WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.940 Father, we give you thanks and praise that you do not relate to us according to our performance, 00:00:07.660 --> 00:00:12.900 but that we can rest on the promise that you have made to us in the gospel, 00:00:13.099 --> 00:00:17.460 the good news of who Jesus is and what he accomplished for us on the cross. 00:00:17.920 --> 00:00:22.519 We ask, Father, that you would pour out the Holy Spirit upon us and bring these precious truths 00:00:22.519 --> 00:00:28.539 ever deeper into the center of who we are, that we might learn to be a people living out of promise, 00:00:28.539 --> 00:00:31.359 not out of a need to perform. 00:00:31.759 --> 00:00:35.460 And we ask this in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. Amen. 00:00:36.140 --> 00:00:37.060 Please be seated. 00:00:40.840 --> 00:00:48.840 So, it's too bad that we can't often just ask questions without people getting defensive 00:00:48.840 --> 00:00:51.920 or not being in a fight or anything like that. 00:00:51.980 --> 00:00:56.299 Just to be sort of clear, like, here's one of the things that have been going through my mind for quite a while now. 00:00:56.299 --> 00:01:02.320 And some of this, some of what I say might come as a surprise to some of you, some of you won't come as a surprise. 00:01:02.320 --> 00:01:10.819 But if you were to go into a coffee shop and see me lining up for coffee, I'm one of that 40% of people not wearing a mask. 00:01:11.700 --> 00:01:16.099 If you were going to Costco, I'm one of those 30 to 40% of people not wearing a mask. 00:01:16.260 --> 00:01:17.319 So, I'm one of those guys. 00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:20.500 I hope you still like me after you hear that. 00:01:20.599 --> 00:01:21.799 But I'm one of those guys. 00:01:21.920 --> 00:01:22.939 If you're different, that's fine. 00:01:22.939 --> 00:01:23.719 But here's the thing. 00:01:23.819 --> 00:01:25.879 I've been thinking, and I say this to people all the time. 00:01:26.259 --> 00:01:33.900 I sort of wish, not sort of, I actually really do wish that I could have a conversation with some of the people wearing masks. 00:01:34.959 --> 00:01:39.719 Like, a conversation just to figure out why you're wearing the mask. 00:01:39.719 --> 00:01:43.420 And you could ask me why I'm not. 00:01:43.620 --> 00:01:50.420 And you could express your sort of fears about me, or if you have any, or questioning about me. 00:01:50.519 --> 00:01:51.879 And I could ask those things. 00:01:52.120 --> 00:01:59.939 And, like, there's many, many times I wish I could just go up to people and say, like, you know, you're outside on Bank Street, like, all by yourself, and you're wearing a mask. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:00.840 Why are you wearing a mask? 00:02:00.900 --> 00:02:01.840 Like, I'd just like to know. 00:02:01.840 --> 00:02:07.180 Now, just obviously, it's hard to have, I've never asked anybody that. 00:02:07.240 --> 00:02:08.599 It's hard to have that conversation. 00:02:08.840 --> 00:02:12.099 In fact, you worry that they end up turning very quickly into a fight. 00:02:14.480 --> 00:02:21.539 And I'm obviously, I'm not going to say that I'm always open to questions, that I'm always just very comfortable with them. 00:02:21.599 --> 00:02:27.159 Obviously, there are many times I get frightened by questions, or threatened by them, or become defensive. 00:02:27.159 --> 00:02:37.199 But in my better self, my best self, I sort of wish that not only that I could ask good questions, but that I would be open to hearing good questions as well. 00:02:38.120 --> 00:02:45.139 But it seems like, in many ways, we live in a culture, in an age where you can't have questions, and you can't ask questions. 00:02:46.219 --> 00:02:50.800 I mean, there's a range of things that we, you know, I mean, sometimes I do speak about them. 00:02:50.879 --> 00:02:55.840 But, you know, we know we get canceled in our culture and everything if you question certain types of fundamental things. 00:02:55.840 --> 00:03:09.099 So, but I think most of us in our hearts wish that we would be the type of person who can ask a question and be asked a question, an honest one, and have a conversation. 00:03:09.420 --> 00:03:13.039 Like, I think that's what we all think in our, that would be our best self. 00:03:14.180 --> 00:03:19.319 And if you don't think that, then I don't know what I can say to you if you actually don't think that would be a good thing. 00:03:19.680 --> 00:03:21.680 But I think most of us think that's a good thing. 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:36.819 Now, it's one of the things, the Bible, and sometimes people say to me, you know, George, I could never be a Christian because, you know, Christians aren't allowed to sort of ask questions and stuff like that. 00:03:36.840 --> 00:03:38.780 I have too many questions to ever be a Christian. 00:03:39.600 --> 00:03:41.100 I want to look at a text today. 00:03:41.099 --> 00:03:55.879 We're going to look at a text today in Genesis chapter 15, a very, very old Bible text that forms us to ask questions and forms us to see that it's a good thing to ask questions, that God is actually pleased when we ask questions. 00:03:56.219 --> 00:04:00.299 So if you would turn with me to Genesis chapter 15, that would be really good. 00:04:00.939 --> 00:04:06.199 And if you're watching this for the first time or you're here for the first time, we're going through the Abraham stories. 00:04:06.199 --> 00:04:09.039 That's the sermon series that we're doing. 00:04:09.419 --> 00:04:11.839 So we won't do all of them, but we'll do the main ones. 00:04:11.919 --> 00:04:14.199 We go from Genesis 12 to Genesis 22. 00:04:14.899 --> 00:04:20.740 And so we've gone through 12, 13, 14, and today it's Genesis chapter 15. 00:04:22.159 --> 00:04:25.060 And so here's how the text goes. 00:04:25.500 --> 00:04:26.439 It begins like this. 00:04:26.439 --> 00:04:29.839 After these things, Genesis 15, verse 1. 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:35.620 By the way, it's always good to bring your own Bible or if you're at home, use your own Bible so it's easier for you to find things later. 00:04:36.120 --> 00:04:39.740 But if not, we have it up on the screen for you to be able to follow along. 00:04:40.540 --> 00:04:43.699 After these things, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision. 00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:44.980 Fear not, Abram. 00:04:45.100 --> 00:04:46.100 I am your shield. 00:04:46.399 --> 00:04:47.980 Your reward shall be very great. 00:04:48.120 --> 00:04:49.639 So just sort of pause here for a second. 00:04:50.560 --> 00:04:52.579 You'll notice it begins with after these things. 00:04:52.659 --> 00:04:53.360 So what's going on? 00:04:53.360 --> 00:05:06.080 Well, what's just going on before this is that basically there was a superior and larger sort of group of nations in Mesopotamia. 00:05:06.540 --> 00:05:12.199 And in the story before this, they sort of controlled this rough area. 00:05:12.939 --> 00:05:14.420 And there was a bit of a revolt. 00:05:14.780 --> 00:05:17.520 And the Mesopotamian armies came down. 00:05:17.800 --> 00:05:19.840 Four armies merged to be as one. 00:05:19.839 --> 00:05:27.359 And then they came down and they defeated a whole pile of people groups, not that many miles away from where Abram lived. 00:05:28.079 --> 00:05:34.459 And then they circle around to attack the five small city-state kingdoms that had been rebelling against them. 00:05:34.479 --> 00:05:35.620 And they defeat them in battle. 00:05:36.559 --> 00:05:42.359 And then they leave with all of their plunder and their slaves. 00:05:42.360 --> 00:05:44.780 And the people are going to hold for ransom and all their treasure. 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:51.939 And Abram has discovered that his nephew Lot, who separated from him, has been one of the people captured. 00:05:52.160 --> 00:06:04.180 So Abram takes off with a small number of forces and is actually able to defeat the invading armies of the superior culture in Mesopotamia. 00:06:04.180 --> 00:06:06.500 And rescue his nephew. 00:06:07.100 --> 00:06:12.500 And then the bulk of the part just before that is the two different ways to respond to this. 00:06:13.160 --> 00:06:20.460 And actually what it is, is the king of Sodom shows to respond to it by not living in the real world. 00:06:21.160 --> 00:06:24.939 And Melchizedek shows how you respond to this by living in the real world. 00:06:24.939 --> 00:06:32.879 And that's what we talked about a little bit before, how pride and arrogance leads us to not live in the real world. 00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:38.019 And this type of humility and faith leads us to live in the real world. 00:06:38.300 --> 00:06:39.540 So that's just what's gone before it. 00:06:40.019 --> 00:06:44.180 So, you know, one of the things which is very interesting, if you ever do a bit of a word study about the Bible, 00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:48.939 it's amazing how often in the Bible that God speaks to his people and says, don't be afraid. 00:06:49.639 --> 00:06:50.759 Like, it's actually quite astounding. 00:06:50.759 --> 00:06:55.339 If you actually go back and just look in the gospel, the number of times that Jesus says, don't be afraid, 00:06:55.620 --> 00:06:58.759 there's quite a few of them and they're all at very significant times. 00:06:59.199 --> 00:07:02.719 Because it's obviously the case that fear is an important thing. 00:07:02.839 --> 00:07:04.379 Anxiety is an important thing for us. 00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:06.139 And God doesn't want us to be fearful. 00:07:06.899 --> 00:07:08.599 In fact, actually, it's not going to be the sermon. 