WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.859 Please follow along in the bulletin or on the screen. 00:00:02.859 --> 00:00:32.840 Psalm 115. 00:00:32.859 --> 00:01:02.840 Psalm 11. 00:01:02.859 --> 00:01:05.159 O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord. 00:01:05.500 --> 00:01:07.200 He is their help and their shield. 00:01:07.739 --> 00:01:11.420 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord. 00:01:11.819 --> 00:01:14.200 He is their help and their shield. 00:01:15.599 --> 00:01:17.840 The Lord has remembered us. 00:01:18.500 --> 00:01:19.560 He will bless us. 00:01:20.120 --> 00:01:22.799 He will bless the house of Israel. 00:01:23.140 --> 00:01:25.019 He will bless the house of Aaron. 00:01:25.400 --> 00:01:31.320 He will bless those who fear the Lord, both the small and the great. 00:01:31.319 --> 00:01:36.319 May the Lord give you increase, you and your children. 00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:41.259 May you be blessed by the Lord who made heaven and earth. 00:01:41.780 --> 00:01:47.319 The heavens are the Lord's heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of men. 00:01:47.319 --> 00:01:53.239 The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do those who go down into silence. 00:01:53.239 --> 00:01:59.319 But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. 00:02:00.039 --> 00:02:00.959 Praise the Lord. 00:02:00.959 --> 00:02:17.819 Good morning, Watermark Church. 00:02:17.819 --> 00:02:20.379 Great to see you all. 00:02:20.379 --> 00:02:23.719 Thanks so much for that impassioned reading, Justin. 00:02:23.919 --> 00:02:25.199 I really liked it. 00:02:25.519 --> 00:02:26.319 Great emphasis. 00:02:26.319 --> 00:02:30.659 We've got a bit of a break in the preaching series. 00:02:31.039 --> 00:02:36.859 And so we've chosen to speak on this psalm as a one-off today. 00:02:37.579 --> 00:02:42.979 And I've got some questions for you as we start to look at the passage together. 00:02:43.419 --> 00:02:46.639 As we think about our lives and where we are heading, 00:02:47.500 --> 00:02:53.079 what would we say we are putting our confidence in to get us there, to stay the course? 00:02:53.080 --> 00:02:58.200 If we look back on our lives and what we've put our confidence in to get to this point, 00:02:58.580 --> 00:03:00.680 how would we answer that question as well? 00:03:02.040 --> 00:03:06.420 Education, intelligence, hard work, the support of our loved ones. 00:03:07.340 --> 00:03:10.580 And how has that worked out for us if we look at our lives today? 00:03:11.740 --> 00:03:16.680 One thing I've always followed very closely in general is the world of professional sports. 00:03:17.820 --> 00:03:20.000 When it comes to performing when it counts, 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:22.960 I think if you ask most athletes, 00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:26.860 they would say that they get their confidence from their preparation. 00:03:28.439 --> 00:03:33.180 The gym room, live drills, nutrition, sports psychologists, 00:03:33.780 --> 00:03:36.060 analyzing their opponents in the film room. 00:03:36.819 --> 00:03:38.599 You leave no stone unturned. 00:03:39.060 --> 00:03:40.240 You put together a plan, 00:03:40.860 --> 00:03:43.479 and you put your confidence and your trust in that. 00:03:44.599 --> 00:03:47.460 That's a very old photo, by the way, in the middle, 00:03:47.460 --> 00:03:49.820 the last time Australia won the Rugby World Cup. 00:03:50.760 --> 00:03:53.520 It was a long, long time ago, not even in this century. 00:03:54.659 --> 00:03:55.620 But I had to put it up there. 00:03:57.659 --> 00:03:59.900 I would guess here, no offense, 00:04:00.020 --> 00:04:01.840 that very few of us here are athletes today, 00:04:02.620 --> 00:04:05.960 but we do all live in a world that is full of messaging. 00:04:07.560 --> 00:04:09.939 Often very attractive and desirable 00:04:09.939 --> 00:04:13.540 about what to put our confidence in for our lives, 00:04:13.640 --> 00:04:15.560 what to put our faith and trust in. 00:04:15.560 --> 00:04:19.379 Whether you are very Christian or very not Christian, 00:04:19.879 --> 00:04:21.259 or you'd say you're somewhere in between, 00:04:21.899 --> 00:04:24.879 what should you ultimately put your trust and confidence in? 00:04:25.800 --> 00:04:27.879 Today's psalm has a lot to say about that. 00:04:28.480 --> 00:04:32.779 It's actually part of the typical Jewish Passover feast or service, 00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:35.420 or Jewish Hallel, which means hallelujah. 00:04:36.259 --> 00:04:37.980 Said at the end of the service or meal, 00:04:37.980 --> 00:04:41.020 it's meant to help the Jewish people remind them 00:04:41.020 --> 00:04:46.379 that God alone saved them from slavery under the Egyptians. 00:04:47.280 --> 00:04:50.520 Many people often attribute the first line of the psalm 00:04:50.520 --> 00:04:53.280 to kind of a humble praising of God 00:04:53.280 --> 00:04:55.160 in the midst of a victorious situation. 00:04:55.680 --> 00:04:57.720 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, 00:04:58.000 --> 00:04:59.960 but to your name give glory. 00:04:59.959 --> 00:05:02.239 William Wilberforce, for example, 00:05:02.719 --> 00:05:04.539 is said to have meditated on this verse 00:05:04.539 --> 00:05:08.899 upon him being able to abolish slavery in 1807, 00:05:09.299 --> 00:05:10.599 being part of that process. 00:05:11.359 --> 00:05:12.919 However, as we will see, 00:05:13.479 --> 00:05:15.899 the backdrop of this psalm is actually quite the opposite. 00:05:17.039 --> 00:05:21.359 Not of victory, but of exile, of hardship, of suffering. 00:05:22.339 --> 00:05:25.079 It's actually a psalm of confidence under pressure. 00:05:25.079 --> 00:05:28.939 But it's not about having confidence in the fact that 00:05:28.939 --> 00:05:30.659 we've put the right plan together, 00:05:31.019 --> 00:05:33.859 we're positioning ourselves correctly in our life trajectory, 00:05:34.399 --> 00:05:38.240 we've taken the best of A, B, and C life philosophy. 00:05:39.019 --> 00:05:41.539 It's not about having a plan or method at all. 00:05:42.099 --> 00:05:43.159 Not ultimately, anyway. 00:05:44.019 --> 00:05:46.079 It is a strong urge to confidence. 00:05:48.779 --> 00:05:52.399 That despite the world is full of other messages, 00:05:53.039 --> 00:05:54.479 or idols, as we will see, 00:05:54.480 --> 00:05:56.160 that disparage God, 00:05:56.379 --> 00:05:58.200 that can even look down upon Christianity, 00:05:58.720 --> 00:06:01.060 those idols will give us anything but. 00:06:01.740 --> 00:06:03.560 In fact, that will give us the opposite. 00:06:04.640 --> 00:06:06.060 We should only have confidence 00:06:06.060 --> 00:06:09.160 and ultimately put our trust in God 00:06:09.160 --> 00:06:10.900 and his son, Jesus Christ. 00:06:11.420 --> 00:06:12.420 For in them alone, 00:06:12.759 --> 00:06:14.660 we will truly find life and blessing. 