WEBVTT 00:00:00.720 --> 00:00:02.379 Folks, wonderful to see you this morning. 00:00:03.480 --> 00:00:06.820 Let me encourage you to have Genesis chapter 4 open in front of you. 00:00:07.799 --> 00:00:11.359 It's so imperative that we have the word of the Lord with us. 00:00:11.759 --> 00:00:17.199 So if nothing else, you can check that what I'm saying is hopefully what is in the text. 00:00:17.280 --> 00:00:18.660 Let me just clarify before we get there. 00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:20.820 The membership class isn't this evening. 00:00:20.960 --> 00:00:22.300 It is next Sunday evening. 00:00:22.359 --> 00:00:26.400 But let me encourage you to get along to that next Sunday evening at half past five. 00:00:26.980 --> 00:00:29.080 So Genesis chapter 4 is where we are. 00:00:29.079 --> 00:00:32.859 But why don't we just pause for just a moment and let's pray. 00:00:33.320 --> 00:00:41.299 And let's ask that the words of the living God who we are encountering this morning would speak to us by his Holy Spirit. 00:00:41.379 --> 00:00:41.960 So let's pray. 00:00:45.219 --> 00:00:48.320 Father, we're so grateful for our time together already. 00:00:48.859 --> 00:00:53.159 Singing your praise, it's hearing, recalling who you are. 00:00:53.239 --> 00:00:58.420 The God of all grace, the holy God, the merciful God, the compassionate God. 00:00:59.079 --> 00:01:09.179 And Father, we just pray now that as we turn to your word, help us remember and delight in the fact that you are a God who has and is revealing himself through his word. 00:01:09.620 --> 00:01:18.819 And so Father, I ask that as we come here today, Lord, that you would help keep our minds attention and that you would help fire our hearts affection for you. 00:01:18.819 --> 00:01:23.899 So Father, we pray these things knowing that you hear us because we pray in Jesus's precious name. 00:01:24.219 --> 00:01:24.539 Amen. 00:01:24.540 --> 00:01:28.540 Well, folks, as I say, Genesis chapter 4 open in front of you. 00:01:28.620 --> 00:01:34.060 This is where we've got to in our little series in the opening chapters of this book. 00:01:34.140 --> 00:01:35.660 So chapter 4 is where we are. 00:01:35.740 --> 00:01:41.980 Let me just tell you, as I've spent the hours in this text this week, what it's reminded me of. 00:01:41.980 --> 00:01:48.359 And it's reminded me of holidays we used to go on in Fife, summer holidays. 00:01:48.600 --> 00:01:50.200 Grew up just going to Fife. 00:01:50.960 --> 00:01:52.520 There's another kingdom for you, right? 00:01:52.579 --> 00:01:54.120 But maybe not the other one we're thinking of. 00:01:54.740 --> 00:01:55.420 Kingdom of Fife. 00:01:55.600 --> 00:01:57.900 So brothers, got two brothers. 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:03.580 If we weren't on these summer holidays playing golf, what we were doing is we were going for walks along the beach, right? 00:02:03.620 --> 00:02:05.480 We used to love walks along the beach. 00:02:05.480 --> 00:02:10.819 And what we used to love to do on those walks was to skim stones, right? 00:02:10.860 --> 00:02:13.140 Any other skimmer of stones, right? 00:02:13.140 --> 00:02:14.360 Anyone else love doing that game? 00:02:14.480 --> 00:02:16.340 Right, love doing that game, walking along the beach. 00:02:16.980 --> 00:02:20.360 And we'd spend ages looking for the stones, the perfect stone, right? 00:02:20.379 --> 00:02:22.280 Because it wasn't just any stone that would skim. 00:02:22.379 --> 00:02:25.400 You had to find the ones that were kind of the circular ones and the thin ones. 00:02:25.780 --> 00:02:32.560 And then you would spend ages trying to working on your grip to see how many skims that you could get with your stone. 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:34.580 And you can imagine, right, three brothers. 00:02:34.740 --> 00:02:36.659 This got really competitive really quickly. 00:02:37.520 --> 00:02:41.199 So the game that we used to play was called Count the Skims, right? 00:02:41.319 --> 00:02:41.979 Count the Skims. 00:02:42.120 --> 00:02:43.479 So we used to fire it up. 00:02:43.659 --> 00:02:44.360 There it went. 00:02:44.960 --> 00:02:49.539 And it went one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine. 00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:50.560 Always ended on ten. 00:02:50.620 --> 00:02:52.560 I don't know how that happened, but it always ended on ten. 00:02:52.680 --> 00:02:53.960 That was the game, skim the stones. 00:02:54.640 --> 00:02:56.719 But we used to keep going on this walk on the beach. 00:02:56.759 --> 00:02:58.759 And after a while, we'd get quite bored of this game. 00:02:58.759 --> 00:03:05.679 And the game turned into find the biggest rock that you could find on the beach, right? 00:03:05.719 --> 00:03:07.000 And some of you will know where I'm going with this. 00:03:07.079 --> 00:03:08.959 Find the biggest rock that you could find on the beach. 00:03:09.419 --> 00:03:13.539 And hurl it as far in the air as you could out in the direction of the water. 00:03:14.099 --> 00:03:17.280 And see how big an impact you could make on the sea, right? 00:03:17.539 --> 00:03:19.639 Normally, at that time of the night, the sea was quite still. 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:21.840 The game became not Count the Skims. 00:03:21.939 --> 00:03:24.359 The game became Count the Ripples, okay? 00:03:24.360 --> 00:03:28.520 How much of an impact could your stone make on the water? 00:03:29.580 --> 00:03:33.200 Now, you say, why has that been in my mind in Genesis chapter 4? 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:34.160 Okay? 00:03:35.100 --> 00:03:39.460 It's been in my mind because the author, Moses, as he presents us with Genesis chapter 4, 00:03:40.560 --> 00:03:42.780 is inviting us to come and play Count the Ripples. 00:03:44.060 --> 00:03:44.280 Okay? 00:03:44.380 --> 00:03:46.800 Let me just back up and show you what I mean by that. 00:03:46.880 --> 00:03:51.920 If you've been in church the last number of weeks, we've been in Genesis. 00:03:51.919 --> 00:03:59.699 Genesis 1, if you remember, we saw the three-in-one God whose word this is. 00:03:59.759 --> 00:04:01.259 The three-in-God-one of the Bible. 