WEBVTT

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 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church.

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 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other

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 use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church.

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 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org.

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 Good morning.

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 I'm Julie Brown.

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 And I am part of the El Cerrito Kensington Group and, when I can, Women Reading Women.

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 Today's scripture reading is from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 11, verses 11 to 26, as printed

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 in your liturgy.

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 A reading from the Gospel according to Luke.

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 Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?

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 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

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 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much

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 more will your Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?

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 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute.

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 When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed.

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 But some of them said, by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.

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 Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.

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 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined,

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 and a house divided against itself will fall.

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 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand?

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 I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul.

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 Now, if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out?

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 So then, they will be your judges.

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 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

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 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe.

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 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.

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 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

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 When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.

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 Then it says, I will return to the house I left.

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 When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.

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 Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there,

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 and the final condition of that person is worse than the first.

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 This is the gospel of the Lord.

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 Praise to you, O Christ.

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 Good morning, Christ Church.

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 It's very good to be back here with my Christ Church family.

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 I missed you while I was traveling the last two Sundays visiting family and friends,

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 and really glad to have come back to begin the season of Lent with you all here on Ash Wednesday the other night,

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 and especially to also launch our Alpha course on Thursday night.

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 We had about 30-plus people, 30-plus guests who were there to just be in a season of spiritual seeking,

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 of exploring the Christian faith, people who are new Christians looking to build their life on a foundation of faith.

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 So we're so glad to be in this season of Lent, this season of our Alpha course.

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 And, you know, each year from Christmas to Easter, we preach through one of the four gospels in the New Testament,

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 Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

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 And inevitably, when we do that, we run up against some of the hard sayings of Jesus that we struggle to understand.

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 And a lot of ink has been spilled trying to make sense about these most strange and enigmatic and perplexing things that Jesus ever said.

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 And what you just heard read is certainly one of those sayings.

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 It's hard to get.

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 But I liken the hard sayings of Jesus to hard candy.

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 You know, you don't want to, like, immediately bite on it.

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 But you just kind of want to put it in your mouth and start working it around and let it slowly kind of melt a little bit.

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 So that's what we're going to try to do in this sermon today.

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 But notice how our passage begins in verse 14.

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 It says,

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 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute.

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 And when the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed.

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 So here's this dark power, and it's dehumanizing this human being.

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 And how is it dehumanizing this man?

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 It's diminishing the image of God in this man by stealing and killing and destroying his unique ability.

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 The unique ability that we human beings have been given by God to speak.

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 Right?

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 This amazing gift that we have to use language to relate to one another and to communicate with each other,

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 to articulate things that are good and true and beautiful.

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 That gift has been diminished.

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 It's been taken away.

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 And Jesus is restoring that to this man.

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 And yet his critics say in verse 15, it says,

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 And Jesus both agrees and disagrees with that statement because he says in verse 18,

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 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand?

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 I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul.

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 And Jesus is assuming that there are dark powers in this world,

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 that those dark powers form a kind of hierarchy, an imperial hierarchy,

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 that they're organized as a kingdom against the kingdom of God and against the image of God,

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 and that Satan is the prince that's ruling over the top of that hierarchy that's oppressing human beings.

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 And Jesus says this in verse 20.

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 He says,

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 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, by the spirit of God, by the power and authority of God,

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 then the kingdom of God has come among you.

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 It's an amazing statement of Jesus' life and his mission,

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 that he's stepped out of eternity and into time,

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 that he's come down from heaven to earth and taken on human flesh in order to do just this,

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 in order to expel this dark kingdom from the world,

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 and to bring in the gracious rule and the liberating reign of the kingdom of God.

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 So I want to just kind of slowly work on this hard saying,

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 this hard candy of Jesus under three headings this morning.

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 I want to talk about the reality of dark powers

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 and the presence of a stronger power,

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 and then thirdly, the indwelling of a holy power.

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 So the reality of dark powers, the presence of a stronger power,

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 and the indwelling of a holy power.

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 When we think about the reality of dark powers,

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 some of you say,

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 Well, wait a minute.

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 You really want me to believe this?

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 When we look at the gospel and we find Jesus as a prophet who's speaking truth to power,

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 we say,

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 I like that Jesus.

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 Or when we find Jesus acting like a social revolutionary,

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 and he's empowering women,

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 and he's including the outcasts,

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 and he's lifting up the poor,

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 we say,

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 Yes, that's a Jesus I can really get down with.

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 But then we find Jesus talking about Satan,

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 and working as an exorcist,

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 and driving out demons.

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 This is just bizarre.

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 It's absolutely shocking.

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 And some of you say,

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 Well, I'm not sure I can accept this,

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 because I'm educated.

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 You know, I went to university.

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 I have an undergraduate degree.

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 I have a graduate degree.

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 I read the New York Times.

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 I read the Wall Street Journal.

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 I have a computer in my pocket with access to the internet.

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 I have chat GPT on my phone as a co-intelligence.

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 When you think about the last 150 years of human history,

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 all the progress we've made in education,

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 all the advances we've made in economics,

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 all the breakthroughs we've made in science and technology and medicine,

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 do you really expect me to buy into all this demon stuff?

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 Right?

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 Do you realize how primitive and how backward

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 this first century talk about evil spirits and dark powers sounds?

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 And I want to say,

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 Yes, I do realize how strange it sounds,

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 which is why I'm taking the time to talk about it.

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 For many, many complex reasons,

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 late modern, secular age, post-Christian people in the Western world

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 with their enlightened, materialistic vision of reality

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 struggle to believe in malevolent spiritual beings.

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 And if that is your paradigm today,

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 I would like to ask you to consider this,

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 that the policy of the devil

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 is to persuade you that there is no devil.

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 Or to put it a different way,

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 the devil's most clever deception is to convince you

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 that he's not there.

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 And Andrew and I, at least once a year,

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 we trot out this quote.

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 You know what I'm about to quote?

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 Delbanco, right?

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 Okay, Andrew Delbanco.

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 He's a professor at Columbia University.

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 He's a secular Jewish professor in humanities.

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 And he wrote a book in 1995

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 called The Death of Satan,

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 How Americans Have Lost the Sense of Evil.

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 And this is so relevant to us.

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 This is why we quote it at least once a year.

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 Here it is.

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 A gulf, he says,

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 a gulf has opened in our culture

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 between the visibility of evil

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 and the intellectual resources to cope with it.

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 We have jettisoned in the West

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 the idea of cosmic evil

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 or transcendent evil

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 or supernatural evil.

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 We don't believe in it.

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 In fact, we even,

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 we don't even like to use the word evil

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 because it implies moral absolutes

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 and value judgments.

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 So we use medical terms.

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 We talk about dysfunction.

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 We talk about pathology.

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 We don't use moral terminology.

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 But, Delbanco says,

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 he says,

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 as the 20th century has gone on,

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 it's gotten harder and harder

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 to say that holocausts

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 and ethnic cleansings

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 and serial killings

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 are just bad psychological

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 and sociological adjustments.

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 What we said 150 years ago

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 that all evil has natural causes,

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 has scientific causes,

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 is wearing thin.

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 I find this is a fascinating thesis.

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 He goes on.

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 He says,

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 the repertoire of evil

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 has never been richer,

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 yet never have our responses

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 been so weak.

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 We have no language

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 for connecting our inner lives

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 with the horrors

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 that pass before our eyes

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 in the outer world.

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 And he concludes the book.

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 Delbanco says this

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 at the end of the book.

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 He says,

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 my driving motive

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 in writing this book

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 has been the conviction

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 that if evil,

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 with all its insidious complexity,

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 escapes the reach

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 of our imagination,

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 it will have established

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 dominion over us.

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 If we no longer

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 have an imagination

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 for evil,

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 it will have established

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 dominion over us.

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 What he's saying

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 is that if you've been educated

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 and socialized

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 into a particular

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 plausibility structure,

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 into a particular paradigm

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 that denies dark powers

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 in this world,

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 then you are particularly vulnerable

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 because you don't have

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 the intellectual resources

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 and the imagination

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 and the language

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 to deal with the world

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 that we actually live in.

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 When I was traveling

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 this last week,

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 going from California

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 to Georgia

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 to New York

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 and back here,

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 I took as my companion

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 the Lord of the Rings.

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 I haven't read this book

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 in like 20 years,

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 so I decided

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 to start rereading it.

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 And I was reminded

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 of Tolkien's brilliance,

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 because he's got this chapter,

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 chapter two of the book,

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 it's the critical chapter

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 in the whole thing,

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 it's called The Shadow,

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 The Shadow of the Past.

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 And in chapter one,

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 he depicts the easy,

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 comfortable lives

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 of the hobbits

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 in the Shire.

