WEBVTT

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 Welcome back. Many of you weren't here last week, and it's really beautiful and sweet to reunite again in order to worship.

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 There's a unity that happens when we do that, and it's really great.

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 We've kind of gathered from all corners of the earth, really.

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 We've come from all the way around the globe back this Sunday.

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 It's really wonderful to be with you again.

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 And this evening, we'll be looking at Psalm 133 and the subject of Christian unity.

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 For those of us in this room who have grown up in a church, the phrase Christian unity can cause very different reactions.

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 For some of you who have come from situations so bad that you're tempted to think Christian unity is an oxymoron.

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 Because you've come from churches that have gossiped, backstabbed, argued, and split over any number of issues.

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 For those of you who are skeptics of Christianity, the phrase is troubling for the opposite reason.

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 Because you've seen how Christians have united for some pretty wrong and frightening causes.

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 If you're not familiar with the Bible, you may be surprised that the Bible doesn't gloss over the failings of his people.

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 That the Bible doesn't present God's people as unified, it seems, hardly ever.

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 It's brutally honest about how dysfunctional the family of God has been.

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 A big chunk of the New Testament is made up of letters written to churches that were really, really screwed up.

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 Dealing with sexual immorality in a way that would make our modern culture blush.

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 Getting drunk as they came to the Lord's table.

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 Showing blatant favoritism to the rich.

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 And shunning the poor, making them sit on the ground.

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 And that's nothing compared to stuff that you find in the Old Testament.

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 For what it's worth, you might be wondering, am I preaching on this issue

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 because Church of the Advent is dealing with unity issues?

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 No. Not at all.

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 If I could grade the Church of the Advent on the issue of unity, I would give you a solid A+.

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 Now, I know that's disappointing to you overachievers who are always looking for the A++,

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 the star and the circle around it.

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 But a solid A+.

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 You guys love each other so well and are committed to worshiping God

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 and are solidly committed to the good of the city of Washington, D.C.

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 So would this meditation on this psalm, Psalm 133, be an encouragement to you, as it has been for me,

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 this psalm, that's more of a painting than it is a song.

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 It paints for us a picture of what precedes unity,

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 how unity comes, and then where we perceive it most clearly.

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 What precedes it, how it comes, and where we perceive it.

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 The psalm is a poem.

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 It's a song.

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 So it's art, right?

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 And by its very nature, art is elusive, and it requires work to understand it.

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 The psalm was also inspired by the very Spirit of God.

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 So let's ask His help to understand it.

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 Okay?

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 Let's pray.

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 God, yeah, we would seek to understand Your Word,

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 not just to gain some knowledge or to know more than we did, Lord,

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 but we want to receive Your Word.

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 We want to be changed.

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 We want to be transformed.

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 God, would this Word work in our hearts?

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 Would You open our hearts to Your Word?

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 Open Your Word to our hearts.

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 We pray in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 I'm going to read the psalm once again.

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 This is Psalm 133.

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 It is a song of ascents.

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 The psalmist here,

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 as a typical artist,

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 he wants to tell us about unity.

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 But instead of telling us what it is,

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 he tells us what it's like.

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 But in doing so,

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 he hopes we get a deeper understanding of it.

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 With one word,

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 he shows us what precedes unity.

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 He says,

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 Behold.

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 Okay?

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 Unity is partly defined by what was in its place.

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 Discord,

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 disharmony,

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 enmity.

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 This is why the psalmist says,

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 Behold,

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 as if he had been awake through the dark hours of the night,

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 and then suddenly and dramatically,

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 the sun rises on the eastern horizon.

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 No one lies on the beach for hours getting a suntan,

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 and then says,

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 Behold,

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 the sun is bright.

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 The word signals a big change, right?

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 So what was it like before the sun appeared to the psalmist,

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 before brothers lived together in unity?

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 Well,

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 the person who would have been singing this song originally would have been an Israelite,

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 right?

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 The psalms were Israel's songbook.

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 They're hymnal.

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 And this Israelite would be thoroughly aware of how infamously brothers got along in Israel's history.

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 Cain,

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 the firstborn son of humanity's parents,

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 Adam and Eve,

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 he murdered his brother Abel.

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 Jacob,

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 the father of the nation of Israel,

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 deceived his father to steal his brother's inheritance and blessing.

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 Jacob's sons sold their brother Joseph into slavery.

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 And when Israel became a nation with its own land,

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 its tribes didn't get along and eventually split into two nations.

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 So if there was peace and unity in the land,

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 when the Israelites sang this,

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 he would know that it's not always been the case.

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 And we too,

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 as members of God's family,

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 should know how unity hasn't always been a part of our story or our stories.

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 Paul writes in Titus chapter 3,

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 verses 3 to 5,

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 at one time,

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 we too were foolish,

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 disobedient,

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 deceived,

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 and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures.

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 We lived in malice,

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 envy,

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 being hated and hating one another.

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 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,

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 he saved us,

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 not because of righteous things we had done,

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 but because of his mercy.

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 Malice,

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 envy,

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 hated,

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 hating.

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 Then,

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 God intervenes.

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 God shows up.

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 Behold,

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 he saves us from those things,

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 and he saves us together.

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 God rescues his family.

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 And that's our second point,

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 that unity is not something we achieve.

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 It's bestowed.

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 It's given.

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 Unity has a given-ness to it.

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 We read in verse 3 of Psalm 133,

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 that unity is like the dew of Hermon,

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 which falls on the mountains of Zion.

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 Now,

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 dew was important in ancient Near Eastern agriculture.

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 The climate was so hot and dry,

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 that often,

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 only the dew kept vegetation alive during drought and heat.

