WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.600 If you have a church Bible, it's on page 1011. 00:00:08.080 --> 00:00:23.940 Every gift, every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 00:00:23.940 --> 00:00:24.019 Church. 00:00:26.820 --> 00:00:32.100 We've been looking at, during this term, really what the Bible teaches about God. 00:00:32.179 --> 00:00:36.840 We're using a summary from the Westminster Chorter Catechism in the 17th century. 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:37.539 What is God? 00:00:37.640 --> 00:00:45.320 God is spirit, infinite, eternal, unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. 00:00:45.380 --> 00:00:49.740 We're taking one word each time and trying to see what the scriptures teach about it. 00:00:49.740 --> 00:00:55.920 And that is because the great design of your life and my life, the great design of this church, is to know God. 00:00:56.940 --> 00:01:03.040 One of the great problems of the church in the UK, the Christian church, is that we do not know God. 00:01:04.219 --> 00:01:07.620 The book of Daniel says those who know God do great exploits. 00:01:08.379 --> 00:01:09.280 And so that's our desire. 00:01:10.120 --> 00:01:13.280 We've learnt from the word of God that God is spirit. 00:01:13.280 --> 00:01:19.680 God is a spirit who is infinite and eternal and unchangeable. 00:01:20.820 --> 00:01:24.700 We saw that his infinity means that he is not bounded by space. 00:01:24.840 --> 00:01:26.799 He is everywhere present. 00:01:26.980 --> 00:01:30.040 There is nowhere that you can go to escape God. 00:01:31.460 --> 00:01:33.340 Last week we saw that he is eternal. 00:01:34.340 --> 00:01:37.200 That means that he has no boundaries with time. 00:01:37.280 --> 00:01:39.020 He's not bounded in by time. 00:01:39.019 --> 00:01:53.060 And as we go through, we see that some of these attributes of God, his infinity, his eternality, his unchangeableness, they overlap. 00:01:53.319 --> 00:01:55.959 And so some of the things that we're looking at this morning, we hinted at last week. 00:01:56.420 --> 00:01:59.079 Some things that we're looking at this week, we'll hint at in a couple of weeks. 00:02:00.599 --> 00:02:03.219 We live in a city, don't we, of constant change. 00:02:03.219 --> 00:02:07.439 There's change and there's transformation everywhere. 00:02:08.819 --> 00:02:14.759 Places, even like West Ealing, are unrecognisable to what they were five years ago. 00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:16.680 There are changes. 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:18.560 Some of them are great changes. 00:02:18.919 --> 00:02:20.000 Some of them are not. 00:02:21.300 --> 00:02:22.460 You go to pubs. 00:02:22.620 --> 00:02:25.900 Somebody was bemoaning to me this week how pubs are changing. 00:02:26.300 --> 00:02:28.079 So many of them become coffee shops, haven't they? 00:02:28.400 --> 00:02:31.340 But the old-fashioned English pub is disappearing. 00:02:31.340 --> 00:02:34.520 Places are changing. 00:02:35.020 --> 00:02:39.460 Greasy spoon cafes are disappearing to their shame. 00:02:39.780 --> 00:02:44.340 They've all become kind of coffee shops and are taking over the city. 00:02:44.560 --> 00:02:45.199 There's change. 00:02:45.420 --> 00:02:47.240 Things don't change that stay the same, do they? 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:48.960 You don't stay the same. 00:02:49.039 --> 00:02:49.920 People don't stay the same. 00:02:51.039 --> 00:02:53.120 We are changeable creatures. 00:02:56.000 --> 00:02:58.780 Well, today we look at God is unchangeable. 00:02:59.699 --> 00:03:00.819 God doesn't change. 00:03:02.340 --> 00:03:04.020 Theological word for that is immutability. 00:03:04.599 --> 00:03:05.319 God is immutable. 00:03:06.340 --> 00:03:07.140 That's what we're looking at. 00:03:07.879 --> 00:03:09.080 The immutability of the God. 00:03:09.219 --> 00:03:14.099 The fact that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God in three persons, he is immutable. 00:03:14.219 --> 00:03:15.300 He does not change. 00:03:15.980 --> 00:03:17.420 It's a bit of a fancy word, isn't it? 00:03:17.439 --> 00:03:18.199 But it's a good word. 00:03:18.340 --> 00:03:18.740 Immutable. 00:03:18.740 --> 00:03:24.740 So, children, when I was probably about 10 or 11, there was a cartoon. 00:03:24.740 --> 00:03:27.580 People had it on their lunch boxes. 00:03:27.580 --> 00:03:32.380 They had T-shirts and tracksuits with these cartoons over. 00:03:32.379 --> 00:03:34.840 And it hints at this word immutability. 00:03:36.419 --> 00:03:36.900 Mute. 00:03:37.900 --> 00:03:38.340 Mutant. 00:03:39.180 --> 00:03:39.620 Mutating. 00:03:40.419 --> 00:03:41.079 So, do you remember? 00:03:41.219 --> 00:03:46.840 And those of you who are my age, I don't know if it's still going, but there were teenage mutant ninja turtles, weren't they? 00:03:46.840 --> 00:03:50.080 And the whole point of it was the turtles mutated. 00:03:51.020 --> 00:03:53.219 They changed into superheroes. 00:03:53.960 --> 00:03:58.500 And the word mutate means something like that, that something has changed. 00:03:58.500 --> 00:04:06.740 So, when you put the two letters, I am, in front of that, in front of mute, it speaks of something that does not change. 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:09.259 Something that cannot change. 00:04:10.240 --> 00:04:12.280 And so, you and I, we are mutable. 00:04:13.280 --> 00:04:14.599 And we change all the time. 00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:17.019 But God is immutable. 00:04:18.100 --> 00:04:24.699 In an ever-changing world, particularly so at present, what we want to do is we want to understand something of the nature of God. 00:04:24.699 --> 00:04:32.699 So, that we would rest in Him, that we would cast ourselves on this glorious truth that God is unalterable and unchangeable. 00:04:33.459 --> 00:04:36.719 He is immutable and He is immovable. 00:04:37.779 --> 00:04:39.399 And so, I'm not going to speak about everything. 00:04:40.019 --> 00:04:40.899 This time would be too long. 00:04:41.779 --> 00:04:46.000 There are some of the questions that you might have about God being immutable. 00:04:46.219 --> 00:04:46.959 I'm not going to address. 00:04:47.240 --> 00:04:47.980 I've got no problems with that. 00:04:48.060 --> 00:04:48.860 Come and talk to me afterwards. 00:04:49.300 --> 00:04:50.579 Maybe we'll return to them another time. 00:04:51.560 --> 00:04:52.579 But there are two points this morning. 00:04:52.579 --> 00:04:55.459 And we're going to spend most of our time in the first. 00:04:56.439 --> 00:04:57.539 The first point is this. 00:04:57.779 --> 00:04:59.120 God does not change. 00:04:59.800 --> 00:05:00.620 That's the first point. 00:05:01.740 --> 00:05:05.060 And the second point is we must change. 00:05:05.860 --> 00:05:07.879 God does not change. 00:05:08.479 --> 00:05:10.079 We must change. 00:05:12.099 --> 00:05:13.279 God does not. 00:05:14.099 --> 00:05:15.939 And God cannot change. 00:05:16.799 --> 00:05:18.599 He does not and He cannot change. 00:05:19.519 --> 00:05:21.759 And the Bible highlights that frequently. 00:05:22.579 --> 00:05:24.819 It highlights this characteristic of God. 00:05:24.899 --> 00:05:25.519 That He doesn't change. 00:05:25.759 --> 00:05:26.979 That God does not evolve. 00:05:27.939 --> 00:05:29.180 God does not grow. 00:05:30.500 --> 00:05:32.240 God does not increase. 00:05:32.979 --> 00:05:34.800 And God does not decrease. 00:05:35.939 --> 00:05:37.519 God doesn't strengthen. 00:05:37.979 --> 00:05:39.439 And God doesn't weaken. 00:05:40.719 --> 00:05:44.339 And while everything around us might ebb and flow. 00:05:44.860 --> 00:05:46.319 And come and go. 00:05:46.319 --> 00:05:50.120 God stands unchanging and immutable. 00:05:51.500 --> 00:06:00.100 And that's why so often the Bible and the Psalms particularly so often speak and describe God as the rock of our salvation. 00:06:00.100 --> 00:06:06.600 He is the God who is, who was, and is, and is to come. 00:06:06.600 --> 00:06:10.300 And so what I want to do for most of our time is to look at this. 00:06:10.420 --> 00:06:12.280 How is it that God does not change? 00:06:13.320 --> 00:06:15.740 What are the ways in which God does not change? 00:06:15.860 --> 00:06:16.760 Let's try and break it down. 00:06:18.020 --> 00:06:21.900 First of all, God does not change in His character. 00:06:21.899 --> 00:06:23.899 He is unchangeable. 00:06:23.899 --> 00:06:24.899 He is unchangeable. 00:06:25.279 --> 00:06:26.879 Unchanging in His character. 00:06:28.479 --> 00:06:30.299 And so by this we're referring to His attributes. 00:06:30.419 --> 00:06:31.419 What He's like as a whole. 00:06:31.679 --> 00:06:32.279 His essence. 00:06:32.459 --> 00:06:33.339 His perfection. 00:06:33.560 --> 00:06:33.979 His being. 00:06:34.459 --> 00:06:36.659 He's unchanging in His person. 00:06:36.959 --> 00:06:38.819 He is who He is forever. 00:06:39.060 --> 00:06:40.539 How unlike you and me. 00:06:42.539 --> 00:06:47.519 Remember, this is one of those attributes that describes God and God alone. 00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:52.779 Some of God's attributes are true both of us and of Him. 00:06:54.079 --> 00:06:58.219 And so goodness can be true of us and of God. 00:06:58.519 --> 00:06:58.919 Love. 00:06:59.479 --> 00:07:02.240 God is a God of love and we are to love one another. 00:07:03.159 --> 00:07:05.680 God is a God of wisdom and we are to show wisdom. 00:07:07.299 --> 00:07:10.139 But there are other attributes which are only true of God. 00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:12.979 And so He is eternal. 00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:13.819 That isn't true of you. 00:07:14.699 --> 00:07:15.779 He is infinite. 00:07:16.060 --> 00:07:16.680 That isn't true of you. 