WEBVTT

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 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christchurch.

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 Good morning, I'm Terry Kochi. I'm a member of Oikosin the Oaks and Women Reading Women.

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 A reading from the book of Genesis as printed in your liturgy.

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 Genesis 28, 1 through 5 and 10 through 22.

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 So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him.

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 Then he commanded him,

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 Do not marry a Canaanite woman.

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 Go at once to Paddan Aram to the house of your mother's father Bethuel.

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 Take a wife for yourself there from among the daughters of Laban, your mother's brother.

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 May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers until you become a community of peoples.

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 May he give you and your descendants the blessing given to Abraham,

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 so that you may take possession of the land where you now reside as a foreigner, the land God gave to Abraham.

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 Then Isaac sent Jacob on his way,

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 Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran.

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 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set.

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 Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep.

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 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth with its top reaching to heaven,

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 and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.

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 There above it stood the Lord, and he said,

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 I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac.

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 I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.

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 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth,

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 and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south.

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 All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.

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 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go,

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 and I will bring you back to this land.

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 I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.

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 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought,

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 Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.

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 He was afraid and said,

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 How awesome is this place?

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 This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

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 Early the next morning, Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head

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 and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it.

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 He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz.

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 Then Jacob made a vow, saying,

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 If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking

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 and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's household,

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 then the Lord will be my God, and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house.

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 And of all that you give me, I will give you a tenth.

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 The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God.

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 All right.

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 The pressure's on to preach not a long sermon, so here we go.

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 I think of all the characters in the Bible,

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 most modern people can relate pretty well to Jacob

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 because he has so many problems.

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 He's got some significant relational failures, spiritual struggles, character flaws.

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 He's really kind of made a mess of his life.

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 And if you were here last week, you'll remember that basically he conspired with his mother.

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 He deceived his old and blind father.

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 He stole the blessing from his brother who's now angry enough with him to want to murder him.

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 And basically we saw that Jacob is a scoundrel.

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 You know, he's a liar.

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 He's a cheater.

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 He's a blasphemer.

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 And he basically says his final goodbye to his parents.

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 He's never going to see them again.

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 And he's about 20 years old, right?

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 He's this troubled 20-year-old setting off in search of his place in life,

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 running away from his past sins, hoping he can have a fresh start.

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 And that's where this story picks up.

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 In Genesis 28 today, it says in verse 11 that

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 when he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set.

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 And taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep.

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 And that's strange because the custom of the ancient Near East is that you would find safe lodging in the home of a neighbor.

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 And this tells us that Jacob is so alienated, he's so alone, that he's forced to sleep under the stars.

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 The comfort of his parents' home has been replaced by these stones.

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 It's not just one stone that's like a pillow.

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 I think it's many stones that he's basically kind of gathered around his head like a little fortress to keep him safe.

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 And the security of the sun is replaced by the dangers of nighttime.

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 So what we sense is that he's exposed, right?

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 He's vulnerable.

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 And I'm imagining quite depressed as he thinks about the comfort and the security that he's left behind.

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 Certainly, if I were him, I would be quite frightened as I think about the long and perilous and uncertain journey

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 that lies ahead of me in the wilderness with no money and no friends.

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 And what in the world is he probably thinking at this moment?

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 He's thinking to himself, are the promises that my dad gave me really mine?

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 You know, this blessing that I stole from my brother, am I going to be blessed like Abraham was blessed and Isaac was blessed?

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 And if I'm truly to be the heir and the inheritor of the promised land and a promised people,

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 then why am I a single guy running away from the promised land?

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 He's in the dark.

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 He's all alone.

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 He's on the run.

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 Full of fear.

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 No confidence whatsoever.

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 And maybe you can relate to that today.

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 So Jacob, like many of us, we know what it's like to just have to force ourself to sleep at night when we can't sleep.

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 And so he forces himself to sleep with absolutely no expectation of what is going to happen that night.

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 And make sure you notice that Jacob's not seeking God.

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 He's not at all praying to God.

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 He's not asking God for mercy or for protection or for help or for guidance.

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 He just goes to sleep.

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 And what we see here is that God's grace initiates toward Jacob.

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 God's grace intervenes in Jacob's life.

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 That this God of heaven loves us too much to leave us to ourselves and in our sins.

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 Right?

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 He wants us and he wants a relationship with us so much that he goes out for us in the dark.

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 He searches for us until he finds us.

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 And the fact that God works with Jacob who's so unworthy and so undeserving with all of his conflicting desires and drives and struggles and failures,

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 the complete mess he's made of his life,

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 that's a sign of great hope that God actually works with people like me and people like you.

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 Of course, the Lord has to come to Jacob in a dream at night because during the day,

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 Jacob's defenses are up so high, God can't even break through.

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 But he waits until he's asleep at night and he comes and what we're going to see is that he turns this deeply flawed man into one who's highly favored.

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 Right?

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 This man who's terribly broken into someone who's wonderfully blessed.

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 And what I want to look at is the three kind of movements of the story.

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 The Lord of the stairway, the awesome presence of God, and the grateful response to grace.

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 The Lord of the stairway, the awesome presence of God, and the grateful response to grace.

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 If you look at verse 12, you'll see the Lord of the stairway.

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 And it says, he had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth with its top reaching to heaven.

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 And the angels of God were ascending and descending on it, and there above it stood the Lord.

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 Now, he sees three things in this dream.

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 First of all, he sees this giant stairway.

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 And this is different than Led Zeppelin's stairway to heaven.

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 Because in Hebrew, it says the stairway is resting on or it's placed to the earth.

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 And why does that matter?

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 Because it's about directional emphasis.

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 This is not a stairway to heaven.

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 Right?

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 It's not a stairway that's built by human beings so that they can go from earth up to heaven.

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 Like we saw Genesis 11, the Tower of Babel.

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 This is a, this is created not by humans, it's created by God.

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 And the purpose of the stairway is that so he can come from heaven down to earth.

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 Right?

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 The initiative is God's initiative.

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 The connection and the communication is due to the grace of God.

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 Only he can bring heaven to earth.

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 And what else does Jacob see in this dream?

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 And the second thing he sees in this dream is that angels are ascending and descending on the stairway.

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 And you've got to completely rid your mind of whatever image you have of angels.

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 Right?

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 From Hallmark cards and TV shows.

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 Angels are not chubby, naked babies with wings.

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 They are not soft, slim, comforting creatures that make you feel good.

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 In fact, every time you read in the Bible, what do the angels say to human beings?

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 They say, fear not.

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 Why?

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 Because they make you afraid.

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 These are ancient spiritual beings that dwell in the presence of the living God.

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 And they're these messengers of God, these warriors of God who are coming to bear the light of God

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 and the holiness of God and the power of God.

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 And what it says is these royal messengers who represent the sovereign king of heaven himself,

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 they're going up and down and back and forth and in and out from the throne room of God

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 in order to carry and to execute the decrees of the king in his world.

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 And so anytime angels are showing up, big stuff's happening.

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 Right?

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 God's kingdom is on the move.

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 And so Jacob sees a stairway.

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 He sees angels going up and down on that stairway.

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 And what else does he see?

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 The third thing he sees in verse 13, it says,

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 there above it or there above him stood the Lord, stood Yahweh himself.

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 Now if you're Jacob and you're a liar, you're a deceiver.

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 Right?

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 You've stolen your brother's blessing and God is right here.

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 Yahweh is right here standing over you.

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 What are you thinking?

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 You're thinking, uh-oh.

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 This can't be good.

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 This is not a happy dream.

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 This is a nightmare.

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 This is a vision of judgment.

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 What in the world is the Lord about to do to me?

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 Here is Yahweh in all of his majestic authority and he's standing over you.

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 Right?

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 The same Lord who in Genesis 18 verse 19 said,

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 Abraham, you are to direct your children and your household to keep the way of the Lord

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 by doing what is right and what is just.

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 Has Jacob done what is right and what is just?

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 Has Jacob done what is right and what is just?

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 We said that the definition of wickedness is to disadvantage your community in order to advantage

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 yourself.

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 And Jacob has been anything but righteous and anything but just.

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 And he deserves to be punished by God.

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 But is that what happens here in this story?

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 Yahweh is standing over Jacob not to review his shameful past, not to condemn him, not to

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 give him the just judgment that he absolutely deserves.

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 No, he says, I'm here.

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 Yahweh says, I'm here as a God of grace to present to you, Jacob, an alternative future of a life centered

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 on me.

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 Now, if you're a mom or a dad, you know what it's like to go in in the dark late at night

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 and to go into your, over to your sleeping and dreaming child and to stand over them

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 and to maybe put your hand on their head, maybe kiss them on the cheek, maybe rub their back

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 in a posture of nearness, a posture of intimacy, a posture of tenderness.

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 And here is the Lord standing over Jacob and he whispers three things into the ear of his

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 sleeping and dreaming child.

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 And what does he say?

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 He says exactly what Jacob needs to hear in verse 13.

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 The Lord stood above him and said, I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the

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 God of Isaac.

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 I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.

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 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth and you will spread out to the west

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 and to the east, to the north and to the south.

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 And all the peoples on earth we bless through you and through your offspring.

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 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go and I will bring you back to this land.

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 I will not leave you until I have done what I promised.

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 Jacob sees three things and he hears three things.

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 The first thing is that remember that Jacob's penniless.

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 Jacob has a stolen blessing and that's about all he's got.

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 He's running away from the promised land.

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 He's got no inheritance.

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 His future is as dark as the night sky.

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 And what does he hear?

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 He hears this.

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 I am Yahweh.

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 The God who made promises.

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 The God who kept covenant.

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 The God who gave the blessing of life to Abraham and to Isaac.

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 And I'm going to bless you too.

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 Jacob, you don't even have a wife right now.

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 But I'm going to give you abundant descendants and I'm going to bring you and your children

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 back to this good land that's flowing with milk and honey.

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 And through your fruitful and multiplying descendants, my salvation, my supernatural life is going to be on you.

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 And through you, it's going to go out to all the peoples of the earth.

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 Because they're blessed to be a blessing.

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 If we can pull up this slide.

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 I think we have a slide.

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 Maybe, maybe not.

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 It's the slide I show every week in the sermon series.

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 Where basically, the Lord is reiterating the promises that he's made to Abraham in Genesis 12.

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 To give him a people.

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 To give him a place.

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 To give him this international blessing.

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 That's the first thing Jacob hears.

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 The second thing is that Jacob is family-less.

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 Jacob is friendless.

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 He's totally alone.

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 Right?

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 He's never going to see his parents again.

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 His brother wants to murder him.

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 He's a total mess of a single guy looking for a wife.

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 And what does he hear?

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 The Lord says to him,

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 I will be with you.

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 You have my faithful presence.

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 And the Lord is saying to Jacob,

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 on this journey,

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 even when you feel alone,

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 you're never alone.

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 Because I, the Lord of heaven and earth,

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 am with you.

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 And if you have me,

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 if you have my presence,

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 you lack nothing that you really need.

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 And the third thing that Jacob hears,

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 Jacob's not only penniless,

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 he's not only friendless,

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 but he's also defenseless.

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 He's running for his life into uncertainty.

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 He's out here in this howling wilderness.

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 He's completely vulnerable.

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 So vulnerable.

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 He's just pulling stones around his head

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 to give him a sense of protection and safety.

00:17:54.680 --> 00:17:55.280
 And what does he hear?

00:17:55.400 --> 00:17:56.100
 The Lord says,

00:17:56.540 --> 00:17:59.300
 I will watch over you wherever you go.

00:17:59.299 --> 00:17:59.419
 No.

00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:04.419
 It's the same thing God said to Abraham in Genesis 15.

00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:05.799
 I am your shield.

00:18:05.859 --> 00:18:07.299
 I will be your shield.

00:18:08.839 --> 00:18:10.599
 I'm going to watch over you.

00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:12.619
 I'm going to sovereignly protect you

00:18:12.619 --> 00:18:15.700
 so that no matter what unexpected turns

00:18:15.700 --> 00:18:17.460
 your life is bound to take,

00:18:18.099 --> 00:18:20.740
 every time I'm going to actively intervene

00:18:20.740 --> 00:18:21.480
 for your welfare.

00:18:21.480 --> 00:18:25.539
 I'm going to be standing with you

00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:27.299
 in all those places of threat

00:18:27.299 --> 00:18:30.059
 and danger to defend you.

00:18:31.299 --> 00:18:33.480
 And whoever deals lightly with you,

00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:35.900
 whoever dismisses or disparages you,

00:18:36.779 --> 00:18:38.200
 whoever holds you in contempt,

00:18:38.319 --> 00:18:39.940
 whoever tries to harm you,

00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:43.460
 I'm going to be right there with you

00:18:43.460 --> 00:18:45.880
 to protect you and defend you.

00:18:45.880 --> 00:18:49.760
 I'll watch over you.

00:18:51.260 --> 00:18:52.660
 He sees three things,

00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:55.420
 the stairway, the angels,

00:18:55.740 --> 00:18:56.620
 and the Lord himself.

00:18:57.620 --> 00:18:59.100
 And he hears three things,

00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:01.560
 this promise of a people and a place,

00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:03.580
 this promise of the presence,

00:19:03.740 --> 00:19:05.020
 this promise of protection.