00:06:16.319 --> 00:06:18.980 So, what's the historical context of this psalm, 00:06:19.040 --> 00:06:19.920 which I just alluded to? 00:06:20.420 --> 00:06:22.620 The exact author, time of writing, 00:06:22.620 --> 00:06:24.560 is actually not clear or agreed upon. 00:06:24.560 --> 00:06:26.540 But most commentators would say, 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:29.420 they do link it to the period of time 00:06:29.420 --> 00:06:33.660 just after the Jewish Babylonian exile, 00:06:33.780 --> 00:06:35.000 around 580 BC. 00:06:35.780 --> 00:06:38.420 So, because of their continuous turning away from God, 00:06:39.300 --> 00:06:41.480 God allowed the Babylonian king, 00:06:41.560 --> 00:06:42.399 Nebuchadnezzar, 00:06:43.139 --> 00:06:44.939 to destroy Jerusalem's city wall 00:06:44.939 --> 00:06:45.920 and the temple. 00:06:45.920 --> 00:06:50.060 The Israelites were scattered throughout Babylon and Egypt. 00:06:50.819 --> 00:06:52.280 God's people are now ruled 00:06:52.280 --> 00:06:55.240 by surrounding foreign nations and religions 00:06:55.240 --> 00:06:57.800 and the myriad hardships and pressures 00:06:57.800 --> 00:06:58.879 that come from that. 00:06:59.780 --> 00:07:00.939 In verse 2, 00:07:01.340 --> 00:07:04.540 we can see that these nations are questioning God's existence. 00:07:04.540 --> 00:07:06.900 Where is their God? 00:07:07.319 --> 00:07:07.800 They say. 00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:11.560 Is this a genuine question of intellectual inquiry? 00:07:12.260 --> 00:07:14.020 Are they actually interested in the answer? 00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:15.120 No. 00:07:15.560 --> 00:07:17.439 This is a sarcastic comment. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:19.379 It's mocking and taunting. 00:07:20.180 --> 00:07:22.500 They are indirectly saying to the Israelites, 00:07:23.240 --> 00:07:24.220 you foolish people, 00:07:25.100 --> 00:07:26.879 worshipping a God you can't even see, 00:07:27.640 --> 00:07:28.680 that can't save you, 00:07:29.080 --> 00:07:30.720 that probably doesn't even exist. 00:07:31.759 --> 00:07:32.600 Where is he? 00:07:33.160 --> 00:07:34.060 Where is the evidence? 00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:38.760 This is not too dissimilar from our experience sometimes, is it? 00:07:39.240 --> 00:07:39.920 As Christians, 00:07:40.060 --> 00:07:41.820 trying to live our faith out in the world, 00:07:42.360 --> 00:07:44.860 we can find that the world generally doesn't place 00:07:44.860 --> 00:07:46.320 a high value in Christianity. 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:48.960 It can even mock or look down upon it. 00:07:49.740 --> 00:07:51.920 I recall an old rugby song 00:07:51.920 --> 00:07:53.080 as I was preparing for this sermon 00:07:53.080 --> 00:07:55.420 that we used to sing when we used to, 00:07:55.860 --> 00:07:58.740 on the bus on the way home after a match, 00:07:59.300 --> 00:08:00.720 we used to sing this song, 00:08:00.939 --> 00:08:01.700 many songs, 00:08:01.699 --> 00:08:05.300 none of which I can really repeat here at church, 00:08:05.379 --> 00:08:06.420 but before I was a Christian, 00:08:06.519 --> 00:08:07.839 I used to sing these songs as well. 00:08:08.339 --> 00:08:09.599 And one of the names of the songs was, 00:08:09.699 --> 00:08:10.819 Jesus Can't Play Rugby. 00:08:11.319 --> 00:08:12.959 And one of the lines in the song 00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:13.539 was, 00:08:13.680 --> 00:08:14.860 Jesus Can't Play Rugby 00:08:14.860 --> 00:08:16.779 because he doesn't even exist. 00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:19.779 Now that's quite overt, right? 00:08:20.300 --> 00:08:21.219 But oftentimes, 00:08:21.500 --> 00:08:22.779 perhaps more often than not, 00:08:22.779 --> 00:08:27.579 the pressure is more subtle than outright, right? 00:08:28.379 --> 00:08:30.619 Faith can be seen as outdated, 00:08:31.299 --> 00:08:32.240 anti-intellectual. 00:08:32.539 --> 00:08:34.839 It should only be personal and behind closed doors. 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:36.259 It's anti-inclusive, 00:08:36.939 --> 00:08:37.879 anti-progress, 00:08:37.879 --> 00:08:39.059 it's fantasy. 00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:41.480 Surprisingly, 00:08:41.919 --> 00:08:43.600 despite his weaker position, 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:46.139 the psalmist's response in verses 3 to 8 00:08:46.139 --> 00:08:48.340 is actually confidence in the face of this pressure. 00:08:49.019 --> 00:08:50.179 Our God is in the heavens. 00:08:50.399 --> 00:08:51.879 He does all that he pleases, 00:08:52.139 --> 00:08:53.080 he says in verse 3. 00:08:53.639 --> 00:08:55.139 If you remember from Kevin's sermon 00:08:55.139 --> 00:08:57.220 a few weeks back on John chapter 3, 00:08:57.740 --> 00:09:00.120 Jesus uses similar language about himself 00:09:00.120 --> 00:09:01.120 to describe himself 00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:02.559 when he's talking to Nicodemus. 00:09:03.519 --> 00:09:05.080 Chapter 3, verse 13, 00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:05.620 he says, 00:09:05.620 --> 00:09:07.679 No one has ascended into heaven 00:09:07.679 --> 00:09:10.159 except he who has descended from heaven, 00:09:10.500 --> 00:09:11.259 the Son of Man. 00:09:11.919 --> 00:09:13.399 This is very important 00:09:13.399 --> 00:09:15.200 because what is meant here 00:09:15.200 --> 00:09:17.139 is not that just God is in the heavens 00:09:17.139 --> 00:09:19.060 like he's just floating around in the sky, 00:09:19.700 --> 00:09:22.560 but he exists in the heavens, 00:09:22.700 --> 00:09:25.679 which means a realm where humans cannot be 00:09:25.679 --> 00:09:28.039 nor have any influence or power. 00:09:28.580 --> 00:09:31.759 God exists sovereignly and separately from us. 00:09:32.340 --> 00:09:34.159 God also does whatever he pleases. 00:09:34.159 --> 00:09:36.199 What delights him? 00:09:36.620 --> 00:09:37.839 He is not influenced, 00:09:38.439 --> 00:09:39.559 he is not cajoled, 00:09:39.620 --> 00:09:40.539 he is not manipulated, 00:09:40.819 --> 00:09:42.559 he is not forced in any way. 00:09:44.059 --> 00:09:46.719 The idols of the surrounding ruling nations, however, 00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:48.179 were nothing like this. 00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:50.339 The Hebrew word for idol 00:09:50.339 --> 00:09:52.480 comes from the root to shape or to fashion. 00:09:52.559 --> 00:09:54.740 I've just got some images of some of the idols 00:09:54.740 --> 00:09:56.679 that the Jewish people would have been faced with 00:09:56.679 --> 00:09:58.839 during this time of the Babylonians. 00:09:58.840 --> 00:10:00.740 By very definition, 00:10:00.940 --> 00:10:02.379 they were shaped by human beings. 00:10:02.879 --> 00:10:04.580 They may have been impressive to the eye, 00:10:04.960 --> 00:10:07.120 made from the most precious earthly substances, 00:10:07.420 --> 00:10:08.160 silver and gold, 00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:09.139 we see in verse 4. 00:10:09.700 --> 00:10:11.180 They often had human features, 00:10:11.399 --> 00:10:14.139 as we see in verses 5 to 7. 00:10:15.300 --> 00:10:16.879 Mouths, eyes, ears, 00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:19.080 nose, noses, hands, feet. 00:10:23.539 --> 00:10:25.259 They often had human features. 00:10:25.939 --> 00:10:29.000 They probably even appeared attractive as a result, 00:10:29.439 --> 00:10:30.179 maybe credible, 00:10:30.500 --> 00:10:31.279 maybe trustworthy, 00:10:32.139 --> 00:10:34.919 especially to the Jews in the situation they were in, right? 