00:04:01.379 --> 00:04:05.519 The all-powerful God who created the cosmos through the power of his word. 00:04:06.060 --> 00:04:10.179 And do you remember that repeated phrase we saw in Genesis chapter 1? 00:04:10.819 --> 00:04:12.659 God saw that it was good. 00:04:13.459 --> 00:04:13.619 Yeah? 00:04:14.279 --> 00:04:16.779 If you need to remind yourself, go back to Genesis chapter 1. 00:04:16.860 --> 00:04:18.139 It was good. 00:04:18.139 --> 00:04:24.419 And in Genesis 2, we kind of zoomed in on creation day 6, where God made man and woman. 00:04:24.620 --> 00:04:27.259 The human beings that he made in his image. 00:04:27.360 --> 00:04:30.759 And he declared, and again, you can turn back, he declared that it was not just good. 00:04:31.079 --> 00:04:32.199 It was very good. 00:04:32.240 --> 00:04:34.439 It was the cherry on the cake who'd reached the top. 00:04:35.899 --> 00:04:39.620 And then last week, we saw that that harmony was severed. 00:04:40.459 --> 00:04:44.680 Severed by sin as the creatures reject their creator in Genesis 3. 00:04:44.680 --> 00:04:49.259 As the stone of sin, as it flings it in the air. 00:04:49.840 --> 00:04:52.280 And as it impacts the harmonious water. 00:04:53.660 --> 00:04:53.840 Right? 00:04:53.959 --> 00:04:58.939 The harmony that existed between creator, creature, and creation. 00:04:59.560 --> 00:05:02.300 As the stone of sin impacts and hits it. 00:05:02.360 --> 00:05:05.259 And what is known in Christian theology as the fall. 00:05:05.259 --> 00:05:18.399 And so, the question we should be asking as we leave chapter 3 is, how big an impact has the fall had on human beings in particular? 00:05:18.899 --> 00:05:21.159 How big an impact has this had? 00:05:21.240 --> 00:05:23.680 And the answer is, it has had a huge impact. 00:05:24.899 --> 00:05:26.060 It's had a huge impact. 00:05:26.060 --> 00:05:33.439 So, chapter 4, we're presented, the author presents us, particularly with this guy called Cain. 00:05:34.060 --> 00:05:34.240 Right? 00:05:34.339 --> 00:05:43.079 And he becomes almost the case in point as to what the fall, as to what sin has done in human beings. 00:05:43.399 --> 00:05:43.699 Right? 00:05:43.740 --> 00:05:46.439 And here's maybe the key thing to notice as we come to these verses. 00:05:46.980 --> 00:05:49.180 Genesis chapter 3, sin is out there. 00:05:50.199 --> 00:05:50.459 Yeah? 00:05:50.759 --> 00:05:51.319 It's out there. 00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:55.620 We hit Genesis chapter 4, and sin is in here. 00:05:56.719 --> 00:05:57.959 It's a heart thing now. 00:05:58.339 --> 00:05:58.800 It's inside. 00:05:58.980 --> 00:06:03.779 And we'll see this as we go through it, how much of this connects with the world in which we live and the hearts that we know we have. 00:06:04.259 --> 00:06:05.240 Sin is in here now. 00:06:05.300 --> 00:06:07.379 The human heart is fallen. 00:06:08.600 --> 00:06:10.279 And here's the two things I want us to see today. 00:06:10.339 --> 00:06:14.439 I want us to see just how much the fall has impacted our hearts. 00:06:15.539 --> 00:06:20.819 And I want us to be thrown upon the God who is in the business of changing hearts. 00:06:21.879 --> 00:06:23.099 And forgiving sin. 00:06:23.540 --> 00:06:24.620 And dealing with sin. 00:06:25.339 --> 00:06:27.839 So that is what I want us to see in Genesis chapter 4. 00:06:28.180 --> 00:06:30.040 And really, we're talking about those ripples, right? 00:06:30.079 --> 00:06:32.500 There's two ripples that I want us to see in these verses. 00:06:32.659 --> 00:06:33.600 Here's the first one. 00:06:34.159 --> 00:06:34.740 First one. 00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:35.279 Come with me. 00:06:35.339 --> 00:06:36.540 There's a devotional ripple. 00:06:37.399 --> 00:06:38.120 We want to think of it, right? 00:06:38.219 --> 00:06:40.019 There's a vertical ripple. 00:06:41.519 --> 00:06:42.039 Devotional ripple. 00:06:42.039 --> 00:06:42.779 So come with me. 00:06:42.839 --> 00:06:46.579 By the grace of God, do you see that Eve has two sons? 00:06:46.579 --> 00:06:55.800 Now, remember that God had promised that one of Eve's offspring in the story so far is going to be the serpent crusher. 00:06:55.879 --> 00:07:02.879 He is going to be the curse crusher who would deal the fatal blow to the snake who tempted them in the garden. 00:07:02.879 --> 00:07:07.040 And if you see it there, verse 1, you can hear the optimism in her voice, can't you? 00:07:07.899 --> 00:07:11.899 As if to say, is it one of these boys that's going to be the serpent crusher? 00:07:12.899 --> 00:07:13.759 It's one of these guys. 00:07:14.439 --> 00:07:17.740 Is this the offspring that God was talking about? 00:07:17.740 --> 00:07:20.240 So in this passage, we have these two boys, do you see? 00:07:21.259 --> 00:07:22.720 Cain and Abel, these two brothers. 00:07:25.180 --> 00:07:26.100 Information in the text. 00:07:26.199 --> 00:07:27.319 They work in different jobs. 00:07:28.139 --> 00:07:32.840 And do you see how they both come to worship the Lord and to bring their sacrifice to him? 00:07:32.879 --> 00:07:34.800 So they come to the Lord to worship him. 00:07:35.819 --> 00:07:37.259 And this is what we read at verse 4. 00:07:37.259 --> 00:07:45.240 The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering, he did not look with favor. 00:07:45.240 --> 00:07:53.199 However, headline, God loves Abel's offering, but he's got no time for Cain's. 00:07:55.460 --> 00:07:57.160 And the question is, isn't it, why? 00:07:58.720 --> 00:07:59.079 Why? 00:08:00.139 --> 00:08:01.240 It's on the surface of it. 00:08:01.280 --> 00:08:03.160 These two guys are just bringing their things. 00:08:03.259 --> 00:08:04.139 They're doing their thing. 00:08:04.560 --> 00:08:05.660 They're worshiping. 00:08:05.840 --> 00:08:08.639 But God knows that there's something deeper going on here. 00:08:08.819 --> 00:08:10.960 Because remember what we said, this is about the hearts. 00:08:11.879 --> 00:08:13.160 Do you see there's a clue in the text? 00:08:13.160 --> 00:08:17.920 In the course of time, Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 00:08:19.500 --> 00:08:24.180 So what is this God worthy of in the sight of Cain? 00:08:24.480 --> 00:08:26.600 What will he bring to show his adoration? 