00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:09.480
 And none of these things Jacob hears from God

00:19:09.480 --> 00:19:12.300
 are things that he gets

00:19:12.299 --> 00:19:14.619
 through his own human manipulation

00:19:14.619 --> 00:19:15.960
 and human deception

00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:17.799
 like we were talking about last week.

00:19:18.759 --> 00:19:21.740
 These are all just surprising gifts

00:19:21.740 --> 00:19:23.879
 of the grace of God

00:19:23.879 --> 00:19:26.180
 to a person who's completely unworthy

00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:28.139
 and totally undeserving,

00:19:28.519 --> 00:19:30.000
 who's not even seeking God,

00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:32.940
 not even expecting to get anything from God.

00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:33.879
 And God comes to him

00:19:33.879 --> 00:19:35.940
 and he doesn't blast him away with condemnation.

00:19:35.940 --> 00:19:38.240
 He blesses him with unconditional love.

00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:44.480
 How does that apply to us?

00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:46.079
 Well, if you're like Jacob

00:19:46.079 --> 00:19:48.620
 and you're here today

00:19:48.620 --> 00:19:50.740
 and you've done the worst possible things,

00:19:51.880 --> 00:19:54.799
 your life is falling apart,

00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:56.759
 you're in the dark,

00:19:56.900 --> 00:19:57.920
 you've hit the bottom,

00:19:58.200 --> 00:19:59.039
 you're on the run,

00:19:59.799 --> 00:20:01.960
 you're not even calling out to God,

00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:04.779
 you don't even care about your sins,

00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:08.120
 the Lord of the stairway,

00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:11.599
 this king whose kingdom is on the move,

00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:14.599
 he stands over you like a parent

00:20:14.599 --> 00:20:16.359
 with a sleeping child.

00:20:16.440 --> 00:20:18.740
 And he's not at the top of the stairway.

00:20:18.839 --> 00:20:19.299
 He's not saying,

00:20:19.579 --> 00:20:20.819
 come up here so I can talk to you

00:20:20.819 --> 00:20:21.940
 about your shameful past.

00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:24.319
 No, he's taken the initiative.

00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:26.640
 He's come down to you unsought

00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:27.839
 and unasked for

00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:31.259
 to offer you an alternative future

00:20:31.259 --> 00:20:34.200
 of mercy and grace.

00:20:34.200 --> 00:20:41.140
 Mercy is not getting what your sins deserve.

00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:45.559
 And grace is getting the forgiveness

00:20:45.559 --> 00:20:48.620
 and the blessing that you don't deserve.

00:20:51.140 --> 00:20:52.380
 God says to Jacob,

00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:53.980
 nothing is going to stop me

00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:56.180
 from blessing you.

00:20:56.180 --> 00:20:59.120
 And so you don't need to be afraid.

00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:02.340
 You can be totally confident.

00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:04.980
 And friends,

00:21:05.360 --> 00:21:06.220
 I hope we realize

00:21:06.220 --> 00:21:07.220
 that the Lord of the stairway,

00:21:07.299 --> 00:21:09.960
 the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

00:21:09.960 --> 00:21:12.759
 is offering the same thing to us as well.

00:21:15.580 --> 00:21:17.019
 So that's the Lord of the stairway.

00:21:17.100 --> 00:21:18.180
 I want to talk now

00:21:18.779 --> 00:21:20.380
 about the awesome presence of God.

00:21:20.380 --> 00:21:23.360
 Because you notice in verse 16,

00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:23.720
 it says,

00:21:23.900 --> 00:21:26.160
 when Jacob awoke from his dream,

00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:27.880
 he thought,

00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:29.380
 surely the Lord is in this place

00:21:29.380 --> 00:21:30.640
 and I was not aware of it.

00:21:31.360 --> 00:21:32.440
 And he was afraid.

00:21:33.780 --> 00:21:34.220
 And he said,

00:21:34.300 --> 00:21:35.540
 how awesome is this place.

00:21:35.620 --> 00:21:37.360
 This is none other than the house of God.

00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:39.580
 This is the gate of heaven.

00:21:41.080 --> 00:21:42.900
 To this point in the book of Genesis,

00:21:42.900 --> 00:21:44.500
 there's been nowhere near

00:21:44.500 --> 00:21:46.580
 this level of amazement.

00:21:46.579 --> 00:21:49.359
 And Jacob,

00:21:49.559 --> 00:21:50.480
 it says he's overwhelmed

00:21:50.480 --> 00:21:53.220
 with a sense of both fear and awe.

00:21:55.659 --> 00:21:58.279
 There's a book written in 1917

00:21:58.279 --> 00:22:01.879
 by a guy named Rudolph Otto.

00:22:02.899 --> 00:22:04.500
 And he wrote a book called

00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:06.659
 The Idea of the Holy.

00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:08.259
 He's trying to help

00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:10.559
 modern post-Enlightenment people

00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:14.079
 come to terms with the idea of the holy.

00:22:14.279 --> 00:22:15.079
 And what he says is,

00:22:15.159 --> 00:22:15.439
 he says,

00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:17.200
 when we experience the power

00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:20.100
 of natural phenomenon,

00:22:20.340 --> 00:22:22.480
 like if you're out at a volcano

00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:24.019
 and it begins to erupt,

00:22:24.200 --> 00:22:28.039
 or if you go into the path of totality

00:22:28.039 --> 00:22:30.580
 for a total solar eclipse,

00:22:31.180 --> 00:22:32.380
 you are going to experience

00:22:32.380 --> 00:22:33.480
 what Otto calls

00:22:33.480 --> 00:22:36.779
 a numinous mystery.

00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:36.839
 mystery.

00:22:38.839 --> 00:22:40.720
 And it's a mystery

00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:42.359
 that's tremendous

00:22:42.359 --> 00:22:43.539
 and terrifying

00:22:43.539 --> 00:22:44.440
 at the same time.

00:22:45.619 --> 00:22:47.139
 And you will feel overcome

00:22:47.139 --> 00:22:48.779
 with a sense of awe.

00:22:49.220 --> 00:22:49.440
 Right?

00:22:49.940 --> 00:22:52.059
 I watched some videos this week

00:22:52.059 --> 00:22:56.859
 of the 2024 total solar eclipse.

00:22:57.720 --> 00:22:58.960
 And in those videos,

00:22:59.079 --> 00:23:02.299
 when the moon moves over the sun

00:23:02.299 --> 00:23:03.839
 and the light of the sun

00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:05.240
 is blotted out

00:23:05.240 --> 00:23:06.359
 in the middle of the day,

00:23:06.819 --> 00:23:08.480
 people begin weeping.

00:23:09.339 --> 00:23:10.720
 And they begin crying out,

00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:10.960
 saying,

00:23:11.139 --> 00:23:11.759
 oh my,

00:23:11.879 --> 00:23:12.819
 oh my,

00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:15.299
 this is the most awesome,

00:23:15.579 --> 00:23:16.519
 incredible thing

00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:17.740
 I've ever seen.

00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:18.599
 And they're undone.

00:23:20.200 --> 00:23:21.839
 They can't help but cry out

00:23:21.839 --> 00:23:23.240
 because they're experiencing

00:23:23.240 --> 00:23:24.640
 something objective.

00:23:25.660 --> 00:23:26.480
 They're experiencing

00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:28.359
 something outside of themselves.

00:23:28.579 --> 00:23:29.059
 They're experiencing

00:23:29.059 --> 00:23:30.220
 something large,

00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:31.539
 something cosmic,

00:23:31.819 --> 00:23:32.620
 something powerful,

00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:34.019
 something beyond their control.

00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:35.599
 And it overwhelms them

00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:36.880
 with a sense of awe.

00:23:38.579 --> 00:23:39.720
 And this is, I think,

00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:40.500
 part of the reason

00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:42.140
 why we spend our time

00:23:42.140 --> 00:23:42.640
 and our money

00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:43.720
 going to the mountains

00:23:43.720 --> 00:23:44.940
 and going to the oceans

00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:46.640
 and going to big forests

00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:47.640
 with giant trees.

00:23:47.900 --> 00:23:49.359
 It's why we go seeking

00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:50.140
 the sunrise,

00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:50.799
 the sunset,

00:23:51.059 --> 00:23:52.460
 because our hearts

00:23:52.460 --> 00:23:55.059
 long to be next to something

00:23:55.059 --> 00:23:56.240
 that's bigger

00:23:56.240 --> 00:23:57.000
 and more beautiful

00:23:57.000 --> 00:23:57.799
 than the self.

00:23:59.579 --> 00:23:59.920
 Right?

00:23:59.960 --> 00:24:01.960
 We love to sit

00:24:01.960 --> 00:24:03.039
 or stand next to something

00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:03.380
 and say,

00:24:03.480 --> 00:24:03.620
 you know,

00:24:03.720 --> 00:24:04.539
 I am small

00:24:04.539 --> 00:24:05.600
 and that is big.

00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:07.880
 And I am weak

00:24:07.880 --> 00:24:09.500
 but that is powerful.

00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:12.299
 And I am so flawed

00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:14.319
 but that is good

00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:15.240
 and that is beautiful.

00:24:17.960 --> 00:24:19.000
 And this happens

00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:19.900
 many, many times

00:24:19.900 --> 00:24:20.660
 throughout the Bible.

00:24:20.779 --> 00:24:21.779
 The prophet Isaiah

00:24:21.779 --> 00:24:25.200
 it says that he sees

00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:27.160
 a vision of the Lord

00:24:27.160 --> 00:24:28.180
 who's the king

00:24:28.180 --> 00:24:29.460
 and he's enthroned

00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:30.740
 on high

00:24:30.740 --> 00:24:32.799
 and he's exalted

00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:33.559
 and he hears

00:24:33.559 --> 00:24:34.259
 the angels

00:24:34.259 --> 00:24:35.559
 calling out

00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:36.240
 in the presence

00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:36.660
 of the Lord,

00:24:36.819 --> 00:24:38.039
 holy, holy, holy

00:24:38.039 --> 00:24:39.619
 is the Lord God Almighty.

00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:40.500
 The whole earth

00:24:40.500 --> 00:24:42.119
 is full of his glory.

00:24:42.379 --> 00:24:43.200
 And in that moment

00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:44.799
 the prophet

00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:47.680
 encounters this tremendous

00:24:47.680 --> 00:24:48.639
 and terrifying

00:24:48.639 --> 00:24:49.819
 numinous mystery

00:24:49.819 --> 00:24:52.139
 and he says,

00:24:52.399 --> 00:24:53.179
 woe to me

00:24:53.179 --> 00:24:54.139
 for I'm ruined

00:24:54.139 --> 00:24:56.919
 for I am unclean

00:24:56.919 --> 00:24:57.599
 and I live among

00:24:57.599 --> 00:24:58.059
 a people

00:24:58.059 --> 00:24:59.319
 who are unclean.

00:25:01.439 --> 00:25:02.399
 In the Gospels

00:25:02.399 --> 00:25:02.819
 it happens

00:25:02.819 --> 00:25:03.519
 in the New Testament

00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:04.839
 where in the Gospel

00:25:04.839 --> 00:25:05.879
 of Luke chapter 5

00:25:05.879 --> 00:25:08.039
 Peter has this encounter

00:25:08.039 --> 00:25:08.919
 with Christ.

00:25:09.139 --> 00:25:09.839
 He experiences

00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:10.819
 the power

00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:11.539
 and the authority

00:25:11.539 --> 00:25:12.619
 of Jesus

00:25:12.619 --> 00:25:13.179
 and it says

00:25:13.179 --> 00:25:14.019
 that Peter fell

00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:14.799
 at his feet

00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:16.019
 and he said to Jesus

00:25:16.019 --> 00:25:16.419
 he said,

00:25:16.740 --> 00:25:17.619
 go away from me Lord

00:25:17.619 --> 00:25:19.299
 because I'm a sinful man.

00:25:21.699 --> 00:25:22.959
 That's exactly what

00:25:22.959 --> 00:25:23.959
 is happening

00:25:23.959 --> 00:25:24.859
 to Jacob right now.

00:25:24.939 --> 00:25:25.439
 He's shaken

00:25:25.439 --> 00:25:26.739
 and he's afraid

00:25:26.739 --> 00:25:28.359
 and he's amazed

00:25:28.359 --> 00:25:30.000
 because he's aware

00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:31.879
 that he's in the presence

00:25:31.879 --> 00:25:33.119
 of the absolute

00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:34.679
 and transcendent Lord

00:25:34.679 --> 00:25:35.159
 and he says,

00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:36.439
 how awesome

00:25:36.439 --> 00:25:37.779
 is this place?