00:10:35.019 --> 00:10:36.879 I mean, they were being ruled by these people. 00:10:37.939 --> 00:10:39.220 They were a minority, 00:10:39.220 --> 00:10:41.920 and these other people were worshipping them. 00:10:42.779 --> 00:10:43.920 But the fact is, 00:10:44.340 --> 00:10:48.519 these idols could never be more than the humans that created them. 00:10:49.180 --> 00:10:51.460 The human features accounted for nothing at all. 00:10:52.019 --> 00:10:55.080 They certainly could not bring life or blessing or save. 00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:57.420 As with many young kids, 00:10:57.759 --> 00:11:01.560 my two girls have soft toys that they're very close to. 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:03.420 They're two bunnies. 00:11:03.879 --> 00:11:05.680 One has been creatively called Big Bunny, 00:11:05.679 --> 00:11:09.179 and the other with similar creative flair has been called Pink Bunny. 00:11:09.839 --> 00:11:12.319 And they take them wherever we travel. 00:11:12.679 --> 00:11:15.479 They hold on to them when we play at home. 00:11:15.919 --> 00:11:18.379 If we need to wash them and dry them, 00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:20.739 it has to be done before they go to bed 00:11:20.739 --> 00:11:21.899 so they can hold them at night, 00:11:22.159 --> 00:11:24.959 lest we incur a lot of crying and sobbing. 00:11:25.739 --> 00:11:29.779 It's fair to say that the girls place a lot of comfort in these dolls. 00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:32.339 But can they save? 00:11:32.959 --> 00:11:34.079 Of course not. 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:38.480 Imagine if one day our girls turned to Soda, my wife and I, 00:11:38.560 --> 00:11:38.980 and said, 00:11:39.520 --> 00:11:41.920 Mama, Baba, we don't need you anymore. 00:11:42.300 --> 00:11:43.259 Don't worry about us. 00:11:43.520 --> 00:11:44.580 We've got it under control. 00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:46.180 We've got our bunnies. 00:11:46.639 --> 00:11:47.540 We'll be fine. 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:49.259 What? 00:11:49.700 --> 00:11:51.100 They can't look after them. 00:11:51.480 --> 00:11:53.840 We gave them the bunnies in the first place, right? 00:11:54.660 --> 00:11:56.759 A big part of what the psalm is highlighting 00:11:56.759 --> 00:11:58.080 is the foolishness, 00:11:58.840 --> 00:12:01.900 the irrationality of the foreign nation's taunts 00:12:01.900 --> 00:12:03.220 and their trust in their idols. 00:12:03.220 --> 00:12:07.620 When compared to the true God who is in the heavens. 00:12:08.840 --> 00:12:12.000 Of course, as educated adults in 2025, 00:12:13.320 --> 00:12:15.440 this situation may actually seem a little bit, 00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:18.259 this ancient situation may seem a little bit irrelevant, right? 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:20.740 I mean, it doesn't really apply to us anymore. 00:12:20.740 --> 00:12:26.419 We're not physically bowing down to statues or idols anymore. 00:12:28.659 --> 00:12:33.379 But you see, idols aren't necessarily just physical images or statues. 00:12:34.139 --> 00:12:36.060 In fact, they are rarely that these days. 00:12:36.539 --> 00:12:39.019 In a very old sermon from the mid-1600s, 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:39.860 it was called, 00:12:40.019 --> 00:12:42.779 Soul Idolatry Excludes Men Out of Heaven. 00:12:42.779 --> 00:12:45.339 An old Puritan teacher, David Clarkson, 00:12:45.860 --> 00:12:47.519 highlighted two types of idolatry. 00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:50.059 The first, open outward idolatry, 00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:51.779 which is kind of referenced here in the psalm, 00:12:52.179 --> 00:12:55.059 is where one bows down with their body to a physical image. 00:12:56.019 --> 00:12:59.340 The second, or what he calls hidden or soul idolatry, 00:12:59.939 --> 00:13:03.679 is when the heart and mind is set on anything more than God. 00:13:03.919 --> 00:13:05.960 When anything is more valued than God, 00:13:06.340 --> 00:13:07.659 more desired than God, 00:13:07.860 --> 00:13:08.960 more sought than God, 00:13:09.379 --> 00:13:10.799 more loved than God. 00:13:10.799 --> 00:13:14.959 when we bow down to something that is not God in our hearts. 00:13:15.899 --> 00:13:19.819 I think we can probably see that soul idolatry is more prevalent today. 00:13:20.599 --> 00:13:21.779 And if that is the case, 00:13:21.979 --> 00:13:25.639 then we can and do make anything at all into an idol. 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:28.839 John Calvin, the famous theologian, put it this way, 00:13:29.359 --> 00:13:32.099 the human heart is a perpetual idol factory. 00:13:33.439 --> 00:13:37.120 Look at how the psalmist warms the people about idol worship in verse 8. 00:13:38.079 --> 00:13:40.319 Those who make them become like them. 00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:42.659 So do all who trust in them. 00:13:43.439 --> 00:13:47.620 In other words, what the psalmist is saying is you become what you worship. 00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:51.439 Worshipping money makes us stingy. 00:13:51.740 --> 00:13:53.199 It makes us count our pennies, 00:13:53.679 --> 00:13:55.859 counting each and every sacrifice that we make for them. 00:13:56.719 --> 00:13:59.819 Worshipping our children will make us childish and immature 00:13:59.819 --> 00:14:01.879 in the way that we deal with their disappointments. 00:14:02.819 --> 00:14:05.099 Worshipping our image will make us vain. 00:14:06.039 --> 00:14:09.759 It's not that you morph into the physical statue or idol that you're worshipping. 00:14:09.759 --> 00:14:14.240 But you do always share the same end destination. 00:14:14.879 --> 00:14:16.100 You suffer the same fate. 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:17.600 Lifelessness. 00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:18.200 Death. 00:14:18.799 --> 00:14:20.059 As we see in these verses. 00:14:21.179 --> 00:14:22.120 Ultimately though, 00:14:22.620 --> 00:14:23.679 we make idols, 00:14:23.740 --> 00:14:27.340 and we've alluded to it earlier in the services, 00:14:27.539 --> 00:14:28.500 we make idols, 00:14:28.840 --> 00:14:29.519 things into idols, 00:14:29.620 --> 00:14:31.759 because they promise to meet our deepest desires 00:14:31.759 --> 00:14:34.279 desires and fears within us. 00:14:34.899 --> 00:14:36.319 Fears like fear of man, 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:37.879 fear of the future, 00:14:38.039 --> 00:14:38.740 fear of loneliness. 00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:41.220 Desires like security, 00:14:41.659 --> 00:14:42.019 comfort, 00:14:42.360 --> 00:14:42.700 rest, 00:14:42.860 --> 00:14:43.319 fulfillment, 00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:44.279 love, 00:14:44.439 --> 00:14:44.840 acceptance, 00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:45.779 being known. 00:14:47.500 --> 00:14:49.819 This is very important to take note of, church. 