WEBVTT

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 Good morning, church.

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 Would you turn with me to our sermon passage, Isaiah chapter 7.

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 That's page 535 in the Pew Bible.

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 As Pastor Matt mentioned, leading up to Christmas,

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 the church historically celebrates a season called Advent.

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 Advent's a word that simply means arrival or coming.

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 This is the time of year when we remember Jesus' first advent,

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 his first coming in the incarnation,

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 and we look ahead to his second advent, his second coming in glory.

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 And this year, to do that, we're going to be looking at four passages in the book of Isaiah.

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 And each of these passages talks about the coming of the Messiah,

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 the coming of Christ, and the light that he has brought into our darkness.

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 Now, one of the things that many folks do in this early part of the season is decorate for Christmas.

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 Thanks to Kirsten and everyone else who helped to decorate the sanctuary yesterday.

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 It looks great.

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 But how about you?

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 Is this the weekend that you pull out the garland and the ornaments and the wreaths?

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 Do you put up your Christmas tree this weekend?

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 There's something comforting and enriching, I think,

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 about bringing out the same decorations year after year,

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 perhaps the nativity scene,

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 which if you made it to Sunday school this morning,

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 you learned that St. Francis, like, invented the nativity scene.

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 So, check that out on the podcast.

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 He didn't invent it, but, you know, he kind of, well, whatever.

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 You can listen to it and figure it out for yourself.

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 So, maybe you bring out your nativity set.

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 Maybe you bring out your ornaments.

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 Maybe you hang the stockings.

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 You know, these kind of traditions can give a sense of continuity and stability

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 to what can often be a hectic and stressful time of year, can't it?

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 But the danger, of course,

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 is that over time,

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 these things lose their meaning.

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 It can just become stuff that we trudge out this time of year

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 to try to get in the mood.

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 But in reality, it doesn't carry much weight, right?

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 It's just decoration.

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 Now, I wonder if some Scripture passages

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 become the same thing for us,

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 especially during Advent.

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 We've heard them before lots of times,

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 and they become just decoration.

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 With little traction in our everyday lives,

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 with little relevance

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 for our deeper fears or longings.

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 Behold, the Virgin will conceive and bear a son,

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 and you shall call his name Emmanuel.

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 Is that familiar Advent verse just decoration for us?

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 Or is it a light piercing the darkness?

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 Well, I hope we'll find that it's the latter.

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 Because when we look at Isaiah chapter 7,

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 where that prophecy is first given,

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 we find that it doesn't come in the midst of holiday celebrations

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 and cookie baking and stockings over the fire.

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 It comes in the midst of fear and turmoil.

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 It comes to a tragic young king

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 who's about to lose his kingdom

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 before his reign has even begun.

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 It comes in the middle of messy geopolitics,

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 war-hungry empires,

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 and petty kingdoms vying for survival.

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 It comes to a people so afraid

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 that they're like branches of a tree

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 shaken in the wind.

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 And it comes to us

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 in our fears.

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 When our world seems about to crumble,

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 when we're grasping for security,

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 for stability,

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 when we're trying to find something reliable

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 to save us,

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 right there in our fears,

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 that's where it comes.

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 Whether they be political fears

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 or family fears,

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 job fears or relationship fears,

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 childhood fears or old age fears,

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 that's where the promise comes.

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 So let's pick up this passage

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 in Isaiah chapter 7,

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 verses 1 through 14.

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 And let's see what God has to say to us.

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 Isaiah 7, 1 through 14,

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 we'll have it on the screens.

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 If you want to follow along,

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 it's page 535 in the Pew Bible.

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 It goes like this,

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 In the days of Ahaz,

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 the son of Jotham,

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 son of Uzziah,

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 king of Judah,

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 Rezan, the king of Syria,

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 and Pekah, the son of Ramaliah,

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 the king of Israel,

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 came up to Jerusalem

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 to wage war against it,

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 but could not yet mount an attack against it.

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 When the house of David was told,

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 Syria is in league with Ephraim,

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 the heart of Ahaz

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 and the heart of his people shook

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 as the trees of the forest

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 shake before the wind.

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 And the Lord said to Isaiah,

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 go out to meet Ahaz,

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 you,

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 and Sheer,

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 Jashub,

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 your son,

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 at the end of the conduit

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 of the upper pool

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 on the highway

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 to the washer's field,

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 and say to him,

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 be careful,

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 be quiet,

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 do not fear.

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 And do not let your heart

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 be faint

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 because of these two

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 smoldering stumps

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 of firebrands

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 at the fierce anger

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 of Rezan

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 and Syria

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 and the son of Ramaliah.

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 Because Syria

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 with Ephraim

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 and the son of Ramaliah

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 has devised Ezel against you

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 saying,

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 let's go up against Judah

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 and terrify it

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 and let us conquer it

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 for ourselves

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 and set up the son of Tabil

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 as king in the midst of it.

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 Thus says the Lord God,

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 it shall not stand

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 and it shall not come to pass.

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 For the head of Syria

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 is Damascus

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 and the head of Damascus

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 is Rezan

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 and within 65 years

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 Ephraim will be shattered

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 from being a people.

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 And the head of Ephraim

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 is Samaria

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 and the head of Samaria

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 is the son of Ramaliah.

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 If you are not firm in faith,

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 you will not be firm at all.

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 Again, the Lord spoke to Ahaz,

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 ask a sign of the Lord your God.

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 Let it be as deep as Sheol

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 or as high as heaven.

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 But Ahaz said,

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 I will not ask.

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 I will not put the Lord

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 to the test.

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 And he said,

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 hear then, O house of David,

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 is it too little for you

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 to weary men

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 that you weary my God also?

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 Therefore, the Lord himself

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 will give you a sign.

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 Behold,

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 the virgin shall conceive

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 and bear a son

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 and shall call his name

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 Emmanuel.

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 All right, let's pray.

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 Father, we have read your word.

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 Help us now to understand

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 what it is your spirit

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 is saying to us through it.

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 And let us see

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 how this text brings us

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 to your incarnate word,

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 our Lord Jesus Christ,

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 who is our only hope

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 and security.

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 In his name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 So, in verses 1-2

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 of Isaiah 7,

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 we see the people's fear.

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 And then, in verses 3-14,

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 we see two ways

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 that God invites us

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 to respond to our fears.

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 Let's briefly look at the fear

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 in verses 1-2.

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 We're told there

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 that the heart of Ahaz

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 and the heart of his people

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 shook as the trees of the forest

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 shake before the wind.

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 Now, the date here

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 is most likely 735 B.C.

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 And Ahaz has just recently

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 come to the throne

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 of the southern kingdom

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 called Judah.

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 Ahaz's father, Jothan,

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 and his grandfather, Uzziah,

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 were both good kings

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 for the most part.

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 But now, just as Ahaz

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 takes the throne,

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 things start falling apart.

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 We know from the history books

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 of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles

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 and chapter 16 of 2 Kings

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 and chapter 28 of 2 Chronicles

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 that Ahaz's kingdom

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 is getting pressured

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 on every side.

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 Most immediately,

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 there are two kings,

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 one from the northern kingdom

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 of Israel

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 and one from their northern neighbor,

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 Syria.

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 These two kings have shown up

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 on Ahaz's doorstep

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 to bully him

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 into joining their alliance

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 against the vast empire

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 of Assyria.

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 Assyria, at this time,

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 was the dominant superpower

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 and they were brutal.

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 So these two local kings,

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 Rezan and Pekah,

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 they're ready to dethrone Ahaz,

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 put a puppet ruler in his place

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 so that they can forge

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 a coalition against

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 this looming threat.

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 Now put yourself

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 in Ahaz's shoes.

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 Your reign is just getting started.

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 You're probably

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 in your early 20s,

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 something like that Ahaz was.

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 And you hear word

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 that looming in the distance

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 is a hungry empire

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 ready to devour.

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 And now your closest neighbors

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 are bringing their armies

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 against you as well.

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 This is a crisis

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 of huge proportions.

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 And it doesn't seem like

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 there's really a way out, right?

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 Do you fight against

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 your two northern neighbors?

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 If you lose,

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 they dethrone you.

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 But what happens if you win?

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 Most likely,

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 you'll be so depleted militarily

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 that you'll simply then

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 fall to the Assyrians

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 when they inevitably come.

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 On the other hand,

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 do you join their petty alliance?

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 Again, what hope is there in that?

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 Can their small little kingdoms

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 really stand

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 against the war machine

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 that's about to come

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 crashing down upon them all?

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 And so the heart of Ahaz

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 and the heart of all the people

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 shake like trees in a storm.

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 You know, there are two ways

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 that you can approach

00:10:33.839 --> 00:10:34.659
 the Christmas season,

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 this season we call Advent.

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 On the one hand,

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 you can stuff yourself full

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 of sentimentality and distraction.

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 And there's plenty to be had

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 this time of year.

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 You can try to use nostalgia

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 and Christmas cookies

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 and Hallmark movies

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 and ugly sweaters

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 and peppermint mochas

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 to mask or dull

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 or ignore

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 what's really going on

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 inside of you.

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 You can just try

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 to cover it all over.

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 But that doesn't stop

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 the shaking, does it?

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 Still, our hearts shake

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 like trees in the wind.

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 On the other hand,

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 you can do what Christians

00:11:18.919 --> 00:11:19.919
 for hundreds and hundreds

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 of years have done.

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 They have used

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 the season of Advent

00:11:23.919 --> 00:11:25.219
 as a time

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 not to ignore

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 or distract

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 or dull themselves,

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 but to get real

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 with themselves

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 and with God.

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 To admit that we

00:11:36.759 --> 00:11:38.179
 do have

00:11:38.179 --> 00:11:39.639
 very real fears

00:11:39.639 --> 00:11:40.480
 and insecurities.

00:11:41.419 --> 00:11:42.379
 To admit that we

00:11:42.379 --> 00:11:43.519
 aren't the sort of people

00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:44.500
 that we long to be

00:11:44.500 --> 00:11:45.340
 as we look back

00:11:45.340 --> 00:11:46.299
 over the year

00:11:46.299 --> 00:11:47.120
 that's gone by.

00:11:48.340 --> 00:11:49.159
 To acknowledge

00:11:49.159 --> 00:11:49.740
 that our hearts

00:11:49.740 --> 00:11:50.960
 are shaking

00:11:50.960 --> 00:11:51.939
 and maybe we don't

00:11:51.939 --> 00:11:53.019
 even know why.

00:11:55.259 --> 00:11:56.360
 And to ask,

00:11:56.960 --> 00:11:58.460
 to ask God to come

00:11:58.460 --> 00:12:00.759
 and to show us.

00:12:03.200 --> 00:12:03.419
 You know,

00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:03.899
 traditionally,

00:12:04.120 --> 00:12:04.379
 Advent

00:12:04.379 --> 00:12:06.879
 was a penitential season

00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:07.700
 of the church.

00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:09.960
 At its best,

00:12:10.059 --> 00:12:10.759
 that meant that Advent

00:12:10.759 --> 00:12:11.399
 was a time

00:12:11.399 --> 00:12:12.360
 not merely

00:12:12.360 --> 00:12:13.539
 to distract ourselves,

00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:14.620
 but to do some

00:12:14.620 --> 00:12:16.019
 serious self-examination

00:12:16.019 --> 00:12:17.279
 in the Lord's presence.