00:25:39.799 --> 00:25:40.519
 And you see

00:25:40.519 --> 00:25:40.979
 what's happening

00:25:40.979 --> 00:25:41.500
 to Jacob

00:25:41.500 --> 00:25:42.559
 is here he is

00:25:42.559 --> 00:25:43.779
 in this middle

00:25:43.779 --> 00:25:44.839
 of nowhere place

00:25:44.839 --> 00:25:46.839
 that feels to him

00:25:46.839 --> 00:25:47.759
 it's dark

00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:48.699
 and it's stony

00:25:48.699 --> 00:25:49.459
 and it's hard

00:25:49.459 --> 00:25:51.879
 but his eyes

00:25:51.879 --> 00:25:52.399
 are opened

00:25:52.399 --> 00:25:54.019
 to something

00:25:54.019 --> 00:25:54.619
 beyond

00:25:54.619 --> 00:25:56.500
 his physical circumstances

00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:57.339
 his eyes are opened

00:25:57.339 --> 00:25:58.359
 to the metaphysical

00:25:58.359 --> 00:25:59.959
 and all of a sudden

00:25:59.959 --> 00:26:02.659
 this dark place

00:26:02.659 --> 00:26:04.759
 becomes filled

00:26:04.759 --> 00:26:05.259
 with light

00:26:05.259 --> 00:26:08.259
 and this stony place

00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:10.559
 becomes a sanctuary

00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:13.279
 and this hard place

00:26:13.279 --> 00:26:15.659
 becomes awesome

00:26:15.660 --> 00:26:17.240
 and wonderful.

00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:20.360
 How does that happen?

00:26:20.440 --> 00:26:20.720
 Because

00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:22.740
 Jacob has a vision

00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:23.900
 of the presence

00:26:23.900 --> 00:26:24.400
 of the Lord

00:26:24.400 --> 00:26:25.220
 and he hears

00:26:25.220 --> 00:26:26.300
 the voice

00:26:26.300 --> 00:26:27.759
 of the living God

00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:28.800
 and he encounters

00:26:28.800 --> 00:26:29.560
 the truth

00:26:29.560 --> 00:26:30.340
 of God's

00:26:30.340 --> 00:26:31.759
 powerful promises

00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:36.380
 and when that happens

00:26:36.380 --> 00:26:38.680
 he doesn't feel

00:26:38.680 --> 00:26:40.320
 this kind of casual

00:26:40.320 --> 00:26:41.360
 flippant attitude

00:26:41.359 --> 00:26:43.579
 no he's overcome

00:26:43.579 --> 00:26:44.159
 with a sense

00:26:44.159 --> 00:26:44.779
 of reverent

00:26:44.779 --> 00:26:46.219
 fear

00:26:46.219 --> 00:26:46.959
 aware

00:26:46.959 --> 00:26:47.899
 he says

00:26:47.899 --> 00:26:50.479
 of how ignorant

00:26:50.479 --> 00:26:51.159
 he was

00:26:51.159 --> 00:26:51.639
 of how

00:26:51.639 --> 00:26:53.000
 small

00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:53.759
 and how weak

00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:54.219
 and how

00:26:54.219 --> 00:26:55.299
 unworthy

00:26:55.299 --> 00:26:56.119
 and how sinful

00:26:56.119 --> 00:26:56.759
 he is

00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:58.699
 and aware

00:26:58.699 --> 00:26:59.599
 at the same time

00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:01.059
 of how great

00:27:01.059 --> 00:27:01.939
 and how powerful

00:27:01.939 --> 00:27:02.899
 and how wise

00:27:02.899 --> 00:27:04.419
 and how holy

00:27:04.419 --> 00:27:06.079
 the Lord is

00:27:06.079 --> 00:27:08.619
 and I think

00:27:08.619 --> 00:27:09.199
 this is important

00:27:09.199 --> 00:27:10.439
 because some of us

00:27:10.439 --> 00:27:10.980
 feel like we're

00:27:10.980 --> 00:27:11.879
 in a dark place

00:27:11.879 --> 00:27:13.139
 we're in a stony

00:27:13.139 --> 00:27:13.639
 place

00:27:13.639 --> 00:27:14.799
 and we're in a hard

00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:15.179
 place

00:27:15.179 --> 00:27:15.579
 we're out

00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:16.379
 in the middle

00:27:16.379 --> 00:27:16.879
 of nowhere

00:27:16.879 --> 00:27:19.460
 and I want you

00:27:19.460 --> 00:27:20.039
 to be encouraged

00:27:20.039 --> 00:27:21.839
 that that's the place

00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:22.500
 where God likes

00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:23.339
 to work

00:27:23.339 --> 00:27:24.319
 it's the place

00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:25.240
 that God likes

00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:26.220
 to turn into Beth

00:27:26.220 --> 00:27:26.579
 El

00:27:26.579 --> 00:27:27.559
 the house of God

00:27:27.559 --> 00:27:28.059
 the gate

00:27:28.059 --> 00:27:28.859
 of heaven

00:27:28.859 --> 00:27:29.419
 it's the place

00:27:29.419 --> 00:27:29.859
 that he likes

00:27:29.859 --> 00:27:30.599
 to turn in

00:27:30.599 --> 00:27:31.519
 to an awesome

00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:32.039
 place

00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:34.680
 and it's not

00:27:34.680 --> 00:27:35.059
 so much

00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:36.339
 that Jacob's dream

00:27:36.339 --> 00:27:37.339
 takes him

00:27:37.339 --> 00:27:38.200
 out of the real

00:27:38.200 --> 00:27:38.639
 world

00:27:38.639 --> 00:27:39.440
 in some sort

00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:40.200
 of escapist

00:27:40.200 --> 00:27:40.799
 fantasy

00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:43.180
 but what happens

00:27:43.180 --> 00:27:43.639
 is that

00:27:43.639 --> 00:27:44.799
 he has this dream

00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:45.539
 and it reveals

00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:45.960
 to him

00:27:45.960 --> 00:27:46.899
 the real world

00:27:46.899 --> 00:27:47.279
 of God

00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:48.099
 the real world

00:27:48.099 --> 00:27:48.619
 of heaven

00:27:48.619 --> 00:27:49.659
 and it becomes

00:27:49.659 --> 00:27:50.519
 so much more

00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:51.579
 convincing to him

00:27:51.579 --> 00:27:52.039
 than this

00:27:52.039 --> 00:27:53.119
 little world

00:27:53.119 --> 00:27:53.740
 of fear

00:27:53.740 --> 00:27:54.240
 and guilt

00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:54.839
 and shame

00:27:54.839 --> 00:27:56.940
 and so he goes

00:27:56.940 --> 00:27:57.940
 from that world

00:27:57.940 --> 00:27:58.559
 and he begins

00:27:58.559 --> 00:27:59.559
 to live in this world

00:27:59.559 --> 00:28:00.119
 in a completely

00:28:00.119 --> 00:28:00.920
 different way

00:28:00.920 --> 00:28:02.220
 you tracking with me

00:28:02.220 --> 00:28:07.779
 this is why

00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:08.380
 on Sundays

00:28:08.380 --> 00:28:09.820
 we gather together

00:28:09.820 --> 00:28:11.039
 around the bonfire

00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:12.080
 the preached word

00:28:12.080 --> 00:28:13.080
 and sacraments

00:28:13.080 --> 00:28:14.880
 and it's why

00:28:14.880 --> 00:28:15.420
 in our midweek

00:28:15.420 --> 00:28:16.160
 community groups

00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:16.920
 we gather around

00:28:16.920 --> 00:28:17.680
 the campfire

00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:19.160
 of the shared word

00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:19.720
 and prayer

00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:20.420
 with each other

00:28:20.420 --> 00:28:22.160
 and it's why

00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:23.140
 in our daily time

00:28:23.140 --> 00:28:23.840
 with God

00:28:23.840 --> 00:28:24.580
 we gather around

00:28:24.580 --> 00:28:25.420
 the candlelight

00:28:25.420 --> 00:28:26.680
 of meditated

00:28:26.680 --> 00:28:28.380
 God's meditated word

00:28:28.380 --> 00:28:30.800
 because these

00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:31.440
 are the means

00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:32.180
 by which

00:28:32.180 --> 00:28:33.819
 God reveals

00:28:33.819 --> 00:28:34.419
 to us

00:28:34.419 --> 00:28:35.359
 the real world

00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:35.819
 of heaven

00:28:35.819 --> 00:28:37.940
 these are the means

00:28:37.940 --> 00:28:38.539
 by which

00:28:38.539 --> 00:28:39.559
 we come

00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:40.460
 face to face

00:28:40.460 --> 00:28:41.200
 with the awesome

00:28:41.200 --> 00:28:41.779
 reality

00:28:41.779 --> 00:28:43.200
 of the presence

00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:44.599
 of the living God

00:28:44.599 --> 00:28:46.680
 and this is how

00:28:46.680 --> 00:28:47.740
 God opens our eyes

00:28:47.740 --> 00:28:48.460
 it's how God

00:28:48.460 --> 00:28:49.659
 transforms

00:28:49.659 --> 00:28:51.419
 our hearts

00:28:51.419 --> 00:28:52.099
 and our lives

00:28:52.099 --> 00:28:52.680
 to be

00:28:52.680 --> 00:28:53.879
 the very house

00:28:53.879 --> 00:28:54.319
 of God

00:28:54.319 --> 00:28:54.940
 where the presence

00:28:54.940 --> 00:28:55.379
 of God

00:28:55.379 --> 00:28:55.919
 is dwelling

00:28:55.919 --> 00:28:57.659
 it's how he

00:28:57.659 --> 00:28:58.259
 transforms

00:28:58.259 --> 00:28:59.400
 this ordinary

00:28:59.400 --> 00:28:59.920
 gathering

00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:00.839
 of human beings

00:29:00.839 --> 00:29:01.839
 into the very

00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:02.279
 gate

00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:03.579
 of heaven

00:29:03.579 --> 00:29:06.359
 the awesome

00:29:06.359 --> 00:29:07.180
 presence of God

00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:07.740
 the God

00:29:07.740 --> 00:29:09.140
 who is with us

00:29:09.140 --> 00:29:10.579
 changes

00:29:10.579 --> 00:29:11.400
 absolutely

00:29:11.400 --> 00:29:12.019
 everything

00:29:12.019 --> 00:29:13.759
 when it comes

00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:14.559
 into our lives

00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:16.619
 and this is why

00:29:16.619 --> 00:29:17.359
 Jesus was

00:29:17.359 --> 00:29:18.500
 at such pains

00:29:18.500 --> 00:29:19.240
 to help people

00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:20.279
 experience it

00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:21.420
 and to understand it

00:29:21.420 --> 00:29:21.759
 if you

00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:23.759
 if you go

00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:24.660
 home later today

00:29:24.660 --> 00:29:25.500
 you can look this up

00:29:25.500 --> 00:29:26.099
 but in the gospel

00:29:26.099 --> 00:29:26.619
 of John

00:29:26.619 --> 00:29:27.299
 chapter 1

00:29:27.299 --> 00:29:28.940
 opening chapter

00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:29.519
 of the gospel

00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:30.059
 of John

00:29:30.059 --> 00:29:31.240
 we see this

00:29:31.240 --> 00:29:32.119
 encounter between

00:29:32.119 --> 00:29:33.559
 Jesus and a guy

00:29:33.559 --> 00:29:34.440
 named Nathaniel

00:29:34.440 --> 00:29:36.380
 and Philip

00:29:36.380 --> 00:29:37.440
 another guy

00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:38.640
 he comes to Nathaniel