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:19.259 He is unchangeable. 00:07:20.459 --> 00:07:23.099 The posh word for that is there are communicable attributes. 00:07:23.740 --> 00:07:25.139 Which are communicated to us. 00:07:25.240 --> 00:07:26.819 And there are incommunicable attributes. 00:07:27.680 --> 00:07:29.060 That are only true of God. 00:07:29.799 --> 00:07:33.979 And the fact that God is eternal means that that is an incommunicable attribute. 00:07:34.419 --> 00:07:36.240 It is true only of God. 00:07:37.539 --> 00:07:39.459 Because you and I change all the time. 00:07:41.060 --> 00:07:42.879 We change all the time. 00:07:43.919 --> 00:07:46.799 Every birthday that comes around. 00:07:46.800 --> 00:07:50.939 It is a reminder, isn't it, of the change that takes place within us. 00:07:51.939 --> 00:07:52.740 Day by day. 00:07:53.420 --> 00:07:54.060 Week by week. 00:07:54.180 --> 00:07:54.879 Month by month. 00:07:55.079 --> 00:07:55.720 Year by year. 00:07:56.300 --> 00:07:56.879 We change. 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:00.660 Trends of fashion change, don't they? 00:08:01.960 --> 00:08:03.540 Hairstyles change. 00:08:04.540 --> 00:08:08.280 Political opinions and fashions change. 00:08:08.279 --> 00:08:10.459 Personal finances change. 00:08:10.459 --> 00:08:11.439 Personal finances change. 00:08:12.019 --> 00:08:14.259 We live in a culture of change. 00:08:14.500 --> 00:08:15.739 We're all changing. 00:08:17.019 --> 00:08:18.399 Some changes are for the better. 00:08:19.339 --> 00:08:20.799 Some changes are for the worse. 00:08:22.699 --> 00:08:25.599 Some of us change, don't we, after a significant event in our lives. 00:08:27.199 --> 00:08:29.679 Becoming a parent changes people. 00:08:29.680 --> 00:08:33.519 Depression changes a person. 00:08:35.019 --> 00:08:36.820 A stroke changes a person. 00:08:38.340 --> 00:08:41.320 Some of us, I'm sitting here this morning, we long for change. 00:08:41.320 --> 00:08:49.160 Maybe some of us are waiting for a report of a relative or a loved one. 00:08:50.200 --> 00:08:51.520 For the result of tests. 00:08:52.460 --> 00:08:54.580 And people ask us, is there any change? 00:08:55.340 --> 00:08:56.060 Is there any change? 00:08:57.760 --> 00:08:58.860 Let's understand this. 00:08:59.040 --> 00:09:00.480 There is no change with God. 00:09:01.460 --> 00:09:04.800 He is forever and eternally the same. 00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:08.479 God cannot improve or get better. 00:09:10.039 --> 00:09:13.599 He doesn't need to improve because he is perfect in his being. 00:09:14.079 --> 00:09:15.699 Nor does he deteriorate. 00:09:17.439 --> 00:09:18.919 Or else he would remain perfect. 00:09:20.339 --> 00:09:21.559 He cannot change for the better. 00:09:22.759 --> 00:09:23.759 He cannot change for the worse. 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:26.019 Let me give you a few verses. 00:09:26.219 --> 00:09:27.079 You may want to write them down. 00:09:27.159 --> 00:09:28.639 Malachi chapter 3 and verse 6. 00:09:29.939 --> 00:09:33.379 For I, the Lord, do not change. 00:09:34.799 --> 00:09:36.279 Psalm 102 verse 27. 00:09:36.479 --> 00:09:37.339 You are the same. 00:09:38.259 --> 00:09:40.639 And your years have no end. 00:09:42.659 --> 00:09:43.859 James 1 verse 17. 00:09:43.979 --> 00:09:44.719 We've just read it, hasn't it? 00:09:45.019 --> 00:09:46.639 He is the father of lights. 00:09:47.240 --> 00:09:48.879 With whom there is no variation. 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:50.919 Or shadow. 00:09:51.059 --> 00:09:51.819 There's no dimmer switch. 00:09:51.919 --> 00:09:52.559 No change. 00:09:54.259 --> 00:09:56.299 So do you see from the Old Testament to the new. 00:09:56.459 --> 00:09:57.439 From eternity past. 00:09:58.219 --> 00:09:59.279 To eternity future. 00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:00.399 He's the same. 00:10:02.779 --> 00:10:04.219 This is true for all his attributes. 00:10:04.799 --> 00:10:06.699 Every single one of them. 00:10:06.839 --> 00:10:07.519 They are unchanging. 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:12.979 These attributes describe God who is spirit. 00:10:14.279 --> 00:10:15.139 He's infinite. 00:10:15.399 --> 00:10:15.919 And he's eternal. 00:10:16.099 --> 00:10:16.699 And he's unchanging. 00:10:17.399 --> 00:10:18.939 In his being. 00:10:19.559 --> 00:10:21.139 He's unchangeable in his being. 00:10:22.199 --> 00:10:24.059 He's unchangeable in his wisdom. 00:10:25.539 --> 00:10:27.459 He's unchangeable in his power. 00:10:27.460 --> 00:10:30.759 He's unchangeable in his holiness. 00:10:31.580 --> 00:10:33.180 He's unchangeable in his goodness. 00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:35.660 He's unchangeable in his justice. 00:10:36.100 --> 00:10:36.940 Unchangeable in his truth. 00:10:38.940 --> 00:10:42.800 His unchangeability says something about everything else about him. 00:10:43.820 --> 00:10:44.960 It says something about his holiness. 00:10:45.220 --> 00:10:45.740 And his power. 00:10:45.840 --> 00:10:46.300 And his sovereignty. 00:10:46.379 --> 00:10:46.820 And his wisdom. 00:10:47.220 --> 00:10:48.940 Every attribute of God is unchanging. 00:10:48.940 --> 00:10:49.580 Unchanging. 00:10:51.520 --> 00:10:52.900 J.I. Packer says this. 00:10:53.080 --> 00:10:54.100 He never becomes less truthful. 00:10:54.840 --> 00:10:55.460 Less merciful. 00:10:56.180 --> 00:10:56.860 Less just. 00:10:57.540 --> 00:10:59.060 Or less good than he used to be. 00:11:00.440 --> 00:11:01.940 What encouragement that is to us. 00:11:03.100 --> 00:11:07.680 Because you know full well, don't you, that your life is full of change. 00:11:07.679 --> 00:11:10.839 And your friends might change. 00:11:11.839 --> 00:11:14.259 Your relationship status might change. 00:11:15.219 --> 00:11:16.500 Your address might change. 00:11:17.620 --> 00:11:19.059 Your health might change. 00:11:19.779 --> 00:11:21.759 But he changes not. 00:11:24.319 --> 00:11:25.719 Your children will change. 00:11:27.459 --> 00:11:29.919 And they'll move from being darling little babies. 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:30.919 We can hear them, can't we? 00:11:31.359 --> 00:11:34.459 To slightly difficult teens. 00:11:35.240 --> 00:11:36.699 To independent adults. 00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:39.799 And then they go off to university. 00:11:40.599 --> 00:11:41.239 Or they go off. 00:11:41.279 --> 00:11:41.759 They leave home. 00:11:41.819 --> 00:11:42.359 They change. 00:11:44.239 --> 00:11:46.219 Are your jobs changed, don't they? 00:11:47.299 --> 00:11:48.279 They come and they go. 00:11:50.059 --> 00:11:51.359 Your money changes. 00:11:53.000 --> 00:11:54.179 Doesn't remain constant. 00:11:55.199 --> 00:11:56.500 But he remains the same. 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:00.579 It's in him that we live and move and have our being. 00:12:02.379 --> 00:12:04.299 And so when we approach the throne of grace today. 00:12:04.299 --> 00:12:09.099 When we come to God and call on his name today in worship. 00:12:09.099 --> 00:12:11.459 We don't need to worry what kind of mood God is in. 00:12:13.079 --> 00:12:14.419 Because God is forever the same. 00:12:16.019 --> 00:12:17.399 He has no mood swings. 00:12:18.659 --> 00:12:20.599 He's a rock and he is a fortress. 00:12:21.899 --> 00:12:23.039 And he is a refuge. 00:12:24.699 --> 00:12:27.000 Stephen Charnock, an old writer on the subject, said this. 00:12:27.000 --> 00:12:32.360 What comfort would there be in praying to a God that like a chameleon changes color every moment? 00:12:35.100 --> 00:12:36.460 Children, you know what a chameleon is? 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:42.139 You put it on a checked shirt and the chameleon changes into a checked shirt, that color. 00:12:42.740 --> 00:12:46.799 You put him on a pair of blue jeans and the chameleon changes to that color. 00:12:47.559 --> 00:12:48.639 But God is not like that. 00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:49.440 God does not change. 00:12:49.440 --> 00:12:53.080 He doesn't change color every moment. 00:12:54.160 --> 00:12:55.280 He is forever the same. 00:12:56.780 --> 00:12:57.980 And so that means we can rely on him. 00:12:58.020 --> 00:12:59.560 He's unchanging in his character. 00:13:00.020 --> 00:13:02.420 God always is what he was. 00:13:03.080 --> 00:13:05.400 And always will be what he is. 00:13:06.380 --> 00:13:08.580 God always is what he was. 00:13:08.660 --> 00:13:10.680 And always will be what he is. 00:13:10.940 --> 00:13:13.000 He's unchanging in his being. 00:13:13.160 --> 00:13:15.380 Secondly, he's unchanging in his word. 00:13:15.379 --> 00:13:19.039 He's unchanging in his word. 00:13:21.059 --> 00:13:25.879 We've seen over the last number of years, aren't we, that laws can actually be changed at great speed. 00:13:27.860 --> 00:13:30.000 And much of them, I'm sure, necessary. 00:13:30.439 --> 00:13:31.539 Much of them, not necessary. 00:13:32.600 --> 00:13:36.919 And our ruling authorities have the power to change the law very, very quickly. 00:13:38.740 --> 00:13:41.720 Some laws are changed and they bring us sadness, don't they? 00:13:41.720 --> 00:13:42.720 They bring us disappointment. 00:13:43.620 --> 00:13:45.139 And they bring us frustration. 00:13:45.379 --> 00:13:48.779 Laws regarding marriage. 00:13:50.059 --> 00:13:51.460 Or life in the womb. 00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:54.439 Earthly laws change all the time. 00:13:55.419 --> 00:13:57.539 Some for the better and some for the worse. 00:13:58.860 --> 00:14:03.559 But God's law, his standards remain perfect and immovable. 00:14:05.320 --> 00:14:11.720 And so you have before us in your lap today the never-changing word of the never-changing God. 00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:15.320 Let me give you a few verses that remind us of this truth. 