WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.900 Well, good evening to you all. 00:00:05.160 --> 00:00:06.120 Glad to be here. 00:00:08.019 --> 00:00:12.259 We are beginning a new series this week, and a while ago we were asking ourselves what 00:00:12.259 --> 00:00:13.560 that series would be. 00:00:13.780 --> 00:00:18.980 We were praying and thinking about our church, our community, the people we love, and trying 00:00:18.980 --> 00:00:21.039 to figure out what do we need to hear right now? 00:00:21.480 --> 00:00:22.420 Where do we need to go? 00:00:23.160 --> 00:00:26.519 And the word that kept coming to mind was the word comfort. 00:00:26.519 --> 00:00:33.939 That I think, as I've talked to a lot of people and reflected in my own spiritual place right 00:00:33.939 --> 00:00:37.280 now, I have a hunger for comfort. 00:00:37.939 --> 00:00:41.640 Because I think there's a lot of anxiety in the world, particularly in our country. 00:00:43.060 --> 00:00:47.700 And so as we began to think about that, we began to wonder, and I began to kind of reflect 00:00:47.700 --> 00:00:52.420 on this reality that we don't often talk about in the Christian life. 00:00:52.420 --> 00:00:58.880 Normally when we talk about Jesus, and when we learn about Jesus, and we think about Jesus' 00:00:59.120 --> 00:01:00.920 ministry, we think about his earthly ministry. 00:01:01.100 --> 00:01:08.400 We think about the fact that he came 2,000 years ago, that he had about three years of 00:01:08.400 --> 00:01:15.140 active ministry as a young adult, and then his ultimate death and resurrection as the 00:01:15.140 --> 00:01:16.659 kind of climax of that time. 00:01:16.659 --> 00:01:20.819 So that's what Jesus did 2,000 years ago for us. 00:01:22.000 --> 00:01:27.179 But since then, for the last 2,000 years, he's been doing something else for us. 00:01:28.280 --> 00:01:30.379 And the fact is, he's been praying for us. 00:01:31.579 --> 00:01:37.280 The Bible says in a couple of different places, in Romans and Hebrews, that Jesus now actively 00:01:37.280 --> 00:01:39.259 intercedes for us. 00:01:40.179 --> 00:01:44.219 That right now, as we're sitting here, Jesus is praying for us. 00:01:44.219 --> 00:01:47.620 And that thought fascinated me. 00:01:47.799 --> 00:01:49.280 It's not something I've thought much about. 00:01:50.200 --> 00:01:55.799 And there's a place in John's Gospel, which we just heard Dan read in John chapter 17, 00:01:56.539 --> 00:02:02.420 where Jesus, in full view of his disciples, see normally he would go off and pray by himself, 00:02:02.599 --> 00:02:07.840 but this time he chooses to pray out loud in full view of his disciples, so that they can 00:02:07.840 --> 00:02:09.659 hear what he's praying. 00:02:09.659 --> 00:02:17.060 It's as though Jesus wants his disciples to know his heart for them. 00:02:18.060 --> 00:02:23.340 That when he prays for us, these are the things that he asks on our behalf. 00:02:23.800 --> 00:02:28.680 And so we're going to spend tonight and the next two weeks looking at John chapter 17, 00:02:28.819 --> 00:02:32.019 and Jesus' prayer for his disciples, and then it says, 00:02:32.340 --> 00:02:37.259 for all those who become disciples through their word, which includes us who came to faith through 00:02:37.259 --> 00:02:38.019 the scriptures. 00:02:38.679 --> 00:02:43.639 And so we're going to look at these themes, these petitions that Jesus prays on our behalf. 00:02:44.379 --> 00:02:48.859 And starting tonight, we'll look at the first theme, which you see in verses 11 and 12, 00:02:49.039 --> 00:02:54.099 and then in verses 14 and 15, that Jesus prays for our protection. 00:02:55.840 --> 00:03:00.219 That he prays that we would be safe, that we would be strengthened, that we would be secure. 00:03:00.479 --> 00:03:02.039 He prays for our protection. 00:03:02.799 --> 00:03:04.199 And so we'll see a couple of things. 00:03:04.199 --> 00:03:06.439 We'll see why we need this protection. 00:03:06.619 --> 00:03:10.819 Why would Jesus find it necessary to pray to the Father that we would be protected. 00:03:11.759 --> 00:03:14.319 And then secondly, we'll see how do we get this protection. 00:03:15.019 --> 00:03:17.199 So why we need it and how to get it. 00:03:17.839 --> 00:03:18.299 Let's pray. 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:25.919 It's a mystifying, staggering thing to know that as we close our eyes here, 00:03:25.919 --> 00:03:31.379 and we turn our attention to you and we pray to you that you're praying on our behalf. 00:03:32.759 --> 00:03:37.279 And so we simply ask tonight that as we open your word, that you would align our hearts, 00:03:37.819 --> 00:03:43.500 align our prayers, our imaginations, our longings with your prayers, 00:03:43.759 --> 00:03:47.579 which reflect your heart for us. 00:03:47.580 --> 00:03:53.100 And we pray this in your power, Lord, by the power of your spirit, 00:03:53.860 --> 00:03:55.020 in the name of your son Jesus. 00:03:55.400 --> 00:03:55.640 Amen. 00:03:57.340 --> 00:03:59.320 So why do we need protection? 00:03:59.600 --> 00:04:03.960 Why for 2,000 years might Jesus, in the very throne of heaven, 00:04:04.660 --> 00:04:08.140 be interceding on our behalf and praying for our protection? 00:04:08.139 --> 00:04:14.679 And if you look at John chapter 17 and verse 8, it shows us this kind of pattern. 00:04:15.239 --> 00:04:16.079 In verse 8 it says, 00:04:16.219 --> 00:04:19.279 The Father entrusts Jesus with his word. 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:20.459 Right? 00:04:20.599 --> 00:04:22.639 Which is the message of salvation. 00:04:22.879 --> 00:04:26.379 This is God's great plan to rescue his people through Jesus. 00:04:26.899 --> 00:04:29.459 So God entrusts Jesus with this message. 00:04:29.819 --> 00:04:34.039 And then it says that Jesus then entrusts his disciples with that word. 00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:37.959 And because of that, they come to have a relationship with God. 00:04:39.099 --> 00:04:41.659 And then further down in verse 20, 00:04:42.199 --> 00:04:45.419 it says that his disciples, by definition as disciples, 00:04:45.800 --> 00:04:47.919 then take that same word that they received, 00:04:48.120 --> 00:04:50.399 and they pass that word on to other people. 