00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:18.860
 To ask Him

00:12:18.860 --> 00:12:19.539
 to come

00:12:19.539 --> 00:12:20.500
 and to do

00:12:20.500 --> 00:12:21.620
 a deep work

00:12:21.620 --> 00:12:22.759
 in our fearful

00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:24.139
 and sinful hearts.

00:12:27.539 --> 00:12:28.039
 Of course,

00:12:28.100 --> 00:12:28.539
 that doesn't mean

00:12:28.539 --> 00:12:29.539
 you can't enjoy

00:12:29.539 --> 00:12:30.379
 the Christmas season.

00:12:30.500 --> 00:12:31.259
 You should enjoy

00:12:31.259 --> 00:12:31.820
 this season.

00:12:32.179 --> 00:12:33.360
 Watch a Hallmark movie

00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:34.180
 or two

00:12:34.180 --> 00:12:35.240
 or three

00:12:35.240 --> 00:12:36.480
 if that's your sort of thing.

00:12:36.560 --> 00:12:36.700
 I mean,

00:12:36.720 --> 00:12:37.220
 they all have the exact

00:12:37.220 --> 00:12:37.940
 same plot, right?

00:12:38.039 --> 00:12:38.580
 So, you know,

00:12:38.620 --> 00:12:39.100
 if you like one,

00:12:39.139 --> 00:12:39.779
 you sort of like them all.

00:12:41.899 --> 00:12:42.700
 By all means,

00:12:42.820 --> 00:12:43.840
 eat a Christmas cookie.

00:12:46.039 --> 00:12:46.639
 But friend,

00:12:46.779 --> 00:12:47.759
 don't miss,

00:12:48.279 --> 00:12:50.000
 don't miss out

00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:51.300
 on the deepest joy

00:12:51.300 --> 00:12:52.240
 that there is

00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:52.879
 to be found

00:12:52.879 --> 00:12:53.560
 in Advent.

00:12:54.700 --> 00:12:55.500
 And that joy

00:12:55.500 --> 00:12:56.440
 doesn't come

00:12:56.440 --> 00:12:57.480
 from ignoring

00:12:57.480 --> 00:12:58.220
 our fears,

00:12:58.600 --> 00:12:59.899
 but from admitting them

00:12:59.899 --> 00:13:01.300
 in God's presence

00:13:01.299 --> 00:13:03.319
 and then seeing

00:13:03.319 --> 00:13:04.359
 how He will meet you

00:13:04.359 --> 00:13:05.219
 in the midst of them.

00:13:08.679 --> 00:13:09.519
 So, how does God

00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:10.620
 invite us to respond

00:13:10.620 --> 00:13:12.299
 here in Isaiah 7?

00:13:13.839 --> 00:13:14.679
 Well, in times

00:13:14.679 --> 00:13:15.459
 of great fear,

00:13:16.279 --> 00:13:17.759
 God invites us

00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:18.719
 to trust

00:13:18.719 --> 00:13:19.859
 His sovereign

00:13:19.859 --> 00:13:20.759
 word.

00:13:21.500 --> 00:13:22.759
 In times of great fear,

00:13:22.919 --> 00:13:23.379
 trust

00:13:23.379 --> 00:13:24.620
 God's sovereign

00:13:24.620 --> 00:13:25.459
 word.

00:13:25.899 --> 00:13:26.539
 We see this

00:13:26.539 --> 00:13:27.679
 in verses 3 through 9.

00:13:28.579 --> 00:13:29.419
 Through Isaiah,

00:13:29.919 --> 00:13:30.879
 God sends His word

00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:31.439
 to Ahaz.

00:13:32.219 --> 00:13:33.019
 Ahaz is out

00:13:33.019 --> 00:13:34.219
 inspecting the water

00:13:34.219 --> 00:13:35.359
 supply into the city.

00:13:36.019 --> 00:13:36.719
 Why is he doing that?

00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:37.699
 Well, he's preparing

00:13:37.699 --> 00:13:38.559
 for invasion,

00:13:38.759 --> 00:13:39.039
 you see.

00:13:39.479 --> 00:13:40.679
 He's trying to figure out

00:13:40.679 --> 00:13:41.779
 how he's going to

00:13:41.779 --> 00:13:42.439
 get himself

00:13:42.439 --> 00:13:43.279
 out of the crisis.

00:13:44.179 --> 00:13:44.819
 And while Ahaz

00:13:44.819 --> 00:13:45.479
 is in the middle

00:13:45.479 --> 00:13:46.399
 of trying to come up

00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:47.059
 with a plan

00:13:47.059 --> 00:13:48.219
 to rescue himself,

00:13:49.219 --> 00:13:50.159
 God's word comes.

00:13:51.339 --> 00:13:52.179
 And it's a word

00:13:52.179 --> 00:13:52.879
 of promise.

00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:55.199
 Are you afraid,

00:13:55.359 --> 00:13:55.939
 Ahaz,

00:13:55.940 --> 00:13:57.340
 of these two kings

00:13:57.340 --> 00:13:58.800
 knocking at your door,

00:13:58.960 --> 00:14:00.180
 Rezin and Pekah?

00:14:00.840 --> 00:14:01.760
 They look scary.

00:14:02.280 --> 00:14:03.120
 They talk big.

00:14:03.180 --> 00:14:04.080
 But let me tell you

00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:04.980
 what I see.

00:14:06.140 --> 00:14:07.920
 Two smoldering

00:14:07.920 --> 00:14:09.060
 stumps.

00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:11.480
 You think they're going

00:14:11.480 --> 00:14:12.820
 to set your kingdom

00:14:12.820 --> 00:14:13.640
 ablaze,

00:14:13.720 --> 00:14:14.800
 but I'm telling you,

00:14:14.860 --> 00:14:15.180
 Ahaz,

00:14:15.320 --> 00:14:16.260
 they're already

00:14:16.260 --> 00:14:17.160
 burned out.

00:14:18.160 --> 00:14:18.860
 Don't be afraid

00:14:18.860 --> 00:14:19.220
 of them.

00:14:20.160 --> 00:14:21.100
 What they're threatening

00:14:21.100 --> 00:14:22.220
 won't come to pass.

00:14:22.620 --> 00:14:23.900
 Within your lifetime,

00:14:24.040 --> 00:14:24.440
 God says,

00:14:24.520 --> 00:14:25.460
 these two kingdoms

00:14:25.460 --> 00:14:26.420
 won't even be

00:14:26.420 --> 00:14:27.759
 recognizable anymore.

00:14:29.680 --> 00:14:30.700
 And then God says

00:14:30.700 --> 00:14:31.460
 this to Ahaz,

00:14:32.280 --> 00:14:33.519
 if you're not firm

00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:34.220
 in faith,

00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:35.840
 you won't be firm

00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:36.280
 at all.

00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:39.460
 Where does real

00:14:39.460 --> 00:14:41.139
 stability in the midst

00:14:41.139 --> 00:14:42.420
 of crisis come from?

00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:44.560
 What will calm

00:14:44.560 --> 00:14:45.500
 our shaking hearts

00:14:45.500 --> 00:14:46.639
 when the storms

00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:47.460
 of fear blow?

00:14:49.060 --> 00:14:49.900
 Does it come from

00:14:49.900 --> 00:14:50.780
 having a great plan

00:14:50.780 --> 00:14:51.740
 for how to respond?

00:14:52.740 --> 00:14:53.360
 That can help.

00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:54.800
 Does it come from

00:14:54.800 --> 00:14:55.680
 knowing the right people?

00:14:56.480 --> 00:14:56.879
 Sometimes.

00:14:57.759 --> 00:14:58.620
 Does it come from

00:14:58.620 --> 00:14:59.519
 having wealth

00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:00.259
 or resources?

00:15:01.180 --> 00:15:01.720
 Maybe,

00:15:01.820 --> 00:15:02.399
 to some degree.

00:15:03.940 --> 00:15:04.940
 But none of those

00:15:04.940 --> 00:15:06.759
 things will really

00:15:06.759 --> 00:15:07.860
 make you firm.

00:15:08.820 --> 00:15:11.000
 They're all shaky

00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:11.940
 at best.

00:15:14.300 --> 00:15:15.100
 None of them

00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:15.659
 will last.

00:15:15.659 --> 00:15:17.799
 No,

00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:19.000
 real stability

00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:19.759
 comes

00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:21.480
 when we hear

00:15:21.480 --> 00:15:22.139
 the word

00:15:22.139 --> 00:15:24.019
 of the sovereign God

00:15:24.019 --> 00:15:25.779
 and trust Him.

00:15:27.980 --> 00:15:28.600
 Why?

00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:31.100
 Because God

00:15:31.100 --> 00:15:32.480
 is God.

00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:35.100
 Infinitely wise

00:15:35.100 --> 00:15:35.919
 and righteous

00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:36.919
 and good.

00:15:37.539 --> 00:15:38.539
 God knows the end

00:15:38.539 --> 00:15:39.299
 from the beginning.

00:15:39.819 --> 00:15:40.600
 He put the most

00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:41.639
 massive stars

00:15:41.639 --> 00:15:42.199
 in place

00:15:42.199 --> 00:15:43.220
 and fashioned

00:15:43.220 --> 00:15:43.659
 the most

00:15:43.659 --> 00:15:44.879
 intricate detail

00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:45.679
 of the tiniest

00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:46.519
 Adam

00:15:46.519 --> 00:15:47.879
 and this powerful

00:15:47.879 --> 00:15:49.199
 and good God

00:15:49.199 --> 00:15:49.480
 says,

00:15:50.100 --> 00:15:50.819
 hear my voice

00:15:50.819 --> 00:15:52.059
 and trust me.

00:15:53.459 --> 00:15:54.159
 That's where

00:15:54.159 --> 00:15:54.759
 your stability

00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:56.319
 must lie

00:15:56.319 --> 00:15:57.639
 because then

00:15:57.639 --> 00:15:58.199
 your life

00:15:58.199 --> 00:15:59.240
 rests on a foundation

00:15:59.240 --> 00:16:00.860
 that's not subject

00:16:00.860 --> 00:16:01.259
 to the

00:16:01.259 --> 00:16:03.079
 fallen whims

00:16:03.079 --> 00:16:03.779
 of the world.

00:16:04.779 --> 00:16:05.339
 But your life

00:16:05.339 --> 00:16:06.240
 rests on the

00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:07.600
 infinitely sure

00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:08.659
 purposes

00:16:08.659 --> 00:16:09.939
 of the sovereign

00:16:09.939 --> 00:16:10.799
 God.

00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:10.839
 God.

00:16:10.840 --> 00:16:14.960
 in crisis

00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:16.240
 God's word

00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:17.200
 came to Ahaz

00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:19.379
 offering him

00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:20.420
 the divine

00:16:20.420 --> 00:16:21.220
 perspective

00:16:21.220 --> 00:16:22.100
 that he so

00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:23.139
 desperately needed

00:16:23.139 --> 00:16:23.820
 in that moment.