00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:17.540 Psalm 119 and verse 89. 00:14:17.740 --> 00:14:23.019 Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. 00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:26.560 Forever fixed in the heavens. 00:14:27.960 --> 00:14:29.040 Or Psalm 119 again. 00:14:29.700 --> 00:14:31.040 Verse 160. 00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:35.399 Every one of your righteous rules endures forever. 00:14:36.500 --> 00:14:38.439 Or remember this one, Isaiah 40. 00:14:39.199 --> 00:14:41.139 The grass withers and the flowers fade. 00:14:44.439 --> 00:14:46.699 Said as mumbly as you possibly could, isn't it? 00:14:46.700 --> 00:14:51.500 What that says to you every time we read God's word is this. 00:14:51.600 --> 00:14:52.780 You can bank your life on it. 00:14:54.060 --> 00:14:56.340 You can bank your life on the word of God. 00:14:57.700 --> 00:15:00.700 What he says in God's word will remain forever true. 00:15:01.740 --> 00:15:02.940 He is more reliable. 00:15:03.160 --> 00:15:05.780 He is more up-to-date than tomorrow's newspaper. 00:15:05.779 --> 00:15:09.319 What the Bible says is right and will always be right. 00:15:10.319 --> 00:15:13.620 And what the Bible says is wrong will always be wrong. 00:15:14.939 --> 00:15:19.399 God does not have a changing set of moral values. 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:23.839 His standards remain forever the same. 00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:26.759 And this is true for his promises, isn't it? 00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:31.220 We don't need to worry about a promise that's been made by God in Scripture, 00:15:31.500 --> 00:15:33.220 whether it's expired or not. 00:15:33.220 --> 00:15:36.040 So 2 Corinthians 1 verse 20, 00:15:36.420 --> 00:15:42.220 all the promises of God find their yes or they find their amen in Jesus Christ. 00:15:42.420 --> 00:15:48.100 All that God has promised to do will and must come to pass. 00:15:49.420 --> 00:15:51.660 That is a great comfort, isn't it, to us as Christians? 00:15:52.759 --> 00:15:55.700 We find tremendous security and help and blessing 00:15:55.700 --> 00:16:00.660 when we turn from our changeable words and the changeable words of others 00:16:00.659 --> 00:16:03.419 to the unchanging promises of God. 00:16:04.759 --> 00:16:08.719 I will never leave you nor forsake you. 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:10.500 Jesus says, 00:16:10.500 --> 00:16:13.700 come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, 00:16:13.740 --> 00:16:15.840 and I will give you rest. 00:16:17.800 --> 00:16:19.300 The theme tune of the Bible, 00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:21.540 that I will be your God, 00:16:21.779 --> 00:16:23.180 and you will be my people, 00:16:23.460 --> 00:16:25.000 and I will be the God of your children. 00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:27.899 And so James, as we read it, says, 00:16:27.899 --> 00:16:29.100 if any of you lacks wisdom, 00:16:29.980 --> 00:16:30.939 anyone lacks wisdom, 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:34.159 let him ask God who gives generously, 00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:36.519 and it will be given to him. 00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:39.459 He's unchanging in his word. 00:16:40.899 --> 00:16:44.199 God is not going to go back on anything he said, 00:16:44.419 --> 00:16:45.679 anything he has promised. 00:16:47.199 --> 00:16:49.000 He's not going to turn around in eternity and say, 00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:50.079 I didn't really mean that. 00:16:50.699 --> 00:16:52.299 I was kind of overstating it a little bit. 00:16:53.299 --> 00:16:54.139 It was hyperbole. 00:16:54.139 --> 00:16:56.659 He's unchanging in his word. 00:16:58.559 --> 00:16:59.799 The third way God is unchanging 00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:01.159 is he's unchanging in his plans. 00:17:02.620 --> 00:17:04.099 He's unchanging in his plans. 00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:07.139 He's unchanging in his purpose, 00:17:07.339 --> 00:17:08.519 in his counsel, in his will. 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:11.119 I don't know about you, 00:17:11.160 --> 00:17:12.220 but I'm forever changing plans. 00:17:14.099 --> 00:17:15.619 I'm forever changing plans. 00:17:16.779 --> 00:17:17.839 I'm sure many of you have had 00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:19.299 really well-laid plans, 00:17:19.619 --> 00:17:21.059 and they've been turned upside down 00:17:21.059 --> 00:17:21.579 at the last minute. 00:17:21.639 --> 00:17:22.319 We know what that's like. 00:17:24.140 --> 00:17:25.100 House plans. 00:17:26.440 --> 00:17:27.460 Holiday plans. 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:29.460 Plans to sit exams. 00:17:29.660 --> 00:17:30.300 Plans to do this. 00:17:30.680 --> 00:17:31.460 Plans to do that. 00:17:32.840 --> 00:17:33.940 Our plans and our purposes, 00:17:34.080 --> 00:17:35.080 they change all the time, don't they? 00:17:36.340 --> 00:17:37.900 But God's plans do not change. 00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:41.140 God has planned from all eternity 00:17:41.140 --> 00:17:44.100 to save and elect a people for himself. 00:17:45.620 --> 00:17:48.259 And no one has ever changed that plan. 00:17:48.259 --> 00:17:52.039 God did not make that plan 00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:53.319 in response to the fall. 00:17:54.519 --> 00:17:56.359 It was an eternal plan 00:17:56.359 --> 00:17:57.879 long before the fall, 00:17:58.259 --> 00:17:59.599 before time began. 00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:05.719 God didn't create the world. 00:18:06.459 --> 00:18:07.259 Genesis 1 and 2, 00:18:07.319 --> 00:18:08.259 it's all very good. 00:18:08.419 --> 00:18:09.719 He sat there happily. 00:18:09.980 --> 00:18:11.039 And then Genesis 3, 00:18:11.259 --> 00:18:12.539 what has gone wrong? 00:18:13.639 --> 00:18:15.279 God didn't put his head in his hands 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:15.579 and think, 00:18:15.679 --> 00:18:16.859 oh, good grief, 00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:17.659 what have I done? 00:18:18.439 --> 00:18:19.799 My whole plan has changed. 00:18:19.899 --> 00:18:20.099 No. 00:18:20.099 --> 00:18:20.139 No. 00:18:23.980 --> 00:18:25.339 His plan of salvation, 00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:27.319 he never has had to amend his plan. 00:18:29.599 --> 00:18:31.639 He doesn't change his plans or purposes 00:18:31.639 --> 00:18:33.219 in response to a new situation. 00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:35.159 Nothing ever surprises him. 00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:37.219 He never rubs out his plan. 00:18:38.059 --> 00:18:39.719 He never has to amend his plan. 00:18:40.039 --> 00:18:41.399 He never has to add to his plan. 00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:42.839 So Psalm 33, verse 11, 00:18:43.980 --> 00:18:46.179 the counsel of the Lord stands forever. 00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:48.519 The plans of his heart 00:18:48.519 --> 00:18:49.959 to all generations. 00:18:51.199 --> 00:18:51.779 Aren't you glad? 00:18:53.059 --> 00:18:55.159 Aren't you glad that the counsel of the Lord 00:18:55.159 --> 00:18:56.459 stands forever? 00:18:56.459 --> 00:18:58.299 Isaiah 14 and verse 26, 00:18:58.299 --> 00:18:59.619 this is the purpose 00:18:59.619 --> 00:19:00.299 that is purposed 00:19:00.299 --> 00:19:01.339 concerning the whole earth. 00:19:01.919 --> 00:19:02.940 And this is the hand 00:19:02.940 --> 00:19:03.859 that is stretched out 00:19:03.859 --> 00:19:04.740 over all the nations 00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:06.579 for the Lord of hosts has purposed 00:19:06.579 --> 00:19:07.980 and who will annul it. 00:19:08.220 --> 00:19:09.519 His hand is stretched out 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:10.799 and who will turn it back? 00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:13.460 There's no such thing 00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:14.419 as plan B with God. 00:19:15.940 --> 00:19:17.700 There's no emergency measures. 00:19:18.779 --> 00:19:21.200 There's no contingency plan. 00:19:21.299 --> 00:19:22.200 There's no exit route. 00:19:22.200 --> 00:19:25.480 No, his original plan and decree 00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:27.400 moves on day by day 00:19:27.400 --> 00:19:29.200 unhindered and unrivaled. 00:19:32.019 --> 00:19:32.500 And so Kristen, 00:19:32.580 --> 00:19:33.580 as you look at your life 00:19:33.580 --> 00:19:35.019 and you look at the turbulent days 00:19:35.019 --> 00:19:35.799 in which we live in 00:19:35.799 --> 00:19:36.860 with so much change 00:19:36.860 --> 00:19:37.819 and so much chaos 00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:40.019 and so much uncertainty, 00:19:40.019 --> 00:19:42.400 we need to take ourselves where? 00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:44.580 To the immutability of God. 00:19:44.579 --> 00:19:47.759 And we cast ourselves 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:49.299 on the immutability of God. 00:19:50.359 --> 00:19:52.079 The one who is unchanging 00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:52.960 in his plans. 00:19:54.859 --> 00:19:55.619 And the fourth way, 00:19:55.679 --> 00:19:56.899 he's unchanging in his son. 00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:00.099 He's unchanging in his son. 00:20:00.119 --> 00:20:01.299 Of course, it's the triune God 00:20:01.299 --> 00:20:01.919 who's unchanging. 