to lead Israel, to be a new Moses? 00:11:52.919 --> 00:12:04.139 You see, Joshua finds himself back on the borderland, like I mentioned, not as a young man when he originally was on the border. 00:12:04.279 --> 00:12:13.240 He has wandered for 40 years, okay, in the desert. 00:12:14.500 --> 00:12:18.459 40 years of wandering is God's promises. 00:12:19.139 --> 00:12:20.299 Are they going to come true? 00:12:21.159 --> 00:12:21.959 40 years. 00:12:21.959 --> 00:12:22.120 40 years. 00:12:22.919 --> 00:12:23.240 All right? 00:12:24.599 --> 00:12:38.039 If you have children, you can promise them, listen, if you do your chores, you know, you study hard in school, you have a good week, I promise you ice cream on the weekend. 00:12:38.199 --> 00:12:39.379 Or you promise them a treat. 00:12:40.059 --> 00:12:43.079 How long is that week for a child, okay? 00:12:43.259 --> 00:12:45.379 It's exhausting for them. 00:12:45.379 --> 00:12:46.699 They ask a million times. 00:12:47.019 --> 00:12:52.719 You're exhausted for weathering this onslaught of question after question. 00:12:52.720 --> 00:13:05.840 If you wait a week and you don't give them what you promised them, they might keep asking, but after a while they will think that you are somebody who doesn't keep promises. 00:13:05.840 --> 00:13:13.280 What happens if a couple weeks, a couple months, a couple months, a couple months, turns into four decades? 00:13:13.920 --> 00:13:17.420 Is God's promise still true? 00:13:17.419 --> 00:13:23.179 Does God still, is he still worthy of our trust? 00:13:23.179 --> 00:13:24.799 It's a remarkable question. 00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:26.179 Again, 40 years long. 00:13:26.979 --> 00:13:28.599 And now he is at the verge. 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:33.479 The nation is at the verge of entering this promised land and their savior has died. 00:13:33.699 --> 00:13:35.339 Their hero has died. 00:13:35.340 --> 00:13:36.879 What will happen? 00:13:37.879 --> 00:13:43.000 Well, let's read verses two to five and see God's reaction. 00:13:44.160 --> 00:13:44.920 Verse two. 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:46.460 Moses, my servant, is dead. 00:13:46.540 --> 00:13:54.639 Now, therefore, arise, go over this Jordan and you and all this people into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 00:13:54.639 --> 00:14:01.360 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon, I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 00:14:01.960 --> 00:14:10.019 From the wilderness and this Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the great sea, that's the Mediterranean Sea, 00:14:10.659 --> 00:14:13.580 toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:14.679 Verse five. 00:14:14.679 --> 00:14:20.519 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life, just as I was with Moses. 00:14:21.419 --> 00:14:22.919 So I will be with you. 00:14:23.620 --> 00:14:27.379 I will not leave you or forsake you. 00:14:29.179 --> 00:14:31.839 What wonderful words to an anxious man. 00:14:32.779 --> 00:14:33.819 I'm assuming he's anxious. 00:14:33.959 --> 00:14:34.979 The text doesn't say so. 00:14:35.219 --> 00:14:41.740 But we'll see in the next part, especially, the Lord has to say three times, be strong and courageous to him. 00:14:42.259 --> 00:14:43.479 So maybe he was anxious. 00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:47.080 What incredible words, though, to bolster his heart. 00:14:47.740 --> 00:14:49.120 You see, Moses is dead. 00:14:50.139 --> 00:14:50.600 He is. 00:14:50.779 --> 00:14:51.840 And he is a champion. 00:14:51.980 --> 00:14:54.460 And there will never be another Moses. 00:14:54.639 --> 00:14:56.000 Joshua won't be another Moses. 00:14:56.480 --> 00:14:58.060 But here's the wonderful thing about this. 00:14:58.800 --> 00:15:03.039 Even though Moses is dead, the Lord God is not. 00:15:03.860 --> 00:15:07.860 And if God isn't dead, then his promises, they will have to endure. 00:15:08.539 --> 00:15:09.180 They must. 00:15:09.179 --> 00:15:14.639 In fact, nothing can derail the promises of God, not even the death of his servant. 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:27.779 But the promises referenced here, just really briefly, it is for the entire land of Canaan, what was described there, from the east down to the south, to the sea, up to the north. 00:15:27.779 --> 00:15:38.379 It covers a lot of the modern-day Levant, much greater than the, I mean, it's parts of Syria, parts of Lebanon, all of Israel, parts of Egypt. 00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:42.059 Like, it's a huge, it's a huge area of land. 00:15:42.059 --> 00:15:51.559 And God swore to Abraham, centuries and centuries and centuries earlier, that he would give him and his descendants this land. 00:15:51.679 --> 00:16:05.359 And it's a big deal, not only because it was promised by God centuries earlier, but also because they have been wandering for decades as nomads, as people that are strangers. 00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:09.200 And even before that, they were slaves in a foreign land. 00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:12.200 The people of Israel have been without a place. 00:16:13.620 --> 00:16:14.820 They've been without a place. 00:16:15.659 --> 00:16:24.259 And this is a remarkable thing, because maybe we don't take this in like we should, but having a place is a very important thing for us. 00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:32.379 Having a place that we can come back to, a place where we can lay our head, a place that is ours. 00:16:32.379 --> 00:16:36.279 Whether or not we rent or own, it is, this is my home. 00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:44.340 You know, what's remarkable is that even people that are homeless find ways to make makeshift shelters a home. 00:16:44.460 --> 00:16:45.019 It's theirs. 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:54.019 Place is such an important thing for the human condition, for the human being. 00:16:56.860 --> 00:17:00.860 But God, here he is, he hasn't forgotten his promises. 00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:11.779 And nor does he need the prowess or strength of a certain man or a certain group of people to ensure that his promises will be fulfilled. 00:17:12.440 --> 00:17:15.180 God is always faithful to fulfill his promises. 00:17:16.299 --> 00:17:21.220 The Lord always fulfills his promises because he makes these things called the covenant. 00:17:21.400 --> 00:17:25.660 So, if you're unfamiliar, I mean, we've talked about this throughout the summer and I've talked about it in the past. 00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:28.220 God makes these covenants with people. 