00:16:24.600 --> 00:16:25.660
 A young king

00:16:25.660 --> 00:16:26.920
 afraid of losing

00:16:26.920 --> 00:16:27.620
 his throne,

00:16:28.040 --> 00:16:28.620
 afraid of losing

00:16:28.620 --> 00:16:29.399
 his life

00:16:29.399 --> 00:16:30.540
 and God says

00:16:30.540 --> 00:16:31.800
 they won't harm

00:16:31.800 --> 00:16:32.420
 you Ahaz.

00:16:32.820 --> 00:16:33.680
 Trust me.

00:16:34.680 --> 00:16:35.680
 Be careful.

00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:37.280
 Be quiet.

00:16:37.280 --> 00:16:38.980
 Do not fear

00:16:38.980 --> 00:16:40.639
 and don't let

00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:41.080
 your heart

00:16:41.080 --> 00:16:41.680
 be faint.

00:16:45.539 --> 00:16:46.460
 What promise

00:16:46.460 --> 00:16:47.060
 do you need

00:16:47.060 --> 00:16:47.519
 to hear

00:16:47.519 --> 00:16:48.720
 from God's

00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:49.420
 word today?

00:16:51.580 --> 00:16:52.379
 You might be

00:16:52.379 --> 00:16:52.600
 thinking,

00:16:52.740 --> 00:16:52.860
 well,

00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:53.259
 look,

00:16:53.460 --> 00:16:54.680
 if a prophet

00:16:54.680 --> 00:16:55.300
 showed up

00:16:55.300 --> 00:16:56.120
 and told me

00:16:56.120 --> 00:16:56.720
 exactly what

00:16:56.720 --> 00:16:57.340
 God wanted to hear,

00:16:57.600 --> 00:16:58.080
 that would make

00:16:58.080 --> 00:16:58.680
 it a little easier,

00:16:58.800 --> 00:16:59.080
 right?

00:17:00.940 --> 00:17:01.600
 But friend,

00:17:01.700 --> 00:17:02.100
 consider

00:17:02.100 --> 00:17:03.019
 that we have

00:17:03.019 --> 00:17:03.480
 something

00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:04.640
 even better

00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:05.120
 than that.

00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:07.219
 God has

00:17:07.219 --> 00:17:07.759
 actually

00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:08.459
 preserved

00:17:08.459 --> 00:17:09.139
 his spoken

00:17:09.139 --> 00:17:09.699
 words

00:17:09.699 --> 00:17:10.599
 in his

00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:11.179
 written word

00:17:11.179 --> 00:17:12.919
 and the Holy

00:17:12.919 --> 00:17:13.279
 Spirit

00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:14.559
 speaks through

00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:14.899
 the written

00:17:14.899 --> 00:17:15.259
 word

00:17:15.259 --> 00:17:16.519
 every time

00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:17.139
 it is read

00:17:17.139 --> 00:17:17.739
 in prayerful

00:17:17.739 --> 00:17:18.279
 trust.

00:17:20.299 --> 00:17:20.739
 Do you see

00:17:20.739 --> 00:17:21.819
 then how

00:17:21.819 --> 00:17:22.799
 much better

00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:23.759
 of a position

00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:24.500
 we are in

00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:25.579
 than Ahaz?

00:17:26.219 --> 00:17:26.839
 We don't have

00:17:26.839 --> 00:17:27.419
 to wait for

00:17:27.419 --> 00:17:27.879
 an Isaiah

00:17:27.879 --> 00:17:28.559
 to show up.

00:17:29.559 --> 00:17:30.539
 You can open

00:17:30.539 --> 00:17:31.059
 God's written

00:17:31.059 --> 00:17:31.439
 word

00:17:31.439 --> 00:17:32.839
 and immerse

00:17:32.839 --> 00:17:33.439
 yourself in

00:17:33.439 --> 00:17:34.239
 God's sovereign

00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:34.799
 promises

00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:36.240
 at any time

00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:37.220
 and in any

00:17:37.220 --> 00:17:37.740
 place.

00:17:39.160 --> 00:17:40.180
 How good

00:17:40.180 --> 00:17:41.380
 God has

00:17:41.380 --> 00:17:42.079
 been to us.

00:17:44.380 --> 00:17:45.279
 The Apostle

00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:45.819
 Peter says

00:17:45.819 --> 00:17:46.339
 in his second

00:17:46.339 --> 00:17:46.579
 letter,

00:17:46.740 --> 00:17:47.079
 God has

00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:47.920
 granted to

00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:48.279
 us

00:17:48.279 --> 00:17:49.539
 his precious

00:17:49.539 --> 00:17:50.319
 and very

00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:51.200
 great promises

00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:52.140
 so that

00:17:52.140 --> 00:17:52.980
 through them

00:17:52.980 --> 00:17:53.620
 you may

00:17:53.620 --> 00:17:54.620
 become partakers

00:17:54.620 --> 00:17:55.519
 of the divine

00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:56.420
 nature.

00:17:56.920 --> 00:17:57.279
 You can

00:17:57.279 --> 00:17:58.140
 become more

00:17:58.140 --> 00:17:58.900
 and more

00:17:58.900 --> 00:18:00.660
 like Christ

00:18:00.660 --> 00:18:01.700
 as you hear

00:18:01.700 --> 00:18:02.240
 his word.

00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:05.120
 What promises

00:18:05.120 --> 00:18:05.660
 do you need

00:18:05.660 --> 00:18:05.920
 to hear

00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:06.299
 today?

00:18:07.900 --> 00:18:08.380
 Perhaps

00:18:08.380 --> 00:18:08.740
 you've begun

00:18:08.740 --> 00:18:09.140
 to fear

00:18:09.140 --> 00:18:09.519
 that God

00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:10.039
 has forgotten

00:18:10.039 --> 00:18:10.400
 you,

00:18:11.620 --> 00:18:12.180
 that your

00:18:12.180 --> 00:18:12.779
 life is

00:18:12.779 --> 00:18:13.779
 simply

00:18:13.779 --> 00:18:14.980
 wending on

00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:15.819
 in meaninglessness.

00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:18.480
 But listen

00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:19.120
 when God's

00:18:19.120 --> 00:18:19.779
 word says,

00:18:20.599 --> 00:18:20.940
 I know

00:18:20.940 --> 00:18:21.480
 the plans

00:18:21.480 --> 00:18:21.839
 I have

00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:22.240
 for you,

00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:24.059
 plans for

00:18:24.059 --> 00:18:24.460
 welfare

00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:24.940
 and not

00:18:24.940 --> 00:18:25.480
 for evil,

00:18:26.180 --> 00:18:27.000
 to give

00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:27.599
 you a future

00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:28.200
 and hope.

00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:31.599
 Perhaps

00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:31.960
 you're in the

00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:32.460
 midst of great

00:18:32.460 --> 00:18:33.100
 trial or

00:18:33.100 --> 00:18:33.480
 suffering

00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:33.819
 and you

00:18:33.819 --> 00:18:34.279
 wonder if

00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:34.900
 any good

00:18:34.900 --> 00:18:35.160
 is going

00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:35.420
 to come

00:18:35.420 --> 00:18:35.779
 out of

00:18:35.779 --> 00:18:35.960
 it.

00:18:37.100 --> 00:18:37.680
 But listen

00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:38.259
 when God's

00:18:38.259 --> 00:18:38.799
 word says,

00:18:39.299 --> 00:18:39.519
 for those

00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:39.980
 who love

00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:40.380
 God,

00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:41.539
 all things

00:18:41.539 --> 00:18:42.140
 work together

00:18:42.140 --> 00:18:42.460
 for their

00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:42.940
 good.

00:18:44.860 --> 00:18:45.380
 For those

00:18:45.380 --> 00:18:45.840
 whom God

00:18:45.840 --> 00:18:46.279
 foreknew,

00:18:46.360 --> 00:18:46.700
 he also

00:18:46.700 --> 00:18:47.279
 predestined

00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:47.539
 to be

00:18:47.539 --> 00:18:48.039
 conformed

00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:48.240
 to the

00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:48.460
 image

00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:48.740
 of his

00:18:48.740 --> 00:18:49.160
 son,

00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:50.059
 in order

00:18:50.059 --> 00:18:50.360
 that he

00:18:50.360 --> 00:18:50.600
 might be

00:18:50.600 --> 00:18:51.000
 the first

00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:51.340
 born among

00:18:51.340 --> 00:18:52.000
 many brothers

00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:52.539
 and sisters,

00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:52.980
 and those

00:18:52.980 --> 00:18:53.259
 whom he

00:18:53.259 --> 00:18:53.819
 predestined

00:18:53.819 --> 00:18:54.120
 he also

00:18:54.120 --> 00:18:54.620
 called,

00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:55.319
 and those

00:18:55.319 --> 00:18:55.500
 whom he

00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:55.759
 called

00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:56.340
 he justified,

00:18:56.840 --> 00:18:57.200
 and those

00:18:57.200 --> 00:18:57.440
 whom he

00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:57.860
 justified

00:18:57.860 --> 00:18:58.860
 he glorified.

00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:00.980
 All things

00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:01.380
 are working

00:19:01.380 --> 00:19:01.740
 for your

00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:01.980
 good,

00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:02.740
 sister,

00:19:03.539 --> 00:19:04.860
 for your

00:19:04.860 --> 00:19:05.240
 glory.

00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:08.720
 Perhaps

00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:08.920
 you're

00:19:08.920 --> 00:19:09.180
 wrestling

00:19:09.180 --> 00:19:09.539
 with an

00:19:09.539 --> 00:19:10.100
 area of

00:19:10.100 --> 00:19:10.620
 obedience,

00:19:11.620 --> 00:19:12.340
 and to

00:19:12.340 --> 00:19:12.779
 walk in

00:19:12.779 --> 00:19:13.019
 the way

00:19:13.019 --> 00:19:13.600
 of Christ

00:19:13.600 --> 00:19:14.039
 just seems

00:19:14.039 --> 00:19:14.860
 too costly.

00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:15.559
 You think

00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:15.819
 of the

00:19:15.819 --> 00:19:16.340
 sacrifice

00:19:16.340 --> 00:19:16.779
 you might

00:19:16.779 --> 00:19:17.100
 need to

00:19:17.100 --> 00:19:17.440
 make

00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:18.340
 to follow

00:19:18.340 --> 00:19:18.680
 Jesus,

00:19:18.779 --> 00:19:19.019
 and it's

00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:19.500
 overwhelming

00:19:19.500 --> 00:19:20.120
 for you.