00:20:02.099 --> 00:20:03.240 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:06.159 The attributes of God, 00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:07.359 we've seen it again and again, 00:20:07.439 --> 00:20:07.619 haven't we? 00:20:07.659 --> 00:20:09.019 They are most clearly seen 00:20:09.019 --> 00:20:10.539 in his son, the Lord Jesus. 00:20:11.639 --> 00:20:12.939 Jesus is the image 00:20:12.939 --> 00:20:13.779 of the invisible God. 00:20:15.319 --> 00:20:15.799 And just listen 00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:17.000 to what the scriptures say 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:18.279 about the unchangeableness 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:19.159 of Jesus Christ. 00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:21.439 Hebrews 13, verse 8, 00:20:21.799 --> 00:20:23.099 Jesus Christ is the same 00:20:23.099 --> 00:20:26.419 yesterday, today, and forever. 00:20:27.919 --> 00:20:29.419 Revelation 22, verse 13, 00:20:29.539 --> 00:20:30.799 I am the Alpha and the Omega, 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:32.259 the first and the last, 00:20:32.379 --> 00:20:33.799 the beginning and the end. 00:20:34.579 --> 00:20:35.159 He's the same. 00:20:37.659 --> 00:20:38.859 It's worth remembering, isn't it, 00:20:38.899 --> 00:20:41.119 that there was both a human 00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:42.240 and a divine nature 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:43.039 in the one person 00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:44.799 in the incarnate Jesus Christ. 00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:47.980 And while his human nature changed, 00:20:49.700 --> 00:20:50.960 the Lord Jesus grew 00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:53.339 in wisdom and favor with men. 00:20:53.960 --> 00:20:55.720 As his human nature developed, 00:20:56.379 --> 00:20:58.139 there wasn't the slightest change 00:20:58.139 --> 00:20:59.240 in his divine nature. 00:21:00.819 --> 00:21:01.799 And so you can say 00:21:01.799 --> 00:21:03.000 from the cradle, 00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:03.859 to the cross, 00:21:03.940 --> 00:21:05.359 to the cave in which he's buried, 00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:06.839 Christ was always 00:21:06.839 --> 00:21:08.759 the immutable and changing God. 00:21:08.759 --> 00:21:11.259 And you can say 00:21:11.259 --> 00:21:12.099 that the Lord Jesus 00:21:12.099 --> 00:21:13.279 that we find in the pages 00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:14.059 of the New Testament 00:21:14.059 --> 00:21:16.619 is the same Jesus today. 00:21:17.379 --> 00:21:18.400 The very same. 00:21:19.420 --> 00:21:20.640 The Lord Jesus still 00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:22.519 makes all things new. 00:21:23.779 --> 00:21:25.279 The Lord Jesus is still 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:26.799 calling men and women 00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:27.980 and boys and girls to himself. 00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:30.000 The Lord Jesus is still 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:31.259 building his church. 00:21:31.539 --> 00:21:32.640 He is still the chief 00:21:32.640 --> 00:21:34.079 among 10,000. 00:21:34.299 --> 00:21:35.339 He is still 00:21:35.339 --> 00:21:36.900 the altogether lovely one. 00:21:36.900 --> 00:21:39.040 He is still the friend of sinners. 00:21:40.580 --> 00:21:41.200 As the hymn writer 00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:41.620 puts it, 00:21:41.700 --> 00:21:43.000 it's that change and decay 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:44.980 in all around I see, 00:21:45.560 --> 00:21:47.100 O thou who changest not. 00:21:48.060 --> 00:21:48.680 Abide with me. 00:21:50.060 --> 00:21:51.120 He's unchanging in his son 00:21:51.120 --> 00:21:51.860 and then in the fifth sense 00:21:51.860 --> 00:21:53.140 he's unchanging in his salvation. 00:21:55.500 --> 00:21:56.880 That is to say this, 00:21:58.040 --> 00:21:59.300 the immutability, 00:21:59.460 --> 00:22:00.700 the unchangeableness of God 00:22:00.700 --> 00:22:02.120 is a great anchor. 00:22:02.119 --> 00:22:04.739 It's a tremendous anchor 00:22:04.739 --> 00:22:05.719 for your soul and mine. 00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:08.439 Our great hope 00:22:08.439 --> 00:22:09.779 of salvation 00:22:09.779 --> 00:22:10.799 lies in this truth 00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:11.959 that God remains 00:22:11.959 --> 00:22:13.279 exactly the same. 00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:15.899 And God will do exactly 00:22:15.899 --> 00:22:16.819 as he said he will do. 00:22:18.299 --> 00:22:19.439 The Bible teaches 00:22:19.439 --> 00:22:20.919 that those on whom 00:22:20.919 --> 00:22:22.579 God has set his heart 00:22:22.579 --> 00:22:23.579 upon in eternity 00:22:23.579 --> 00:22:24.579 with electing love, 00:22:25.339 --> 00:22:26.519 he will most certainly 00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:27.659 bring about their salvation. 00:22:27.660 --> 00:22:30.900 and he will keep them secure 00:22:30.900 --> 00:22:32.480 in his love 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:33.080 and he will never 00:22:33.080 --> 00:22:33.820 let them fall away. 00:22:35.080 --> 00:22:36.360 We're going to Romans 8 tonight. 00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:37.180 I hope you'll come back. 00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:37.740 I'm doing a beginning 00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:38.580 of series on Romans 8 00:22:38.580 --> 00:22:39.500 but at the end of Romans 8 00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:40.240 in verse 30 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:41.900 it tells us this, 00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:42.660 that those whom God 00:22:42.660 --> 00:22:43.259 predestined 00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:45.480 he also called 00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:47.980 and those whom 00:22:47.980 --> 00:22:48.880 he also called 00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:49.900 he justified 00:22:49.900 --> 00:22:51.720 and those whom 00:22:51.720 --> 00:22:52.259 he justified 00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:53.259 he also glorified. 00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:55.220 Do you see this 00:22:55.220 --> 00:22:56.160 golden chain, 00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:58.500 this chain of God's 00:22:58.500 --> 00:22:59.200 saving 00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:01.019 eternal purposes 00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:04.440 that we're just 00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:05.519 as certain for heaven 00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:06.440 as if we'd been there 00:23:06.440 --> 00:23:07.840 already 10,000 years? 00:23:09.400 --> 00:23:09.960 Our 00:23:09.960 --> 00:23:11.779 eternal salvation 00:23:11.779 --> 00:23:13.200 is wrapped up 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:13.940 in the God 00:23:13.940 --> 00:23:14.880 who does not change. 00:23:15.900 --> 00:23:16.759 It's wrapped up 00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:17.440 in the immutability 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:18.080 of God 00:23:18.080 --> 00:23:19.500 and so what a truth 00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:20.360 to let your heart 00:23:20.360 --> 00:23:21.380 be filled with today 00:23:21.380 --> 00:23:23.920 that no matter 00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:24.440 what changes 00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:25.440 there are in your life 00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:28.140 or in the world 00:23:28.140 --> 00:23:32.080 the affections of God 00:23:32.080 --> 00:23:33.480 towards his children 00:23:33.480 --> 00:23:34.580 will never 00:23:34.580 --> 00:23:35.779 never change. 00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:39.299 James Montgomery Boyce 00:23:39.299 --> 00:23:39.900 put it this way 00:23:39.900 --> 00:23:41.880 he said this 00:23:41.880 --> 00:23:42.600 God's attitude 00:23:42.600 --> 00:23:43.720 towards us now 00:23:43.720 --> 00:23:46.220 is the same 00:23:46.220 --> 00:23:47.080 as it was 00:23:47.080 --> 00:23:49.500 in the farthest reaches 00:23:49.500 --> 00:23:50.640 of eternity past 00:23:50.640 --> 00:23:53.600 and it's the same 00:23:53.600 --> 00:23:54.400 as it will be 00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:56.340 in the farthest reaches 00:23:56.340 --> 00:23:56.920 of eternity 00:23:56.920 --> 00:23:57.400 to come. 00:23:58.900 --> 00:24:00.100 He has never 00:24:00.100 --> 00:24:01.000 loved us 00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:01.580 less 00:24:01.580 --> 00:24:03.580 and he will never 00:24:03.580 --> 00:24:04.500 love us 00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:05.120 more 00:24:05.120 --> 00:24:06.700 than how much 00:24:06.700 --> 00:24:07.460 he loves us now. 00:24:08.920 --> 00:24:09.640 What a truth 00:24:09.640 --> 00:24:09.940 that is 00:24:09.940 --> 00:24:10.200 isn't it? 00:24:12.360 --> 00:24:13.080 I've talked to you 00:24:13.080 --> 00:24:13.920 about Geharis Vos 00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:14.220 before. 00:24:14.300 --> 00:24:15.060 Geharis Vos says 00:24:15.060 --> 00:24:15.840 how do you know 00:24:15.840 --> 00:24:16.460 that God will never 00:24:16.460 --> 00:24:17.320 stop loving you 00:24:17.320 --> 00:24:17.820 to the Christian? 