WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:29.980 First, before we go to the text, just a brief word of explanation that in the last year and some months, at the behest of this congregation and with your blessing and our pastor's encouragement, I have had the privilege of serving as a pastor. 00:00:29.980 --> 00:00:48.400 I was an interim pastor in a sister church in Chillicothe. It's about an hour and 20 minutes or so drive, depending on deer and weather, and I have ample time to pray for many of you that I dearly love and care for and also for the fellowship here. 00:00:49.399 --> 00:01:04.079 It's been my blessing in that absence to enjoy listening to the services on a regular basis, and I am blessed to listen to the ministry of the Word of God and also your singing, but I have to tell you, you sing well. 00:01:04.079 --> 00:01:20.099 You heard me say that while I was here, but what a phenomenal blessing for me to sit up here again in this morning and just listen to you putting your hearts into it and kind of bearing testimony of the fact that when the Word of God is working in people's lives and the Spirit of God is working in people's lives, 00:01:20.099 --> 00:01:31.539 one of the ways it shows up is in joyful singing to the Lord. There is a spirit of thanksgiving and blessing in your singing, and I am so very thankful for that. 00:01:31.540 --> 00:01:44.340 I will tell you, I have to ask you to pray for me. I've done that for all the years of my ministry, and I am mindful that apart from prayer, we don't get much done, and so you can kind of multitask. 00:01:44.420 --> 00:01:50.060 You've heard me say that many times, but go ahead and pray for me, and it won't bother me in the least if at some point you say it out loud. 00:01:50.180 --> 00:01:58.080 You know, you may feel I need a little extra help, and just go ahead and say it. Oh, Lord, help him. Do it out loud. Not going to throw me off. I know it. I know that. 00:01:58.079 --> 00:02:07.099 But I will tell you that today, the fellowship, Calvary Baptist Church at Chillicothe is in the process of candidating. 00:02:07.359 --> 00:02:19.680 They are looking to call a man to become their pastor, and should that go well, I will be back here sitting in this fellowship and enjoying the ministry that you all have in declaring the glory of Christ. 00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:30.580 And so you kind of pray for them as well. Pastor Rob Fowler is his name, and a good man coming from a sister church, and a man that has a heart for God and a heart for the Word. 00:02:30.700 --> 00:02:34.219 And so you keep that in prayer, and I'll keep you posted how that is going. 00:02:35.480 --> 00:02:43.260 Well, with that said, let's kind of step in to the end of what preaching aims to do. 00:02:44.259 --> 00:02:49.799 Preaching is an activity in which the Word of God is, it should be, the thing that's out front and center, right? 00:02:49.819 --> 00:02:54.179 When you walk away from here, one of the things that you should know is not that I was a storyteller, 00:02:54.979 --> 00:02:57.500 and I don't tell jokes because I'm miserable at them. 00:02:57.539 --> 00:02:59.719 My wife never laughs at them, and so it's like, let it go. 00:03:00.280 --> 00:03:04.659 But I want you to walk away saying, I heard the Word of God, and it affected my life, 00:03:04.799 --> 00:03:07.620 and I want to be different as a result of it. 00:03:07.620 --> 00:03:14.520 I think about the passage in Jeremiah where the prophet made this statement. 00:03:14.659 --> 00:03:18.219 He says, is not my word a fire? 00:03:19.539 --> 00:03:23.360 Is not my word a hammer that breaks the rock? 00:03:24.939 --> 00:03:28.960 And I'll tell you ahead of time what we're going to be talking about this morning is the matter of thankfulness. 00:03:28.960 --> 00:03:38.900 The Scriptures that call us to be thankful is one of those that not a one of us here is probably unaware of. 00:03:39.040 --> 00:03:44.340 We know that we are to be a thankful people, and yet we live in a culture that is just kind of shot through 00:03:44.340 --> 00:03:49.040 with an attitude of ill will and unthankfulness at every hand. 00:03:49.319 --> 00:03:52.420 You go in Monday to work, and guess how a lot of the people are going to act? 00:03:53.659 --> 00:03:56.020 I mean, they're not going to be happy. 00:03:56.300 --> 00:03:56.819 Am I right? 00:03:56.819 --> 00:04:04.479 I read an article last week talking about the fact that in this current political malaise, 00:04:05.139 --> 00:04:10.919 the majority of people that pay any attention to politics at all are generally pretty unhappy and angry. 00:04:11.459 --> 00:04:12.799 I can't understand that. 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:15.299 But, you know, it's out there. 00:04:15.599 --> 00:04:22.079 We live in an unhappy world, and Romans chapter 1 tells us that that's one of the characteristics of an unbeliever. 00:04:22.079 --> 00:04:28.319 And yet what I would ask you this as we kind of work our way into this text, Psalm 136, 00:04:28.539 --> 00:04:29.719 I want to ask you this. 00:04:30.199 --> 00:04:36.180 How often are you recognized by other people as being thankful? 00:04:38.039 --> 00:04:43.579 How often are you recognized by other people by you being thankful? 00:04:43.620 --> 00:04:45.519 How many of you know people that are consistently thankful? 00:04:45.659 --> 00:04:45.839 Do you know? 00:04:45.959 --> 00:04:46.779 Wave your hands at me. 00:04:46.779 --> 00:04:49.399 I've been gone a long time, so some of you don't know how to do that. 00:04:49.519 --> 00:04:50.859 But just, I get it. 00:04:51.239 --> 00:04:54.559 How often do you remember, that's a thankful person. 00:04:55.519 --> 00:05:02.679 That's a person that I can count on not to be grumpy and moody, not to be kind of surly and unhappy, 00:05:02.939 --> 00:05:04.500 not to be easily offended. 00:05:04.699 --> 00:05:08.799 They're a person that on most occasions are going to be thankful. 00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:17.020 And by the way, a thankful spirit, as rare as it is, is a profound testimony in this unbelieving world, isn't it? 00:05:17.780 --> 00:05:22.020 How many times have you had people say to you, so, why are you happy? 00:05:23.160 --> 00:05:24.960 Well, what's going on in your life? 00:05:25.960 --> 00:05:31.080 What is the reason for the hope that lies within you, right, from 1 Peter? 00:05:31.079 --> 00:05:40.459 And the reminder, our lives are to be marked by a spirit of thankfulness and joy that is a magnetic thing 00:05:40.459 --> 00:05:45.680 in the life of an unhappy and discontent and discouraged world. 00:05:45.719 --> 00:05:46.099 Agreed? 00:05:47.199 --> 00:05:50.939 And so what we're going to look at this morning, Psalm 136, 00:05:51.099 --> 00:05:56.079 is an unbelievable psalm dealing with the subject of thankfulness. 00:05:56.799 --> 00:05:57.500 Let's look at it. 00:05:57.719 --> 00:06:00.659 Let me read a portion of it, and then we'll kind of work our way into it. 00:06:00.660 --> 00:06:03.160 Psalm 136, verse 1, 00:06:03.340 --> 00:06:07.460 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. 00:06:08.640 --> 00:06:08.920 Right? 00:06:09.740 --> 00:06:13.120 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. 00:06:13.660 --> 00:06:15.740 The next little line is, 00:06:16.460 --> 00:06:20.260 For His steadfast love endures forever. 00:06:22.940 --> 00:06:23.980 Verse 2, 00:06:23.980 --> 00:06:39.540 Give thanks to the God of gods, for His steadfast love endures forever. 00:06:39.540 --> 00:06:41.720 For, 00:06:41.720 --> 00:06:41.720 00:06:41.720 --> 00:06:46.280 To Him who alone does great wonders, 00:06:46.280 --> 00:06:50.300 for His steadfast love endures forever. 00:06:51.140 --> 00:06:53.879 Now by that, by this point, you're probably thinking to yourself, 00:06:54.100 --> 00:06:57.360 Is He going to go on this way all the way through all 26 verses? 00:06:57.580 --> 00:06:58.580 And the answer is, 00:06:59.439 --> 00:06:59.920 Yes. 00:06:59.920 --> 00:07:05.879 It's not because the Holy Spirit couldn't come up with anything else. 00:07:06.879 --> 00:07:13.740 It's because He wants us to know the supreme importance of His name, character, 00:07:13.740 --> 00:07:21.240 And the reason that we are to be thankful is that His steadfast love endures forever. 00:07:23.660 --> 00:07:25.040 Do you want to be a thankful person? 00:07:26.079 --> 00:07:31.019 Do you want to be a person who in the swamp that we live in, 00:07:31.100 --> 00:07:35.319 in the unhappy, broken world that we are going to be sent out into tomorrow, 00:07:35.319 --> 00:07:38.500 to minister, and to be a testimony to the grace of God? 00:07:38.639 --> 00:07:42.519 Do you want to be a person who stands apart, who is different, who is atypical, 00:07:42.860 --> 00:07:48.339 and by that character draws people to wonder about why you're different? 