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 But then in chapter two,

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 he reveals that

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 actually all the hobbits

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 in the Shire

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 are completely oblivious

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 to what's really going on.

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 They're oblivious

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 to the whispers

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 of this enemy

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 on this eastern land

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 of Mordor.

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 And the mood

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 in the Shire

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 is one of just

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 complacent ignorance

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 as these great evils

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 grow and become

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 like this ominous

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 sort of disquieting shadow.

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 And it's only

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 the most far-seeing,

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 it's only the most wise people

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 in Middle-earth,

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 like Gandalf,

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 the wizard,

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 who are able

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 to discern

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 the true contours

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 of the danger

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 that they face.

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 And so Gandalf,

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 what does he do?

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 He comes to the Shire

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 to counsel Frodo,

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 to warn Frodo,

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 and to kind of wake him up

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 to this malignant shadow

00:14:01.019 --> 00:14:03.339
 in this metastasizing darkness.

00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:05.399
 And I want to suggest

00:14:05.399 --> 00:14:06.259
 that that's what Jesus

00:14:06.259 --> 00:14:08.259
 is doing for us here.

00:14:08.379 --> 00:14:10.240
 What Gandalf does for Frodo,

00:14:10.339 --> 00:14:12.199
 Jesus is doing for us here.

00:14:12.299 --> 00:14:13.599
 He's revealing to us

00:14:13.599 --> 00:14:15.179
 that something dark

00:14:15.179 --> 00:14:16.179
 and something deadly

00:14:16.179 --> 00:14:18.240
 is at work in the world

00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:21.379
 that we disbelieve

00:14:21.379 --> 00:14:22.700
 or we take lightly

00:14:22.700 --> 00:14:24.139
 at our own peril.

00:14:26.259 --> 00:14:27.500
 So that when we read

00:14:27.500 --> 00:14:28.419
 these words from Jesus

00:14:28.419 --> 00:14:29.120
 in verse 20,

00:14:29.559 --> 00:14:31.019
 if I drive out demons

00:14:31.019 --> 00:14:32.220
 by the finger of God,

00:14:32.299 --> 00:14:33.120
 then the kingdom of God

00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:34.000
 has come upon you.

00:14:34.340 --> 00:14:35.580
 What do we do with that?

00:14:36.840 --> 00:14:37.059
 Right?

00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:38.139
 Where does that fit

00:14:38.139 --> 00:14:40.080
 in our vision of reality

00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:40.700
 in the world?

00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:43.220
 Do you trust yourself?

00:14:43.500 --> 00:14:44.019
 Do you trust

00:14:44.019 --> 00:14:45.320
 your plausibility structures,

00:14:46.059 --> 00:14:47.559
 your cultural paradigms,

00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:48.379
 your educational experience,

00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:50.299
 your formative institutions,

00:14:50.299 --> 00:14:51.379
 which have told you

00:14:51.379 --> 00:14:53.059
 there is no such thing

00:14:53.059 --> 00:14:53.539
 as demons?

00:14:53.860 --> 00:14:54.860
 There is no such thing

00:14:54.860 --> 00:14:56.120
 as a battle or a struggle

00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:57.820
 between the kingdom of Satan

00:14:57.820 --> 00:14:58.939
 and the kingdom of God.

00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:00.360
 Or,

00:15:01.240 --> 00:15:01.939
 will you trust

00:15:01.939 --> 00:15:02.759
 the Son of God

00:15:02.759 --> 00:15:03.759
 who's speaking here,

00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:04.620
 who made the world?

00:15:05.779 --> 00:15:05.980
 Right?

00:15:06.019 --> 00:15:06.679
 The Son of God

00:15:06.679 --> 00:15:08.139
 who took all the risk

00:15:08.139 --> 00:15:08.720
 upon Himself

00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:10.419
 to enter into this world.

00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:11.039
 The Son of God

00:15:11.039 --> 00:15:12.700
 who laid down His life

00:15:12.700 --> 00:15:13.679
 and died for this world.

00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:14.299
 The Son of God

00:15:14.299 --> 00:15:15.120
 who rose again

00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:16.060
 to authenticate

00:15:16.060 --> 00:15:17.580
 His authority

00:15:17.580 --> 00:15:18.980
 to interpret His world.

00:15:20.899 --> 00:15:22.200
 When you become a Christian,

00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:23.060
 when you say,

00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:25.399
 Jesus is my Savior

00:15:25.399 --> 00:15:27.519
 and Jesus is my Lord,

00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:29.340
 what happens is that

00:15:29.340 --> 00:15:29.960
 you're baptized

00:15:29.960 --> 00:15:31.639
 into Jesus' vision

00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:32.080
 of the world.

00:15:32.200 --> 00:15:32.659
 You're baptized

00:15:32.659 --> 00:15:34.480
 into His interpretation

00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:35.320
 of the world

00:15:35.320 --> 00:15:36.879
 where He says,

00:15:37.159 --> 00:15:38.500
 this is the fundamental conflict.

00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:41.200
 This is the fundamental thing

00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:41.759
 that's happening

00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:42.680
 in your life

00:15:42.680 --> 00:15:43.159
 and in the life

00:15:43.159 --> 00:15:43.580
 of this world

00:15:43.580 --> 00:15:44.840
 that I've come to engage.

00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:47.120
 The Apostle Paul

00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:47.759
 says it this way

00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:48.860
 in Ephesians chapter 6.

00:15:48.980 --> 00:15:49.320
 He says,

00:15:50.220 --> 00:15:50.940
 for our struggle

00:15:50.940 --> 00:15:52.919
 is not against flesh and blood

00:15:52.919 --> 00:15:54.039
 but against the rulers,

00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:55.779
 against the authorities,

00:15:56.019 --> 00:15:56.779
 against the powers

00:15:56.779 --> 00:15:57.860
 of this dark world

00:15:57.860 --> 00:15:59.620
 and against the spiritual forces

00:15:59.620 --> 00:16:00.200
 of evil

00:16:00.200 --> 00:16:02.519
 in the heavenly realms.

00:16:03.799 --> 00:16:04.440
 And I think Jesus

00:16:04.440 --> 00:16:05.340
 is trying to get us

00:16:05.340 --> 00:16:07.279
 to take seriously

00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:08.039
 the reality

00:16:08.039 --> 00:16:09.560
 of the dark powers

00:16:09.560 --> 00:16:10.100
 that are at work

00:16:10.100 --> 00:16:10.820
 in the world.

00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:13.000
 So that's point number one.

00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:13.879
 Point number two

00:16:13.879 --> 00:16:14.679
 is not just about

00:16:14.679 --> 00:16:15.220
 the reality

00:16:15.220 --> 00:16:16.059
 of the dark powers

00:16:16.059 --> 00:16:16.779
 but secondly,

00:16:17.299 --> 00:16:17.799
 the presence

00:16:17.799 --> 00:16:18.939
 of a stronger power.

00:16:19.899 --> 00:16:20.419
 The presence

00:16:20.419 --> 00:16:21.399
 of a stronger power.

00:16:23.659 --> 00:16:25.100
 Jesus could not be more clear

00:16:25.100 --> 00:16:27.000
 that Satan's not only real

00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:28.679
 but that he's strong.

00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:31.039
 And He says it explicitly

00:16:31.039 --> 00:16:31.879
 in verse 21.

00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:32.559
 He says,

00:16:32.559 --> 00:16:34.819
 when a strong man

00:16:34.819 --> 00:16:36.539
 fully armed

00:16:36.539 --> 00:16:38.399
 guards his own house,

00:16:38.479 --> 00:16:39.099
 his possessions

00:16:39.099 --> 00:16:40.399
 are safe.

00:16:41.539 --> 00:16:42.599
 Jesus is saying there

00:16:42.599 --> 00:16:44.459
 that Satan is strong.

00:16:45.259 --> 00:16:45.479
 Right?

00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:46.119
 He's mighty.

00:16:46.279 --> 00:16:47.479
 He's powerful.

00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:48.359
 Jesus calls him

00:16:48.359 --> 00:16:49.000
 in other places

00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:50.639
 the prince of this world,

00:16:50.739 --> 00:16:51.899
 the ruler of this world.

00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:52.699
 Right?

00:16:52.739 --> 00:16:53.819
 He's fully armed

00:16:53.819 --> 00:16:56.000
 with defensive armor,

00:16:56.119 --> 00:16:57.339
 with offensive weapons.

00:16:57.340 --> 00:16:58.940
 And it says

00:16:58.940 --> 00:16:59.860
 he has a house.

00:16:59.960 --> 00:17:00.840
 That word house

00:17:00.840 --> 00:17:03.759
 is a palace.