00:07:08.740 --> 00:07:12.519 But the main thing that really struck me this week actually was that idea of fear. 00:07:12.519 --> 00:07:19.980 It was this thing here which led me to a substantial prayer throughout the week and meditation upon my own life. 00:07:20.759 --> 00:07:23.459 And about the role that fear and anxiety has in my own life. 00:07:23.519 --> 00:07:26.139 But I'm not going to make that the sermon because it's just a bit of an aside. 00:07:26.379 --> 00:07:30.839 But Abram's probably feeling a little bit fearful about what he's just done. 00:07:31.579 --> 00:07:35.159 It's a little bit like when we lived in our previous parish. 00:07:35.300 --> 00:07:38.639 There was a time, it was probably a night like last night. 00:07:39.039 --> 00:07:40.620 It was unseasonably warm. 00:07:40.620 --> 00:07:46.439 And Louise and I were sleeping in the rectory which was right next door to one of the church buildings that I cared for. 00:07:47.199 --> 00:07:54.060 And in the middle of the night, I think my wife woke me up and said she heard the sound of laughing, male voices laughing and the breaking of glass. 00:07:54.780 --> 00:07:58.540 And I look out the window and I see the four young guys. 00:07:58.620 --> 00:08:02.319 And I go down and go out the front door and stand on the steps. 00:08:02.319 --> 00:08:05.920 And I ask them what they've done. 00:08:05.959 --> 00:08:07.240 And we have this brief interchange. 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:11.079 And I say, you know, I know you've done something. 00:08:11.199 --> 00:08:12.079 I know who you are. 00:08:12.719 --> 00:08:16.980 And as I got back in the house, my wife said, George, that wasn't actually the smartest thing in the world to do. 00:08:16.980 --> 00:08:21.939 Is to confront four guys late at night all by yourself on your front steps. 00:08:22.339 --> 00:08:24.180 And it might be something like that for Abram. 00:08:24.339 --> 00:08:26.000 He's done this amazing thing. 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:30.959 And now afterwards, he's thinking, I don't know if that was the smartest thing in the world to take on the Mesopotamian armies. 00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:33.019 Now I have a big mark on my back. 00:08:33.299 --> 00:08:35.879 So God speaks this word of encouragement. 00:08:37.100 --> 00:08:37.960 He wants it again. 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:39.879 Fear not, Abram. 00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:41.000 I am your shield. 00:08:41.580 --> 00:08:42.940 Your reward shall be very great. 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:45.139 How does Abram respond? 00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:47.720 Well, Abram responds in a very, very interesting way. 00:08:48.059 --> 00:08:51.019 He asks two questions of God. 00:08:51.960 --> 00:08:53.360 Look what he says, verse 2. 00:08:53.360 --> 00:08:56.560 But Abram said, O Lord God, what will you give me? 00:08:57.300 --> 00:09:01.700 For I, in other words, you've said, you know, there's going to be a great reward. 00:09:02.060 --> 00:09:05.100 But Abram says, you know, O Lord God, what will you give me? 00:09:05.440 --> 00:09:09.840 For I continue childless, and the heir of my house is a leaser of Damascus. 00:09:10.440 --> 00:09:19.379 And Abram said, behold, in Hebrew it's emphatic, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir. 00:09:20.639 --> 00:09:22.960 Now, this is very interesting. 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:28.740 And that Abram goes ahead and asks these questions. 00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:30.419 My mic's falling apart. 00:09:31.019 --> 00:09:33.200 That Abram goes ahead and asks these questions of God. 00:09:34.500 --> 00:09:35.460 Like, really? 00:09:35.740 --> 00:09:36.980 You're going to do these things? 00:09:37.100 --> 00:09:38.279 Like, how are you going to do these things? 00:09:38.279 --> 00:09:46.699 And what's really interesting about the story, you see, and this is where these ancient stories in this, our Jewish friends called the Tanakh. 00:09:46.779 --> 00:09:47.860 We call it the Old Testament. 00:09:47.860 --> 00:09:57.340 And these questions that, over time, became very formative in our culture, created a culture where questions were seen as good things, not bad things. 00:09:58.700 --> 00:09:59.700 I mean, it took time. 00:09:59.820 --> 00:10:02.419 It takes time for stories to form us. 00:10:02.419 --> 00:10:10.599 But these stories form us because God, Abram asked these questions of God, and God doesn't get mad at Abram. 00:10:10.679 --> 00:10:11.740 He doesn't say, oh, come on, Abram. 00:10:11.860 --> 00:10:12.679 Like, you know, smarten up. 00:10:12.799 --> 00:10:13.500 You know, come on, dude. 00:10:13.579 --> 00:10:16.479 Like, just, or how dare you question me, or anything like that. 00:10:16.579 --> 00:10:20.139 God doesn't react badly, as the rest of the story will show. 00:10:20.139 --> 00:10:31.759 So, in fact, what it shows is for those who say that they have too many questions to ever be a Christian, and the implication is, is that we Christians don't have any questions. 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:35.159 And, of course, that actually can be a fair description of some Christians. 00:10:35.159 --> 00:10:46.220 Some Christians do just sort of, I remember when I became a Christian, you know, and I only have warm thoughts of the people who played a role in me becoming a Christian. 00:10:46.220 --> 00:10:56.000 But when I started to begin to have some real intellectual questions about how Christianity fit with things, their response to me was just, you need to pray more and believe more. 00:10:57.500 --> 00:11:00.019 Like, that was their response, to sort of just shut me down. 00:11:00.160 --> 00:11:01.120 You just need to pray more. 00:11:01.320 --> 00:11:02.320 You just need to believe more. 00:11:02.879 --> 00:11:04.220 Well, that doesn't really cut it. 00:11:04.580 --> 00:11:05.920 Didn't cut it for me, at least. 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:15.060 And so the fact of the matter is that, I mean, people might have met Christians like that who just don't believe in asking any questions. 00:11:15.059 --> 00:11:16.339 You just have to believe by faith. 00:11:16.399 --> 00:11:17.500 You just have to have more faith. 00:11:18.039 --> 00:11:23.339 You need to go and sing praise songs for an hour solid and get all pumped up, and that will deal with you. 00:11:24.099 --> 00:11:34.679 I mean, that obviously is a—we human beings have something within us whereby we don't really like questions, especially questions of us. 00:11:34.679 --> 00:11:42.979 But the fact of the matter is, as we see in this story, is that Christianity forms us to ask questions, to welcome questions. 00:11:43.139 --> 00:11:50.039 And the fact of the matter is, is that faith, in a sense, almost propels us to ask questions. 00:11:50.039 --> 00:11:59.399 Because Abram's generally—it's because he has faith, which we're going to see in a moment, that Abram's puzzled by what God says. 00:11:59.899 --> 00:12:01.899 His questioning doesn't come out of arrogance. 00:12:01.899 --> 00:12:03.759 It doesn't come out of idolatry. 00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:05.620 It doesn't come out of anything like that. 00:12:05.679 --> 00:12:09.620 It's just, okay, God, you said this, but how is that going to work exactly? 00:12:09.779 --> 00:12:11.419 Like, how can that possibly work? 00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:14.819 It's an honest question, which is created by faith. 00:12:14.820 --> 00:12:16.940 So how does God answer? 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:18.400 Well, look at verse 4. 00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:21.480 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him. 00:12:23.400 --> 00:12:26.560 Just sort of, Matt, remember, Abram's having a vision. 00:12:27.660 --> 00:12:32.260 And one of the things that the Bible does here, it doesn't record what Abram sees in the vision. 00:12:32.540 --> 00:12:36.660 All it records is the words, the key words in the vision. 00:12:37.820 --> 00:12:38.160 Okay? 00:12:38.500 --> 00:12:39.680 So verse 4 again. 00:12:39.900 --> 00:12:42.340 And behold, the word of the Lord came to Abram. 00:12:42.340 --> 00:12:47.860 This man, that's referring to Eliezer, shall not be your heir. 00:12:48.500 --> 00:12:51.320 Your very own son shall be your heir. 00:12:51.460 --> 00:12:57.280 And in the original language, there's a very graphic image that from your own body, the son will come. 00:12:58.500 --> 00:12:59.620 And then verse 5. 00:12:59.820 --> 00:13:04.000 God brought Abram outside and said, look toward heaven and number the stars. 00:13:04.780 --> 00:13:06.060 If you're able to number them. 00:13:06.059 --> 00:13:11.179 And he said to him, that's God said to Abram, so shall your offspring be. 00:13:12.519 --> 00:13:15.019 And Abram believed the Lord. 00:13:17.119 --> 00:13:21.919 And the Lord counted it to Abram as righteousness. 00:13:25.059 --> 00:13:25.500 So. 00:13:25.500 --> 00:13:30.620 Now, if you're all like me, this seems like a weird thing. 00:13:32.700 --> 00:13:35.899 Remember, I've just tried to tell you that it's fine to ask questions of the text. 00:13:36.259 --> 00:13:37.179 Like, honest questions. 00:13:38.340 --> 00:13:39.580 And to many people, it would. 00:13:39.960 --> 00:13:44.980 So, like, what exactly does it mean here that, I mean, why is it that this is convincing to Abram? 00:13:44.980 --> 00:13:51.639 Why is it that God gives him this vision and says, you know, and then takes him out and says in the vision, go look at the stars at night. 00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:59.440 And if any of you have been really out where it's very, very, very rural and it's a cloudless night, you know how many stars you can see. 00:13:59.940 --> 00:14:02.159 And you can well imagine back then. 00:14:03.980 --> 00:14:08.580 I mean, unless there had been a volcano or something that caused you not to be able to see the stars very well. 00:14:08.620 --> 00:14:12.240 If it was a clear night, you'd really see lots of stars. 