00:24:17.819 --> 00:24:20.220 how do you know 00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:21.899 that God will never 00:24:21.899 --> 00:24:23.039 stop loving you? 00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:25.960 And Geharis Vos 00:24:25.960 --> 00:24:26.339 says this 00:24:26.339 --> 00:24:27.099 because he never 00:24:27.099 --> 00:24:28.299 began loving you 00:24:28.299 --> 00:24:30.579 because scripture 00:24:30.579 --> 00:24:31.379 says that you have 00:24:31.379 --> 00:24:31.839 been loved 00:24:31.839 --> 00:24:32.700 with an everlasting 00:24:32.700 --> 00:24:33.460 love. 00:24:34.939 --> 00:24:35.799 It's beyond our 00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:36.599 comprehension isn't it 00:24:36.599 --> 00:24:37.379 but nothing can 00:24:37.379 --> 00:24:38.019 separate us 00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:39.379 from the unfailing 00:24:39.379 --> 00:24:40.480 unchanging 00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:41.679 love of God 00:24:41.679 --> 00:24:42.439 in Christ Jesus. 00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:44.159 He is the rock 00:24:44.159 --> 00:24:44.859 of our salvation. 00:24:44.859 --> 00:24:46.119 So can you see 00:24:46.119 --> 00:24:46.619 how wonderful 00:24:46.619 --> 00:24:47.399 this attribute is? 00:24:48.399 --> 00:24:49.039 The immutability 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:49.779 of God 00:24:49.779 --> 00:24:52.559 God does not 00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:53.379 he cannot change 00:24:53.379 --> 00:24:54.000 in his character 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:54.659 in his word 00:24:54.659 --> 00:24:55.339 in his plans 00:24:55.339 --> 00:24:55.979 in his son 00:24:55.979 --> 00:24:57.079 in his salvation 00:24:57.079 --> 00:24:58.119 God does not 00:24:58.119 --> 00:24:59.139 and he cannot change. 00:25:01.479 --> 00:25:02.439 But the second point 00:25:02.439 --> 00:25:02.740 is this 00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:03.579 we must change. 00:25:05.439 --> 00:25:06.259 We must 00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:07.479 and we can change. 00:25:09.219 --> 00:25:10.039 And we've already 00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:10.479 established 00:25:10.479 --> 00:25:12.240 we are not immutable. 00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:15.000 and we constantly 00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:15.440 change. 00:25:16.700 --> 00:25:17.519 That's so obvious 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:17.799 isn't it 00:25:17.799 --> 00:25:18.380 to all of us. 00:25:21.180 --> 00:25:22.000 And yet it does 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:22.480 seem that 00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:23.400 very often 00:25:23.400 --> 00:25:24.000 we give in 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:24.700 to the myth 00:25:24.700 --> 00:25:26.460 that somehow 00:25:26.460 --> 00:25:27.319 we can't change. 00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:29.880 That somehow 00:25:29.880 --> 00:25:31.200 other people 00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:31.599 can change 00:25:31.599 --> 00:25:32.019 but it's really 00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:32.799 impossible for me 00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:33.220 to change. 00:25:33.299 --> 00:25:33.900 I can't change. 00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:35.140 This is who I am. 00:25:36.359 --> 00:25:37.039 The myth that 00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:37.519 goes around 00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:38.420 and we feed 00:25:38.420 --> 00:25:38.980 into that myth 00:25:38.980 --> 00:25:39.359 don't we 00:25:39.359 --> 00:25:40.120 by some of the 00:25:40.120 --> 00:25:40.720 things we say. 00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:42.900 So if you've ever 00:25:42.900 --> 00:25:43.660 exchanged heated 00:25:43.660 --> 00:25:44.480 words with someone 00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:44.880 else 00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:48.240 you might have 00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:48.599 heard this 00:25:48.599 --> 00:25:50.839 that person 00:25:50.839 --> 00:25:51.240 says you 00:25:51.240 --> 00:25:52.200 you never 00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:52.720 listen 00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:53.839 to what I say 00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:55.480 or you 00:25:55.480 --> 00:25:56.400 you always 00:25:56.400 --> 00:25:57.079 do this 00:25:57.079 --> 00:25:59.980 I woke up 00:25:59.980 --> 00:26:00.559 my daughter 00:26:00.559 --> 00:26:01.640 this morning 00:26:01.640 --> 00:26:02.339 I won't tell you 00:26:02.339 --> 00:26:02.740 her name 00:26:02.740 --> 00:26:03.220 which one 00:26:03.220 --> 00:26:04.099 the middle daughter 00:26:04.099 --> 00:26:06.920 and I woke up 00:26:06.920 --> 00:26:07.299 in her room 00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:07.620 she wasn't 00:26:07.620 --> 00:26:08.259 particularly pleased 00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:08.579 to see me 00:26:08.579 --> 00:26:08.980 this morning 00:26:08.980 --> 00:26:10.779 and I gently 00:26:10.779 --> 00:26:11.360 woke her up 00:26:11.360 --> 00:26:12.900 and as I 00:26:12.900 --> 00:26:13.220 walked out 00:26:13.220 --> 00:26:13.599 the room 00:26:13.599 --> 00:26:14.180 she called 00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:14.319 to me 00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:14.839 on the stairs 00:26:14.839 --> 00:26:15.519 and she said 00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:16.539 you never 00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:17.720 shut the door 00:26:17.720 --> 00:26:18.519 on your way 00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:18.819 out. 00:26:20.099 --> 00:26:20.500 Never. 00:26:22.539 --> 00:26:23.180 Do you know that? 00:26:24.860 --> 00:26:25.460 I didn't that 00:26:25.460 --> 00:26:25.640 but I said 00:26:25.640 --> 00:26:25.960 well I do 00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:26.279 occasionally 00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:26.759 shut the door. 00:26:28.339 --> 00:26:29.019 We say that 00:26:29.019 --> 00:26:29.220 don't we 00:26:29.220 --> 00:26:30.539 you're never 00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:31.579 ready on time. 00:26:33.079 --> 00:26:34.039 We always 00:26:34.039 --> 00:26:34.640 have pasta 00:26:34.640 --> 00:26:35.120 for dinner. 00:26:36.120 --> 00:26:36.799 You always 00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:37.200 do that. 00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:37.740 You never 00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:38.240 do this 00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:38.539 but that 00:26:38.539 --> 00:26:38.860 isn't true 00:26:38.860 --> 00:26:39.340 in the slightest. 00:26:39.519 --> 00:26:39.819 We know that 00:26:39.819 --> 00:26:40.120 don't we? 00:26:40.960 --> 00:26:41.420 We're not 00:26:41.420 --> 00:26:41.960 that consistent. 00:26:43.960 --> 00:26:44.500 We might 00:26:44.500 --> 00:26:44.940 often do 00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:45.240 something 00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:46.240 or regularly 00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:46.700 do something 00:26:46.700 --> 00:26:47.039 or we might 00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:47.440 frequently 00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:48.100 fail to do 00:26:48.100 --> 00:26:48.400 something 00:26:48.400 --> 00:26:49.200 but finite 00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:49.840 creatures 00:26:49.840 --> 00:26:50.920 mutable 00:26:50.920 --> 00:26:51.480 creatures 00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:52.600 the word 00:26:52.600 --> 00:26:53.160 always 00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:53.620 or the word 00:26:53.620 --> 00:26:54.000 never 00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:54.860 don't really 00:26:54.860 --> 00:26:55.539 apply to us. 00:26:56.519 --> 00:26:56.840 They can only 00:26:56.840 --> 00:26:57.160 be truly 00:26:57.160 --> 00:26:57.880 spoken of God. 00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:02.100 The point 00:27:02.100 --> 00:27:02.460 is we are 00:27:02.460 --> 00:27:03.019 not immutable. 00:27:04.860 --> 00:27:05.440 We do 00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:05.840 change. 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:06.299 We can 00:27:06.299 --> 00:27:06.600 change. 00:27:06.660 --> 00:27:06.960 We must 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:07.299 change. 00:27:09.579 --> 00:27:10.180 Far too 00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:10.500 often when 00:27:10.500 --> 00:27:10.980 I'm confronted 00:27:10.980 --> 00:27:11.559 with my 00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:11.920 weaknesses 00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:12.420 and my 00:27:12.420 --> 00:27:12.779 failings 00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:13.120 and my 00:27:13.120 --> 00:27:13.539 sins 00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:15.360 and my 00:27:15.360 --> 00:27:15.880 response 00:27:15.880 --> 00:27:16.620 is often 00:27:16.620 --> 00:27:17.640 to say 00:27:17.640 --> 00:27:18.019 something like 00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:18.240 this 00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:18.840 listen that's 00:27:18.840 --> 00:27:19.279 just who I 00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:19.579 am. 00:27:21.319 --> 00:27:21.940 That's my 00:27:21.940 --> 00:27:22.480 temperament. 