00:17:03.940 --> 00:17:04.519
 It's a castle

00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:06.480
 of this dark warlord,

00:17:06.620 --> 00:17:07.940
 this heavily fortified

00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:10.480
 military installation

00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:12.920
 where Jesus is describing

00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:13.600
 this evil

00:17:13.600 --> 00:17:15.440
 and strong prince

00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:16.880
 who takes possession

00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:17.500
 of people

00:17:17.500 --> 00:17:19.279
 and he puts them

00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:20.740
 in his castle prison,

00:17:20.840 --> 00:17:21.740
 his castle dungeon,

00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:23.299
 and there

00:17:23.299 --> 00:17:24.980
 his unholy spirits

00:17:24.980 --> 00:17:26.319
 are holding people

00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:27.380
 there in bondage.

00:17:27.819 --> 00:17:27.920
 Right?

00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:28.819
 They're oppressed

00:17:28.819 --> 00:17:29.680
 and they're dominated

00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:30.940
 by the will

00:17:30.940 --> 00:17:32.500
 of this strong man.

00:17:33.460 --> 00:17:34.099
 And Jesus says

00:17:34.099 --> 00:17:35.140
 He has people

00:17:35.140 --> 00:17:36.620
 in His possession.

00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:38.539
 And how do people

00:17:38.539 --> 00:17:39.140
 come to be

00:17:39.140 --> 00:17:40.059
 in His possession?

00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:41.559
 Well,

00:17:42.180 --> 00:17:43.339
 Ephesians chapter 6,

00:17:43.420 --> 00:17:43.599
 again,

00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:44.380
 the Apostle Paul

00:17:44.380 --> 00:17:44.819
 says this,

00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:45.120
 he says,

00:17:45.220 --> 00:17:46.200
 put on the full armor

00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:46.799
 of God

00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:48.339
 so that you can

00:17:48.339 --> 00:17:49.259
 take your stand

00:17:49.259 --> 00:17:51.259
 against the devil's

00:17:51.259 --> 00:17:51.920
 schemes.

00:17:53.860 --> 00:17:54.039
 Right?

00:17:54.059 --> 00:17:54.420
 The devil

00:17:54.420 --> 00:17:55.600
 has schemes

00:17:55.600 --> 00:17:56.500
 by which he takes

00:17:56.500 --> 00:17:57.980
 possession of people.

00:17:58.380 --> 00:17:59.380
 And what are those schemes?

00:17:59.539 --> 00:17:59.680
 Well,

00:18:00.080 --> 00:18:00.800
 you can trace

00:18:00.800 --> 00:18:02.360
 sort of a golden thread

00:18:02.360 --> 00:18:03.279
 all the way back

00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:04.460
 to the beginning

00:18:04.460 --> 00:18:05.000
 of the Scriptures

00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:06.400
 in Genesis chapter 3

00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:08.779
 where the scheming serpent

00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:10.120
 comes into paradise,

00:18:10.320 --> 00:18:11.180
 he comes into

00:18:11.180 --> 00:18:12.200
 the garden of God

00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:14.400
 questioning God's Word.

00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:15.180
 Right?

00:18:15.259 --> 00:18:15.880
 He's saying,

00:18:16.080 --> 00:18:17.240
 did God really say?

00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:18.920
 And he begins

00:18:18.920 --> 00:18:19.960
 to twist

00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:21.240
 and distort the truth.

00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:22.700
 He begins

00:18:22.700 --> 00:18:23.680
 to sow seeds

00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:24.180
 of doubt

00:18:24.180 --> 00:18:25.019
 and disbelief

00:18:25.019 --> 00:18:25.480
 in the heart

00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:26.140
 of human beings.

00:18:26.259 --> 00:18:27.400
 Is God really for you?

00:18:27.560 --> 00:18:28.120
 Isn't God

00:18:28.120 --> 00:18:29.299
 kind of holding out

00:18:29.299 --> 00:18:30.160
 on you?

00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:32.039
 And you can trace

00:18:32.039 --> 00:18:33.120
 that thread

00:18:33.120 --> 00:18:33.960
 of his schemes

00:18:33.960 --> 00:18:34.580
 all the way

00:18:34.580 --> 00:18:35.480
 into the New Testament

00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:36.440
 where the Apostle Paul

00:18:36.440 --> 00:18:38.500
 says in 2 Corinthians 11,

00:18:38.600 --> 00:18:38.900
 he says,

00:18:39.340 --> 00:18:41.120
 Satan disguises himself

00:18:41.120 --> 00:18:42.340
 as an angel

00:18:42.340 --> 00:18:43.259
 of light.

00:18:44.460 --> 00:18:45.779
 Satan disguises himself

00:18:45.779 --> 00:18:46.560
 as an angel

00:18:46.560 --> 00:18:47.480
 of light.

00:18:47.560 --> 00:18:48.000
 In other words,

00:18:48.060 --> 00:18:48.700
 his strategy

00:18:48.700 --> 00:18:50.580
 is deception.

00:18:52.660 --> 00:18:53.299
 And if you read

00:18:53.299 --> 00:18:53.819
 the letters

00:18:53.819 --> 00:18:54.440
 of the New Testament,

00:18:54.539 --> 00:18:55.140
 it's very clear

00:18:55.140 --> 00:18:58.440
 that this dark warlord

00:18:58.440 --> 00:18:59.299
 is at work

00:18:59.299 --> 00:18:59.900
 particularly

00:18:59.900 --> 00:19:00.860
 among the people

00:19:00.860 --> 00:19:01.360
 of God.

00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:01.759
 Right?

00:19:01.819 --> 00:19:02.519
 Because he wants

00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:04.460
 to distort

00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:04.920
 the truth

00:19:04.920 --> 00:19:05.440
 of the gospel.

00:19:06.600 --> 00:19:07.759
 He wants to add

00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:08.279
 to the gospel.

00:19:08.380 --> 00:19:09.180
 He wants to take away

00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:09.799
 from the gospel.

00:19:10.660 --> 00:19:12.600
 He wants to lead

00:19:12.600 --> 00:19:13.279
 God's people

00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:14.220
 into this ditch

00:19:14.220 --> 00:19:15.160
 of legalism

00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:15.740
 over here,

00:19:15.880 --> 00:19:16.539
 into this ditch

00:19:16.539 --> 00:19:17.559
 of licentiousness

00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:18.079
 over here.

00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:19.839
 He wants to lead

00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:20.779
 us into conflict

00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:21.440
 with one another

00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:22.159
 or compromise

00:19:22.159 --> 00:19:22.960
 with the world.

00:19:23.879 --> 00:19:24.119
 Right?

00:19:24.139 --> 00:19:25.019
 He wants to disrupt

00:19:25.019 --> 00:19:25.639
 our relationship

00:19:25.639 --> 00:19:26.099
 with God.

00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:27.579
 He wants to disrupt

00:19:27.579 --> 00:19:28.220
 our relationship

00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:28.759
 with each other.

00:19:28.839 --> 00:19:30.039
 He wants to discredit

00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:30.779
 our life

00:19:30.779 --> 00:19:31.799
 and our message.

00:19:32.019 --> 00:19:33.220
 He's got schemes

00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:34.920
 that need to be resisted.

00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:36.619
 And the question is,

00:19:36.680 --> 00:19:38.119
 do we take Jesus seriously

00:19:38.119 --> 00:19:39.059
 when he talks about

00:19:39.059 --> 00:19:41.259
 this strong man,

00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:41.960
 that he actually

00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:43.599
 is highly intelligent,

00:19:44.599 --> 00:19:46.019
 that he's immensely powerful,

00:19:46.019 --> 00:19:46.740
 that he's utterly

00:19:46.740 --> 00:19:47.920
 unscrupulous,

00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:49.019
 that he's a formidable

00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:50.259
 adversary

00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:53.160
 with deceptive schemes

00:19:53.160 --> 00:19:55.019
 that we must take

00:19:55.019 --> 00:19:55.940
 seriously?

00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:58.319
 How else do we

00:19:58.319 --> 00:20:00.220
 explain the brokenness

00:20:00.220 --> 00:20:01.000
 of this world,

00:20:01.779 --> 00:20:02.039
 right,

00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:02.779
 that's in bondage

00:20:02.779 --> 00:20:04.039
 to forces of sin

00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:05.240
 and disease

00:20:05.240 --> 00:20:06.099
 and injustice

00:20:06.099 --> 00:20:07.700
 and poverty

00:20:07.700 --> 00:20:08.500
 and hunger

00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:09.579
 and alienation?