00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:27.399 And why is it that God just saying this creates a type of whatever this thing is about verse 6, that God realizes that Abram believes him and that believing of him is counted to him as righteousness. 00:14:27.700 --> 00:14:28.919 Like, what goes on here? 00:14:30.340 --> 00:14:34.399 Well, I guess all I want to say about it, I want to say a couple of things about it. 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:40.360 The first thing I want to say is that this actually describes something profoundly human. 00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:44.340 That many of us experience in life. 00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:49.779 Where somehow inside of us, there's a bit of a sea change. 00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:54.960 We might not, some of us might actually know when that sea change happens. 00:14:55.120 --> 00:14:59.480 Sometimes it might be, it takes a little while to realize that there's this sea change within us. 00:14:59.580 --> 00:15:03.919 But we have this thing where there's a sea change within us. 00:15:03.919 --> 00:15:10.659 And we, so here's how, it tends to come, let's say in two particular areas or three particular areas. 00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:12.939 One of them is in terms of romance or love. 00:15:13.319 --> 00:15:14.519 The other one is in friendship. 00:15:14.679 --> 00:15:18.079 And the other one is sort of in, just sort of a way to understand the world. 00:15:19.240 --> 00:15:24.479 And sometimes we can have known a person for many, many, many years. 00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:30.240 And then one day you realize that somewhere along the line you've fallen in love with them. 00:15:31.940 --> 00:15:37.039 Or that, and you might even remember that it was a particular walk or a particular thing. 00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:40.300 And there's nothing particularly special about that thing. 00:15:40.300 --> 00:15:47.600 But you just know afterwards that somehow during that time, there's a change in you. 00:15:47.600 --> 00:15:51.159 And before you weren't in love with them and now you are. 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:56.420 Or that you've, there's somebody that you've seen or been in your class for a long time. 00:15:56.420 --> 00:16:00.139 And then one day you're having coffee and you realize, you know what, we're friends. 00:16:00.180 --> 00:16:01.460 Like I really like this person. 00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:04.279 And you're not quite sure when that sea change happened. 00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:13.820 I had, not only in becoming a Christian later on, I had a significant change in sort of my philosophical, political ways of understanding the world. 00:16:14.800 --> 00:16:16.580 And it's the same type of thing. 00:16:16.580 --> 00:16:19.700 I could tell you sort of when that began to happen. 00:16:19.820 --> 00:16:22.400 Although it wasn't until later on that I realized that it began to happen. 00:16:22.700 --> 00:16:26.220 And if I told you, you'd probably say, really? 00:16:26.740 --> 00:16:27.759 Like that did it? 00:16:28.360 --> 00:16:30.259 That doesn't make any sense. 00:16:30.900 --> 00:16:32.480 And on one level it doesn't make any sense. 00:16:32.560 --> 00:16:34.360 But that's just the way human beings are wired. 00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:41.980 That something happens and we realize that we've crossed over a different type of, into a different type of world. 00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:44.440 Interior world. 00:16:46.580 --> 00:16:48.500 And so verse 6. 00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:54.480 And Abram believed the Lord and the Lord counted it to him as righteousness. 00:16:54.720 --> 00:16:58.660 Some of you might know that this is actually a very significant verse in the New Testament. 00:16:58.659 --> 00:17:05.460 Romans chapter 4 gives an extended meditation and explanation of the text. 00:17:05.619 --> 00:17:08.200 Galatians 3 does it and James 2 does it. 00:17:08.200 --> 00:17:16.480 Where they take this text and say this is something, this is in a sense giving us a very basic picture of what it means to become a Christian. 00:17:17.100 --> 00:17:19.259 And what the good news of the gospel is. 00:17:19.860 --> 00:17:22.480 That it's not just so much that you believe God. 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:27.259 Because as both the Old Testament and the New Testament will show you can believe God. 00:17:27.380 --> 00:17:28.860 I mean demons believe in God. 00:17:29.460 --> 00:17:33.519 But it's not just that you believe in God's existence. 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:38.660 But you actually believe what he says and promises in a way that's not just an intellectual assent. 00:17:38.660 --> 00:17:41.060 But a turning of yourself. 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:45.120 To believe the promise. 00:17:45.560 --> 00:17:46.860 To believe that he's trustworthy. 00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:48.460 To believe that it's true. 00:17:50.060 --> 00:17:57.000 And that shift, as I said, whether it's in why I went from being extremely left wing to rejecting it. 00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:58.619 And I told you the incident. 00:17:58.779 --> 00:18:00.079 You go, well that doesn't make any sense. 00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:01.859 And I'd say, well that doesn't just make any sense. 00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:03.539 But that's just the way human beings are. 00:18:05.180 --> 00:18:08.660 Like we make these shifts inside who we are. 00:18:09.380 --> 00:18:13.640 And the basic nature of the gospel here is. 00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:17.059 And it's going to become solidified in what happens in the next few verses. 00:18:17.059 --> 00:18:18.059 Is this. 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:22.700 Like credited to him means that God treats you a different way. 00:18:22.700 --> 00:18:29.960 Righteousness in a sense fundamentally means a right relationship with God. 00:18:31.080 --> 00:18:39.220 And God takes this shift of Abram saying, okay well I'm 75 years old. 00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:40.680 My wife's 65 years old. 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:41.980 Or 77 and 67. 00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:44.420 We've never been able to have children. 00:18:45.600 --> 00:18:46.640 I'm 77. 00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:47.259 Did I say that? 00:18:47.660 --> 00:18:48.539 She's 67. 00:18:49.400 --> 00:18:51.400 67 year old women don't have babies. 00:18:52.700 --> 00:18:56.259 And we've been married for a long time. 00:19:00.019 --> 00:19:03.660 And I don't really deserve God to have done miracles for me. 00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:05.380 Like I'm not worthy of it. 00:19:05.779 --> 00:19:08.600 And this is definitely not something that I can do. 00:19:09.819 --> 00:19:12.360 Like there's no fertility drugs or surgery. 00:19:12.660 --> 00:19:15.500 And it's not just a matter of having lots and lots of sexual knowing. 00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:17.420 And something like it's just not going to happen. 00:19:17.420 --> 00:19:19.279 And just. 00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:23.660 But at some point in time there's this moment where Abram just believes in what God says. 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:27.440 That this promise. 00:19:27.800 --> 00:19:28.800 This offer. 00:19:29.160 --> 00:19:30.320 Of unmerited. 00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:32.180 Undeserved. 00:19:33.880 --> 00:19:34.440 Blessing. 00:19:36.100 --> 00:19:36.840 To the. 00:19:37.420 --> 00:19:40.440 For one in whom it's impossible for him to do it himself. 00:19:40.800 --> 00:19:43.180 That that's just who God is and what he does. 00:19:43.420 --> 00:19:44.380 And what he's offered to me. 00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:45.300 And I accept it. 00:19:45.299 --> 00:19:46.919 I accept it. 00:19:49.220 --> 00:19:50.480 And in the New Testament. 00:19:50.659 --> 00:19:51.960 What this is saying is. 00:19:52.019 --> 00:19:54.460 That this is in a sense is pointing us down the road. 00:19:54.460 --> 00:19:55.200 To what. 00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:56.960 Happens with Christ. 00:19:57.119 --> 00:19:57.279 That. 00:19:57.720 --> 00:19:58.980 You hear this story. 00:19:59.319 --> 00:19:59.619 Of a. 00:19:59.619 --> 00:20:00.119 Of a. 00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:01.399 Of a man who. 00:20:01.859 --> 00:20:02.859 Lived the life. 00:20:03.379 --> 00:20:04.339 That you should live. 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:05.480 But you've never lived. 00:20:05.579 --> 00:20:07.119 But he lived this perfect life. 00:20:07.119 --> 00:20:10.319 And he dies this death upon the cross. 00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:12.519 And this understanding. 00:20:13.059 --> 00:20:13.500 This. 00:20:13.639 --> 00:20:14.339 This proclamation. 00:20:14.339 --> 00:20:18.599 That Jesus suffered all of the trials and temptations that human beings suffer. 00:20:18.699 --> 00:20:19.539 But every time he. 00:20:19.699 --> 00:20:20.859 Is in a trial. 00:20:20.979 --> 00:20:21.559 Or he's tempted. 00:20:22.179 --> 00:20:24.159 He never succumbs to do the evil. 00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:26.159 He always is able to resist it. 00:20:26.779 --> 00:20:29.820 And he never breaks his unbroken fellowship with the father. 