00:17:28.220 --> 00:17:31.220 Covenants aren't unique to the Bible. 00:17:31.460 --> 00:17:34.019 They were kind of a thing you do in the ancient world. 00:17:34.120 --> 00:17:37.980 I mean, we still talk in terms of covenantal language when we're making agreements. 00:17:38.100 --> 00:17:41.019 But essentially, it is an agreement between two parties. 00:17:41.660 --> 00:17:43.500 There are parameters set up. 00:17:43.880 --> 00:17:46.140 If you do this, you will get that. 00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:48.220 If you don't do this, you will suffer certain consequences. 00:17:48.220 --> 00:18:00.000 And God makes these covenantal promises with his people, but always in such a way that puts the onus on him. 00:18:01.220 --> 00:18:05.900 Because the people that he makes these covenants with, they constantly break covenant. 00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:10.640 They constantly fail to achieve and to fulfill their side of the bargain. 00:18:10.860 --> 00:18:12.100 But God never fails. 00:18:12.099 --> 00:18:17.259 So, God is always fulfilling his covenantal promises, this being one of them. 00:18:17.699 --> 00:18:19.279 And he does it through a mediator. 00:18:20.059 --> 00:18:23.859 He always speaks to Israel, to his people, through a representative. 00:18:24.419 --> 00:18:24.539 Okay? 00:18:24.839 --> 00:18:29.000 There's always somebody who stands in the gap between God and his people. 00:18:30.379 --> 00:18:34.639 If you're a bit of a Bible nerd, this is a priestly role. 00:18:35.059 --> 00:18:35.659 A mediator. 00:18:35.859 --> 00:18:36.819 A priestly role. 00:18:37.099 --> 00:18:41.659 God always has a type of priestly mediator between him and his people. 00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:49.500 So, when the mediator dies, in this case Moses, what we see here is God not panicking. 00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:50.399 Okay? 00:18:50.519 --> 00:18:54.259 God isn't like, well, I knew this would happen one day. 00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:56.599 Time to enact my contingency plan. 00:18:56.939 --> 00:19:04.000 It's not like God in the heavenlies has a giant red button with a glass case that says break in case of emergency. 00:19:04.439 --> 00:19:07.079 And then all of a sudden the issue is solved. 00:19:07.159 --> 00:19:07.719 Not at all. 00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:13.140 God's promises continue and someone else is raised up and empowered. 00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:13.920 Why? 00:19:14.039 --> 00:19:17.779 Because the Lord cannot be denied in keeping his promises. 00:19:17.779 --> 00:19:25.519 To this point, the French reformer John Calvin says this in his commentary on this very passage. 00:19:26.099 --> 00:19:26.960 He says this, quote, 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:34.799 This suggests the very useful reflection that while men are cut off by death and fall in the middle of their career, 00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:38.200 the faithfulness of God never fails. 00:19:38.920 --> 00:19:42.019 On the death of Moses, a sad change seemed impending. 00:19:42.660 --> 00:19:45.539 The people were left like a body with its head lopped off. 00:19:45.539 --> 00:19:53.240 While thus in danger of dispersion, not only did the truth of God prove itself to be immortal, 00:19:54.059 --> 00:20:02.159 but it was shown in the person of Joshua as in a bright mirror that when God takes away those whom he has adorned with special gifts, 00:20:02.279 --> 00:20:05.259 he has others in readiness to supply their place. 00:20:05.259 --> 00:20:09.720 And that though he is pleased for a time to give excellent gifts to some, 00:20:10.180 --> 00:20:13.519 his mighty power is not tied down to them. 00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:16.900 I think it's just a wonderful truth to remember. 00:20:17.879 --> 00:20:22.079 The Lord delights in caring for his people and nothing will get in his way. 00:20:24.299 --> 00:20:26.819 No one in this congregation, at least not to my knowledge, 00:20:26.819 --> 00:20:29.059 and if you are, talk with us. 00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:30.119 We'll get you help. 00:20:30.119 --> 00:20:34.500 But nobody, I think, is homeless or on the verge of homelessness. 00:20:35.619 --> 00:20:38.239 But the sense of unease in life is real. 00:20:38.819 --> 00:20:42.339 The sense that your place in life is in jeopardy. 00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:47.519 Do you not feel the anxiety about missing opportunities to advance your career? 00:20:49.639 --> 00:20:55.919 That you've missed out on chances to spend time with those around you 00:20:55.920 --> 00:21:00.340 because you are busy chasing whatever goals you might be chasing. 00:21:00.840 --> 00:21:03.220 That your priorities are in the wrong spot. 00:21:04.200 --> 00:21:09.620 The dread about relationships that continue to go unreconciled. 00:21:09.860 --> 00:21:10.019 Okay? 00:21:10.100 --> 00:21:14.200 All of these things, they shake us to our core. 00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:20.160 Makes us feel like our place isn't very secure. 00:21:20.320 --> 00:21:22.759 That our foundations are starting to crumble. 00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:30.400 Our common experience as human beings is not necessarily one of consistent confidence, 00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:33.359 although we are pretty good at putting on a face. 00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:37.539 And I don't think sometimes you've got to kind of grin and bear it 00:21:37.539 --> 00:21:39.759 and get on with life in certain respects. 00:21:39.960 --> 00:21:47.319 But I would think that the common experience is actually one of anxiety. 00:21:47.319 --> 00:21:54.019 We make decisions oftentimes not out of a great confidence in the future, 00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:55.899 but in fear of failure. 00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:58.179 We hedge our bets. 00:21:59.039 --> 00:22:01.839 We lay awake with racing minds. 00:22:02.659 --> 00:22:03.939 We have anxious hearts. 00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:08.319 But consider that God's promises to his people, 00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:11.819 they are always towards provision and blessing. 00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:15.359 They're always towards provision and blessing. 