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 And so,

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 all throughout the Old Testament,

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 dew symbolizes the blessings of God given to his people,

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 the gifts the king gives to his subjects.

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 What's Mount Hermon?

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 The Toss Peak in Israel

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 was Mount Hermon.

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 It was,

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 it's 9,000 feet.

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 It lies in the north of the country,

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 in what is today modern Lebanon.

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 There's actually a ski mountain,

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 now on Mount Hermon.

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 The psalmist asks us to imagine

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 the sun heating the snow on Mount Hermon,

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 causing a mist to rise from the pines

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 that surrounded the mountain,

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 and a cool air carrying it

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 all the way down to Jerusalem.

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 Not only does this dew sustain life,

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 but it's pristine and refreshing.

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 The writer is saying what John Calvin would later say on,

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 that the life of man would be sapless,

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 unprofitable,

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 and wretched,

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 and less sustained by brotherly harmony.

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 See how the psalmist

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 is drawing the worshiper's attention

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 to the descending movement of the dew.

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 We know this because the downward mention has been,

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 the downward motion has been mentioned before in verse 2.

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 Oil running down on the beard,

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 running down on the collar,

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 and now dew falls on the mountain.

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 Hear that?

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 Descending,

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 descending,

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 descending.

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 Unity on earth

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 descends from heaven.

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 It's a gift of God

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 to his people.

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 We see this

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 descending motion in the New Testament as well,

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 don't we?

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 When Jesus is baptized in the Jordan,

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 the Holy Spirit descends

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 from the Father

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 on Jesus

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 in the form of a dove.

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 And then later,

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 in the book of Acts,

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 God bestows himself,

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 his very self,

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 upon his church

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 as the Holy Spirit

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 descends on his disciples

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 and flames of fire

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 come to rest

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 on them

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 in that dark room.

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 God gives us

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 himself.

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 God descends.

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 The Apostle Paul writes

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 in Ephesians 4,

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 we heard this earlier,

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 be completely humble

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 and gentle,

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 be patient,

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 bearing with one another

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 in love.

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 Make every effort

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 to keep the unity

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 of the Spirit

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 through the bond of peace.

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 There is one body

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 and one Spirit,

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 just as you were called

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 to one hope

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 when you were called.

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 One Lord,

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 one faith,

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 one baptism,

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 one God

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 and Father of all,

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 who is over all

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 and through all

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 and in all.

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 Now,

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 how does the Spirit

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 keep us in unity?

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 Right?

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 Like,

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 what's going on

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 in our minds,

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 in our hearts,

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 when the Spirit

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 is at work

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 making us unified?

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 I think

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 that in the Spirit

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 of the Psalm we read,

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 the Holy Spirit

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 reminds us

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 of our need,

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 right?

00:10:57.620 --> 00:10:58.100
 Jerusalem

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 needs the dew

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 for life

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 to flourish.

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 church.

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 So what do we need?

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 What do we need

00:11:07.320 --> 00:11:07.840
 as the church?

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 What do we need

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 as children of God?

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 We need to have

00:11:12.520 --> 00:11:13.280
 our debt canceled.

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 That's what we need.

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 That's why Jesus,

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 the Son of God,

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 descended to earth

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 this Christmas season

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 2,000 years ago

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 to live the life

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 of full obedience

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 to God's law

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 that we could not live,

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 to die the death

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 on the cross

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 that we deserve to die.

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 And He paid

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 what we owed

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 and we were raised

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 to life in Him.

00:11:37.620 --> 00:11:38.519
 We were made

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 new creations.

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 And when the Spirit

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 reminds us

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 of that

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 unfathomable need,

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 we forgive others.

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 We forgive each other.

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 Think of the parable

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 of the,

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 the parable

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 that Jesus taught

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 of the ungrateful servant,

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 right?

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 The servant

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 didn't understand

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 how much

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 he had been forgiven,

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 which was an insane amount,

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 unfathomable.

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 Because he didn't understand

00:12:07.780 --> 00:12:09.040
 when a fellow servant

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 owed him money,

00:12:10.040 --> 00:12:10.860
 he had him punished

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 and thrown into jail.

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 When we understand

00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:16.340
 how much we've been forgiven,

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 we can be,

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 as Ephesians said,

00:12:18.800 --> 00:12:19.560
 completely humble,

00:12:20.560 --> 00:12:20.900
 gentle,

00:12:21.560 --> 00:12:21.980
 patient,

00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:23.379
 bearing with one another

00:12:23.379 --> 00:12:23.860
 in love.

00:12:25.220 --> 00:12:26.340
 Unity in the here

00:12:26.340 --> 00:12:27.280
 and now doesn't mean

00:12:27.280 --> 00:12:28.360
 we will always get along

00:12:28.360 --> 00:12:29.960
 nicely with each other.

00:12:30.860 --> 00:12:32.120
 We will wrong each other.

00:12:33.160 --> 00:12:34.860
 Because though we are saved,

00:12:34.920 --> 00:12:36.420
 we are still being saved.

00:12:36.560 --> 00:12:37.879
 We have been made whole,

00:12:37.960 --> 00:12:40.060
 but we're still being perfected,

00:12:40.259 --> 00:12:40.500
 right?

00:12:40.580 --> 00:12:41.540
 We've been healed,

00:12:41.639 --> 00:12:43.460
 but we're still very broken.

00:12:43.620 --> 00:12:44.379
 Does this sound familiar?

00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:45.519
 We talk a lot about

00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:46.680
 living in the tension

00:12:46.680 --> 00:12:47.399
 of the already,

00:12:47.899 --> 00:12:49.340
 but the not yet.