00:20:29.820 --> 00:20:32.560 And he lives the life that human beings should live. 00:20:32.620 --> 00:20:33.640 To actually be able to. 00:20:33.880 --> 00:20:35.580 To be in a relationship with God. 00:20:35.660 --> 00:20:36.860 He actually does it. 00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:37.360 We don't. 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:37.960 I don't. 00:20:38.040 --> 00:20:38.860 But he does it. 00:20:39.420 --> 00:20:39.740 And. 00:20:39.820 --> 00:20:39.980 And. 00:20:40.100 --> 00:20:42.840 And if people knew all of the bad things that I had done in my life. 00:20:42.900 --> 00:20:43.019 And. 00:20:43.120 --> 00:20:44.860 And all of the bad thoughts that I've had. 00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:45.040 And. 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:45.859 And you would demand. 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:47.440 The first thing you would say is. 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:49.099 You can no longer be a minister. 00:20:49.460 --> 00:20:49.759 And then. 00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:50.920 I could no longer be married. 00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:52.019 I could no longer be a dad. 00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:53.119 I couldn't be a granddad. 00:20:53.659 --> 00:20:53.879 And. 00:20:53.960 --> 00:20:54.139 And. 00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:55.559 And it would go on and on and on. 00:20:55.639 --> 00:20:58.159 Because I would be seen to be a very very terrible person. 00:20:58.240 --> 00:20:58.940 You thought that. 00:20:59.039 --> 00:20:59.700 You thought that. 00:20:59.779 --> 00:21:00.460 You did that. 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:01.279 You said that. 00:21:01.379 --> 00:21:01.599 Like. 00:21:02.359 --> 00:21:02.579 How. 00:21:02.700 --> 00:21:03.299 How could you. 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:04.240 But. 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:05.879 The punishment that would be. 00:21:06.599 --> 00:21:07.159 Needed. 00:21:07.539 --> 00:21:10.659 For people to think that their justice had been done. 00:21:11.240 --> 00:21:11.740 To me. 00:21:12.399 --> 00:21:12.619 I. 00:21:12.700 --> 00:21:13.539 I could never. 00:21:13.779 --> 00:21:15.019 I could never do that. 00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:15.639 Myself. 00:21:15.799 --> 00:21:15.960 I. 00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:18.079 But Christ does it for me. 00:21:18.139 --> 00:21:18.559 The death. 00:21:18.859 --> 00:21:19.579 He dies. 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:21.299 He dies. 00:21:21.659 --> 00:21:22.740 In my place. 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:26.500 To suffer the consequences that. 00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:27.940 I should suffer. 00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:29.579 And he does it in my place. 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:30.619 And he does it out of love. 00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:31.980 And he does it to me. 00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:33.279 Knowing the worst about me. 00:21:33.819 --> 00:21:34.700 He does it for me. 00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:35.980 Knowing the worst about me. 00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:36.379 I mean. 00:21:36.399 --> 00:21:37.379 He knows the best about me. 00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:38.759 But he knows the worst about me. 00:21:38.839 --> 00:21:40.240 He knows the worst of the worst. 00:21:40.859 --> 00:21:42.200 And still he does it. 00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:45.640 And that the message of the gospel is. 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:46.940 Is that. 00:21:47.299 --> 00:21:49.220 If you just believe this word. 00:21:49.640 --> 00:21:50.660 And not just believe it. 00:21:50.720 --> 00:21:51.980 But believe that Jesus. 00:21:52.680 --> 00:21:53.539 Who he is. 00:21:53.620 --> 00:21:54.640 And what he's done for you. 00:21:54.700 --> 00:21:55.080 If you. 00:21:55.940 --> 00:21:56.920 Put your hands. 00:21:57.120 --> 00:21:58.660 And trust him to be your savior. 00:21:58.880 --> 00:21:59.519 Then he. 00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:01.500 Pays the penalty. 00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:02.740 That you could never pay. 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:05.259 And he clothes you with the rightness. 00:22:05.259 --> 00:22:06.740 That rightness with God. 00:22:06.900 --> 00:22:08.440 That you could never attain. 00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:11.740 And that's this gift. 00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:13.079 This transaction. 00:22:13.299 --> 00:22:13.980 This gift. 00:22:15.140 --> 00:22:16.160 That creates. 00:22:16.460 --> 00:22:18.099 Now this new relationship. 00:22:18.339 --> 00:22:18.819 With you have. 00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:19.460 With God. 00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:21.240 Which is purely and utterly gift. 00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:24.099 Purely and utterly gift. 00:22:24.099 --> 00:22:28.859 And to say yes to that. 00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:30.259 And to have a sense within you. 00:22:30.339 --> 00:22:31.959 That that actually is true. 00:22:32.099 --> 00:22:33.539 And that offer is for me. 00:22:34.159 --> 00:22:35.799 In my particularity. 00:22:35.899 --> 00:22:36.179 And I. 00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:36.480 I. 00:22:37.259 --> 00:22:38.879 I can say yes to that. 00:22:38.919 --> 00:22:39.639 And it's real. 00:22:41.919 --> 00:22:43.539 The New Testament writer said. 00:22:43.619 --> 00:22:45.179 That's sort of what's going on here. 00:22:48.699 --> 00:22:49.099 Now. 00:22:49.379 --> 00:22:50.339 Here's the questions. 00:22:50.339 --> 00:22:50.719 By the way. 00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:52.299 The text doesn't ask these questions. 00:22:52.299 --> 00:22:53.319 That later on. 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:54.960 And as the Old Testament performs. 00:22:55.200 --> 00:22:56.319 But we can ask these questions. 00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:56.599 In fact. 00:22:56.680 --> 00:22:58.000 Just as the way I've described it. 00:22:58.059 --> 00:22:58.399 You see. 00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:01.919 What. 00:23:02.339 --> 00:23:02.700 If. 00:23:02.940 --> 00:23:02.980 If. 00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:04.720 If the Bible ended right here. 00:23:05.099 --> 00:23:06.899 It would just seem like a weird thing. 00:23:06.919 --> 00:23:08.579 And it would seem like an unjust thing. 00:23:09.859 --> 00:23:10.740 Because one of the things. 00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:11.519 That's going to be very clear. 00:23:11.599 --> 00:23:12.039 Next week. 00:23:12.079 --> 00:23:12.559 We're going to see. 00:23:12.639 --> 00:23:12.759 I mean. 00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:13.559 We've already seen. 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:15.220 How Abram's done some bad things. 00:23:15.220 --> 00:23:15.799 And next week. 00:23:15.799 --> 00:23:16.680 We're going to see how. 00:23:18.839 --> 00:23:19.319 I mean. 00:23:19.359 --> 00:23:21.279 They had a very dysfunctional marriage. 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:23.259 That's what we would now call it. 00:23:24.099 --> 00:23:24.279 And. 00:23:24.359 --> 00:23:24.779 And him. 00:23:24.859 --> 00:23:25.339 Next week. 00:23:25.379 --> 00:23:26.019 We're going to see. 00:23:26.180 --> 00:23:26.799 After this. 00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:27.599 This gift. 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:28.399 That. 00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:28.839 He. 00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:30.379 He isn't worthy of the gift. 00:23:31.700 --> 00:23:32.460 He's going to. 00:23:32.740 --> 00:23:33.480 They're going to treat. 00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:34.799 Hagar and Ishmael. 00:23:35.579 --> 00:23:36.099 Atrociously. 00:23:36.759 --> 00:23:37.879 And murderously. 00:23:39.579 --> 00:23:40.319 And so. 00:23:41.660 --> 00:23:43.180 This text is pointing. 00:23:43.379 --> 00:23:44.579 It's setting up a riddle. 00:23:44.660 --> 00:23:46.500 As to how can God do something like that. 00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:48.099 In a way that makes him still just. 00:23:48.099 --> 00:23:48.219 Christ. 00:23:49.219 --> 00:23:50.379 Like that would be the question. 00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:51.839 You would have reading this text. 00:23:52.159 --> 00:23:53.759 Just as you would have other questions. 00:23:53.879 --> 00:23:54.659 Like how is it. 00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:56.459 That Abram's going to have as many. 00:23:57.119 --> 00:23:57.599 Offspring. 00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:58.919 As you can see in the stars. 00:23:59.119 --> 00:24:00.319 They're going to have this little bit of land. 00:24:00.439 --> 00:24:01.939 There's too many people for this land. 00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:02.179 Like. 00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:02.980 There's. 00:24:03.199 --> 00:24:04.240 These promises. 00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:06.240 They create puzzlement. 00:24:06.379 --> 00:24:07.099 And questions. 00:24:07.919 --> 00:24:10.959 That mean that God's going to have to keep making things clear. 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:12.019 And making things clear. 