00:14:50.360 --> 00:14:51.779 The desires of the heart 00:14:51.779 --> 00:14:54.279 are ultimately what motivate our actions 00:14:54.279 --> 00:14:56.600 and move us one way or the other. 00:14:57.919 --> 00:14:59.399 St. Augustine put it this way, 00:14:59.959 --> 00:15:01.659 My weight is my love, he says. 00:15:01.980 --> 00:15:04.360 By it I am carried wherever I am carried. 00:15:05.059 --> 00:15:06.659 The Bible puts it this way, 00:15:07.220 --> 00:15:08.519 For where your treasure is, 00:15:08.959 --> 00:15:10.759 your heart will be also. 00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:14.879 So it's really worth spending time thinking about 00:15:14.879 --> 00:15:16.500 what these desires are for you. 00:15:17.220 --> 00:15:19.159 It is also important to say, 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:21.019 that just because you have desires 00:15:21.019 --> 00:15:22.100 doesn't mean they're bad. 00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:24.620 It's a perfectly reasonable thing 00:15:24.620 --> 00:15:27.340 to want to be loved, 00:15:27.779 --> 00:15:28.240 accepted, 00:15:28.819 --> 00:15:29.200 known, 00:15:29.720 --> 00:15:30.840 at peace in life, 00:15:31.220 --> 00:15:31.960 without fear. 00:15:32.840 --> 00:15:35.740 The issue is what we are putting our confidence in, 00:15:35.960 --> 00:15:38.299 to trust and satisfy those desires. 00:15:39.139 --> 00:15:40.299 Are you looking to God, 00:15:40.299 --> 00:15:41.079 who is in the heavens, 00:15:41.299 --> 00:15:42.399 the maker of heaven and earth, 00:15:42.859 --> 00:15:44.559 or are you looking to the things of the world? 00:15:46.099 --> 00:15:47.899 Many of you will have read and seen 00:15:47.899 --> 00:15:49.159 the Lord of the Rings series. 00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:52.199 There is a character in the story called Gollum. 00:15:53.439 --> 00:15:56.379 Introduced as a kind of slimy, creepy monster guy. 00:15:57.979 --> 00:15:59.279 As the story progresses, 00:15:59.740 --> 00:16:01.899 you find out more about Gollum and his background. 00:16:02.859 --> 00:16:04.500 You learn that he actually used to live 00:16:04.500 --> 00:16:05.419 a pretty normal life. 00:16:05.559 --> 00:16:05.979 That's up in, 00:16:06.620 --> 00:16:07.000 I mean, 00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:09.679 he looks a little maniacal there, 00:16:09.740 --> 00:16:10.179 I'll be honest, 00:16:10.179 --> 00:16:12.979 but he was normal just prior to that scene. 00:16:15.359 --> 00:16:16.620 He was, 00:16:16.739 --> 00:16:17.699 his name was Smeagol, 00:16:18.379 --> 00:16:21.000 and he was just another unassuming hobbit, 00:16:21.179 --> 00:16:23.959 like many of the other main characters in the film, 00:16:24.279 --> 00:16:24.839 in the books. 00:16:25.639 --> 00:16:26.399 But one day, 00:16:26.519 --> 00:16:27.379 he and his relative, 00:16:27.579 --> 00:16:28.199 while they're fishing, 00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:30.439 stumble upon a magical ring 00:16:30.439 --> 00:16:34.000 that allows the wearer to become impossible, 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:35.219 invisible, 00:16:35.220 --> 00:16:36.000 not impossible, 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:36.519 invisible. 00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:40.019 Smeagol's desire for power and control, 00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:42.840 relatively hidden until that point, 00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:44.560 is set alight. 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:47.500 He actually ends up killing his relative 00:16:47.500 --> 00:16:50.440 so he can have sole possession of the ring, 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:54.300 and over time becomes more and more enslaved by it. 00:16:54.299 --> 00:16:58.500 He calls it his precious. 00:16:59.500 --> 00:17:02.039 His behavior becomes obsessed towards the ring 00:17:02.039 --> 00:17:03.979 and cruel towards others, 00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:06.779 as he gives himself over to the ring's power, 00:17:07.099 --> 00:17:09.159 and he looks to protect it at all costs. 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:12.299 He is also subsequently disowned by his community. 00:17:12.299 --> 00:17:13.859 You see, 00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:17.259 the ring twists Gollum's mind and heart and body. 00:17:18.159 --> 00:17:20.139 His desire for power and control 00:17:20.139 --> 00:17:22.059 are actually in some ways achieved. 00:17:22.159 --> 00:17:23.940 We may achieve some success in this world 00:17:23.940 --> 00:17:24.960 following these things. 00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:28.180 He does have power to an extent. 00:17:28.919 --> 00:17:30.859 It does extend his life to an extent. 00:17:31.700 --> 00:17:33.819 But he feels that without the ring, 00:17:33.899 --> 00:17:34.460 he is nothing. 00:17:35.220 --> 00:17:35.960 And over time, 00:17:36.039 --> 00:17:39.279 he shrivels into a hideous looking creature 00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:41.639 that lives a completely isolated, 00:17:42.360 --> 00:17:42.840 hateful, 00:17:43.160 --> 00:17:44.980 and hopelessly enslaved life 00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:47.700 in the deepest cavern of a mountain range. 00:17:49.080 --> 00:17:50.860 He is as good as lifeless, 00:17:51.300 --> 00:17:52.120 as good as dead. 00:17:53.380 --> 00:17:54.880 And if that wasn't clear enough, 00:17:55.300 --> 00:17:57.820 after the ring is accidentally found by someone else, 00:17:58.180 --> 00:18:00.020 and after chasing him relentlessly 00:18:00.020 --> 00:18:01.680 and trying to kill him to get it back, 00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:04.640 Gollum slips to his literal death 00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:07.320 after a final mad struggle for the ring, 00:18:08.460 --> 00:18:09.320 clutching to it 00:18:09.320 --> 00:18:10.800 and calling to his precious. 00:18:12.360 --> 00:18:14.620 So it is with verse 8 of the psalm. 00:18:15.360 --> 00:18:16.640 You become what you worship. 00:18:17.160 --> 00:18:18.440 You suffer the same fate. 00:18:19.280 --> 00:18:20.580 Lifelessness, death. 00:18:20.700 --> 00:18:21.780 This is very serious. 00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:24.720 We are in a precarious situation. 00:18:25.300 --> 00:18:26.000 We need help. 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:27.820 What should we do about it? 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:29.600 What books do we need to read? 00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:31.240 What podcasts do we need to listen to? 00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:34.019 What AI chatbot do we need to query? 00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:37.319 Look at verses 9 to 11. 00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:38.099 What should we do? 00:18:39.160 --> 00:18:42.019 The call is not to put a plan in place. 00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:45.940 The call is unequivocally trust in the Lord. 00:18:45.940 --> 00:18:48.840 The repetition three times highlights 00:18:48.840 --> 00:18:50.860 that this is actually a universal call for everyone. 