00:04:51.159 --> 00:04:53.719 Who Jesus says will come to believe through their word. 00:04:54.680 --> 00:04:55.620 He's talking about us. 00:04:56.560 --> 00:04:56.740 Right? 00:04:56.740 --> 00:05:00.779 All those who over the generations have come to faith in Jesus 00:05:00.779 --> 00:05:03.659 through the written word of his disciples, 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:05.620 which we call the Bible. 00:05:05.620 --> 00:05:11.560 So this is a receiving and then a passing on of this word. 00:05:12.439 --> 00:05:13.980 But because this is happening, 00:05:15.079 --> 00:05:19.620 it plunges those of us who have received that word into peril. 00:05:19.620 --> 00:05:23.019 And here's the peril in verse 14. 00:05:23.939 --> 00:05:24.280 It says, 00:05:24.500 --> 00:05:26.939 I have given them your word, them meaning us, 00:05:27.160 --> 00:05:28.980 and the world has hated them, 00:05:29.420 --> 00:05:31.399 because they're not of the world, 00:05:31.639 --> 00:05:33.600 just as I am not of the world. 00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:37.240 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, 00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:40.019 but that you keep them from the evil one. 00:05:40.019 --> 00:05:42.299 So in other words, 00:05:43.359 --> 00:05:45.599 the moment we become disciples, 00:05:45.879 --> 00:05:49.699 the moment we receive the word of Jesus Christ, 00:05:50.699 --> 00:05:55.740 though we are saved from sin and death, 00:05:56.500 --> 00:05:59.579 we enter into a life that is fraught with peril. 00:06:00.019 --> 00:06:00.519 In other words, 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:03.680 we are confronted immediately 00:06:03.680 --> 00:06:06.439 by two daunting opponents 00:06:06.439 --> 00:06:10.300 that will challenge us for the rest of our life here. 00:06:11.480 --> 00:06:13.900 And this lays out those opponents, 00:06:15.480 --> 00:06:17.939 the world and the flesh, 00:06:18.500 --> 00:06:18.960 or I'm sorry, 00:06:19.180 --> 00:06:21.220 the world and the evil one. 00:06:21.720 --> 00:06:23.500 The world and the flesh sort of go together, 00:06:23.780 --> 00:06:25.040 and then the evil one. 00:06:25.879 --> 00:06:26.520 And so what I want to do 00:06:26.520 --> 00:06:27.420 is just focus a little bit on 00:06:27.420 --> 00:06:28.439 what does it mean by world, 00:06:28.540 --> 00:06:29.700 what does Jesus mean by world, 00:06:29.860 --> 00:06:31.560 and what does he mean by evil one? 00:06:32.060 --> 00:06:34.060 And I want to clarify first the world, 00:06:34.180 --> 00:06:35.500 because by world, 00:06:35.560 --> 00:06:36.220 I want to make it clear 00:06:36.220 --> 00:06:37.600 that Jesus is not saying, 00:06:38.060 --> 00:06:39.580 he's not meaning by this 00:06:39.580 --> 00:06:42.000 the whole world and everybody in it, right? 00:06:42.420 --> 00:06:44.520 In many other places in John's gospel, 00:06:44.780 --> 00:06:47.140 it makes it very clear that God loves this world, 00:06:47.140 --> 00:06:49.400 and he loves everybody that he's made. 00:06:50.360 --> 00:06:52.400 So that's not what Jesus is talking about. 00:06:53.040 --> 00:06:54.200 In this particular place, 00:06:54.199 --> 00:06:56.120 the world refers to a mindset. 00:06:56.819 --> 00:06:58.240 It's a particular worldview. 00:06:58.740 --> 00:07:00.259 Being of the world 00:07:00.259 --> 00:07:03.000 is essentially living life 00:07:03.000 --> 00:07:05.879 in a way that denies the reality of God. 00:07:07.060 --> 00:07:09.039 It's denying or ignoring God 00:07:09.039 --> 00:07:10.419 in the world that he's made. 00:07:10.680 --> 00:07:12.639 This is what it means to be of the world. 00:07:14.219 --> 00:07:16.300 So Blaise Pascal was a brilliant 00:07:16.300 --> 00:07:19.039 17th century mathematician and physicist, 00:07:19.319 --> 00:07:21.740 and he had a kind of dramatic conversion to Christianity. 00:07:21.740 --> 00:07:24.579 And then he began to write his thoughts 00:07:24.579 --> 00:07:27.800 on various aspects of Christianity, 00:07:27.939 --> 00:07:29.100 and particularly focused time 00:07:29.100 --> 00:07:32.360 on reasons that people would reject Christianity 00:07:32.360 --> 00:07:35.879 or not believe it or be opposed to it. 00:07:35.939 --> 00:07:37.100 And he reflects on this, 00:07:37.500 --> 00:07:38.660 and in these reflections, 00:07:38.860 --> 00:07:40.600 which came to be known as the pensées, 00:07:40.879 --> 00:07:42.740 he makes this fascinating observation. 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:45.340 And Pascal actually contends 00:07:45.340 --> 00:07:49.160 that no one is neutral when it comes to God. 00:07:49.160 --> 00:07:51.140 That no one is neutral. 00:07:52.820 --> 00:07:54.140 He says this, he says, 00:07:54.580 --> 00:07:56.140 men despise religion, 00:07:56.480 --> 00:07:57.939 and by that he means Christianity. 00:07:59.200 --> 00:08:00.260 They hate it 00:08:00.260 --> 00:08:02.260 and are afraid it may be true. 00:08:03.420 --> 00:08:04.040 So he's saying, 00:08:04.120 --> 00:08:05.160 when it comes to Christianity, 00:08:05.379 --> 00:08:06.220 no one is neutral. 00:08:07.280 --> 00:08:08.080 So you can have, 00:08:08.260 --> 00:08:08.879 on the one hand, 00:08:08.940 --> 00:08:11.980 you can have the kind of outspoken critic 00:08:11.980 --> 00:08:15.319 who vilifies and caricatures 00:08:15.319 --> 00:08:18.259 Christianity and Christians at every turn. 00:08:19.340 --> 00:08:19.500 Right? 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:22.340 You can also have the very thoughtful agnostic 00:08:22.340 --> 00:08:25.140 who has really well-reasoned arguments 00:08:25.140 --> 00:08:27.100 against the Christian faith 00:08:27.100 --> 00:08:28.480 and has thought it through. 00:08:28.980 --> 00:08:30.740 And then you can have the person over here 00:08:30.740 --> 00:08:31.400 who says, 00:08:31.460 --> 00:08:31.660 you know, 00:08:31.780 --> 00:08:33.320 I am just not a religious person. 00:08:33.440 --> 00:08:34.720 I've never thought about it. 00:08:34.920 --> 00:08:36.680 It's never even crossed my mind. 00:08:36.759 --> 00:08:37.800 I'm not spiritual. 00:08:37.799 --> 00:08:41.339 And I've not ever spent a moment of my time 00:08:41.339 --> 00:08:42.159 thinking about this stuff. 