00:24:12.139 --> 00:24:12.759 And at the end of the day. 00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:13.919 It doesn't really become clear. 00:24:13.919 --> 00:24:15.119 Until Christ comes. 00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:17.459 And when Christ comes. 00:24:17.579 --> 00:24:18.599 We can see how God. 00:24:18.859 --> 00:24:20.519 Can do something like this for Abram. 00:24:20.579 --> 00:24:21.039 In a way. 00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:23.199 Because he. 00:24:23.419 --> 00:24:24.539 The Lord himself. 00:24:24.739 --> 00:24:25.439 Will be the lamb. 00:24:26.159 --> 00:24:26.879 Of God. 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:27.419 Who dies. 00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:28.719 To take away the sin of the world. 00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:31.219 It's only as we see down the road. 00:24:32.839 --> 00:24:33.559 How it is. 00:24:33.619 --> 00:24:34.899 That something like this for Abram. 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:35.579 Can be true. 00:24:37.419 --> 00:24:38.179 But it's. 00:24:38.179 --> 00:24:39.139 It's describing. 00:24:39.140 --> 00:24:43.100 I mean. 00:24:43.100 --> 00:24:43.940 It's describing. 00:24:44.280 --> 00:24:44.820 And saying. 00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:46.320 That it happens in a real. 00:24:46.600 --> 00:24:47.680 And authoritative way. 00:24:48.259 --> 00:24:48.940 Some of us. 00:24:49.100 --> 00:24:50.259 Have had the experience. 00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:50.500 Of. 00:24:51.140 --> 00:24:51.500 Realizing. 00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:52.520 Maybe that we're married. 00:24:52.520 --> 00:24:53.720 To somebody that we don't deserve. 00:24:53.820 --> 00:24:55.340 Or we have kids that we don't deserve. 00:24:55.520 --> 00:24:57.320 Or we've been loved beyond our deserving. 00:24:57.460 --> 00:24:58.100 And these in all. 00:24:58.220 --> 00:24:59.259 Are in small ways. 00:24:59.660 --> 00:25:01.020 We don't quite know how to deal with that. 00:25:01.080 --> 00:25:01.620 And these are all. 00:25:01.700 --> 00:25:02.720 In some small ways. 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:03.280 Pictures. 00:25:03.460 --> 00:25:04.740 Of this profound message. 00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:05.540 Of the cross. 00:25:05.539 --> 00:25:10.839 And that our relationship with Christ. 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:12.200 And with the Lord himself. 00:25:12.200 --> 00:25:13.159 Is going to be rooted. 00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:13.720 Not in. 00:25:14.220 --> 00:25:15.139 Our performance. 00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:17.480 But in our accepting this. 00:25:18.859 --> 00:25:19.500 Outrageous. 00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:20.779 Promise. 00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.740 An offer. 00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:25.539 That God. 00:25:25.940 --> 00:25:26.500 Gives us. 00:25:29.639 --> 00:25:30.159 Now. 00:25:30.259 --> 00:25:32.099 Immediately after this story happens. 00:25:32.399 --> 00:25:34.599 God does something to help solidify. 00:25:34.599 --> 00:25:35.980 I have to watch my time. 00:25:36.059 --> 00:25:37.279 That solidify the promise. 00:25:38.139 --> 00:25:38.579 To Abram. 00:25:39.799 --> 00:25:41.259 Look at what happens in verse 7. 00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:44.199 And he. 00:25:44.379 --> 00:25:44.719 That is. 00:25:44.919 --> 00:25:45.399 The Lord. 00:25:45.899 --> 00:25:46.859 Says to Abram. 00:25:46.939 --> 00:25:47.619 I am the Lord. 00:25:47.740 --> 00:25:48.599 Who brought you out. 00:25:48.719 --> 00:25:49.879 From Ur of the Chaldeans. 00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:51.500 To give you this land to possess. 00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:53.519 But here's the third question. 00:25:53.619 --> 00:25:54.299 But Abram says. 00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:55.500 Oh Lord God. 00:25:55.879 --> 00:25:57.039 How am I to know. 00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:58.639 That I shall possess it. 00:26:00.639 --> 00:26:01.199 You see. 00:26:01.339 --> 00:26:02.299 It's a similar thing. 00:26:02.339 --> 00:26:02.879 Remember I said. 00:26:02.880 --> 00:26:04.160 That I only have very. 00:26:04.300 --> 00:26:05.120 Very warm thoughts. 00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:05.820 For all of the people. 00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:06.320 Who played a role. 00:26:06.320 --> 00:26:07.160 In my conversion. 00:26:08.280 --> 00:26:09.180 But I do know. 00:26:09.320 --> 00:26:10.520 That when they just told me. 00:26:10.640 --> 00:26:11.580 You just got to believe. 00:26:11.900 --> 00:26:12.540 Like you just need to sing. 00:26:12.540 --> 00:26:13.980 You need to sing more praise choruses. 00:26:14.100 --> 00:26:14.840 Just pray more. 00:26:15.080 --> 00:26:16.320 You don't have to ask these questions. 00:26:16.440 --> 00:26:17.120 You don't have to know. 00:26:18.860 --> 00:26:19.220 And. 00:26:20.260 --> 00:26:21.320 That wasn't sufficient. 00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:22.600 Abraham has a bit of a similar. 00:26:22.600 --> 00:26:23.500 Type of a thing. 00:26:23.580 --> 00:26:24.300 To this promise. 00:26:24.440 --> 00:26:24.740 He says. 00:26:24.820 --> 00:26:25.000 How do. 00:26:25.080 --> 00:26:26.340 How am I to know. 00:26:26.860 --> 00:26:28.200 That I'm going to possess the land. 00:26:28.200 --> 00:26:30.600 And in verse 9. 00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:31.279 God says. 00:26:31.559 --> 00:26:31.940 Well here. 00:26:32.340 --> 00:26:32.380 Here. 00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:32.920 Here's this. 00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:33.740 God's going to answer. 00:26:33.819 --> 00:26:35.460 In a very very counterintuitive way. 00:26:36.660 --> 00:26:37.460 Verse 9. 00:26:37.660 --> 00:26:38.740 The Lord said to Abram. 00:26:38.819 --> 00:26:39.640 Bring me a heifer. 00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:41.319 Three years old. 00:26:42.460 --> 00:26:43.559 A female goat. 00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:44.360 Three years old. 00:26:44.600 --> 00:26:45.360 A ram. 00:26:45.660 --> 00:26:46.400 Three years old. 00:26:46.539 --> 00:26:47.319 A turtle dove. 00:26:47.319 --> 00:26:48.220 And a young pigeon. 00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:49.860 So the three animals. 00:26:49.860 --> 00:26:51.200 Are in the prime of their life. 00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:55.720 And Abram brought the Lord all these. 00:26:56.180 --> 00:26:57.200 He kills them. 00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:58.400 Cuts them in half. 00:26:58.840 --> 00:27:01.360 And laid each half over against the other. 00:27:02.120 --> 00:27:03.860 But he did not cut the birds in half. 00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:06.180 And when the birds of prey came down in the carcasses. 00:27:06.340 --> 00:27:07.380 Abram drove them away. 00:27:08.380 --> 00:27:10.880 And just to make sure you're understanding the image. 00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:12.640 It's perfect in this facility. 00:27:12.640 --> 00:27:13.080 So. 00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:15.819 You kill the heifer. 00:27:16.080 --> 00:27:17.580 And you cut the heifer in half. 00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:19.080 And you put one half. 00:27:19.160 --> 00:27:20.840 Let's say where that seed is. 00:27:20.839 --> 00:27:22.079 And you put the other half there. 00:27:22.659 --> 00:27:23.839 And then you take the goat. 00:27:23.959 --> 00:27:25.599 And you put one half of the goat there. 00:27:25.639 --> 00:27:26.859 And the other half of the goat there. 00:27:27.019 --> 00:27:28.099 And then you take the ram. 00:27:28.179 --> 00:27:29.559 And you put one half of the ram there. 00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:31.299 And you have the other half of the ram there. 00:27:31.899 --> 00:27:33.519 And you kill the turtle dove. 00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:34.859 And you put the turtle dove there. 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:37.199 And what's the other animal that got the other bird that got killed? 00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:38.519 The pigeon. 00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:40.679 And you put the other dead pigeon there. 00:27:40.740 --> 00:27:42.179 And there's a space between them. 00:27:44.059 --> 00:27:46.199 And this for millennium. 00:27:47.079 --> 00:27:49.919 Was a very ancient way in that part of the world. 00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:53.060 that went on for millennium of how you made covenants, 00:27:53.120 --> 00:27:54.880 which is sort of a little bit like a contract. 00:27:56.580 --> 00:27:59.400 And Abram leaves them on either side. 00:28:01.140 --> 00:28:07.380 And then God's going to continue to give him this knowing. 00:28:07.640 --> 00:28:08.620 Look at verse 12. 00:28:09.580 --> 00:28:12.620 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. 00:28:13.620 --> 00:28:19.259 And behold, a dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. 00:28:19.259 --> 00:28:20.279 That's Abram. 00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:22.879 Then the Lord said to Abram, 00:28:23.579 --> 00:28:28.019 Abram is now in a deep sleep, in a place of dread. 00:28:29.500 --> 00:28:34.180 In the midst of the dread and the darkness, the Lord said to Abram. 