00:07:49.480 --> 00:07:51.560 I think this passage has something to say. 00:07:52.459 --> 00:07:54.339 And I would appeal to you, 00:07:54.399 --> 00:07:56.659 if you're sitting here in the honest heart that you have, 00:07:56.879 --> 00:07:57.300 you're saying, 00:07:57.379 --> 00:07:57.800 You know what? 00:07:57.939 --> 00:08:01.339 As a general rule, I'm not a very thankful person. 00:08:01.339 --> 00:08:06.539 I don't have to work very hard to be pretty moody and unhappy. 00:08:07.039 --> 00:08:08.419 I'm pretty good at it. 00:08:09.299 --> 00:08:11.879 I would ask you to begin praying right now to say, 00:08:12.339 --> 00:08:17.339 This is the day that I am asking the Holy Spirit to change my attitude 00:08:17.339 --> 00:08:19.299 about the matter of thanksgiving, 00:08:19.659 --> 00:08:23.979 because His steadfast love endures forever. 00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:27.819 Well, let's kind of step into the text a little more in detail, 00:08:27.819 --> 00:08:33.620 and recognize that actually this entire psalm is a psalm of thanksgiving. 00:08:34.299 --> 00:08:36.139 The word's actually only used four times. 00:08:36.840 --> 00:08:39.000 You find it there, give thanks in verse 1, 00:08:39.379 --> 00:08:40.600 give thanks in verse 2, 00:08:40.720 --> 00:08:41.919 give thanks in verse 3, 00:08:42.120 --> 00:08:45.639 and then you can kind of work your way on down to the very end in 26, 00:08:45.819 --> 00:08:46.080 and it says, 00:08:46.240 --> 00:08:46.659 Give thanks. 00:08:47.960 --> 00:08:52.539 So why would I say that the entire psalm is a psalm of thanksgiving, 00:08:52.539 --> 00:08:54.939 and draws our attention to that obligation? 00:08:55.940 --> 00:08:58.960 Well, where's Jared Piles, the grammar Nazi? 00:09:01.920 --> 00:09:02.320 Okay? 00:09:02.820 --> 00:09:05.180 If you are a grammarian of any sort, 00:09:05.280 --> 00:09:08.200 and I'm not going to step into that swamp for the moment, 00:09:08.320 --> 00:09:09.560 but if you're a grammarian, 00:09:09.640 --> 00:09:11.900 you would know that if you look at verse 3, 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:13.380 it says, 00:09:13.620 --> 00:09:14.760 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, 00:09:14.820 --> 00:09:16.720 for His steadfast love endures forever, 00:09:16.880 --> 00:09:18.660 and then there's a little bit of punctuation there. 00:09:18.700 --> 00:09:19.180 What is it? 00:09:21.060 --> 00:09:21.960 It's a semicolon, 00:09:21.960 --> 00:09:25.980 and it attaches the remaining verses from 3, 00:09:26.180 --> 00:09:28.200 actually 4 on to 25, 00:09:28.660 --> 00:09:31.440 and it's all lumped together as one declaration. 00:09:31.680 --> 00:09:34.420 Here are the reasons that we are to give thanks. 00:09:34.519 --> 00:09:36.519 Give thanks, give thanks, give thanks, give thanks. 00:09:38.700 --> 00:09:46.620 The psalm wants us to be thankful in every situation, 00:09:46.620 --> 00:09:54.360 and it's interesting to recognize that this psalm also was one that was a centerpiece to Old Testament worship. 00:09:54.960 --> 00:09:57.740 It was known as the Great Hallel, okay? 00:09:58.299 --> 00:10:01.500 And it was a psalm that was often sung, 00:10:01.860 --> 00:10:07.080 and some scholars say it was actually sung in every Sabbath worship service. 00:10:07.419 --> 00:10:09.060 One of the songs that they would sing, 00:10:09.100 --> 00:10:09.740 one of the psalms, 00:10:09.960 --> 00:10:11.340 was Psalm 136. 00:10:11.500 --> 00:10:15.799 It depends on who you're looking at to kind of get out the information on this, 00:10:15.799 --> 00:10:19.500 but it was certainly one that was sung on a very regular basis. 00:10:19.500 --> 00:10:23.080 I remember a couple of songs we sang this morning, 00:10:23.340 --> 00:10:27.340 and we have some songs that are, 00:10:27.460 --> 00:10:28.460 we're not liturgical, 00:10:29.100 --> 00:10:32.860 but there are songs that are kind of at the foundation of who we are 00:10:32.860 --> 00:10:34.679 and our appreciation for God. 00:10:34.740 --> 00:10:35.299 Isn't that right? 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:39.259 Praise God from whom all blessings flow. 00:10:39.480 --> 00:10:40.600 Praise Him all creatures. 00:10:40.879 --> 00:10:44.960 And things that we often come back to touch on 00:10:44.960 --> 00:10:46.759 because they're foundational to us. 00:10:46.759 --> 00:10:52.700 This was one of those psalms that the Old Testament saints sang on a regular basis, 00:10:52.700 --> 00:10:56.980 and it was a reflection of their heart in their worship. 00:10:57.779 --> 00:11:00.700 It was also a psalm that was often used 00:11:00.700 --> 00:11:04.159 when people were struggling with adversity and difficulty. 00:11:05.019 --> 00:11:06.779 Now, none of you here have had any of those problems. 00:11:07.740 --> 00:11:11.240 Your life is probably just kind of peachy and all very good, 00:11:11.340 --> 00:11:13.159 and there's no adversity and difficulty, 00:11:13.159 --> 00:11:19.139 but this psalm is one that when the saint was struggling with a burden and a challenge, 00:11:19.319 --> 00:11:22.259 he would go back and he would recite this psalm to himself, 00:11:22.439 --> 00:11:26.519 and he would take comfort in knowing that this psalm was a reminder 00:11:26.519 --> 00:11:29.199 of the unfailing love of God. 00:11:30.439 --> 00:11:35.100 One night in 358 A.D., 00:11:35.740 --> 00:11:37.839 the church father, Athanasius, 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:42.899 held an all-night service of prayer at his church in Alexandria, Egypt. 00:11:44.019 --> 00:11:50.540 He'd been leading a fight for the eternal sonship and deity of Christ. 00:11:50.660 --> 00:11:54.200 Now, how many of you know that the issue of the sonship and deity of Christ 00:11:54.200 --> 00:12:00.580 was not a theological truth that was hammered out in the first three weeks of history after the cross? 00:12:00.580 --> 00:12:04.920 It actually took about 450 years for the church to absolutely rock settled 00:12:04.920 --> 00:12:08.139 on the entire humanity and the entire deity of Christ. 00:12:09.100 --> 00:12:13.300 Athanasius was one of those scholars that was leading the fight, 00:12:13.379 --> 00:12:18.000 and it was a very adversarial and unhappy predicament for the church, 00:12:18.100 --> 00:12:21.379 and a lot of tension over it. 00:12:21.379 --> 00:12:27.399 And on that evening that he was leading this service, 00:12:27.620 --> 00:12:28.539 this prayer service, 00:12:29.299 --> 00:12:32.539 for more political reasons than theological, 00:12:32.779 --> 00:12:35.600 there was a large gathering of soldiers that had come against the church. 00:12:36.259 --> 00:12:40.279 And when Athanasius knew that the soldiers were outside the church, 00:12:40.360 --> 00:12:41.480 had surrounded the church, 00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:43.519 and meant ill to the congregation, 00:12:43.899 --> 00:12:45.360 what he instructed them to do, 00:12:45.399 --> 00:12:47.860 he said, listen, we're going to stop right now, 00:12:47.860 --> 00:12:51.440 and we are going to sing Psalm 136. 00:12:52.600 --> 00:12:53.340 Now, how does that go? 00:12:54.139 --> 00:12:55.039 Let me do it again. 00:12:55.840 --> 00:12:58.879 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, 00:12:59.100 --> 00:13:02.360 for his steadfast love endures forever. 00:13:02.779 --> 00:13:08.500 And 26 times as Athanasius led the church in singing this, 00:13:08.740 --> 00:13:10.800 when they would come to the second part, 00:13:11.159 --> 00:13:12.539 guess how they would say it? 00:13:15.180 --> 00:13:17.560 They would thunder it out. 00:13:17.559 --> 00:13:18.039 Right? 00:13:18.859 --> 00:13:20.299 They would just bellow it. 00:13:20.559 --> 00:13:24.559 And when the soldiers actually broke through the big open doors to come into the service, 00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:28.159 they were blown away by the enthusiasm of saints, 00:13:28.259 --> 00:13:29.759 who in the face of adversity, 00:13:30.179 --> 00:13:32.339 were just kind of thundering this, 00:13:32.579 --> 00:13:35.679 for his steadfast love endures forever. 00:13:37.459 --> 00:13:41.019 This psalm has been a comfort over and over again, 00:13:41.299 --> 00:13:44.559 when saints have found themselves in challenges, 00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:48.299 challenges that stretch them beyond their ability, 00:13:48.299 --> 00:13:52.219 and drive them to remember who their God is and how he loves them. 00:13:53.219 --> 00:13:56.539 Let's think a little more carefully about what this psalm does, 00:13:56.579 --> 00:13:58.819 in terms of laying out the issues for us, 00:13:58.859 --> 00:14:00.059 and pick up, if you will, 00:14:00.459 --> 00:14:02.299 in verses 1 through 3, 00:14:02.359 --> 00:14:08.339 and understand that this first portion draws attention to the nature and character of our God. 00:14:08.340 --> 00:14:11.720 So why are we to be thankful? 00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:18.340 Yes, consistently we are to remind ourselves that his steadfast love endures forever, 00:14:18.519 --> 00:14:21.800 but we are also to be thankful because he is our Lord. 00:14:22.360 --> 00:14:23.580 He is our God. 00:14:24.600 --> 00:14:25.980 He is the Lord of lords. 