00:12:49.660 --> 00:12:51.160
 So what does unity look like

00:12:51.160 --> 00:12:52.019
 in this tension

00:12:52.019 --> 00:12:53.480
 between the already

00:12:53.480 --> 00:12:55.060
 and the not yet?

00:12:55.059 --> 00:12:57.239
 Well, that's repentance

00:12:57.239 --> 00:12:58.000
 and forgiveness.

00:12:58.799 --> 00:12:59.799
 An example of God

00:12:59.799 --> 00:13:00.659
 showing up

00:13:00.659 --> 00:13:01.379
 and giving unity

00:13:01.379 --> 00:13:02.519
 in the form of repentance

00:13:02.519 --> 00:13:03.219
 and forgiveness

00:13:03.219 --> 00:13:04.000
 happened to two

00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:05.379
 former colleagues of mine

00:13:05.379 --> 00:13:06.079
 who were serving

00:13:06.079 --> 00:13:07.279
 as missionaries in Uganda.

00:13:07.899 --> 00:13:08.479
 They were driving

00:13:08.479 --> 00:13:09.679
 to a remote village

00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:10.879
 to share the gospel there

00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:11.799
 and riding with them

00:13:11.799 --> 00:13:13.179
 was a public health worker.

00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:14.519
 His name was,

00:13:14.859 --> 00:13:15.359
 or is,

00:13:15.439 --> 00:13:16.000
 Singamon.

00:13:17.059 --> 00:13:17.939
 Now this vehicle

00:13:17.939 --> 00:13:18.939
 got stuck in the mud

00:13:18.939 --> 00:13:20.059
 and the missionaries

00:13:20.059 --> 00:13:20.799
 got into

00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:22.639
 a very heated argument

00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:23.939
 about what to do next

00:13:23.940 --> 00:13:25.640
 because that's what missionaries do

00:13:25.640 --> 00:13:26.480
 is argue about,

00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:27.320
 you know,

00:13:27.760 --> 00:13:29.000
 from personal experience

00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:30.100
 stuff that really doesn't matter.

00:13:31.620 --> 00:13:33.440
 So they got into

00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:34.540
 a really heated argument

00:13:34.540 --> 00:13:35.400
 about it, though.

00:13:36.400 --> 00:13:37.360
 Eventually they were able

00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:38.640
 to get out of the ditch

00:13:38.640 --> 00:13:40.880
 and the two missionaries

00:13:40.880 --> 00:13:42.080
 after that

00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:42.820
 were convicted

00:13:42.820 --> 00:13:44.080
 of how they treated

00:13:44.080 --> 00:13:45.220
 one another

00:13:45.220 --> 00:13:47.480
 and how they responded

00:13:47.480 --> 00:13:48.360
 to the situation.

00:13:48.940 --> 00:13:49.840
 And so they repented

00:13:49.840 --> 00:13:50.620
 to each other

00:13:50.620 --> 00:13:51.620
 right there on the spot

00:13:51.620 --> 00:13:53.240
 and they were warmly

00:13:53.240 --> 00:13:54.679
 reconciled.

00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:55.960
 Now,

00:13:56.460 --> 00:13:58.080
 Singamon took this all in

00:13:58.080 --> 00:13:59.379
 and was completely stunned,

00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:00.080
 right?

00:14:01.019 --> 00:14:01.500
 Later,

00:14:01.620 --> 00:14:02.320
 Singamon

00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:03.899
 would become a believer

00:14:03.899 --> 00:14:05.580
 in Jesus Christ.

00:14:06.580 --> 00:14:07.820
 And at his baptism,

00:14:08.820 --> 00:14:09.480
 he shared

00:14:09.480 --> 00:14:10.360
 that witnessing

00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:11.279
 that argument

00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:13.840
 and the subsequent forgiveness

00:14:13.840 --> 00:14:15.299
 played a key role

00:14:15.299 --> 00:14:16.039
 in his conversion.

00:14:17.639 --> 00:14:18.360
 He said,

00:14:18.500 --> 00:14:19.240
 I had never seen

00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:20.180
 two people get into

00:14:20.180 --> 00:14:21.340
 an argument like that

00:14:21.340 --> 00:14:21.980
 and afterwards

00:14:21.980 --> 00:14:22.980
 be reconciled.

00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:25.019
 I know there had to be

00:14:25.019 --> 00:14:25.620
 something different

00:14:25.620 --> 00:14:26.519
 about this gospel

00:14:26.519 --> 00:14:27.519
 they were speaking of.

00:14:28.360 --> 00:14:29.399
 And if that gospel

00:14:29.399 --> 00:14:30.060
 had the power

00:14:30.060 --> 00:14:30.980
 to change sinners

00:14:30.980 --> 00:14:31.639
 like them,

00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:33.460
 then it had the power

00:14:33.460 --> 00:14:34.600
 to change me, too.

00:14:36.500 --> 00:14:37.100
 Singamon

00:14:37.100 --> 00:14:39.300
 had seen God show up

00:14:39.300 --> 00:14:40.940
 in the already,

00:14:41.080 --> 00:14:41.720
 in the not yet,

00:14:41.780 --> 00:14:42.399
 in the tension.

00:14:44.139 --> 00:14:45.080
 He had seen the spirit

00:14:45.080 --> 00:14:45.620
 of peace

00:14:45.620 --> 00:14:46.960
 supernaturally at work.

00:14:47.980 --> 00:14:49.040
 He had seen God

00:14:49.040 --> 00:14:50.720
 bestow his unity.

00:14:51.340 --> 00:14:52.560
 on his children,

00:14:52.899 --> 00:14:53.920
 on his family.