00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:19.740 His promises are there where he says to Joshua here, 00:22:19.959 --> 00:22:22.059 that he will not leave or forsake him. 00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:24.479 Those promises are extended to us. 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:27.939 I don't have the chapter and verse, 00:22:28.059 --> 00:22:29.359 but read Hebrews 13. 00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:34.339 The author of Hebrews, he picks up this refrain. 00:22:34.639 --> 00:22:37.639 I will not leave you or forsake you in Hebrews 13. 00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:41.759 What does Jesus say when he commissions the disciples 00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:43.959 in the Great Commission in Matthew 28? 00:22:43.960 --> 00:22:44.759 What does he say? 00:22:45.120 --> 00:22:45.340 He says, 00:22:45.460 --> 00:22:47.779 Lo, I will be with you to the end of the age. 00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:51.259 This is God's promises to his people, always. 00:22:52.840 --> 00:22:57.660 They're always promises towards provision and blessing, 00:22:57.840 --> 00:23:01.200 to not forsake us or leave us, but to bless us. 00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:08.160 Which means that he has made a dear covenant with us that won't be broken. 00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:13.360 He is bound to see to our welfare and not just in a begrudging way, 00:23:13.540 --> 00:23:17.200 but because he is bound to it, but because he delights in doing so. 00:23:17.620 --> 00:23:21.120 Let me just read a couple of verses from Matthew chapter 6, 00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:22.259 from the Sermon on the Mount. 00:23:22.420 --> 00:23:25.040 It's the famous sermon of Jesus's. 00:23:25.620 --> 00:23:29.519 And this is what he says, chapter 6, starting in the 25th verse. 00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:33.879 Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, 00:23:33.960 --> 00:23:36.059 what you will eat or drink or about your body. 00:23:36.500 --> 00:23:40.559 What you will put on is not life more than food and the body more than clothing. 00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:42.599 Look at the birds of the air. 00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:45.559 They neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, 00:23:45.559 --> 00:23:48.059 and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. 00:23:48.180 --> 00:23:50.220 Are you not more valuable than they? 00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:56.039 And which of you, by being anxious, can add a single hour to his life? 00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:58.859 And why are you anxious about clothing? 00:23:59.000 --> 00:24:01.240 Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. 00:24:01.359 --> 00:24:02.940 They neither toil nor spin. 00:24:03.399 --> 00:24:06.700 Yet I tell you, even Solomon, in all his glory, 00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:08.339 was not arrayed like one of these. 00:24:08.779 --> 00:24:11.839 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, 00:24:11.940 --> 00:24:15.139 which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, 00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:19.920 will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 00:24:22.659 --> 00:24:24.920 He delights in providing for you. 00:24:26.039 --> 00:24:29.920 Who looks after our welfare with such commitment and love? 00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:41.559 We live in a society that has really remarkable infrastructure to take care of people. 00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:46.899 But they don't do it perfectly, not by a long shot. 00:24:47.259 --> 00:24:51.019 And they don't do it out of a desire to love the citizens. 00:24:51.019 --> 00:24:54.799 We have some public service workers here. 00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:56.960 We thank you for your service. 00:24:57.799 --> 00:25:01.259 How often do you go to work and think, 00:25:01.559 --> 00:25:03.039 I love the people of Canada. 00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:04.900 I am here for them. 00:25:05.299 --> 00:25:07.619 I am going to lay down my life for their welfare. 00:25:08.339 --> 00:25:10.259 I mean, you have different convictions. 00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:13.379 Some days you go in, you're just there for the paycheck. 00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:15.200 Other days you're finding joy in work. 00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:18.880 But do you extend, if this is your position, 00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:23.380 do you extend the same type of love and care towards the people you are serving 00:25:23.380 --> 00:25:24.920 that God extends to you? 00:25:26.039 --> 00:25:27.059 Who loves us? 00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:30.380 Who is about our welfare like the Lord God? 00:25:31.180 --> 00:25:32.680 He is a covenant-keeping God. 00:25:33.140 --> 00:25:35.240 He makes promises and he keeps them. 00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:38.140 So the Lord, here we have him assuring Joshua 00:25:38.140 --> 00:25:41.460 that he would keep his promise to give the land as a gift. 00:25:41.460 --> 00:25:46.160 He knew that both Joshua and especially the people would waver. 00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:47.880 And we'll see this in the weeks to come. 00:25:48.019 --> 00:25:50.600 Their confidence would give way to fear. 00:25:54.539 --> 00:25:59.799 And they would face the same issues that caused them to be wanderers 00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:01.799 for 40 years in the desert. 00:26:02.720 --> 00:26:06.160 So therefore God would remind them that along with keeping his promises, 00:26:06.360 --> 00:26:08.460 he would also be with them. 00:26:08.539 --> 00:26:09.600 And this is the second point. 00:26:09.599 --> 00:26:12.039 His presence would be with his people. 00:26:12.899 --> 00:26:14.179 And why is this so significant? 00:26:15.279 --> 00:26:18.959 Look with me at verses 5 and then we'll read to the end of the chapter. 00:26:19.319 --> 00:26:20.719 Starting in verse 5 here. 00:26:22.399 --> 00:26:25.839 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life 00:26:25.839 --> 00:26:28.480 just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 00:26:28.659 --> 00:26:29.199 Here it is. 00:26:29.939 --> 00:26:31.799 I will not leave you or forsake you. 00:26:32.659 --> 00:26:33.159 Verse 6. 