00:19:22.140 --> 00:19:22.980
 But listen

00:19:22.980 --> 00:19:23.539
 when God's

00:19:23.539 --> 00:19:24.200
 word says,

00:19:24.840 --> 00:19:25.380
 when Jesus

00:19:25.380 --> 00:19:25.740
 says,

00:19:25.860 --> 00:19:26.400
 truly I

00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:26.799
 say to

00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:27.019
 you,

00:19:27.779 --> 00:19:28.539
 there's no

00:19:28.539 --> 00:19:28.940
 one who

00:19:28.940 --> 00:19:29.319
 has left

00:19:29.319 --> 00:19:29.799
 house,

00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:30.420
 or brothers,

00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:31.460
 or sisters,

00:19:31.620 --> 00:19:32.000
 or mother,

00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:32.480
 or father,

00:19:32.579 --> 00:19:32.940
 or children,

00:19:33.099 --> 00:19:33.519
 or lands,

00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:33.980
 for my

00:19:33.980 --> 00:19:34.319
 sake and

00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:34.599
 for the

00:19:34.599 --> 00:19:34.940
 gospel,

00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:35.640
 who will

00:19:35.640 --> 00:19:36.660
 not receive

00:19:36.660 --> 00:19:37.960
 a hundredfold

00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:38.420
 now in

00:19:38.420 --> 00:19:38.920
 this time,

00:19:39.880 --> 00:19:40.200
 houses,

00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:40.859
 and brothers,

00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:41.480
 and sisters,

00:19:41.660 --> 00:19:41.980
 and mothers,

00:19:42.119 --> 00:19:42.500
 and children,

00:19:42.680 --> 00:19:43.140
 and lands,

00:19:43.619 --> 00:19:44.019
 and in the

00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:44.380
 age to

00:19:44.380 --> 00:19:44.759
 come,

00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:45.799
 eternal

00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:46.279
 life.

00:19:49.460 --> 00:19:50.099
 What you

00:19:50.099 --> 00:19:50.559
 may lose

00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:50.960
 now is

00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:51.480
 nothing

00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:52.619
 compared to

00:19:52.619 --> 00:19:52.859
 what you

00:19:52.859 --> 00:19:53.460
 will gain

00:19:53.460 --> 00:19:54.460
 when you

00:19:54.460 --> 00:19:54.779
 take up

00:19:54.779 --> 00:19:55.319
 your cross

00:19:55.319 --> 00:19:55.759
 and follow

00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:56.160
 Jesus.

00:19:56.160 --> 00:19:59.600
 perhaps

00:19:59.600 --> 00:19:59.820
 you're

00:19:59.820 --> 00:20:00.180
 struggling

00:20:00.180 --> 00:20:00.580
 under the

00:20:00.580 --> 00:20:00.759
 weight

00:20:00.759 --> 00:20:01.279
 of guilt.

00:20:04.220 --> 00:20:04.700
 Maybe

00:20:04.700 --> 00:20:05.060
 through the

00:20:05.060 --> 00:20:05.700
 Holy Spirit's

00:20:05.700 --> 00:20:06.060
 conviction

00:20:06.060 --> 00:20:06.620
 you've begun

00:20:06.620 --> 00:20:07.060
 to see

00:20:07.060 --> 00:20:07.620
 your sin,

00:20:08.420 --> 00:20:09.000
 how great

00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:09.519
 it is,

00:20:10.600 --> 00:20:11.279
 how little

00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:11.779
 you fought

00:20:11.779 --> 00:20:12.440
 against it,

00:20:13.120 --> 00:20:14.019
 how offensive

00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:14.680
 it is to

00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:15.080
 the God

00:20:15.080 --> 00:20:15.580
 who made

00:20:15.580 --> 00:20:15.920
 you and

00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:16.360
 who loves

00:20:16.360 --> 00:20:16.660
 you,

00:20:17.660 --> 00:20:18.320
 and you

00:20:18.320 --> 00:20:18.840
 wrestle with

00:20:18.840 --> 00:20:19.160
 the fear

00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:19.740
 that perhaps

00:20:19.740 --> 00:20:20.480
 God hasn't

00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:21.060
 forgiven you,

00:20:21.840 --> 00:20:22.400
 perhaps he's

00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:23.100
 withheld his

00:20:23.100 --> 00:20:23.680
 mercy from

00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:23.920
 you.

00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:26.880
 But listen

00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:28.320
 when God's

00:20:28.320 --> 00:20:28.940
 word says,

00:20:30.019 --> 00:20:30.480
 come now,

00:20:31.400 --> 00:20:32.240
 let us reason

00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:32.799
 together,

00:20:32.920 --> 00:20:33.279
 says the

00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:33.519
 Lord,

00:20:34.680 --> 00:20:35.100
 though your

00:20:35.100 --> 00:20:35.600
 sins are

00:20:35.600 --> 00:20:36.500
 like scarlet,

00:20:37.080 --> 00:20:37.460
 they shall

00:20:37.460 --> 00:20:38.060
 be as white

00:20:38.060 --> 00:20:38.560
 as snow.

00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:40.039
 Though they

00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:40.420
 are red

00:20:40.420 --> 00:20:41.120
 like crimson,

00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:41.960
 they shall

00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:42.680
 become like

00:20:42.680 --> 00:20:43.039
 wool.

00:20:45.100 --> 00:20:45.580
 Friends,

00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:45.880
 Jesus'

00:20:46.120 --> 00:20:46.460
 death on

00:20:46.460 --> 00:20:46.900
 the cross

00:20:46.900 --> 00:20:47.539
 is sufficient

00:20:47.539 --> 00:20:48.200
 to pay

00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:48.960
 for a

00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:49.320
 hundred

00:20:49.320 --> 00:20:50.080
 lifetimes

00:20:50.080 --> 00:20:50.420
 of your

00:20:50.420 --> 00:20:50.820
 sins,

00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:51.640
 and infinitely

00:20:51.640 --> 00:20:52.060
 more.

00:20:52.900 --> 00:20:53.320
 There is

00:20:53.319 --> 00:20:54.759
 no sin

00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:55.240
 that his

00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:55.659
 death

00:20:55.659 --> 00:20:56.379
 has not

00:20:56.379 --> 00:20:56.819
 washed

00:20:56.819 --> 00:20:57.240
 away

00:20:57.240 --> 00:20:58.359
 for all

00:20:58.359 --> 00:20:59.099
 who simply

00:20:59.099 --> 00:20:59.679
 trust in

00:20:59.679 --> 00:20:59.879
 him.

00:21:00.700 --> 00:21:01.139
 Though your

00:21:01.139 --> 00:21:01.519
 sins are

00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:02.619
 like scarlet,

00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:03.539
 they shall

00:21:03.539 --> 00:21:04.200
 be white

00:21:04.200 --> 00:21:05.099
 as snow.

00:21:07.299 --> 00:21:07.879
 With

00:21:07.879 --> 00:21:08.500
 every

00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:09.579
 promise

00:21:09.579 --> 00:21:10.139
 of God's

00:21:10.139 --> 00:21:10.519
 sovereign

00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:10.939
 word,

00:21:11.220 --> 00:21:11.740
 we place

00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:12.399
 another

00:21:12.399 --> 00:21:12.980
 rock

00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:13.980
 into a

00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:14.500
 foundation

00:21:14.500 --> 00:21:15.339
 that no

00:21:15.339 --> 00:21:15.899
 storm

00:21:15.899 --> 00:21:16.619
 can topple.

00:21:17.859 --> 00:21:18.139
 Our

00:21:18.139 --> 00:21:18.700
 hearts may

00:21:18.700 --> 00:21:19.659
 shake like

00:21:19.659 --> 00:21:20.039
 trees in

00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:20.379
 the storm,

00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:21.000
 but hearing

00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:21.339
 God's

00:21:21.339 --> 00:21:21.639
 word and

00:21:21.639 --> 00:21:22.480
 trusting

00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:22.900
 God's

00:21:22.900 --> 00:21:23.519
 word will

00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:24.559
 push our

00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:26.000
 roots deeper

00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:27.200
 into the

00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:28.019
 soil of

00:21:28.019 --> 00:21:28.940
 his stability

00:21:28.940 --> 00:21:30.579
 so that no

00:21:30.579 --> 00:21:31.380
 wind will

00:21:31.380 --> 00:21:31.799
 cause us

00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:32.180
 to fall.

00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:34.900
 So brothers

00:21:34.900 --> 00:21:35.299
 and sisters,

00:21:35.400 --> 00:21:35.880
 in times of

00:21:35.880 --> 00:21:36.299
 great fear,

00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:37.779
 trust God's

00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:38.079
 sovereign

00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:38.460
 word.

00:21:41.019 --> 00:21:41.660
 But God

00:21:41.660 --> 00:21:42.099
 doesn't stop

00:21:42.099 --> 00:21:42.360
 there.

00:21:43.700 --> 00:21:44.180
 He's warned

00:21:44.180 --> 00:21:44.539
 Ahaz,

00:21:44.599 --> 00:21:45.059
 if you're not

00:21:45.059 --> 00:21:45.500
 firm in

00:21:45.500 --> 00:21:45.940
 faith,

00:21:46.700 --> 00:21:47.339
 you will

00:21:47.339 --> 00:21:47.940
 not be

00:21:47.940 --> 00:21:48.559
 firm at

00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:48.980
 all.

00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:50.259
 And

00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:50.700
 knowing

00:21:50.700 --> 00:21:51.240
 that our

00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:51.640
 faith is

00:21:51.640 --> 00:21:52.140
 so often

00:21:52.140 --> 00:21:53.299
 not firm,

00:21:54.440 --> 00:21:54.640
 God

00:21:54.640 --> 00:21:55.380
 pursues

00:21:55.380 --> 00:21:55.860
 Ahaz

00:21:55.860 --> 00:21:56.200
 even

00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:56.640
 further.

00:21:57.799 --> 00:21:58.140
 And this

00:21:58.140 --> 00:21:58.420
 is what we

00:21:58.420 --> 00:21:58.680
 see in

00:21:58.680 --> 00:21:59.059
 verses 10

00:21:59.059 --> 00:21:59.579
 through 14.

00:22:00.539 --> 00:22:01.000
 In this

00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:01.259
 paragraph,

00:22:01.480 --> 00:22:01.940
 we see the

00:22:01.940 --> 00:22:02.620
 second way

00:22:02.620 --> 00:22:03.200
 God invites

00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:03.480
 us to

00:22:03.480 --> 00:22:03.980
 respond to

00:22:03.980 --> 00:22:04.519
 our fears.

00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:05.519
 In

00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:05.860
 times of

00:22:05.860 --> 00:22:06.059
 great

00:22:06.059 --> 00:22:06.539
 fear,

00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:07.839
 we must

00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:08.559
 receive

00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:09.460
 God's

00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:09.980
 gracious

00:22:09.980 --> 00:22:11.140
 sign.

00:22:12.099 --> 00:22:12.539
 In

00:22:12.539 --> 00:22:12.940
 times of

00:22:12.940 --> 00:22:13.460
 great fear,

00:22:13.579 --> 00:22:13.980
 receive

00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:14.599
 God's

00:22:14.599 --> 00:22:14.940
 gracious

00:22:14.940 --> 00:22:16.059
 sign.

00:22:16.059 --> 00:22:17.359
 In

00:22:17.359 --> 00:22:17.779
 verses 10

00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:18.119
 and 11,

00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:18.399
 God

00:22:18.399 --> 00:22:18.899
 pursues

00:22:18.899 --> 00:22:19.259
 Ahaz.

00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:19.960
 He says,

00:22:20.679 --> 00:22:21.119
 ask a sign

00:22:21.119 --> 00:22:21.319
 of the

00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:21.619
 Lord your

00:22:21.619 --> 00:22:21.839
 God.