00:08:42.240 --> 00:08:43.240 It just does not matter to me. 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:44.059 I'm totally indifferent. 00:08:45.959 --> 00:08:47.740 And what Pascal would say 00:08:47.740 --> 00:08:50.279 is that all of these people 00:08:50.279 --> 00:08:52.439 actually, deep down, 00:08:52.979 --> 00:08:54.099 despise God. 00:08:55.039 --> 00:08:55.939 They may not know it. 00:08:55.979 --> 00:08:56.979 They may not feel it. 00:08:57.439 --> 00:08:57.899 But he says, 00:08:57.939 --> 00:08:58.679 deep down they do. 00:08:58.759 --> 00:09:00.099 And the reason he contends 00:09:00.099 --> 00:09:02.939 is because we know deep down 00:09:02.940 --> 00:09:04.480 that if there is a God 00:09:04.480 --> 00:09:08.920 that we cannot simply live as we choose. 00:09:10.100 --> 00:09:12.080 Or if Christianity is true, 00:09:12.220 --> 00:09:13.300 it means ultimately 00:09:13.300 --> 00:09:15.540 that we're not the ones in control. 00:09:16.280 --> 00:09:16.820 And he says, 00:09:16.960 --> 00:09:17.720 knowing that, 00:09:18.100 --> 00:09:19.560 it fills us with fear. 00:09:20.200 --> 00:09:23.480 And that fear leads to our despising God. 00:09:25.820 --> 00:09:26.820 Thomas Nagel, 00:09:26.960 --> 00:09:29.120 who's an atheist and a philosopher at NYU, 00:09:29.720 --> 00:09:32.560 practically admits this in his writing. 00:09:32.940 --> 00:09:34.260 He says, 00:09:35.100 --> 00:09:36.920 I want atheism to be true. 00:09:38.760 --> 00:09:39.580 I mean, think about that. 00:09:40.580 --> 00:09:41.600 Most of us like to think 00:09:41.600 --> 00:09:43.100 that we're detached, neutral, 00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:44.200 evaluating the evidence. 00:09:44.320 --> 00:09:45.080 He says, no, no, no. 00:09:45.160 --> 00:09:46.100 If I'm honest, 00:09:46.360 --> 00:09:48.000 I want atheism to be true. 00:09:48.200 --> 00:09:49.240 I want it to be true. 00:09:50.440 --> 00:09:50.920 And he says, 00:09:50.980 --> 00:09:52.740 and I'm made terribly uneasy 00:09:52.740 --> 00:09:53.680 by the fact that 00:09:53.680 --> 00:09:54.740 some of the most intelligent 00:09:54.740 --> 00:09:56.320 and well-informed people I know 00:09:56.320 --> 00:09:57.340 are religious believers. 00:09:57.340 --> 00:09:59.740 So see, 00:09:59.960 --> 00:10:01.660 as much as we like to think 00:10:01.660 --> 00:10:02.519 we're detached, 00:10:02.700 --> 00:10:04.240 neutral observers of the evidence, 00:10:05.160 --> 00:10:06.000 Pascal would say, 00:10:06.080 --> 00:10:06.940 and Nagel would agree, 00:10:07.440 --> 00:10:08.620 that we are rooting 00:10:08.620 --> 00:10:11.220 for none of it to be true. 00:10:12.300 --> 00:10:12.960 And I think that, 00:10:13.060 --> 00:10:13.240 you know, 00:10:13.280 --> 00:10:14.340 to give one more example, 00:10:14.500 --> 00:10:15.519 you see this very often 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:16.660 in the scientific community. 00:10:16.980 --> 00:10:17.480 And those of you 00:10:17.480 --> 00:10:18.160 who are scientists 00:10:18.160 --> 00:10:19.220 know this. 00:10:19.259 --> 00:10:19.460 Now, 00:10:19.660 --> 00:10:20.280 that's not to say 00:10:20.280 --> 00:10:21.420 there aren't Christian scientists. 00:10:21.560 --> 00:10:23.280 There are many brilliant Christians 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:24.679 who are scientists. 00:10:25.039 --> 00:10:26.059 And my wife and I 00:10:26.059 --> 00:10:27.199 were just recently this week 00:10:27.199 --> 00:10:27.819 at an event 00:10:27.819 --> 00:10:28.899 with Dr. Francis Collins, 00:10:29.100 --> 00:10:30.399 who's the head of the NIH 00:10:30.399 --> 00:10:32.019 and one of the most brilliant 00:10:32.019 --> 00:10:33.059 scientists out there 00:10:33.059 --> 00:10:34.079 and an ardent 00:10:34.079 --> 00:10:35.539 and passionate follower of Jesus 00:10:35.539 --> 00:10:36.360 who led us 00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:37.620 in singing hymns 00:10:37.620 --> 00:10:39.519 playing his classical guitar. 00:10:40.559 --> 00:10:41.740 And so there are scientists 00:10:41.740 --> 00:10:42.259 out there, 00:10:42.980 --> 00:10:43.720 many of them. 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:45.539 But there does exist 00:10:45.539 --> 00:10:46.899 within the scientific community 00:10:46.899 --> 00:10:48.079 a subset of people 00:10:48.079 --> 00:10:49.299 who seem almost 00:10:49.299 --> 00:10:51.419 irrationally devoted 00:10:51.419 --> 00:10:53.939 to materialistic causality. 00:10:54.759 --> 00:10:55.240 In other words, 00:10:55.339 --> 00:10:56.519 they're devoted 00:10:56.519 --> 00:10:57.679 to explaining 00:10:57.679 --> 00:10:58.699 all of this 00:10:58.699 --> 00:11:00.039 in ways 00:11:00.039 --> 00:11:01.419 that do not necessitate 00:11:01.419 --> 00:11:02.360 God. 00:11:03.919 --> 00:11:05.539 And one in particular, 00:11:06.659 --> 00:11:07.719 I find this kind of 00:11:07.719 --> 00:11:09.039 a fascinating admission. 00:11:09.799 --> 00:11:10.479 Richard Lewontin 00:11:10.479 --> 00:11:11.939 is a geneticist at Harvard 00:11:11.939 --> 00:11:13.379 and here's what he says. 00:11:13.919 --> 00:11:14.419 He says, 00:11:14.539 --> 00:11:15.759 it's not that the methods 00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:17.199 and institutions of science 00:11:17.199 --> 00:11:18.740 somehow compel us 00:11:18.740 --> 00:11:20.639 to accept a material explanation 00:11:20.639 --> 00:11:21.799 of the phenomenal world, 00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:23.139 but on the contrary, 00:11:23.319 --> 00:11:24.019 that we're forced 00:11:24.019 --> 00:11:25.740 by our a priori adherence 00:11:25.740 --> 00:11:26.799 to material causes 00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:28.559 to create an apparatus 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:29.379 of investigation 00:11:29.379 --> 00:11:30.539 and a set of concepts 00:11:30.539 --> 00:11:32.419 that produce material explanations. 