00:18:51.820 --> 00:18:53.740 Verse 9 says the house of Israel. 00:18:53.900 --> 00:18:55.220 That refers to the Jewish people. 00:18:55.960 --> 00:18:56.779 You are not Jewish, 00:18:57.360 --> 00:18:58.799 but watermark, well, I think, 00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:00.240 but watermark church, 00:19:00.740 --> 00:19:02.059 trust in the Lord. 00:19:03.019 --> 00:19:04.980 Verse 10 says the house of Aaron. 00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:07.299 That refers to the Jewish priestly class, 00:19:07.700 --> 00:19:08.640 the religious leaders. 00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:12.160 Watermark elders and leaders, 00:19:12.820 --> 00:19:14.259 trust in the Lord. 00:19:15.340 --> 00:19:16.180 Verse 11, 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:17.420 those who fear the Lord 00:19:17.420 --> 00:19:19.500 refer to all other true believers. 00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:22.259 All people in Hong Kong and the world 00:19:22.259 --> 00:19:23.460 who call themselves Christian 00:19:23.460 --> 00:19:24.920 trust in the Lord. 00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:27.620 Our standing in this world makes no difference. 00:19:28.040 --> 00:19:30.259 We each equally need to trust in the Lord. 00:19:31.340 --> 00:19:33.480 There is still a major problem for us though 00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:37.800 because by this call that we read 00:19:37.799 --> 00:19:38.879 in verses 9 to 11, 00:19:39.480 --> 00:19:41.700 we could assume that we can trust in the Lord 00:19:41.700 --> 00:19:42.799 in and of ourselves. 00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:44.759 But Israel's history, 00:19:45.180 --> 00:19:45.919 and if we're honest, 00:19:46.099 --> 00:19:47.279 our own personal history, 00:19:47.779 --> 00:19:49.299 is littered with examples 00:19:49.299 --> 00:19:51.579 of us failing to trust Him 00:19:51.579 --> 00:19:53.119 over and over again. 00:19:54.059 --> 00:19:55.379 This is why the Israelites 00:19:55.379 --> 00:19:58.279 are in their situation to start with. 00:19:58.919 --> 00:20:00.399 This is the problem of sin. 00:20:01.099 --> 00:20:03.079 The thing which takes the good things of the world 00:20:03.079 --> 00:20:05.200 and makes them the ultimate things. 00:20:06.279 --> 00:20:07.319 Idols above God, 00:20:07.319 --> 00:20:09.079 drawing us away from Him. 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:11.019 We need help. 00:20:11.939 --> 00:20:13.200 Well, the good news is 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:14.899 God helps us. 00:20:15.679 --> 00:20:16.539 How does He do that? 00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:18.159 Let's move on. 00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:19.679 Let's look at verses 12 to 15. 00:20:19.859 --> 00:20:20.980 It kind of helped that this psalm 00:20:20.980 --> 00:20:22.720 is so well ordered, huh? 00:20:22.720 --> 00:20:25.660 The Lord has remembered us. 00:20:25.660 --> 00:20:27.259 He will bless the house of Israel. 00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:28.539 He will bless the house of Aaron. 00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:30.680 He will bless those who fear the Lord, 00:20:31.019 --> 00:20:32.360 both the small and the great. 00:20:33.079 --> 00:20:34.559 May the Lord give you increase, 00:20:34.680 --> 00:20:35.480 you and your children. 00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:37.460 May you be blessed by the Lord 00:20:37.460 --> 00:20:39.620 who made heaven and earth. 00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:43.380 Life, blessing, flourishing. 00:20:43.380 --> 00:20:47.080 God's desire for us is to save us 00:20:47.080 --> 00:20:50.220 and to give us life and blessing and flourishing. 00:20:50.920 --> 00:20:51.920 How does He do this? 00:20:52.420 --> 00:20:53.540 He gives us Jesus. 00:20:54.100 --> 00:20:55.360 The living God Himself. 00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:57.340 The opposite of a lifeless idol. 00:20:58.140 --> 00:21:00.440 The idols of the world are made of silver and gold. 00:21:00.440 --> 00:21:02.360 The work of human hands. 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:05.740 In verse 4. 00:21:06.759 --> 00:21:09.680 Jesus made of flesh and bone and spirit. 00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:12.559 The eternal, uncreated Son of God. 00:21:13.559 --> 00:21:16.380 The idols of the world have mouths but do not speak. 00:21:17.380 --> 00:21:19.759 Jesus preached the kingdom of God to the masses. 00:21:21.220 --> 00:21:23.180 Jesus called His disciples by name. 00:21:23.980 --> 00:21:25.799 He calls each and every one of us by name. 00:21:26.900 --> 00:21:29.640 The idols of the world have eyes but do not speak. 00:21:29.640 --> 00:21:30.120 Sorry. 00:21:31.640 --> 00:21:33.640 The idols of the world have eyes but do not see. 00:21:34.680 --> 00:21:36.360 Jesus looked over the crowds, 00:21:36.540 --> 00:21:38.560 harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. 00:21:39.580 --> 00:21:40.740 He had compassion on them. 00:21:41.580 --> 00:21:44.320 The idols of the world have ears but do not hear. 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:48.620 Even in the midst of His own suffering on the cross, 00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:52.040 Jesus hears the plea of the thief beside Him 00:21:52.040 --> 00:21:53.900 and welcomes him into paradise. 00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:57.880 He hears our plea and welcomes us into paradise. 00:21:57.880 --> 00:22:01.260 The idols of the world have hands but do not feel. 00:22:01.940 --> 00:22:04.300 Jesus reached out and touched them blind, 00:22:04.600 --> 00:22:07.000 the lame, the lepers, and heals them. 00:22:07.700 --> 00:22:09.960 He similarly opens His hands to us 00:22:09.960 --> 00:22:12.480 to experience healing in His midst. 00:22:13.360 --> 00:22:15.700 The idols of the world have feet but do not walk. 00:22:16.340 --> 00:22:17.820 Jesus walked from city to city, 00:22:17.980 --> 00:22:18.960 proclaiming the good news. 00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:23.019 He picked up His cross and walked to His own death 00:22:23.019 --> 00:22:26.620 to pay the price of our sins. 00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:33.180 I knew that would be a hard one. 00:22:33.180 --> 00:22:41.039 The idols of the world demand we move towards them, 00:22:41.640 --> 00:22:44.160 give more and more of ourselves to them. 00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:45.820 They enslave. 00:22:46.380 --> 00:22:47.440 They entangle us. 00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:49.440 Jesus comes to us. 00:22:50.140 --> 00:22:50.900 Comes to us. 00:22:51.060 --> 00:22:52.680 The only thing He asks of us 00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:54.060 is that we trust in Him 00:22:54.060 --> 00:22:56.160 and rely on His perfect trust. 00:22:56.779 --> 00:22:58.820 He releases us from slavery to sin. 00:22:59.279 --> 00:23:00.220 He sets us free. 00:23:00.220 --> 00:23:02.779 The idols of the world, 00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:03.839 Watermark Church, 00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:06.680 appear alive all around us 00:23:06.680 --> 00:23:08.160 but they bring death. 