00:14:26.540 --> 00:14:29.120 And that's what the psalm does here in the beginning part. 00:14:29.220 --> 00:14:35.080 He draws attention to the issue of who our God is by using three different names in the Hebrew. 00:14:35.080 --> 00:14:40.379 He calls God, first of all, Yahweh, which is I Am. 00:14:41.220 --> 00:14:44.360 And in relationship to that, the very first part of the verse, he says, 00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:47.840 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. 00:14:48.740 --> 00:14:49.580 He is good. 00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:51.879 He's always good. 00:14:52.680 --> 00:14:54.240 He's good in every case. 00:14:54.980 --> 00:14:59.000 He is the only one who is absolutely unchanged in His goodness, 00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:05.860 and there is not a part of Him that ever changes or drifts away from goodness. 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:08.360 How many of you have done good things but really didn't have a good heart? 00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:11.000 You ever done that? 00:15:12.179 --> 00:15:14.519 I don't want to bring it up, but you've taken flowers to your wife 00:15:14.519 --> 00:15:16.019 after there's been a little something going on, 00:15:16.080 --> 00:15:18.620 and you use flowers as what? 00:15:19.059 --> 00:15:20.360 A remedy for the problem? 00:15:20.840 --> 00:15:23.620 She'd much rather have you be good all the time than have flowers. 00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:31.360 And we've all done a variety of things to kind of compensate for our badness. 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:34.000 God's not that way. 00:15:35.379 --> 00:15:38.080 He is always good. 00:15:38.259 --> 00:15:40.259 He is always good. 00:15:42.860 --> 00:15:49.500 I have been thinking more often about what it means to get older. 00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:54.799 I like to look out and see all your young faces and no gray hair. 00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:57.919 There are some of you out here that have gray, but I appreciate that. 00:15:58.460 --> 00:16:03.879 You know, hey, getting older is actually, here's what I'm beginning to learn. 00:16:04.179 --> 00:16:04.659 Are you listening? 00:16:06.019 --> 00:16:12.600 It is a heightening opportunity to discover the goodness of God. 00:16:13.860 --> 00:16:14.799 I mean that. 00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:20.919 I watched my dad and my mom both go towards heaven, 00:16:20.919 --> 00:16:25.219 and every step of the way they grew in thankfulness 00:16:25.219 --> 00:16:30.939 and spirit-tuned sensitivity to the glory and supremacy of Christ. 00:16:31.379 --> 00:16:32.899 And as I'm beginning to get older, 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:35.740 and there are parts that ache in the morning when you get out of bed, 00:16:35.819 --> 00:16:37.439 it's like, I keep saying, 00:16:37.439 --> 00:16:42.979 hey, I want to grow to know you more and love you more. 00:16:44.799 --> 00:16:48.159 He is always good. 00:16:48.899 --> 00:16:50.799 He is always good. 00:16:51.659 --> 00:16:56.419 And do not ever let the enemy of your souls rob you of the certainty 00:16:56.419 --> 00:17:02.179 that the God of this universe is good in everything He allows in your life. 00:17:03.639 --> 00:17:07.599 I look back in the rear view mirror, as many of you have done, 00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:13.039 and I have to recognize that every moment marked, 00:17:13.159 --> 00:17:17.299 whether it has been by difficulty or exceptional moments of joy, 00:17:17.559 --> 00:17:20.459 have been characterized by the goodness of God. 00:17:21.439 --> 00:17:24.459 And here, as the psalmist starts into this psalm, 00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:25.319 he says, 00:17:25.879 --> 00:17:29.319 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. 00:17:29.319 --> 00:17:34.319 The second thing that we find here is that He is known as the Elohim, 00:17:34.419 --> 00:17:38.139 or He's known as Elohim, the Mighty One, the Judge, the Lord of all. 00:17:38.819 --> 00:17:43.159 And I am so very thankful when I stop and think about the world that we live in 00:17:43.159 --> 00:17:46.819 that I know the One who is the Judge of the whole earth. 00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:50.859 You kind of listen to the political wrangling a little bit. 00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:54.480 I can't take very much without getting my hair kind of ruffled, 00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:56.579 but you listen to some of that and you think, 00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:58.380 Man, what a messy world we live in. 00:17:58.640 --> 00:17:59.440 And it makes me think, 00:17:59.620 --> 00:18:03.700 I really am looking forward to when Jesus comes back. 00:18:03.860 --> 00:18:04.279 Aren't you? 00:18:05.220 --> 00:18:06.539 We won't need Washington. 00:18:07.559 --> 00:18:08.980 We won't need Beijing. 00:18:09.880 --> 00:18:11.779 We won't need London. 00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:13.779 We won't need an army. 00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:15.120 We won't need... 00:18:15.120 --> 00:18:20.420 Man, I'm looking forward to when the Lord, my Savior, 00:18:20.839 --> 00:18:23.000 the Mighty One, the Judge of the whole earth, 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:26.680 returns and brings His kingdom into being. 00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:29.980 I'm reminded as well in this passage in verse 3, 00:18:30.059 --> 00:18:30.299 it says, 00:18:30.500 --> 00:18:32.420 Give thanks to the Lord of lords. 00:18:33.380 --> 00:18:35.880 And it's reminding us that He is the Adonai. 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:37.160 He is the Mighty One. 00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:40.359 He is transcendent and creator of all. 00:18:41.259 --> 00:18:42.920 Over and above all. 00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:46.079 And yet, in reality, 00:18:46.660 --> 00:18:48.740 while He is the creator and over all, 00:18:48.740 --> 00:18:51.759 He also pays attention to us personally. 00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:55.379 And as we step from verse 3 into 4 through 9, 00:18:55.460 --> 00:18:56.379 what we're going to pick up here, 00:18:56.700 --> 00:18:58.859 and I'm not going to go into all the details of the text, 00:18:58.940 --> 00:19:02.559 but here we find that God's power and wisdom is on display 00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:04.720 through the activity of His creation. 00:19:06.019 --> 00:19:06.579 Verse 4, 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:09.079 To Him alone who does great wonders, 00:19:10.079 --> 00:19:12.220 for His steadfast love endures forever. 00:19:12.220 --> 00:19:16.920 To Him who by understanding made the heavens. 00:19:18.600 --> 00:19:19.559 Stop and think about that. 00:19:21.799 --> 00:19:23.220 This summer, Judith and I, 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:25.000 as we would sit on our porch in the mornings, 00:19:25.579 --> 00:19:28.779 we discovered that hummingbirds liked our plants. 00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:32.279 Well, that kind of prompted us to do a little further research, 00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:34.460 Google it, and figure out what else do hummingbirds like. 00:19:34.839 --> 00:19:36.420 And pretty soon, our porch, 00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:39.539 it was just a collection of all whatever would attract hummingbirds. 00:19:39.539 --> 00:19:41.379 I mean, at the point you hardly see the road. 00:19:41.460 --> 00:19:42.240 They're all over the place. 00:19:42.879 --> 00:19:43.899 But then that wasn't enough. 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:46.839 We had to go by like three or four little hummingbird feeders, right? 00:19:47.480 --> 00:19:49.259 And we've got those things hanging out there. 00:19:49.899 --> 00:19:52.740 And every single time one of them showed up, 00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:53.279 we just kind of, 00:19:53.779 --> 00:19:54.659 this is amazing. 00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:58.000 I mean, how did God do that? 00:19:59.079 --> 00:20:01.139 A little teeny little thing like this 00:20:01.139 --> 00:20:06.359 that flies with the most spectacular speed and mobility. 00:20:06.460 --> 00:20:06.879 Am I right? 00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:08.180 Have you ever noticed hummingbirds? 00:20:08.460 --> 00:20:10.440 This is where they really show their abilities, 00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:13.340 when they're unhappy with each other and chasing each other. 