00:26:33.160 --> 00:26:37.600 Be strong and courageous for you shall cause this people to inherit the land 00:26:37.600 --> 00:26:40.160 that I swore to their fathers to give them. 00:26:40.800 --> 00:26:42.500 Only be strong and very courageous. 00:26:43.120 --> 00:26:47.279 Being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. 00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:51.580 Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left 00:26:51.580 --> 00:26:54.340 that you may have good success wherever you go. 00:26:54.339 --> 00:26:59.339 So this book of the law or the Torah or God's ways shall not depart from your mouth, 00:27:00.059 --> 00:27:01.980 but you shall meditate on it day and night 00:27:01.980 --> 00:27:06.319 so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. 00:27:07.059 --> 00:27:09.619 For then you will make your way prosperous 00:27:09.619 --> 00:27:11.740 and then you will have good success. 00:27:11.819 --> 00:27:12.299 Verse 9. 00:27:12.859 --> 00:27:14.019 Have I not commanded you? 00:27:14.579 --> 00:27:15.980 Be strong and courageous. 00:27:16.699 --> 00:27:17.720 Do not be frightened. 00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:19.619 And do not be dismayed. 00:27:19.619 --> 00:27:23.319 For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. 00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:28.159 Such a reality is often lost on God's people 00:27:28.159 --> 00:27:31.119 that he is with them. 00:27:31.579 --> 00:27:32.659 For God is spirit. 00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:34.619 He is not seen. 00:27:34.979 --> 00:27:43.239 He is not like you or I that we can interact with face to face like this. 00:27:44.019 --> 00:27:47.139 Therefore his presence, again, can be easily doubted. 00:27:47.140 --> 00:27:49.759 What if God isn't actually there? 00:27:50.020 --> 00:27:51.480 What if we are believing in a myth? 00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:56.640 What if this is just a great religious hoax that happened, 00:27:56.800 --> 00:28:00.020 say, 2,000 years ago, 3,500 years ago, 4,000 years ago, 00:28:00.080 --> 00:28:01.680 and somehow it just got perpetuated, 00:28:02.360 --> 00:28:04.200 and now there's some powerful people 00:28:04.200 --> 00:28:08.140 that just kind of make us feel guilty 00:28:08.140 --> 00:28:10.140 so that they would give us money and we could control them. 00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:14.740 What if God has abandoned us? 00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:20.359 How can we be sure that he is truly with his people? 00:28:21.700 --> 00:28:24.880 Four verses the Lord tells Joshua, 00:28:25.579 --> 00:28:26.720 and by extension the people, 00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:28.859 to be strong and courageous three times. 00:28:29.799 --> 00:28:31.980 Four, or three times in four verses. 00:28:32.940 --> 00:28:35.460 Verse six, be strong and courageous. 00:28:35.940 --> 00:28:39.059 Verse seven, only be strong and courageous. 00:28:39.220 --> 00:28:41.120 Verse nine, have I not commanded you, 00:28:41.220 --> 00:28:42.359 be strong and courageous. 00:28:42.359 --> 00:28:44.240 And then continues, do not be frightened, 00:28:44.379 --> 00:28:45.740 do not be dismayed. 00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:52.059 The Lord is telling Joshua 00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:54.039 that they are to be, 00:28:54.579 --> 00:28:55.740 him and the people, 00:28:56.659 --> 00:28:57.939 they are not to give in to fear. 00:28:58.799 --> 00:28:59.979 They need to be strong. 00:29:00.479 --> 00:29:01.539 They need to have courage. 00:29:02.059 --> 00:29:04.919 And what's incredible about those three 00:29:04.919 --> 00:29:07.159 commands, 00:29:07.160 --> 00:29:09.519 and this is key. 00:29:10.100 --> 00:29:11.259 If you're ever reading the Bible 00:29:11.259 --> 00:29:12.980 and you notice something like this, 00:29:13.600 --> 00:29:14.960 read it again. 00:29:15.040 --> 00:29:16.320 Have your ears perk up to it. 00:29:16.840 --> 00:29:18.019 See it with fresh eyes. 00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:19.519 Because God, he says, 00:29:20.800 --> 00:29:21.420 be strong, 00:29:21.620 --> 00:29:22.259 be courageous. 00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:24.380 Be strong, be courageous. 00:29:24.540 --> 00:29:25.580 Be strong, be courageous. 00:29:25.860 --> 00:29:28.080 But he sandwiches those three commands 00:29:28.080 --> 00:29:30.019 in between what? 00:29:30.940 --> 00:29:32.639 What does he say in verse five? 00:29:34.279 --> 00:29:35.259 I will be with you 00:29:35.259 --> 00:29:38.039 and I will not leave you 00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:39.720 or forsake you. 00:29:39.799 --> 00:29:40.639 And then verse nine, 00:29:41.259 --> 00:29:41.539 he says, 00:29:41.639 --> 00:29:42.859 for the Lord your God is with you 00:29:42.859 --> 00:29:43.480 wherever you go. 00:29:44.139 --> 00:29:44.480 You see, 00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:45.480 God, 00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:46.799 he knows that courage. 00:29:47.359 --> 00:29:48.279 He knows that strength. 00:29:48.400 --> 00:29:49.279 They are hard to come by. 00:29:49.819 --> 00:29:51.160 So this whole section 00:29:51.160 --> 00:29:52.019 is sandwiched 00:29:52.660 --> 00:29:53.639 in God's promise 00:29:53.639 --> 00:29:54.900 to give his people 00:29:54.900 --> 00:29:55.619 his presence. 00:29:56.339 --> 00:29:57.420 That he would be with them 00:29:57.420 --> 00:29:59.059 all their days. 00:29:59.059 --> 00:30:00.720 So just consider this 00:30:00.720 --> 00:30:01.220 for a moment. 00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:02.899 God is not commanding 00:30:02.899 --> 00:30:03.759 strength and courage 00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:05.899 because of military might. 00:30:06.740 --> 00:30:07.379 Not because, 00:30:08.119 --> 00:30:08.379 you know, 00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:08.619 okay, 00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:09.279 Moses was, 00:30:09.460 --> 00:30:10.579 he was a great leader 00:30:10.579 --> 00:30:12.019 but now we have Joshua. 00:30:12.159 --> 00:30:13.740 He's the man for the job 00:30:13.740 --> 00:30:14.960 because he's a general. 00:30:15.619 --> 00:30:17.500 He's a proven warrior. 00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:19.440 He doesn't say, 00:30:19.579 --> 00:30:19.720 listen, 00:30:19.819 --> 00:30:21.039 be strong and courageous. 00:30:21.899 --> 00:30:23.019 Think positively. 