00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:11.200
 How else do we

00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:12.539
 describe the eruption

00:20:12.539 --> 00:20:13.160
 of anger

00:20:13.160 --> 00:20:13.960
 and fear

00:20:13.960 --> 00:20:14.720
 and violence

00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:15.160
 and death

00:20:15.160 --> 00:20:15.740
 in this world

00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:17.560
 unless we take

00:20:17.560 --> 00:20:18.340
 Jesus' words

00:20:18.340 --> 00:20:19.640
 about the strong man

00:20:19.640 --> 00:20:20.420
 seriously?

00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:22.680
 But what's amazing

00:20:22.680 --> 00:20:23.400
 about this passage

00:20:23.400 --> 00:20:24.080
 is that Jesus

00:20:24.080 --> 00:20:26.300
 is not only telling us

00:20:26.300 --> 00:20:27.120
 about the strong man,

00:20:27.180 --> 00:20:28.140
 but he has the audacity

00:20:28.140 --> 00:20:28.779
 to say,

00:20:29.040 --> 00:20:30.500
 I'm stronger

00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:31.400
 than the strong man.

00:20:32.440 --> 00:20:32.820
 Right,

00:20:32.820 --> 00:20:33.900
 he says in verse 22,

00:20:35.300 --> 00:20:36.500
 but when someone

00:20:36.500 --> 00:20:37.580
 stronger attacks

00:20:37.580 --> 00:20:38.580
 and overpowers him,

00:20:39.080 --> 00:20:39.840
 he takes away

00:20:39.840 --> 00:20:40.259
 the armor

00:20:40.259 --> 00:20:40.900
 in which the man

00:20:40.900 --> 00:20:41.300
 trusted

00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:42.720
 and divides up

00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:43.680
 his plunder.

00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:47.200
 You guys still awake?

00:20:48.159 --> 00:20:48.819
 All right.

00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:51.659
 I know we had one less

00:20:51.659 --> 00:20:52.799
 hour of sleep last night,

00:20:52.859 --> 00:20:53.619
 so I'm just making sure.

00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:56.119
 Jesus says,

00:20:56.379 --> 00:20:58.119
 my life

00:20:58.119 --> 00:20:59.000
 and my mission

00:20:59.000 --> 00:21:00.759
 is a full frontal

00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:01.279
 assault

00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:02.480
 on the strong man.

00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:03.879
 Right,

00:21:03.940 --> 00:21:04.500
 when I touch,

00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:06.000
 when you read the gospels

00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:06.879
 and you see Jesus

00:21:06.879 --> 00:21:08.839
 touching people's bodies

00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:09.879
 with the power of God

00:21:09.879 --> 00:21:10.740
 and you see people

00:21:10.740 --> 00:21:13.159
 teaching people

00:21:13.159 --> 00:21:14.480
 and regenerating their souls

00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:15.639
 by the truth of God,

00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:16.319
 Jesus is saying,

00:21:16.439 --> 00:21:16.500
 look,

00:21:16.579 --> 00:21:17.199
 I'm attacking

00:21:17.199 --> 00:21:18.599
 and overpowering

00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:19.599
 the strong man.

00:21:20.639 --> 00:21:22.000
 I'm dethroning Satan.

00:21:22.119 --> 00:21:22.899
 I'm driving out

00:21:22.899 --> 00:21:23.419
 his kingdom.

00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:24.740
 I'm repossessing

00:21:24.740 --> 00:21:26.579
 what God

00:21:26.579 --> 00:21:28.779
 owns by right.

00:21:28.839 --> 00:21:29.579
 I'm possessing them

00:21:29.579 --> 00:21:30.679
 for the kingdom of God.

00:21:32.059 --> 00:21:33.000
 What is amazing

00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:33.899
 is the apostle Paul

00:21:33.899 --> 00:21:34.459
 says this

00:21:34.459 --> 00:21:36.399
 in Colossians chapter 2

00:21:36.399 --> 00:21:37.159
 verse 14.

00:21:37.160 --> 00:21:39.259
 He says,

00:21:39.340 --> 00:21:40.860
 talking about Jesus' ministry

00:21:40.860 --> 00:21:42.300
 and the climax

00:21:42.300 --> 00:21:43.200
 of Jesus' ministry,

00:21:43.320 --> 00:21:43.480
 he says,

00:21:43.600 --> 00:21:44.660
 God has taken away

00:21:44.660 --> 00:21:45.400
 our sin,

00:21:45.580 --> 00:21:46.080
 our death,

00:21:46.100 --> 00:21:47.000
 and our condemnation

00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:48.259
 by nailing them

00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:48.980
 to the cross.

00:21:50.180 --> 00:21:50.620
 And he says,

00:21:50.700 --> 00:21:51.460
 in having disarmed

00:21:51.460 --> 00:21:52.460
 the dark powers

00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:53.200
 and the authorities,

00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:55.240
 God made a spectacle

00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:55.779
 of them,

00:21:56.259 --> 00:21:57.440
 triumphing over them

00:21:57.440 --> 00:21:58.740
 by the cross.

00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:01.400
 What Paul is saying there

00:22:01.400 --> 00:22:02.740
 is that Jesus' cross

00:22:02.740 --> 00:22:05.040
 is the decisive moment

00:22:05.040 --> 00:22:06.120
 of his attack

00:22:06.120 --> 00:22:06.960
 on the strong man.

00:22:07.980 --> 00:22:08.120
 Right?

00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:09.100
 On his cross,

00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:10.160
 Jesus looks as if

00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:11.220
 he's a helpless victim,

00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:12.840
 but something actually

00:22:12.840 --> 00:22:13.440
 much deeper

00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:14.279
 is going on there,

00:22:14.340 --> 00:22:15.220
 that on his cross,

00:22:15.660 --> 00:22:16.600
 Jesus is attacking

00:22:16.600 --> 00:22:18.180
 and overpowering

00:22:18.180 --> 00:22:19.080
 and overcoming

00:22:19.080 --> 00:22:20.240
 the strong man

00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:21.060
 by sacrificial,

00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:22.460
 self-giving love.

00:22:23.740 --> 00:22:24.060
 Right?

00:22:24.060 --> 00:22:24.960
 That on his cross,

00:22:25.080 --> 00:22:26.140
 Jesus is actually

00:22:26.140 --> 00:22:27.580
 disarming the dark powers.

00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:28.500
 He's taking away

00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:29.660
 the strong man's armor

00:22:29.660 --> 00:22:30.600
 in which he trusted.

00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:32.019
 And on his cross,

00:22:32.140 --> 00:22:32.860
 Jesus is making

00:22:32.860 --> 00:22:34.100
 a public spectacle

00:22:34.099 --> 00:22:35.899
 of Satan

00:22:35.899 --> 00:22:37.379
 and his dark kingdom.

00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:38.119
 On his cross,

00:22:38.219 --> 00:22:39.199
 Jesus is conquering

00:22:39.199 --> 00:22:40.199
 over that kingdom

00:22:40.199 --> 00:22:40.879
 of darkness

00:22:40.879 --> 00:22:42.519
 and winning a victory

00:22:42.519 --> 00:22:44.480
 for the kingdom of God.

00:22:45.799 --> 00:22:46.619
 And Jesus says

00:22:46.619 --> 00:22:48.299
 that he's dividing up

00:22:48.299 --> 00:22:49.519
 the strong man's spoils.

00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:50.279
 On his cross,

00:22:50.379 --> 00:22:51.480
 Jesus is dividing up

00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:52.699
 the strong man's plunder

00:22:52.699 --> 00:22:55.059
 by reclaiming men

00:22:55.059 --> 00:22:56.139
 and reclaiming women

00:22:56.139 --> 00:22:58.019
 so that people can live

00:22:58.019 --> 00:22:58.879
 in freedom again

00:22:58.879 --> 00:22:59.919
 according to God's

00:22:59.919 --> 00:23:01.319
 original design.

00:23:01.319 --> 00:23:04.099
 And through his resurrection,

00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:05.220
 Jesus is continuing

00:23:05.220 --> 00:23:05.919
 this work

00:23:05.919 --> 00:23:07.259
 of plundering

00:23:07.259 --> 00:23:08.619
 the strong man's spoils.

00:23:09.659 --> 00:23:10.099
 Right?

00:23:10.139 --> 00:23:11.119
 He continues this work

00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:12.119
 until he comes again

00:23:12.119 --> 00:23:13.200
 to fully drive out

00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:14.539
 the evil one

00:23:14.539 --> 00:23:15.079
 from this world

00:23:15.079 --> 00:23:15.899
 until he fully

00:23:15.899 --> 00:23:16.980
 and finally sets up

00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:17.740
 the kingdom of God

00:23:17.740 --> 00:23:18.819
 on earth as it is in heaven.

00:23:18.939 --> 00:23:19.220
 And so,

00:23:19.419 --> 00:23:20.939
 what does this mean for us?