00:29:38.640 --> 00:29:39.200
 and he says

00:29:39.200 --> 00:29:40.400
 hey Nathaniel

00:29:40.400 --> 00:29:41.000
 we found

00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:41.880
 the Messiah

00:29:41.880 --> 00:29:43.279
 his name is Jesus

00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:43.920
 and he's from

00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:44.920
 Nazareth

00:29:44.920 --> 00:29:46.359
 and Nathaniel says

00:29:46.359 --> 00:29:46.980
 Nazareth

00:29:46.980 --> 00:29:47.579
 can anything

00:29:47.579 --> 00:29:48.859
 good come from

00:29:48.859 --> 00:29:49.220
 Nazareth

00:29:49.220 --> 00:29:49.920
 God does not

00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:50.460
 come down

00:29:50.460 --> 00:29:51.000
 in places

00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:52.279
 like Nazareth

00:29:52.279 --> 00:29:53.720
 and Philip

00:29:53.720 --> 00:29:54.160
 says well

00:29:54.160 --> 00:29:54.779
 come and see

00:29:54.779 --> 00:29:57.059
 and when

00:29:57.059 --> 00:29:57.740
 Jesus saw

00:29:57.740 --> 00:29:58.200
 Nathaniel

00:29:58.200 --> 00:29:58.639
 he said

00:29:58.639 --> 00:29:59.899
 here truly

00:29:59.899 --> 00:30:01.500
 is an Israelite

00:30:01.500 --> 00:30:02.000
 in whom

00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:03.000
 there is no

00:30:03.000 --> 00:30:03.680
 deceit

00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:05.879
 here's an honest

00:30:05.879 --> 00:30:06.240
 man

00:30:06.240 --> 00:30:07.000
 and Nathaniel

00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:07.859
 hears Jesus

00:30:07.859 --> 00:30:08.779
 say this about him

00:30:08.779 --> 00:30:09.279
 and he says

00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:10.480
 how do you know

00:30:10.480 --> 00:30:10.779
 me

00:30:10.779 --> 00:30:14.899
 how do you know

00:30:14.899 --> 00:30:15.639
 who I am

00:30:15.639 --> 00:30:17.819
 and Jesus

00:30:17.819 --> 00:30:18.680
 says to him

00:30:18.680 --> 00:30:19.899
 Nathaniel

00:30:19.899 --> 00:30:20.819
 I saw you

00:30:20.819 --> 00:30:21.359
 while you were

00:30:21.359 --> 00:30:22.059
 still under

00:30:22.059 --> 00:30:22.720
 the fig tree

00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:24.339
 before Philip

00:30:24.339 --> 00:30:25.039
 called you

00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:26.939
 and what's

00:30:26.939 --> 00:30:27.399
 crazy is

00:30:27.399 --> 00:30:28.019
 we have no

00:30:28.019 --> 00:30:28.679
 idea what

00:30:28.679 --> 00:30:29.220
 Nathaniel was

00:30:29.220 --> 00:30:29.679
 doing under

00:30:29.679 --> 00:30:30.379
 that fig tree

00:30:30.379 --> 00:30:31.379
 right

00:30:31.379 --> 00:30:32.179
 we don't know

00:30:32.179 --> 00:30:33.419
 if he was

00:30:33.419 --> 00:30:34.439
 was he praying

00:30:34.439 --> 00:30:35.359
 was he meditating

00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:36.039
 on scripture

00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:37.240
 was he reading

00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:38.199
 Genesis 28

00:30:38.199 --> 00:30:39.500
 we have no

00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:40.799
 we have no clue

00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:42.959
 but the moment

00:30:42.959 --> 00:30:44.419
 that Jesus

00:30:44.419 --> 00:30:45.480
 meets him

00:30:45.480 --> 00:30:46.519
 and knows

00:30:46.519 --> 00:30:47.519
 who he is

00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:48.419
 and not only

00:30:48.419 --> 00:30:49.199
 who he is

00:30:49.199 --> 00:30:50.039
 but what he's

00:30:50.039 --> 00:30:50.559
 doing

00:30:50.559 --> 00:30:51.799
 for Nathaniel

00:30:51.799 --> 00:30:52.619
 it just blows

00:30:52.619 --> 00:30:53.379
 all of his

00:30:53.379 --> 00:30:53.740
 questions

00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:54.240
 all of his

00:30:54.240 --> 00:30:54.519
 doubts

00:30:54.519 --> 00:30:55.039
 all of his

00:30:55.039 --> 00:30:55.680
 skepticism

00:30:55.680 --> 00:30:57.159
 completely away

00:30:57.159 --> 00:30:58.399
 and he says

00:30:58.399 --> 00:30:58.779
 to Jesus

00:30:58.779 --> 00:30:59.200
 he says

00:30:59.200 --> 00:30:59.559
 Rabbi

00:30:59.559 --> 00:31:00.539
 you are the

00:31:00.539 --> 00:31:01.059
 son of God

00:31:01.059 --> 00:31:01.559
 you are the

00:31:01.559 --> 00:31:02.819
 king of Israel

00:31:02.819 --> 00:31:03.379
 and Jesus

00:31:03.379 --> 00:31:04.299
 says Nathaniel

00:31:04.299 --> 00:31:05.720
 you're going to

00:31:05.720 --> 00:31:06.180
 see greater

00:31:06.180 --> 00:31:06.940
 things than that

00:31:06.940 --> 00:31:08.859
 he says

00:31:08.859 --> 00:31:09.639
 very truly

00:31:09.639 --> 00:31:10.200
 I tell you

00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:10.899
 you will see

00:31:10.899 --> 00:31:11.740
 heaven open

00:31:11.740 --> 00:31:13.220
 and the angels

00:31:13.220 --> 00:31:13.740
 of God

00:31:13.740 --> 00:31:14.480
 ascending

00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:15.319
 and descending

00:31:15.319 --> 00:31:16.819
 on the

00:31:16.819 --> 00:31:17.460
 son of man

00:31:17.460 --> 00:31:20.200
 what in the

00:31:20.200 --> 00:31:20.440
 world

00:31:20.440 --> 00:31:22.519
 why is

00:31:22.519 --> 00:31:23.000
 Jesus

00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:24.539
 having a

00:31:24.539 --> 00:31:25.360
 bible study

00:31:25.360 --> 00:31:25.900
 about

00:31:25.900 --> 00:31:27.079
 Genesis 28

00:31:27.079 --> 00:31:28.360
 with Nathaniel

00:31:28.360 --> 00:31:30.500
 because

00:31:30.500 --> 00:31:31.240
 what Jesus

00:31:31.240 --> 00:31:32.120
 wants to say

00:31:32.120 --> 00:31:33.660
 is that

00:31:33.660 --> 00:31:34.059
 I'm the

00:31:34.059 --> 00:31:34.519
 Lord of the

00:31:34.519 --> 00:31:35.019
 stairway

00:31:35.019 --> 00:31:38.620
 I am God

00:31:38.620 --> 00:31:39.720
 come to you

00:31:39.720 --> 00:31:40.920
 in the flesh

00:31:40.920 --> 00:31:42.120
 speaking with

00:31:42.120 --> 00:31:43.240
 you right

00:31:43.240 --> 00:31:43.500
 now

00:31:43.500 --> 00:31:44.079
 right here

00:31:44.079 --> 00:31:46.019
 I'm the

00:31:46.019 --> 00:31:46.340
 link

00:31:46.339 --> 00:31:47.279
 between

00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:48.079
 heaven

00:31:48.079 --> 00:31:49.539
 and earth

00:31:49.539 --> 00:31:52.319
 right

00:31:52.319 --> 00:31:52.659
 you want to

00:31:52.659 --> 00:31:52.980
 know where

00:31:52.980 --> 00:31:53.519
 the house

00:31:53.519 --> 00:31:54.379
 of God

00:31:54.379 --> 00:31:54.639
 is

00:31:54.639 --> 00:31:54.939
 where the

00:31:54.939 --> 00:31:55.299
 awesome

00:31:55.299 --> 00:31:55.720
 presence

00:31:55.720 --> 00:31:56.139
 of God

00:31:56.139 --> 00:31:56.379
 is

00:31:56.379 --> 00:31:57.119
 he's right

00:31:57.119 --> 00:31:57.939
 here

00:31:57.939 --> 00:31:58.859
 looking at

00:31:58.859 --> 00:31:59.159
 you

00:31:59.159 --> 00:31:59.980
 he knows

00:31:59.980 --> 00:32:00.559
 you

00:32:00.559 --> 00:32:03.679
 you want to

00:32:03.679 --> 00:32:04.039
 know what

00:32:04.039 --> 00:32:04.539
 the access

00:32:04.539 --> 00:32:05.279
 point is

00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:05.720
 between

00:32:05.720 --> 00:32:06.599
 God the

00:32:06.599 --> 00:32:06.919
 father

00:32:06.919 --> 00:32:07.539
 and human

00:32:07.539 --> 00:32:08.079
 beings

00:32:08.079 --> 00:32:09.359
 it's me

00:32:09.359 --> 00:32:09.819
 Jesus

00:32:09.819 --> 00:32:10.279
 says

00:32:10.279 --> 00:32:13.599
 see the

00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:14.119
 gospel is

00:32:14.119 --> 00:32:14.599
 not about

00:32:14.599 --> 00:32:15.679
 us going

00:32:15.680 --> 00:32:16.480
 up the

00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:16.820
 stairway

00:32:16.820 --> 00:32:17.299
 to God

00:32:17.299 --> 00:32:18.519
 right

00:32:18.519 --> 00:32:18.960
 the gospel

00:32:18.960 --> 00:32:19.420
 is about

00:32:19.420 --> 00:32:20.259
 God the

00:32:20.259 --> 00:32:20.799
 son coming

00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:21.340
 down the

00:32:21.340 --> 00:32:21.840
 stairway

00:32:21.840 --> 00:32:22.860
 to us

00:32:22.860 --> 00:32:25.060
 and the

00:32:25.060 --> 00:32:25.680
 gospel works

00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:25.900
 in the

00:32:25.900 --> 00:32:26.259
 complete

00:32:26.259 --> 00:32:26.779
 opposite

00:32:26.779 --> 00:32:27.259
 direction

00:32:27.259 --> 00:32:28.120
 of how

00:32:28.120 --> 00:32:28.700
 all the

00:32:28.700 --> 00:32:29.180
 other major

00:32:29.180 --> 00:32:29.980
 world religions

00:32:29.980 --> 00:32:31.299
 work

00:32:31.299 --> 00:32:32.980
 because this

00:32:32.980 --> 00:32:33.299
 is a

00:32:33.299 --> 00:32:33.680
 stairway

00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:34.279
 not to

00:32:34.279 --> 00:32:34.560
 heaven

00:32:34.560 --> 00:32:34.880
 it's a

00:32:34.880 --> 00:32:35.160
 stairway

00:32:35.160 --> 00:32:35.940
 from heaven

00:32:35.940 --> 00:32:36.360
 it's a

00:32:36.360 --> 00:32:36.820
 stairway

00:32:36.820 --> 00:32:37.940
 of grace

00:32:37.940 --> 00:32:40.060
 it's not

00:32:40.060 --> 00:32:40.500
 that any

00:32:40.500 --> 00:32:40.880
 of us

00:32:40.880 --> 00:32:41.460
 have to go

00:32:41.460 --> 00:32:42.400
 climb the

00:32:42.400 --> 00:32:43.120
 steps up

00:32:43.120 --> 00:32:43.519
 to God

00:32:43.519 --> 00:32:43.740
 we don't

00:32:43.740 --> 00:32:43.980
 have to

00:32:43.980 --> 00:32:44.440
 do the

00:32:44.440 --> 00:32:44.639
 ten

00:32:44.639 --> 00:32:45.119
 commandments

00:32:45.119 --> 00:32:45.359
 of

00:32:45.359 --> 00:32:45.759
 Judaism

00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:46.920
 we don't

00:32:46.920 --> 00:32:47.200
 have to

00:32:47.200 --> 00:32:48.139
 do the

00:32:48.139 --> 00:32:48.440
 five

00:32:48.440 --> 00:32:48.759
 pillars

00:32:48.759 --> 00:32:48.980
 of

00:32:48.980 --> 00:32:49.240
 Islam

00:32:49.240 --> 00:32:49.519
 we don't

00:32:49.519 --> 00:32:49.779
 have to

00:32:49.779 --> 00:32:50.180
 do the

00:32:50.180 --> 00:32:50.619
 eightfold

00:32:50.619 --> 00:32:51.139
 path

00:32:51.139 --> 00:32:51.579
 of

00:32:51.579 --> 00:32:51.859
 Buddhism

00:32:51.859 --> 00:32:52.180
 we don't

00:32:52.180 --> 00:32:52.440
 have to

00:32:52.440 --> 00:32:52.940
 do all

00:32:52.940 --> 00:32:53.480
 the steps

00:32:53.480 --> 00:32:53.759
 and all

00:32:53.759 --> 00:32:53.859
 the

00:32:53.859 --> 00:32:54.440
 requirements

00:32:54.440 --> 00:32:55.079
 of whatever

00:32:55.079 --> 00:32:56.099
 that religion

00:32:56.099 --> 00:32:57.200
 says would

00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:57.599
 make you

00:32:57.599 --> 00:32:58.039
 acceptable

00:32:58.039 --> 00:32:58.940
 to God

00:32:58.940 --> 00:33:00.039
 no

00:33:00.039 --> 00:33:00.319
 Jesus

00:33:00.319 --> 00:33:00.759
 says the

00:33:00.759 --> 00:33:01.200
 angels

00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:01.639
 of God

00:33:01.639 --> 00:33:02.400