00:14:54.940 --> 00:14:55.759
 And then Singamon

00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:56.420
 became a member

00:14:56.420 --> 00:14:57.100
 of that family.

00:14:58.100 --> 00:14:58.980
 It changed his life.

00:15:00.220 --> 00:15:01.080
 So we see

00:15:01.080 --> 00:15:02.320
 there's a change.

00:15:02.420 --> 00:15:03.399
 There's a crossing over

00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:04.300
 from disunity

00:15:04.300 --> 00:15:05.080
 to unity.

00:15:05.560 --> 00:15:06.460
 We see that unity

00:15:06.460 --> 00:15:07.340
 is bestowed

00:15:07.340 --> 00:15:08.080
 in the gift

00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:08.720
 of his spirit.

00:15:08.980 --> 00:15:09.700
 And now third,

00:15:10.180 --> 00:15:10.920
 we see

00:15:10.920 --> 00:15:12.080
 the psalmist

00:15:12.080 --> 00:15:12.800
 tell us

00:15:12.800 --> 00:15:14.340
 in what context

00:15:14.340 --> 00:15:16.160
 we're to understand unity.

00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:16.240
 unity.

00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:19.000
 We understand unity

00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:20.500
 in the context

00:15:20.500 --> 00:15:21.579
 of worship.

00:15:22.319 --> 00:15:22.879
 We know this

00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:23.539
 for two reasons.

00:15:23.639 --> 00:15:24.240
 The first reason

00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:24.759
 we know this

00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:26.059
 is because of the purpose

00:15:26.059 --> 00:15:27.079
 for which this song

00:15:27.079 --> 00:15:27.559
 was written.

00:15:27.819 --> 00:15:28.480
 The song is called

00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:30.579
 A Song of Ascent.

00:15:31.379 --> 00:15:32.620
 There's a group of psalms

00:15:32.620 --> 00:15:33.860
 called Songs of Ascent.

00:15:34.339 --> 00:15:34.860
 They were sung

00:15:34.860 --> 00:15:36.299
 by Israelites,

00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:38.199
 Israelite pilgrims,

00:15:38.600 --> 00:15:39.679
 as they approached

00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:40.559
 the Temple Mount.

00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:41.860
 And as they ascended

00:15:41.860 --> 00:15:42.319
 the mountain

00:15:42.319 --> 00:15:43.179
 to the temple

00:15:43.179 --> 00:15:43.819
 in Jerusalem,

00:15:43.820 --> 00:15:45.100
 they would sing

00:15:45.100 --> 00:15:46.200
 these songs.

00:15:47.060 --> 00:15:48.260
 So what would an Israelite

00:15:48.260 --> 00:15:49.440
 be thinking of

00:15:49.440 --> 00:15:50.320
 when he was singing

00:15:50.320 --> 00:15:51.520
 about oil

00:15:51.520 --> 00:15:52.680
 running down

00:15:52.680 --> 00:15:53.379
 the beard

00:15:53.379 --> 00:15:54.280
 of Aaron?

00:15:55.040 --> 00:15:55.879
 Well, his imagination

00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:57.420
 would be transported

00:15:57.420 --> 00:15:58.379
 to the scene

00:15:58.379 --> 00:15:59.000
 of worship

00:15:59.000 --> 00:15:59.940
 that awaited him

00:15:59.940 --> 00:16:00.400
 at the top

00:16:00.400 --> 00:16:00.980
 of the mountain.

00:16:02.020 --> 00:16:02.640
 At the center

00:16:02.640 --> 00:16:03.680
 of Israel's worship

00:16:03.680 --> 00:16:05.020
 was sacrifice.

00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:06.160
 The sacrifice

00:16:06.160 --> 00:16:07.720
 for the whole nation

00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:08.620
 would be performed

00:16:08.620 --> 00:16:10.240
 by the high priest.

00:16:11.140 --> 00:16:12.120
 Aaron was Israel's

00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:12.940
 first high priest.

00:16:12.940 --> 00:16:14.300
 For the high priest

00:16:14.300 --> 00:16:14.960
 to do his job,

00:16:15.040 --> 00:16:15.540
 he needed to be

00:16:15.540 --> 00:16:16.500
 anointed with oil.

00:16:17.380 --> 00:16:18.160
 To be anointed

00:16:18.160 --> 00:16:19.680
 means to be set apart.

00:16:20.760 --> 00:16:21.740
 Being set apart

00:16:21.740 --> 00:16:22.200
 for what?

00:16:23.560 --> 00:16:24.380
 For God.

00:16:25.260 --> 00:16:26.180
 Being set apart

00:16:26.180 --> 00:16:26.780
 for worship.

00:16:27.900 --> 00:16:28.860
 The oil that Aaron

00:16:28.860 --> 00:16:29.780
 and all high priests

00:16:29.780 --> 00:16:30.700
 were anointed with

00:16:30.700 --> 00:16:32.060
 was a special oil

00:16:32.060 --> 00:16:33.560
 mixed with incense

00:16:33.560 --> 00:16:34.300
 and spices

00:16:34.300 --> 00:16:35.820
 that was only used

00:16:35.820 --> 00:16:36.380
 in the temple

00:16:36.380 --> 00:16:37.320
 of Jerusalem.

00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:38.660
 You may remember

00:16:38.660 --> 00:16:39.160
 hearing,

00:16:39.580 --> 00:16:40.260
 as Wes read

00:16:40.260 --> 00:16:40.860
 from Exodus,

00:16:40.860 --> 00:16:42.519
 that this is the only

00:16:42.519 --> 00:16:43.300
 place in Israel

00:16:43.300 --> 00:16:44.000
 this incense

00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:44.600
 was allowed

00:16:44.600 --> 00:16:45.440
 to be used.