00:11:32.860 --> 00:11:34.259 No matter how counterintuitive, 00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:35.379 no matter how mystifying 00:11:35.379 --> 00:11:36.299 to the uninitiated, 00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:37.279 moreover, 00:11:37.419 --> 00:11:38.240 that materialism 00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:39.179 is absolute, 00:11:39.819 --> 00:11:41.139 for we cannot allow 00:11:41.139 --> 00:11:41.980 a divine foot 00:11:41.980 --> 00:11:42.539 in the door. 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:45.100 Now, in case you didn't catch 00:11:45.100 --> 00:11:46.179 what he's saying there, 00:11:46.620 --> 00:11:47.220 let me just tell you, 00:11:47.220 --> 00:11:48.799 what is he actually saying there? 00:11:48.799 --> 00:11:51.919 He's saying there's nothing 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:53.899 in science that compels us 00:11:53.899 --> 00:11:54.839 to reject God. 00:11:56.199 --> 00:11:57.539 Rather, it's because 00:11:57.539 --> 00:11:58.379 it's the opposite. 00:11:58.899 --> 00:12:00.000 It's because we start 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:00.839 from a place 00:12:00.839 --> 00:12:02.579 of assuming there's no God. 00:12:04.120 --> 00:12:05.799 And then that constrains 00:12:06.559 --> 00:12:07.879 our approach to science. 00:12:09.319 --> 00:12:11.759 Our entire approach 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:13.319 to exploring and making sense 00:12:13.319 --> 00:12:13.919 of the world 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:15.740 begins from a place 00:12:15.740 --> 00:12:17.339 that rejects the idea of God. 00:12:17.340 --> 00:12:17.780 In other words, 00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:18.940 the mentality that is, 00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:19.780 according to Jesus, 00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:20.920 of the world. 00:12:21.860 --> 00:12:22.040 Right? 00:12:23.440 --> 00:12:24.560 So this is a mindset 00:12:24.560 --> 00:12:25.340 and a worldview. 00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:26.639 And I do want to make 00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:27.399 the distinction here. 00:12:27.620 --> 00:12:28.340 We're not just talking 00:12:28.340 --> 00:12:28.879 about the difference 00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:29.639 between Christians 00:12:29.639 --> 00:12:30.759 and non-Christians. 00:12:30.860 --> 00:12:31.040 Right? 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:32.720 It's very common 00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:33.560 and very easy 00:12:33.560 --> 00:12:34.220 for all of us 00:12:34.220 --> 00:12:34.960 who are Christians, 00:12:35.080 --> 00:12:35.720 even those of us 00:12:35.720 --> 00:12:36.200 who have been Christians 00:12:36.200 --> 00:12:37.000 a long time, 00:12:37.540 --> 00:12:39.860 to claim faith 00:12:39.860 --> 00:12:41.440 and yet nevertheless 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:44.780 live of the world. 00:12:44.900 --> 00:12:45.340 In other words, 00:12:45.440 --> 00:12:47.120 live as functional atheists. 00:12:48.100 --> 00:12:48.220 Right? 00:12:48.259 --> 00:12:49.120 We claim faith, 00:12:49.399 --> 00:12:49.840 but when you look 00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:50.300 at our lives, 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:50.899 there's essentially 00:12:50.899 --> 00:12:52.720 a functional atheism. 00:12:53.480 --> 00:12:53.759 Right? 00:12:54.139 --> 00:12:54.860 And so that would be 00:12:54.860 --> 00:12:55.660 of the world. 00:12:57.160 --> 00:12:58.440 But the real concern 00:12:58.440 --> 00:12:59.580 in Jesus' prayer 00:12:59.580 --> 00:13:01.660 isn't just being 00:13:01.660 --> 00:13:02.519 of the world. 00:13:02.580 --> 00:13:03.200 As much as that 00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:04.200 is a concern, 00:13:04.759 --> 00:13:05.620 Jesus is actually 00:13:05.620 --> 00:13:06.320 equally, 00:13:06.500 --> 00:13:07.040 if not more, 00:13:07.040 --> 00:13:07.660 concerned 00:13:07.660 --> 00:13:10.580 about the second enemy 00:13:10.580 --> 00:13:11.780 or opponent 00:13:11.780 --> 00:13:12.980 in the Christian life. 00:13:13.620 --> 00:13:14.840 The one who's actually 00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:17.240 behind all of this. 00:13:18.180 --> 00:13:19.420 And in verse 14, 00:13:20.840 --> 00:13:21.840 Jesus prays, 00:13:22.379 --> 00:13:23.399 I'm not asking you 00:13:23.399 --> 00:13:24.060 to take them 00:13:24.060 --> 00:13:24.980 out of the world, 00:13:25.560 --> 00:13:26.620 but that you keep them 00:13:26.620 --> 00:13:27.680 from the evil one. 00:13:28.899 --> 00:13:30.019 You see what he's saying there? 00:13:30.220 --> 00:13:30.660 He's saying, 00:13:30.759 --> 00:13:31.600 the real problem, 00:13:31.700 --> 00:13:32.540 my real concern 00:13:32.540 --> 00:13:33.420 isn't that there are 00:13:33.420 --> 00:13:34.120 a lot of people 00:13:34.120 --> 00:13:35.160 who are of the world, 00:13:35.220 --> 00:13:36.660 who reject this idea of God. 00:13:37.200 --> 00:13:38.240 That's bad enough. 00:13:38.540 --> 00:13:38.860 He says, 00:13:38.920 --> 00:13:39.960 but the real concern 00:13:39.960 --> 00:13:40.800 and the real danger 00:13:40.800 --> 00:13:42.220 is the one 00:13:42.220 --> 00:13:43.060 who is behind 00:13:43.060 --> 00:13:43.940 that mentality. 00:13:43.940 --> 00:13:46.400 And this is not something 00:13:46.400 --> 00:13:47.320 that we talk about 00:13:47.320 --> 00:13:48.020 a lot at Advent, 00:13:48.280 --> 00:13:49.220 but from time to time, 00:13:49.280 --> 00:13:49.920 I think it's important 00:13:49.920 --> 00:13:50.800 to come back to 00:13:50.800 --> 00:13:51.940 the fact that 00:13:51.940 --> 00:13:52.560 at the core 00:13:52.560 --> 00:13:53.600 of Christian faith, 00:13:53.800 --> 00:13:54.580 one of the things 00:13:54.580 --> 00:13:55.320 that we believe, 00:13:55.420 --> 00:13:56.480 because we see Jesus 00:13:56.480 --> 00:13:57.420 acknowledging it, 00:13:57.840 --> 00:13:58.940 is that behind 00:13:58.940 --> 00:14:00.320 all of the evil 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:00.960 in the world, 00:14:01.100 --> 00:14:02.040 there is actually 00:14:02.040 --> 00:14:03.960 a personified being. 00:14:04.820 --> 00:14:05.840 There is actually 00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:07.540 a personal entity. 