00:20:13.640 --> 00:20:15.860 They don't share feeders very well. 00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:17.560 And you'd see this, 00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:20.000 there would be hummingbird and suddenly, 00:20:20.280 --> 00:20:23.380 and then off they'd go. 00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:25.580 And how they, 00:20:26.440 --> 00:20:26.960 it's like, 00:20:28.040 --> 00:20:28.960 my God did that. 00:20:29.860 --> 00:20:31.440 That's the creator of this universe. 00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:31.640 universe. 00:20:32.519 --> 00:20:34.920 That's just a very small part of it. 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:36.400 And, 00:20:36.460 --> 00:20:38.600 and as I think about this passage, 00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:41.100 you kind of stop and recognize that 00:20:41.100 --> 00:20:42.220 this issue 00:20:42.220 --> 00:20:46.480 of God as the creator of the universe 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:49.279 is one that is a center point to our faith. 00:20:50.440 --> 00:20:52.080 How does Genesis 1, 1 start? 00:20:53.360 --> 00:20:54.460 In the beginning, 00:20:55.299 --> 00:20:55.640 God. 00:20:55.640 --> 00:20:59.860 How does John chapter 1, 00:20:59.940 --> 00:21:00.960 verse 1 through 3 00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:02.180 get rolling? 00:21:02.880 --> 00:21:04.700 In the beginning was the word, 00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:05.820 and the word was with God, 00:21:05.840 --> 00:21:06.700 and the word was God. 00:21:06.940 --> 00:21:07.800 And it goes on and says, 00:21:07.900 --> 00:21:10.840 and all things were made through him. 00:21:13.340 --> 00:21:15.100 Psalm 19, verse 1. 00:21:16.100 --> 00:21:20.500 The heavens declare the glory of God. 00:21:22.600 --> 00:21:24.400 Romans chapter 1, verse 20. 00:21:24.400 --> 00:21:29.380 For his invisible attributes, 00:21:29.759 --> 00:21:31.380 namely his eternal power 00:21:31.380 --> 00:21:32.820 and divine nature, 00:21:32.920 --> 00:21:34.240 have been clearly perceived 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:36.420 ever since the creation of the world. 00:21:38.500 --> 00:21:41.360 And while many unbelievers 00:21:41.360 --> 00:21:43.380 do their very best 00:21:43.380 --> 00:21:44.440 to suppress down 00:21:44.440 --> 00:21:46.380 the spectacular wisdom 00:21:46.380 --> 00:21:47.500 of God in creation, 00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:50.100 it slaps them in the face 00:21:50.100 --> 00:21:50.900 everywhere they turn. 00:21:52.019 --> 00:21:52.740 Unbelievable. 00:21:52.740 --> 00:21:54.120 The complexity 00:21:54.120 --> 00:21:55.880 and the beauty 00:21:55.880 --> 00:21:57.099 and the marvel 00:21:57.099 --> 00:21:57.980 of the creation 00:21:57.980 --> 00:21:59.359 that you and I enjoy, 00:21:59.539 --> 00:22:01.480 and we know the creator, 00:22:01.880 --> 00:22:03.400 and he is our Lord 00:22:03.400 --> 00:22:04.140 and our God. 00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:09.220 I remember asking myself 00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:09.940 as I was praying 00:22:09.940 --> 00:22:10.720 about this passage, 00:22:10.900 --> 00:22:12.859 why is this issue 00:22:12.859 --> 00:22:13.640 of creation 00:22:13.640 --> 00:22:14.440 so important 00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:16.920 to my appreciation of God? 00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:19.460 Now there are many reasons 00:22:19.460 --> 00:22:20.900 that probably could be offered, 00:22:20.900 --> 00:22:22.660 but one stands out in particular. 00:22:23.740 --> 00:22:24.540 And I want you to turn, 00:22:24.620 --> 00:22:24.940 if you will, 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:25.620 just for a second, 00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:27.180 over to Psalm chapter 8. 00:22:27.660 --> 00:22:28.720 You're in Psalm 36, 00:22:28.920 --> 00:22:29.420 so turn over, 00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:29.840 if you will, 00:22:29.880 --> 00:22:30.960 to Psalm chapter 8. 00:22:32.100 --> 00:22:32.780 Hey, by the way, 00:22:33.140 --> 00:22:33.440 pastor, 00:22:33.560 --> 00:22:34.000 I want you to, 00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:34.500 ah, 00:22:34.820 --> 00:22:35.860 who put that up in the back? 00:22:36.360 --> 00:22:37.960 It says 1152 here, 00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:40.320 and then it says 1143 over there, 00:22:40.340 --> 00:22:40.920 and on my phone 00:22:40.920 --> 00:22:41.880 it says 1143. 00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:42.560 We're in good shape. 00:22:42.940 --> 00:22:43.180 Okay. 00:22:43.180 --> 00:22:45.060 Do they do that to you? 00:22:45.120 --> 00:22:46.000 Do they mess with the time 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:46.440 over here? 00:22:50.100 --> 00:22:50.460 Pastor, 00:22:50.620 --> 00:22:51.160 preach on. 00:22:57.900 --> 00:22:59.200 When pastors pay attention 00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:00.160 to time, 00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:01.620 don't take any note of it 00:23:01.620 --> 00:23:03.140 because they really don't, 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:04.060 let me stop. 00:23:09.340 --> 00:23:10.200 Psalm 8, 00:23:10.200 --> 00:23:14.279 verse 3 through 6. 00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:17.880 When I look at your heavens, 00:23:18.200 --> 00:23:19.600 the work of your fingers, 00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:21.039 the moon and the stars 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:22.279 which you have set in place, 00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:25.279 what is man 00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:28.059 that you are mindful of him? 00:23:30.700 --> 00:23:31.799 I don't know about you, 00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:36.180 but I'm pretty impressed 00:23:36.180 --> 00:23:37.279 with my insignificance 00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:38.900 on fairly regular occasion. 00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:41.000 I'm going to be dust 00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:41.759 one of these days. 00:23:43.299 --> 00:23:43.819 By the way, 00:23:43.880 --> 00:23:44.620 I won't be embalmed 00:23:44.620 --> 00:23:45.500 just in case you're wondering, 00:23:45.620 --> 00:23:46.440 so I will be dust. 00:23:47.180 --> 00:23:47.440 Okay. 00:23:48.279 --> 00:23:48.960 That's for real 00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:50.279 in my own pine box 00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:51.120 that I'm making myself. 00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:51.680 There you go. 00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:52.740 You didn't need to know that either, 00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:53.299 but I've told you. 00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:57.360 It's my last remodel job. 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:02.080 Oh, 00:24:02.140 --> 00:24:02.819 stop. 00:24:03.600 --> 00:24:03.920 Okay. 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:06.120 What is man 00:24:06.120 --> 00:24:07.500 that you're mindful of him? 00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:07.559 Okay. 00:24:10.200 --> 00:24:13.039 And the son of man 00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:14.900 that you care for him. 00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:18.799 I hope you honestly 00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:19.559 are overwhelmed 00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:21.380 when you stop and think 00:24:21.380 --> 00:24:23.580 that the God of this universe 00:24:23.580 --> 00:24:26.440 knows you personally 00:24:26.440 --> 00:24:28.080 and cares about you personally 00:24:28.080 --> 00:24:30.059 as an interest in your well-being. 00:24:30.059 --> 00:24:32.599 And if he has called you 00:24:32.599 --> 00:24:33.619 to be his son, 00:24:34.059 --> 00:24:35.419 having spent the blood 00:24:35.419 --> 00:24:36.700 of his own son 00:24:36.700 --> 00:24:38.039 for your salvation, 00:24:38.359 --> 00:24:40.000 he will do whatever 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:41.759 is necessary 00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:43.159 to get you home. 00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:45.339 Don't mess with him. 00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:49.599 The psalmist goes on 00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:50.419 and he says this, 00:24:50.819 --> 00:24:52.279 Yet you have made him 00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:53.119 a little lower 00:24:53.119 --> 00:24:54.559 than heavenly beings 00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:56.039 and crowned him 00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:57.039 with glory and honor. 