00:23:21.099 --> 00:23:22.000
 What does it mean for you?

00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:24.079
 It's a matter of

00:23:24.079 --> 00:23:25.259
 utmost importance

00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:25.839
 and urgency

00:23:25.839 --> 00:23:26.939
 for you to know

00:23:26.939 --> 00:23:29.339
 whether you're

00:23:29.339 --> 00:23:29.919
 in the possession

00:23:29.919 --> 00:23:30.980
 of the strong man

00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:33.620
 or whether you belong

00:23:33.620 --> 00:23:34.620
 to the stronger one

00:23:34.620 --> 00:23:35.920
 who came to overtake

00:23:35.920 --> 00:23:37.860
 and overpower

00:23:37.860 --> 00:23:39.140
 and disarm

00:23:39.140 --> 00:23:39.720
 and plunder

00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:40.460
 the strong man.

00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:42.019
 Right?

00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:43.160
 The question for us is

00:23:43.160 --> 00:23:44.640
 who do I belong to?

00:23:46.059 --> 00:23:47.319
 Have I been transferred

00:23:47.319 --> 00:23:48.319
 from one dominion

00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:49.400
 into another dominion?

00:23:49.660 --> 00:23:50.819
 From one possession

00:23:50.819 --> 00:23:52.000
 into another possession?

00:23:52.180 --> 00:23:53.220
 From one safekeeping

00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:54.460
 into another safekeeping?

00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:56.259
 Again,

00:23:56.339 --> 00:23:57.039
 the Apostle Paul

00:23:57.039 --> 00:23:58.220
 says this in Colossians 1.

00:23:58.299 --> 00:23:58.579
 He says,

00:23:58.680 --> 00:23:59.079
 for he,

00:23:59.079 --> 00:23:59.639
 God,

00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:01.179
 has rescued us

00:24:01.179 --> 00:24:01.879
 from the dominion

00:24:01.879 --> 00:24:02.379
 of darkness

00:24:02.379 --> 00:24:03.859
 and brought us

00:24:03.859 --> 00:24:04.460
 into the kingdom

00:24:04.460 --> 00:24:05.720
 of the Son

00:24:05.720 --> 00:24:06.779
 He loves.

00:24:07.419 --> 00:24:08.579
 Is that how we see

00:24:08.579 --> 00:24:09.000
 the world?

00:24:10.159 --> 00:24:11.259
 Is that how we understand

00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:11.899
 our lives?

00:24:14.659 --> 00:24:15.539
 Third point

00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:18.000
 is not just the reality

00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:18.839
 of dark powers

00:24:18.839 --> 00:24:20.039
 and not just the presence

00:24:20.039 --> 00:24:21.099
 of a stronger power,

00:24:22.039 --> 00:24:23.220
 but finally is to talk

00:24:23.220 --> 00:24:24.179
 about the indwelling

00:24:24.179 --> 00:24:25.939
 of a holy power.

00:24:25.940 --> 00:24:26.000
 power.

00:24:26.920 --> 00:24:27.700
 The indwelling

00:24:27.700 --> 00:24:28.420
 of a holy power.

00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:28.860
 And this is where

00:24:28.860 --> 00:24:29.500
 I want to just look

00:24:29.500 --> 00:24:30.100
 for a moment

00:24:30.100 --> 00:24:31.940
 at the most particularly

00:24:31.940 --> 00:24:32.580
 strange,

00:24:32.660 --> 00:24:33.299
 at least for me,

00:24:33.420 --> 00:24:34.580
 the most enigmatic

00:24:34.580 --> 00:24:35.480
 and puzzling part

00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:36.059
 of this text.

00:24:36.100 --> 00:24:36.460
 And you're like,

00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:37.120
 we haven't talked

00:24:37.120 --> 00:24:37.740
 about that already.

00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:41.160
 But one thing

00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:41.700
 we haven't really

00:24:41.700 --> 00:24:42.299
 looked at is

00:24:42.299 --> 00:24:43.200
 where Jesus says

00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:44.460
 in verses 19 to 20,

00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:45.880
 He says,

00:24:46.059 --> 00:24:46.360
 other people

00:24:46.360 --> 00:24:47.420
 are driving out demons.

00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:48.180
 Other Jews,

00:24:48.340 --> 00:24:49.100
 other followers

00:24:49.100 --> 00:24:49.980
 of the Pharisees,

00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:51.160
 they're also

00:24:51.160 --> 00:24:52.059
 driving out demons.

00:24:52.059 --> 00:24:54.200
 And then He says

00:24:54.200 --> 00:24:55.639
 in verses 24 to 26,

00:24:55.779 --> 00:24:56.759
 He says that a demon

00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:58.200
 leaves the house

00:24:58.200 --> 00:24:59.460
 and then He comes back

00:24:59.460 --> 00:25:00.419
 and He finds it swept

00:25:00.419 --> 00:25:01.220
 and put in order,

00:25:01.619 --> 00:25:02.299
 but it's empty

00:25:02.299 --> 00:25:03.000
 and so He comes

00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:03.799
 and occupies it

00:25:03.799 --> 00:25:04.440
 with seven other

00:25:04.440 --> 00:25:05.859
 more wicked demons

00:25:05.859 --> 00:25:06.240
 than Himself

00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:07.220
 and the situation

00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:08.000
 is far worse

00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:08.879
 than it was before.

00:25:09.539 --> 00:25:10.299
 What in the world

00:25:10.299 --> 00:25:11.240
 is going on there?

00:25:12.379 --> 00:25:13.220
 Well, I think Jesus

00:25:13.220 --> 00:25:14.460
 is suggesting that

00:25:14.460 --> 00:25:16.819
 there are multiple ways

00:25:16.819 --> 00:25:18.720
 to get symptom relief

00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:20.839
 for our human misery.

00:25:20.839 --> 00:25:25.419
 but to not really deal

00:25:25.419 --> 00:25:27.259
 with underlying root causes.

00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:29.240
 Right?

00:25:29.319 --> 00:25:30.179
 He says, you know,

00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:31.199
 other people are dealing

00:25:31.199 --> 00:25:31.839
 with troubles

00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:32.899
 and miseries

00:25:32.899 --> 00:25:34.959
 and demons are,

00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:35.539
 you know,

00:25:35.919 --> 00:25:37.159
 taking off.

00:25:38.019 --> 00:25:38.859
 But they're not really

00:25:38.859 --> 00:25:39.779
 driving them out

00:25:39.779 --> 00:25:40.459
 like I am

00:25:40.459 --> 00:25:41.859
 by the finger of God

00:25:41.859 --> 00:25:42.859
 and the Spirit of God

00:25:42.859 --> 00:25:43.799
 and the power of God

00:25:43.799 --> 00:25:44.539
 so that the kingdom

00:25:44.539 --> 00:25:45.319
 of God is coming.

00:25:45.439 --> 00:25:47.419
 They're giving symptom relief

00:25:47.419 --> 00:25:48.079
 but they're not really

00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:49.159
 bringing the kingdom of God,

00:25:49.220 --> 00:25:49.819
 Jesus says.

00:25:50.839 --> 00:25:51.899
 And what does that mean?

00:25:51.939 --> 00:25:52.720
 It means that there's

00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:55.079
 actually many different ways

00:25:55.079 --> 00:25:56.139
 that we can change.

00:25:57.279 --> 00:25:58.220
 There are many ways

00:25:58.220 --> 00:25:58.679
 that we can get

00:25:58.679 --> 00:25:59.779
 the power to change

00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:01.139
 but there's only one way

00:26:01.139 --> 00:26:02.119
 to change thoroughly

00:26:02.119 --> 00:26:03.220
 and to change permanently.

00:26:04.699 --> 00:26:04.959
 Right?

00:26:05.079 --> 00:26:06.759
 Many of us have changed

00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:07.459
 because we've looked

00:26:07.459 --> 00:26:09.059
 to therapy

00:26:09.059 --> 00:26:10.399
 and we've looked

00:26:10.399 --> 00:26:11.859
 to self-help for change

00:26:11.859 --> 00:26:12.819
 and that was good.

00:26:12.899 --> 00:26:13.579
 We needed that.

00:26:14.579 --> 00:26:15.299
 Others of us

00:26:15.299 --> 00:26:16.319
 have looked to science

00:26:16.319 --> 00:26:18.639
 and drugs

00:26:18.639 --> 00:26:19.259
 and medicine

00:26:19.259 --> 00:26:20.419
 for change

00:26:20.419 --> 00:26:21.000
 and that was good.

00:26:21.079 --> 00:26:21.839
 We needed that.