00:22:21.919 --> 00:22:22.099
 Let it

00:22:22.099 --> 00:22:22.539
 be as

00:22:22.539 --> 00:22:23.059
 deep as

00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:23.539
 Sheol or

00:22:23.539 --> 00:22:24.019
 as high

00:22:24.019 --> 00:22:24.460
 as heaven.

00:22:24.819 --> 00:22:25.179
 What a

00:22:25.179 --> 00:22:25.519
 gracious

00:22:25.519 --> 00:22:26.119
 thing for

00:22:26.119 --> 00:22:26.419
 God to

00:22:26.419 --> 00:22:26.599
 do.

00:22:27.339 --> 00:22:27.480
 You know,

00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:27.839
 God could

00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:28.119
 have said,

00:22:28.220 --> 00:22:28.319
 look,

00:22:28.379 --> 00:22:28.619
 Ahaz,

00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:29.119
 I told

00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:29.419
 you what's

00:22:29.419 --> 00:22:29.639
 true,

00:22:29.879 --> 00:22:30.319
 now it's

00:22:30.319 --> 00:22:30.519
 up to

00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:30.679
 you.

00:22:30.879 --> 00:22:31.079
 Believe

00:22:31.079 --> 00:22:31.460
 it or

00:22:31.460 --> 00:22:31.659
 don't.

00:22:33.099 --> 00:22:33.659
 But God

00:22:33.659 --> 00:22:34.059
 actually goes

00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:34.299
 a step

00:22:34.299 --> 00:22:34.659
 further.

00:22:35.059 --> 00:22:35.279
 He says,

00:22:35.679 --> 00:22:36.099
 let me

00:22:36.099 --> 00:22:36.359
 give you

00:22:36.359 --> 00:22:36.819
 a sign,

00:22:36.919 --> 00:22:37.279
 Ahaz.

00:22:38.139 --> 00:22:38.599
 I won't

00:22:38.599 --> 00:22:38.919
 just give

00:22:38.919 --> 00:22:39.179
 you my

00:22:39.179 --> 00:22:39.720
 promise,

00:22:39.819 --> 00:22:40.059
 though that

00:22:40.059 --> 00:22:40.339
 should be

00:22:40.339 --> 00:22:40.879
 good enough.

00:22:41.160 --> 00:22:41.620
 I'll give

00:22:41.620 --> 00:22:42.220
 you a sign,

00:22:42.340 --> 00:22:43.000
 I'll do

00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:43.780
 something in

00:22:43.780 --> 00:22:44.320
 history and

00:22:44.320 --> 00:22:45.160
 material creation

00:22:45.160 --> 00:22:45.680
 to help you

00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:46.300
 believe the

00:22:46.300 --> 00:22:46.760
 promise.

00:22:48.860 --> 00:22:49.480
 I'll give

00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:49.960
 you something

00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:50.420
 that's a

00:22:50.420 --> 00:22:50.880
 marker,

00:22:51.360 --> 00:22:51.880
 that everything

00:22:51.880 --> 00:22:52.320
 I've said

00:22:52.320 --> 00:22:52.620
 will come

00:22:52.620 --> 00:22:53.140
 true and

00:22:53.140 --> 00:22:53.400
 that you'll

00:22:53.400 --> 00:22:53.860
 know that

00:22:53.860 --> 00:22:54.060
 it was

00:22:54.060 --> 00:22:54.360
 me.

00:22:57.420 --> 00:22:57.940
 What

00:22:57.940 --> 00:22:58.740
 condescension

00:22:58.740 --> 00:22:59.360
 on God's

00:22:59.360 --> 00:23:00.000
 part to do

00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:00.360
 such a

00:23:00.360 --> 00:23:00.580
 thing?

00:23:03.400 --> 00:23:04.040
 But what

00:23:04.040 --> 00:23:04.840
 happens next

00:23:04.840 --> 00:23:06.360
 is tragic.

00:23:08.300 --> 00:23:08.540
 In verse

00:23:08.540 --> 00:23:09.080
 12,

00:23:10.160 --> 00:23:10.680
 Ahaz

00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:11.820
 rejects

00:23:11.820 --> 00:23:12.400
 God's

00:23:12.400 --> 00:23:12.660
 gracious

00:23:12.660 --> 00:23:13.060
 offer.

00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:14.600
 Now,

00:23:14.660 --> 00:23:15.120
 at first,

00:23:15.600 --> 00:23:16.140
 it sounds

00:23:16.140 --> 00:23:16.640
 like Ahaz

00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:16.960
 is being

00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:17.420
 really

00:23:17.420 --> 00:23:17.880
 spiritual,

00:23:18.120 --> 00:23:18.320
 right?

00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:19.440
 I won't

00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:19.759
 put the

00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:20.039
 Lord to

00:23:20.039 --> 00:23:20.539
 the test.

00:23:21.620 --> 00:23:22.000
 It sounds

00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:22.279
 holy,

00:23:22.360 --> 00:23:22.519
 right?

00:23:22.539 --> 00:23:22.840
 It sounds

00:23:22.840 --> 00:23:23.400
 deferential.

00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:25.220
 But we

00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:25.740
 know from

00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:26.080
 the rest

00:23:26.080 --> 00:23:26.620
 of Isaiah

00:23:26.620 --> 00:23:27.019
 and we

00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:27.420
 know from

00:23:27.420 --> 00:23:27.799
 the history

00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:28.200
 given in

00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:29.600
 2 Kings

00:23:29.600 --> 00:23:29.900
 and in

00:23:29.900 --> 00:23:30.680
 2 Chronicles

00:23:30.680 --> 00:23:32.279
 that Ahaz

00:23:32.279 --> 00:23:32.700
 is not

00:23:32.700 --> 00:23:33.440
 being sincere

00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:33.740
 here.

00:23:34.600 --> 00:23:35.240
 He's already

00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:35.779
 made up his

00:23:35.779 --> 00:23:36.600
 mind how

00:23:36.600 --> 00:23:37.039
 he will

00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:37.539
 respond to

00:23:37.539 --> 00:23:37.980
 the crisis.

00:23:38.660 --> 00:23:39.180
 He's already

00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:39.759
 got a plan

00:23:39.759 --> 00:23:40.140
 of action

00:23:40.140 --> 00:23:40.620
 that doesn't

00:23:40.619 --> 00:23:41.339
 involve God.

00:23:41.659 --> 00:23:42.099
 So he

00:23:42.099 --> 00:23:42.639
 gives this

00:23:42.639 --> 00:23:42.919
 kind of

00:23:42.919 --> 00:23:43.639
 pious sounding

00:23:43.639 --> 00:23:44.359
 answer,

00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:45.719
 but in reality

00:23:45.719 --> 00:23:46.199
 he's telling

00:23:46.199 --> 00:23:46.500
 God,

00:23:46.659 --> 00:23:47.139
 no thanks,

00:23:47.439 --> 00:23:48.159
 I'm going

00:23:48.159 --> 00:23:48.419
 to do it

00:23:48.419 --> 00:23:48.859
 my way.

00:23:50.939 --> 00:23:51.459
 Friends,

00:23:51.559 --> 00:23:52.579
 beware of

00:23:52.579 --> 00:23:53.599
 using piety

00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:54.819
 to avoid

00:23:54.819 --> 00:23:56.459
 God and

00:23:56.459 --> 00:23:56.839
 to simply

00:23:56.839 --> 00:23:57.199
 go your

00:23:57.199 --> 00:23:57.619
 own way.

00:23:59.939 --> 00:24:00.599
 And what

00:24:00.599 --> 00:24:01.259
 was Ahaz's

00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:01.439
 way?

00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:02.359
 How does

00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:02.879
 this young

00:24:02.879 --> 00:24:04.279
 king see

00:24:04.279 --> 00:24:04.819
 his way

00:24:04.819 --> 00:24:05.259
 out of

00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:05.679
 the crisis?

00:24:06.419 --> 00:24:06.899
 How will

00:24:06.899 --> 00:24:07.179
 he keep

00:24:07.179 --> 00:24:07.479
 his head

00:24:07.479 --> 00:24:07.719
 on his

00:24:07.719 --> 00:24:08.079
 shoulders

00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:08.759
 and his

00:24:08.759 --> 00:24:08.960
 kingdom

00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:09.220
 under

00:24:09.220 --> 00:24:09.639
 his feet

00:24:09.639 --> 00:24:10.000
 when

00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:10.460
 everything

00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:10.859
 is going

00:24:10.859 --> 00:24:11.179
 wrong?

00:24:12.699 --> 00:24:12.939
 Well,

00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:13.179
 from a

00:24:13.179 --> 00:24:13.359
 human

00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:13.699
 point of

00:24:13.699 --> 00:24:13.839
 view,

00:24:13.899 --> 00:24:14.199
 he does

00:24:14.199 --> 00:24:14.480
 something

00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:14.980
 incredibly

00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:15.399
 clever.

00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:17.159
 Rather than

00:24:17.159 --> 00:24:18.259
 fighting these

00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:18.839
 two local

00:24:18.839 --> 00:24:19.480
 kings in

00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:19.759
 order to

00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:20.039
 keep his

00:24:20.039 --> 00:24:20.480
 independence,

00:24:21.439 --> 00:24:21.919
 and rather

00:24:21.919 --> 00:24:22.539
 than joining

00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:23.079
 them in

00:24:23.079 --> 00:24:23.439
 kind of a

00:24:23.439 --> 00:24:23.599
 petty

00:24:23.599 --> 00:24:24.199
 alliance,

00:24:24.859 --> 00:24:25.639
 he actually

00:24:25.639 --> 00:24:26.240
 outmaneuvers

00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:26.519
 them.

00:24:28.279 --> 00:24:28.679
 He makes

00:24:28.679 --> 00:24:29.339
 a pact

00:24:29.339 --> 00:24:30.679
 with none

00:24:30.679 --> 00:24:32.539
 other than

00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:33.119
 the empire

00:24:33.119 --> 00:24:33.759
 of Assyria.

00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:36.140
 he goes

00:24:36.140 --> 00:24:36.480
 to the

00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:36.819
 looming

00:24:36.819 --> 00:24:37.480
 war machine

00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:38.059
 itself,

00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:38.940
 and he

00:24:38.940 --> 00:24:39.319
 cuts a

00:24:39.319 --> 00:24:39.559
 deal.

00:24:41.180 --> 00:24:41.779
 And in

00:24:41.779 --> 00:24:42.079
 the short

00:24:42.079 --> 00:24:42.339
 term,

00:24:42.759 --> 00:24:44.019
 it works.

00:24:45.859 --> 00:24:46.519
 But in

00:24:46.519 --> 00:24:46.859
 the long

00:24:46.859 --> 00:24:47.099
 term,

00:24:47.839 --> 00:24:48.440
 it's a

00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:48.879
 disaster.

00:24:51.160 --> 00:24:52.039
 And isn't

00:24:52.039 --> 00:24:52.400
 that the

00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:53.480
 way it

00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:54.420
 always goes?

00:24:55.720 --> 00:24:56.379
 The very

00:24:56.379 --> 00:24:56.980
 things we

00:24:56.980 --> 00:24:57.799
 trust to

00:24:57.799 --> 00:24:58.420
 save us

00:24:58.420 --> 00:24:59.079
 apart from

00:24:59.079 --> 00:24:59.480
 God,

00:24:59.720 --> 00:25:00.119
 in the

00:25:00.119 --> 00:25:00.379
 end,

00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:01.259
 devour

00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:01.700
 us.