00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:58.920 You have given him dominion 00:24:58.920 --> 00:25:00.460 over the works of your hands. 00:25:00.839 --> 00:25:02.519 You have put all things 00:25:02.519 --> 00:25:04.299 under his feet. 00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:12.420 We serve as his vice regents. 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:17.159 We are charged with caring 00:25:17.159 --> 00:25:18.339 for his creation. 00:25:18.339 --> 00:25:21.079 And he has set 00:25:21.079 --> 00:25:23.679 his unfailing love upon us 00:25:23.679 --> 00:25:24.899 and his attitude 00:25:24.899 --> 00:25:26.379 and his heart towards us 00:25:26.379 --> 00:25:28.720 will never change. 00:25:30.959 --> 00:25:32.939 The second, third portion 00:25:32.939 --> 00:25:34.079 actually begins there 00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:34.699 in verse 10 00:25:34.699 --> 00:25:35.740 and carries on down 00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:36.659 through verse 24. 00:25:38.119 --> 00:25:39.939 And I just want to mark 00:25:39.939 --> 00:25:41.059 in broad terms 00:25:41.059 --> 00:25:42.439 that this segment 00:25:42.439 --> 00:25:44.299 deals with God's great work 00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:46.139 in deliverance and provision. 00:25:46.140 --> 00:25:48.300 Each note 00:25:48.300 --> 00:25:51.060 of his good work 00:25:51.060 --> 00:25:51.840 is followed 00:25:51.840 --> 00:25:52.800 by the repetition 00:25:52.800 --> 00:25:54.580 of that statement 00:25:54.580 --> 00:25:56.580 for his steadfast love 00:25:56.580 --> 00:25:58.120 endures forever. 00:26:00.540 --> 00:26:01.540 The psalmist begins 00:26:01.540 --> 00:26:02.400 with the high point 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:03.000 of the plagues 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:04.440 that God afflicted 00:26:04.440 --> 00:26:05.220 on Egypt 00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:06.240 so as to deliver 00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:07.480 his people from slavery. 00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:10.380 Now, you may be familiar 00:26:10.380 --> 00:26:11.080 with this story 00:26:11.080 --> 00:26:12.240 but you may not. 00:26:12.740 --> 00:26:13.200 So let me kind of 00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:13.740 just touch on it 00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:14.180 a little bit. 00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:16.740 It's really curious 00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:19.000 but worth our attention 00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:19.759 to recognize 00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:21.720 that while the Israelites 00:26:21.720 --> 00:26:23.400 were not entirely happy 00:26:23.400 --> 00:26:24.560 in Egypt 00:26:24.560 --> 00:26:26.480 they weren't entirely 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:27.360 unhappy either. 00:26:27.660 --> 00:26:28.000 In fact, 00:26:28.100 --> 00:26:29.039 they were really not 00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:29.779 all that settled 00:26:29.779 --> 00:26:30.460 about leaving. 00:26:33.340 --> 00:26:34.600 The unbeliever 00:26:34.600 --> 00:26:35.799 caught in the swamp 00:26:35.799 --> 00:26:36.539 of their sin 00:26:36.539 --> 00:26:38.920 doesn't like where they are 00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:40.799 but has no intention 00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:41.279 of leaving. 00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:44.000 And God had to do 00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:45.180 something pretty miraculous 00:26:45.180 --> 00:26:46.180 to get the nation 00:26:46.180 --> 00:26:46.599 of Israel 00:26:46.599 --> 00:26:47.700 out of the land 00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:48.059 of Egypt. 00:26:48.180 --> 00:26:48.799 Did you know 00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:49.700 that the people 00:26:49.700 --> 00:26:50.819 the Egyptian people 00:26:50.819 --> 00:26:52.000 drove Israel 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:52.960 out of town? 00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:55.779 It's like 00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:56.619 get out of here. 00:26:57.440 --> 00:26:58.299 We're afraid 00:26:58.299 --> 00:26:59.019 of what else 00:26:59.019 --> 00:26:59.599 will happen. 00:27:00.619 --> 00:27:01.240 And by the way 00:27:01.240 --> 00:27:02.500 if you pay attention 00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:03.399 to the ten plagues 00:27:03.399 --> 00:27:04.500 each one incrementally 00:27:04.500 --> 00:27:05.379 got worse and worse 00:27:05.379 --> 00:27:06.119 more significant. 00:27:06.119 --> 00:27:07.639 And remember 00:27:07.639 --> 00:27:08.479 when God told 00:27:08.479 --> 00:27:09.659 Moses 00:27:09.659 --> 00:27:10.259 I'm going to have 00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:11.599 people send you out 00:27:11.599 --> 00:27:12.519 and by the way 00:27:12.519 --> 00:27:12.899 they're going to 00:27:12.899 --> 00:27:13.539 pack you off 00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:14.659 with all kinds 00:27:14.659 --> 00:27:15.319 of good stuff. 00:27:16.039 --> 00:27:16.699 I'm going to spoil 00:27:16.699 --> 00:27:17.239 the Egyptians. 00:27:18.599 --> 00:27:19.979 And their back wages 00:27:19.979 --> 00:27:20.459 in essence 00:27:20.459 --> 00:27:20.939 were paid 00:27:20.939 --> 00:27:22.439 as they packed up 00:27:22.439 --> 00:27:22.979 and left town. 00:27:24.579 --> 00:27:25.759 But we find here 00:27:25.759 --> 00:27:26.699 in this passage 00:27:26.699 --> 00:27:27.699 you look at the passage 00:27:27.699 --> 00:27:28.079 again 00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:29.239 you find that 00:27:29.239 --> 00:27:30.279 what takes place 00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:31.239 is that God 00:27:31.239 --> 00:27:32.719 reminds the nation 00:27:32.719 --> 00:27:34.099 over and over again 00:27:34.099 --> 00:27:35.279 I'm the one 00:27:35.279 --> 00:27:36.419 who did these things 00:27:36.419 --> 00:27:36.919 for you 00:27:36.919 --> 00:27:38.119 as I delivered you 00:27:38.119 --> 00:27:39.240 from the iron furnace 00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:40.359 and I brought you 00:27:40.359 --> 00:27:41.519 to the place of promise. 00:27:44.399 --> 00:27:45.779 The text goes on 00:27:45.779 --> 00:27:48.379 to name one deliverance 00:27:48.379 --> 00:27:49.119 after another 00:27:49.119 --> 00:27:50.219 and we cannot read 00:27:50.219 --> 00:27:50.659 the text 00:27:50.659 --> 00:27:51.519 without being 00:27:51.519 --> 00:27:52.459 a little overwhelmed 00:27:52.459 --> 00:27:52.939 of just 00:27:52.939 --> 00:27:54.579 how gracious 00:27:54.579 --> 00:27:55.399 God was 00:27:55.399 --> 00:27:56.759 in loving his people. 00:27:56.859 --> 00:27:57.240 And by the way 00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:58.439 what were those people like? 00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:01.299 They were the most wonderful 00:28:01.299 --> 00:28:02.740 congenial 00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:04.279 happy 00:28:04.279 --> 00:28:06.920 enduring people 00:28:06.920 --> 00:28:07.700 I mean you know 00:28:07.700 --> 00:28:09.240 God took them a hard way 00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:09.920 but he did that 00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:10.920 he tells us in Exodus 00:28:10.920 --> 00:28:11.960 so that they would 00:28:11.960 --> 00:28:12.720 kind of toughen up 00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:13.960 and how did they do 00:28:13.960 --> 00:28:14.740 toughening up? 00:28:15.099 --> 00:28:16.599 They whined every single day. 00:28:17.460 --> 00:28:18.660 They whined and complained 00:28:18.660 --> 00:28:20.039 about every single challenge 00:28:20.039 --> 00:28:20.700 that God brought 00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:21.380 into their life 00:28:21.380 --> 00:28:21.960 and 00:28:21.960 --> 00:28:25.319 on more than one occasion 00:28:25.319 --> 00:28:26.099 Moses just kind of 00:28:26.099 --> 00:28:26.660 threw up his hands 00:28:26.660 --> 00:28:26.980 and said 00:28:26.980 --> 00:28:27.680 ha! 00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:31.100 And here we find 00:28:31.100 --> 00:28:34.380 as you work your way 00:28:34.380 --> 00:28:35.640 through this passage 00:28:35.640 --> 00:28:37.720 over and over again 00:28:37.720 --> 00:28:38.380 that God 00:28:38.380 --> 00:28:39.180 taking care 00:28:39.180 --> 00:28:39.840 of his people 00:28:39.840 --> 00:28:41.400 never changed 00:28:41.400 --> 00:28:42.039 his mind 00:28:42.039 --> 00:28:42.700 on them 00:28:42.700 --> 00:28:43.720 and never 00:28:43.720 --> 00:28:44.860 turned his back 00:28:44.860 --> 00:28:45.580 on them. 00:28:47.860 --> 00:28:49.060 I love the flow 00:28:49.060 --> 00:28:49.720 of the text 00:28:49.720 --> 00:28:50.420 in particular 00:28:50.420 --> 00:28:51.259 in verse 23 00:28:51.259 --> 00:28:52.100 and verse 24 00:28:52.100 --> 00:28:53.600 let me read it to you 00:28:53.600 --> 00:28:54.140 there it says 00:28:54.140 --> 00:28:54.660 here it says 00:28:54.660 --> 00:28:57.860 it is he who remembered us 00:28:57.860 --> 00:28:59.600 in our low estate 00:28:59.600 --> 00:29:04.019 for his steadfast love 00:29:04.019 --> 00:29:04.759 endures forever 00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:07.080 and rescued us 00:29:07.080 --> 00:29:08.320 from our foes 00:29:08.320 --> 00:29:11.540 for his steadfast love 00:29:11.540 --> 00:29:12.800 endures forever. 