00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:37.940 Now this is going to be a little bit, I mean, this is really, 00:28:38.220 --> 00:28:40.240 this is one of these things for us as Christians, 00:28:40.339 --> 00:28:42.019 it would be a whole other topic of a sermon 00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:48.059 about how the Lord's delay does not mean that the Lord isn't going to do something 00:28:48.059 --> 00:28:51.240 and that part of what it means to be a Christian is to learn how to wait upon the Lord. 00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:53.220 Because listen to what he says here. 00:28:53.879 --> 00:28:58.460 Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in the land that is not theirs 00:28:58.460 --> 00:28:59.740 and will be servants there. 00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:04.339 And they will be afflicted for 400 years. 00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:07.339 It's a rough period of time. 00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:11.399 But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve. 00:29:11.980 --> 00:29:14.619 And afterward, they shall come out with great possessions. 00:29:16.459 --> 00:29:20.299 I mean, in hindsight now, we see that that's the whole deliverance of Egypt with Moses. 00:29:21.019 --> 00:29:23.959 As for you, God says, 00:29:24.519 --> 00:29:27.179 you, Abram, shall go to your fathers in peace. 00:29:27.819 --> 00:29:29.939 You shall be buried in a good old age. 00:29:29.940 --> 00:29:34.320 And they, that's your offspring, 00:29:35.100 --> 00:29:37.200 shall come back here in the fourth generation. 00:29:38.180 --> 00:29:42.539 For the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete. 00:29:45.500 --> 00:29:51.660 Now, those of you who know me know that I don't like to try to just rush through certain types of awkward things. 00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:54.680 I almost thought about making this the whole thing of the sermon, 00:29:54.840 --> 00:29:57.400 but it's not the right place to make the whole thing of the sermon. 00:29:57.400 --> 00:30:02.340 And this is a very, very, like just, if you're watching this online and you're a seeker, 00:30:02.440 --> 00:30:05.180 just give me like a bit of a time out, give me some mercy. 00:30:06.180 --> 00:30:09.980 But this is a very, very sobering text for us. 00:30:10.720 --> 00:30:13.820 Like I have to confess, when you look at many of the things going on in Canada, 00:30:15.800 --> 00:30:18.660 and I'm not being political, I'm just saying there are many things going on in Canada 00:30:18.660 --> 00:30:20.280 that are very evil and very foolish. 00:30:20.500 --> 00:30:22.640 And I worry that we're under the judgment of God. 00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:25.460 I'm just sharing my heart. 00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:30.200 Like I worry, and I pray that we as an, our nation is not under the judgment of God. 00:30:31.320 --> 00:30:32.700 I pray that you'll have mercy. 00:30:33.340 --> 00:30:36.580 Because there's this very powerful text that says that God judges nations. 00:30:37.820 --> 00:30:41.800 In fact, it gives a bit of a precursor to what's going to happen when Egypt, 00:30:41.799 --> 00:30:48.059 Israel has left, leaves Egypt, the land of bondage and slavery to go into the promised land. 00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:54.079 And what he's, God is saying is that this isn't just naked aggression. 00:30:54.500 --> 00:30:55.940 This isn't holy war. 00:30:56.240 --> 00:30:59.240 This is God's justice as well as God's provision. 00:30:59.819 --> 00:31:03.980 What he's saying is that in heaven, for those of us who are in heaven, 00:31:04.379 --> 00:31:06.119 by grace through faith in Christ, 00:31:06.119 --> 00:31:11.000 when God actually makes the secret of what's been going on very plain to us, 00:31:11.159 --> 00:31:16.179 that we will look and say that what God did in bringing Israel into Egypt 00:31:16.179 --> 00:31:20.279 wasn't evil but was an act of justice and mercy. 00:31:22.159 --> 00:31:24.779 But it's jumping way ahead in the story. 00:31:26.239 --> 00:31:27.959 But here's the shocking thing. 00:31:29.219 --> 00:31:30.919 Now, just to get a picture of this, 00:31:31.079 --> 00:31:34.839 lately I watch certain types of movies just to relax, 00:31:34.839 --> 00:31:37.079 and I'm watching, you know, one thing, 00:31:37.240 --> 00:31:39.959 and it has one of these standard non-disclosure agreements. 00:31:40.079 --> 00:31:42.740 You have like sort of like a nobody type guy, except he's the hero, 00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:45.419 and he goes to speak to this multi-billionaire, 00:31:45.899 --> 00:31:48.319 and the multi-billionaire wants to hire him, 00:31:48.459 --> 00:31:51.759 and before the multi-billionaire will even say a certain type of thing, 00:31:52.279 --> 00:31:56.019 the nobody, the hero, has to sign a non-disclosure agreement, 00:31:56.619 --> 00:31:58.759 which is pages and pages long, 00:31:58.759 --> 00:32:05.279 and basically threatens dismemberment, castration, jail time, murder, torture, 00:32:05.379 --> 00:32:06.980 like a whole range of things, 00:32:07.079 --> 00:32:09.980 if he ever says anything that's about to happen in the conversation. 00:32:11.000 --> 00:32:14.819 And so basically the nobody has to sign this, 00:32:14.900 --> 00:32:16.279 but the rich guy doesn't have to sign anything. 00:32:17.279 --> 00:32:17.720 You know what? 00:32:17.839 --> 00:32:18.960 I'm the multi-billionaire. 00:32:19.099 --> 00:32:20.279 I don't sign things like that. 00:32:20.400 --> 00:32:21.799 You know, you sign this, right? 00:32:22.339 --> 00:32:25.059 And we could expect that if we were going to somehow or another 00:32:25.059 --> 00:32:27.759 have some type of relationship with some multi-type of billionaire, 00:32:28.019 --> 00:32:29.680 they, you know, they basically, 00:32:29.859 --> 00:32:32.259 especially if it's going to be something that's profitable to us, 00:32:32.399 --> 00:32:35.259 is they, in fact, it's not even unusual. 00:32:35.259 --> 00:32:37.579 If you read those types of books and all, 00:32:37.659 --> 00:32:40.019 it's not unusual for people in positions of power to say, 00:32:40.059 --> 00:32:40.940 I'm not even going to write a contract. 00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:44.200 You just know, you just, you do this, you know, 00:32:44.200 --> 00:32:45.139 and I'll look after you. 00:32:45.240 --> 00:32:47.220 I'm not going to, you know, and it's all on you. 00:32:47.339 --> 00:32:49.379 Like if you screw up, it's all on you, right? 00:32:49.380 --> 00:32:52.940 The only person who has to, in a sense, sign the contract, so to speak, 00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:55.260 or really be in any type of trouble with all the conditions, 00:32:55.680 --> 00:32:57.020 is the weak person, not the... 00:32:57.020 --> 00:32:59.320 I know there's contract law, and it doesn't work. 00:32:59.380 --> 00:33:01.060 Then you can take Apple to court. 00:33:01.600 --> 00:33:03.120 I'm guessing if you took Apple to court, 00:33:03.220 --> 00:33:05.400 17 years later it would finally be resolved, 00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:06.880 and you've been bankrupt seven times. 00:33:06.940 --> 00:33:08.320 But that's a whole separate matter, right? 00:33:08.380 --> 00:33:10.160 You fundamentally can't do it, 00:33:10.360 --> 00:33:12.300 because powerful people, that's what they do. 00:33:13.220 --> 00:33:15.900 However, if it was just, say, me and Chris making a contract, 00:33:16.020 --> 00:33:16.780 you know, we're equals, 00:33:16.779 --> 00:33:19.299 and, you know, we'd sort of make the things, 00:33:19.399 --> 00:33:20.539 we'd negotiate something out, 00:33:20.599 --> 00:33:21.799 and it would all be type of equal. 00:33:22.200 --> 00:33:24.220 So what they did in the ancient world, 00:33:24.279 --> 00:33:26.139 the reason they would cut animals in half 00:33:26.139 --> 00:33:27.639 and put one half there and one half there, 00:33:27.660 --> 00:33:28.819 and there's a text in Jeremiah 00:33:28.819 --> 00:33:31.559 that beautifully describes this ancient custom, 00:33:31.940 --> 00:33:33.359 is basically what happens is, 00:33:33.460 --> 00:33:34.539 okay, you know, Chris and I, 00:33:34.660 --> 00:33:36.379 we're going to make this contract, 00:33:37.079 --> 00:33:38.299 and this covenant, 00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:40.220 and what we do is, 00:33:40.220 --> 00:33:41.460 after we've agreed to the terms, 00:33:41.579 --> 00:33:43.180 we walk between the dead animals. 00:33:43.940 --> 00:33:45.559 And when we walk between the dead animals, 00:33:45.559 --> 00:33:46.460 what we're saying is, 00:33:46.579 --> 00:33:47.960 if you break this, 00:33:48.079 --> 00:33:49.399 this is what's going to happen to you. 00:33:49.619 --> 00:33:52.339 You see this heifer killed, cut in half? 00:33:52.639 --> 00:33:54.039 That's what's going to happen to you 00:33:54.039 --> 00:33:55.579 if you don't fulfill the terms. 00:33:56.119 --> 00:33:57.240 And so in the ancient world, 00:33:57.299 --> 00:33:59.339 it might be that if two kings were making a contract, 00:33:59.460 --> 00:34:00.859 they'd both walk between them. 00:34:01.740 --> 00:34:04.480 But if it's an emperor and me, 00:34:05.099 --> 00:34:06.139 I walk between them. 00:34:06.139 --> 00:34:07.460 The emperor doesn't walk between them. 00:34:07.899 --> 00:34:09.820 I mean, how on earth am I going to actually kill the emperor? 00:34:10.420 --> 00:34:11.559 I walk between them. 00:34:12.519 --> 00:34:14.719 And so you'd think that what's going to happen here 00:34:14.719 --> 00:34:16.779 is that God is going to make this covenant. 00:34:17.039 --> 00:34:19.500 I mean, Abram's realizing that God's going to make a covenant with him, 00:34:19.619 --> 00:34:21.259 and he's in a deep sleep, 00:34:21.259 --> 00:34:23.400 and God's made all these promises. 00:34:23.639 --> 00:34:25.880 And so what you would naturally expect now 00:34:25.880 --> 00:34:29.900 is that God would have Abram walk between the dead animals. 00:34:30.759 --> 00:34:31.699 But what happens? 