 are ascending

00:33:02.400 --> 00:33:03.180
 and descending

00:33:03.180 --> 00:33:03.900
 not even

00:33:03.900 --> 00:33:04.500
 to the

00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:04.779
 son of

00:33:04.779 --> 00:33:04.940
 man

00:33:04.940 --> 00:33:05.779
 but on

00:33:05.779 --> 00:33:06.019
 the

00:33:06.019 --> 00:33:06.359
 son of

00:33:06.359 --> 00:33:06.639
 man

00:33:06.640 --> 00:33:09.360
 there's

00:33:09.360 --> 00:33:09.720
 not a

00:33:09.720 --> 00:33:10.340
 series of

00:33:10.340 --> 00:33:10.740
 steps

00:33:10.740 --> 00:33:11.440
 for you

00:33:11.440 --> 00:33:12.320
 to take

00:33:12.320 --> 00:33:13.220
 Jesus

00:33:13.220 --> 00:33:13.860
 says I

00:33:13.860 --> 00:33:14.180
 am the

00:33:14.180 --> 00:33:14.680
 steps

00:33:14.680 --> 00:33:17.000
 in fact

00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:17.280
 I've

00:33:17.280 --> 00:33:17.740
 fulfilled

00:33:17.740 --> 00:33:18.140
 all the

00:33:18.140 --> 00:33:18.440
 steps

00:33:18.440 --> 00:33:18.700
 I've

00:33:18.700 --> 00:33:19.060
 fulfilled

00:33:19.060 --> 00:33:19.520
 all the

00:33:19.520 --> 00:33:20.100
 requirements

00:33:20.100 --> 00:33:21.880
 I've

00:33:21.880 --> 00:33:22.360
 lived the

00:33:22.360 --> 00:33:22.860
 life that

00:33:22.860 --> 00:33:23.240
 you were

00:33:23.240 --> 00:33:23.580
 meant to

00:33:23.580 --> 00:33:23.800
 live

00:33:23.800 --> 00:33:24.200
 the life

00:33:24.200 --> 00:33:24.680
 of love

00:33:24.680 --> 00:33:26.460
 and I

00:33:26.460 --> 00:33:26.880
 died the

00:33:26.880 --> 00:33:27.080
 death

00:33:27.080 --> 00:33:27.420
 I took

00:33:27.420 --> 00:33:27.900
 the penalty

00:33:27.900 --> 00:33:28.460
 that you

00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:28.880
 were meant

00:33:28.880 --> 00:33:29.700
 to take

00:33:29.700 --> 00:33:29.960
 I've

00:33:29.960 --> 00:33:30.259
 done

00:33:30.259 --> 00:33:31.340
 all the

00:33:31.340 --> 00:33:31.600
 steps

00:33:31.600 --> 00:33:32.040
 everything

00:33:32.040 --> 00:33:32.759
 that was

00:33:32.759 --> 00:33:33.060
 needed

00:33:33.060 --> 00:33:33.680
 I've

00:33:33.680 --> 00:33:33.980
 done

00:33:33.980 --> 00:33:35.300
 absolutely

00:33:35.300 --> 00:33:35.840
 everything

00:33:35.840 --> 00:33:36.300
 for you

00:33:36.299 --> 00:33:36.460
 I've

00:33:36.460 --> 00:33:36.599
 not

00:33:36.599 --> 00:33:36.899
 come

00:33:36.899 --> 00:33:37.079
 to

00:33:37.079 --> 00:33:37.440
 show

00:33:37.440 --> 00:33:37.720
 you

00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:37.980
 the

00:33:37.980 --> 00:33:38.539
 stairway

00:33:38.539 --> 00:33:38.919
 to

00:33:38.919 --> 00:33:39.220
 God

00:33:39.220 --> 00:33:39.539
 or the

00:33:39.539 --> 00:33:39.839
 steps

00:33:39.839 --> 00:33:40.039
 to

00:33:40.039 --> 00:33:40.240
 God

00:33:40.240 --> 00:33:40.500
 I've

00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:40.639
 come

00:33:40.639 --> 00:33:40.779
 to

00:33:40.779 --> 00:33:41.119
 be

00:33:41.119 --> 00:33:41.379
 the

00:33:41.379 --> 00:33:41.940
 stairway

00:33:41.940 --> 00:33:42.440
 and to

00:33:42.440 --> 00:33:42.639
 do

00:33:42.639 --> 00:33:42.879
 the

00:33:42.879 --> 00:33:43.220
 steps

00:33:43.220 --> 00:33:43.799
 for

00:33:43.799 --> 00:33:44.240
 you

00:33:44.240 --> 00:33:50.259
 Jesus

00:33:50.259 --> 00:33:50.639
 says if

00:33:50.639 --> 00:33:50.879
 you want

00:33:50.879 --> 00:33:51.339
 to understand

00:33:51.339 --> 00:33:51.799
 me

00:33:51.799 --> 00:33:53.700
 if you

00:33:53.700 --> 00:33:53.919
 want to

00:33:53.919 --> 00:33:54.299
 know

00:33:54.299 --> 00:33:56.000
 what it's

00:33:56.000 --> 00:33:56.419
 like for

00:33:56.419 --> 00:33:57.059
 heaven to

00:33:57.059 --> 00:33:57.680
 be opened

00:33:57.680 --> 00:33:58.700
 before you

00:33:58.700 --> 00:34:00.639
 then you

00:34:00.639 --> 00:34:01.059
 got to see

00:34:01.059 --> 00:34:01.599
 heaven and

00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:01.940
 earth

00:34:01.940 --> 00:34:02.779
 intersecting

00:34:02.779 --> 00:34:03.480
 and overlapping

00:34:03.480 --> 00:34:04.259
 over me

00:34:04.259 --> 00:34:06.200
 over my

00:34:06.200 --> 00:34:06.619
 crucified

00:34:06.619 --> 00:34:06.980
 yet

00:34:06.980 --> 00:34:07.460
 resurrected

00:34:07.460 --> 00:34:08.320
 body

00:34:08.320 --> 00:34:08.539
 if you

00:34:08.539 --> 00:34:08.780
 want to

00:34:08.780 --> 00:34:09.219
 see the

00:34:09.219 --> 00:34:09.559
 royal

00:34:09.559 --> 00:34:10.019
 majestic

00:34:10.019 --> 00:34:10.539
 power

00:34:10.539 --> 00:34:11.000
 of the

00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:11.239
 kingdom

00:34:11.239 --> 00:34:11.699
 of God

00:34:11.699 --> 00:34:12.320
 moving up

00:34:12.320 --> 00:34:12.619
 and down

00:34:12.619 --> 00:34:13.079
 it's moving

00:34:13.079 --> 00:34:13.599
 up and down

00:34:13.599 --> 00:34:15.039
 over me

00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:18.579
 you see

00:34:18.579 --> 00:34:19.619
 Jacob is

00:34:19.619 --> 00:34:20.480
 lonely

00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:21.179
 Jacob's

00:34:21.179 --> 00:34:21.860
 isolated

00:34:21.860 --> 00:34:22.500
 Jacob is

00:34:22.500 --> 00:34:23.519
 an alienated

00:34:23.519 --> 00:34:24.539
 guy

00:34:24.539 --> 00:34:25.619
 because of

00:34:25.619 --> 00:34:26.019
 all of his

00:34:26.019 --> 00:34:26.539
 pride

00:34:26.539 --> 00:34:26.960
 because of

00:34:26.960 --> 00:34:27.639
 his lies

00:34:27.639 --> 00:34:28.139
 because of

00:34:28.139 --> 00:34:28.820
 his malice

00:34:28.820 --> 00:34:29.780
 and that's

00:34:29.780 --> 00:34:30.300
 what sin

00:34:30.300 --> 00:34:30.719
 does

00:34:30.719 --> 00:34:31.300
 it separates

00:34:31.300 --> 00:34:31.920
 us from

00:34:31.920 --> 00:34:32.219
 people

00:34:32.219 --> 00:34:32.760
 it separates

00:34:32.760 --> 00:34:33.660
 us from

00:34:33.660 --> 00:34:34.060
 God

00:34:34.060 --> 00:34:36.340
 and what

00:34:36.340 --> 00:34:36.860
 Jesus is

00:34:36.860 --> 00:34:37.280
 doing is

00:34:37.280 --> 00:34:37.600
 he's saying

00:34:37.600 --> 00:34:38.140
 look I've

00:34:38.140 --> 00:34:39.680
 come to

00:34:39.680 --> 00:34:40.240
 substitute

00:34:40.240 --> 00:34:41.160
 myself in

00:34:41.160 --> 00:34:41.560
 Jacob's

00:34:41.560 --> 00:34:41.960
 place

00:34:41.960 --> 00:34:42.560
 I've come

00:34:42.560 --> 00:34:43.660
 to get up

00:34:43.660 --> 00:34:44.000
 on that

00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:44.620
 place of

00:34:44.620 --> 00:34:45.180
 cosmic

00:34:45.180 --> 00:34:45.940
 alienation

00:34:45.940 --> 00:34:46.580
 cosmic

00:34:46.580 --> 00:34:47.260
 separation

00:34:47.260 --> 00:34:48.020
 and ultimate

00:34:48.020 --> 00:34:49.420
 loneliness

00:34:49.420 --> 00:34:50.240
 on the

00:34:50.240 --> 00:34:50.760
 cross

00:34:50.760 --> 00:34:52.380
 so that

00:34:52.380 --> 00:34:52.980
 someone like

00:34:52.980 --> 00:34:53.580
 Jacob who

00:34:53.580 --> 00:34:54.240
 is not

00:34:54.240 --> 00:34:55.060
 seeking God

00:34:55.060 --> 00:34:56.140
 doesn't expect

00:34:56.140 --> 00:34:56.660
 anything from

00:34:56.660 --> 00:34:57.080
 God doesn't

00:34:57.080 --> 00:34:57.560
 even want

00:34:57.560 --> 00:34:58.420
 God can

00:34:58.420 --> 00:34:58.880
 have any

00:34:58.880 --> 00:34:59.320
 hope in

00:34:59.320 --> 00:34:59.820
 this world

00:34:59.820 --> 00:35:03.820
 and Jesus

00:35:03.820 --> 00:35:04.260
 is saying

00:35:04.260 --> 00:35:04.660
 look if you

00:35:04.660 --> 00:35:04.900
 want to

00:35:04.900 --> 00:35:05.640
 experience the

00:35:05.640 --> 00:35:06.480
 awesome presence

00:35:06.480 --> 00:35:07.019
 of God

00:35:07.019 --> 00:35:08.580
 you've got to

00:35:08.580 --> 00:35:08.900
 come to

00:35:08.900 --> 00:35:09.140
 me

00:35:09.140 --> 00:35:11.840
 if you want

00:35:11.840 --> 00:35:12.860
 to see what

00:35:12.860 --> 00:35:13.400
 it looks like

00:35:13.400 --> 00:35:14.019
 when heaven

00:35:14.019 --> 00:35:14.640
 and earth

00:35:14.640 --> 00:35:15.080
 are open

00:35:15.080 --> 00:35:15.460
 to each

00:35:15.460 --> 00:35:15.600
 other

00:35:15.600 --> 00:35:15.960
 you've got

00:35:15.960 --> 00:35:16.420
 to come

00:35:16.420 --> 00:35:17.480
 follow me

00:35:17.480 --> 00:35:20.320
 very truly

00:35:20.320 --> 00:35:22.100
 I tell you

00:35:22.100 --> 00:35:22.680
 you will see

00:35:22.680 --> 00:35:23.539
 heaven open

00:35:23.539 --> 00:35:24.300
 and the angels

00:35:24.300 --> 00:35:25.140
 of God

00:35:25.140 --> 00:35:25.680
 ascending

00:35:25.680 --> 00:35:26.320
 and descending

00:35:26.320 --> 00:35:28.500
 on the

00:35:28.500 --> 00:35:28.800
 son of

00:35:28.800 --> 00:35:29.100
 man

00:35:29.099 --> 00:35:32.860
 all right

00:35:32.860 --> 00:35:33.360
 last thing

00:35:33.360 --> 00:35:33.599
 because we

00:35:33.599 --> 00:35:33.819
 got a

00:35:33.819 --> 00:35:34.279
 congregational

00:35:34.279 --> 00:35:34.619
 meeting

00:35:34.619 --> 00:35:35.920
 the

00:35:35.920 --> 00:35:36.440
 stairway

00:35:36.440 --> 00:35:36.599
 the

00:35:36.599 --> 00:35:36.839
 Lord of

00:35:36.839 --> 00:35:36.940
 the

00:35:36.940 --> 00:35:37.239
 stairway

00:35:37.239 --> 00:35:37.360
 the

00:35:37.360 --> 00:35:37.599
 awesome

00:35:37.599 --> 00:35:37.920
 presence

00:35:37.920 --> 00:35:38.079
 of

00:35:38.079 --> 00:35:38.360
 God

00:35:38.360 --> 00:35:39.099
 and

00:35:39.099 --> 00:35:39.380
 finally

00:35:39.380 --> 00:35:39.559
 the

00:35:39.559 --> 00:35:39.860
 grateful

00:35:39.860 --> 00:35:40.420
 response

00:35:40.420 --> 00:35:40.619
 to

00:35:40.619 --> 00:35:41.059
 grace

00:35:41.059 --> 00:35:43.860
 this

00:35:43.860 --> 00:35:44.179
 story

00:35:44.179 --> 00:35:44.579
 amazes

00:35:44.579 --> 00:35:44.739
 me

00:35:44.739 --> 00:35:45.199
 because

00:35:45.199 --> 00:35:46.259
 it's

00:35:46.259 --> 00:35:46.440
 about

00:35:46.440 --> 00:35:46.579
 a

00:35:46.579 --> 00:35:46.900
 man

00:35:46.900 --> 00:35:47.380
 running

00:35:47.380 --> 00:35:47.599
 away

00:35:47.599 --> 00:35:47.799
 from

00:35:47.799 --> 00:35:48.139
 home

00:35:48.139 --> 00:35:48.339
 who

00:35:48.339 --> 00:35:48.599
 runs

00:35:48.599 --> 00:35:48.839
 into

00:35:48.839 --> 00:35:49.219
 God

00:35:49.219 --> 00:35:51.139
 and

00:35:51.139 --> 00:35:51.299
 it's

00:35:51.299 --> 00:35:51.500
 about

00:35:51.500 --> 00:35:51.639
 a

00:35:51.639 --> 00:35:51.860
 man

00:35:51.860 --> 00:35:52.059
 who's

00:35:52.059 --> 00:35:52.440
 afraid

00:35:52.440 --> 00:35:52.579
 of

00:35:52.579 --> 00:35:52.719
 his

00:35:52.719 --> 00:35:52.960
 brother

00:35:52.960 --> 00:35:53.179
 who

00:35:53.179 --> 00:35:53.380
 then

00:35:53.380 --> 00:35:53.739
 becomes

00:35:53.739 --> 00:35:54.039
 afraid

00:35:54.039 --> 00:35:54.179
 of

00:35:54.179 --> 00:35:54.480
 God

00:35:54.480 --> 00:35:56.400
 and

00:35:56.400 --> 00:35:56.539
 it's

00:35:56.539 --> 00:35:56.719
 about

00:35:56.719 --> 00:35:56.920
 this

00:35:56.920 --> 00:35:57.199
 nowhere

00:35:57.199 --> 00:35:57.759
 place

00:35:57.759 --> 00:35:58.079
 that

00:35:58.079 --> 00:35:58.119
!