00:29:12.920 --> 00:29:13.720 Let me ask you a question 00:29:13.720 --> 00:29:15.200 when did Israel 00:29:15.200 --> 00:29:16.240 have foes? 00:29:18.400 --> 00:29:19.779 Most of the foes 00:29:19.779 --> 00:29:20.440 they had 00:29:20.440 --> 00:29:21.779 were self-inflicted 00:29:21.779 --> 00:29:22.920 because of their 00:29:22.920 --> 00:29:24.080 idolatrous hearts 00:29:24.080 --> 00:29:24.640 would you agree? 00:29:24.660 --> 00:29:27.200 they dug themselves 00:29:27.200 --> 00:29:28.140 holes repeatedly 00:29:28.140 --> 00:29:29.019 and God 00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:29.820 delivered them 00:29:29.820 --> 00:29:30.840 and here is the 00:29:30.840 --> 00:29:31.220 psalmist 00:29:31.220 --> 00:29:31.920 reminding 00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:34.480 the nation 00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:36.060 of the fact 00:29:36.060 --> 00:29:37.320 that over and against 00:29:37.320 --> 00:29:38.080 these heartaches 00:29:38.080 --> 00:29:38.779 and difficulties 00:29:38.779 --> 00:29:39.540 that they endured 00:29:39.540 --> 00:29:40.740 was the God 00:29:40.740 --> 00:29:41.660 who cared for them 00:29:41.660 --> 00:29:42.720 and never changed 00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:43.420 his mind 00:29:43.420 --> 00:29:44.200 about them. 00:29:45.960 --> 00:29:46.720 While we'd like 00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:47.420 to think that 00:29:47.420 --> 00:29:49.840 we've been reasonably 00:29:49.840 --> 00:29:50.740 focused in our 00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:51.740 spiritual lives 00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:53.259 the truth of the matter 00:29:53.259 --> 00:29:53.820 is this 00:29:53.819 --> 00:29:54.539 is that we've been 00:29:54.539 --> 00:29:55.319 a whole lot more 00:29:55.319 --> 00:29:55.879 like the children 00:29:55.879 --> 00:29:56.319 of Israel 00:29:56.319 --> 00:29:57.619 than we want 00:29:57.619 --> 00:29:58.019 to admit. 00:29:59.139 --> 00:29:59.879 Our great 00:29:59.879 --> 00:30:01.099 consolation is this 00:30:01.099 --> 00:30:01.679 is that his 00:30:01.679 --> 00:30:02.740 steadfast love 00:30:02.740 --> 00:30:03.500 endures forever. 00:30:04.919 --> 00:30:05.599 Now before we take 00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:06.220 a minute to think 00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:07.139 in practical terms 00:30:07.139 --> 00:30:07.799 of the blessings 00:30:07.799 --> 00:30:09.559 of his steadfast love 00:30:09.559 --> 00:30:10.359 let's just kind of 00:30:10.359 --> 00:30:11.819 watch or let's think 00:30:11.819 --> 00:30:12.299 for a second 00:30:12.299 --> 00:30:13.700 about what is the 00:30:13.700 --> 00:30:14.679 significance of his 00:30:14.679 --> 00:30:15.220 steadfast love. 00:30:15.220 --> 00:30:16.279 What is this 00:30:16.279 --> 00:30:17.059 steadfast love? 00:30:17.059 --> 00:30:18.619 I want you to know 00:30:18.619 --> 00:30:19.220 that for one 00:30:19.220 --> 00:30:20.879 his steadfast love 00:30:20.879 --> 00:30:22.099 is the centerpiece 00:30:22.099 --> 00:30:23.119 of our relationship 00:30:23.119 --> 00:30:23.700 with him. 00:30:24.259 --> 00:30:25.440 It's a centerpiece. 00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:26.980 And you say 00:30:26.980 --> 00:30:27.859 well can you prove 00:30:27.859 --> 00:30:28.119 that? 00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:30.339 Well 1 John chapter 00:30:30.339 --> 00:30:31.639 4 verse 19 00:30:31.639 --> 00:30:32.159 how many of you 00:30:32.159 --> 00:30:32.599 know it without 00:30:32.599 --> 00:30:33.000 looking? 00:30:34.139 --> 00:30:34.579 Come on. 00:30:35.259 --> 00:30:36.039 We love him 00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:39.240 because he first 00:30:39.240 --> 00:30:39.879 loved us. 00:30:40.419 --> 00:30:41.240 If you're sitting 00:30:41.240 --> 00:30:41.940 here this morning 00:30:41.940 --> 00:30:42.559 and your heart 00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:43.579 has any level 00:30:43.579 --> 00:30:44.079 of affection 00:30:44.079 --> 00:30:44.939 for the Lord 00:30:44.939 --> 00:30:45.659 Jesus Christ 00:30:45.659 --> 00:30:47.159 it's not because 00:30:47.159 --> 00:30:48.559 one warm evening 00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:49.279 you decided 00:30:49.279 --> 00:30:49.740 as you were 00:30:49.740 --> 00:30:50.179 sitting over 00:30:50.179 --> 00:30:50.699 on the porch 00:30:50.699 --> 00:30:51.399 you know I think 00:30:51.399 --> 00:30:51.939 I need to start 00:30:51.939 --> 00:30:52.659 loving God. 00:30:53.639 --> 00:30:54.339 Didn't happen. 00:30:55.439 --> 00:30:56.579 He chased you 00:30:56.579 --> 00:30:57.599 through the messiness 00:30:57.599 --> 00:30:58.319 of your life 00:30:58.319 --> 00:30:59.259 he found you 00:30:59.259 --> 00:31:00.159 broken and ruined 00:31:00.159 --> 00:31:01.539 and he lifted you up 00:31:01.539 --> 00:31:02.500 and he loved you 00:31:02.500 --> 00:31:03.240 unconditionally 00:31:03.240 --> 00:31:04.579 and slowly in your 00:31:04.579 --> 00:31:05.339 heart you began 00:31:05.339 --> 00:31:06.059 to appreciate 00:31:06.059 --> 00:31:06.980 the wealth 00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:07.399 and depth 00:31:07.399 --> 00:31:08.099 of that love. 00:31:11.139 --> 00:31:11.899 His love 00:31:11.899 --> 00:31:12.639 is the basis 00:31:12.640 --> 00:31:14.800 of our salvation. 00:31:15.840 --> 00:31:16.340 There's not a one 00:31:16.340 --> 00:31:16.620 of you here 00:31:16.620 --> 00:31:17.180 probably today 00:31:17.180 --> 00:31:17.860 that doesn't know 00:31:17.860 --> 00:31:18.820 for John chapter 00:31:18.820 --> 00:31:19.740 3 verse 16 00:31:19.740 --> 00:31:21.040 for God so loved 00:31:21.040 --> 00:31:21.480 the world 00:31:21.480 --> 00:31:23.080 that he gave 00:31:23.080 --> 00:31:23.600 us his son. 00:31:25.080 --> 00:31:25.580 And then we come 00:31:25.580 --> 00:31:26.259 to John chapter 00:31:26.259 --> 00:31:27.400 15 verse 13 00:31:27.400 --> 00:31:28.160 where Jesus said 00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:28.820 to his disciples 00:31:28.820 --> 00:31:29.860 greater love 00:31:29.860 --> 00:31:30.560 hath no man 00:31:30.560 --> 00:31:30.980 than this 00:31:30.980 --> 00:31:31.740 that he lay 00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:32.480 down his life 00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:33.220 for his brethren. 00:31:33.880 --> 00:31:34.520 Jesus let 00:31:34.520 --> 00:31:35.660 those who he 00:31:35.660 --> 00:31:36.380 loved know 00:31:36.380 --> 00:31:37.020 that he loved 00:31:37.020 --> 00:31:37.200 them. 00:31:39.600 --> 00:31:39.980 His love 00:31:39.980 --> 00:31:40.720 also assures 00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:41.520 me that regardless 00:31:41.520 --> 00:31:42.460 of where I roam 00:31:42.460 --> 00:31:43.360 he will not 00:31:43.360 --> 00:31:44.400 let me go. 00:31:45.740 --> 00:31:46.460 I got to tell you 00:31:46.460 --> 00:31:48.019 I'm an older 00:31:48.019 --> 00:31:48.539 guy now. 00:31:49.779 --> 00:31:50.500 And one of the 00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:51.180 advantages of being 00:31:51.180 --> 00:31:52.360 older is I kind 00:31:52.360 --> 00:31:53.059 of learned a little 00:31:53.059 --> 00:31:54.620 bit with messing 00:31:54.620 --> 00:31:55.400 with God is not 00:31:55.400 --> 00:31:56.079 a good idea 00:31:56.079 --> 00:31:57.940 because he won't 00:31:57.940 --> 00:31:58.660 let his children 00:31:58.660 --> 00:31:59.240 go. 00:31:59.400 --> 00:31:59.720 Do you follow 00:31:59.720 --> 00:32:00.039 that? 00:32:00.299 --> 00:32:01.440 He will do 00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:02.360 whatever is 00:32:02.360 --> 00:32:03.360 necessary to get 00:32:03.360 --> 00:32:03.960 a hold of you 00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:04.860 if you are his 00:32:04.860 --> 00:32:05.299 child. 00:32:05.660 --> 00:32:06.480 And I say that 00:32:06.480 --> 00:32:07.180 not on the basis 00:32:07.180 --> 00:32:08.120 of personal experience 00:32:08.120 --> 00:32:08.660 because that's 00:32:08.660 --> 00:32:09.039 irrelevant. 