00:08:26.740 --> 00:08:28.180 Do you see the clues in the word some? 00:08:29.580 --> 00:08:29.840 Yeah? 00:08:30.820 --> 00:08:32.200 Some of the fruits of the ground. 00:08:33.540 --> 00:08:34.560 You want to think of it like this. 00:08:34.639 --> 00:08:36.680 Here is Cain saying, here is a token gesture. 00:08:37.779 --> 00:08:40.100 You know, you go to the restaurant and here's a tip. 00:08:41.100 --> 00:08:41.680 Here's a tip. 00:08:41.679 --> 00:08:45.039 Look what Abel brings. 00:08:46.120 --> 00:08:51.699 And Abel also brought an offering, fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. 00:08:51.819 --> 00:08:55.399 So what we need to understand is that Abel brings his best. 00:08:56.779 --> 00:09:02.079 The best of his flock and the best bits of the best bits of his flock. 00:09:02.199 --> 00:09:03.219 I mean, this is the cut. 00:09:03.359 --> 00:09:05.379 This is what's going to earn you the money. 00:09:05.679 --> 00:09:07.199 This is what's going to taste delightful. 00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:10.319 This is what he offers. 00:09:10.320 --> 00:09:17.260 Now, Hebrews 12 will pick up on this and talk about how Abel's offering was accepted because it was offered in faith. 00:09:18.820 --> 00:09:19.200 Right? 00:09:19.379 --> 00:09:26.240 So, in other words, acceptable worship, the kind that God is after, is from a mind that's set on his truth. 00:09:26.240 --> 00:09:31.000 And it's from a heart that is overjoyed with who this God is. 00:09:31.039 --> 00:09:32.220 Of course, we get to the New Testament. 00:09:32.360 --> 00:09:40.259 We hear Jesus talking about how the worshippers that the Father is seeking are those who worship him in spirit and in truth. 00:09:40.259 --> 00:09:43.220 And here's what we need to see. 00:09:44.639 --> 00:09:46.080 Cain's heart ain't in it. 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:50.659 So God's not having it when it comes to his worship. 00:09:51.720 --> 00:09:51.860 Right? 00:09:51.939 --> 00:09:54.899 This false image of religiosity. 00:09:55.019 --> 00:09:55.779 I don't even know if that's a word. 00:09:55.819 --> 00:09:56.539 I've just made it up. 00:09:56.659 --> 00:09:56.779 Right? 00:09:57.120 --> 00:10:00.779 This false image that Cain is presenting like he's in this. 00:10:00.779 --> 00:10:04.759 And I think that's why in the text it's quite subtle because there is no difference on the outside. 00:10:06.079 --> 00:10:06.980 But God sees. 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:08.059 They all know in God. 00:10:08.139 --> 00:10:09.039 They all see in God. 00:10:09.159 --> 00:10:10.000 He sees. 00:10:11.419 --> 00:10:12.360 Cain's heart's not in it. 00:10:12.919 --> 00:10:14.059 So God's not having it. 00:10:16.259 --> 00:10:17.519 And how does Cain respond? 00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:18.439 I find this fascinating. 00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:18.740 Right? 00:10:18.819 --> 00:10:19.459 Verse 6. 00:10:20.139 --> 00:10:21.079 Do you see the description? 00:10:21.199 --> 00:10:21.819 How does he respond? 00:10:21.939 --> 00:10:23.079 He's angry. 00:10:24.659 --> 00:10:25.059 Right? 00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:26.899 Just one of those little emojis on your phone. 00:10:26.980 --> 00:10:27.139 Right? 00:10:27.240 --> 00:10:28.840 You get that little burning up face. 00:10:29.159 --> 00:10:30.879 That's literally what the Hebrew means there. 00:10:30.980 --> 00:10:31.699 He's very angry. 00:10:31.779 --> 00:10:32.439 He is hot. 00:10:33.080 --> 00:10:34.819 He is hot with anger. 00:10:36.580 --> 00:10:38.580 And do you see how for the very first time in the Bible. 00:10:38.679 --> 00:10:41.220 Remember the words we saw in Genesis 1, Genesis chapter 2. 00:10:41.340 --> 00:10:42.080 It was good. 00:10:42.179 --> 00:10:42.919 It was delightful. 00:10:43.059 --> 00:10:43.759 It was beautiful. 00:10:44.799 --> 00:10:45.799 And now all of a sudden here. 00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:46.519 Chapter 4. 00:10:46.600 --> 00:10:47.600 We've just turned the page. 00:10:48.519 --> 00:10:50.259 And all of a sudden here's anger. 00:10:51.720 --> 00:10:53.419 Anger mentioned for the first time in the Bible. 00:10:54.779 --> 00:10:56.259 Friends, as we live our lives in the world. 00:10:56.259 --> 00:10:58.240 First of all, knowing our own hearts. 00:10:58.379 --> 00:10:58.500 Right? 00:10:58.759 --> 00:11:00.399 But as we live our lives in the world. 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:01.939 Is this beginning to click? 00:11:03.139 --> 00:11:03.319 Right? 00:11:03.899 --> 00:11:04.259 Anger. 00:11:05.179 --> 00:11:06.399 So the question is. 00:11:07.679 --> 00:11:09.059 What's Cain going to do with his anger? 00:11:09.740 --> 00:11:09.899 Right? 00:11:09.980 --> 00:11:11.059 Love what God does next. 00:11:11.159 --> 00:11:11.879 What does he ask him? 00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:13.419 Cain, why are you angry? 00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:14.200 Do you see it in the text? 00:11:14.460 --> 00:11:15.379 Why are you angry? 00:11:15.439 --> 00:11:16.039 Here's the thing. 00:11:16.340 --> 00:11:18.759 It's not like God doesn't know the answer to that question. 00:11:19.840 --> 00:11:20.779 They're all seeing one. 00:11:20.840 --> 00:11:21.720 They're all knowing one. 00:11:21.779 --> 00:11:23.200 So what's he doing? 00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:23.379 It's not like God. 00:11:24.920 --> 00:11:28.480 Well, here's where we see that this God is the ultimate pastoral counselor. 00:11:29.480 --> 00:11:29.840 Right? 00:11:30.040 --> 00:11:31.560 I love learning this this week. 00:11:33.160 --> 00:11:34.780 Notice what God doesn't say to Cain. 00:11:35.420 --> 00:11:37.720 He doesn't say, are you angry? 00:11:38.780 --> 00:11:40.360 Because that would be what kind of question? 00:11:42.340 --> 00:11:43.280 Closed question, yeah? 00:11:43.980 --> 00:11:44.820 What does he say? 00:11:44.879 --> 00:11:46.920 He says, are you angry? 00:11:47.259 --> 00:11:47.900 Why are you angry? 00:11:47.980 --> 00:11:48.140 Sorry. 00:11:48.840 --> 00:11:49.440 Why are you angry? 