00:25:01.700 --> 00:25:04.220
 Ask

00:25:04.220 --> 00:25:04.860
 anyone

00:25:04.860 --> 00:25:05.660
 familiar

00:25:05.660 --> 00:25:06.600
 with

00:25:06.600 --> 00:25:06.980
 addiction,

00:25:07.259 --> 00:25:07.580
 and they'll

00:25:07.580 --> 00:25:07.980
 tell you.

00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:09.200
 At first,

00:25:09.779 --> 00:25:10.180
 alcohol,

00:25:10.420 --> 00:25:10.920
 or drugs,

00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:11.539
 or sex,

00:25:11.880 --> 00:25:12.779
 it begins

00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:13.160
 as a way

00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:13.580
 to kind of

00:25:13.580 --> 00:25:14.400
 cover up

00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:14.860
 the hurt,

00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:15.200
 and the

00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:15.559
 pain,

00:25:15.620 --> 00:25:15.840
 or the

00:25:15.840 --> 00:25:16.180
 shame,

00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:16.480
 or the

00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:16.720
 guilt,

00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:17.740
 and it

00:25:17.740 --> 00:25:18.440
 sort of

00:25:18.440 --> 00:25:18.960
 works at

00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:19.420
 first.

00:25:20.539 --> 00:25:21.220
 But then

00:25:21.220 --> 00:25:21.620
 you become

00:25:21.620 --> 00:25:22.120
 enslaved.

00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:23.519
 You need

00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:23.920
 more and

00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:24.160
 more,

00:25:24.600 --> 00:25:25.279
 and you

00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:25.880
 can't stop,

00:25:26.380 --> 00:25:26.920
 and it

00:25:26.920 --> 00:25:27.279
 controls

00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:27.799
 everything.

00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:28.900
 And the

00:25:28.900 --> 00:25:29.120
 hurt,

00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:29.460
 and the

00:25:29.460 --> 00:25:29.819
 pain,

00:25:30.100 --> 00:25:30.420
 and the

00:25:30.420 --> 00:25:30.720
 shame,

00:25:30.819 --> 00:25:31.019
 and the

00:25:31.019 --> 00:25:31.259
 guilt,

00:25:31.700 --> 00:25:32.019
 they don't

00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:32.519
 go away.

00:25:33.080 --> 00:25:33.680
 They just

00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:34.039
 get worse

00:25:34.039 --> 00:25:34.500
 and worse.

00:25:37.019 --> 00:25:37.539
 Now,

00:25:37.580 --> 00:25:38.000
 with alcohol,

00:25:38.140 --> 00:25:38.500
 or drugs,

00:25:38.539 --> 00:25:38.840
 or sex,

00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:39.100
 it's kind

00:25:39.100 --> 00:25:39.360
 of easy

00:25:39.360 --> 00:25:39.840
 to spot,

00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:40.160
 right?

00:25:41.160 --> 00:25:41.900
 But what

00:25:41.900 --> 00:25:42.580
 about our

00:25:42.580 --> 00:25:43.120
 more

00:25:43.120 --> 00:25:44.180
 respectable

00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:45.500
 substitute

00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:46.660
 self-rescue

00:25:46.660 --> 00:25:47.080
 attempts?

00:25:48.600 --> 00:25:49.799
 We throw

00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:50.259
 ourselves

00:25:50.259 --> 00:25:50.980
 into work.

00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:53.140
 We throw

00:25:53.140 --> 00:25:53.620
 ourselves

00:25:53.620 --> 00:25:53.920
 into

00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:55.880
 good works.

00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:57.240
 We throw

00:25:57.240 --> 00:25:57.680
 ourselves

00:25:57.680 --> 00:25:58.680
 into family.

00:25:59.220 --> 00:25:59.779
 We throw

00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:00.279
 ourselves

00:26:00.279 --> 00:26:01.019
 even into

00:26:01.019 --> 00:26:01.440
 religion.

00:26:01.700 --> 00:26:03.380
 as an

00:26:03.380 --> 00:26:03.840
 attempt to

00:26:03.840 --> 00:26:04.100
 save

00:26:04.100 --> 00:26:04.600
 ourselves,

00:26:05.180 --> 00:26:06.299
 to find

00:26:06.299 --> 00:26:06.680
 our way

00:26:06.680 --> 00:26:06.840
 through

00:26:06.840 --> 00:26:07.000
 the

00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:07.380
 crisis,

00:26:08.380 --> 00:26:10.200
 and it

00:26:10.200 --> 00:26:10.779
 backfires.

00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:12.720
 These

00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:13.299
 self-rescue

00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:14.279
 projects ask

00:26:14.279 --> 00:26:15.400
 more and

00:26:15.400 --> 00:26:16.039
 more of us.

00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:16.799
 We need to

00:26:16.799 --> 00:26:17.259
 work more

00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:17.559
 hours.

00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:17.940
 We need to

00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:18.180
 have a

00:26:18.180 --> 00:26:18.680
 more perfect

00:26:18.680 --> 00:26:19.019
 family.

00:26:19.140 --> 00:26:19.400
 We need to

00:26:19.400 --> 00:26:19.980
 be more

00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:20.559
 performative

00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:21.420
 and more

00:26:21.420 --> 00:26:22.340
 devout in

00:26:22.340 --> 00:26:22.759
 our religious

00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:23.340
 practices.

00:26:24.620 --> 00:26:25.279
 They ask

00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:25.940
 more and

00:26:25.940 --> 00:26:26.460
 more of us,

00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:27.180
 and they give

00:26:27.180 --> 00:26:27.640
 less and

00:26:27.640 --> 00:26:27.920
 less.

00:26:29.580 --> 00:26:30.180
 And our

00:26:30.180 --> 00:26:30.799
 fears remain.

00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:34.299
 they backfired

00:26:34.299 --> 00:26:35.220
 on us just

00:26:35.220 --> 00:26:35.539
 as they

00:26:35.539 --> 00:26:36.240
 backfired on

00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:36.759
 Ahaz.

00:26:37.940 --> 00:26:38.639
 If you go

00:26:38.639 --> 00:26:39.039
 on and read

00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:39.480
 the rest of

00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:40.659
 Isaiah 7

00:26:40.659 --> 00:26:41.460
 and 9,

00:26:42.139 --> 00:26:42.759
 you'll see how

00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:43.480
 they describe

00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:44.099
 that God's

00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:44.579
 saying that the

00:26:44.579 --> 00:26:45.659
 Assyrian Empire

00:26:45.659 --> 00:26:46.480
 would come and

00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:47.579
 it would topple

00:26:47.579 --> 00:26:48.299
 not just northern

00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:49.279
 Israel, not just

00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:50.019
 Damascus and

00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:51.099
 Syria, but it

00:26:51.099 --> 00:26:51.440
 would keep

00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:51.839
 coming.

00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:53.259
 And like a

00:26:53.259 --> 00:26:54.019
 swarm of

00:26:54.019 --> 00:26:54.919
 bees, like a

00:26:54.919 --> 00:26:55.859
 razor cutting

00:26:55.859 --> 00:26:56.399
 down everything

00:26:56.399 --> 00:26:57.259
 in its path,

00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:58.599
 death, the

00:26:58.599 --> 00:26:59.140
 empire would

00:26:59.140 --> 00:26:59.759
 come right to

00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:00.400
 Jerusalem's

00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:01.940
 doorstep and

00:27:01.940 --> 00:27:02.299
 leave the

00:27:02.299 --> 00:27:02.720
 kingdom in

00:27:02.720 --> 00:27:03.099
 ruins.

00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:06.660
 Ahaz made a

00:27:06.660 --> 00:27:07.180
 deal with the

00:27:07.180 --> 00:27:09.519
 devil, and in

00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:11.200
 time the devil

00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:11.839
 would come for

00:27:11.839 --> 00:27:12.259
 his due.

00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:16.440
 But even

00:27:16.440 --> 00:27:17.359
 though Ahaz had

00:27:17.359 --> 00:27:18.180
 rejected God's

00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:18.879
 gracious offer,

00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:20.920
 in his mercy,

00:27:22.140 --> 00:27:23.460
 God still gives

00:27:23.460 --> 00:27:24.099
 the sign.

00:27:24.099 --> 00:27:27.779
 verse 13,

00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:29.179
 and he said,

00:27:29.319 --> 00:27:29.519
 here then,

00:27:29.599 --> 00:27:29.959
 O house of

00:27:29.959 --> 00:27:30.500
 David, is it

00:27:30.500 --> 00:27:31.079
 too little for

00:27:31.079 --> 00:27:31.559
 you to weary

00:27:31.559 --> 00:27:32.139
 men that you

00:27:32.139 --> 00:27:32.859
 weary my God

00:27:32.859 --> 00:27:33.159
 also?

00:27:33.240 --> 00:27:33.659
 There's another

00:27:33.659 --> 00:27:34.379
 sign that Ahaz

00:27:34.379 --> 00:27:34.879
 wasn't being

00:27:34.879 --> 00:27:35.439
 sincere.

00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:38.279
 And then God

00:27:38.279 --> 00:27:38.699
 says this,

00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.219
 therefore the

00:27:39.219 --> 00:27:39.740
 Lord himself

00:27:39.740 --> 00:27:40.199
 will give you

00:27:40.199 --> 00:27:40.599
 a sign.

00:27:41.919 --> 00:27:42.339
 Behold, the

00:27:42.339 --> 00:27:42.899
 virgin shall

00:27:42.899 --> 00:27:44.399
 conceive and

00:27:44.399 --> 00:27:46.240
 bear a son and

00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:46.879
 shall call his

00:27:46.879 --> 00:27:47.559
 name Emmanuel.

00:27:50.259 --> 00:27:50.980
 And the passage

00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:51.699
 goes on to say,

00:27:51.779 --> 00:27:52.079
 if you keep

00:27:52.079 --> 00:27:52.659
 reading it, that

00:27:52.659 --> 00:27:53.279
 in a few short

00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:53.919
 years, by the

00:27:53.920 --> 00:27:54.420
 time that

00:27:54.420 --> 00:27:55.120
 newborn child

00:27:55.120 --> 00:27:55.620
 has grown up

00:27:55.620 --> 00:27:56.160
 enough to tell

00:27:56.160 --> 00:27:56.820
 right from wrong,

00:27:56.920 --> 00:27:57.680
 these two kings

00:27:57.680 --> 00:27:58.500
 that Ahaz is so

00:27:58.500 --> 00:27:59.080
 afraid of will

00:27:59.080 --> 00:27:59.560
 be defeated.

00:28:00.800 --> 00:28:01.620
 But because Ahaz

00:28:01.620 --> 00:28:02.759
 has rejected God

00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:03.580
 and entrusted

00:28:03.580 --> 00:28:04.240
 himself to

00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:05.700
 Assyria, this

00:28:05.700 --> 00:28:06.880
 child will also

00:28:06.880 --> 00:28:07.580
 serve as a sign

00:28:07.580 --> 00:28:08.120
 of judgment.