00:32:09.039 --> 00:32:11.220 I say that on 00:32:11.220 --> 00:32:11.779 the basis of 00:32:11.779 --> 00:32:12.379 Hebrews chapter 00:32:12.379 --> 00:32:12.740 12. 00:32:13.059 --> 00:32:13.759 Whom the Lord 00:32:13.759 --> 00:32:14.519 loves he 00:32:14.519 --> 00:32:16.059 chastens. 00:32:18.059 --> 00:32:18.879 If you're sitting 00:32:18.879 --> 00:32:19.539 here this morning 00:32:19.539 --> 00:32:20.139 and you're someone 00:32:20.139 --> 00:32:20.879 who's getting away 00:32:20.879 --> 00:32:22.019 with sin and it 00:32:22.019 --> 00:32:23.700 seems like God 00:32:23.700 --> 00:32:24.420 doesn't care you 00:32:24.420 --> 00:32:24.839 probably ought to 00:32:24.839 --> 00:32:26.000 stop and say why 00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:26.299 not? 00:32:28.639 --> 00:32:29.440 Why not? 00:32:30.240 --> 00:32:31.220 If you are his 00:32:31.220 --> 00:32:32.279 child and you are 00:32:32.279 --> 00:32:34.159 drifting he will put 00:32:34.159 --> 00:32:35.119 his arm around you 00:32:35.119 --> 00:32:36.220 gently to start with 00:32:36.220 --> 00:32:37.559 but he will always 00:32:37.559 --> 00:32:38.700 step it up until 00:32:38.700 --> 00:32:39.319 he gets your 00:32:39.319 --> 00:32:39.759 attention. 00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:40.420 That's one of the 00:32:40.420 --> 00:32:41.079 things I like about 00:32:41.079 --> 00:32:41.579 my age. 00:32:42.539 --> 00:32:42.900 Truthfully. 00:32:43.960 --> 00:32:44.839 When I begin to 00:32:44.839 --> 00:32:45.380 mess with bad 00:32:45.380 --> 00:32:46.019 attitudes and 00:32:46.019 --> 00:32:47.079 primarily attitudes 00:32:47.079 --> 00:32:47.519 is what I'm 00:32:47.519 --> 00:32:47.960 dealing with. 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:48.259 Getting a little 00:32:48.259 --> 00:32:49.259 self-focused and 00:32:49.259 --> 00:32:49.860 you know whatever. 00:32:50.559 --> 00:32:51.420 God will tap me 00:32:51.420 --> 00:32:51.920 on the shoulder 00:32:51.920 --> 00:32:52.480 and it's like I 00:32:52.480 --> 00:32:53.059 hear you I hear 00:32:53.059 --> 00:32:53.259 you. 00:32:54.539 --> 00:32:55.160 And then he'll 00:32:55.160 --> 00:32:55.920 say do you want 00:32:55.920 --> 00:32:56.600 to go any further 00:32:56.600 --> 00:32:57.259 and I say no no 00:32:57.259 --> 00:32:57.500 no. 00:32:59.140 --> 00:32:59.900 I get it. 00:33:00.680 --> 00:33:01.420 I've been there. 00:33:02.460 --> 00:33:03.299 I know how this 00:33:03.299 --> 00:33:03.700 ends. 00:33:04.400 --> 00:33:05.440 It's never fun. 00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:08.000 And so I want to 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:09.240 tell you his love 00:33:09.240 --> 00:33:10.860 will not turn you 00:33:10.860 --> 00:33:11.299 loose. 00:33:11.620 --> 00:33:12.620 His love sets the 00:33:12.620 --> 00:33:13.460 boundaries in my 00:33:13.460 --> 00:33:13.759 life. 00:33:13.839 --> 00:33:14.980 It tells me in 2 00:33:14.980 --> 00:33:15.779 Corinthians chapter 00:33:15.779 --> 00:33:16.960 5 verse 14 it 00:33:16.960 --> 00:33:18.079 says for the love of 00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:19.660 Christ constrains me. 00:33:22.660 --> 00:33:23.819 I love my wife. 00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:25.839 I love my 00:33:25.839 --> 00:33:26.299 grandchildren. 00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:28.220 I love you. 00:33:29.480 --> 00:33:30.700 But it is not the 00:33:30.700 --> 00:33:31.600 thing that constrains 00:33:31.600 --> 00:33:32.200 me most. 00:33:33.360 --> 00:33:34.620 It is the Savior who 00:33:34.620 --> 00:33:35.360 has loved me 00:33:35.359 --> 00:33:36.619 unconditionally and 00:33:36.619 --> 00:33:37.559 never failed me. 00:33:37.699 --> 00:33:38.979 That helps me set 00:33:38.979 --> 00:33:39.799 the standard and 00:33:39.799 --> 00:33:40.579 keep the course. 00:33:41.500 --> 00:33:44.079 His love is 00:33:44.079 --> 00:33:44.439 central. 00:33:46.459 --> 00:33:47.479 So let me ask you 00:33:47.479 --> 00:33:48.019 this question. 00:33:50.139 --> 00:33:51.779 If the psalmist 00:33:51.779 --> 00:33:53.740 uses this repetitive 00:33:53.740 --> 00:33:55.939 phrase 26 times, 00:33:56.939 --> 00:33:58.379 do you think it's 00:33:58.379 --> 00:33:59.119 really important to 00:33:59.119 --> 00:33:59.759 think about on a 00:33:59.759 --> 00:34:00.399 regular basis? 00:34:00.400 --> 00:34:00.500 yes? 00:34:01.600 --> 00:34:02.680 And the answer is 00:34:02.680 --> 00:34:04.220 yes. 00:34:07.360 --> 00:34:08.400 How I do that, 00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:10.240 I have a little 00:34:10.240 --> 00:34:11.760 routine with going 00:34:11.760 --> 00:34:12.480 to sleep at night. 00:34:13.440 --> 00:34:14.420 I'd like to say that I 00:34:14.420 --> 00:34:15.260 always go to sleep after 00:34:15.260 --> 00:34:16.180 I do the routine but it 00:34:16.180 --> 00:34:17.039 doesn't happen that way. 00:34:17.400 --> 00:34:18.200 But I do have a little 00:34:18.200 --> 00:34:18.579 routine. 00:34:18.700 --> 00:34:19.700 I get in bed and I say 00:34:19.700 --> 00:34:20.500 certain things to my 00:34:20.500 --> 00:34:20.860 wife. 00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:22.740 Whether she's awake or 00:34:22.740 --> 00:34:22.960 not. 00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:23.700 It's just kind of a 00:34:23.700 --> 00:34:23.980 habit. 00:34:23.980 --> 00:34:27.900 How many of you 00:34:27.900 --> 00:34:28.480 understand what I 00:34:28.480 --> 00:34:28.880 just said? 00:34:29.679 --> 00:34:30.340 Okay, it's like, 00:34:31.139 --> 00:34:32.000 honey, I love you, 00:34:32.300 --> 00:34:32.699 you know, and 00:34:32.699 --> 00:34:33.039 whatever. 00:34:33.260 --> 00:34:33.519 And it's like, 00:34:34.240 --> 00:34:35.480 it's all right. 00:34:35.500 --> 00:34:35.960 I say it. 00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:37.300 I did say it. 00:34:39.400 --> 00:34:40.599 And when I turn off 00:34:40.599 --> 00:34:41.280 my volume, 00:34:41.800 --> 00:34:43.980 the next thing I do 00:34:43.980 --> 00:34:44.940 is I talk to God 00:34:44.940 --> 00:34:46.000 and I say thank you 00:34:46.000 --> 00:34:47.840 for loving me and 00:34:47.840 --> 00:34:49.240 never stopping 00:34:49.239 --> 00:34:51.459 every night. 00:34:57.259 --> 00:34:58.159 There are some 00:34:58.159 --> 00:34:59.239 habits that are worth 00:34:59.239 --> 00:34:59.899 developing. 00:35:00.019 --> 00:35:00.479 Wouldn't you agree 00:35:00.479 --> 00:35:00.799 with me? 00:35:02.139 --> 00:35:04.399 And Psalm 136 00:35:04.399 --> 00:35:05.079 was one of the 00:35:05.079 --> 00:35:06.259 verses, the passages 00:35:06.259 --> 00:35:07.479 that hammered with 00:35:07.479 --> 00:35:08.939 driving home this 00:35:08.939 --> 00:35:10.239 point that appreciating 00:35:10.239 --> 00:35:11.739 the unfailing, 00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:12.819 unchanging, 00:35:13.139 --> 00:35:14.279 steadfast love of 00:35:14.279 --> 00:35:15.679 God was a 00:35:15.679 --> 00:35:17.619 principal thing to 00:35:17.619 --> 00:35:18.619 focus my thinking 00:35:18.619 --> 00:35:19.039 on. 00:35:19.239 --> 00:35:22.899 Do you find 00:35:22.899 --> 00:35:23.859 yourself overwhelmed 00:35:23.859 --> 00:35:26.479 on a regular 00:35:26.479 --> 00:35:28.319 basis with the 00:35:28.319 --> 00:35:29.159 steadfast love of 00:35:29.159 --> 00:35:29.399 God? 00:35:31.119 --> 00:35:35.159 Do you find that 00:35:35.159 --> 00:35:36.939 thinking about his 00:35:36.939 --> 00:35:38.059 love tamps down 00:35:38.059 --> 00:35:38.799 your natural 00:35:38.799 --> 00:35:39.819 moodiness, your 00:35:39.819 --> 00:35:41.019 offendability index, 00:35:41.219 --> 00:35:42.539 and your hesitance 00:35:42.539 --> 00:35:43.159 to serve other 00:35:43.159 --> 00:35:43.459 people? 00:35:43.539 --> 00:35:43.939 You remind 00:35:43.939 --> 00:35:44.419 yourself, he 00:35:44.419 --> 00:35:44.939 loves me. 00:35:45.719 --> 00:35:46.479 He loves me. 00:35:46.899 --> 00:35:47.719 And he will not 00:35:47.719 --> 00:35:48.459 change his mind 00:35:48.459 --> 00:35:49.000 about me. 00:35:50.239 --> 00:35:51.659 So, let me kind 00:35:51.659 --> 00:35:52.059 of put this 00:35:52.059 --> 00:35:52.819 together in a 00:35:52.819 --> 00:35:53.599 closing statement 00:35:53.599 --> 00:35:54.139 this way. 00:35:55.079 --> 00:35:55.939 You are here 00:35:55.939 --> 00:35:56.659 this morning 00:35:56.659 --> 00:35:57.479 really in one 00:35:57.479 --> 00:35:58.199 of two conditions. 00:35:58.359 --> 00:35:59.459 I don't know 00:35:59.459 --> 00:36:00.059 some of you, 00:36:00.199 --> 00:36:01.279 your faces are 00:36:01.279 --> 00:36:01.859 new to me, 00:36:02.279 --> 00:36:02.939 others of you 00:36:02.939 --> 00:36:03.379 I've known 00:36:03.379 --> 00:36:03.899 fairly well. 00:36:03.959 --> 00:36:04.299 I've been your 00:36:04.299 --> 00:36:06.039 pastor for 31 00:36:06.039 --> 00:36:07.479 years and now I 00:36:07.479 --> 00:36:08.339 am part of the 00:36:08.339 --> 00:36:08.839 congregation. 00:36:09.359 --> 00:36:10.059 But I know you. 00:36:10.059 --> 00:36:10.199 people. 