00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:23.319
 Others of us

00:26:23.319 --> 00:26:24.599
 have looked to education

00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:25.299
 and knowledge

00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:26.039
 for change

00:26:26.039 --> 00:26:26.619
 and that was good.

00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:27.139
 That helped.

00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:28.179
 We needed that.

00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:29.339
 All of these are good gifts

00:26:29.339 --> 00:26:31.079
 of God's common grace

00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:31.839
 in our lives.

00:26:31.839 --> 00:26:34.759
 But I think this text

00:26:34.759 --> 00:26:35.459
 challenges us

00:26:35.459 --> 00:26:36.159
 not to be

00:26:36.159 --> 00:26:37.240
 overly simplistic

00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:39.399
 and overly reductionistic

00:26:39.399 --> 00:26:40.639
 in the way

00:26:40.639 --> 00:26:41.220
 that we approach

00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:42.059
 human problems.

00:26:42.819 --> 00:26:43.819
 Because obviously

00:26:43.819 --> 00:26:44.659
 we're psychological

00:26:44.659 --> 00:26:46.619
 and social beings.

00:26:47.699 --> 00:26:49.199
 Obviously we're biological

00:26:49.199 --> 00:26:50.339
 and physical beings.

00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.480
 Obviously we're intellectual

00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:52.579
 and rational beings.

00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:54.279
 But what this text

00:26:54.279 --> 00:26:55.199
 reminds us is that

00:26:55.199 --> 00:26:55.879
 we are not only

00:26:55.879 --> 00:26:56.359
 those things

00:26:56.359 --> 00:26:57.599
 we are spiritual beings.

00:26:59.559 --> 00:27:00.740
 And if we only deal

00:27:00.740 --> 00:27:02.639
 at the superficial level

00:27:02.639 --> 00:27:04.359
 of doing symptom relief

00:27:04.359 --> 00:27:05.119
 in our life

00:27:05.119 --> 00:27:07.659
 we're not going deep enough

00:27:07.659 --> 00:27:08.819
 to deal with underlying

00:27:08.819 --> 00:27:11.539
 root spiritual causes.

00:27:13.379 --> 00:27:14.399
 It's possible

00:27:14.399 --> 00:27:15.019
 Jesus says

00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:16.339
 to use other powers

00:27:16.339 --> 00:27:17.019
 to change.

00:27:17.220 --> 00:27:17.859
 And we might be

00:27:17.859 --> 00:27:19.119
 massively helped

00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:21.519
 by emotional catharsis.

00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:23.099
 We might be

00:27:23.099 --> 00:27:23.879
 significantly helped

00:27:23.879 --> 00:27:24.879
 by willpower

00:27:24.879 --> 00:27:25.720
 and just sheer

00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:26.960
 self-determination

00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:27.839
 and self-discipline.

00:27:27.900 --> 00:27:28.639
 We might be helped

00:27:28.639 --> 00:27:29.940
 by some kind of

00:27:29.940 --> 00:27:30.799
 support group.

00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:33.119
 And one demon

00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:33.559
 might say

00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:34.099
 oh my goodness

00:27:34.099 --> 00:27:34.960
 he's getting serious

00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:35.519
 about his life

00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:36.119
 I think I'm going to

00:27:36.119 --> 00:27:36.519
 take off

00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:37.200
 and leave his house

00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:37.819
 for a while.

00:27:39.019 --> 00:27:40.519
 And your house

00:27:40.519 --> 00:27:41.160
 lo and behold

00:27:41.160 --> 00:27:41.940
 is swept clean

00:27:41.940 --> 00:27:42.759
 it's put in order.

00:27:43.700 --> 00:27:44.779
 But if that's all

00:27:44.779 --> 00:27:45.299
 you've done

00:27:45.299 --> 00:27:45.960
 Jesus says

00:27:45.960 --> 00:27:46.619
 if that's all

00:27:46.619 --> 00:27:47.119
 you've done

00:27:47.119 --> 00:27:48.059
 your house

00:27:48.059 --> 00:27:48.759
 is swept clean

00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:49.440
 and it's put in order

00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:50.519
 but it's sitting vacant.

00:27:51.519 --> 00:27:52.619
 It's sitting empty

00:27:52.619 --> 00:27:54.039
 you're just inviting

00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:54.960
 trouble.

00:27:55.119 --> 00:27:55.619
 You're eventually

00:27:55.619 --> 00:27:56.339
 going to attract

00:27:56.339 --> 00:27:57.220
 vandals

00:27:57.220 --> 00:27:58.319
 and invaders

00:27:58.319 --> 00:27:58.879
 and squatters

00:27:58.879 --> 00:27:59.359
 who are going to

00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:00.339
 come and make

00:28:00.339 --> 00:28:00.839
 things worse.

00:28:00.920 --> 00:28:01.519
 If you're a kid

00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:01.940
 and you ever

00:28:01.940 --> 00:28:03.379
 discovered

00:28:03.379 --> 00:28:04.940
 an abandoned house

00:28:04.940 --> 00:28:05.559
 you know

00:28:05.559 --> 00:28:06.420
 and there's glass

00:28:06.420 --> 00:28:06.819
 in the window

00:28:06.819 --> 00:28:07.420
 don't you just want

00:28:07.420 --> 00:28:08.079
 to pick up a rock

00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:08.680
 and throw it

00:28:08.680 --> 00:28:09.579
 through the window?

00:28:10.379 --> 00:28:11.259
 Was that just me?

00:28:14.660 --> 00:28:15.480
 Jesus says

00:28:15.480 --> 00:28:16.379
 an empty house

00:28:16.379 --> 00:28:17.599
 is just asking for it.

00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:19.420
 An empty house

00:28:19.420 --> 00:28:20.500
 needs to be filled.

00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:22.339
 An empty house

00:28:22.339 --> 00:28:23.359
 needs a new

00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:24.500
 and a holy power

00:28:24.500 --> 00:28:25.160
 that keeps all

00:28:25.160 --> 00:28:25.740
 those old

00:28:25.740 --> 00:28:26.920
 and unholy spirits

00:28:26.920 --> 00:28:28.200
 from coming back.

00:28:29.480 --> 00:28:30.539
 I had a friend

00:28:30.539 --> 00:28:32.700
 who I met

00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:33.440
 in seminary

00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:34.680
 and he became

00:28:34.680 --> 00:28:35.180
 a pastor

00:28:35.180 --> 00:28:37.839
 and he no longer

00:28:37.839 --> 00:28:38.599
 is part of a church

00:28:38.599 --> 00:28:39.599
 no longer identifies

00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:40.160
 as a Christian

00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:42.279
 and he posted

00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:43.039
 on social media

00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:43.480
 recently

00:28:43.480 --> 00:28:44.019
 he said

00:28:44.019 --> 00:28:45.940
 these last three years

00:28:45.940 --> 00:28:47.279
 I've been in a state

00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:48.859
 of barely contained

00:28:48.859 --> 00:28:49.419
 panic.

00:28:50.219 --> 00:28:50.459
 Right?

00:28:50.500 --> 00:28:51.339
 I've not been sleeping

00:28:51.339 --> 00:28:53.079
 I've not been exercising

00:28:53.079 --> 00:28:54.479
 I've been pounding

00:28:54.479 --> 00:28:55.379
 ice cream

00:28:55.379 --> 00:28:56.139
 late at night

00:28:56.139 --> 00:28:57.259
 I've been binging TV

00:28:57.259 --> 00:28:58.959
 to distract myself

00:28:58.959 --> 00:28:59.579
 from my pain

00:28:59.579 --> 00:29:00.379
 I've been on four

00:29:00.379 --> 00:29:01.719
 different psychiatric

00:29:01.719 --> 00:29:02.839
 drugs

00:29:02.839 --> 00:29:04.379
 and I've often

00:29:04.379 --> 00:29:05.000
 wanted to just

00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:05.539
 go to sleep

00:29:05.539 --> 00:29:06.699
 and not wake up.