00:34:31.779 --> 00:34:33.340 Look what happens in verse 17. 00:34:33.340 --> 00:34:36.900 And when the sun had gone down and it was dark, 00:34:37.100 --> 00:34:40.920 behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch 00:34:40.920 --> 00:34:43.280 passed between these pieces. 00:34:43.660 --> 00:34:46.519 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, 00:34:46.840 --> 00:34:47.120 saying, 00:34:47.800 --> 00:34:50.700 To your offspring I give this land from the river of Egypt 00:34:50.700 --> 00:34:52.880 to the great river, the river Euphrates, 00:34:53.160 --> 00:34:54.940 and on it describes the different nations. 00:34:57.280 --> 00:34:58.960 You can't see God. 00:34:59.180 --> 00:34:59.880 God's invisible. 00:34:59.880 --> 00:35:03.680 What God does is the only person 00:35:03.680 --> 00:35:05.900 who walks between the dead animals is God. 00:35:08.860 --> 00:35:09.720 Not Abram. 00:35:10.059 --> 00:35:11.440 Abram doesn't walk between them. 00:35:12.220 --> 00:35:13.039 Just God. 00:35:14.280 --> 00:35:15.760 And God does it in a vision. 00:35:16.619 --> 00:35:17.880 In fact, actually for some people, 00:35:18.039 --> 00:35:21.039 the smoke and the fire is going to be, 00:35:21.119 --> 00:35:22.920 if you're reading later on in the book of Exodus, 00:35:23.099 --> 00:35:24.920 and you see that God leads the people of Israel 00:35:24.920 --> 00:35:28.220 out of Egypt by a pillar of smoke by day, 00:35:28.880 --> 00:35:31.720 and a pillar of fire by night. 00:35:33.380 --> 00:35:35.500 And smoke is connected to sacrifice. 00:35:36.139 --> 00:35:37.579 It's an image of incense. 00:35:37.720 --> 00:35:38.780 It's an image of God. 00:35:38.980 --> 00:35:41.180 Fire is a very clear image of God. 00:35:41.680 --> 00:35:43.320 And so God provides this image. 00:35:43.500 --> 00:35:44.059 But the only, 00:35:44.280 --> 00:35:45.720 why is it that Abram can know? 00:35:45.800 --> 00:35:47.420 Because he has this profound vision. 00:35:47.420 --> 00:35:51.320 And the one who binds himself 00:35:51.320 --> 00:35:54.099 to fulfill this, 00:35:54.760 --> 00:35:57.099 and to do what only God can do, 00:35:57.559 --> 00:35:59.139 is God himself. 00:36:00.980 --> 00:36:03.539 Abram does not walk between the animals. 00:36:06.280 --> 00:36:07.900 And you see, here we see, 00:36:08.019 --> 00:36:10.059 just to wrap the whole thing up to an end, 00:36:10.059 --> 00:36:15.980 is this, in a sense, 00:36:16.139 --> 00:36:17.779 foretaster prefiguring 00:36:17.779 --> 00:36:19.400 what's going to happen in the gospel. 00:36:20.699 --> 00:36:22.019 See, the fact of the matter is, 00:36:22.039 --> 00:36:24.779 is that only God can give offspring to Abram. 00:36:25.059 --> 00:36:26.860 Only God can give him the land. 00:36:27.739 --> 00:36:30.420 Only God can be sovereign over history 00:36:30.420 --> 00:36:32.480 to have that all these different circumstances 00:36:32.480 --> 00:36:33.779 work out in such a way 00:36:33.779 --> 00:36:35.500 that God's word is kept. 00:36:35.619 --> 00:36:37.519 Only God is the one who can, in fact, 00:36:37.599 --> 00:36:39.219 make sure that justice is done 00:36:39.219 --> 00:36:40.819 and that even if people are, 00:36:41.259 --> 00:36:43.019 there's some type of a punishment of people, 00:36:43.119 --> 00:36:43.919 that there's an understanding 00:36:43.919 --> 00:36:45.139 that's a just punishment 00:36:45.139 --> 00:36:47.279 because of the great, great, great, great, great, 00:36:47.279 --> 00:36:48.879 great evil that that nation 00:36:48.879 --> 00:36:50.039 and that culture has done. 00:36:50.579 --> 00:36:51.480 And for those of us 00:36:51.480 --> 00:36:53.079 who live in the shadow of the Nazis, 00:36:53.079 --> 00:36:54.279 we can understand 00:36:54.279 --> 00:36:56.439 there can be cultures that are so evil 00:36:56.439 --> 00:36:58.699 that they need to be stopped and destroyed. 00:37:00.879 --> 00:37:03.099 In the shadow of Auschwitz, 00:37:03.239 --> 00:37:04.219 we can understand 00:37:04.219 --> 00:37:05.500 that this is something 00:37:05.500 --> 00:37:07.619 that is a good thing to happen. 00:37:09.219 --> 00:37:13.239 And so there's this forecase 00:37:13.239 --> 00:37:14.279 and foretaste 00:37:14.279 --> 00:37:15.339 of God 00:37:15.339 --> 00:37:17.239 binding himself 00:37:17.239 --> 00:37:18.959 to do every single thing 00:37:18.959 --> 00:37:20.159 that has to be done 00:37:20.159 --> 00:37:24.059 that only he can do 00:37:24.059 --> 00:37:26.279 so that human beings 00:37:26.279 --> 00:37:27.179 who are lost 00:37:27.179 --> 00:37:29.159 in the unreality of their pride, 00:37:30.319 --> 00:37:33.439 the unreality of thinking 00:37:33.439 --> 00:37:34.319 that they can live, 00:37:34.379 --> 00:37:35.699 even though we human beings 00:37:35.699 --> 00:37:36.919 were dependent upon being 00:37:36.920 --> 00:37:38.720 of a mother and a father 00:37:38.720 --> 00:37:39.860 to be given life. 00:37:39.980 --> 00:37:40.940 We're completely and utterly 00:37:40.940 --> 00:37:42.579 dependent upon the mother and father. 00:37:42.900 --> 00:37:44.240 We're dependent upon gravity. 00:37:44.380 --> 00:37:45.480 We're dependent upon oxygen. 00:37:45.599 --> 00:37:47.159 We're completely and utterly dependent. 00:37:47.320 --> 00:37:48.340 And yet in our minds, 00:37:48.440 --> 00:37:50.000 we think as if we are God 00:37:50.000 --> 00:37:51.139 and independent, 00:37:51.460 --> 00:37:52.800 that we will live forever, 00:37:53.019 --> 00:37:54.340 that we determine 00:37:54.340 --> 00:37:55.360 all of these things, 00:37:55.420 --> 00:37:56.880 that we determine right and wrong, 00:37:56.980 --> 00:37:57.539 that we determine 00:37:57.539 --> 00:37:59.200 whether we will deal with God or not, 00:37:59.260 --> 00:38:00.780 that we have this arrogance 00:38:00.780 --> 00:38:01.900 that leads us into 00:38:01.900 --> 00:38:03.960 a constant state of unreality, 00:38:03.960 --> 00:38:05.780 but by the common grace of God 00:38:05.780 --> 00:38:06.880 to help us to deal 00:38:06.880 --> 00:38:07.880 with the real world 00:38:07.880 --> 00:38:10.159 and that those other longings 00:38:10.159 --> 00:38:11.380 within us for community, 00:38:11.579 --> 00:38:12.320 for connection, 00:38:13.000 --> 00:38:13.780 for gratitude, 00:38:14.159 --> 00:38:14.900 for generosity, 00:38:15.099 --> 00:38:15.639 that those things 00:38:15.639 --> 00:38:16.539 are not extinguished 00:38:16.539 --> 00:38:17.320 by our pride, 00:38:17.420 --> 00:38:18.019 but that God 00:38:18.019 --> 00:38:19.519 in his grace and mercy 00:38:19.519 --> 00:38:21.139 continues to have these things 00:38:21.139 --> 00:38:22.500 so that the world goes on 00:38:22.500 --> 00:38:23.639 and that there is in fact 00:38:23.639 --> 00:38:25.300 a place for us to live, 00:38:25.360 --> 00:38:26.119 which is our home, 00:38:26.179 --> 00:38:27.000 and that it's not just 00:38:27.000 --> 00:38:28.380 unrelenting evil and pain 00:38:28.380 --> 00:38:29.699 and suffering for all eternity 00:38:29.699 --> 00:38:30.780 on human life, 00:38:30.840 --> 00:38:31.760 but that God does 00:38:31.760 --> 00:38:33.060 what only God can do 00:38:33.060 --> 00:38:35.180 in the person of his Son 00:38:35.180 --> 00:38:37.520 to provide the means 00:38:37.520 --> 00:38:39.600 by which if we believe 00:38:39.600 --> 00:38:40.520 what he says 00:38:40.520 --> 00:38:41.600 and trust him, 00:38:43.040 --> 00:38:44.180 who he is 00:38:44.180 --> 00:38:45.360 and what he's done for us, 00:38:46.900 --> 00:38:48.280 that the performance 00:38:48.280 --> 00:38:48.980 in a sense 00:38:48.980 --> 00:38:50.060 is done by Christ 00:38:50.060 --> 00:38:51.100 and not by us. 00:38:53.480 --> 00:38:55.660 There's this forecast, 00:38:55.860 --> 00:38:56.840 this prefiguring 00:38:56.840 --> 00:38:57.840 of what God would do 00:38:57.840 --> 00:38:59.380 for his children and people 00:38:59.380 --> 00:39:00.260 if they trust him. 00:39:01.760 --> 00:39:06.500 So last week, 00:39:07.200 --> 00:39:08.180 they set the stage 00:39:08.180 --> 00:39:08.820 for the choice 00:39:08.820 --> 00:39:09.520 between living 00:39:09.520 --> 00:39:10.500 in the real world. 00:39:11.240 --> 00:39:12.480 In the real world, 00:39:12.800 --> 00:39:13.900 you pay homage 00:39:13.900 --> 00:39:14.960 to the real God 00:39:14.960 --> 00:39:17.320 and you live out of gratitude 00:39:17.320 --> 00:39:18.200 of his promises 00:39:18.200 --> 00:39:19.060 and his victory, 00:39:19.720 --> 00:39:21.140 acknowledging that he is 00:39:21.140 --> 00:39:21.660 the source 00:39:21.660 --> 00:39:22.700 of these good things. 00:39:23.060 --> 00:39:23.740 Or you live 00:39:23.740 --> 00:39:24.920 in the unreal world 00:39:24.920 --> 00:39:26.680 and in the unreal world, 00:39:26.780 --> 00:39:27.760 you build narratives 00:39:27.760 --> 00:39:28.620 that make yourself 00:39:28.620 --> 00:39:29.580 look like the hero 00:39:29.580 --> 00:39:30.180 and allow you 00:39:30.180 --> 00:39:31.060 to look down others 00:39:31.059 --> 00:39:32.320 and don't believe 00:39:32.320 --> 00:39:33.460 as if there is a real God 00:39:33.460 --> 00:39:34.199 that does exist 00:39:34.199 --> 00:39:35.599 and that is the unreal world 00:39:35.599 --> 00:39:36.500 and the choice is 00:39:36.500 --> 00:39:37.659 will you live in the real world 00:39:37.659 --> 00:39:38.619 or the unreal world? 00:39:39.079 --> 00:39:40.059 And now the choice 00:39:40.059 --> 00:39:41.259 before us is this 00:39:41.259 --> 00:39:42.719 and it's parallel. 00:39:43.559 --> 00:39:44.559 Will you live your life 00:39:44.559 --> 00:39:45.639 entirely and utterly 00:39:45.639 --> 00:39:46.519 depending upon 00:39:46.519 --> 00:39:47.519 your own view 00:39:47.519 --> 00:39:48.779 of your own performance 00:39:48.780 --> 00:39:49.040 performance? 00:39:49.720 --> 00:39:51.400 Or will you live out of promise? 