00:30:23.220 --> 00:30:24.279 This is the key 00:30:24.279 --> 00:30:25.799 to getting the land. 00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:26.599 Okay? 00:30:27.399 --> 00:30:27.619 Think, 00:30:28.299 --> 00:30:29.019 pessimism, 00:30:29.059 --> 00:30:30.440 put it to the side, 00:30:30.679 --> 00:30:31.519 be optimists. 00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:32.579 That's how you're gonna 00:30:32.579 --> 00:30:34.119 win the day. 00:30:34.339 --> 00:30:35.559 He doesn't say any of that. 00:30:36.659 --> 00:30:37.039 Instead, 00:30:37.399 --> 00:30:38.399 he says to them, 00:30:38.980 --> 00:30:39.940 be strong and courageous 00:30:39.940 --> 00:30:41.960 because I'm amongst you. 00:30:42.339 --> 00:30:43.639 I have your back. 00:30:43.799 --> 00:30:44.679 I am before you. 00:30:44.759 --> 00:30:45.559 I am behind you. 00:30:47.220 --> 00:30:48.440 So how will we know 00:30:48.440 --> 00:30:49.579 this unseen God 00:30:49.579 --> 00:30:50.379 is truly near? 00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:51.539 Because it's 00:30:51.539 --> 00:30:52.679 very important 00:30:52.679 --> 00:30:53.599 for our courage 00:30:53.599 --> 00:30:54.279 and our strength. 00:30:54.359 --> 00:30:54.919 How do we know 00:30:54.919 --> 00:30:55.759 he is gonna be near? 00:30:55.759 --> 00:30:56.700 How can 00:30:56.700 --> 00:30:58.379 the Israelites, 00:30:58.539 --> 00:30:59.059 how can they draw 00:30:59.059 --> 00:31:00.099 strength and courage 00:31:00.099 --> 00:31:00.859 from this reality? 00:31:01.039 --> 00:31:02.019 Or put another way, 00:31:02.859 --> 00:31:03.579 how can they 00:31:03.579 --> 00:31:04.660 and us, 00:31:05.259 --> 00:31:05.940 how can we 00:31:05.940 --> 00:31:07.700 feed our faith 00:31:07.700 --> 00:31:08.279 that God 00:31:08.279 --> 00:31:09.420 is real and close 00:31:09.420 --> 00:31:11.299 especially when faced 00:31:11.299 --> 00:31:12.200 with impossible 00:31:12.200 --> 00:31:13.000 circumstances? 00:31:13.759 --> 00:31:14.319 It's a really 00:31:14.319 --> 00:31:15.019 important question. 00:31:15.019 --> 00:31:17.759 The Lord is gonna 00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:19.019 reveal it to Joshua 00:31:19.019 --> 00:31:19.920 and this is what he says, 00:31:20.019 --> 00:31:20.619 verse 7 and 8 00:31:20.619 --> 00:31:21.079 one more time. 00:31:21.420 --> 00:31:22.139 Only be strong 00:31:22.139 --> 00:31:22.799 and very courageous. 00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:23.579 Here it is. 00:31:24.019 --> 00:31:25.319 Being careful to do 00:31:25.319 --> 00:31:26.440 according to all 00:31:26.440 --> 00:31:28.079 the law that Moses, 00:31:28.259 --> 00:31:28.700 my servant, 00:31:28.779 --> 00:31:29.259 commanded you. 00:31:29.339 --> 00:31:30.379 Do not turn from it 00:31:30.379 --> 00:31:31.680 to the right hand 00:31:31.680 --> 00:31:32.299 or to the left 00:31:32.299 --> 00:31:32.799 that you may have 00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:33.339 good success 00:31:33.339 --> 00:31:34.079 wherever you go. 00:31:35.019 --> 00:31:35.960 This book of the law 00:31:35.960 --> 00:31:36.720 shall not depart 00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:37.339 from your mouth 00:31:37.339 --> 00:31:38.359 but you shall meditate 00:31:38.359 --> 00:31:39.599 on it day and night 00:31:39.599 --> 00:31:41.299 so that you may be 00:31:41.299 --> 00:31:42.139 careful to do 00:31:42.139 --> 00:31:42.960 according to all 00:31:42.960 --> 00:31:43.759 that is written in it. 00:31:43.799 --> 00:31:44.039 For, 00:31:44.039 --> 00:31:45.539 then you will make 00:31:45.539 --> 00:31:46.480 your way prosperous 00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:48.059 and then you will 00:31:48.059 --> 00:31:49.559 have good success. 00:31:50.319 --> 00:31:51.220 Strength and courage, 00:31:51.879 --> 00:31:52.519 it comes from 00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:53.359 knowing and keeping, 00:31:54.200 --> 00:31:55.099 knowing that God 00:31:55.099 --> 00:31:55.899 is amongst us 00:31:55.899 --> 00:31:57.639 and we know that 00:31:57.639 --> 00:31:58.779 because he has given us 00:31:58.779 --> 00:31:59.639 his very word. 00:32:01.200 --> 00:32:02.319 He has given us 00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:02.899 his law. 00:32:04.559 --> 00:32:05.680 Like I mentioned 00:32:05.680 --> 00:32:06.180 when I read it 00:32:06.180 --> 00:32:06.740 the first time, 00:32:07.099 --> 00:32:07.940 it says the book 00:32:07.940 --> 00:32:08.319 of the law, 00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:09.440 it would be better 00:32:09.440 --> 00:32:10.339 translated in 00:32:10.339 --> 00:32:12.000 God's book of instructions 00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:13.579 or God communicating 00:32:13.579 --> 00:32:14.480 his ways. 00:32:15.159 --> 00:32:17.319 The law that he gave 00:32:17.319 --> 00:32:17.759 to Moses, 00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:19.419 it certainly does have 00:32:19.419 --> 00:32:20.879 laws within it 00:32:20.879 --> 00:32:22.220 but it also spells out 00:32:22.220 --> 00:32:23.819 so much of what it means 00:32:23.819 --> 00:32:24.460 to be human 00:32:24.460 --> 00:32:25.819 and how to interact 00:32:25.819 --> 00:32:27.000 with the one true God 00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:28.859 and describing God's holiness 00:32:28.859 --> 00:32:29.819 and his perfection 00:32:29.819 --> 00:32:31.240 and his beauty. 00:32:31.240 --> 00:32:33.839 God is saying, 00:32:34.380 --> 00:32:35.259 I have revealed 00:32:35.259 --> 00:32:36.200 myself to you. 00:32:37.200 --> 00:32:38.160 I have given you 00:32:38.160 --> 00:32:38.599 my word. 00:32:40.420 --> 00:32:41.259 Think about it. 00:32:41.460 --> 00:32:42.120 Meditate on it. 00:32:42.180 --> 00:32:42.559 Interesting, 00:32:43.079 --> 00:32:44.620 this is primarily 00:32:44.620 --> 00:32:45.839 an oral culture 00:32:45.839 --> 00:32:47.400 so when it's 00:32:47.400 --> 00:32:48.240 meditate on it, 00:32:48.319 --> 00:32:48.519 I mean, 00:32:48.640 --> 00:32:49.099 for us, 00:32:49.160 --> 00:32:49.779 I think it's still 00:32:49.779 --> 00:32:50.599 really important 00:32:50.599 --> 00:32:51.400 to read our Bibles 00:32:51.400 --> 00:32:52.059 by ourselves 00:32:52.059 --> 00:32:53.500 but this 00:32:53.500 --> 00:32:55.140 here in our text 00:32:55.140 --> 00:32:56.559 has a vision 00:32:56.559 --> 00:32:57.240 of gathering 00:32:57.759 --> 00:32:58.980 with God's people 00:32:58.980 --> 00:33:00.160 and talking about it. 00:33:00.299 --> 00:33:01.059 Meditating on it 00:33:01.059 --> 00:33:02.620 is like discussing it, 00:33:02.759 --> 00:33:03.579 wrestling with it. 00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:04.160 Literally, 00:33:04.339 --> 00:33:04.980 it talks about, 00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:06.460 it translates this word, 00:33:06.920 --> 00:33:07.279 meditate, 00:33:07.819 --> 00:33:08.779 like a murmur. 