00:14:07.539 --> 00:14:10.579 And that being 00:14:10.579 --> 00:14:13.379 is relentlessly 00:14:13.379 --> 00:14:14.480 opposed to God 00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:16.240 and all that God 00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:16.759 has made. 00:14:18.099 --> 00:14:19.480 And the objective 00:14:19.480 --> 00:14:20.399 of this being, 00:14:20.539 --> 00:14:21.339 the evil one, 00:14:21.439 --> 00:14:22.659 is to rob God 00:14:22.659 --> 00:14:23.219 of glory. 00:14:24.120 --> 00:14:25.099 And he does that 00:14:25.099 --> 00:14:26.000 by destroying 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:26.759 all that God 00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:27.240 has made, 00:14:28.099 --> 00:14:28.959 including us. 00:14:29.500 --> 00:14:29.679 See, 00:14:29.779 --> 00:14:30.539 we're casualties. 00:14:31.599 --> 00:14:32.679 The real aim 00:14:32.679 --> 00:14:33.819 is to rob God 00:14:33.819 --> 00:14:34.419 of his glory. 00:14:34.939 --> 00:14:35.799 But we're the way 00:14:35.799 --> 00:14:36.500 that happens. 00:14:36.500 --> 00:14:37.659 Right? 00:14:37.740 --> 00:14:38.519 And so Jesus is saying, 00:14:38.659 --> 00:14:39.480 my real concern 00:14:39.480 --> 00:14:41.059 is not just the mindset, 00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:41.659 it's the one 00:14:41.659 --> 00:14:42.860 who drives the mindset. 00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:44.940 The one who is 00:14:44.940 --> 00:14:46.100 literally hell-bent 00:14:46.100 --> 00:14:47.960 on robbing God 00:14:47.960 --> 00:14:48.440 of glory 00:14:48.440 --> 00:14:49.220 and destroying 00:14:49.220 --> 00:14:50.419 everything that he's made. 00:14:50.940 --> 00:14:51.580 And you see, 00:14:51.700 --> 00:14:52.419 since the beginning 00:14:52.419 --> 00:14:52.940 of time, 00:14:53.039 --> 00:14:53.679 since the beginning, 00:14:54.019 --> 00:14:55.500 since human beings 00:14:55.500 --> 00:14:56.659 first called out 00:14:56.659 --> 00:14:57.139 to God, 00:14:57.340 --> 00:14:58.059 Satan has been 00:14:58.059 --> 00:14:59.440 trying to convince us 00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:00.519 that we're better off 00:15:00.519 --> 00:15:01.159 without God. 00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:02.220 You see that 00:15:02.220 --> 00:15:03.279 in Genesis chapter 3. 00:15:03.440 --> 00:15:04.299 You're better off 00:15:04.299 --> 00:15:04.759 without him. 00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:06.019 You will be more free. 00:15:06.019 --> 00:15:07.120 You will live 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:07.860 a better life. 00:15:08.039 --> 00:15:09.139 You'll have more options. 00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:10.100 You'll have 00:15:10.100 --> 00:15:13.059 a greater array 00:15:13.059 --> 00:15:13.840 of possibilities, 00:15:13.980 --> 00:15:14.620 more fulfillment, 00:15:14.840 --> 00:15:15.899 if you can just do away 00:15:15.899 --> 00:15:17.360 with this antiquated notion 00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:18.419 of a higher power. 00:15:19.980 --> 00:15:20.919 That's been happening 00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:21.840 ever since human beings 00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:22.579 have walked the earth. 00:15:23.539 --> 00:15:24.799 So this is the first thing 00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:25.720 Jesus' prayer 00:15:25.720 --> 00:15:26.899 teaches us. 00:15:27.699 --> 00:15:29.179 That there is a danger 00:15:29.179 --> 00:15:30.220 out there. 00:15:30.299 --> 00:15:31.279 That the core problem 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:32.199 in our lives, 00:15:32.200 --> 00:15:33.920 the core problem 00:15:33.920 --> 00:15:35.759 is actually 00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:36.920 a spiritual problem. 00:15:38.020 --> 00:15:39.480 And the true enemy 00:15:39.480 --> 00:15:40.879 is a spiritual enemy. 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:43.960 That that's the real problem 00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:44.620 with the world. 00:15:45.820 --> 00:15:47.200 Now I want to reflect 00:15:47.200 --> 00:15:48.620 on the implications 00:15:48.620 --> 00:15:49.660 of that before we move 00:15:49.660 --> 00:15:50.440 on to the next point. 00:15:50.900 --> 00:15:51.740 The real enemy 00:15:51.740 --> 00:15:52.940 is a spiritual enemy. 00:15:53.660 --> 00:15:54.200 What difference 00:15:54.200 --> 00:15:55.020 does that make for us? 00:15:57.460 --> 00:15:58.900 World War I broke out 00:15:58.899 --> 00:16:00.319 and when that happened 00:16:00.319 --> 00:16:01.259 the British Empire 00:16:01.259 --> 00:16:02.279 at that point in time 00:16:02.279 --> 00:16:03.240 was vast 00:16:03.240 --> 00:16:03.980 all around the world. 00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:05.959 And when war broke out 00:16:05.959 --> 00:16:06.899 the British Empire, 00:16:07.079 --> 00:16:08.100 the war office 00:16:08.100 --> 00:16:09.340 sent a telegram 00:16:09.340 --> 00:16:10.899 to all of their outposts 00:16:11.579 --> 00:16:12.340 and it said 00:16:12.340 --> 00:16:13.759 war declared 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:16.899 arrest all enemy aliens 00:16:17.459 --> 00:16:18.459 in your district. 00:16:20.039 --> 00:16:21.379 And so a couple of days later 00:16:21.379 --> 00:16:23.639 they get a return telegram 00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:25.340 from this remote 00:16:25.340 --> 00:16:26.220 British outpost 00:16:26.220 --> 00:16:26.980 in Africa 00:16:26.980 --> 00:16:28.000 and it said 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:29.200 have arrested 00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:30.399 ten Germans, 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:31.519 six Belgians, 00:16:31.779 --> 00:16:32.480 four Frenchmen, 00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:33.460 two Italians, 00:16:33.820 --> 00:16:34.480 three Austrians 00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:35.360 and an American. 