00:35:59.099 --> 00:35:59.199
 somehow

00:35:59.199 --> 00:36:00.139
 becomes

00:36:00.139 --> 00:36:00.539
 nothing

00:36:00.539 --> 00:36:00.860
 less

00:36:00.860 --> 00:36:01.000
 than

00:36:01.000 --> 00:36:01.779
 the

00:36:01.779 --> 00:36:02.019
 place

00:36:02.019 --> 00:36:02.159
 of

00:36:02.159 --> 00:36:02.460
 God

00:36:02.460 --> 00:36:04.319
 and

00:36:04.319 --> 00:36:04.480
 how

00:36:04.480 --> 00:36:04.639
 does

00:36:04.639 --> 00:36:04.880
 Jacob

00:36:04.880 --> 00:36:05.279
 respond

00:36:05.279 --> 00:36:05.559
 to that

00:36:05.559 --> 00:36:05.699
 well

00:36:05.699 --> 00:36:05.819
 in

00:36:05.819 --> 00:36:05.960
 verse

00:36:05.960 --> 00:36:06.480
 21

00:36:06.480 --> 00:36:08.480
 for the

00:36:08.480 --> 00:36:08.679
 first

00:36:08.679 --> 00:36:08.960
 time

00:36:08.960 --> 00:36:09.099
 in

00:36:09.099 --> 00:36:09.400
 Jacob's

00:36:09.400 --> 00:36:09.639
 life

00:36:09.639 --> 00:36:09.819
 he

00:36:09.819 --> 00:36:10.199
 says

00:36:10.199 --> 00:36:11.039
 the

00:36:11.039 --> 00:36:11.279
 Lord

00:36:11.279 --> 00:36:11.480
 is

00:36:11.480 --> 00:36:11.940
 my

00:36:11.940 --> 00:36:12.360
 God

00:36:12.360 --> 00:36:14.440
 right

00:36:14.440 --> 00:36:14.460
 God

00:36:14.460 --> 00:36:14.900
 he

00:36:14.900 --> 00:36:14.900


00:36:14.900 --> 00:36:14.900


00:36:14.900 --> 00:36:18.740
 says

00:36:18.740 --> 00:36:18.900
 the

00:36:18.900 --> 00:36:19.099
 Lord

00:36:19.099 --> 00:36:19.300
 is

00:36:19.300 --> 00:36:20.019
 my

00:36:20.019 --> 00:36:20.340
 God

00:36:20.340 --> 00:36:20.440
 he

00:36:20.440 --> 00:36:20.559
 has

00:36:20.559 --> 00:36:20.679
 a

00:36:20.679 --> 00:36:21.200
 personal

00:36:21.200 --> 00:36:22.260
 relationship

00:36:22.260 --> 00:36:22.700
 that's

00:36:22.700 --> 00:36:23.119
 real

00:36:23.119 --> 00:36:23.320
 and

00:36:23.320 --> 00:36:23.760
 dynamic

00:36:23.760 --> 00:36:24.360
 and

00:36:24.360 --> 00:36:25.119
 intimate

00:36:25.119 --> 00:36:25.760
 with

00:36:25.760 --> 00:36:26.019
 God

00:36:26.019 --> 00:36:26.119
 and

00:36:26.119 --> 00:36:26.260
 he

00:36:26.260 --> 00:36:26.639
 shows

00:36:26.639 --> 00:36:27.000
 that

00:36:27.000 --> 00:36:29.000
 not

00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:29.200
 just

00:36:29.200 --> 00:36:29.320
 in

00:36:29.320 --> 00:36:29.460
 what

00:36:29.460 --> 00:36:29.599
 he

00:36:29.599 --> 00:36:30.039
 believes

00:36:30.039 --> 00:36:30.159
 and

00:36:30.159 --> 00:36:30.300
 what

00:36:30.300 --> 00:36:30.460
 he

00:36:30.460 --> 00:36:31.019
 values

00:36:31.019 --> 00:36:32.019
 he

00:36:32.019 --> 00:36:32.380
 shows

00:36:32.380 --> 00:36:32.619
 that

00:36:32.619 --> 00:36:32.780
 in

00:36:32.780 --> 00:36:33.119
 how

00:36:33.119 --> 00:36:33.780
 he

00:36:33.780 --> 00:36:34.300
 lives

00:36:34.300 --> 00:36:35.820
 and

00:36:35.820 --> 00:36:36.000
 how

00:36:36.000 --> 00:36:36.200
 does

00:36:36.200 --> 00:36:36.500
 Jacob

00:36:36.500 --> 00:36:37.300
 then

00:36:37.300 --> 00:36:37.740
 live

00:36:37.739 --> 00:36:37.919
 well

00:36:37.919 --> 00:36:38.039
 it

00:36:38.039 --> 00:36:38.239
 says

00:36:38.239 --> 00:36:38.399
 in

00:36:38.399 --> 00:36:38.559
 verse

00:36:38.559 --> 00:36:38.919
 18

00:36:38.919 --> 00:36:39.219
 early

00:36:39.219 --> 00:36:39.379
 the

00:36:39.379 --> 00:36:39.579
 next

00:36:39.579 --> 00:36:39.859
 morning

00:36:39.859 --> 00:36:40.159
 Jacob

00:36:40.159 --> 00:36:40.479
 took

00:36:40.479 --> 00:36:40.699
 the

00:36:40.699 --> 00:36:41.039
 stone

00:36:41.039 --> 00:36:41.219
 he

00:36:41.219 --> 00:36:41.579
 placed

00:36:41.579 --> 00:36:41.839
 under

00:36:41.839 --> 00:36:42.059
 his

00:36:42.059 --> 00:36:42.319
 head

00:36:42.319 --> 00:36:42.459
 and

00:36:42.459 --> 00:36:42.659
 set

00:36:42.659 --> 00:36:42.779
 it

00:36:42.779 --> 00:36:42.919
 up

00:36:42.919 --> 00:36:43.039
 as

00:36:43.039 --> 00:36:43.159
 a

00:36:43.159 --> 00:36:43.439
 pillar

00:36:43.439 --> 00:36:44.179
 and

00:36:44.179 --> 00:36:44.419
 poured

00:36:44.419 --> 00:36:44.779
 oil

00:36:44.779 --> 00:36:44.979
 on

00:36:44.979 --> 00:36:45.239
 top

00:36:45.239 --> 00:36:45.359
 of

00:36:45.359 --> 00:36:45.459
 it

00:36:45.459 --> 00:36:45.519
 and

00:36:45.519 --> 00:36:45.619
 he

00:36:45.619 --> 00:36:45.899
 called

00:36:45.899 --> 00:36:46.099
 that

00:36:46.099 --> 00:36:46.519
 place

00:36:46.519 --> 00:36:47.579
 Bethel

00:36:47.579 --> 00:36:47.839
 though

00:36:47.839 --> 00:36:48.000
 the

00:36:48.000 --> 00:36:48.259
 city

00:36:48.259 --> 00:36:48.699
 used

00:36:48.699 --> 00:36:48.819
 to

00:36:48.819 --> 00:36:48.959
 be

00:36:48.959 --> 00:36:49.319
 called

00:36:49.319 --> 00:36:50.079
 Luz

00:36:50.079 --> 00:36:51.939
 then

00:36:51.939 --> 00:36:52.239
 Jacob

00:36:52.239 --> 00:36:52.439
 made

00:36:52.439 --> 00:36:52.739
 a vow

00:36:52.739 --> 00:36:53.079
 saying

00:36:53.079 --> 00:36:53.479
 if

00:36:53.479 --> 00:36:53.819
 God

00:36:53.819 --> 00:36:54.159
 or I

00:36:54.159 --> 00:36:54.319
 think

00:36:54.319 --> 00:36:54.419
 it's

00:36:54.419 --> 00:36:54.599
 better

00:36:54.599 --> 00:36:55.059
 since

00:36:55.059 --> 00:36:55.519
 God

00:36:55.519 --> 00:36:56.059
 will

00:36:56.059 --> 00:36:56.159
 be

00:36:56.159 --> 00:36:56.419
 with

00:36:56.419 --> 00:36:56.639
 me

00:36:56.639 --> 00:36:56.799
 and

00:36:56.799 --> 00:36:56.919
 will

00:36:56.919 --> 00:36:57.159
 watch

00:36:57.159 --> 00:36:57.339
 over

00:36:57.339 --> 00:36:57.500
 me

00:36:57.500 --> 00:36:57.619
 on

00:36:57.619 --> 00:36:57.779
 this

00:36:57.779 --> 00:36:58.139
 journey

00:36:58.139 --> 00:37:15.139
 faith

00:37:15.139 --> 00:37:15.339
 for

00:37:15.339 --> 00:37:15.619
 Jacob

00:37:15.619 --> 00:37:15.799
 is

00:37:15.799 --> 00:37:16.079
 so

00:37:16.079 --> 00:37:16.319
 much

00:37:16.319 --> 00:37:16.659
 more

00:37:16.659 --> 00:37:17.139
 than

00:37:17.139 --> 00:37:17.799
 inner

00:37:17.799 --> 00:37:18.259
 spiritual

00:37:18.259 --> 00:37:18.900
 feelings

00:37:18.900 --> 00:37:21.039
 faith

00:37:21.039 --> 00:37:21.199
 is

00:37:21.199 --> 00:37:21.719
 expressed

00:37:21.719 --> 00:37:21.940
 in

00:37:21.940 --> 00:37:22.500
 tangible

00:37:22.500 --> 00:37:23.279
 embodied

00:37:23.279 --> 00:37:24.219
 liturgical

00:37:24.219 --> 00:37:24.719
 acts

00:37:24.719 --> 00:37:24.900
 it

00:37:24.900 --> 00:37:25.059
 says

00:37:25.059 --> 00:37:25.259
 he's

00:37:25.259 --> 00:37:25.599
 pouring

00:37:25.599 --> 00:37:26.039
 oil

00:37:26.039 --> 00:37:26.279
 to

00:37:26.279 --> 00:37:26.900
 venerate

00:37:26.900 --> 00:37:27.480
 this

00:37:27.480 --> 00:37:27.819
 nowhere

00:37:27.820 --> 00:37:28.340
 place

00:37:28.340 --> 00:37:28.660
 as

00:37:28.660 --> 00:37:28.780
 a

00:37:28.780 --> 00:37:29.000
 holy

00:37:29.000 --> 00:37:29.500
 place

00:37:29.500 --> 00:37:31.840
 he's

00:37:31.840 --> 00:37:32.240
 doing

00:37:32.240 --> 00:37:32.480
 his

00:37:32.480 --> 00:37:32.760
 morning

00:37:32.760 --> 00:37:33.160
 prayers

00:37:33.160 --> 00:37:33.440
 he's

00:37:33.440 --> 00:37:33.820
 talking

00:37:33.820 --> 00:37:34.559
 seriously

00:37:34.559 --> 00:37:35.360
 with

00:37:35.360 --> 00:37:35.700
 God

00:37:35.700 --> 00:37:35.980
 he's

00:37:35.980 --> 00:37:36.240
 making

00:37:36.240 --> 00:37:36.440
 the

00:37:36.440 --> 00:37:36.660
 Lord

00:37:36.660 --> 00:37:37.140
 my

00:37:37.140 --> 00:37:37.580
 God

00:37:37.580 --> 00:37:39.660
 pledging

00:37:39.660 --> 00:37:40.460
 exclusive

00:37:40.460 --> 00:37:41.240
 allegiance

00:37:41.240 --> 00:37:41.660
 to God

00:37:41.660 --> 00:37:42.200
 promising

00:37:42.200 --> 00:37:42.820
 to God

00:37:42.820 --> 00:37:43.080
 that he's

00:37:43.080 --> 00:37:43.280
 going to

00:37:43.280 --> 00:37:43.559
 worship

00:37:43.559 --> 00:37:43.940
 him

00:37:43.940 --> 00:37:44.480
 in the

00:37:44.480 --> 00:37:44.760
 future

00:37:44.760 --> 00:37:44.960
 no

00:37:44.960 --> 00:37:45.180
 matter

00:37:45.180 --> 00:37:45.580
 what

00:37:45.580 --> 00:37:47.580
 and

00:37:47.580 --> 00:37:47.820
 here's

00:37:47.820 --> 00:37:47.960
 this

00:37:47.960 --> 00:37:48.200
 guy

00:37:48.200 --> 00:37:48.460
 who's

00:37:48.460 --> 00:37:48.860
 totally

00:37:48.860 --> 00:37:49.320
 empty

00:37:49.320 --> 00:37:49.700
 handed

00:37:49.700 --> 00:37:49.980
 and

00:37:49.980 --> 00:37:50.340
 he

00:37:50.340 --> 00:37:50.720
 begins

00:37:50.720 --> 00:37:51.300