00:27:23.900 --> 00:27:24.460 That's the 00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:24.799 way I'm 00:27:24.799 --> 00:27:25.160 wired. 00:27:27.259 --> 00:27:27.779 That's the 00:27:27.779 --> 00:27:28.039 way I was 00:27:28.039 --> 00:27:28.620 brought up. 00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:30.779 I can't 00:27:30.779 --> 00:27:31.299 really change 00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:31.559 that. 00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:34.220 But that 00:27:34.220 --> 00:27:34.559 is a 00:27:34.559 --> 00:27:34.900 lie. 00:27:34.900 --> 00:27:37.400 that is a 00:27:37.400 --> 00:27:37.820 lie from 00:27:37.820 --> 00:27:38.060 the pit 00:27:38.060 --> 00:27:38.500 of hell. 00:27:40.120 --> 00:27:40.620 Whether we 00:27:40.620 --> 00:27:40.960 say it out 00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:41.720 of hopelessness 00:27:41.720 --> 00:27:42.160 or out of 00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:42.759 defiance, 00:27:42.920 --> 00:27:43.340 it is a 00:27:43.340 --> 00:27:43.920 lie to say 00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:44.180 that you 00:27:44.180 --> 00:27:44.480 cannot 00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:44.940 change. 00:27:46.560 --> 00:27:46.920 Because 00:27:46.920 --> 00:27:47.220 there's only 00:27:47.220 --> 00:27:47.880 one person 00:27:47.880 --> 00:27:49.460 who does 00:27:49.460 --> 00:27:49.880 not change 00:27:49.880 --> 00:27:50.080 and that 00:27:50.080 --> 00:27:50.420 is God. 00:27:52.280 --> 00:27:52.780 You can 00:27:52.780 --> 00:27:53.100 change. 00:27:55.660 --> 00:27:56.100 And if 00:27:56.100 --> 00:27:56.400 you're listening 00:27:56.400 --> 00:27:56.820 to me right 00:27:56.820 --> 00:27:57.660 now and 00:27:57.660 --> 00:27:58.300 you don't 00:27:58.300 --> 00:27:58.840 know God, 00:28:00.040 --> 00:28:00.300 you haven't 00:28:00.300 --> 00:28:00.800 trusted in the 00:28:00.800 --> 00:28:01.200 Lord Jesus, 00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:03.279 you're not 00:28:03.279 --> 00:28:03.759 born again, 00:28:03.860 --> 00:28:04.059 you've not 00:28:04.059 --> 00:28:04.500 been converted 00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:05.120 and you're 00:28:05.120 --> 00:28:05.380 not a 00:28:05.380 --> 00:28:05.559 Christian, 00:28:05.660 --> 00:28:05.940 you need 00:28:05.940 --> 00:28:06.180 to know 00:28:06.180 --> 00:28:06.380 this, 00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:06.759 that you 00:28:06.759 --> 00:28:07.059 should be 00:28:07.059 --> 00:28:07.840 terrified of 00:28:07.840 --> 00:28:07.940 the 00:28:07.940 --> 00:28:08.380 immutability 00:28:08.380 --> 00:28:08.799 of God. 00:28:12.019 --> 00:28:12.620 It is a 00:28:12.620 --> 00:28:13.240 wonderful thing 00:28:13.240 --> 00:28:13.700 for believers 00:28:13.700 --> 00:28:14.740 to think 00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:15.140 about it, 00:28:16.140 --> 00:28:16.860 but it 00:28:16.860 --> 00:28:17.440 should terrify 00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:18.039 unbelievers 00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:18.580 because you 00:28:18.580 --> 00:28:19.220 cannot expect, 00:28:19.340 --> 00:28:19.720 you cannot 00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:20.400 hope that the 00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:20.880 justice of 00:28:20.880 --> 00:28:21.180 God will 00:28:21.180 --> 00:28:21.640 change on 00:28:21.640 --> 00:28:21.819 the day 00:28:21.819 --> 00:28:22.200 of judgment 00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:24.259 or that the 00:28:24.259 --> 00:28:24.779 holiness of 00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:25.120 God will 00:28:25.120 --> 00:28:25.460 change on 00:28:25.460 --> 00:28:25.660 the day 00:28:25.660 --> 00:28:26.000 of judgment. 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:28.039 Some people 00:28:28.039 --> 00:28:28.380 say something 00:28:28.380 --> 00:28:28.759 like this, 00:28:28.840 --> 00:28:29.420 I'll take a 00:28:29.420 --> 00:28:29.819 chance with 00:28:29.819 --> 00:28:30.080 God. 00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:31.620 In fact, 00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:32.039 most people, 00:28:32.140 --> 00:28:32.319 they don't 00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:32.680 say it, 00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:32.960 but that's 00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:33.160 how they 00:28:33.160 --> 00:28:33.420 act. 00:28:33.539 --> 00:28:33.740 I'll be 00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:34.019 all right. 00:28:35.460 --> 00:28:35.900 God will 00:28:35.900 --> 00:28:36.120 let me 00:28:36.120 --> 00:28:36.340 in. 00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:38.180 I don't 00:28:38.180 --> 00:28:38.980 really care 00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:39.220 what the 00:28:39.220 --> 00:28:39.799 Bible says, 00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:41.019 but I 00:28:41.019 --> 00:28:41.779 will somehow 00:28:41.779 --> 00:28:42.220 get into 00:28:42.220 --> 00:28:42.460 heaven. 00:28:43.960 --> 00:28:44.539 Maybe this 00:28:44.539 --> 00:28:44.980 God of 00:28:44.980 --> 00:28:45.319 yours who 00:28:45.319 --> 00:28:45.620 you preach 00:28:45.620 --> 00:28:45.840 about, 00:28:45.940 --> 00:28:46.279 maybe he'll 00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:46.680 go easy 00:28:46.680 --> 00:28:47.000 on me and 00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:47.299 he'll just 00:28:47.299 --> 00:28:47.580 let me 00:28:47.580 --> 00:28:47.799 in. 00:28:50.080 --> 00:28:50.720 But this 00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:51.120 is the 00:28:51.120 --> 00:28:51.460 God who 00:28:51.460 --> 00:28:51.819 never 00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:52.220 changes. 00:28:53.860 --> 00:28:54.220 He's 00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:54.900 unchangeable 00:28:54.900 --> 00:28:55.120 in his 00:28:55.120 --> 00:28:55.779 holiness and 00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:55.980 in his 00:28:55.980 --> 00:28:56.340 justice. 00:28:59.100 --> 00:28:59.480 You know 00:28:59.480 --> 00:29:00.120 an ending 00:29:00.120 --> 00:29:00.819 torment in 00:29:00.819 --> 00:29:01.180 hell, 00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:01.819 will be the 00:29:01.819 --> 00:29:02.480 clearest proof 00:29:02.480 --> 00:29:02.759 to the 00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:03.779 unbeliever 00:29:03.779 --> 00:29:04.759 that God 00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:05.880 is truly 00:29:05.880 --> 00:29:06.519 unchanging. 00:29:08.680 --> 00:29:09.180 And if 00:29:09.180 --> 00:29:09.440 you're not 00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:09.900 saved here 00:29:09.900 --> 00:29:10.400 this morning, 00:29:11.400 --> 00:29:12.039 you need to 00:29:12.039 --> 00:29:12.420 know that it 00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:12.980 is a fearful 00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:13.720 thing to fall 00:29:13.720 --> 00:29:14.019 into the 00:29:14.019 --> 00:29:14.380 hands of 00:29:14.380 --> 00:29:14.660 almighty 00:29:14.660 --> 00:29:15.059 God, 00:29:15.840 --> 00:29:16.500 an unchanging 00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:16.880 God. 00:29:18.259 --> 00:29:18.759 And you 00:29:18.759 --> 00:29:19.299 must change 00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:19.660 today. 00:29:21.400 --> 00:29:21.620 And so 00:29:21.620 --> 00:29:22.380 drastic is the 00:29:22.380 --> 00:29:22.799 change that the 00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:23.440 Bible calls for. 00:29:23.500 --> 00:29:23.980 The Bible 00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:25.180 describes it as 00:29:25.180 --> 00:29:25.559 being born 00:29:25.559 --> 00:29:25.980 again. 00:29:27.059 --> 00:29:27.620 How great a 00:29:27.620 --> 00:29:28.240 change is that? 00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:29.019 It describes 00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:29.500 moving from 00:29:29.500 --> 00:29:30.319 darkness to 00:29:30.319 --> 00:29:30.539 light, 00:29:30.640 --> 00:29:31.079 from death 00:29:31.079 --> 00:29:31.680 to life, 00:29:31.940 --> 00:29:32.480 from blindness 00:29:32.480 --> 00:29:33.019 to sight, 00:29:33.120 --> 00:29:33.660 from being 00:29:33.660 --> 00:29:34.259 lost to 00:29:34.259 --> 00:29:34.779 being found. 00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:35.299 It's an 00:29:35.299 --> 00:29:35.980 immense change. 00:29:36.099 --> 00:29:36.380 You must 00:29:36.380 --> 00:29:36.799 change. 00:29:38.120 --> 00:29:38.859 You must be 00:29:38.859 --> 00:29:39.200 changed. 00:29:42.180 --> 00:29:42.779 And maybe 00:29:42.779 --> 00:29:43.500 you're sitting 00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:44.039 here and 00:29:44.039 --> 00:29:44.440 there's someone 00:29:44.440 --> 00:29:44.680 that you 00:29:44.680 --> 00:29:46.039 love and 00:29:46.039 --> 00:29:46.539 they need 00:29:46.539 --> 00:29:47.059 this change. 00:29:48.839 --> 00:29:49.319 And you've 00:29:49.319 --> 00:29:49.559 been praying 00:29:49.559 --> 00:29:50.220 for decades, 00:29:50.400 --> 00:29:50.680 praying for 00:29:50.680 --> 00:29:50.900 them for 00:29:50.900 --> 00:29:51.420 years. 