00:36:10.199 --> 00:36:14.279 And so, those of 00:36:14.279 --> 00:36:14.739 you that are 00:36:14.739 --> 00:36:18.519 here that ask 00:36:18.519 --> 00:36:19.119 yourself the 00:36:19.119 --> 00:36:20.799 question, am I 00:36:20.799 --> 00:36:22.539 affected at all by 00:36:22.539 --> 00:36:23.659 the steadfast love 00:36:23.659 --> 00:36:24.159 of Christ? 00:36:24.259 --> 00:36:24.900 And if your heart 00:36:24.900 --> 00:36:25.799 is cold to that, 00:36:26.079 --> 00:36:26.820 let me ask you 00:36:26.820 --> 00:36:27.599 whether or not you 00:36:27.599 --> 00:36:28.299 really know Christ 00:36:28.299 --> 00:36:28.940 as your Savior. 00:36:29.259 --> 00:36:30.559 If you have been 00:36:30.559 --> 00:36:31.960 redeemed, one of 00:36:31.960 --> 00:36:32.840 the things that goes 00:36:32.840 --> 00:36:33.559 along with that 00:36:33.559 --> 00:36:34.639 redemption is you 00:36:34.639 --> 00:36:35.519 begin to fall in 00:36:35.519 --> 00:36:36.059 love with the 00:36:36.059 --> 00:36:36.320 Savior. 00:36:36.320 --> 00:36:38.200 Remember the 00:36:38.200 --> 00:36:39.400 woman who washed 00:36:39.400 --> 00:36:40.519 the feet of Jesus 00:36:40.519 --> 00:36:41.660 with her hair? 00:36:42.820 --> 00:36:43.120 Right? 00:36:43.980 --> 00:36:44.880 Pretty spectacular. 00:36:46.380 --> 00:36:46.960 Do you know why 00:36:46.960 --> 00:36:47.640 she loved him like 00:36:47.640 --> 00:36:47.880 that? 00:36:49.280 --> 00:36:50.620 She had been 00:36:50.620 --> 00:36:51.940 forgiven much. 00:36:53.600 --> 00:36:54.940 And when Jesus 00:36:54.940 --> 00:36:56.539 rebuked Simon for 00:36:56.539 --> 00:36:57.660 his squirrely little 00:36:57.660 --> 00:36:59.280 pinhead thinking, 00:36:59.440 --> 00:36:59.800 you know, it was 00:36:59.800 --> 00:37:01.539 like, hey, she 00:37:01.539 --> 00:37:02.400 loves me, man. 00:37:02.480 --> 00:37:03.220 Get over it. 00:37:03.820 --> 00:37:04.700 And if you're here 00:37:04.700 --> 00:37:05.420 as a person who 00:37:05.420 --> 00:37:06.140 has been redeemed, 00:37:06.320 --> 00:37:07.300 and forgiven of 00:37:07.300 --> 00:37:07.960 all your sins, 00:37:08.160 --> 00:37:09.240 how can you not 00:37:09.240 --> 00:37:09.820 love him? 00:37:12.360 --> 00:37:13.140 Love can grow 00:37:13.140 --> 00:37:13.600 cold. 00:37:14.860 --> 00:37:15.700 We can become 00:37:15.700 --> 00:37:16.539 indifferent to it. 00:37:18.200 --> 00:37:18.780 And so if you're 00:37:18.780 --> 00:37:19.860 here and there has 00:37:19.860 --> 00:37:20.559 been a time where 00:37:20.559 --> 00:37:21.480 you have had a 00:37:21.480 --> 00:37:22.100 heart that's been 00:37:22.100 --> 00:37:22.760 tuned to the Lord 00:37:22.760 --> 00:37:23.500 Jesus and yet 00:37:23.500 --> 00:37:24.240 you've kind of 00:37:24.240 --> 00:37:25.059 drifted away in 00:37:25.059 --> 00:37:26.400 your sensitivity to 00:37:26.400 --> 00:37:27.440 the unbelievable 00:37:27.440 --> 00:37:28.880 love of Christ that 00:37:28.880 --> 00:37:30.980 just is beyond 00:37:30.980 --> 00:37:33.039 imagination, let me 00:37:33.039 --> 00:37:33.620 encourage you with 00:37:33.620 --> 00:37:34.640 two closing passages. 00:37:35.280 --> 00:37:35.920 Ephesians chapter 00:37:35.920 --> 00:37:37.599 three, verse 14 00:37:37.599 --> 00:37:38.280 through 19, and 00:37:38.280 --> 00:37:38.599 we're not going to 00:37:38.599 --> 00:37:39.159 take the time to 00:37:39.159 --> 00:37:41.099 look at it, but 00:37:41.099 --> 00:37:42.019 she says this. 00:37:42.220 --> 00:37:43.099 Paul says, he's 00:37:43.099 --> 00:37:43.619 praying for the 00:37:43.619 --> 00:37:43.880 church. 00:37:44.320 --> 00:37:45.139 He says that you 00:37:45.139 --> 00:37:45.840 might be able to 00:37:45.840 --> 00:37:46.680 comprehend with all 00:37:46.680 --> 00:37:47.559 the saints what? 00:37:48.900 --> 00:37:49.760 What is the breadth 00:37:49.760 --> 00:37:50.500 and height and width 00:37:50.500 --> 00:37:51.180 and depth of the 00:37:51.180 --> 00:37:52.000 love of Christ? 00:37:52.820 --> 00:37:53.680 And so if you're 00:37:53.680 --> 00:37:54.300 sitting here and 00:37:54.300 --> 00:37:54.720 you're kind of, 00:37:54.880 --> 00:37:56.559 eh, I'm not there. 00:37:56.780 --> 00:37:57.760 By the way, a 00:37:57.760 --> 00:37:59.880 thankful spirit is 00:37:59.880 --> 00:38:01.079 the fruit of 00:38:01.079 --> 00:38:02.019 appreciating the love 00:38:02.019 --> 00:38:02.360 of God. 00:38:02.400 --> 00:38:02.599 Would you 00:38:02.599 --> 00:38:03.200 understand that? 00:38:03.199 --> 00:38:04.839 And if you're 00:38:04.839 --> 00:38:05.619 sitting here kind 00:38:05.619 --> 00:38:06.939 of a moody, surly, 00:38:07.179 --> 00:38:08.399 not really a happy 00:38:08.399 --> 00:38:09.339 Christian, the 00:38:09.339 --> 00:38:11.039 solution is not to 00:38:11.039 --> 00:38:11.699 take some other 00:38:11.699 --> 00:38:12.099 pills. 00:38:13.039 --> 00:38:13.980 It is to go to the 00:38:13.980 --> 00:38:14.559 Lord and say, I 00:38:14.559 --> 00:38:15.539 need a heart change. 00:38:16.119 --> 00:38:17.460 And let's do it with 00:38:17.460 --> 00:38:18.719 reminding myself of 00:38:18.719 --> 00:38:19.399 the fact that you 00:38:19.399 --> 00:38:20.500 love me unconditionally. 00:38:21.139 --> 00:38:22.119 Ephesians, the 00:38:22.119 --> 00:38:23.960 apostle says, I pray 00:38:23.960 --> 00:38:24.579 that the power of the 00:38:24.579 --> 00:38:25.139 Holy Spirit would 00:38:25.139 --> 00:38:26.399 help you grow in 00:38:26.399 --> 00:38:27.039 appreciating and 00:38:27.039 --> 00:38:27.679 understanding the 00:38:27.679 --> 00:38:28.139 love of Christ. 00:38:28.219 --> 00:38:28.879 One other verse 00:38:28.879 --> 00:38:29.219 and then we'll 00:38:29.219 --> 00:38:29.500 close. 00:38:30.259 --> 00:38:30.919 Turn to Romans 00:38:30.920 --> 00:38:31.559 chapter 5, 00:38:31.619 --> 00:38:32.159 verse 5. 00:38:44.559 --> 00:38:45.500 Romans 5, 00:38:46.400 --> 00:38:47.440 verse 5. 00:38:47.440 --> 00:38:55.880 And hope does 00:38:55.880 --> 00:38:56.880 not put us to 00:38:56.880 --> 00:38:58.039 shame because God 00:38:58.039 --> 00:38:59.619 love, God's love 00:38:59.619 --> 00:39:00.519 has been poured 00:39:00.519 --> 00:39:02.240 into our hearts 00:39:02.240 --> 00:39:03.720 through the Holy 00:39:03.720 --> 00:39:05.679 Spirit who has 00:39:05.679 --> 00:39:07.000 been given to 00:39:07.000 --> 00:39:07.480 us. 00:39:09.480 --> 00:39:10.539 It's the Holy 00:39:10.539 --> 00:39:11.460 Spirit's business 00:39:11.460 --> 00:39:14.119 to pour into 00:39:14.119 --> 00:39:15.079 your impoverished 00:39:15.079 --> 00:39:15.920 impoverished and 00:39:15.920 --> 00:39:17.819 dry soul and 00:39:17.819 --> 00:39:19.460 appreciation of the 00:39:19.460 --> 00:39:20.199 love of God for 00:39:20.199 --> 00:39:20.420 you. 00:39:22.539 --> 00:39:24.239 And he is glad to 00:39:24.239 --> 00:39:24.759 do that. 00:39:26.119 --> 00:39:27.440 Ask him and say, 00:39:27.880 --> 00:39:28.559 there is something 00:39:28.559 --> 00:39:29.239 that the Holy 00:39:29.239 --> 00:39:32.340 Spirit is called to 00:39:32.340 --> 00:39:34.840 do and I need it 00:39:34.840 --> 00:39:35.480 done. 00:39:37.159 --> 00:39:38.360 My devotions this 00:39:38.360 --> 00:39:39.079 morning were about 00:39:39.079 --> 00:39:40.940 a lady that came 00:39:40.940 --> 00:39:42.380 asking Jesus for a 00:39:42.380 --> 00:39:42.699 miracle. 00:39:43.440 --> 00:39:44.239 Daughter was sick 00:39:44.239 --> 00:39:45.619 and it says 00:39:45.619 --> 00:39:46.059 twice, 00:39:46.219 --> 00:39:47.059 Jesus answered 00:39:47.059 --> 00:39:47.639 her not a 00:39:47.639 --> 00:39:48.019 word. 00:39:50.119 --> 00:39:50.559 What? 00:39:51.299 --> 00:39:52.159 Poor lady was 00:39:52.159 --> 00:39:52.859 pouring her heart 00:39:52.859 --> 00:39:53.019 out. 00:39:53.079 --> 00:39:53.699 She was broken. 00:39:53.799 --> 00:39:54.619 Her daughter was 00:39:54.619 --> 00:39:55.819 suffering and he 00:39:55.819 --> 00:39:56.479 didn't say a 00:39:56.479 --> 00:39:56.839 thing. 00:39:58.279 --> 00:39:59.139 He was really 00:39:59.139 --> 00:39:59.939 checking her 00:39:59.939 --> 00:40:00.839 determination. 00:40:01.019 --> 00:40:01.459 Am I right? 00:40:02.979 --> 00:40:03.979 And so if you're 00:40:03.979 --> 00:40:06.959 dissatisfied and an 00:40:06.959 --> 00:40:09.599 unhappy heart and an 00:40:09.599 --> 00:40:11.159 unhappy and unthankful 00:40:11.159 --> 00:40:12.259 spirit is the 00:40:12.260 --> 00:40:13.240 characteristic of your 00:40:13.240 --> 00:40:14.260 life and you're a 00:40:14.260 --> 00:40:17.320 believer, the prudent 00:40:17.320 --> 00:40:18.900 thing to do would be 00:40:18.900 --> 00:40:20.960 to profess you need 00:40:20.960 --> 00:40:21.900 the help of the Holy 00:40:21.900 --> 00:40:23.460 Spirit to grow in 00:40:23.460 --> 00:40:24.740 understanding the 00:40:24.740 --> 00:40:26.600 depth, the magnitude, 00:40:26.960 --> 00:40:28.180 the awesomeness of 00:40:28.180 --> 00:40:30.240 his unfailing love. 00:40:30.239 --> 00:40:30.339 love. 00:40:31.939 --> 00:40:32.879 Let's close in prayer. 00:40:32.879 --> 00:40:32.879 00:40:32.880 --> 00:40:34.039 miracle miracle miracle 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:40:34.039 00:40:34.039 --> 00:41:04.019 Thank you.