00:23:09.079 --> 00:23:10.539 Jesus died and rose again. 00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:11.799 We've just celebrated Easter. 00:23:12.460 --> 00:23:15.400 He brings abundant, increased, overflowing life. 00:23:15.819 --> 00:23:17.559 He puts a new, clean heart in us. 00:23:17.620 --> 00:23:19.220 He puts His very spirit in us. 00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:22.299 Those who trust in Him are a new creation. 00:23:22.920 --> 00:23:24.039 The old has gone. 00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:25.740 The new has come. 00:23:27.319 --> 00:23:28.120 Praise God. 00:23:28.119 --> 00:23:33.939 And just as the call to trust the Lord is universal, 00:23:34.399 --> 00:23:37.079 so the promise of life and blessing is universal 00:23:37.079 --> 00:23:38.559 for all those who fear the Lord. 00:23:39.019 --> 00:23:40.879 Whether you are Jewish, non-Jewish, 00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:42.419 Hong Konger, non-Hong Konger, 00:23:42.779 --> 00:23:44.699 rich, poor, powerful, weak, 00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:47.519 for anyone who trusts in Jesus, 00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:49.679 both the small and the great. 00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:52.719 You know, God gives us Jesus, 00:23:52.859 --> 00:23:55.419 not because He needs us in some way, 00:23:55.420 --> 00:23:57.700 but because of who He is, 00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:59.920 His covenantal nature, 00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:02.080 His steadfast love and faithfulness. 00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:04.840 This is why the psalmist cries out in verse 1, 00:24:05.320 --> 00:24:08.060 for God to preserve His own name's glory, 00:24:08.460 --> 00:24:10.519 for the sake of His love and faithfulness. 00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:12.120 Not to us, O Lord, 00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:13.160 not to us, 00:24:13.420 --> 00:24:15.420 but to Your name give glory, 00:24:15.740 --> 00:24:18.360 for the sake of Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness. 00:24:18.359 --> 00:24:21.359 Because whether it was the promises to Noah, 00:24:21.979 --> 00:24:22.740 or Abraham, 00:24:23.059 --> 00:24:23.579 or Moses, 00:24:23.839 --> 00:24:24.519 or David, 00:24:24.919 --> 00:24:26.459 before this, 00:24:26.919 --> 00:24:28.439 God moves towards His people 00:24:28.439 --> 00:24:30.219 with steadfast love and faithfulness. 00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:32.639 He always fulfills His promises 00:24:32.639 --> 00:24:33.740 to help, 00:24:34.179 --> 00:24:34.719 to shield, 00:24:35.179 --> 00:24:36.339 to give life and blessing. 00:24:37.459 --> 00:24:39.979 And He ultimately fulfills this in Jesus. 00:24:40.819 --> 00:24:41.979 God is so good. 00:24:41.980 --> 00:24:42.079 God is so good. 00:24:44.460 --> 00:24:45.440 Let's get practical. 00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:49.279 We've got all this in our head, 00:24:49.360 --> 00:24:51.480 and hopefully it's impacting our heart as well. 00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:53.819 But how can we actually grow 00:24:53.819 --> 00:24:56.440 in our applying of these truths to our lives, 00:24:56.559 --> 00:24:59.059 in order that we may live them out day by day? 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:01.200 More than just reading the Bible, 00:25:01.599 --> 00:25:01.900 praying, 00:25:02.440 --> 00:25:03.039 going to church, 00:25:03.180 --> 00:25:04.759 fellowshipping with one another, 00:25:05.319 --> 00:25:06.620 which are the basic fundamentals, 00:25:06.860 --> 00:25:08.019 so I'm not saying don't do those, 00:25:08.099 --> 00:25:08.839 do those first. 00:25:08.839 --> 00:25:11.699 But when we leave church today, 00:25:11.819 --> 00:25:12.980 we go back to our homes, 00:25:13.159 --> 00:25:14.079 to our workplaces, 00:25:14.699 --> 00:25:16.000 to our classrooms. 00:25:16.939 --> 00:25:19.079 We saw earlier that God's desire for us 00:25:19.079 --> 00:25:21.000 is to shower us with life and blessing. 00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:23.759 This of course is wonderful as it is, 00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:25.919 but actually it doesn't just stop there 00:25:25.919 --> 00:25:27.699 with Him showering us with life and blessing. 00:25:28.279 --> 00:25:29.139 More than this, 00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:31.939 God seeks for us who have that blessing, 00:25:32.439 --> 00:25:33.699 which He provides, 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:34.959 to change us. 00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:36.500 Look at verse 18. 00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:38.599 But we will bless the Lord 00:25:38.599 --> 00:25:40.539 from this time forth and forevermore. 00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:42.519 Praise the Lord. 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:45.779 Justin, you read that out better actually. 00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:47.779 The psalmist has gone 00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:49.059 from crying out to God 00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:50.160 at the start of the psalm, 00:25:50.279 --> 00:25:51.119 albeit confidently, 00:25:51.579 --> 00:25:53.119 to praising God at the end. 00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:54.920 Something has changed. 00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:57.539 It's not the physical external circumstances. 00:25:58.039 --> 00:25:59.900 We don't see any evidence that that's changed. 00:26:00.420 --> 00:26:01.240 So what is it? 00:26:01.880 --> 00:26:03.119 The heart has changed. 00:26:03.119 --> 00:26:04.799 The psalmist has seen, 00:26:05.179 --> 00:26:05.839 experienced, 00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:06.799 believed, 00:26:07.119 --> 00:26:08.479 and confidently trusted 00:26:08.479 --> 00:26:10.219 in God's greatness and goodness. 00:26:10.919 --> 00:26:11.759 And as a result, 00:26:12.059 --> 00:26:13.539 he has confidently turned away 00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:15.099 from the lure of worldly idols 00:26:15.099 --> 00:26:17.279 and can even praise God 00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:18.719 in the midst of his struggles. 00:26:19.979 --> 00:26:22.079 So what might this change process look like? 00:26:22.359 --> 00:26:24.139 I did say I'll try and get practical. 00:26:24.939 --> 00:26:27.319 The following is a high-level, 00:26:27.719 --> 00:26:29.459 four-step approach 00:26:29.460 --> 00:26:32.660 to help kickstart that change 00:26:32.660 --> 00:26:34.960 where we turn away from idols 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:35.940 and trust God instead. 00:26:36.420 --> 00:26:38.500 It's not a magical four-step formula, 00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:39.120 by the way, 00:26:39.660 --> 00:26:41.259 cure for idolatry. 