00:29:51.420 --> 00:29:53.259 and you 00:29:53.259 --> 00:29:53.519 need to 00:29:53.519 --> 00:29:53.900 know this, 00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:54.259 that there 00:29:54.259 --> 00:29:54.660 is no 00:29:54.660 --> 00:29:55.500 human heart 00:29:55.500 --> 00:29:55.860 in the 00:29:55.860 --> 00:29:56.519 world that 00:29:56.519 --> 00:29:57.120 is immutable, 00:29:57.420 --> 00:29:57.940 unchangeable. 00:29:59.080 --> 00:29:59.800 No human 00:29:59.800 --> 00:30:00.300 heart is 00:30:00.300 --> 00:30:00.720 immutable. 00:30:01.140 --> 00:30:01.660 No human 00:30:01.660 --> 00:30:02.460 heart is so 00:30:02.460 --> 00:30:03.340 hard that 00:30:03.340 --> 00:30:03.759 God cannot 00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:04.279 soften it. 00:30:05.620 --> 00:30:06.080 The king's 00:30:06.080 --> 00:30:06.279 heart, 00:30:06.360 --> 00:30:06.880 prophet says, 00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:07.279 the king's 00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:07.820 heart is like 00:30:07.820 --> 00:30:08.240 a stream of 00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:08.920 water in 00:30:08.920 --> 00:30:09.320 the hand of 00:30:09.320 --> 00:30:09.660 the Lord and 00:30:09.660 --> 00:30:10.080 he can turn 00:30:10.080 --> 00:30:10.620 it whichever 00:30:10.620 --> 00:30:10.980 way he 00:30:10.980 --> 00:30:11.320 wills. 00:30:11.960 --> 00:30:12.300 He can 00:30:12.300 --> 00:30:12.700 change your 00:30:12.700 --> 00:30:13.060 heart. 00:30:15.220 --> 00:30:15.560 And maybe 00:30:15.560 --> 00:30:16.019 for some of 00:30:16.019 --> 00:30:16.420 you listening, 00:30:16.560 --> 00:30:16.900 God has 00:30:16.900 --> 00:30:17.740 begun recently 00:30:17.740 --> 00:30:18.259 a work in 00:30:18.259 --> 00:30:18.740 your heart. 00:30:18.740 --> 00:30:21.740 when that 00:30:21.740 --> 00:30:22.099 happens, 00:30:22.180 --> 00:30:22.420 what they 00:30:22.420 --> 00:30:22.980 find is they 00:30:22.980 --> 00:30:23.279 find that 00:30:23.279 --> 00:30:23.660 their whole 00:30:23.660 --> 00:30:23.980 view of 00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:24.339 the world 00:30:24.339 --> 00:30:24.839 is changing. 00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:25.980 Their 00:30:25.980 --> 00:30:26.259 interests 00:30:26.259 --> 00:30:26.740 change. 00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:27.440 Their 00:30:27.440 --> 00:30:27.859 desires 00:30:27.859 --> 00:30:28.180 change. 00:30:28.240 --> 00:30:28.359 Their 00:30:28.359 --> 00:30:28.620 friendships 00:30:28.620 --> 00:30:29.079 change. 00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:30.680 And they're 00:30:30.680 --> 00:30:31.500 nearly all 00:30:31.500 --> 00:30:32.240 good changes. 00:30:32.519 --> 00:30:33.120 But it can 00:30:33.120 --> 00:30:33.759 be a really 00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:34.740 unsettling time, 00:30:34.779 --> 00:30:34.980 isn't it, 00:30:34.980 --> 00:30:35.460 when God is 00:30:35.460 --> 00:30:35.839 at work in 00:30:35.839 --> 00:30:36.259 your life. 00:30:38.079 --> 00:30:38.740 And maybe 00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:39.539 you're a new 00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:39.880 Christian, 00:30:40.039 --> 00:30:40.480 you've trusted 00:30:40.480 --> 00:30:41.120 in Christ and 00:30:41.120 --> 00:30:42.079 you're struggling 00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:42.700 and you feel 00:30:42.700 --> 00:30:43.299 unstable, 00:30:43.480 --> 00:30:43.880 where can 00:30:43.880 --> 00:30:44.680 stability be 00:30:44.680 --> 00:30:45.079 found, 00:30:45.660 --> 00:30:46.299 consistency, 00:30:46.579 --> 00:30:46.980 reliability? 00:30:48.740 --> 00:30:49.620 Will you 00:30:49.620 --> 00:30:50.180 come and 00:30:50.180 --> 00:30:50.819 throw yourselves 00:30:50.819 --> 00:30:51.279 not on the 00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:51.620 minister, 00:30:52.579 --> 00:30:53.480 not on us, 00:30:54.180 --> 00:30:54.519 but you 00:30:54.519 --> 00:30:55.220 throw yourselves 00:30:55.220 --> 00:30:55.759 on the 00:30:55.759 --> 00:30:56.380 God who 00:30:56.380 --> 00:30:57.279 changes not? 00:30:59.620 --> 00:30:59.960 And some 00:30:59.960 --> 00:31:00.339 of you here 00:31:00.339 --> 00:31:01.000 are feeling 00:31:01.000 --> 00:31:02.620 tossed about 00:31:02.620 --> 00:31:04.519 to and fro 00:31:04.519 --> 00:31:04.980 and you need 00:31:04.980 --> 00:31:05.440 to cast 00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:06.299 yourself on 00:31:06.299 --> 00:31:06.660 the rock 00:31:06.660 --> 00:31:06.900 and you 00:31:06.900 --> 00:31:07.299 bring all 00:31:07.299 --> 00:31:08.299 your change 00:31:08.299 --> 00:31:08.680 to him. 00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:10.579 And you 00:31:10.579 --> 00:31:10.819 say, 00:31:11.059 --> 00:31:11.579 on Christ 00:31:11.579 --> 00:31:11.980 the solid 00:31:11.980 --> 00:31:12.319 rock I 00:31:12.319 --> 00:31:12.579 stand. 00:31:12.680 --> 00:31:13.039 All other 00:31:13.039 --> 00:31:13.420 ground is 00:31:13.420 --> 00:31:13.640 sinking 00:31:13.640 --> 00:31:14.019 sand. 00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:16.339 So can 00:31:16.339 --> 00:31:16.660 you see 00:31:16.660 --> 00:31:18.220 then change 00:31:18.220 --> 00:31:18.640 in your 00:31:18.640 --> 00:31:19.059 life and 00:31:19.059 --> 00:31:19.240 mine. 00:31:19.339 --> 00:31:19.519 It's 00:31:19.519 --> 00:31:19.940 always 00:31:19.940 --> 00:31:20.440 possible. 00:31:22.019 --> 00:31:22.460 It's 00:31:22.460 --> 00:31:22.799 always 00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:23.240 possible. 00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:25.720 And so 00:31:25.720 --> 00:31:26.120 maybe there's 00:31:26.120 --> 00:31:26.440 something in 00:31:26.440 --> 00:31:26.860 your life 00:31:26.860 --> 00:31:27.339 this morning, 00:31:27.480 --> 00:31:28.000 some trait, 00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:28.319 some 00:31:28.319 --> 00:31:29.079 characteristic, 00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:29.920 some habitual 00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:31.180 sin that 00:31:31.180 --> 00:31:32.059 you hate and 00:31:32.059 --> 00:31:32.960 you long to 00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:33.620 be free of 00:31:33.620 --> 00:31:33.860 it. 00:31:34.860 --> 00:31:35.180 And I 00:31:35.180 --> 00:31:36.140 need to say 00:31:36.140 --> 00:31:36.400 to you, 00:31:36.460 --> 00:31:37.160 change is 00:31:37.160 --> 00:31:37.559 possible. 00:31:39.900 --> 00:31:40.559 I think we 00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:41.140 want to say 00:31:41.140 --> 00:31:41.740 this really 00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:42.460 clearly to our 00:31:42.460 --> 00:31:42.720 culture, 00:31:42.799 --> 00:31:43.079 don't we? 00:31:43.079 --> 00:31:46.319 I was 00:31:46.319 --> 00:31:46.559 chatting with 00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:46.879 a friend 00:31:46.879 --> 00:31:47.559 this week 00:31:47.559 --> 00:31:47.839 who's 00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:48.480 involved in 00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:49.199 working with 00:31:49.199 --> 00:31:49.559 people with 00:31:49.559 --> 00:31:49.919 addictions. 00:31:50.419 --> 00:31:50.799 He's coming 00:31:50.799 --> 00:31:51.480 to speak in 00:31:51.480 --> 00:31:52.039 January to 00:31:52.039 --> 00:31:53.199 us and 00:31:53.199 --> 00:31:53.579 he said to 00:31:53.579 --> 00:31:53.699 me, 00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:53.859 Levy, 00:31:53.939 --> 00:31:54.199 how many 00:31:54.199 --> 00:31:54.799 people struggle 00:31:54.799 --> 00:31:55.319 with addictions 00:31:55.319 --> 00:31:55.679 in your 00:31:55.679 --> 00:31:56.019 congregation? 00:31:58.259 --> 00:31:58.799 I said, 00:31:59.099 --> 00:32:00.259 I won't 00:32:00.259 --> 00:32:00.559 tell him what 00:32:00.559 --> 00:32:00.859 I said, 00:32:01.539 --> 00:32:02.059 but I 00:32:02.059 --> 00:32:02.339 didn't say 00:32:02.339 --> 00:32:02.799 very many. 00:32:02.939 --> 00:32:03.159 He said, 00:32:03.199 --> 00:32:03.339 Levy, 00:32:03.419 --> 00:32:03.599 do you know 00:32:03.599 --> 00:32:03.799 how many 00:32:03.799 --> 00:32:04.279 people struggle 00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:05.079 with addictions? 00:32:05.319 --> 00:32:05.619 The lot 00:32:05.619 --> 00:32:05.859 of them. 00:32:06.599 --> 00:32:06.919 The lot 00:32:06.919 --> 00:32:07.159 of them. 00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:09.500 And we 00:32:09.500 --> 00:32:09.759 keep it 00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:09.960 hidden, 00:32:10.059 --> 00:32:10.319 don't we? 00:32:10.319 --> 00:32:12.379 But if 00:32:12.379 --> 00:32:12.839 it's alcohol 00:32:12.839 --> 00:32:13.240 or if 00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:13.980 it's 00:32:13.980 --> 00:32:14.439 drugs 00:32:14.439 --> 00:32:14.799 or it's 00:32:14.799 --> 00:32:15.200 pornography, 00:32:16.579 --> 00:32:17.179 if you're 00:32:17.179 --> 00:32:17.439 struggling 00:32:17.439 --> 00:32:18.519 with sexual 00:32:18.519 --> 00:32:18.740 sin, 00:32:18.779 --> 00:32:19.000 if you're 00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:19.240 struggling 00:32:19.240 --> 00:32:19.819 with homosexual 00:32:19.819 --> 00:32:20.659 temptations, 00:32:21.139 --> 00:32:22.099 I need to 00:32:22.099 --> 00:32:22.559 tell you on 00:32:22.559 --> 00:32:23.000 the basis 00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:23.559 of God's 00:32:23.559 --> 00:32:23.779 word, 00:32:23.960 --> 00:32:24.919 change is 00:32:24.919 --> 00:32:25.759 possible. 