00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:46.139
 Right?

00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:47.279
 The psalmist

00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:48.159
 is using imagery

00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:49.620
 but not just visual imagery.

00:16:50.340 --> 00:16:51.200
 He's using

00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:53.740
 olfactory imagery

00:16:53.740 --> 00:16:55.379
 to convey an idea.

00:16:55.500 --> 00:16:56.460
 He's really hammering

00:16:56.460 --> 00:16:56.899
 it home.

00:16:57.399 --> 00:16:58.220
 To be unified

00:16:58.220 --> 00:16:59.820
 is to worship God.

00:17:00.340 --> 00:17:01.440
 And to worship God

00:17:01.440 --> 00:17:03.039
 is to be unified.

00:17:04.680 --> 00:17:05.680
 Unity comes

00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:06.279
 through worship.

00:17:07.120 --> 00:17:07.500
 Through our

00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:08.440
 common declaration

00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:11.519
 that we love

00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:13.240
 and serve God

00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:13.859
 alone.

00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:15.299
 So integral

00:17:15.299 --> 00:17:16.079
 is worship

00:17:16.079 --> 00:17:16.799
 to our unity

00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:17.779
 that any unity

00:17:17.779 --> 00:17:18.680
 without worship

00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:19.380
 is vain.

00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:20.700
 John Calvin said,

00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:22.099
 any concord

00:17:22.099 --> 00:17:24.039
 it is thus insinuated

00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:25.539
 which may prevail

00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:26.559
 amongst men

00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:28.200
 is insipid

00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:30.079
 if not pervaded

00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:31.880
 by sweet savor

00:17:31.880 --> 00:17:32.819
 of God's worship.

00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:35.099
 Now that's a pretty

00:17:35.099 --> 00:17:35.980
 exclusive claim,

00:17:36.039 --> 00:17:36.160
 right?

00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:36.759
 I mean there's a lot

00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:37.259
 of things,

00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:38.440
 a lot of really good

00:17:38.440 --> 00:17:39.440
 things to be united

00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:41.259
 over and for.

00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:41.680
 I mean,

00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:43.320
 if you're a skeptic

00:17:43.320 --> 00:17:44.000
 you might be wondering

00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:44.960
 can't true unity

00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:46.100
 exist without

00:17:46.100 --> 00:17:47.880
 this?

00:17:48.040 --> 00:17:49.120
 Couldn't it exist

00:17:49.120 --> 00:17:50.320
 through uniting

00:17:50.320 --> 00:17:51.140
 around something else?

00:17:51.660 --> 00:17:52.200
 Something good?

00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:52.600
 Well,

00:17:52.759 --> 00:17:54.160
 there are many good things

00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:55.080
 to unite

00:17:55.080 --> 00:17:55.860
 around.

00:17:57.160 --> 00:17:58.019
 And I would agree

00:17:58.019 --> 00:17:58.460
 that there are

00:17:58.460 --> 00:17:59.240
 many good things

00:17:59.240 --> 00:17:59.820
 to come together

00:17:59.820 --> 00:18:00.420
 for,

00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:02.360
 but we must be

00:18:02.360 --> 00:18:02.880
 careful

00:18:02.880 --> 00:18:04.420
 not to make them

00:18:04.420 --> 00:18:05.560
 our ultimate good.

00:18:06.160 --> 00:18:07.380
 You see,

00:18:07.480 --> 00:18:08.360
 in declaring together

00:18:08.360 --> 00:18:08.980
 our allegiance

00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:09.600
 to God,

00:18:09.820 --> 00:18:11.019
 we turn our backs

00:18:11.019 --> 00:18:12.140
 on every other God

00:18:12.140 --> 00:18:14.200
 that demands

00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:14.779
 our loyalty.

00:18:16.340 --> 00:18:17.480
 Disharmony occurs,

00:18:18.220 --> 00:18:19.040
 discord occurs,

00:18:19.259 --> 00:18:20.100
 enmity accords,

00:18:20.759 --> 00:18:21.480
 envy accords,

00:18:21.660 --> 00:18:23.640
 occurs when we

00:18:23.640 --> 00:18:25.060
 worship other things.

00:18:26.060 --> 00:18:27.360
 If I make something

00:18:27.360 --> 00:18:28.360
 besides God

00:18:28.360 --> 00:18:29.900
 my chief purpose,

00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:32.220
 I will sow division.

00:18:32.220 --> 00:18:33.180
 for instance,

00:18:33.360 --> 00:18:34.740
 if money and success

00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:36.140
 are my main ambition,

00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:38.039
 I will begin to use others

00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:39.279
 and even trample on them.

00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:40.720
 I will withhold money

00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:41.160
 and charity

00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:42.400
 from those who are in need.

00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:44.120
 If my children

00:18:44.120 --> 00:18:46.140
 are my chief purpose,

00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:48.420
 and I know this

00:18:48.420 --> 00:18:48.960
 from experience,

00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:50.279
 I will react furiously

00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:51.140
 when I perceive

00:18:51.140 --> 00:18:53.100
 that they are being

00:18:53.100 --> 00:18:53.860
 not just harmed

00:18:53.860 --> 00:18:54.480
 but suffer

00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:56.140
 even the slightest

00:18:56.140 --> 00:18:57.900
 unfairness.

00:18:57.900 --> 00:19:02.540
 I tell a story

00:19:02.540 --> 00:19:03.360
 about my son

00:19:03.360 --> 00:19:03.780
 but it's really

00:19:03.780 --> 00:19:04.280
 about me.