00:26:41.840 --> 00:26:44.200 Life is not so black and white. 00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:45.519 There's nuance, complexity. 00:26:46.160 --> 00:26:48.640 We have overlapping desires of sin 00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:50.720 that takes time to consider 00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:52.460 and talk about and ponder. 00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:53.680 So you'll need time. 00:26:54.420 --> 00:26:55.960 I suggest you take 00:26:55.960 --> 00:26:57.240 what you might gather from this 00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:58.359 and talk it through 00:26:58.359 --> 00:27:00.000 from a trusted friend in more detail. 00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:01.599 First step, 00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:03.120 identify your idols. 00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:05.900 How can we tell if something is an idol? 00:27:06.299 --> 00:27:07.420 How can we identify it? 00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:08.799 It's not always easy, 00:27:08.920 --> 00:27:10.259 but I think these two questions 00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:11.019 could be helpful 00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:12.359 in figuring that out, 00:27:12.839 --> 00:27:14.519 like two sides of the same coin. 00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:16.180 So the first one is, 00:27:16.740 --> 00:27:18.220 what makes life meaningless 00:27:18.220 --> 00:27:19.380 if you don't have it? 00:27:19.640 --> 00:27:20.539 And the second is, 00:27:20.819 --> 00:27:22.620 what would you sin to get 00:27:22.620 --> 00:27:23.640 or to keep? 00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:26.180 There are obviously many, many idols 00:27:26.180 --> 00:27:27.400 that could be listed from this, 00:27:27.840 --> 00:27:29.420 but as we walk through this process, 00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:31.299 I'll use just two examples 00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:32.740 to help color it out a little bit. 00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:34.380 The first is, 00:27:34.840 --> 00:27:36.060 romantic relationships. 00:27:36.600 --> 00:27:38.060 Now I know this is a hard thing 00:27:38.060 --> 00:27:39.259 for many people here, 00:27:39.519 --> 00:27:41.039 so I don't take these words lightly, 00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:43.100 but we may feel that 00:27:43.100 --> 00:27:43.880 without a boyfriend 00:27:43.880 --> 00:27:44.640 or a girlfriend 00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:45.539 or a spouse, 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:47.500 life is basically meaningless. 00:27:48.360 --> 00:27:49.840 We can become so fearful 00:27:49.840 --> 00:27:50.600 of losing it 00:27:50.600 --> 00:27:51.820 that we would be willing 00:27:51.820 --> 00:27:52.480 to compromise 00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:53.500 to keep it, 00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:54.720 to live together 00:27:54.720 --> 00:27:55.460 before marriage, 00:27:55.600 --> 00:27:56.339 to sleep together 00:27:56.339 --> 00:27:57.039 before marriage, 00:27:57.460 --> 00:27:59.339 or we are absolutely devastated 00:27:59.339 --> 00:28:00.680 for a long period of time 00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:02.360 without any end in sight 00:28:02.360 --> 00:28:03.600 when we don't have it. 00:28:06.880 --> 00:28:08.360 I think career is another one. 00:28:08.600 --> 00:28:09.579 I think it's a big one too 00:28:09.579 --> 00:28:10.100 in Hong Kong. 00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:11.819 We may feel that 00:28:11.819 --> 00:28:13.059 without a successful career, 00:28:13.539 --> 00:28:14.759 we lack meaning in life. 00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:16.259 This is actually something 00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:17.579 I'm struggling with right now. 00:28:18.360 --> 00:28:19.620 Thus, in order to keep it, 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:21.100 we may engage 00:28:21.100 --> 00:28:22.400 in less than upright 00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:23.300 business practices, 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:24.980 cover up our mistakes, 00:28:25.540 --> 00:28:26.500 massage the facts, 00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:27.680 paint a rosier picture 00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:28.800 of what we've done at work, 00:28:29.480 --> 00:28:30.440 tear others down 00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:31.620 that stand in our way. 00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:34.759 So we've identified the idols. 00:28:35.060 --> 00:28:35.900 What's the second step? 00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:37.820 Identify the underlying 00:28:37.820 --> 00:28:38.540 heart desire 00:28:38.540 --> 00:28:39.540 that is drawing us 00:28:39.540 --> 00:28:40.040 to the idol. 00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:41.680 This, I think, 00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:42.720 is actually probably 00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:44.000 the most important step 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:45.660 because ultimately 00:28:45.660 --> 00:28:46.880 this is our desires 00:28:46.880 --> 00:28:47.720 of what move us 00:28:47.720 --> 00:28:50.019 to worship these idols. 00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:51.400 For relationships, 00:28:51.680 --> 00:28:52.879 the underlying heart desire 00:28:52.879 --> 00:28:54.160 may be the yearning 00:28:54.160 --> 00:28:55.259 for love and acceptance, 00:28:55.519 --> 00:28:56.319 a fear of loneliness. 00:28:57.059 --> 00:28:57.779 For career, 00:28:58.240 --> 00:28:59.339 it may be security, 00:28:59.639 --> 00:28:59.980 comfort, 00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:00.859 approval, 00:29:01.339 --> 00:29:02.059 self-regard, 00:29:02.339 --> 00:29:03.139 fear of the future. 00:29:06.700 --> 00:29:07.500 And now that we have 00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:09.099 identified the what's, 00:29:09.400 --> 00:29:10.359 I'm flying through this, 00:29:10.420 --> 00:29:10.819 I understand, 00:29:11.259 --> 00:29:12.119 but now that we have 00:29:12.119 --> 00:29:13.000 identified the what's, 00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:13.980 how can God help us? 00:29:14.579 --> 00:29:15.259 Third step. 00:29:15.819 --> 00:29:16.660 Try and identify 00:29:16.660 --> 00:29:17.240 a scripture 00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:18.400 or a gospel's truth 00:29:18.400 --> 00:29:20.620 that speaks to that desire. 00:29:20.900 --> 00:29:22.100 That speaks to the life 00:29:22.100 --> 00:29:23.400 that we find in Christ 00:29:23.400 --> 00:29:24.560 in the midst of 00:29:24.560 --> 00:29:25.460 having those desires. 