00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:08.639
 And he says

00:29:08.639 --> 00:29:08.859
 you know

00:29:08.859 --> 00:29:09.500
 the good news

00:29:09.500 --> 00:29:10.439
 is that my wife

00:29:10.439 --> 00:29:11.079
 and my kids

00:29:11.079 --> 00:29:12.259
 they rallied around me

00:29:12.259 --> 00:29:13.819
 and I restarted

00:29:13.819 --> 00:29:14.399
 exercising

00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:16.140
 and I got

00:29:16.140 --> 00:29:16.960
 on a clean diet

00:29:16.960 --> 00:29:18.620
 and I stayed sober

00:29:18.620 --> 00:29:19.820
 from alcohol

00:29:19.820 --> 00:29:21.580
 and I weaned myself

00:29:21.580 --> 00:29:23.180
 off this drug cocktail

00:29:23.180 --> 00:29:24.660
 and he's reporting

00:29:24.660 --> 00:29:25.019
 you know

00:29:25.019 --> 00:29:26.480
 I felt stuck

00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:27.420
 in despair

00:29:27.420 --> 00:29:28.580
 but now I'm happy

00:29:28.580 --> 00:29:30.180
 and I have hope again

00:29:30.180 --> 00:29:32.180
 and I rejoice

00:29:32.180 --> 00:29:32.620
 with him

00:29:32.620 --> 00:29:34.100
 that is such good news

00:29:34.100 --> 00:29:35.120
 his house

00:29:35.120 --> 00:29:36.320
 has been swept clean

00:29:36.320 --> 00:29:36.740
 his house

00:29:36.740 --> 00:29:37.280
 has been put

00:29:37.280 --> 00:29:38.040
 in order

00:29:38.040 --> 00:29:39.900
 but Jesus would say

00:29:39.900 --> 00:29:41.000
 the problem with that

00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:42.680
 is that your house

00:29:42.680 --> 00:29:43.539
 is still empty

00:29:43.539 --> 00:29:45.140
 your house

00:29:45.140 --> 00:29:45.640
 is vacant

00:29:45.640 --> 00:29:46.320
 there's nobody

00:29:46.320 --> 00:29:47.080
 in there

00:29:47.080 --> 00:29:48.600
 vandals

00:29:48.600 --> 00:29:49.240
 and invaders

00:29:49.240 --> 00:29:49.960
 and squatters

00:29:49.960 --> 00:29:51.320
 are just going to come

00:29:51.320 --> 00:29:52.299
 and make things

00:29:52.299 --> 00:29:53.160
 worse for you

00:29:53.160 --> 00:29:55.820
 what does he need

00:29:55.820 --> 00:29:56.799
 what does my friend need

00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:58.080
 what do I need

00:29:58.080 --> 00:29:59.480
 what do you need

00:29:59.480 --> 00:30:00.440
 Jesus says

00:30:00.440 --> 00:30:01.560
 we need a new

00:30:01.560 --> 00:30:02.820
 and a holy

00:30:02.820 --> 00:30:04.400
 and indwelling power

00:30:04.400 --> 00:30:05.259
 that's stronger

00:30:05.259 --> 00:30:06.740
 than all of those

00:30:06.740 --> 00:30:07.400
 dark powers

00:30:07.400 --> 00:30:07.920
 that can come

00:30:07.920 --> 00:30:08.500
 and fill

00:30:08.500 --> 00:30:09.220
 and occupy

00:30:09.220 --> 00:30:10.740
 our house

00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:11.500
 and our life

00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:12.960
 right

00:30:12.960 --> 00:30:13.599
 it's possible

00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:14.779
 to have your life

00:30:14.779 --> 00:30:15.400
 swept clean

00:30:15.400 --> 00:30:16.079
 and put in order

00:30:16.079 --> 00:30:17.579
 without the redeeming

00:30:17.579 --> 00:30:18.619
 presence of Jesus

00:30:18.619 --> 00:30:19.259
 and without the

00:30:19.259 --> 00:30:20.259
 regenerating power

00:30:20.259 --> 00:30:21.819
 of the Holy Spirit

00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:22.539
 it's possible

00:30:22.539 --> 00:30:23.259
 to engage

00:30:23.259 --> 00:30:24.119
 in a thousand

00:30:24.119 --> 00:30:24.839
 life hacks

00:30:24.839 --> 00:30:25.839
 to optimize

00:30:25.839 --> 00:30:27.259
 your life

00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:28.140
 maximally

00:30:28.140 --> 00:30:30.480
 but unless

00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:31.819
 the expulsion

00:30:31.819 --> 00:30:32.480
 and the removal

00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:33.079
 of dark

00:30:33.079 --> 00:30:34.059
 and dehumanizing

00:30:34.059 --> 00:30:34.740
 powers

00:30:34.740 --> 00:30:36.480
 is followed

00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:37.240
 by the filling

00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:38.000
 of your life

00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:38.680
 with the power

00:30:38.680 --> 00:30:39.460
 of the living God

00:30:39.460 --> 00:30:40.420
 you've not deeply

00:30:40.420 --> 00:30:40.900
 changed

00:30:40.900 --> 00:30:42.000
 your change

00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:42.940
 is only superficial

00:30:42.940 --> 00:30:43.740
 and temporary

00:30:43.740 --> 00:30:45.780
 you're just creating

00:30:45.780 --> 00:30:46.300
 a vacuum

00:30:46.300 --> 00:30:47.100
 inside of you

00:30:47.100 --> 00:30:47.700
 that can be filled

00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:48.440
 with more dark

00:30:48.440 --> 00:30:49.200
 powers

00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:51.180
 Jesus says

00:30:51.180 --> 00:30:52.000
 if you want to change

00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:52.580
 thoroughly

00:30:52.580 --> 00:30:53.460
 if you want to change

00:30:53.460 --> 00:30:54.000
 completely

00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:54.880
 if you want to change

00:30:54.880 --> 00:30:55.759
 permanently

00:30:55.759 --> 00:30:57.420
 you need to let me

00:30:57.420 --> 00:30:59.380
 move into your house

00:30:59.380 --> 00:31:01.340
 you need to let me

00:31:01.340 --> 00:31:02.019
 take possession

00:31:02.019 --> 00:31:03.120
 of all that you are

00:31:03.120 --> 00:31:04.400
 and all that you have

00:31:04.400 --> 00:31:06.220
 you need one

00:31:06.220 --> 00:31:07.200
 stronger than the

00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:07.840
 strong man

00:31:07.840 --> 00:31:08.820
 to come and take up

00:31:08.820 --> 00:31:10.540
 residence inside of you

00:31:10.539 --> 00:31:11.680
 right

00:31:11.680 --> 00:31:12.420
 you need the one

00:31:12.420 --> 00:31:13.500
 who drives out demons

00:31:13.500 --> 00:31:14.740
 by the finger of God

00:31:14.740 --> 00:31:16.000
 and who brings the kingdom

00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:16.420
 of God

00:31:16.420 --> 00:31:16.920
 to come

00:31:16.920 --> 00:31:18.359
 and set up his kingdom

00:31:18.359 --> 00:31:19.379
 in your life

00:31:19.379 --> 00:31:21.879
 what you need

00:31:21.879 --> 00:31:23.659
 is the spirit

00:31:23.659 --> 00:31:24.980
 of him

00:31:24.980 --> 00:31:25.879
 who raised Christ

00:31:25.879 --> 00:31:26.519
 from the dead

00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:27.180
 to come and be

00:31:27.180 --> 00:31:27.920
 that indwelling

00:31:27.920 --> 00:31:28.920
 power

00:31:28.920 --> 00:31:29.839
 and that indwelling

00:31:29.839 --> 00:31:31.519
 presence inside of you

00:31:31.519 --> 00:31:33.240
 enabling you

00:31:33.240 --> 00:31:33.859
 to live

00:31:33.859 --> 00:31:34.639
 the faithful

00:31:34.639 --> 00:31:35.539
 and fruitful life

00:31:35.539 --> 00:31:36.019
 that God

00:31:36.019 --> 00:31:37.420
 created you to live

00:31:37.420 --> 00:31:39.820
 there are other

00:31:39.820 --> 00:31:41.080
 sources of power

00:31:41.080 --> 00:31:41.640
 there are other

00:31:41.640 --> 00:31:42.640
 means of help

00:31:42.640 --> 00:31:43.400
 that can deal

00:31:43.400 --> 00:31:44.220
 with this particular

00:31:44.220 --> 00:31:44.700
 sin

00:31:44.700 --> 00:31:45.820
 or that particular

00:31:45.820 --> 00:31:46.340
 trouble

00:31:46.340 --> 00:31:46.960
 or misery

00:31:46.960 --> 00:31:47.640
 or demon

00:31:47.640 --> 00:31:49.660
 but Jesus

00:31:49.660 --> 00:31:50.519
 the son of God

00:31:50.519 --> 00:31:51.460
 has conquered

00:31:51.460 --> 00:31:52.539
 over sin itself

00:31:52.539 --> 00:31:53.300
 and he's overcome

00:31:53.300 --> 00:31:53.840
 Satan

00:31:53.840 --> 00:31:54.580
 himself

00:31:54.580 --> 00:31:57.039
 and what he offers

00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:57.279
 you

00:31:57.279 --> 00:31:58.080
 and what he gives

00:31:58.080 --> 00:31:58.360
 you

00:31:58.360 --> 00:32:00.060
 is not deliverance

00:32:00.060 --> 00:32:00.880
 from this sin

00:32:00.880 --> 00:32:01.680
 or from that sin

00:32:01.680 --> 00:32:02.519
 or from this demon

00:32:02.519 --> 00:32:03.519
 or from that demon

00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:05.019
 no what he gives you