00:39:51.840 --> 00:39:52.820 The promise that comes 00:39:52.820 --> 00:39:53.420 from God 00:39:53.420 --> 00:39:55.320 that comes to the unworthy, 00:39:55.720 --> 00:39:57.519 that comes to the unlikely, 00:39:58.160 --> 00:39:59.920 that comes to the unsuitable, 00:40:00.920 --> 00:40:03.300 and that God will do 00:40:03.300 --> 00:40:04.120 for the unlikely 00:40:04.120 --> 00:40:05.380 and the unsuitable 00:40:05.380 --> 00:40:06.160 and the unworthy 00:40:06.160 --> 00:40:07.480 what only he can do 00:40:07.480 --> 00:40:08.900 to make you right, 00:40:09.040 --> 00:40:10.280 me right with him. 00:40:10.920 --> 00:40:12.519 Will you live out of promise? 00:40:12.519 --> 00:40:14.880 Or will you try to live 00:40:14.880 --> 00:40:15.759 by performance? 00:40:16.659 --> 00:40:17.460 Will you live out of 00:40:17.460 --> 00:40:18.900 the real world 00:40:18.900 --> 00:40:20.000 in your real situation? 00:40:20.300 --> 00:40:21.219 Or will you live out of 00:40:21.219 --> 00:40:22.420 the unreal world 00:40:22.420 --> 00:40:23.900 created by pride? 00:40:23.900 --> 00:40:26.420 And we gather 00:40:26.420 --> 00:40:27.639 on Sunday mornings, 00:40:28.860 --> 00:40:29.880 if you're at all like me, 00:40:30.700 --> 00:40:31.300 to say, 00:40:31.380 --> 00:40:32.340 Lord, I haven't been living 00:40:32.340 --> 00:40:33.119 out of promises 00:40:33.119 --> 00:40:34.220 if I should this week. 00:40:34.500 --> 00:40:35.360 I am so glad 00:40:35.360 --> 00:40:36.780 that I can hear the word 00:40:36.780 --> 00:40:38.099 and I can gather 00:40:38.099 --> 00:40:38.980 around the table 00:40:38.980 --> 00:40:40.740 and I can be remembered 00:40:40.740 --> 00:40:41.420 of the new covenant, 00:40:41.440 --> 00:40:42.300 I can be reminded 00:40:42.300 --> 00:40:43.019 of the new covenant 00:40:43.019 --> 00:40:44.980 and I can be reminded 00:40:44.980 --> 00:40:45.420 of the help 00:40:45.420 --> 00:40:46.200 of the Holy Spirit 00:40:46.200 --> 00:40:47.780 and I can recommit 00:40:47.780 --> 00:40:49.320 with my brothers 00:40:49.320 --> 00:40:50.559 and sisters in Christ 00:40:50.559 --> 00:40:52.000 to live out of promise. 00:40:53.900 --> 00:40:55.160 That's where we gather. 00:40:57.099 --> 00:40:58.380 And if you are here 00:40:58.380 --> 00:40:59.500 or you are watching 00:40:59.500 --> 00:41:01.740 and you feel 00:41:01.740 --> 00:41:03.180 that little bit of a tug, 00:41:03.400 --> 00:41:04.599 all I can say to you 00:41:04.599 --> 00:41:05.280 is that tug 00:41:05.280 --> 00:41:06.820 is the Holy Spirit saying 00:41:06.820 --> 00:41:08.340 to have that sea change, 00:41:08.420 --> 00:41:09.260 not to fight it, 00:41:09.559 --> 00:41:10.559 but to allow it 00:41:10.559 --> 00:41:12.360 and then to profess it. 00:41:14.240 --> 00:41:15.500 Jesus, I believe 00:41:15.500 --> 00:41:17.740 you are the means 00:41:17.740 --> 00:41:19.039 by which I am made right 00:41:19.039 --> 00:41:19.639 with God. 00:41:20.079 --> 00:41:20.920 You are the means 00:41:20.920 --> 00:41:22.019 by which I can start 00:41:22.019 --> 00:41:22.900 to learn to live 00:41:22.900 --> 00:41:23.700 in the real world 00:41:23.699 --> 00:41:25.059 and not the unreal world. 00:41:25.759 --> 00:41:26.559 You are the means 00:41:26.559 --> 00:41:27.960 by which I can live 00:41:27.960 --> 00:41:28.679 out of promise, 00:41:28.799 --> 00:41:29.539 not performance 00:41:29.539 --> 00:41:32.079 and learn to have 00:41:32.079 --> 00:41:33.099 my pride humbled 00:41:33.099 --> 00:41:33.899 in such a way, 00:41:34.019 --> 00:41:35.359 not that I am turned 00:41:35.359 --> 00:41:36.299 into a doormat, 00:41:36.419 --> 00:41:37.419 but that I can finally 00:41:37.419 --> 00:41:38.419 learn to stand 00:41:38.419 --> 00:41:39.219 and be free, 00:41:39.919 --> 00:41:41.439 be free from the idols 00:41:41.439 --> 00:41:42.419 and ideologies 00:41:42.419 --> 00:41:43.079 of the world 00:41:43.079 --> 00:41:43.759 that bend 00:41:43.759 --> 00:41:44.679 and deform me 00:41:44.679 --> 00:41:45.379 and stop me 00:41:45.379 --> 00:41:46.699 from asking questions. 00:41:47.619 --> 00:41:48.259 That in you, 00:41:48.379 --> 00:41:49.079 in you alone, 00:41:49.079 --> 00:41:51.860 I can say free at last, 00:41:52.119 --> 00:41:52.980 free at last, 00:41:53.440 --> 00:41:54.360 thank God almighty, 00:41:54.960 --> 00:41:56.039 I'm free at last. 00:41:56.940 --> 00:41:57.719 I invite you to stand. 00:42:05.940 --> 00:42:06.920 Just bow our heads 00:42:06.920 --> 00:42:07.340 in prayer. 00:42:07.340 --> 00:42:07.460 Thank you. 00:42:07.460 --> 00:42:14.740 Father, 00:42:14.840 --> 00:42:15.840 you are all powerful. 00:42:16.820 --> 00:42:18.059 You are all good. 00:42:18.380 --> 00:42:19.360 You are all beautiful. 00:42:19.920 --> 00:42:21.240 You are all beauty. 00:42:21.460 --> 00:42:23.500 You are all glory, 00:42:23.659 --> 00:42:24.420 all majesty. 00:42:25.619 --> 00:42:27.119 We are none of those things. 00:42:28.159 --> 00:42:28.539 Father, 00:42:28.619 --> 00:42:29.360 from all eternity, 00:42:29.519 --> 00:42:30.340 you have loved the Son 00:42:30.340 --> 00:42:31.400 and the Son has loved you 00:42:31.400 --> 00:42:32.199 and the Holy Spirit 00:42:32.199 --> 00:42:32.840 has loved you 00:42:32.840 --> 00:42:33.360 and the Father 00:42:33.360 --> 00:42:33.960 and the Son 00:42:33.960 --> 00:42:34.780 and it's just been 00:42:34.780 --> 00:42:35.900 unending love 00:42:35.900 --> 00:42:40.440 and out of love 00:42:40.440 --> 00:42:41.360 you created us. 00:42:41.880 --> 00:42:42.340 Out of love 00:42:42.340 --> 00:42:43.300 you didn't destroy us 00:42:43.300 --> 00:42:44.420 when we rebelled against you 00:42:44.420 --> 00:42:44.860 and fell. 00:42:45.400 --> 00:42:46.140 Out of love 00:42:46.140 --> 00:42:47.340 you prepared the way 00:42:47.340 --> 00:42:48.340 so that people 00:42:48.340 --> 00:42:49.120 would understand 00:42:49.120 --> 00:42:49.840 what your Son 00:42:49.840 --> 00:42:50.600 was coming to do. 00:42:50.700 --> 00:42:51.140 Out of love 00:42:51.140 --> 00:42:52.060 you sent your Son. 00:42:52.200 --> 00:42:52.740 Out of love 00:42:52.740 --> 00:42:53.920 he lived the life 00:42:53.920 --> 00:42:55.240 we should have lived 00:42:55.240 --> 00:42:56.080 but could never live. 00:42:56.160 --> 00:42:56.700 Out of love 00:42:56.700 --> 00:42:58.360 he died and paid the penalty 00:42:58.360 --> 00:42:59.580 that we should pay 00:42:59.580 --> 00:43:00.580 that we could never pay. 00:43:00.720 --> 00:43:01.460 Out of love 00:43:01.460 --> 00:43:02.720 the Holy Spirit 00:43:02.720 --> 00:43:03.840 moved in our hearts 00:43:03.840 --> 00:43:04.860 to bring us 00:43:04.860 --> 00:43:05.500 to a faith 00:43:05.500 --> 00:43:06.700 where we trust in you. 00:43:07.260 --> 00:43:08.220 Out of love 00:43:08.220 --> 00:43:09.160 Father 00:43:09.160 --> 00:43:11.460 you continue to move 00:43:11.460 --> 00:43:12.519 by your Holy Spirit 00:43:12.519 --> 00:43:13.500 and through the means 00:43:13.500 --> 00:43:14.059 of grace 00:43:14.059 --> 00:43:14.960 of the Lord's Supper 00:43:14.960 --> 00:43:16.079 and church on Sundays 00:43:16.079 --> 00:43:16.840 and of the means 00:43:16.840 --> 00:43:17.320 of grace 00:43:17.320 --> 00:43:18.680 of small groups 00:43:18.680 --> 00:43:19.880 and friendships 00:43:19.880 --> 00:43:21.019 the means of grace 00:43:21.019 --> 00:43:21.900 by which we can 00:43:21.900 --> 00:43:22.820 pick ourselves up 00:43:22.820 --> 00:43:23.480 when we fall 00:43:23.480 --> 00:43:24.160 that we can say 00:43:24.160 --> 00:43:24.700 to each other 00:43:24.700 --> 00:43:25.059 yes 00:43:25.059 --> 00:43:26.240 let's recommit 00:43:26.240 --> 00:43:27.059 to live our lives 00:43:27.059 --> 00:43:28.059 not out of performance 00:43:28.059 --> 00:43:29.180 but out of promise. 00:43:30.240 --> 00:43:30.519 And Father 00:43:30.519 --> 00:43:31.079 we thank you 00:43:31.079 --> 00:43:32.260 for all these great things 00:43:32.260 --> 00:43:33.039 and we thank you 00:43:33.039 --> 00:43:33.460 for them 00:43:33.460 --> 00:43:34.199 and we ask Lord 00:43:34.199 --> 00:43:35.099 that you help us 00:43:35.099 --> 00:43:36.579 to live out of promise. 00:43:37.139 --> 00:43:37.940 We thank you 00:43:37.940 --> 00:43:39.079 that we can gather together 00:43:39.079 --> 00:43:40.280 and we ask Lord 00:43:40.280 --> 00:43:40.840 that you would 00:43:40.840 --> 00:43:42.679 help us to live 00:43:42.679 --> 00:43:43.480 out of promise 00:43:43.480 --> 00:43:44.220 as we face 00:43:44.220 --> 00:43:44.920 the problems 00:43:44.920 --> 00:43:45.659 of our culture 00:43:45.659 --> 00:43:46.360 the problems 00:43:46.360 --> 00:43:47.019 of our church 00:43:47.019 --> 00:43:47.659 the problems 00:43:47.659 --> 00:43:48.460 in our families 00:43:48.460 --> 00:43:49.340 the problems 00:43:49.340 --> 00:43:50.059 in our neighborhoods. 00:43:50.380 --> 00:43:50.460 Father 00:43:50.460 --> 00:43:51.699 may we look at these 00:43:51.699 --> 00:43:52.760 from the lens 00:43:52.760 --> 00:43:53.699 of the fact 00:43:53.699 --> 00:43:54.599 that you are truly 00:43:54.599 --> 00:43:55.720 God and sovereign 00:43:55.720 --> 00:43:56.340 that you are 00:43:56.340 --> 00:43:57.220 a God of love 00:43:57.220 --> 00:43:57.820 that Jesus 00:43:57.820 --> 00:43:58.960 is the answer 00:43:58.960 --> 00:43:59.659 to the problems 00:43:59.659 --> 00:44:00.220 of the world. 00:44:00.340 --> 00:44:00.900 May you help us 00:44:00.900 --> 00:44:01.360 to live 00:44:01.360 --> 00:44:02.440 out of promise 00:44:02.440 --> 00:44:03.579 to look at the world 00:44:03.579 --> 00:44:04.400 out of promise 00:44:04.400 --> 00:44:06.019 and then Father 00:44:06.019 --> 00:44:07.599 following the leading 00:44:07.599 --> 00:44:08.559 of your Holy Spirit 00:44:08.559 --> 00:44:09.440 that we might deal 00:44:09.440 --> 00:44:10.260 with those things 00:44:10.260 --> 00:44:11.119 within and without 00:44:11.119 --> 00:44:12.760 that need to be fixed 00:44:12.760 --> 00:44:13.980 for the good of people 00:44:13.980 --> 00:44:15.240 and for your great glory. 00:44:15.579 --> 00:44:16.440 And we ask this 00:44:16.440 --> 00:44:17.260 in the name of Jesus 00:44:17.260 --> 00:44:17.760 your Son 00:44:17.760 --> 00:44:18.380 and our Savior. 00:44:18.380 --> 00:44:19.420 Amen. 00:44:19.420 --> 00:44:19.579 Amen. 00:44:19.579 --> 00:44:20.579 Amen.