00:28:08.519 --> 00:28:09.160
 By the time the

00:28:09.160 --> 00:28:09.779
 child can tell

00:28:09.779 --> 00:28:10.560
 right from wrong,

00:28:10.800 --> 00:28:11.539
 the empire of

00:28:11.539 --> 00:28:12.039
 Assyria will

00:28:12.039 --> 00:28:12.660
 have toppled the

00:28:12.660 --> 00:28:13.220
 cities of Judah

00:28:13.220 --> 00:28:14.200
 and turned the

00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:14.920
 once cultivated

00:28:14.920 --> 00:28:15.900
 farmlands into

00:28:15.900 --> 00:28:16.700
 wastes and

00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:17.060
 wilderness.

00:28:17.620 --> 00:28:18.019
 And the only

00:28:18.019 --> 00:28:18.360
 thing that will

00:28:18.360 --> 00:28:18.940
 be left to eat

00:28:18.940 --> 00:28:19.380
 are the things

00:28:19.380 --> 00:28:19.640
 that they'll

00:28:19.640 --> 00:28:20.259
 have to hunt or

00:28:20.259 --> 00:28:21.519
 gather, like

00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:23.240
 honey or curds

00:28:23.240 --> 00:28:24.359
 and milk from

00:28:24.359 --> 00:28:25.339
 their couple of

00:28:25.339 --> 00:28:27.079
 goats that are

00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:27.539
 left over.

00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:30.220
 And there you

00:28:30.220 --> 00:28:31.500
 have it, Isaiah

00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:31.819
 7.

00:28:32.579 --> 00:28:33.359
 Merry Christmas.

00:28:33.359 --> 00:28:43.159
 But is that all

00:28:43.159 --> 00:28:44.419
 that God's sign

00:28:44.419 --> 00:28:45.979
 in Isaiah 7

00:28:45.979 --> 00:28:47.179
 was meant to

00:28:47.179 --> 00:28:47.459
 convey?

00:28:49.639 --> 00:28:51.139
 Was it just a sign

00:28:51.139 --> 00:28:52.439
 of hope and

00:28:52.439 --> 00:28:53.639
 judgment for

00:28:53.639 --> 00:28:54.519
 Ahaz's day?

00:28:57.579 --> 00:28:58.399
 You know, as we

00:28:58.399 --> 00:28:59.139
 read on in this

00:28:59.139 --> 00:29:00.000
 section of Isaiah,

00:29:00.399 --> 00:29:01.399
 this whole section,

00:29:01.539 --> 00:29:02.419
 which is chapter 7

00:29:02.420 --> 00:29:04.960
 through 12, we

00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:05.460
 see that there's

00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:06.120
 more here than

00:29:06.120 --> 00:29:06.740
 initially meets

00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:07.180
 the eye.

00:29:08.640 --> 00:29:09.480
 It becomes clear

00:29:09.480 --> 00:29:10.259
 that the prophecy

00:29:10.259 --> 00:29:11.620
 of chapter 7

00:29:11.620 --> 00:29:13.820
 verse 14 has

00:29:13.820 --> 00:29:15.320
 both a provisional

00:29:15.320 --> 00:29:17.620
 fulfillment, but it

00:29:17.620 --> 00:29:18.460
 reaches out into

00:29:18.460 --> 00:29:18.960
 an ultimate

00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:19.460
 fulfillment.

00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:22.440
 In chapter 8, we

00:29:22.440 --> 00:29:23.560
 see this provisional

00:29:23.560 --> 00:29:24.100
 fulfillment.

00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:25.160
 Isaiah's own wife

00:29:25.160 --> 00:29:25.960
 gives birth to a

00:29:25.960 --> 00:29:26.259
 son.

00:29:26.900 --> 00:29:27.519
 They give him a

00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:28.380
 symbolic name.

00:29:29.080 --> 00:29:29.800
 And we're told that

00:29:29.800 --> 00:29:30.440
 by the time this

00:29:30.440 --> 00:29:31.200
 child can say,

00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:32.440
 my father or my

00:29:32.440 --> 00:29:33.120
 mother, the threat

00:29:33.120 --> 00:29:33.980
 of Damascus and

00:29:33.980 --> 00:29:34.740
 Samaria will be no

00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:34.940
 more.

00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:37.160
 But does that

00:29:37.160 --> 00:29:38.100
 exhaust the sign

00:29:38.100 --> 00:29:39.120
 of verse 14?

00:29:40.740 --> 00:29:41.140
 No.

00:29:42.500 --> 00:29:43.380
 Because the rest

00:29:43.380 --> 00:29:44.180
 of Isaiah 7

00:29:44.180 --> 00:29:44.740
 through 12 will

00:29:44.740 --> 00:29:45.680
 point to us, as we

00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:46.960
 follow the same

00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:48.259
 argument along, it

00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:49.000
 will point us to an

00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:50.279
 even greater child to

00:29:50.279 --> 00:29:50.680
 be born.

00:29:51.779 --> 00:29:52.819
 In chapter 9, we're

00:29:52.819 --> 00:29:53.539
 told that a child

00:29:53.539 --> 00:29:54.779
 will be born who

00:29:54.779 --> 00:29:55.279
 will have an

00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:56.400
 everlasting reign.

00:29:57.420 --> 00:29:57.840
 And then in

00:29:57.840 --> 00:29:59.380
 chapter 11, this

00:29:59.380 --> 00:30:00.840
 coming king is

00:30:00.840 --> 00:30:01.800
 shown to be full

00:30:01.800 --> 00:30:02.280
 of the Holy

00:30:02.280 --> 00:30:03.860
 Spirit, so full

00:30:03.860 --> 00:30:04.620
 of God's presence

00:30:04.620 --> 00:30:05.080
 that he'll be

00:30:05.080 --> 00:30:06.340
 perfect in justice

00:30:06.340 --> 00:30:07.560
 and perfect in

00:30:07.560 --> 00:30:07.840
 wisdom.

00:30:08.180 --> 00:30:08.900
 And through his

00:30:08.900 --> 00:30:10.160
 reign, God's

00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:11.300
 people and God's

00:30:11.300 --> 00:30:12.640
 creation even will

00:30:12.640 --> 00:30:13.480
 be restored and

00:30:13.480 --> 00:30:14.100
 healed forever.

00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:17.400
 So this provisional

00:30:17.400 --> 00:30:18.080
 fulfillment in

00:30:18.080 --> 00:30:18.960
 Isaiah's day

00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:21.240
 couldn't exhaust the

00:30:21.240 --> 00:30:22.020
 full promise that

00:30:22.020 --> 00:30:22.640
 God had given

00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:23.660
 starting in Isaiah

00:30:23.660 --> 00:30:24.060
 7.

00:30:24.059 --> 00:30:27.179
 No, a day would

00:30:27.179 --> 00:30:28.000
 come when a virgin

00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:29.919
 would conceive and

00:30:29.919 --> 00:30:30.460
 bear a son.

00:30:31.579 --> 00:30:32.899
 And he would be

00:30:32.899 --> 00:30:35.519
 Emmanuel, God

00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:36.039
 with us.

00:30:36.639 --> 00:30:38.200
 Not merely a sign,

00:30:38.700 --> 00:30:40.000
 but a reality.

00:30:41.339 --> 00:30:42.559
 And he would be

00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:44.759
 full of justice and

00:30:44.759 --> 00:30:45.079
 wisdom.

00:30:45.980 --> 00:30:46.720
 And his kingdom

00:30:46.720 --> 00:30:47.579
 would never end.

00:30:47.579 --> 00:30:50.980
 And this promise

00:30:50.980 --> 00:30:53.480
 of Isaiah 7, 9,

00:30:53.659 --> 00:30:55.939
 and 11 would

00:30:55.939 --> 00:30:57.079
 remain with God's

00:30:57.079 --> 00:30:58.500
 people for

00:30:58.500 --> 00:30:59.099
 generations.

00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:01.399
 It would outlast

00:31:01.399 --> 00:31:02.039
 the Assyrian

00:31:02.039 --> 00:31:02.480
 empire.

00:31:03.079 --> 00:31:04.019
 It would outlast

00:31:04.019 --> 00:31:04.579
 even the kingdom

00:31:04.579 --> 00:31:05.059
 of Judah.

00:31:06.119 --> 00:31:07.079
 It would persist

00:31:07.079 --> 00:31:07.559
 through the

00:31:07.559 --> 00:31:08.539
 Babylonian exile.

00:31:09.619 --> 00:31:10.059
 And then when

00:31:10.059 --> 00:31:10.960
 Babylon falls, it

00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:12.000
 would keep going

00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:12.659
 throughout the rule

00:31:12.659 --> 00:31:13.859
 of the Persians and

00:31:13.859 --> 00:31:14.559
 right into the

00:31:14.559 --> 00:31:15.199
 middle of the Roman

00:31:15.199 --> 00:31:15.939
 occupation who

00:31:15.939 --> 00:31:16.599
 displaced the

00:31:16.599 --> 00:31:16.939
 Persians.

00:31:16.940 --> 00:31:17.860
 And when God's

00:31:17.860 --> 00:31:18.660
 people were still

00:31:18.660 --> 00:31:19.460
 under the rule of

00:31:19.460 --> 00:31:21.940
 their enemies, an

00:31:21.940 --> 00:31:22.519
 oppression that

00:31:22.519 --> 00:31:24.059
 began all the way

00:31:24.059 --> 00:31:24.840
 back in the days

00:31:24.840 --> 00:31:27.039
 of Ahaz and his

00:31:27.039 --> 00:31:28.900
 fateful decision at

00:31:28.900 --> 00:31:30.460
 the upper pool on

00:31:30.460 --> 00:31:31.160
 the highway to the

00:31:31.160 --> 00:31:33.620
 washer's field, the

00:31:33.620 --> 00:31:34.820
 downward slide that

00:31:34.820 --> 00:31:36.140
 began on that day,

00:31:36.660 --> 00:31:37.740
 that promise would

00:31:37.740 --> 00:31:38.960
 persist all the way

00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:40.299
 down hundreds of

00:31:40.299 --> 00:31:40.940
 years into the

00:31:40.940 --> 00:31:42.080
 midst of Roman

00:31:42.080 --> 00:31:42.519
 oppression.

00:31:43.799 --> 00:31:44.860
 And in the sixth

00:31:44.860 --> 00:31:46.299
 month, after

00:31:46.299 --> 00:31:47.240
 generations of

00:31:47.240 --> 00:31:49.159
 waiting, the angel

00:31:49.159 --> 00:31:50.000
 Gabriel was sent

00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:52.940
 from God to a

00:31:52.940 --> 00:31:53.619
 city of Galilee

00:31:53.619 --> 00:31:57.519
 named Nazareth, to a

00:31:57.519 --> 00:31:58.619
 virgin betrothed to a

00:31:58.619 --> 00:31:59.720
 man whose name was

00:31:59.720 --> 00:32:03.339
 Joseph of the house

00:32:03.339 --> 00:32:03.799
 of David.

00:32:05.079 --> 00:32:06.159
 And the virgin's name

00:32:06.159 --> 00:32:06.700
 was Mary.