00:33:09.039 --> 00:33:09.120 Like, 00:33:09.880 --> 00:33:10.900 talk about it all the time. 00:33:11.279 --> 00:33:11.799 Like, 00:33:12.480 --> 00:33:12.680 you know, 00:33:12.880 --> 00:33:13.539 whisper it, 00:33:14.140 --> 00:33:15.180 declare it, 00:33:15.360 --> 00:33:16.680 talk about it. 00:33:16.680 --> 00:33:17.640 When you're by yourself, 00:33:17.799 --> 00:33:18.500 kind of hum it, 00:33:19.039 --> 00:33:19.779 memorize it. 00:33:19.899 --> 00:33:21.240 It's this vision 00:33:21.240 --> 00:33:22.319 of God's word 00:33:22.319 --> 00:33:23.759 being all-encompassing, 00:33:23.980 --> 00:33:24.480 knowing it 00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:25.599 as much as you can 00:33:25.599 --> 00:33:26.579 by as much strength 00:33:26.579 --> 00:33:27.099 as you can 00:33:27.099 --> 00:33:29.160 and living by its rule. 00:33:31.299 --> 00:33:32.500 And I'll just say this 00:33:32.500 --> 00:33:33.480 and I think we, 00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:35.339 I think it's worth 00:33:35.339 --> 00:33:36.319 for us to consider. 00:33:36.940 --> 00:33:37.819 Why wouldn't God 00:33:37.819 --> 00:33:38.940 just say, 00:33:39.019 --> 00:33:39.180 listen, 00:33:39.299 --> 00:33:40.240 I'm going to be with you 00:33:40.240 --> 00:33:42.279 and this is how 00:33:42.279 --> 00:33:42.859 you're going to know 00:33:42.859 --> 00:33:43.539 that I'm with you. 00:33:43.920 --> 00:33:44.579 It's not so much 00:33:44.579 --> 00:33:45.079 my word, 00:33:45.599 --> 00:33:46.319 I'm going to give you 00:33:46.319 --> 00:33:47.720 ecstatic experiences. 00:33:47.720 --> 00:33:49.700 You're going to have 00:33:49.700 --> 00:33:52.860 religious experiences 00:33:52.860 --> 00:33:55.579 where you feel 00:33:55.579 --> 00:33:57.259 the goosebumps 00:33:57.259 --> 00:33:58.460 on your arms. 00:33:59.240 --> 00:33:59.940 You feel like 00:33:59.940 --> 00:34:00.620 this electricity 00:34:00.620 --> 00:34:02.180 flowing up and down you. 00:34:02.259 --> 00:34:03.059 You just know 00:34:03.059 --> 00:34:04.480 when you're in the presence 00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:05.259 of somebody 00:34:05.259 --> 00:34:07.240 that has presence, 00:34:08.079 --> 00:34:09.159 there's something 00:34:09.159 --> 00:34:10.519 changes in the air. 00:34:10.639 --> 00:34:11.119 That's what I'm going 00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:11.599 to give you 00:34:11.599 --> 00:34:12.420 all the time. 00:34:12.699 --> 00:34:13.519 That's when you'll know 00:34:13.519 --> 00:34:14.000 when I'm around. 00:34:14.099 --> 00:34:15.320 Like a spiritual 00:34:15.320 --> 00:34:16.519 spidey sense of sorts. 00:34:17.719 --> 00:34:18.319 I want to say 00:34:18.319 --> 00:34:20.259 that it's for our benefit 00:34:20.259 --> 00:34:21.279 that God didn't do that. 00:34:22.199 --> 00:34:23.519 Although spiritual 00:34:23.519 --> 00:34:24.699 experiences are real 00:34:24.699 --> 00:34:25.299 and I think 00:34:25.299 --> 00:34:27.699 they're wonderful 00:34:27.699 --> 00:34:28.779 and I wouldn't want 00:34:28.779 --> 00:34:29.579 to discount them, 00:34:30.480 --> 00:34:31.279 God is making it 00:34:31.279 --> 00:34:31.879 very clear 00:34:31.879 --> 00:34:33.859 that if we were 00:34:33.859 --> 00:34:34.859 to rely upon 00:34:34.859 --> 00:34:35.879 our experiences 00:34:35.879 --> 00:34:36.559 alone, 00:34:37.119 --> 00:34:37.759 we would be 00:34:37.759 --> 00:34:38.639 in a terrible state. 00:34:40.639 --> 00:34:41.619 I'll give an example. 00:34:42.279 --> 00:34:43.019 Christine and I, 00:34:43.079 --> 00:34:43.819 I think we were, 00:34:44.319 --> 00:34:44.459 well, 00:34:44.519 --> 00:34:44.819 it would have been 00:34:44.819 --> 00:34:45.679 our first year of marriage 00:34:45.679 --> 00:34:46.159 because we didn't 00:34:46.159 --> 00:34:46.779 have any children. 00:34:46.780 --> 00:34:47.360 We went down 00:34:47.360 --> 00:34:47.900 to Clayton, 00:34:47.960 --> 00:34:48.320 New York, 00:34:48.420 --> 00:34:48.960 this beautiful 00:34:48.960 --> 00:34:49.800 little opera house 00:34:49.800 --> 00:34:51.360 to see Alan Doyle 00:34:51.360 --> 00:34:52.500 play a concert. 00:34:52.760 --> 00:34:53.460 Alan Doyle 00:34:53.460 --> 00:34:55.280 was the, 00:34:55.280 --> 00:34:56.600 the lead singer, 00:34:56.820 --> 00:34:57.160 is, 00:34:57.500 --> 00:34:57.640 well, 00:34:57.700 --> 00:34:58.280 was because they're 00:34:58.280 --> 00:34:58.860 broken up now 00:34:58.860 --> 00:34:59.800 of Great Big Sea. 00:35:00.220 --> 00:35:00.780 It's wonderful. 00:35:01.160 --> 00:35:01.600 Like there's like 00:35:01.600 --> 00:35:02.560 300 people there. 00:35:02.700 --> 00:35:03.460 It was super intimate. 00:35:03.560 --> 00:35:04.180 It was really fun. 00:35:04.380 --> 00:35:04.960 We don't go to a lot 00:35:04.960 --> 00:35:05.400 of concerts. 00:35:06.160 --> 00:35:06.519 But he played 00:35:06.519 --> 00:35:07.220 this one song 00:35:07.220 --> 00:35:08.019 called Lay Me Down 00:35:08.019 --> 00:35:08.640 to Parish 00:35:08.640 --> 00:35:10.019 and it was this, 00:35:10.140 --> 00:35:10.640 I won't get into 00:35:10.640 --> 00:35:11.080 the story, 00:35:11.160 --> 00:35:11.660 it was a beautiful 00:35:11.660 --> 00:35:12.680 story and he played it 00:35:12.679 --> 00:35:14.359 and I got really 00:35:14.359 --> 00:35:14.879 choked up. 00:35:15.000 --> 00:35:15.359 Like it was like 00:35:15.359 --> 00:35:16.739 I was emotionally 00:35:16.739 --> 00:35:17.399 moved. 00:35:18.139 --> 00:35:19.480 And I can honestly 00:35:19.480 --> 00:35:20.259 say I've never 00:35:20.259 --> 00:35:21.159 had that experience 00:35:21.159 --> 00:35:22.719 with music or art 00:35:22.719 --> 00:35:23.159 since. 00:35:23.519 --> 00:35:23.739 I mean, 00:35:23.859 --> 00:35:25.179 not to that degree. 00:35:25.339 --> 00:35:25.679 I don't know 00:35:25.679 --> 00:35:26.239 what it was, 00:35:26.319 --> 00:35:26.859 if it was just 00:35:26.859 --> 00:35:27.940 because it was live 00:35:27.940 --> 00:35:29.659 or it was just 00:35:29.659 --> 00:35:30.899 such an incredible 00:35:30.899 --> 00:35:31.339 song. 00:35:31.399 --> 00:35:31.779 I don't know. 00:35:32.980 --> 00:35:33.179 But, 00:35:33.399 --> 00:35:33.659 you know, 00:35:33.739 --> 00:35:35.079 I kind of rode 00:35:35.079 --> 00:35:35.619 that wave 00:35:35.619 --> 00:35:37.460 a bit afterwards. 00:35:37.460 --> 00:35:38.900 but then it was 00:35:38.900 --> 00:35:39.639 almost like a bit 00:35:39.639 --> 00:35:40.280 of a hangover. 00:35:41.139 --> 00:35:41.880 It's like I wanted 00:35:41.880 --> 00:35:42.599 that experience 00:35:42.599 --> 00:35:43.519 but I couldn't get it. 00:35:45.159 --> 00:35:45.599 You know, 00:35:45.720 --> 00:35:46.460 here's the interesting 00:35:46.460 --> 00:35:47.039 thing about our 00:35:47.039 --> 00:35:47.380 emotions. 