00:32:27.759 --> 00:32:28.399 What was 00:32:28.399 --> 00:32:29.000 it that Paul 00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:29.639 said in his 00:32:29.639 --> 00:32:30.139 letter to the 00:32:30.139 --> 00:32:30.419 Corinthians? 00:32:30.599 --> 00:32:30.960 Do you remember? 00:32:31.339 --> 00:32:31.899 He said it to 00:32:31.899 --> 00:32:32.359 people who'd 00:32:32.359 --> 00:32:33.500 been thieves, 00:32:33.599 --> 00:32:33.919 they'd been 00:32:33.919 --> 00:32:34.379 inside, 00:32:34.500 --> 00:32:34.759 they'd been 00:32:34.759 --> 00:32:35.220 drunkards, 00:32:35.299 --> 00:32:35.519 they'd been 00:32:35.519 --> 00:32:37.679 adulterers, 00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:37.960 they'd been 00:32:37.960 --> 00:32:38.559 homosexuals. 00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:38.960 What was it 00:32:38.960 --> 00:32:39.379 that was said? 00:32:39.619 --> 00:32:40.000 1 Corinthians 00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:40.359 6, 00:32:40.660 --> 00:32:41.039 such were 00:32:41.039 --> 00:32:41.339 some of 00:32:41.339 --> 00:32:41.619 you, 00:32:41.779 --> 00:32:42.099 but you 00:32:42.099 --> 00:32:42.519 were washed, 00:32:42.619 --> 00:32:42.779 you were 00:32:42.779 --> 00:32:43.259 sanctified. 00:32:44.460 --> 00:32:45.000 In other 00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:45.119 words, 00:32:45.160 --> 00:32:45.319 you were 00:32:45.319 --> 00:32:45.619 changed. 00:32:45.779 --> 00:32:46.299 You and 00:32:46.299 --> 00:32:46.900 I can 00:32:46.900 --> 00:32:47.460 change. 00:32:48.980 --> 00:32:49.500 And I 00:32:49.500 --> 00:32:49.839 wonder whether 00:32:49.839 --> 00:32:50.200 we really 00:32:50.200 --> 00:32:50.839 believe that. 00:32:51.779 --> 00:32:52.299 I wonder 00:32:52.299 --> 00:32:52.619 whether we 00:32:52.619 --> 00:32:53.319 really believe 00:32:53.319 --> 00:32:54.200 that by 00:32:54.200 --> 00:32:54.859 trusting in 00:32:54.859 --> 00:32:55.140 the Lord 00:32:55.140 --> 00:32:55.420 Jesus, 00:32:55.619 --> 00:32:56.519 by his 00:32:56.519 --> 00:32:57.119 Holy Spirit, 00:32:57.240 --> 00:32:57.559 he can 00:32:57.559 --> 00:32:58.400 grow fruit 00:32:58.400 --> 00:32:59.059 in you 00:32:59.059 --> 00:32:59.720 that wasn't 00:32:59.720 --> 00:33:00.519 there before. 00:33:01.700 --> 00:33:02.059 And you 00:33:02.059 --> 00:33:02.240 say, 00:33:02.299 --> 00:33:02.460 Paul, 00:33:02.500 --> 00:33:02.920 I'm not a 00:33:02.920 --> 00:33:03.579 patient person. 00:33:04.700 --> 00:33:05.200 But you 00:33:05.200 --> 00:33:05.759 can change. 00:33:06.740 --> 00:33:07.259 I'm an 00:33:07.259 --> 00:33:08.039 angry person, 00:33:08.200 --> 00:33:08.940 I fly off the 00:33:08.940 --> 00:33:09.220 handle, 00:33:09.220 --> 00:33:09.660 you can 00:33:09.660 --> 00:33:10.000 change. 00:33:10.240 --> 00:33:10.660 I struggle 00:33:10.660 --> 00:33:11.519 constantly with 00:33:11.519 --> 00:33:11.980 thoughts of 00:33:11.980 --> 00:33:12.299 lust, 00:33:12.559 --> 00:33:12.900 you can 00:33:12.900 --> 00:33:13.480 change. 00:33:17.019 --> 00:33:17.339 Children, 00:33:17.519 --> 00:33:17.960 look up for 00:33:17.960 --> 00:33:18.200 a moment. 00:33:18.460 --> 00:33:18.839 Do you remember 00:33:18.839 --> 00:33:19.299 we talked a bit 00:33:19.299 --> 00:33:19.700 about it at 00:33:19.700 --> 00:33:20.120 Sunday school? 00:33:20.620 --> 00:33:21.259 We can often 00:33:21.259 --> 00:33:21.900 think that the 00:33:21.900 --> 00:33:22.460 things that I 00:33:22.460 --> 00:33:22.980 struggle with, 00:33:23.039 --> 00:33:23.339 I'm going to 00:33:23.339 --> 00:33:23.819 struggle with for 00:33:23.819 --> 00:33:24.339 the rest of my 00:33:24.339 --> 00:33:24.660 life. 00:33:25.680 --> 00:33:26.299 It may be that 00:33:26.299 --> 00:33:27.120 you get really 00:33:27.120 --> 00:33:27.960 angry and you 00:33:27.960 --> 00:33:28.660 lose your temper. 00:33:29.660 --> 00:33:30.180 It may be that 00:33:30.180 --> 00:33:30.660 you worry, 00:33:31.380 --> 00:33:32.059 you really 00:33:32.059 --> 00:33:32.440 worry. 00:33:33.079 --> 00:33:33.779 And every day 00:33:33.779 --> 00:33:34.079 is a battle, 00:33:34.140 --> 00:33:34.620 you go off to 00:33:34.620 --> 00:33:35.480 school really, 00:33:35.779 --> 00:33:36.460 really anxious, 00:33:36.460 --> 00:33:36.840 as you come 00:33:36.840 --> 00:33:37.299 home from 00:33:37.299 --> 00:33:38.100 school upset, 00:33:38.380 --> 00:33:38.980 you think 00:33:38.980 --> 00:33:39.539 things which 00:33:39.539 --> 00:33:40.100 you really 00:33:40.100 --> 00:33:40.960 hate thinking 00:33:40.960 --> 00:33:41.660 about others. 00:33:43.579 --> 00:33:44.500 The lies that 00:33:44.500 --> 00:33:44.980 you tell. 00:33:46.100 --> 00:33:46.360 And the 00:33:46.360 --> 00:33:46.960 Bible tells us 00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:47.400 that as we 00:33:47.400 --> 00:33:47.980 look to 00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:48.480 Jesus and 00:33:48.480 --> 00:33:48.980 as we rely 00:33:48.980 --> 00:33:49.319 on his 00:33:49.319 --> 00:33:49.539 spirit, 00:33:49.900 --> 00:33:50.519 you can 00:33:50.519 --> 00:33:51.180 change. 00:33:52.700 --> 00:33:53.120 Your 00:33:53.120 --> 00:33:53.559 marriage, 00:33:53.680 --> 00:33:53.900 which is 00:33:53.900 --> 00:33:54.860 painful and 00:33:54.860 --> 00:33:55.259 difficult, 00:33:56.640 --> 00:33:57.960 it'll never 00:33:57.960 --> 00:33:58.500 change. 00:34:00.500 --> 00:34:01.319 Don't listen 00:34:01.319 --> 00:34:01.559 to that 00:34:01.559 --> 00:34:01.899 voice. 00:34:03.559 --> 00:34:03.759 You 00:34:03.759 --> 00:34:04.319 parents, 00:34:04.439 --> 00:34:04.659 and you 00:34:04.659 --> 00:34:05.419 think this 00:34:05.419 --> 00:34:06.079 child will 00:34:06.079 --> 00:34:07.000 never get 00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:07.279 it. 00:34:08.840 --> 00:34:09.420 You can 00:34:09.420 --> 00:34:09.860 change. 00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:11.819 The 00:34:11.819 --> 00:34:12.340 eternal God 00:34:12.340 --> 00:34:12.639 is our 00:34:12.639 --> 00:34:13.000 refuge. 00:34:15.279 --> 00:34:15.599 And maybe 00:34:15.599 --> 00:34:16.039 what's happening 00:34:16.039 --> 00:34:16.500 to you now 00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:17.679 is that God 00:34:17.679 --> 00:34:18.239 by his 00:34:18.239 --> 00:34:18.880 spirit is 00:34:18.880 --> 00:34:19.699 chipping away 00:34:19.699 --> 00:34:20.119 at you. 00:34:20.559 --> 00:34:21.199 So painful, 00:34:21.340 --> 00:34:22.019 he's chiseling, 00:34:22.440 --> 00:34:22.980 shaping you to 00:34:22.980 --> 00:34:23.380 be more like 00:34:23.380 --> 00:34:23.579 him. 00:34:25.460 --> 00:34:25.799 And Paul 00:34:25.799 --> 00:34:26.500 writes to 00:34:26.500 --> 00:34:26.940 the Corinthians 00:34:26.940 --> 00:34:27.659 in 2 Corinthians 00:34:27.659 --> 00:34:28.940 3 verse 18, 00:34:29.159 --> 00:34:30.159 we are all 00:34:30.159 --> 00:34:30.880 with unveiled 00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:31.300 faces, 00:34:31.460 --> 00:34:31.940 behold the 00:34:31.940 --> 00:34:32.380 glory of 00:34:32.380 --> 00:34:32.680 God, 00:34:32.920 --> 00:34:33.280 and are 00:34:33.280 --> 00:34:33.519 being 00:34:33.519 --> 00:34:34.460 transformed. 00:34:34.940 --> 00:34:35.200 That's 00:34:35.200 --> 00:34:35.360 what's 00:34:35.360 --> 00:34:35.579 happening. 00:34:36.700 --> 00:34:36.960 That's 00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:37.320 what God 00:34:37.320 --> 00:34:37.700 is doing. 00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:38.280 He is 00:34:38.280 --> 00:34:39.160 transforming 00:34:39.160 --> 00:34:39.599 us, 00:34:40.740 --> 00:34:41.380 shaping us 00:34:41.380 --> 00:34:42.000 from one 00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:42.500 degree of 00:34:42.500 --> 00:34:42.920 glory to 00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:43.360 another in 00:34:43.360 --> 00:34:43.619 an ever 00:34:43.619 --> 00:34:43.860 changing 00:34:43.860 --> 00:34:44.220 world. 00:34:46.740 --> 00:34:46.980 And so 00:34:46.980 --> 00:34:47.360 we cast 00:34:47.360 --> 00:34:47.519 ourselves, 00:34:47.680 --> 00:34:48.140 we rely 00:34:48.140 --> 00:34:48.519 on the 00:34:48.519 --> 00:34:49.140 unchanging 00:34:49.140 --> 00:34:49.680 grace of 00:34:49.680 --> 00:34:50.160 the unchanging 00:34:50.160 --> 00:34:50.500 God, 00:34:50.880 --> 00:34:52.000 to change 00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:52.300 us into 00:34:52.300 --> 00:34:52.780 the men 00:34:52.780 --> 00:34:53.059 and the 00:34:53.059 --> 00:34:53.280 women, 00:34:53.440 --> 00:34:53.740 the boys 00:34:53.740 --> 00:34:54.260 and girls 00:34:54.260 --> 00:34:54.840 that he 00:34:54.840 --> 00:34:55.200 wants us 00:34:55.200 --> 00:34:55.480 to be. 00:34:57.019 --> 00:34:57.320 Or to 00:34:57.320 --> 00:34:57.519 put it 00:34:57.519 --> 00:34:57.940 another way, 00:34:58.019 --> 00:34:58.280 in this 00:34:58.280 --> 00:34:59.460 crazy world 00:34:59.460 --> 00:35:00.200 of change, 00:35:00.880 --> 00:35:01.880 the 00:35:01.880 --> 00:35:02.360 immutable 00:35:02.360 --> 00:35:03.300 God the 00:35:03.300 --> 00:35:03.579 Father, 00:35:04.640 --> 00:35:05.280 is changing 00:35:05.280 --> 00:35:05.880 us by 00:35:05.880 --> 00:35:06.579 his spirit 00:35:06.579 --> 00:35:08.099 to be more 00:35:08.099 --> 00:35:08.460 like his 00:35:08.460 --> 00:35:08.780 immutable 00:35:08.780 --> 00:35:09.119 son. 00:35:10.460 --> 00:35:11.300 Though we 00:35:11.300 --> 00:35:11.900 might change 00:35:11.900 --> 00:35:12.460 and everything 00:35:12.460 --> 00:35:13.420 else around us 00:35:13.420 --> 00:35:13.820 might change, 00:35:13.880 --> 00:35:14.440 one thing is 00:35:14.440 --> 00:35:14.640 sure, 00:35:15.140 --> 00:35:16.079 he will 00:35:16.079 --> 00:35:16.400 not 00:35:16.400 --> 00:35:17.740 change. 00:35:17.739 --> 00:35:19.879 let's pray. 00:35:19.879 --> 00:35:19.879