00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:51.500 Which is an open question. 00:11:52.420 --> 00:11:58.900 So do you see how God is almost inviting Cain to come and take his hand and walk with him 00:11:58.900 --> 00:12:03.580 and have a chat and explore what's going on in his heart? 00:12:05.500 --> 00:12:05.720 Right? 00:12:05.740 --> 00:12:06.240 You ever see that? 00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:09.080 Just the stuff that comes out your heart? 00:12:09.180 --> 00:12:10.760 We've got a choice in that moment, don't we? 00:12:10.820 --> 00:12:12.100 Do we run from it? 00:12:12.620 --> 00:12:14.700 Or do we run to the Lord with it? 00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:16.620 Let me just tell you how this has worked out for me this week. 00:12:16.620 --> 00:12:16.879 Okay? 00:12:17.700 --> 00:12:20.720 Two little girls were in bed during the week. 00:12:20.820 --> 00:12:21.899 Got them down at 7 o'clock. 00:12:21.980 --> 00:12:23.580 7 o'clock is bedtime. 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:25.899 7.30 comes. 00:12:26.500 --> 00:12:27.320 I can hear them. 00:12:27.379 --> 00:12:28.899 They're still up and they're still at it. 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:29.120 Right? 00:12:29.679 --> 00:12:30.860 There's a few fights going on. 00:12:30.919 --> 00:12:31.500 They're still at it. 00:12:31.580 --> 00:12:32.580 I can feel it in me. 00:12:32.659 --> 00:12:32.720 Right? 00:12:32.759 --> 00:12:33.340 I'm going, oh! 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:34.960 Why are they still up? 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:36.379 But nothing's come out of my heart yet. 00:12:36.480 --> 00:12:36.639 Okay? 00:12:37.899 --> 00:12:38.879 8 o'clock comes. 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:40.220 One of them comes out. 00:12:40.720 --> 00:12:41.799 Probably just wanting a hug. 00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:42.419 Right? 00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:42.879 A bit upset. 00:12:43.299 --> 00:12:44.100 Do you know how I reacted? 00:12:45.019 --> 00:12:45.500 Come here. 00:12:45.500 --> 00:12:46.840 No, I did not react like that. 00:12:49.100 --> 00:12:51.320 Why are you not asleep? 00:12:51.659 --> 00:12:52.779 Why are you not in your bed? 00:12:52.940 --> 00:12:54.080 What is going on? 00:12:54.700 --> 00:12:54.860 Right? 00:12:55.059 --> 00:12:55.840 I freaked her out. 00:12:56.120 --> 00:12:58.600 And eventually she went back to bed. 00:12:59.000 --> 00:13:02.740 But I'm sitting there thinking, boy, a man alive, where's that come from? 00:13:03.519 --> 00:13:03.679 Yeah? 00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:06.200 And in my head I'm trying to justify it. 00:13:06.220 --> 00:13:07.379 Because this question comes at me. 00:13:07.419 --> 00:13:08.200 Why are you angry? 00:13:08.519 --> 00:13:10.100 And in my head I'm trying to justify it. 00:13:10.139 --> 00:13:11.600 Saying, Lord, it's these girls. 00:13:12.440 --> 00:13:13.100 Four-year-old. 00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:13.799 The three-year-old. 00:13:13.799 --> 00:13:14.819 Why are they just going to bed? 00:13:14.899 --> 00:13:17.019 Do they not know that dad's got emails to send after this? 00:13:17.079 --> 00:13:19.000 Do they not know that dad's had a hard day? 00:13:19.579 --> 00:13:20.240 No, no, no, no, no. 00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:21.219 That's not why I asked you. 00:13:21.579 --> 00:13:22.779 That's how you got angry. 00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:25.539 I'm asking you why you got angry. 00:13:26.979 --> 00:13:28.319 It's a different question, isn't it? 00:13:29.319 --> 00:13:36.479 So after a bit of soul searching, looking deep within my heart, asking that the spirit would come and convict me of where I need to change, help me. 00:13:36.539 --> 00:13:37.500 Do you know what the answer was? 00:13:37.500 --> 00:13:39.879 The answer was it was because it was my night off. 00:13:41.059 --> 00:13:42.960 And I had stuff to do, right? 00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:43.980 I had a game to watch. 00:13:44.080 --> 00:13:44.879 I had stuff to read. 00:13:45.259 --> 00:13:47.120 I had this night planned in my head. 00:13:47.460 --> 00:13:50.080 So the root issue in my heart, friends, was selfishness. 00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:52.980 Because they were getting in the way of me enjoying my time. 00:13:52.980 --> 00:14:01.639 And so you find yourself just humbled, being like, Lord, thank you for bringing people and circumstances into my life that show me my heart. 00:14:02.700 --> 00:14:05.100 And would you thank you that you are this kind of God. 00:14:05.180 --> 00:14:11.879 Would you help me by your spirit to change that my character would be conformed more to the image of Jesus? 00:14:13.560 --> 00:14:16.159 So let me ask you, friends, what do you see coming out of your heart? 00:14:18.440 --> 00:14:18.720 Yeah? 00:14:18.720 --> 00:14:18.759 Yeah? 00:14:20.279 --> 00:14:24.360 Jesus talks a lot about what comes out of a person's mouth comes from the heart, doesn't he? 00:14:24.379 --> 00:14:25.080 As we turn to the gospel. 00:14:25.200 --> 00:14:26.279 What is coming out of your heart? 00:14:26.580 --> 00:14:27.940 Do you see in this case? 00:14:29.440 --> 00:14:31.340 Coming out of Cain's heart is anger. 00:14:33.740 --> 00:14:37.300 And do you see that God doesn't condemn him for it? 00:14:37.440 --> 00:14:39.500 That God asks him to come and explore it. 00:14:39.500 --> 00:14:41.639 And do you notice what God says next to Cain? 00:14:41.820 --> 00:14:45.460 How his open question becomes a closed question. 00:14:45.460 --> 00:14:50.000 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? 00:14:50.259 --> 00:14:50.600 Answer. 00:14:52.300 --> 00:14:52.780 Yes. 00:14:54.680 --> 00:14:55.160 Yes. 00:14:56.500 --> 00:14:57.840 So here's what God is saying. 