00:35:47.619 --> 00:35:48.659 They are wonderful, 00:35:48.920 --> 00:35:49.380 wonderful, 00:35:49.820 --> 00:35:52.179 wonderful servants 00:35:52.179 --> 00:35:53.320 but they are 00:35:53.320 --> 00:35:54.500 horrendous masters. 00:35:55.559 --> 00:35:56.300 If you are 00:35:56.300 --> 00:35:57.880 led by your 00:35:57.880 --> 00:35:58.440 experience, 00:35:58.559 --> 00:35:59.119 if you are led 00:35:59.119 --> 00:35:59.940 by your emotions, 00:36:00.300 --> 00:36:01.059 you will 00:36:01.059 --> 00:36:02.880 be blown 00:36:02.880 --> 00:36:04.039 around like the 00:36:04.039 --> 00:36:04.360 tide. 00:36:05.260 --> 00:36:05.960 You will not 00:36:05.960 --> 00:36:06.800 be a consistent 00:36:06.800 --> 00:36:09.480 reliable 00:36:09.480 --> 00:36:10.360 person. 00:36:10.600 --> 00:36:11.720 Your life 00:36:11.720 --> 00:36:12.300 will not be 00:36:12.300 --> 00:36:12.980 sustainable. 00:36:14.160 --> 00:36:15.100 Your emotions 00:36:15.100 --> 00:36:15.960 and desires 00:36:15.960 --> 00:36:16.780 will take 00:36:16.780 --> 00:36:17.780 a hold of you. 00:36:19.160 --> 00:36:19.900 If God 00:36:19.900 --> 00:36:20.700 was to give us 00:36:20.700 --> 00:36:21.460 his presence 00:36:21.460 --> 00:36:23.140 in an experience, 00:36:23.660 --> 00:36:24.280 we would 00:36:24.280 --> 00:36:25.180 treat God 00:36:25.180 --> 00:36:26.400 as though 00:36:26.400 --> 00:36:27.400 he was 00:36:27.400 --> 00:36:27.860 merely 00:36:27.860 --> 00:36:30.100 a fantastic 00:36:30.100 --> 00:36:30.640 concert 00:36:30.640 --> 00:36:31.740 or a piece 00:36:31.740 --> 00:36:32.200 of beautiful 00:36:32.200 --> 00:36:32.860 art or just 00:36:32.860 --> 00:36:34.220 an immaculate 00:36:34.220 --> 00:36:34.900 sunset 00:36:34.900 --> 00:36:35.840 and then we 00:36:35.840 --> 00:36:36.340 would find 00:36:36.340 --> 00:36:36.740 something 00:36:36.739 --> 00:36:37.199 else that 00:36:37.199 --> 00:36:37.579 would take 00:36:37.579 --> 00:36:38.219 his place. 00:36:39.339 --> 00:36:40.019 But God 00:36:40.019 --> 00:36:40.259 here, 00:36:40.359 --> 00:36:40.899 he gives us 00:36:40.899 --> 00:36:41.459 his word 00:36:41.459 --> 00:36:42.059 that is 00:36:42.059 --> 00:36:42.659 unchanging 00:36:42.659 --> 00:36:43.979 and we are 00:36:43.979 --> 00:36:44.500 to understand 00:36:44.500 --> 00:36:45.259 it as proof 00:36:45.259 --> 00:36:45.899 of his presence 00:36:45.899 --> 00:36:46.439 with us. 00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:47.459 It's a means 00:36:47.459 --> 00:36:48.099 of grace. 00:36:48.899 --> 00:36:49.459 It means that 00:36:49.459 --> 00:36:50.079 we can commit 00:36:50.079 --> 00:36:50.819 to him as he 00:36:50.819 --> 00:36:51.259 is committing 00:36:51.259 --> 00:36:51.799 to us and 00:36:51.799 --> 00:36:52.359 whether or not 00:36:52.359 --> 00:36:52.939 we feel 00:36:52.939 --> 00:36:53.919 religiously 00:36:53.919 --> 00:36:54.500 motivated, 00:36:55.419 --> 00:36:56.619 we can be 00:36:56.619 --> 00:36:57.539 sure that 00:36:57.539 --> 00:36:58.079 because he 00:36:58.079 --> 00:36:58.579 has revealed 00:36:58.579 --> 00:36:59.199 himself to 00:36:59.199 --> 00:36:59.639 us in his 00:36:59.639 --> 00:37:00.179 word that he 00:37:00.179 --> 00:37:01.079 truly is in 00:37:01.079 --> 00:37:01.599 our midst. 00:37:01.599 --> 00:37:05.940 that is 00:37:05.940 --> 00:37:06.219 why the 00:37:06.219 --> 00:37:06.519 Lord, 00:37:06.519 --> 00:37:07.480 he ties 00:37:07.480 --> 00:37:08.079 his blessing 00:37:08.079 --> 00:37:08.599 to keeping 00:37:08.599 --> 00:37:09.199 his word. 00:37:10.839 --> 00:37:11.420 What does 00:37:11.420 --> 00:37:11.699 he say 00:37:11.699 --> 00:37:11.940 here? 00:37:12.019 --> 00:37:12.460 For then 00:37:12.460 --> 00:37:13.239 you will 00:37:13.239 --> 00:37:14.380 make your 00:37:14.380 --> 00:37:15.059 way prosperous 00:37:15.059 --> 00:37:15.639 and then 00:37:15.639 --> 00:37:16.259 you will 00:37:16.259 --> 00:37:16.699 have good 00:37:16.699 --> 00:37:17.199 success. 00:37:17.440 --> 00:37:18.059 And just 00:37:18.059 --> 00:37:18.500 to be clear, 00:37:18.599 --> 00:37:19.179 this prosperity 00:37:19.179 --> 00:37:19.860 isn't just a 00:37:19.860 --> 00:37:20.579 financial one. 00:37:21.319 --> 00:37:21.960 It's the 00:37:21.960 --> 00:37:22.619 blessing and 00:37:22.619 --> 00:37:23.440 prosperity of 00:37:23.440 --> 00:37:24.179 knowing and 00:37:24.179 --> 00:37:24.639 being known 00:37:24.639 --> 00:37:25.179 by the one 00:37:25.179 --> 00:37:25.699 true God. 00:37:26.460 --> 00:37:26.900 Knowing that 00:37:26.900 --> 00:37:27.319 he will never 00:37:27.319 --> 00:37:28.159 leave you or 00:37:28.159 --> 00:37:28.920 forsake you. 00:37:29.619 --> 00:37:30.260 Is this not 00:37:30.260 --> 00:37:30.659 the ultimate 00:37:30.659 --> 00:37:31.740 source of 00:37:31.740 --> 00:37:32.460 courage and 00:37:32.460 --> 00:37:32.800 strength? 00:37:34.099 --> 00:37:34.720 This is the 00:37:34.720 --> 00:37:36.420 means to 00:37:36.420 --> 00:37:39.539 remember that 00:37:39.539 --> 00:37:40.720 the Lord is 00:37:40.720 --> 00:37:41.420 the unchanging 00:37:41.420 --> 00:37:43.200 one and that 00:37:43.200 --> 00:37:43.920 he is for you 00:37:43.920 --> 00:37:44.820 all your days. 00:37:45.980 --> 00:37:46.460 So how can we 00:37:46.460 --> 00:37:47.700 be sure that 00:37:47.700 --> 00:37:48.300 God will keep 00:37:48.300 --> 00:37:49.059 his promise to 00:37:49.059 --> 00:37:49.559 care for our 00:37:49.559 --> 00:37:49.860 welfare? 00:37:50.559 --> 00:37:51.139 How can we be 00:37:51.139 --> 00:37:51.740 sure that he 00:37:51.740 --> 00:37:52.240 will be with 00:37:52.240 --> 00:37:52.539 us? 00:37:53.280 --> 00:37:53.740 Yes, he has 00:37:53.740 --> 00:37:54.360 given us his 00:37:54.360 --> 00:37:54.639 word. 00:37:55.220 --> 00:37:55.800 Yes, he has 00:37:55.800 --> 00:37:56.619 made very clear 00:37:56.619 --> 00:37:58.340 that he will 00:37:58.340 --> 00:37:58.900 fulfill his 00:37:58.900 --> 00:38:00.039 promises, but 00:38:00.039 --> 00:38:00.700 we see it 00:38:00.700 --> 00:38:01.420 especially in 00:38:01.420 --> 00:38:01.980 the person of 00:38:01.980 --> 00:38:02.320 Christ. 00:38:03.099 --> 00:38:04.119 But first, we 00:38:04.119 --> 00:38:04.860 need to return to 00:38:04.860 --> 00:38:05.500 the land because 00:38:05.500 --> 00:38:06.240 this is significant 00:38:06.240 --> 00:38:07.139 and ties into the 00:38:07.139 --> 00:38:07.820 cross wonderfully. 00:38:08.619 --> 00:38:09.280 Why is the 00:38:09.280 --> 00:38:10.160 land itself so 00:38:10.160 --> 00:38:10.619 significant? 00:38:11.019 --> 00:38:11.700 What makes this 00:38:11.700 --> 00:38:12.280 place so 00:38:12.280 --> 00:38:12.740 wonderful? 