00:32:05.019 --> 00:32:06.279
 is complete deliverance

00:32:06.279 --> 00:32:08.039
 what he's freeing you

00:32:08.039 --> 00:32:09.019
 from is all sin

00:32:09.019 --> 00:32:10.039
 what he's emancipating

00:32:10.039 --> 00:32:11.059
 you from is entirely

00:32:11.059 --> 00:32:12.319
 from the dominion

00:32:12.319 --> 00:32:13.139
 of Satan

00:32:13.139 --> 00:32:15.879
 what you need

00:32:15.879 --> 00:32:16.839
 is not a house

00:32:16.839 --> 00:32:17.579
 that's been swept

00:32:17.579 --> 00:32:18.779
 clean and put in order

00:32:18.779 --> 00:32:19.660
 what you need

00:32:19.660 --> 00:32:20.319
 is a house

00:32:20.319 --> 00:32:21.359
 that's occupied

00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:22.200
 by the presence

00:32:22.200 --> 00:32:23.480
 of the living God

00:32:23.480 --> 00:32:24.359
 a house that's full

00:32:24.359 --> 00:32:24.980
 of Christ

00:32:24.980 --> 00:32:26.819
 through the power

00:32:26.819 --> 00:32:27.559
 of the Holy Spirit

00:32:27.559 --> 00:32:29.819
 you don't need

00:32:29.819 --> 00:32:30.339
 a power

00:32:30.339 --> 00:32:31.319
 that will make

00:32:31.319 --> 00:32:31.759
 your house

00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:32.400
 swept clean

00:32:32.400 --> 00:32:33.279
 and put in order

00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:34.819
 but leave you

00:32:34.819 --> 00:32:35.779
 exactly as you were

00:32:35.779 --> 00:32:36.259
 before

00:32:36.259 --> 00:32:37.899
 where now you just

00:32:37.899 --> 00:32:38.519
 have to fight

00:32:38.519 --> 00:32:39.059
 and struggle

00:32:39.059 --> 00:32:40.220
 to keep it clean

00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:41.740
 where you grow

00:32:41.740 --> 00:32:42.639
 tired and weary

00:32:42.639 --> 00:32:43.420
 to keep it

00:32:43.420 --> 00:32:44.599
 in good order

00:32:44.599 --> 00:32:45.440
 and all those

00:32:45.440 --> 00:32:46.039
 old troubles

00:32:46.039 --> 00:32:46.579
 and all those

00:32:46.579 --> 00:32:47.019
 miseries

00:32:47.019 --> 00:32:48.000
 you have to fight

00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:48.660
 to keep them away

00:32:48.660 --> 00:32:49.399
 what you need

00:32:49.399 --> 00:32:50.539
 is the power

00:32:50.539 --> 00:32:51.319
 of the living God

00:32:51.319 --> 00:32:53.019
 and your house

00:32:53.019 --> 00:32:53.859
 increasingly filled

00:32:53.859 --> 00:32:54.539
 by the presence

00:32:54.539 --> 00:32:55.619
 and the power

00:32:55.619 --> 00:32:56.379
 of the Holy Spirit

00:32:56.379 --> 00:32:58.879
 so friends

00:32:58.879 --> 00:33:01.180
 if you're not sure

00:33:01.180 --> 00:33:03.440
 what the season

00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:04.500
 of Lent

00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:05.860
 these next 40 days

00:33:05.860 --> 00:33:07.279
 is all about

00:33:07.279 --> 00:33:08.580
 if you're not really sure

00:33:08.580 --> 00:33:09.700
 what to pray

00:33:09.700 --> 00:33:11.279
 I want to point you

00:33:11.279 --> 00:33:12.440
 to this simple prayer

00:33:12.440 --> 00:33:13.279
 in verse 13

00:33:13.279 --> 00:33:14.660
 and I'll close with this

00:33:14.660 --> 00:33:16.840
 Jesus says

00:33:16.840 --> 00:33:17.420
 if you then

00:33:17.420 --> 00:33:18.340
 though you are evil

00:33:18.340 --> 00:33:20.180
 know how to give

00:33:20.180 --> 00:33:20.600
 good gifts

00:33:20.600 --> 00:33:21.180
 to your children

00:33:21.180 --> 00:33:21.880
 how much more

00:33:21.880 --> 00:33:22.480
 will your Father

00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:22.900
 in Heaven

00:33:22.900 --> 00:33:23.960
 give the Holy Spirit

00:33:23.960 --> 00:33:25.620
 to those who ask Him

00:33:25.620 --> 00:33:27.980
 what I want to encourage

00:33:27.980 --> 00:33:28.420
 you to do

00:33:28.420 --> 00:33:29.420
 over the next 40 days

00:33:29.420 --> 00:33:30.340
 is just to ask God

00:33:30.339 --> 00:33:31.399
 to fill your house

00:33:31.399 --> 00:33:32.279
 and to fill your life

00:33:32.279 --> 00:33:33.099
 with the Holy Spirit

00:33:33.099 --> 00:33:35.159
 to say Father

00:33:35.159 --> 00:33:36.199
 you love to give

00:33:36.199 --> 00:33:36.599
 good gifts

00:33:36.599 --> 00:33:37.139
 to your children

00:33:37.139 --> 00:33:38.399
 and I'm asking you

00:33:38.399 --> 00:33:39.599
 for the best gift

00:33:39.599 --> 00:33:40.500
 please give me

00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:41.299
 the Holy Spirit

00:33:41.299 --> 00:33:43.259
 please give me

00:33:43.259 --> 00:33:44.220
 more and more

00:33:44.220 --> 00:33:45.279
 of your Spirit

00:33:45.279 --> 00:33:46.099
 please fill me

00:33:46.099 --> 00:33:47.259
 from the top of my head

00:33:47.259 --> 00:33:48.319
 to the tips of my toes

00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:49.579
 body and soul

00:33:49.579 --> 00:33:50.259
 with the Spirit

00:33:50.259 --> 00:33:51.599
 of Jesus Christ

00:33:51.599 --> 00:33:52.419
 Holy Spirit

00:33:52.419 --> 00:33:54.039
 come rest on me

00:33:54.039 --> 00:33:54.679
 Holy Spirit

00:33:54.679 --> 00:33:56.359
 come enter into me

00:33:56.359 --> 00:33:57.059
 Holy Spirit

00:33:57.059 --> 00:33:58.179
 come live in me

00:33:58.179 --> 00:33:59.220
 and dwell in me

00:33:59.220 --> 00:34:00.259
 and reside in me

00:34:00.259 --> 00:34:01.200
 and abide in me

00:34:01.200 --> 00:34:01.900
 Holy Spirit

00:34:01.900 --> 00:34:02.400
 come

00:34:02.400 --> 00:34:05.220
 come fill my mind

00:34:05.220 --> 00:34:05.819
 and my thoughts

00:34:05.819 --> 00:34:06.920
 come fill my heart

00:34:06.920 --> 00:34:08.320
 and my affections

00:34:08.320 --> 00:34:09.460
 come fill my will

00:34:09.460 --> 00:34:10.900
 and my desires

00:34:10.900 --> 00:34:11.340
 Lord

00:34:11.340 --> 00:34:13.239
 enable me

00:34:13.239 --> 00:34:13.820
 to be full

00:34:13.820 --> 00:34:14.599
 of the Holy Spirit

00:34:14.599 --> 00:34:16.139
 and to walk

00:34:16.139 --> 00:34:16.960
 in the Holy Spirit

00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:17.920
 to be led by

00:34:17.920 --> 00:34:19.320
 the Holy Spirit

00:34:19.320 --> 00:34:21.719
 friends

00:34:21.719 --> 00:34:22.300
 who's dwelling

00:34:22.300 --> 00:34:23.019
 in your house

00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:26.280
 who's taking up

00:34:26.280 --> 00:34:26.599
 residence

00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:27.239
 in your life

00:34:27.239 --> 00:34:27.899
 in your house

00:34:27.899 --> 00:34:30.359
 let us make this

00:34:30.359 --> 00:34:30.819
 our prayer

00:34:30.819 --> 00:34:32.000
 over the next 40 days

00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:33.419
 as we journey

00:34:33.419 --> 00:34:34.419
 toward Easter together

00:34:34.419 --> 00:34:35.819
 in the name of the Father

00:34:35.819 --> 00:34:36.779
 Son and Holy Spirit

00:34:36.779 --> 00:34:37.879
 Amen

00:34:37.880 --> 00:34:38.019
 Amen