00:14:57.940 --> 00:15:05.920 He's saying, repent, turn around, lower your protective defensive walls, tell your inner lawyer to pipe down and come to me. 00:15:06.920 --> 00:15:09.800 Know who I am, the holy God, the gracious God. 00:15:09.799 --> 00:15:14.379 The one who made you, the one who knows you, the one who sees you. 00:15:17.079 --> 00:15:20.120 And notice in passing how God describes sin to Cain, right? 00:15:20.120 --> 00:15:21.139 That anger in his heart. 00:15:21.939 --> 00:15:23.039 How does he describe it? 00:15:23.059 --> 00:15:28.000 And I find this really hard to take it. 00:15:28.079 --> 00:15:29.359 But look how God describes it. 00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:33.059 The sin in Cain's heart is crouching at the door, right? 00:15:33.299 --> 00:15:36.939 This is like a predator waiting to devour you. 00:15:36.940 --> 00:15:41.820 We've all watched those shows on TV, right? 00:15:41.920 --> 00:15:51.520 You know the people that normally features a person who's, for some weird reason, has made a point thinking it's a good idea to keep a dangerous pet in their home. 00:15:52.340 --> 00:15:54.640 You watch those kind of programs, right? 00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:56.960 And so you turn on and there's Sally. 00:15:57.140 --> 00:15:59.100 She's stroking her pet lion cub, right? 00:15:59.160 --> 00:16:00.080 She's giving it a name. 00:16:00.160 --> 00:16:01.260 She's tied a bow on it. 00:16:01.340 --> 00:16:03.860 She's holding it up like she's Rafiki, pretending to be the lion king. 00:16:03.860 --> 00:16:07.860 But the show goes on to tell you how that lion cub, right? 00:16:08.440 --> 00:16:09.000 It grew up. 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:16.279 And eventually it did the one thing that lions were put on the earth to do, to hunt, to kill, and to eat. 00:16:17.659 --> 00:16:21.240 And we're all watching it thinking, what else did you think was going to happen? 00:16:21.240 --> 00:16:26.240 God says to Cain, see that anger in your heart. 00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:29.240 See if you don't kill it, it will kill you. 00:16:30.620 --> 00:16:32.080 It will take you places. 00:16:32.299 --> 00:16:35.980 It will cause you to do things that you don't want to be doing. 00:16:36.100 --> 00:16:37.460 Places where you don't want to be. 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:42.600 And maybe here's a wake-up call to some of us here today who are, as it were, are stroking sin. 00:16:44.200 --> 00:16:45.279 Playing with fire. 00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:50.299 And in our heart, in our heads and in our hearts, we're trying to justify what we're doing. 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:53.039 God loves Cain. 00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:55.059 He says, come and explore the anger in your heart. 00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:57.919 Let me warn you, lovingly warn you, where that will take you. 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:03.079 As the sirens of sin, as they lure you with the promise of life. 00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:06.740 But when you get there, what happens is that they deal you death. 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:08.599 They deal you death. 00:17:08.599 --> 00:17:18.439 What's going on in our hearts in that moment is that we believe that we've stopped believing, rather. 00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:23.599 Maybe we even haven't believed for the first time that at the Lord's right hand are pleasures forevermore. 00:17:24.399 --> 00:17:27.539 And it's in his presence that we will be truly satisfied. 00:17:29.719 --> 00:17:35.740 You see how there's a devotional ripple going on that leads, secondly, to a relational ripple. 00:17:35.740 --> 00:17:38.740 Because here's the question, what is Cain? 00:17:38.940 --> 00:17:40.460 This jumps at you in the text. 00:17:40.700 --> 00:17:42.779 What's he going to do with the anger in his heart? 00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:45.359 What's he going to do with the stuff that's festering in there? 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:46.640 The jealousy, the envy. 00:17:46.779 --> 00:17:48.299 Where's he going to go with it? 00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:51.339 Well, verse 8, Cain speaks to his brother. 00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:56.039 Do you see, which I assume is his way of kind of luring him to the field out in the open, right? 00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:56.480 Equivalent. 00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:57.519 This is the back of the bus. 00:17:58.339 --> 00:18:01.099 Yeah, nobody can see what you're doing up the back of the bus, so you think. 00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:02.940 Cain says, come out to the field. 00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:05.220 Away from the action. 00:18:05.220 --> 00:18:05.839 No one can see. 00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:06.559 What does he do? 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:07.980 He kills his brother. 00:18:10.220 --> 00:18:13.220 I mean, how quick and how cold does that come at you in the text? 00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:14.440 It just, boom, there it is. 00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:15.039 There it happened. 00:18:16.759 --> 00:18:18.960 And here for the first time, we've seen anger. 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:22.299 Here for the first time is murder in the Bible. 00:18:22.420 --> 00:18:26.799 And do you see how far we have come from Genesis 1 and Genesis chapter 2? 00:18:28.600 --> 00:18:31.440 And you notice in the text that the author keeps reminding us who was murdered. 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:36.120 Do you see there the word brother comes up six times in quick succession, as if to remind you of the tragedy. 00:18:36.539 --> 00:18:39.140 His brother, his brother, his brother, his brother, his brother, his brother. 00:18:40.900 --> 00:18:41.259 Tragedy. 00:18:41.259 --> 00:18:47.400 And do you see how Cain's anger that was festering in him has just absolutely devoured him. 00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:50.460 God confronts him. 00:18:50.599 --> 00:18:51.299 Where is your brother? 