00:16:36.059 --> 00:16:37.019 Please advise, 00:16:37.460 --> 00:16:38.840 who are we at war with? 00:16:40.559 --> 00:16:42.519 They just arrested everybody. 00:16:44.419 --> 00:16:45.820 But what's the point? 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:46.980 The point is 00:16:46.980 --> 00:16:48.279 if we don't know 00:16:48.279 --> 00:16:50.220 who we are at war with 00:16:50.220 --> 00:16:52.720 we're going to waste 00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:54.080 all of our time and energy 00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:56.100 fighting the wrong enemies. 00:16:56.100 --> 00:16:58.720 fighting the wrong battles. 00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:01.220 We have to know 00:17:01.220 --> 00:17:02.500 who the enemy really is. 00:17:05.120 --> 00:17:06.579 Our struggle is not 00:17:06.579 --> 00:17:07.579 against flesh and blood. 00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:09.900 Which means it's not 00:17:09.900 --> 00:17:10.920 ultimately against 00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:11.660 other people. 00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:13.900 So our struggle 00:17:13.900 --> 00:17:14.779 is not against 00:17:14.779 --> 00:17:15.940 Donald Trump, 00:17:16.039 --> 00:17:16.319 right? 00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:19.140 As many headlines 00:17:19.140 --> 00:17:19.839 as may claim it, 00:17:19.980 --> 00:17:21.299 he is not the evil one 00:17:21.299 --> 00:17:23.059 that is being talked about here. 00:17:23.059 --> 00:17:24.740 Our struggle is not 00:17:24.740 --> 00:17:25.679 against his supporters 00:17:25.679 --> 00:17:27.019 or people who voted for him. 00:17:27.379 --> 00:17:28.359 Our struggle is not 00:17:28.359 --> 00:17:29.240 against Hillary Clinton 00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:30.779 or her supporters 00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:32.139 and people who voted for her, 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:32.460 right? 00:17:32.839 --> 00:17:34.059 Our struggle is not 00:17:34.059 --> 00:17:34.859 against liberals 00:17:34.859 --> 00:17:36.700 or right-wing nuts 00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:39.399 or the alt-right 00:17:39.399 --> 00:17:40.899 or atheists, 00:17:41.299 --> 00:17:41.500 right? 00:17:41.639 --> 00:17:42.819 Our struggle is not 00:17:42.819 --> 00:17:44.000 ultimately against 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:45.099 flesh and blood. 00:17:46.099 --> 00:17:46.899 Now I'm not saying 00:17:46.899 --> 00:17:47.940 these differences aren't real 00:17:47.940 --> 00:17:48.559 and I'm not saying 00:17:48.559 --> 00:17:49.240 that they don't matter, 00:17:49.339 --> 00:17:50.099 but what I am saying 00:17:50.099 --> 00:17:50.599 is this. 00:17:50.599 --> 00:17:51.879 We need to face 00:17:51.879 --> 00:17:52.719 a fact here. 00:17:54.899 --> 00:17:56.500 Satan is waging 00:17:56.500 --> 00:17:59.379 a spiritual proxy war 00:17:59.379 --> 00:18:01.240 against God. 00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:04.779 Do you understand that? 00:18:05.699 --> 00:18:06.699 It's like what's 00:18:06.699 --> 00:18:07.459 happening in Syria. 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:10.799 We're getting caught up 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:11.679 in a conflict 00:18:11.679 --> 00:18:13.619 that is bigger than us. 00:18:14.679 --> 00:18:15.839 We're the means, 00:18:15.939 --> 00:18:16.679 we're the pawns 00:18:16.679 --> 00:18:17.240 on the board. 00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:19.279 We're being used. 00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:22.299 We're getting caught up 00:18:22.299 --> 00:18:23.940 in a spiritual proxy war 00:18:23.940 --> 00:18:25.019 that Satan has waged 00:18:25.019 --> 00:18:25.700 against God. 00:18:26.579 --> 00:18:27.700 He has no hope 00:18:27.700 --> 00:18:28.559 of victory. 00:18:29.319 --> 00:18:30.259 It's already certain 00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:30.960 that he's lost. 00:18:31.660 --> 00:18:32.200 But nevertheless, 00:18:32.420 --> 00:18:33.099 he fights 00:18:33.099 --> 00:18:35.139 and thus we fight. 00:18:36.779 --> 00:18:37.059 Right? 00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:38.240 So when we obsess 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:39.019 over the latest 00:18:39.019 --> 00:18:40.099 source of outrage 00:18:40.099 --> 00:18:41.759 or when we fire off 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:43.240 a rant on social media, 00:18:43.399 --> 00:18:44.639 when we pass around 00:18:44.639 --> 00:18:46.019 inflammatory articles, 00:18:46.220 --> 00:18:47.579 when we wring our hands 00:18:47.579 --> 00:18:48.699 and when we roll 00:18:48.699 --> 00:18:50.039 our eyes with contempt, 00:18:50.220 --> 00:18:51.399 all of the while 00:18:51.399 --> 00:18:52.460 we are fighting 00:18:52.460 --> 00:18:53.939 this proxy war. 00:18:54.259 --> 00:18:55.139 And don't you understand 00:18:55.139 --> 00:18:55.720 that Satan 00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:57.740 absolutely delights 00:18:57.740 --> 00:18:59.619 in our outrage 00:18:59.619 --> 00:19:01.359 and our political obsession 00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:02.859 and our fear 00:19:02.859 --> 00:19:04.139 and our division. 00:19:04.539 --> 00:19:05.419 He delights in it 00:19:05.419 --> 00:19:06.599 because that is his agenda. 00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:07.779 That is robbing 00:19:07.779 --> 00:19:08.519 God of glory. 00:19:08.779 --> 00:19:09.220 It's tearing 00:19:09.220 --> 00:19:10.119 his creation apart. 00:19:10.119 --> 00:19:14.179 The point is, 00:19:14.359 --> 00:19:15.779 I think if we really 00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:17.839 believed that the real enemy 00:19:17.839 --> 00:19:19.359 was a spiritual enemy, 00:19:19.619 --> 00:19:21.139 we would spend our time 00:19:21.139 --> 00:19:22.059 very differently. 00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:24.819 I'll just speak for myself. 