 offering

00:37:51.300 --> 00:37:52.039
 sacrifices

00:37:52.039 --> 00:37:52.280
 to

00:37:52.280 --> 00:37:52.580
 God

00:37:52.580 --> 00:37:52.780
 and

00:37:52.780 --> 00:37:53.420
 promising

00:37:53.420 --> 00:37:53.680
 to

00:37:53.680 --> 00:37:53.840
 give

00:37:53.840 --> 00:37:54.100
 something

00:37:54.100 --> 00:37:54.260
 to

00:37:54.260 --> 00:37:54.420
 God

00:37:54.420 --> 00:37:54.539
 in

00:37:54.539 --> 00:37:54.660
 verse

00:37:54.660 --> 00:37:54.960
 22

00:37:54.960 --> 00:37:55.100
 he

00:37:55.100 --> 00:37:55.240
 says

00:37:55.240 --> 00:37:55.820
 of

00:37:55.820 --> 00:37:56.080
 all

00:37:56.080 --> 00:37:56.120
 that

00:37:56.120 --> 00:37:56.200
 you

00:37:56.200 --> 00:37:56.440
 give

00:37:56.440 --> 00:37:56.680
 me

00:37:56.679 --> 00:37:57.259
 I

00:37:57.259 --> 00:37:57.399
 will

00:37:57.399 --> 00:37:57.599
 give

00:37:57.599 --> 00:37:57.719
 you

00:37:57.719 --> 00:37:58.460
 10%

00:37:58.460 --> 00:37:59.859
 because

00:37:59.859 --> 00:38:00.019
 I

00:38:00.019 --> 00:38:00.139
 want

00:38:00.139 --> 00:38:00.239
 to

00:38:00.239 --> 00:38:00.379
 say

00:38:00.379 --> 00:38:00.779
 thank

00:38:00.779 --> 00:38:00.960
 you

00:38:00.960 --> 00:38:01.179
 for

00:38:01.179 --> 00:38:01.339
 your

00:38:01.339 --> 00:38:01.819
 presence

00:38:01.819 --> 00:38:01.980
 and

00:38:01.980 --> 00:38:02.099
 your

00:38:02.099 --> 00:38:02.579
 protection

00:38:02.579 --> 00:38:03.279
 and

00:38:03.279 --> 00:38:03.379
 your

00:38:03.379 --> 00:38:03.799
 provision

00:38:03.799 --> 00:38:04.460
 and

00:38:04.460 --> 00:38:04.599
 your

00:38:04.599 --> 00:38:05.139
 preservation

00:38:05.139 --> 00:38:05.500
 now

00:38:05.500 --> 00:38:06.960
 the

00:38:06.960 --> 00:38:07.179
 good

00:38:07.179 --> 00:38:07.159
 good

00:38:07.159 --> 00:38:07.159


00:38:07.159 --> 00:38:07.159


00:38:07.159 --> 00:38:07.679
 news

00:38:07.679 --> 00:38:08.099
 for

00:38:08.099 --> 00:38:08.420
 us

00:38:08.420 --> 00:38:08.579
 is

00:38:08.579 --> 00:38:08.739
 that

00:38:08.739 --> 00:38:09.099
 after

00:38:09.099 --> 00:38:09.699
 Jesus

00:38:09.699 --> 00:38:10.019
 sent

00:38:10.019 --> 00:38:10.159
 the

00:38:10.159 --> 00:38:10.320
 Holy

00:38:10.320 --> 00:38:10.760
 Spirit

00:38:10.760 --> 00:38:12.380
 his

00:38:12.380 --> 00:38:12.840
 apostles

00:38:12.840 --> 00:38:13.500
 dropped

00:38:13.500 --> 00:38:13.900
 this

00:38:13.900 --> 00:38:14.360
 principle

00:38:14.360 --> 00:38:14.719
 of

00:38:14.719 --> 00:38:15.179
 tithing

00:38:15.179 --> 00:38:16.199
 and

00:38:16.199 --> 00:38:16.300
 we

00:38:16.300 --> 00:38:16.460
 all

00:38:16.460 --> 00:38:16.659
 say

00:38:16.659 --> 00:38:17.239
 yes

00:38:17.239 --> 00:38:19.420
 but

00:38:19.420 --> 00:38:19.539
 the

00:38:19.539 --> 00:38:19.800
 bad

00:38:19.800 --> 00:38:20.139
 news

00:38:20.139 --> 00:38:20.679
 is

00:38:20.679 --> 00:38:21.039
 that

00:38:21.039 --> 00:38:21.860
 the

00:38:21.860 --> 00:38:22.219
 apostles

00:38:22.219 --> 00:38:22.719
 adopted

00:38:22.719 --> 00:38:22.940
 a

00:38:22.940 --> 00:38:23.360
 higher

00:38:23.360 --> 00:38:24.159
 spiritual

00:38:24.159 --> 00:38:24.659
 principle

00:38:24.659 --> 00:38:24.860
 that

00:38:24.860 --> 00:38:25.059
 goes

00:38:25.059 --> 00:38:25.219
 like

00:38:25.219 --> 00:38:25.440
 this

00:38:25.440 --> 00:38:25.739
 whoever

00:38:25.739 --> 00:38:26.280
 sows

00:38:26.280 --> 00:38:26.920
 sparingly

00:38:26.920 --> 00:38:27.099
 will

00:38:27.099 --> 00:38:27.340
 reap

00:38:27.340 --> 00:38:27.940
 sparingly

00:38:27.940 --> 00:38:28.059
 and

00:38:28.059 --> 00:38:28.280
 whoever

00:38:28.280 --> 00:38:28.599
 sows

00:38:28.599 --> 00:38:29.119
 generously

00:38:29.119 --> 00:38:29.679
 will

00:38:29.679 --> 00:38:29.940
 reap

00:38:29.940 --> 00:38:30.719
 generously

00:38:30.719 --> 00:38:30.960
 and

00:38:30.960 --> 00:38:31.079
 what

00:38:31.079 --> 00:38:31.239
 they

00:38:31.239 --> 00:38:31.599
 mean

00:38:31.599 --> 00:38:31.780
 by

00:38:31.780 --> 00:38:32.000
 that

00:38:32.000 --> 00:38:32.139
 the

00:38:32.139 --> 00:38:32.460
 apostles

00:38:32.460 --> 00:38:32.699
 mean

00:38:32.699 --> 00:38:32.900
 we

00:38:32.900 --> 00:38:33.119
 don't

00:38:33.119 --> 00:38:33.280
 want

00:38:33.280 --> 00:38:33.440
 to

00:38:35.500 --> 00:38:35.980
 lest

00:38:35.980 --> 00:38:36.260
 you

00:38:36.260 --> 00:38:37.440
 not

00:38:37.440 --> 00:38:37.860
 give

00:38:37.860 --> 00:38:38.219
 all

00:38:38.219 --> 00:38:38.360
 that

00:38:38.360 --> 00:38:38.519
 God

00:38:38.519 --> 00:38:38.800
 wants

00:38:38.800 --> 00:38:38.940
 you

00:38:38.940 --> 00:38:39.059
 to

00:38:39.059 --> 00:38:39.340
 give

00:38:39.340 --> 00:38:43.760
 the

00:38:43.760 --> 00:38:44.000
 way

00:38:44.000 --> 00:38:44.139
 that

00:38:44.139 --> 00:38:44.260
 we

00:38:44.260 --> 00:38:44.420
 know

00:38:44.420 --> 00:38:44.800
 God's

00:38:44.800 --> 00:38:45.119
 grace

00:38:45.119 --> 00:38:45.380
 is

00:38:45.380 --> 00:38:46.300
 operative

00:38:46.300 --> 00:38:46.500
 in

00:38:46.500 --> 00:38:46.900
 Jacob's

00:38:46.900 --> 00:38:47.300
 life

00:38:47.300 --> 00:38:47.639
 is

00:38:47.639 --> 00:38:47.900
 because

00:38:47.900 --> 00:38:48.199
 he's

00:38:48.199 --> 00:38:48.800
 responding

00:38:48.800 --> 00:38:49.159
 to that

00:38:49.159 --> 00:38:49.599
 grace

00:38:49.599 --> 00:38:50.019
 with

00:38:50.019 --> 00:38:50.500
 gratitude

00:38:50.500 --> 00:38:50.739
 and

00:38:50.739 --> 00:38:50.920
 he's

00:38:50.920 --> 00:38:51.199
 putting

00:38:51.199 --> 00:38:51.440
 his

00:38:51.440 --> 00:38:51.699
 faith

00:38:51.699 --> 00:38:51.880
 to

00:38:51.880 --> 00:38:52.179
 work

00:38:52.179 --> 00:38:52.559
 through

00:38:52.559 --> 00:38:52.780
 his

00:38:52.780 --> 00:38:53.199
 praying

00:38:53.199 --> 00:38:53.380
 and

00:38:53.380 --> 00:38:53.519
 through

00:38:53.519 --> 00:38:53.699
 his

00:38:53.699 --> 00:38:54.039
 giving

00:38:54.039 --> 00:38:57.639
 and

00:38:57.639 --> 00:38:57.940
 also

00:38:57.940 --> 00:38:58.179
 through

00:38:58.179 --> 00:38:58.300
 the

00:38:58.300 --> 00:38:58.460
 way

00:38:58.460 --> 00:38:58.739
 he's

00:38:58.739 --> 00:38:59.099
 talking

00:38:59.099 --> 00:38:59.480
 about

00:38:59.480 --> 00:39:00.219
 himself

00:39:00.219 --> 00:39:01.239
 in

00:39:01.239 --> 00:39:01.380
 his

00:39:01.380 --> 00:39:01.539
 own

00:39:01.539 --> 00:39:01.980
 story

00:39:01.980 --> 00:39:02.139
 he

00:39:02.139 --> 00:39:02.400
 begins

00:39:02.400 --> 00:39:02.639
 to

00:39:02.639 --> 00:39:03.360
 re-narrate

00:39:03.360 --> 00:39:03.659
 his

00:39:03.659 --> 00:39:04.119
 life

00:39:04.119 --> 00:39:05.280
 with

00:39:05.280 --> 00:39:05.580
 a new

00:39:05.580 --> 00:39:05.900
 plot

00:39:05.900 --> 00:39:06.200
 line

00:39:06.200 --> 00:39:06.360
 in

00:39:06.360 --> 00:39:06.500
 verse

00:39:06.500 --> 00:39:06.780
 20

00:39:06.780 --> 00:39:06.980
 he's

00:39:06.980 --> 00:39:07.220
 talking

00:39:07.220 --> 00:39:07.519
 about

00:39:07.519 --> 00:39:08.000
 his

00:39:08.000 --> 00:39:08.460
 journey

00:39:08.460 --> 00:39:09.960
 and

00:39:09.960 --> 00:39:10.080
 he

00:39:10.080 --> 00:39:10.260
 says

00:39:10.260 --> 00:39:10.540
 God

00:39:10.540 --> 00:39:10.680
 will

00:39:10.680 --> 00:39:10.800
 be

00:39:10.800 --> 00:39:11.019
 with

00:39:11.019 --> 00:39:11.180
 me

00:39:11.180 --> 00:39:11.360
 he'll

00:39:11.360 --> 00:39:11.600
 watch

00:39:11.600 --> 00:39:11.800
 over

00:39:11.800 --> 00:39:12.080
 me

00:39:12.080 --> 00:39:12.400
 on

00:39:12.400 --> 00:39:12.580
 this

00:39:12.580 --> 00:39:12.840
 journey

00:39:12.840 --> 00:39:13.060
 he'll

00:39:13.060 --> 00:39:13.260
 bring

00:39:13.260 --> 00:39:13.420
 me

00:39:13.420 --> 00:39:13.700
 back

00:39:13.700 --> 00:39:13.900
 in

00:39:13.900 --> 00:39:14.400
 safety

00:39:14.400 --> 00:39:14.660
 or

00:39:14.660 --> 00:39:14.780
 he'll

00:39:14.780 --> 00:39:14.920
 bring

00:39:14.920 --> 00:39:15.040
 me

00:39:15.040 --> 00:39:15.220
 back

00:39:15.220 --> 00:39:15.380
 that

00:39:15.380 --> 00:39:15.540
 word

00:39:15.540 --> 00:39:15.700
 is

00:39:15.700 --> 00:39:16.260
 shalom

00:39:16.260 --> 00:39:16.960
 to

00:39:16.960 --> 00:39:17.260
 my

00:39:17.260 --> 00:39:17.720
 father's

00:39:17.720 --> 00:39:18.019
 house

00:39:18.019 --> 00:39:18.220
 in

00:39:18.220 --> 00:39:18.700
 shalom

00:39:18.700 --> 00:39:22.920
 after

00:39:22.920 --> 00:39:23.160
 he