00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:05.259
 He was playing

00:19:05.259 --> 00:19:06.220
 right field

00:19:06.220 --> 00:19:09.360
 in Little League

00:19:09.360 --> 00:19:10.519
 and the field

00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:11.340
 was a complete disaster

00:19:11.340 --> 00:19:12.060
 and it just rained

00:19:12.060 --> 00:19:12.980
 but they decided

00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:13.860
 to play the game anyway

00:19:13.860 --> 00:19:15.000
 and he was playing

00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:15.480
 right field

00:19:15.480 --> 00:19:16.080
 and it was completely

00:19:16.080 --> 00:19:16.460
 muddy.

00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:17.440
 It was a swamp

00:19:17.440 --> 00:19:19.100
 and the ball

00:19:19.100 --> 00:19:20.120
 was hit into right field

00:19:20.120 --> 00:19:23.880
 and it got by my son.

00:19:23.960 --> 00:19:24.920
 This happens inevitably

00:19:24.920 --> 00:19:25.799
 in Little League

00:19:25.799 --> 00:19:28.660
 and right as it went by him

00:19:28.660 --> 00:19:29.900
 it got stuck in the mud

00:19:29.900 --> 00:19:30.940
 and it was the same color

00:19:30.940 --> 00:19:31.700
 as the mud

00:19:31.700 --> 00:19:32.400
 so he didn't see it.

00:19:32.460 --> 00:19:33.019
 He turned around

00:19:33.019 --> 00:19:33.799
 and just kept running

00:19:33.799 --> 00:19:34.840
 and running and running

00:19:34.840 --> 00:19:39.059
 and so like the coaches

00:19:39.059 --> 00:19:40.620
 and the,

00:19:41.400 --> 00:19:41.600
 yeah,

00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:42.580
 there wasn't an umpire

00:19:42.580 --> 00:19:43.120
 so the coaches

00:19:43.120 --> 00:19:44.059
 got together

00:19:44.059 --> 00:19:45.059
 and decided what to do

00:19:45.059 --> 00:19:46.820
 and I mean,

00:19:46.819 --> 00:19:47.240
 if you know anything

00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:47.839
 about baseball,

00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:48.179
 right,

00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:49.119
 it's a ground rule double.

00:19:49.819 --> 00:19:50.799
 The ball gets stuck

00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:52.299
 but the coach decided

00:19:52.299 --> 00:19:53.139
 it would be a home run

00:19:53.139 --> 00:19:54.220
 and I felt like

00:19:54.220 --> 00:19:56.039
 my son was being punished

00:19:56.039 --> 00:19:57.159
 for,

00:19:57.279 --> 00:19:57.720
 um,

00:19:58.799 --> 00:19:59.599
 for like the,

00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:00.619
 the field being muddy.

00:20:01.339 --> 00:20:01.700
 Um,

00:20:02.019 --> 00:20:02.299
 he's,

00:20:02.299 --> 00:20:03.079
 he's colorblind

00:20:03.079 --> 00:20:03.740
 so he can't really

00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:04.359
 distinguish like

00:20:04.359 --> 00:20:05.079
 the different tones

00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:05.519
 of brown.

00:20:06.079 --> 00:20:06.439
 Um,

00:20:07.139 --> 00:20:07.359
 it,

00:20:07.359 --> 00:20:07.839
 it could have been

00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:08.799
 just a ground rule double

00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:09.879
 and everyone

00:20:09.879 --> 00:20:10.740
 was saved face

00:20:10.740 --> 00:20:12.000
 and my son

00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:12.439
 wouldn't have been

00:20:12.439 --> 00:20:13.099
 like persecuted

00:20:13.099 --> 00:20:14.919
 so I got so angry

00:20:14.919 --> 00:20:15.599
 I started yelling

00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:16.279
 at the coaches

00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:17.960
 both sides

00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:18.399
 but my,

00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:19.319
 my own team's coaches

00:20:19.319 --> 00:20:20.539
 and the other team's coaches

00:20:20.539 --> 00:20:22.399
 and then I just kept it going

00:20:22.399 --> 00:20:23.160
 like after,

00:20:23.819 --> 00:20:24.319
 um,

00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:25.660
 um,

00:20:26.200 --> 00:20:27.259
 it's Little League

00:20:27.259 --> 00:20:27.639
 in Vienna,

00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:28.099
 Austria

00:20:28.099 --> 00:20:28.779
 so,

00:20:29.539 --> 00:20:34.220
 so the parents bring

00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:35.839
 beer and wine

00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:36.920
 I don't think

00:20:36.920 --> 00:20:37.660
 you can do that here

00:20:37.660 --> 00:20:38.359
 but that probably

00:20:38.359 --> 00:20:39.339
 wasn't a good idea

00:20:39.339 --> 00:20:40.839
 in this particular

00:20:40.839 --> 00:20:41.720
 situation either

00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:42.740
 and like,

00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:43.299
 so afterwards

00:20:43.299 --> 00:20:44.079
 like with all the kids

00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:44.759
 around with my son

00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:45.519
 I was just laying

00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:46.440
 into the other team's

00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:46.759
 coach

00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:47.079
 it's like

00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:48.099
 you're doing anything