00:19:25.399 --> 00:19:26.299 I think if I really 00:19:26.299 --> 00:19:27.039 believed this, 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:28.679 if I have a hope 00:19:28.679 --> 00:19:29.819 of leaving here 00:19:29.819 --> 00:19:31.019 and actually believing 00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:31.899 and hearing what I've 00:19:31.899 --> 00:19:32.579 just said to you, 00:19:33.239 --> 00:19:34.479 I think I will change 00:19:34.479 --> 00:19:35.519 how I spend my time. 00:19:36.119 --> 00:19:37.219 I'll spend less time 00:19:37.219 --> 00:19:38.579 obsessing on social media, 00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:41.099 reading the news 00:19:41.099 --> 00:19:41.779 for the latest 00:19:41.779 --> 00:19:43.519 insane headline, 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:45.399 and I'll spend more time 00:19:45.399 --> 00:19:46.179 on my knees. 00:19:47.099 --> 00:19:48.559 Because that is how 00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:49.619 this battle is fought. 00:19:50.859 --> 00:19:52.339 That's what Jesus is doing. 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:54.759 Right? 00:19:54.819 --> 00:19:55.819 So that's the first point. 00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:57.199 Why do we need 00:19:57.199 --> 00:19:58.199 God's divine protection? 00:19:58.639 --> 00:19:59.299 Because we have 00:19:59.299 --> 00:20:00.179 a spiritual enemy 00:20:00.179 --> 00:20:01.699 who works unceasingly 00:20:01.699 --> 00:20:03.000 to tear us away from God. 00:20:03.460 --> 00:20:04.939 And a spiritual problem 00:20:04.939 --> 00:20:07.480 requires a spiritual solution. 00:20:07.480 --> 00:20:09.039 So that brings us 00:20:09.039 --> 00:20:10.500 to the next part of this, 00:20:10.620 --> 00:20:10.980 which is, 00:20:11.299 --> 00:20:12.240 if that's the reason 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:13.120 we need protection, 00:20:13.259 --> 00:20:14.640 then how do we get protection? 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:16.099 What kind of protection 00:20:16.099 --> 00:20:17.779 is Jesus praying for? 00:20:18.259 --> 00:20:19.420 And he says in verse 11, 00:20:19.960 --> 00:20:21.420 I'm no longer in the world, 00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:22.960 but they are in the world, 00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:23.620 meaning us. 00:20:24.059 --> 00:20:25.200 And I'm coming to you, 00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:25.819 Holy Father. 00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:27.720 Comma. 00:20:28.380 --> 00:20:30.000 Keep them in your name. 00:20:30.819 --> 00:20:31.620 Keep them, 00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:33.299 you, me, all of us, 00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:35.500 keep them in your name. 00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:36.759 Now, what does it mean 00:20:36.759 --> 00:20:37.859 for God to keep us 00:20:37.859 --> 00:20:39.119 in his name? 00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:40.559 Well, it doesn't really 00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:41.640 make sense unless you know 00:20:41.640 --> 00:20:43.000 that God's name 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:44.720 actually means his character. 00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:45.460 So think about, 00:20:45.579 --> 00:20:47.039 think about God's character, 00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:48.400 all that we know of him, 00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:49.140 all that he's revealed 00:20:49.140 --> 00:20:49.839 himself to be, 00:20:50.119 --> 00:20:51.400 all that he's done in history, 00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:52.519 his character. 00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:53.319 That's his name. 00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:53.960 It's summative 00:20:53.960 --> 00:20:55.299 of his whole identity. 00:20:56.400 --> 00:20:57.299 And in the Bible, 00:20:57.539 --> 00:20:58.920 particularly in the Psalms, 00:20:59.599 --> 00:21:01.160 it talks a number of places 00:21:01.160 --> 00:21:02.319 about God's character 00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:04.000 being like a refuge, 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:06.059 a source of protection, 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:06.619 right, 00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:09.019 a place of safety. 00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:10.900 Now, what does that mean? 00:21:10.980 --> 00:21:12.140 How does that actually work? 00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:14.099 And the only image 00:21:14.099 --> 00:21:15.119 I can really think of 00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:16.480 to convey this, 00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:17.619 with apologies, 00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:19.740 comes from this science fiction book 00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:21.539 that I read not too long ago. 00:21:21.859 --> 00:21:23.299 And in this science fiction novel, 00:21:23.740 --> 00:21:25.119 there's this planet 00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:26.079 in a solar system, 00:21:26.180 --> 00:21:27.500 and the planet is very close 00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:28.119 to the sun. 00:21:28.599 --> 00:21:30.000 And in order to get 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:30.640 to this planet, 00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:31.779 you have to fly very close 00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:33.400 to this really huge sun. 00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:34.519 And the problem is 00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:35.720 is that most spaceships, 00:21:36.100 --> 00:21:36.340 when they, 00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:37.759 if they just try to fly 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:39.000 directly to the planet, 00:21:39.360 --> 00:21:41.120 the cosmic rays 00:21:41.120 --> 00:21:42.240 from the sun 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:43.980 will tear the ship apart. 