00:39:23.160 --> 00:39:23.840
 experienced

00:39:23.840 --> 00:39:24.040
 the

00:39:24.040 --> 00:39:24.380
 presence

00:39:24.380 --> 00:39:24.580
 of

00:39:24.580 --> 00:39:24.920
 God

00:39:24.920 --> 00:39:25.280
 and

00:39:25.280 --> 00:39:25.580
 the

00:39:25.580 --> 00:39:26.440
 supreme

00:39:26.440 --> 00:39:27.120
 display

00:39:27.120 --> 00:39:27.580
 of

00:39:27.580 --> 00:39:27.900
 God's

00:39:27.900 --> 00:39:28.280
 grace

00:39:28.280 --> 00:39:28.420
 in

00:39:28.420 --> 00:39:28.560
 his

00:39:28.560 --> 00:39:28.980
 life

00:39:28.980 --> 00:39:31.080
 Jacob

00:39:31.080 --> 00:39:31.300
 no

00:39:31.300 --> 00:39:31.560
 longer

00:39:31.560 --> 00:39:31.940
 sees

00:39:31.940 --> 00:39:32.340
 himself

00:39:32.340 --> 00:39:32.820
 as

00:39:32.820 --> 00:39:33.340
 an

00:39:33.340 --> 00:39:33.860
 exile

00:39:33.860 --> 00:39:34.240
 or

00:39:34.240 --> 00:39:34.400
 a

00:39:34.400 --> 00:39:34.840
 fugitive

00:39:34.840 --> 00:39:35.160
 who's

00:39:35.160 --> 00:39:35.440
 running

00:39:35.440 --> 00:39:35.860
 away

00:39:35.860 --> 00:39:36.100
 from

00:39:36.100 --> 00:39:36.580
 something

00:39:36.580 --> 00:39:38.340
 no

00:39:38.340 --> 00:39:38.640
 now

00:39:38.640 --> 00:39:38.860
 he

00:39:38.860 --> 00:39:39.480
 sees

00:39:39.480 --> 00:39:40.480
 himself

00:39:40.480 --> 00:39:40.660
 as

00:39:40.660 --> 00:39:40.820
 a

00:39:40.820 --> 00:39:41.320
 pilgrim

00:39:41.320 --> 00:39:42.640
 who's

00:39:42.640 --> 00:39:42.920
 on

00:39:42.920 --> 00:39:43.080
 a

00:39:43.080 --> 00:39:43.260
 journey

00:39:43.260 --> 00:39:43.500
 with

00:39:43.500 --> 00:39:43.840
 God

00:39:43.840 --> 00:39:45.080
 who's

00:39:45.080 --> 00:39:45.440
 running

00:39:45.440 --> 00:39:46.440
 towards

00:39:46.440 --> 00:39:46.860
 something

00:39:46.860 --> 00:39:48.940
 and

00:39:48.940 --> 00:39:49.140
 that's

00:39:49.140 --> 00:39:49.240
 what

00:39:49.240 --> 00:39:49.519
 happens

00:39:49.519 --> 00:39:49.680
 when

00:39:49.680 --> 00:39:49.960
 God

00:39:49.960 --> 00:39:50.320
 comes

00:39:50.320 --> 00:39:50.539
 into

00:39:50.539 --> 00:39:50.720
 your

00:39:50.720 --> 00:39:51.099
 life

00:39:51.099 --> 00:39:53.019
 the

00:39:53.019 --> 00:39:53.300
 way

00:39:53.300 --> 00:39:53.559
 you

00:39:53.559 --> 00:39:54.079
 narrate

00:39:54.079 --> 00:39:54.220
 your

00:39:54.220 --> 00:39:54.519
 life

00:39:54.519 --> 00:39:54.680
 is

00:39:54.680 --> 00:39:55.160
 completely

00:39:55.160 --> 00:39:56.360
 transformed

00:39:56.360 --> 00:39:56.660
 you

00:39:56.660 --> 00:39:57.140
 say

00:39:57.140 --> 00:39:57.340
 I'm

00:39:57.340 --> 00:39:57.519
 no

00:39:57.519 --> 00:39:57.820
 longer

00:39:57.820 --> 00:39:58.039
 a

00:39:58.039 --> 00:39:58.400
 solitary

00:39:58.400 --> 00:39:58.940
 guy

00:39:58.940 --> 00:39:59.140
 I'm

00:39:59.140 --> 00:39:59.260
 no

00:39:59.260 --> 00:39:59.480
 longer

00:39:59.480 --> 00:39:59.680
 a

00:39:59.680 --> 00:40:00.120
 solitary

00:40:00.120 --> 00:40:00.940
 gal

00:40:00.940 --> 00:40:01.220
 who's

00:40:01.220 --> 00:40:01.480
 just

00:40:01.480 --> 00:40:02.200
 wandering

00:40:02.200 --> 00:40:02.519
 by

00:40:02.519 --> 00:40:03.019
 myself

00:40:03.019 --> 00:40:03.220
 on

00:40:03.220 --> 00:40:03.380
 this

00:40:03.380 --> 00:40:03.920
 random

00:40:03.920 --> 00:40:04.800
 secular

00:40:04.800 --> 00:40:04.920
!

00:40:05.539 --> 00:40:05.980
 touring

00:40:05.980 --> 00:40:06.519
 expedition

00:40:06.519 --> 00:40:07.120
 to see

00:40:07.120 --> 00:40:07.559
 as much

00:40:07.559 --> 00:40:07.780
 as I

00:40:07.780 --> 00:40:07.900
 can

00:40:07.900 --> 00:40:08.160
 see

00:40:08.160 --> 00:40:08.480
 before

00:40:08.480 --> 00:40:08.680
 I

00:40:08.680 --> 00:40:09.039
 die

00:40:09.039 --> 00:40:11.660
 no

00:40:11.660 --> 00:40:11.820
 you

00:40:11.820 --> 00:40:12.000
 say

00:40:12.000 --> 00:40:12.460
 I'm

00:40:12.460 --> 00:40:12.599
 a

00:40:12.599 --> 00:40:12.900
 person

00:40:12.900 --> 00:40:13.180
 who's

00:40:13.180 --> 00:40:13.400
 on

00:40:13.400 --> 00:40:13.840
 a

00:40:13.840 --> 00:40:14.220
 sacred

00:40:14.220 --> 00:40:14.220


00:40:14.220 --> 00:40:14.740
 pilgrimage

00:40:14.740 --> 00:40:15.280
 with

00:40:15.280 --> 00:40:15.660
 God

00:40:15.659 --> 00:40:18.000
 and

00:40:18.000 --> 00:40:18.239
 I'm

00:40:18.239 --> 00:40:18.779
 making

00:40:18.779 --> 00:40:19.059
 my

00:40:19.059 --> 00:40:19.519
 way

00:40:19.519 --> 00:40:20.139
 to

00:40:20.139 --> 00:40:20.379
 the

00:40:20.379 --> 00:40:20.639
 city

00:40:20.639 --> 00:40:20.839
 of

00:40:20.839 --> 00:40:21.019
 God

00:40:21.019 --> 00:40:21.219
 I'm

00:40:21.219 --> 00:40:21.440
 making

00:40:21.440 --> 00:40:21.659
 my

00:40:21.659 --> 00:40:21.879
 way

00:40:21.879 --> 00:40:22.099
 to

00:40:22.099 --> 00:40:22.319
 the

00:40:22.319 --> 00:40:22.819
 shalom

00:40:22.819 --> 00:40:23.639
 of

00:40:23.639 --> 00:40:24.079
 God

00:40:24.079 --> 00:40:25.899
 and

00:40:25.899 --> 00:40:26.239
 therefore

00:40:26.239 --> 00:40:26.579
 from

00:40:26.579 --> 00:40:26.819
 now

00:40:26.819 --> 00:40:27.079
 on

00:40:27.079 --> 00:40:27.219
 I

00:40:27.219 --> 00:40:28.039
 consecrate

00:40:28.039 --> 00:40:28.519
 myself

00:40:28.519 --> 00:40:28.739
 I

00:40:28.739 --> 00:40:29.199
 commit

00:40:29.199 --> 00:40:30.059
 myself

00:40:30.059 --> 00:40:30.879
 to

00:40:30.879 --> 00:40:31.079
 my

00:40:31.079 --> 00:40:31.480
 trustworthy

00:40:31.480 --> 00:40:31.899
 God

00:40:31.899 --> 00:40:32.199
 who I

00:40:32.199 --> 00:40:32.440
 know

00:40:32.440 --> 00:40:32.639
 is

00:40:32.639 --> 00:40:33.059
 leading

00:40:33.059 --> 00:40:33.440
 me

00:40:33.440 --> 00:40:35.079
 on

00:40:35.079 --> 00:40:35.299
 this

00:40:35.299 --> 00:40:35.719
 holy

00:40:35.719 --> 00:40:36.219
 journey

00:40:36.219 --> 00:40:37.519
 to

00:40:37.519 --> 00:40:37.940
 test

00:40:37.940 --> 00:40:38.159
 me

00:40:38.159 --> 00:40:38.319
 and

00:40:38.319 --> 00:40:38.420
 to

00:40:38.420 --> 00:40:38.759
 refine

00:40:38.759 --> 00:40:38.980
 my

00:40:38.980 --> 00:40:39.440
 character

00:40:39.440 --> 00:40:40.799
 to

00:40:40.799 --> 00:40:41.319
 remold

00:40:41.319 --> 00:40:41.519
 me

00:40:41.519 --> 00:40:41.719
 and

00:40:41.719 --> 00:40:42.259
 transform

00:40:42.259 --> 00:40:42.539
 my

00:40:42.539 --> 00:40:43.179
 personality

00:40:43.179 --> 00:40:44.719
 because

00:40:44.719 --> 00:40:45.239
 ultimately

00:40:45.239 --> 00:40:45.519
 I

00:40:45.519 --> 00:40:45.779
 know

00:40:45.779 --> 00:40:46.000
 that

00:40:46.000 --> 00:40:46.259
 I'm

00:40:46.259 --> 00:40:46.339
 going

00:40:46.339 --> 00:40:46.439
 to

00:40:46.439 --> 00:40:46.759
 arrive

00:40:46.759 --> 00:40:46.939
 in

00:40:46.939 --> 00:40:47.359
 safety

00:40:47.359 --> 00:40:47.559
 I'm

00:40:47.559 --> 00:40:47.619
 going

00:40:47.619 --> 00:40:47.699
 to

00:40:47.699 --> 00:40:47.919
 arrive

00:40:47.919 --> 00:40:48.099
 in

00:40:48.099 --> 00:40:48.599
 shalom

00:40:48.599 --> 00:40:49.239
 at

00:40:49.239 --> 00:40:49.419
 that

00:40:49.419 --> 00:40:49.919
 place

00:40:49.919 --> 00:40:50.519
 where

00:40:50.519 --> 00:40:51.000
 God

00:40:51.000 --> 00:40:51.619
 has

00:40:51.619 --> 00:40:51.939
 destined

00:40:51.939 --> 00:40:52.359
 me

00:40:52.359 --> 00:40:53.059
 to

00:40:53.059 --> 00:40:53.359
 be

00:40:53.359 --> 00:40:57.719
 that's

00:40:57.719 --> 00:40:57.939
 what

00:40:57.939 --> 00:40:58.219
 a

00:40:58.219 --> 00:40:58.479
 grateful

00:40:58.479 --> 00:40:58.959
 response

00:40:58.959 --> 00:40:59.139
 to

00:40:59.139 --> 00:40:59.500
 grace

00:40:59.500 --> 00:41:00.959
 looks

00:41:00.959 --> 00:41:01.299
 like

00:41:01.299 --> 00:41:03.000
 so

00:41:03.000 --> 00:41:03.199
 let's

00:41:03.199 --> 00:41:03.339
 think

00:41:03.339 --> 00:41:03.539
 about

00:41:03.539 --> 00:41:03.719
 that

00:41:03.719 --> 00:41:03.819
 as

00:41:03.819 --> 00:41:03.939
 we

00:41:03.939 --> 00:41:04.119
 come

00:41:04.119 --> 00:41:04.239
 to

00:41:04.239 --> 00:41:04.399
 this

00:41:04.399 --> 00:41:04.699
 table

00:41:04.699 --> 00:41:05.959
 in

00:41:05.959 --> 00:41:06.019
 the

00:41:06.019 --> 00:41:06.139
 name

00:41:06.139 --> 00:41:06.219
 of

00:41:06.219 --> 00:41:06.319
 the

00:41:06.319 --> 00:41:06.539
 Father

00:41:06.539 --> 00:41:06.779
 Son

00:41:06.779 --> 00:41:06.899
 and

00:41:06.899 --> 00:41:07.079
 Holy

00:41:07.079 --> 00:41:07.439
 Spirit

00:41:07.439 --> 00:41:08.139
 Amen