00:18:51.420 --> 00:18:54.879 Now, again, do you see God graciously giving Cain a chance here to come clean? 00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:56.359 Where is your brother? 00:18:56.359 --> 00:18:58.219 Again, it's not as if God doesn't know. 00:18:59.319 --> 00:19:06.339 But do you hear the echoes of his parents' response, Adam and Eve, when God asked them a very similar question in the garden back in chapter 3. 00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:08.119 Where are you? 00:19:08.219 --> 00:19:09.159 Where is your brother? 00:19:09.659 --> 00:19:09.859 Right? 00:19:10.159 --> 00:19:11.000 I don't know. 00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:12.479 That's his response. 00:19:12.779 --> 00:19:13.319 I don't know. 00:19:13.419 --> 00:19:14.240 Why should I care? 00:19:16.519 --> 00:19:17.240 God saw. 00:19:19.139 --> 00:19:19.839 He saw. 00:19:20.099 --> 00:19:21.240 Cain thinks he played a blinder. 00:19:21.339 --> 00:19:21.959 No, God saw. 00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:24.460 And again, do you see how we're building up this picture? 00:19:24.620 --> 00:19:26.840 Genesis 1, Genesis 2, Genesis 3, Genesis 4. 00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:28.140 Who this God is. 00:19:29.079 --> 00:19:29.319 Right? 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:30.559 All-powerful God. 00:19:31.860 --> 00:19:33.279 The personal God. 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:35.319 The all-knowing God. 00:19:35.880 --> 00:19:37.039 The all-gracious God. 00:19:37.120 --> 00:19:39.620 And here we get he is the all-seeing God. 00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:41.420 He sees it. 00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:44.340 And nothing escapes his sight. 00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:50.200 I remember when we were on a, during a university summer, driving from Malawi. 00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:52.100 And going to Mozambique. 00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:56.580 And having this experience, just driving along for hours and hours and hours. 00:19:57.140 --> 00:19:59.100 And coming across hundreds of people. 00:19:59.819 --> 00:20:00.240 Right? 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:03.080 Who found themselves living in the middle of nowhere. 00:20:04.620 --> 00:20:12.180 And hearing reports about how in the area at the time, land grabbing was everywhere. 00:20:12.420 --> 00:20:13.799 People just stealing things. 00:20:14.120 --> 00:20:17.360 And looking at these people, just feeling who is speaking for them? 00:20:17.420 --> 00:20:19.340 Who is seeing what is going on here? 00:20:19.339 --> 00:20:19.740 Right? 00:20:19.799 --> 00:20:21.619 They ain't got no 999 they can ring. 00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:27.220 They don't have expenses that they can bring to hire an attorney to come and stand for their rights. 00:20:27.299 --> 00:20:31.359 Who is it that sees what is going on to these people? 00:20:33.220 --> 00:20:35.839 And the answer from these verses is that this God sees. 00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:37.859 He sees. 00:20:38.859 --> 00:20:41.000 He sees everything. 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:44.819 Nothing is out with his sight. 00:20:44.980 --> 00:20:46.920 One day, every wrong will be put to right. 00:20:47.059 --> 00:20:48.960 Every hidden deed will be brought to light. 00:20:49.380 --> 00:20:52.180 Every perpetrator will be held accountable. 00:20:52.359 --> 00:20:55.359 And for some of us here today, that truth is a massive comfort. 00:20:56.740 --> 00:20:56.880 Right? 00:20:56.940 --> 00:20:59.819 Some of you have been through the most horrific stuff in your life. 00:20:59.880 --> 00:21:01.519 And you think, I did not get justice. 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:06.539 And this text tells you that this God sees every tear. 00:21:07.180 --> 00:21:07.359 Right? 00:21:08.619 --> 00:21:10.000 We often don't think he sees. 00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:11.039 He sees every tear. 00:21:11.139 --> 00:21:12.079 He knows every thought. 00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:13.259 He hears every voice. 00:21:15.019 --> 00:21:18.839 And we can leave it with this Lord because he will have perfect justice one day. 00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:23.000 Let's also let this truth comfort us. 00:21:23.099 --> 00:21:24.779 But it should also chill us as well. 00:21:25.819 --> 00:21:29.220 As those who know that we are guilty in the sight of a holy God. 00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:30.019 God sees. 00:21:30.759 --> 00:21:30.980 Right? 00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:33.259 He sees everything. 00:21:34.119 --> 00:21:35.039 Because our sin, isn't it? 00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:36.159 We never sin in a vacuum. 00:21:36.279 --> 00:21:37.379 It always affects people. 00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:39.139 That's the lie we tell ourselves. 00:21:39.240 --> 00:21:40.099 It's only about me. 00:21:40.539 --> 00:21:41.079 No, it's not. 00:21:41.139 --> 00:21:42.039 It affects others. 00:21:43.119 --> 00:21:43.899 God sees. 00:21:45.959 --> 00:21:47.139 Cain's not getting away with this. 00:21:47.140 --> 00:21:48.880 God curses Cain. 00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:49.500 Do you see that? 00:21:49.540 --> 00:21:51.600 That his work is going to be unfruitful. 00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:54.020 He will be a restless wanderer his whole life on the earth. 00:21:54.280 --> 00:21:56.180 And that punishment overwhelms Cain. 00:21:56.259 --> 00:21:57.259 Do you see verse 13? 00:21:58.240 --> 00:22:02.140 As he kind of comes to terms with what life will be like for him from here on in. 00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:06.440 But again, do you see how God is so gracious here? 00:22:07.320 --> 00:22:07.540 Right? 