00:38:13.340 --> 00:38:14.000 Why is it that 00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:15.639 even today and 00:38:15.639 --> 00:38:16.519 all over the 00:38:16.519 --> 00:38:17.019 world during 00:38:17.019 --> 00:38:18.539 Passover, Jewish 00:38:18.539 --> 00:38:19.539 people will say 00:38:19.539 --> 00:38:20.860 next year we'll 00:38:20.860 --> 00:38:21.519 celebrate in 00:38:21.519 --> 00:38:21.860 Jerusalem? 00:38:22.619 --> 00:38:23.840 Why is the 00:38:23.840 --> 00:38:24.440 land so 00:38:24.440 --> 00:38:24.980 significant? 00:38:25.860 --> 00:38:26.260 And I think 00:38:26.260 --> 00:38:26.740 it's for this 00:38:26.740 --> 00:38:27.059 reason. 00:38:27.059 --> 00:38:29.639 God has 00:38:29.639 --> 00:38:30.619 always, from 00:38:30.619 --> 00:38:31.019 the opening 00:38:31.019 --> 00:38:31.679 chapters of 00:38:31.679 --> 00:38:32.480 the Bible in 00:38:32.480 --> 00:38:33.079 the Garden of 00:38:33.079 --> 00:38:35.179 Eden to the 00:38:35.179 --> 00:38:36.380 temple in 00:38:36.380 --> 00:38:37.420 Jerusalem to 00:38:37.420 --> 00:38:37.900 the new 00:38:37.900 --> 00:38:38.579 Jerusalem that 00:38:38.579 --> 00:38:39.639 is promised in 00:38:39.639 --> 00:38:40.699 Revelation chapter 00:38:40.699 --> 00:38:43.259 21, God is 00:38:43.259 --> 00:38:44.380 always looking for 00:38:44.380 --> 00:38:45.179 a place to dwell 00:38:45.179 --> 00:38:45.739 amongst his 00:38:45.739 --> 00:38:46.079 people. 00:38:47.579 --> 00:38:48.840 God always wants 00:38:48.840 --> 00:38:49.639 to be amongst 00:38:49.639 --> 00:38:50.480 his people because 00:38:50.480 --> 00:38:51.400 he loves us. 00:38:52.400 --> 00:38:53.559 This is why God, 00:38:53.639 --> 00:38:54.400 the Son of God, 00:38:54.400 --> 00:38:55.539 came down to 00:38:55.539 --> 00:38:57.340 us taking into 00:38:57.340 --> 00:38:58.180 himself human 00:38:58.180 --> 00:38:59.240 flesh yet 00:38:59.240 --> 00:38:59.920 remaining fully 00:38:59.920 --> 00:39:01.579 God so that 00:39:01.579 --> 00:39:02.460 in Jesus, the 00:39:02.460 --> 00:39:03.420 Messiah God, 00:39:03.680 --> 00:39:04.380 what does he do? 00:39:04.440 --> 00:39:05.840 He dwells amongst 00:39:05.840 --> 00:39:06.860 his people in the 00:39:06.860 --> 00:39:07.700 most intimate and 00:39:07.700 --> 00:39:08.320 real way by 00:39:08.320 --> 00:39:09.039 becoming one of 00:39:09.039 --> 00:39:09.300 us. 00:39:10.960 --> 00:39:12.960 Like Moses, he 00:39:12.960 --> 00:39:13.639 dies, but 00:39:13.639 --> 00:39:15.740 unlike Moses, he 00:39:15.740 --> 00:39:16.680 rises from the 00:39:16.680 --> 00:39:16.960 dead. 00:39:18.139 --> 00:39:18.940 There wasn't even 00:39:18.940 --> 00:39:19.680 time for his 00:39:19.680 --> 00:39:20.300 friends to have a 00:39:20.300 --> 00:39:21.079 funeral for him. 00:39:21.079 --> 00:39:23.039 And after he 00:39:23.039 --> 00:39:23.719 rises from the 00:39:23.719 --> 00:39:25.239 dead, the 00:39:25.239 --> 00:39:25.880 scriptures say he 00:39:25.880 --> 00:39:26.500 ascends into 00:39:26.500 --> 00:39:27.099 heaven and then 00:39:27.099 --> 00:39:27.840 he gives his 00:39:27.840 --> 00:39:28.579 people his very 00:39:28.579 --> 00:39:29.900 Holy Spirit to 00:39:29.900 --> 00:39:30.920 dwell in their 00:39:30.920 --> 00:39:31.239 hearts. 00:39:31.659 --> 00:39:32.519 God makes a 00:39:32.519 --> 00:39:34.119 home amongst 00:39:34.119 --> 00:39:35.279 us, but also he 00:39:35.279 --> 00:39:35.799 makes a home 00:39:35.799 --> 00:39:36.719 within us. 00:39:37.699 --> 00:39:38.639 He dwells in our 00:39:38.639 --> 00:39:39.940 hearts as 00:39:39.940 --> 00:39:40.759 individuals, but 00:39:40.759 --> 00:39:41.840 also as his 00:39:41.840 --> 00:39:42.279 church. 00:39:43.659 --> 00:39:44.319 Friends, consider 00:39:44.319 --> 00:39:44.799 this. 00:39:45.380 --> 00:39:46.340 God who needs 00:39:46.340 --> 00:39:47.880 nothing from us. 00:39:48.279 --> 00:39:48.739 He is fully 00:39:48.739 --> 00:39:49.259 complete. 00:39:49.440 --> 00:39:49.900 He is fully 00:39:49.900 --> 00:39:50.279 whole. 00:39:50.280 --> 00:39:51.840 He chooses and 00:39:51.840 --> 00:39:53.360 delights in making 00:39:53.360 --> 00:39:54.360 a home within you 00:39:54.360 --> 00:39:55.420 and within me. 00:39:57.519 --> 00:39:58.760 You see, Jesus 00:39:58.760 --> 00:40:01.420 won't forsake us 00:40:01.420 --> 00:40:03.440 because he himself 00:40:03.440 --> 00:40:04.280 was forsaken. 00:40:05.300 --> 00:40:06.080 He was utterly 00:40:06.080 --> 00:40:07.660 alone, but for a 00:40:07.660 --> 00:40:09.240 moment, okay, just 00:40:09.240 --> 00:40:10.680 for a moment, so 00:40:10.680 --> 00:40:11.800 that we would never 00:40:11.800 --> 00:40:12.900 have a moment when 00:40:12.900 --> 00:40:13.680 the Lord God would 00:40:13.680 --> 00:40:14.740 not be near to us. 00:40:14.739 --> 00:40:16.839 God would 00:40:16.839 --> 00:40:18.699 be united to 00:40:18.699 --> 00:40:18.899 God. 00:40:18.899 --> 00:40:19.619 If you are united 00:40:19.619 --> 00:40:20.859 to Christ by faith, 00:40:21.500 --> 00:40:23.119 in his gift of 00:40:23.119 --> 00:40:24.259 divine and loving 00:40:24.259 --> 00:40:26.559 grace, we, it 00:40:26.559 --> 00:40:27.179 says, we are 00:40:27.179 --> 00:40:28.579 forever in his 00:40:28.579 --> 00:40:29.139 presence. 00:40:30.779 --> 00:40:31.919 His promises bear 00:40:31.919 --> 00:40:32.639 witness to this. 00:40:33.239 --> 00:40:34.159 His word bears 00:40:34.159 --> 00:40:34.879 witness to this. 00:40:34.959 --> 00:40:36.439 His son bears 00:40:36.439 --> 00:40:37.579 witness to this. 00:40:38.699 --> 00:40:39.159 He will never 00:40:39.159 --> 00:40:40.179 leave you or 00:40:40.179 --> 00:40:41.299 forsake you. 00:40:41.300 --> 00:40:43.420 friends, bolster 00:40:43.420 --> 00:40:45.080 your strength. 00:40:45.300 --> 00:40:46.019 Bolster your 00:40:46.019 --> 00:40:46.480 courage. 00:40:47.180 --> 00:40:48.920 Not in the 00:40:48.920 --> 00:40:49.420 things you can 00:40:49.420 --> 00:40:50.360 accumulate in this 00:40:50.360 --> 00:40:52.380 earth, on this 00:40:52.380 --> 00:40:52.700 earth. 00:40:53.280 --> 00:40:54.240 Not in the 00:40:54.240 --> 00:40:55.220 strength of your 00:40:55.220 --> 00:40:56.440 physical body or 00:40:56.440 --> 00:40:58.240 the incredible 00:40:58.240 --> 00:40:59.320 ability of your 00:40:59.320 --> 00:41:00.039 mind. 00:41:01.039 --> 00:41:01.980 Not in a 00:41:01.980 --> 00:41:03.519 military, not in a 00:41:03.519 --> 00:41:03.860 government. 00:41:05.080 --> 00:41:05.640 Bolster your 00:41:05.640 --> 00:41:07.000 strength in God's 00:41:07.000 --> 00:41:07.440 promises. 00:41:07.440 --> 00:41:07.539 promises. 00:41:08.599 --> 00:41:09.059 He will never 00:41:09.059 --> 00:41:09.480 leave you or 00:41:09.480 --> 00:41:09.960 forsake you. 00:41:09.960 --> 00:41:39.940 Thank you.