00:29:26.360 --> 00:29:27.740 For romantic relationships 00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:29.320 and the underlying desire 00:29:29.320 --> 00:29:30.220 for love and acceptance, 00:29:31.060 --> 00:29:33.680 God's word in Romans 5, 8 00:29:33.680 --> 00:29:35.519 says that God demonstrated 00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:36.759 his love for us in this, 00:29:37.340 --> 00:29:38.740 that while we were still sinners, 00:29:39.300 --> 00:29:40.360 Christ died for us. 00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:43.519 Here we can see God saying to us 00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:44.560 that through Christ, 00:29:44.980 --> 00:29:47.040 I love and accept you so much 00:29:47.039 --> 00:29:48.639 that I died for you. 00:29:49.059 --> 00:29:50.200 You can trust in me 00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:51.220 for your love and acceptance. 00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:53.099 For career 00:29:53.099 --> 00:29:54.619 and the underlying desire 00:29:54.619 --> 00:29:55.839 of security and confidence, 00:29:56.539 --> 00:29:57.519 God's word says 00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:58.779 in Romans 8, 32, 00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:00.460 He who did not spare 00:30:00.460 --> 00:30:01.180 his own son 00:30:01.180 --> 00:30:02.659 but gave him up for us all, 00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:04.720 how will he not also with him 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:06.859 graciously give us all things? 00:30:07.619 --> 00:30:09.119 Here we see God saying 00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:10.159 that through Christ, 00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:11.119 he will give you 00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:12.420 exactly what you need 00:30:12.420 --> 00:30:13.799 when you need it. 00:30:13.799 --> 00:30:15.339 you can have confidence 00:30:15.339 --> 00:30:17.240 and trust in Jesus for that. 00:30:19.200 --> 00:30:20.559 And the final step, 00:30:21.700 --> 00:30:22.740 pray through the scripture. 00:30:23.480 --> 00:30:24.799 Repent of your idolatry. 00:30:25.379 --> 00:30:26.399 Ask God to reveal 00:30:26.399 --> 00:30:27.720 any practical steps 00:30:27.720 --> 00:30:28.839 you might need 00:30:28.839 --> 00:30:29.720 to take action on. 00:30:30.399 --> 00:30:31.659 It could be to apologize 00:30:31.659 --> 00:30:33.059 to someone you've mistreated 00:30:33.059 --> 00:30:34.159 because in your mind 00:30:34.159 --> 00:30:35.180 they threatened your idol. 00:30:35.919 --> 00:30:37.079 It could be just 00:30:37.079 --> 00:30:38.159 seeking prayer today 00:30:38.159 --> 00:30:39.180 because you realize 00:30:39.180 --> 00:30:39.940 that you have an idol 00:30:39.940 --> 00:30:40.859 and you need help with it. 00:30:40.859 --> 00:30:42.559 It could be admitting 00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:43.500 to your mistakes 00:30:43.500 --> 00:30:44.839 and stop massaging 00:30:44.839 --> 00:30:45.599 the facts 00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:46.879 or trying to paint yourself 00:30:46.879 --> 00:30:47.500 and lie 00:30:47.500 --> 00:30:48.159 and paint yourself 00:30:48.159 --> 00:30:50.379 in a better light at work. 00:30:50.919 --> 00:30:52.219 It could be breaking off 00:30:52.219 --> 00:30:53.519 that unhealthy relationship. 00:30:54.939 --> 00:30:55.919 Fleshing this out 00:30:55.919 --> 00:30:57.000 with a trusted friend 00:30:57.000 --> 00:30:57.979 or even your CG 00:30:57.979 --> 00:30:59.539 may be really helpful. 00:31:01.359 --> 00:31:01.699 Okay. 00:31:02.319 --> 00:31:03.059 We've got practical. 00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:05.459 In summary, watermark, 00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:06.719 where do we ultimately 00:31:06.719 --> 00:31:07.899 get our confidence from 00:31:07.899 --> 00:31:08.519 in this life? 00:31:09.299 --> 00:31:10.079 Psalm 115 00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:11.399 is a strong reminder 00:31:11.399 --> 00:31:12.839 that even though 00:31:12.839 --> 00:31:13.879 the things of the world 00:31:13.879 --> 00:31:15.119 promise us life 00:31:15.119 --> 00:31:15.699 and blessing 00:31:15.699 --> 00:31:16.480 and fulfillment, 00:31:17.019 --> 00:31:17.740 they will give you 00:31:17.740 --> 00:31:18.399 the opposite. 00:31:19.419 --> 00:31:20.159 Giving your life 00:31:20.159 --> 00:31:20.799 to these things, 00:31:20.919 --> 00:31:21.460 these idols, 00:31:21.980 --> 00:31:23.259 will ultimately produce 00:31:23.259 --> 00:31:24.639 death, destruction, 00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:26.559 lifelessness for yourself 00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:27.859 and not just yourself, 00:31:27.939 --> 00:31:29.159 for the community around you 00:31:29.159 --> 00:31:30.419 as you sacrifice 00:31:30.419 --> 00:31:31.159 more and more 00:31:31.159 --> 00:31:32.019 of yourself to it. 00:31:32.879 --> 00:31:34.000 But there is hope, 00:31:34.139 --> 00:31:34.740 thanks to God. 00:31:35.199 --> 00:31:35.839 In Jesus, 00:31:35.980 --> 00:31:36.859 we can experience 00:31:36.859 --> 00:31:37.859 this true life 00:31:37.859 --> 00:31:38.500 and blessing. 00:31:38.500 --> 00:31:41.420 the ultimate satisfaction 00:31:41.420 --> 00:31:42.779 of our deepest desires 00:31:42.779 --> 00:31:44.039 that speaks into 00:31:44.039 --> 00:31:45.799 every single human experience. 00:31:46.519 --> 00:31:47.819 And we can have confidence 00:31:47.819 --> 00:31:48.619 in change 00:31:48.619 --> 00:31:49.740 even in the midst 00:31:49.740 --> 00:31:50.420 of those struggles. 00:31:52.059 --> 00:31:53.079 If you haven't made 00:31:53.079 --> 00:31:53.799 a decision yet 00:31:53.799 --> 00:31:54.759 to trust in God, 00:31:55.240 --> 00:31:56.200 the call is clear. 00:31:57.000 --> 00:31:58.539 Trust in the Lord Jesus. 00:31:59.140 --> 00:32:00.220 He will be your help 00:32:00.220 --> 00:32:00.880 and shield. 00:32:01.779 --> 00:32:02.759 Please come and talk 00:32:02.759 --> 00:32:03.420 with me 00:32:03.420 --> 00:32:04.059 or a Christian 00:32:04.059 --> 00:32:04.759 that you trust. 00:32:05.180 --> 00:32:05.680 We would love 00:32:05.680 --> 00:32:06.360 to walk with you 00:32:06.360 --> 00:32:06.700 on that. 00:32:08.120 --> 00:32:09.019 For all of us 00:32:09.019 --> 00:32:10.279 in a world full of idols 00:32:10.279 --> 00:32:11.799 have confidence in 00:32:11.799 --> 00:32:13.420 and trust only in God 00:32:13.420 --> 00:32:14.140 for he alone 00:32:14.140 --> 00:32:15.000 gives eternal life 00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:15.400 and blessing. 00:32:16.299 --> 00:32:17.200 And may we be like 00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:17.700 the psalmist 00:32:17.700 --> 00:32:18.539 in verse 18, 00:32:18.900 --> 00:32:20.100 changed from the inside, 00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:21.880 confidently saying 00:32:21.880 --> 00:32:22.480 in the midst 00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:23.400 of life's struggles, 00:32:24.460 --> 00:32:25.360 but we will bless 00:32:25.360 --> 00:32:25.840 the Lord 00:32:25.840 --> 00:32:27.120 from this time forth 00:32:27.120 --> 00:32:27.880 and forevermore. 00:32:28.460 --> 00:32:29.140 Praise the Lord. 00:32:30.259 --> 00:32:30.700 Amen. 00:32:30.700 --> 00:32:30.799 Amen. 00:32:30.799 --> 00:32:30.820 Amen.