00:22:07.560 --> 00:22:10.400 He puts his protective mark on Cain. 00:22:10.660 --> 00:22:10.880 Right? 00:22:11.180 --> 00:22:13.380 Which I think is what's going on here. 00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:14.800 Is God saying enough with death. 00:22:15.560 --> 00:22:16.420 Enough with this. 00:22:18.040 --> 00:22:19.080 Why does God do this? 00:22:19.120 --> 00:22:21.220 Surely this guy doesn't deserve to take another breath. 00:22:22.140 --> 00:22:22.540 Right? 00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:23.820 God's saying enough with death. 00:22:23.900 --> 00:22:25.540 But is this also God saying? 00:22:27.140 --> 00:22:28.520 And we read this elsewhere in the Bible. 00:22:28.600 --> 00:22:28.759 Don't we? 00:22:28.800 --> 00:22:30.300 The answer being, why does God do this? 00:22:30.440 --> 00:22:35.060 That God's kindness, his unmerited goodness, is always meant to lead him and us where? 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:36.920 To repentance. 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:39.720 To run back to him. 00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:42.759 To say, Father, I am sorry I have got that wrong. 00:22:42.860 --> 00:22:44.080 Would you help me change? 00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:46.519 Thank you for Jesus, my Savior. 00:22:48.599 --> 00:22:52.399 And so do you see how for the third time in these verses, right? 00:22:52.559 --> 00:22:55.119 The character of God, he is a gracious pursuer. 00:22:55.460 --> 00:23:01.639 Do you see how for the third time in these verses, he holds out his arm of forgiveness and restoration to Cain for him to grasp? 00:23:01.640 --> 00:23:04.980 Will you come back to me? 00:23:05.860 --> 00:23:06.820 Will you come back? 00:23:08.660 --> 00:23:12.220 You see how Cain's heart has been so affected by the fall. 00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:18.000 And it shouldn't surprise us, folks, that as we've looked at him, we see our own hearts as well. 00:23:19.100 --> 00:23:21.680 That we have been stained by our sin. 00:23:21.860 --> 00:23:27.259 For, I guess in one sense as well, Abel's blood cries out to God as to Cain's guilt. 00:23:27.319 --> 00:23:31.380 We've got to understand that the blood of our evil deeds, the things that we've done, the people that we've hurt, 00:23:31.940 --> 00:23:37.539 the gods that we have rebelled against, that blood, as it were, it cries out to God's guilty. 00:23:37.539 --> 00:23:40.680 Guilty before a holy God, all of us. 00:23:42.399 --> 00:23:47.200 But the central truth of the gospel is that there's another blood that cries for us. 00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:49.980 The atoning blood of Jesus. 00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:54.399 Blood he shed on the cross, shed for our guilt. 00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:57.539 Abel's blood cries out guilty. 00:23:57.839 --> 00:24:01.399 Jesus' blood cries out for all those who would trust in him, covered. 00:24:02.539 --> 00:24:03.240 Paid for. 00:24:04.119 --> 00:24:04.899 I did it. 00:24:04.900 --> 00:24:12.220 And that's why the writer to the Hebrews talks about Jesus' blood speaking a better word than the blood of Abel. 00:24:13.540 --> 00:24:15.259 In the words of Charles Wesley, 00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:19.220 Five bleeding wounds he bears received on Calvary. 00:24:19.720 --> 00:24:21.360 They pour effectual prayers. 00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:22.960 They strongly plead for me. 00:24:23.120 --> 00:24:24.900 Forgive him, oh forgive, they cry. 00:24:25.259 --> 00:24:26.880 Forgive him, oh forgive, they cry. 00:24:26.980 --> 00:24:30.160 Don't let that ransomed sinner die. 00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:34.440 And this means if you're here today and your trust is in Jesus, friends, 00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:37.240 the mistakes that you made last night, the stuff that came out of your heart, 00:24:37.540 --> 00:24:38.680 Jesus says paid for. 00:24:39.420 --> 00:24:41.880 This morning, the stuff that you did, you shouldn't have done, 00:24:41.980 --> 00:24:43.360 Jesus' blood says paid for. 00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:46.120 Every sin that you and I will commit if our trust is in Jesus, 00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:48.779 from here on in, his blood will say paid for. 00:24:49.580 --> 00:24:50.279 Paid for. 00:24:50.940 --> 00:24:51.820 I took the hit. 00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:52.900 Paid for. 00:24:52.900 --> 00:24:53.540 Paid for. 00:24:54.540 --> 00:24:56.060 An incredible, gracious God. 00:24:57.300 --> 00:24:58.180 Pursuing God. 00:24:58.759 --> 00:25:00.220 The thing about Jesus, friends, though, 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:03.960 is he's not just a saviour who gives me a get out of hell, 00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:05.580 get into heaven free card. 00:25:05.820 --> 00:25:09.519 He is a saviour who is in the business of transforming lives and hearts. 00:25:10.560 --> 00:25:11.180 I love this. 00:25:11.240 --> 00:25:15.140 One of the promises that God made in the Old Testament about his new covenant 00:25:15.140 --> 00:25:16.980 is that one of the things he would do for his people 00:25:16.980 --> 00:25:18.480 is take out their hearts of stone 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:20.700 and give them a heart of flesh. 00:25:21.640 --> 00:25:22.400 A new heart. 00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:23.360 He says, well, we need, isn't it? 00:25:23.380 --> 00:25:24.120 A new heart. 00:25:24.280 --> 00:25:26.519 The transforming grace of God in our hearts. 00:25:26.860 --> 00:25:27.560 I love this. 00:25:27.620 --> 00:25:30.140 That God would be so committed to us that he would do that. 00:25:32.300 --> 00:25:33.940 Sin had caused a devotional problem. 00:25:34.200 --> 00:25:36.360 The spirit of God at work in my life helps me. 00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:39.480 The God that I had no interest in loving transformed hearts. 