00:32:06.700 --> 00:32:10.740
 And he came to her and

00:32:10.740 --> 00:32:12.080
 said, Greetings, O

00:32:12.080 --> 00:32:13.580
 favored one, the Lord

00:32:13.580 --> 00:32:14.180
 is with you.

00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:17.360
 But she was greatly

00:32:17.360 --> 00:32:18.000
 troubled at this

00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:18.720
 saying and tried to

00:32:18.720 --> 00:32:19.500
 discern what sort of

00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:20.440
 greeting this might be.

00:32:22.380 --> 00:32:23.319
 And the angel said to

00:32:23.319 --> 00:32:24.120
 her, Don't be afraid,

00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:25.380
 Mary, for you have

00:32:25.380 --> 00:32:26.559
 found favor with God.

00:32:27.440 --> 00:32:28.539
 And behold, you will

00:32:28.539 --> 00:32:29.660
 conceive in your womb

00:32:29.660 --> 00:32:31.360
 and bear a son, and you

00:32:31.360 --> 00:32:32.080
 shall call his name

00:32:32.080 --> 00:32:32.519
 Jesus.

00:32:32.519 --> 00:32:34.900
 He will be great and

00:32:34.900 --> 00:32:36.000
 will be called the Son

00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:36.839
 of the Most High.

00:32:37.559 --> 00:32:38.500
 And the Lord God will

00:32:38.500 --> 00:32:39.440
 give to him the throne

00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:41.220
 of his father David, and

00:32:41.220 --> 00:32:42.139
 he will reign over the

00:32:42.139 --> 00:32:43.319
 house of Jacob forever,

00:32:43.759 --> 00:32:44.660
 and of his kingdom

00:32:44.660 --> 00:32:45.819
 there will be no end.

00:32:47.400 --> 00:32:48.420
 And Mary said to the

00:32:48.420 --> 00:32:50.319
 angel, How will this be

00:32:50.319 --> 00:32:51.839
 since I am a virgin?

00:32:53.339 --> 00:32:54.500
 And the angel answered

00:32:54.500 --> 00:32:56.680
 her, The Holy Spirit

00:32:56.680 --> 00:32:58.259
 will come upon you, and

00:32:58.259 --> 00:32:59.500
 the power of the Most

00:32:59.500 --> 00:33:01.019
 High will overshadow you.

00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:02.339
 Therefore, the child to

00:33:02.339 --> 00:33:03.440
 be born will be called

00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:05.319
 holy, the Son of God.

00:33:06.460 --> 00:33:07.079
 And behold, your

00:33:07.079 --> 00:33:08.119
 relative Elizabeth in her

00:33:08.119 --> 00:33:09.019
 old age has also

00:33:09.019 --> 00:33:09.960
 conceived a son, and

00:33:09.960 --> 00:33:10.920
 this is the sixth month

00:33:10.920 --> 00:33:11.799
 with her who is called

00:33:11.799 --> 00:33:14.500
 barren, for nothing will

00:33:14.500 --> 00:33:16.420
 be impossible with God.

00:33:17.819 --> 00:33:21.339
 And Mary said, Behold, I

00:33:21.339 --> 00:33:22.259
 am the servant of the

00:33:22.259 --> 00:33:22.559
 Lord.

00:33:23.240 --> 00:33:24.579
 Let it be to me according

00:33:24.579 --> 00:33:25.559
 to your word.

00:33:26.660 --> 00:33:27.859
 And the angel departed

00:33:27.859 --> 00:33:28.319
 from her.

00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:32.839
 Contrast for a moment,

00:33:33.679 --> 00:33:35.579
 Ahaz with Mary.

00:33:37.059 --> 00:33:38.279
 Ahaz was in an impossible

00:33:38.279 --> 00:33:39.419
 situation from a human

00:33:39.419 --> 00:33:40.319
 perspective, wasn't he?

00:33:41.079 --> 00:33:42.500
 His young reign was almost

00:33:42.500 --> 00:33:44.839
 over before it began, and

00:33:44.839 --> 00:33:46.079
 rather than trust God's

00:33:46.079 --> 00:33:47.639
 word, he trusted what his

00:33:47.639 --> 00:33:49.439
 own efforts could accomplish,

00:33:50.139 --> 00:33:52.319
 this military alliance with

00:33:52.319 --> 00:33:52.799
 Assyria.

00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:57.460
 But Mary, receiving an

00:33:57.460 --> 00:33:58.960
 equally impossible promise

00:33:58.960 --> 00:33:59.940
 from a human perspective,

00:34:00.099 --> 00:34:03.519
 says, Behold, I am the

00:34:03.519 --> 00:34:04.259
 servant of the Lord.

00:34:04.940 --> 00:34:07.059
 Let it be to me according

00:34:07.059 --> 00:34:07.720
 to your word.

00:34:08.539 --> 00:34:10.099
 For nothing will be

00:34:10.099 --> 00:34:11.139
 impossible with God.

00:34:11.139 --> 00:34:11.239
 God.

00:34:13.739 --> 00:34:15.279
 And when Jesus Christ was

00:34:15.279 --> 00:34:18.079
 born, the sign of Isaiah

00:34:18.079 --> 00:34:20.099
 7 became a reality.

00:34:21.699 --> 00:34:24.940
 God entered space and time

00:34:24.940 --> 00:34:26.179
 and history.

00:34:27.179 --> 00:34:28.879
 God took on our human nature

00:34:28.879 --> 00:34:31.339
 in its entirety, and he

00:34:31.339 --> 00:34:33.059
 fulfilled every promise that

00:34:33.059 --> 00:34:34.719
 had been made for thousands

00:34:34.719 --> 00:34:37.119
 of years, including the

00:34:37.119 --> 00:34:39.339
 promise of Isaiah 7, that a

00:34:39.340 --> 00:34:40.740
 virgin will conceive and bear

00:34:40.740 --> 00:34:42.460
 a son, and you'll call his

00:34:42.460 --> 00:34:43.900
 name Emmanuel, which means

00:34:43.900 --> 00:34:45.440
 God with us.

00:34:47.860 --> 00:34:49.480
 But why a virgin birth?

00:34:50.559 --> 00:34:51.720
 Why did God choose to enter

00:34:51.720 --> 00:34:53.400
 history in this way?

00:34:56.100 --> 00:34:58.480
 Because the rescue that God

00:34:58.480 --> 00:34:59.900
 would accomplish through Jesus,

00:35:00.019 --> 00:35:03.000
 the Messiah, would be his own

00:35:03.000 --> 00:35:04.940
 work from beginning to end.

00:35:07.579 --> 00:35:09.240
 God would become fully human

00:35:09.239 --> 00:35:12.079
 through Mary, but not as a

00:35:12.079 --> 00:35:13.659
 result of human work or

00:35:13.659 --> 00:35:15.599
 effort or accomplishment or

00:35:15.599 --> 00:35:15.939
 deeds.

00:35:17.659 --> 00:35:19.139
 Mary's part was to hear the

00:35:19.139 --> 00:35:21.779
 promise and believe, and

00:35:21.779 --> 00:35:23.699
 that's true of all of us.

00:35:26.059 --> 00:35:27.719
 That's what God wanted Ahaz to

00:35:27.719 --> 00:35:28.000
 see.

00:35:29.279 --> 00:35:30.779
 That Ahaz didn't need to scheme

00:35:30.779 --> 00:35:32.679
 and fret and make his own

00:35:32.679 --> 00:35:33.199
 salvation.

00:35:33.699 --> 00:35:35.519
 That Ahaz could trust that God

00:35:35.519 --> 00:35:37.500
 would accomplish what his own

00:35:37.500 --> 00:35:38.519
 works could not.

00:35:40.900 --> 00:35:42.320
 And that's why it had to be a

00:35:42.320 --> 00:35:44.539
 virgin birth, because God

00:35:44.539 --> 00:35:46.059
 wanted our faith to rest on

00:35:46.059 --> 00:35:47.800
 him and on him alone.

00:35:48.400 --> 00:35:50.280
 It's his work from beginning to

00:35:50.280 --> 00:35:50.599
 end.

00:35:51.960 --> 00:35:53.559
 And if it's his work from

00:35:53.559 --> 00:35:56.300
 beginning to end, then in times

00:35:56.300 --> 00:35:59.840
 of great fear, our faith has

00:35:59.840 --> 00:36:01.860
 found the greatest place to

00:36:01.860 --> 00:36:02.219
 rest.

00:36:02.219 --> 00:36:06.739
 Our faith has found a resting

00:36:06.739 --> 00:36:09.959
 place, not in device or creed.

00:36:10.639 --> 00:36:12.699
 We trust the ever-living one

00:36:12.699 --> 00:36:15.379
 whose wounds shall plead for me.

00:36:17.699 --> 00:36:19.480
 The one who took human nature

00:36:19.480 --> 00:36:22.919
 apart from any human work also

00:36:22.919 --> 00:36:25.799
 died and rose again apart from any

00:36:25.799 --> 00:36:28.639
 of your works, so that now you and

00:36:28.639 --> 00:36:32.059
 I can be rescued utterly apart from

00:36:32.059 --> 00:36:32.599
 our works.

00:36:34.719 --> 00:36:37.139
 And that means we need no longer

00:36:37.139 --> 00:36:37.900
 fear.

00:36:39.339 --> 00:36:42.059
 When our hearts shake like trees in

00:36:42.059 --> 00:36:45.299
 a storm, we know that Emmanuel has

00:36:45.299 --> 00:36:45.639
 come.

00:36:46.539 --> 00:36:48.400
 God is with us.

00:36:49.480 --> 00:36:51.519
 Jesus Christ has secured eternal

00:36:51.519 --> 00:36:54.339
 salvation and eternal life for all

00:36:54.340 --> 00:36:56.460
 who simply trust in him.

00:36:58.300 --> 00:37:00.860
 Every promise is yes and amen in

00:37:00.860 --> 00:37:01.100
 him.

00:37:02.240 --> 00:37:04.200
 So we can let go of our false

00:37:04.200 --> 00:37:06.559
 comforts and our self-rescue

00:37:06.559 --> 00:37:08.579
 projects and cling to him

00:37:08.579 --> 00:37:09.340
 completely.

00:37:10.620 --> 00:37:14.740
 And in him, in Emmanuel, find

00:37:14.740 --> 00:37:17.780
 security and comfort no matter what

00:37:17.780 --> 00:37:18.820
 the storms may be.

00:37:20.660 --> 00:37:21.640
 Let's pray together.

00:37:24.340 --> 00:37:32.140
 Lord Jesus, we simply pause and give

00:37:32.140 --> 00:37:34.900
 you praise as the one who is the

00:37:34.900 --> 00:37:36.600
 fulfillment of all God's promises.

00:37:38.860 --> 00:37:40.740
 And Lord, we thank you that you are

00:37:40.740 --> 00:37:42.840
 an anchor in the fiercest storms.

00:37:45.380 --> 00:37:47.500
 Father, seeing how you fulfilled your

00:37:47.500 --> 00:37:49.780
 promises in Jesus, we can be sure

00:37:49.780 --> 00:37:52.559
 that you will likewise make good on

00:37:52.559 --> 00:37:53.840
 all of your word to us.