00:20:48.099 --> 00:20:48.579
 even trampling

00:20:48.579 --> 00:20:49.480
 on my son

00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:50.539
 to,

00:20:50.619 --> 00:20:51.059
 to make sure

00:20:51.059 --> 00:20:52.079
 your team lost

00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:52.920
 and you know

00:20:52.920 --> 00:20:53.420
 he was like

00:20:53.420 --> 00:20:53.940
 dumbfounded

00:20:53.940 --> 00:20:54.920
 um,

00:20:55.619 --> 00:20:56.279
 I was being cheered

00:20:56.279 --> 00:20:57.539
 by our team's

00:20:57.539 --> 00:20:58.559
 uh,

00:20:58.559 --> 00:20:58.980
 parents

00:20:58.980 --> 00:20:59.980
 but I was completely

00:20:59.980 --> 00:21:01.819
 completely in the wrong

00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:03.240
 completely in the wrong

00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:04.440
 and what was happening

00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:04.960
 it was like

00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:05.799
 I had made an idol

00:21:05.799 --> 00:21:06.579
 out of my son

00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:06.879
 right

00:21:06.879 --> 00:21:07.799
 I was trying

00:21:07.799 --> 00:21:08.420
 to live life

00:21:08.420 --> 00:21:08.900
 vicariously

00:21:08.900 --> 00:21:09.440
 through him

00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:10.440
 to experience

00:21:10.440 --> 00:21:11.160
 his success

00:21:11.160 --> 00:21:11.860
 and to avoid

00:21:11.860 --> 00:21:12.779
 um,

00:21:13.320 --> 00:21:13.600
 failure

00:21:13.600 --> 00:21:14.560
 it wasn't even failure

00:21:14.560 --> 00:21:14.980
 it was just

00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:15.580
 you know

00:21:15.580 --> 00:21:16.460
 it's a mistake

00:21:16.460 --> 00:21:17.500
 but um

00:21:17.500 --> 00:21:19.560
 it's really embarrassing

00:21:19.560 --> 00:21:20.720
 showing that story

00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:21.440
 but that's what happens

00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:21.620
 right

00:21:21.620 --> 00:21:22.300
 when we make

00:21:22.300 --> 00:21:23.100
 something even as good

00:21:23.100 --> 00:21:24.019
 as our own children

00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:25.140
 our chief purpose

00:21:25.140 --> 00:21:25.560
 in life

00:21:25.560 --> 00:21:26.440
 our chief good

00:21:26.440 --> 00:21:28.080
 we end up idolizing them

00:21:28.080 --> 00:21:28.900
 and it just

00:21:28.900 --> 00:21:29.460
 it was uh

00:21:29.460 --> 00:21:30.040
 discord

00:21:30.040 --> 00:21:30.800
 enmity

00:21:30.800 --> 00:21:31.440
 division

00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:32.620
 um

00:21:32.620 --> 00:21:33.940
 and you know

00:21:33.940 --> 00:21:34.160
 if

00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:35.519
 if that doesn't happen

00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:36.380
 even if they succeed

00:21:36.380 --> 00:21:37.400
 in everything in life

00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:38.019
 I uh

00:21:38.019 --> 00:21:39.019
 you know

00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:39.620
 parents can place

00:21:39.619 --> 00:21:40.779
 too much pressure on them

00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:41.799
 uh

00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:42.339
 to succeed

00:21:42.339 --> 00:21:43.339
 and when they become

00:21:43.339 --> 00:21:44.599
 adults

00:21:44.599 --> 00:21:45.399
 they become

00:21:45.399 --> 00:21:46.559
 resentful of us

00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:47.619
 um

00:21:47.619 --> 00:21:48.659
 I mean

00:21:48.659 --> 00:21:49.379
 history tells us

00:21:49.379 --> 00:21:50.639
 that even the noblest

00:21:50.639 --> 00:21:51.500
 things that when

00:21:51.500 --> 00:21:52.359
 idolized

00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:53.359
 can cause

00:21:53.359 --> 00:21:54.039
 disharmony

00:21:54.039 --> 00:21:54.699
 even to

00:21:54.699 --> 00:21:56.000
 a violent

00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:56.619
 degree

00:21:56.619 --> 00:21:58.000
 as the French

00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:58.719
 revolutionist

00:21:58.719 --> 00:21:59.359
 Madame Roland

00:21:59.359 --> 00:22:00.659
 reminds us

00:22:00.659 --> 00:22:01.939
 having fallen out

00:22:01.939 --> 00:22:02.719
 of favor with other

00:22:02.719 --> 00:22:03.639
 revolutionists

00:22:03.639 --> 00:22:05.000
 she's sentenced

00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:05.439
 to death

00:22:05.439 --> 00:22:05.979
 right

00:22:05.979 --> 00:22:06.599
 do you know this story

00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:08.000
 before placing her head

00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:08.859
 on the guillotine block

00:22:08.859 --> 00:22:09.539
 she kneels

00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:10.799
 before the clay statue

00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:11.480
 of liberty

00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:12.879
 and says

00:22:12.879 --> 00:22:14.279
 liberty

00:22:14.279 --> 00:22:15.899
 what crimes

00:22:15.899 --> 00:22:16.700
 are committed

00:22:16.700 --> 00:22:17.700
 in thy name

00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:22.139
 even the

00:22:22.139 --> 00:22:23.339
 noblest things

00:22:23.339 --> 00:22:24.700
 when made

00:22:24.700 --> 00:22:25.579
 our chief purpose

00:22:25.579 --> 00:22:26.879
 when worship

00:22:26.879 --> 00:22:29.019
 can cause

00:22:29.019 --> 00:22:29.619
 discord

00:22:29.619 --> 00:22:30.319
 enmity

00:22:30.319 --> 00:22:32.259
 so what should be

00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:32.960
 our chief purpose

00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:36.359
 it's the chief purpose