00:25:39.620 --> 00:25:40.580 He says, Father, I love you. 00:25:41.180 --> 00:25:41.740 I love you. 00:25:41.840 --> 00:25:42.340 Thank you. 00:25:42.620 --> 00:25:43.200 Thank you. 00:25:45.140 --> 00:25:47.060 The relational problem that sin had caused. 00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:48.660 People that I had no interest in loving, 00:25:48.660 --> 00:25:50.900 I just wanted to climb over to get my own way in life. 00:25:50.900 --> 00:25:53.160 I look out and I say, I love them, Father. 00:25:53.280 --> 00:25:55.140 Thank you because you love them and I love them, 00:25:55.220 --> 00:25:56.080 my brothers and sisters. 00:25:59.180 --> 00:26:02.140 Answer to our heart problem cannot come from inside of us, right? 00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:02.820 Remember that song, 00:26:02.900 --> 00:26:04.600 end people search for the hero inside yourself? 00:26:04.820 --> 00:26:05.019 Nah. 00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:06.800 Nah. 00:26:06.920 --> 00:26:07.980 Not having that, right? 00:26:08.060 --> 00:26:10.840 The answer to our sin problem must come from outside of us. 00:26:10.880 --> 00:26:13.740 It must come from this savior, King Jesus Christ. 00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:18.420 And here's what I want us to see as we close, right? 00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:20.220 Come with me to verse 16. 00:26:21.140 --> 00:26:22.200 And we'll close it here, okay? 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:25.740 One last time, how will Cain respond to this pursuing God? 00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:28.160 How's he going to respond, right? 00:26:29.720 --> 00:26:31.660 Let me tell you how I would have written this ending. 00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:33.359 Okay? 00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:35.400 I would have written it Hollywood style. 00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:37.440 Scene would have been really dark. 00:26:37.539 --> 00:26:39.279 Then all of a sudden, Cain would drop to his knees. 00:26:39.380 --> 00:26:40.200 He would tear his shirt. 00:26:40.200 --> 00:26:41.160 He would look to the sky. 00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:42.279 The lights would go on. 00:26:42.680 --> 00:26:44.019 And then fix you from Coldplay. 00:26:44.120 --> 00:26:45.259 We'd play in the background, right? 00:26:45.340 --> 00:26:46.440 That's how I would have written this. 00:26:46.500 --> 00:26:47.620 And Hollywood would have loved it. 00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:51.559 But that isn't how it goes, is it? 00:26:52.700 --> 00:26:53.860 You see how the story ends? 00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:57.100 Almost every word spells out to you the tragedy of Cain's reaction. 00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:59.059 Cain went away from the presence of the Lord. 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:02.240 And he settled, right? 00:27:02.279 --> 00:27:04.220 Which means he said, no, I'm living here. 00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:05.720 I'm staying here. 00:27:07.319 --> 00:27:08.160 Where is he staying? 00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:09.319 He's staying in the land of Nod. 00:27:09.319 --> 00:27:11.379 The Hebrew word there literally meaning wandering. 00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:12.819 Right? 00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:14.359 Cain's going nowhere in his life. 00:27:15.859 --> 00:27:17.079 And where is Nod? 00:27:17.139 --> 00:27:18.759 It is east of Eden. 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:19.740 East in the Bible. 00:27:20.039 --> 00:27:23.019 Symbolic of always moving away from God. 00:27:24.039 --> 00:27:26.339 Do you see how that sentence is an absolute tragedy? 00:27:28.259 --> 00:27:30.919 And just as we close friends, maybe that's some of us here today. 00:27:31.960 --> 00:27:32.200 Right? 00:27:32.279 --> 00:27:35.480 As it were, you're living your life in Nod. 00:27:36.359 --> 00:27:37.200 Just wandering. 00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:41.380 See the pursuing heart of God in these verses. 00:27:42.620 --> 00:27:44.400 The God who would give us his only son. 00:27:46.220 --> 00:27:50.240 And just as we close, and I want to finish with a passage kind of finishes that note. 00:27:50.900 --> 00:27:53.720 Let's just take a moment to examine our hearts before this God. 00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:55.620 They all see in God. 00:27:55.680 --> 00:27:56.339 They all know in God. 00:27:56.420 --> 00:27:57.380 They all gracious God. 00:27:57.759 --> 00:27:59.299 So why don't we just have a moment of silence. 00:28:00.100 --> 00:28:02.059 And then I'll lead us in prayer just as we close. 00:28:02.059 --> 00:28:08.359 Who else would rescue me from my failing? 00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:11.700 Who else would offer his only son? 00:28:12.879 --> 00:28:15.480 Who else invites me to call him father? 00:28:15.619 --> 00:28:17.399 Only a holy God. 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:19.839 Come and behold him. 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:21.939 The one and the only. 00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:24.720 Cry out, sing holy. 00:28:25.419 --> 00:28:27.119 Forever a holy God. 00:28:27.240 --> 00:28:29.899 Come and worship the holy God. 00:28:30.019 --> 00:28:32.919 Father, we pray that you would help turn our eyes upon Jesus. 00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:37.000 Help us look to him as our saviour and our king. 00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:44.000 Father, for those today for whom your word has, by your spirit, impacted hearts. 00:28:44.859 --> 00:28:50.980 I pray, Father, that you would long resonate the impact of your word in our lives as we go on from here. 00:28:51.079 --> 00:28:53.660 Father, we commit these things to you, knowing that you hear us. 00:28:54.299 --> 00:28:57.839 You hear us because we pray in Jesus' precious name. 00:28:58.200 --> 00:28:58.500 Amen.