00:22:36.359 --> 00:22:37.059
 of human beings

00:22:37.059 --> 00:22:38.159
 to glorify God

00:22:38.159 --> 00:22:39.440
 and enjoy him

00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:39.740
 forever

00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:42.899
 in doing so

00:22:42.899 --> 00:22:44.980
 we will experience

00:22:44.980 --> 00:22:45.599
 a holy

00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:46.599
 unity

00:22:46.599 --> 00:22:47.980
 you know

00:22:47.980 --> 00:22:48.779
 I had in mind

00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:49.279
 to

00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:50.500
 as I was

00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:51.099
 praying

00:22:51.099 --> 00:22:52.299
 and reading the psalm

00:22:52.299 --> 00:22:52.779
 and studying

00:22:52.779 --> 00:22:53.659
 I had in mind

00:22:53.659 --> 00:22:55.240
 a still

00:22:55.240 --> 00:22:56.099
 from one of my favorite

00:22:56.099 --> 00:22:56.720
 films

00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:57.039
 I thought

00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:57.919
 oh maybe I should

00:22:57.919 --> 00:22:59.019
 I should show you guys

00:22:59.019 --> 00:23:00.399
 and talk about it

00:23:00.399 --> 00:23:02.220
 this photograph

00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:03.880
 and then I realized

00:23:03.880 --> 00:23:05.160
 that the perfect

00:23:05.160 --> 00:23:05.900
 illustration

00:23:05.900 --> 00:23:07.319
 of all of this

00:23:07.319 --> 00:23:08.920
 is the drama

00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:09.740
 that we participate

00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:10.759
 in every week

00:23:10.759 --> 00:23:13.420
 we're reminded

00:23:13.420 --> 00:23:13.980
 of the debt

00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:14.880
 we owe to God

00:23:14.880 --> 00:23:16.079
 when we confess

00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:16.759
 how we ascend

00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:17.680
 against him

00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:18.480
 in thought

00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:19.640
 word and deed

00:23:19.640 --> 00:23:21.680
 we are reminded

00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:22.640
 how we've been forgiven

00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:23.660
 of our sins

00:23:23.660 --> 00:23:24.600
 and given new life

00:23:24.600 --> 00:23:25.140
 in Christ

00:23:25.140 --> 00:23:26.500
 when we eat the bread

00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:27.259
 and drink the wine

00:23:27.259 --> 00:23:27.620
 together

00:23:27.619 --> 00:23:31.339
 we will be reminded

00:23:31.339 --> 00:23:31.879
 later

00:23:31.879 --> 00:23:33.099
 of the peace

00:23:33.099 --> 00:23:33.759
 that exists

00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:35.079
 among us

00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:36.019
 when we speak

00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:36.639
 the peace

00:23:36.639 --> 00:23:37.579
 to each other

00:23:37.579 --> 00:23:38.779
 the peace of the Lord

00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:39.379
 be with you

00:23:39.379 --> 00:23:40.279
 and also with you

00:23:40.279 --> 00:23:44.579
 and in just a moment

00:23:44.579 --> 00:23:45.599
 when two of our children

00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:46.199
 are baptized

00:23:46.199 --> 00:23:48.199
 and we see

00:23:48.199 --> 00:23:49.119
 the water poured

00:23:49.119 --> 00:23:51.159
 and flowing down

00:23:51.159 --> 00:23:53.459
 down their heads

00:23:53.459 --> 00:23:55.500
 down their robes

00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:57.720
 we'll be reminded

00:23:57.720 --> 00:23:58.960
 of our own baptism

00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:01.339
 that we've been given

00:24:01.339 --> 00:24:02.819
 his Holy Spirit

00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:03.519
 who's brought us

00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:04.200
 from death

00:24:04.200 --> 00:24:04.980
 to life

00:24:04.980 --> 00:24:06.079
 from enmity

00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:07.279
 and discord

00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:08.759
 to peace

00:24:08.759 --> 00:24:09.859
 and unity

00:24:09.859 --> 00:24:11.740
 that he has made us

00:24:11.740 --> 00:24:12.640
 his children

00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:14.039
 we'll be reminded

00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:14.920
 that we are members

00:24:14.920 --> 00:24:15.720
 of his family

00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:17.000
 let's pray

00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:25.319
 God we know

00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:26.200
 that every good

00:24:26.200 --> 00:24:28.140
 and perfect gifts

00:24:28.140 --> 00:24:30.140
 every good

00:24:30.140 --> 00:24:31.039
 and perfect gift

00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:31.940
 comes down

00:24:31.940 --> 00:24:32.500
 from you

00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:32.960
 oh Lord

00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:34.380
 Father of heavenly lights

00:24:34.380 --> 00:24:35.299
 who does not change

00:24:35.299 --> 00:24:36.480
 like the shifting shadows

00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:39.480
 so bestow

00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:40.160
 your blessing

00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:40.779
 on us

00:24:40.779 --> 00:24:42.859
 make us one

00:24:42.859 --> 00:24:45.039
 Holy Spirit

00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:46.180
 make us humble

00:24:46.180 --> 00:24:47.320
 gracious

00:24:47.320 --> 00:24:50.539
 and affectionate

00:24:50.539 --> 00:24:51.860
 let us know

00:24:51.860 --> 00:24:52.680
 how much the Father

00:24:52.680 --> 00:24:53.220
 loves us

00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:54.240
 so that we can show

00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:55.400
 that love to each other

00:24:55.400 --> 00:24:56.279
 and to the world

00:24:56.279 --> 00:24:58.279
 we pray all of this

00:24:58.279 --> 00:24:59.400
 in Jesus name

00:24:59.400 --> 00:25:00.320
 Amen