00:21:44.140 --> 00:21:44.259 It'll, 00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:45.680 they'll rip it apart 00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:46.860 and disintegrate it 00:21:46.860 --> 00:21:47.720 in space. 00:21:48.460 --> 00:21:49.560 And so the only way 00:21:49.560 --> 00:21:50.460 to get to this planet 00:21:50.460 --> 00:21:54.240 is this giant shield ship 00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:55.660 that they've built. 00:21:55.900 --> 00:21:57.120 And it's a shield 00:21:57.120 --> 00:21:58.440 that blocks the rays 00:21:58.440 --> 00:21:59.100 of the sun. 00:21:59.500 --> 00:22:00.280 And so the ship 00:22:00.280 --> 00:22:01.660 flies out to meet you. 00:22:01.660 --> 00:22:03.120 And that if you pull 00:22:03.120 --> 00:22:04.220 your ship alongside 00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:05.240 the shield ship, 00:22:05.880 --> 00:22:06.980 and you fly 00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:08.180 in the shadow 00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:09.080 of that ship, 00:22:09.580 --> 00:22:10.820 it escorts you 00:22:10.820 --> 00:22:11.500 safely 00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:12.900 to the planet. 00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:14.460 In other words, 00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:15.320 you find safety 00:22:15.320 --> 00:22:16.100 in the shadow 00:22:16.100 --> 00:22:17.480 of this great shield 00:22:17.480 --> 00:22:18.460 that is blocking 00:22:18.460 --> 00:22:19.100 those rays 00:22:19.100 --> 00:22:19.800 that would otherwise 00:22:19.800 --> 00:22:20.840 tear you to bits. 00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:23.480 So Psalm 91, 00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:24.480 which we just read, 00:22:24.600 --> 00:22:24.900 says, 00:22:25.220 --> 00:22:26.240 he who dwells 00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:26.900 in the shelter 00:22:26.900 --> 00:22:27.880 of the Most High 00:22:27.880 --> 00:22:28.860 will abide 00:22:28.859 --> 00:22:29.679 in the shadow 00:22:29.679 --> 00:22:30.539 of the Almighty. 00:22:31.819 --> 00:22:33.519 So it's the same image. 00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:34.319 I would suggest 00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:35.619 it's a very similar image. 00:22:35.819 --> 00:22:36.839 That as we are moving 00:22:36.839 --> 00:22:37.919 along with God, 00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:39.359 allowing God's will 00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:41.279 to shape our decisions, 00:22:41.479 --> 00:22:42.599 to shape our priorities, 00:22:42.779 --> 00:22:43.859 to shape how we spend 00:22:43.859 --> 00:22:44.339 our time, 00:22:44.399 --> 00:22:45.299 we're allowing Him 00:22:45.299 --> 00:22:46.659 to guide and direct 00:22:46.659 --> 00:22:47.179 our steps. 00:22:47.259 --> 00:22:48.019 And as we're doing that, 00:22:48.079 --> 00:22:48.519 we're moving, 00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:49.779 we're keeping in step 00:22:49.779 --> 00:22:51.099 with God and His will 00:22:51.099 --> 00:22:51.839 and His word 00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:52.899 that we are staying 00:22:52.899 --> 00:22:53.659 in His shadow. 00:22:54.019 --> 00:22:55.339 We are moving with Him 00:22:55.339 --> 00:22:56.679 through our lives 00:22:56.679 --> 00:22:58.099 from beginning to end. 00:22:58.099 --> 00:22:58.939 And as we do that 00:22:58.939 --> 00:23:00.240 and stay in His shadow, 00:23:00.659 --> 00:23:01.500 His character 00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:04.219 shields us 00:23:04.219 --> 00:23:05.619 from things 00:23:05.619 --> 00:23:06.299 that would otherwise 00:23:06.299 --> 00:23:07.079 tear us apart. 00:23:08.379 --> 00:23:08.919 Now you say, 00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:09.579 well, what does that mean? 00:23:09.639 --> 00:23:10.259 Well, let me give you 00:23:10.259 --> 00:23:10.859 a couple of examples. 00:23:10.980 --> 00:23:12.079 We could go through dozens. 00:23:12.199 --> 00:23:12.859 I'll just give you two 00:23:12.859 --> 00:23:13.639 for the sake of time. 00:23:15.379 --> 00:23:16.039 Think about 00:23:16.039 --> 00:23:17.039 the struggle 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:17.819 that many of us have 00:23:17.819 --> 00:23:18.699 with anxiety. 00:23:20.679 --> 00:23:21.039 Anxiety. 00:23:22.119 --> 00:23:22.240 Right? 00:23:22.459 --> 00:23:23.719 Fears about the present. 00:23:23.919 --> 00:23:24.799 Fears about the future. 00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:26.219 Fears about all of the things 00:23:26.219 --> 00:23:26.919 that are uncertain 00:23:26.919 --> 00:23:27.639 in our lives 00:23:27.640 --> 00:23:28.420 and in our country. 00:23:29.420 --> 00:23:30.520 Fears about our health. 00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:32.180 Uncertainty about what news 00:23:32.180 --> 00:23:33.440 we might get the next day. 00:23:34.520 --> 00:23:34.700 Right? 00:23:34.800 --> 00:23:35.860 Think about all of the ways 00:23:35.860 --> 00:23:36.880 that anxiety 00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:38.080 bombards us. 00:23:38.600 --> 00:23:39.480 And this anxiety 00:23:39.480 --> 00:23:40.220 can be like 00:23:40.220 --> 00:23:41.500 those cosmic rays. 00:23:41.860 --> 00:23:42.020 Right? 00:23:42.080 --> 00:23:43.520 It can beat down on us 00:23:43.520 --> 00:23:44.520 until it feels like 00:23:44.520 --> 00:23:45.600 it is tearing us apart. 00:23:46.360 --> 00:23:47.120 And here's the thing 00:23:47.120 --> 00:23:47.740 you need to understand 00:23:47.740 --> 00:23:48.360 about anxiety 00:23:48.360 --> 00:23:51.280 is Satan can use anxiety 00:23:51.280 --> 00:23:52.520 to tear us apart 00:23:52.520 --> 00:23:53.120 from God. 00:23:54.360 --> 00:23:55.800 Can begin to use anxiety 00:23:55.799 --> 00:23:56.839 to convince us 00:23:56.839 --> 00:23:57.319 listen 00:23:57.319 --> 00:23:58.539 you're all alone. 00:24:00.220 --> 00:24:01.339 There's no God. 00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:02.779 He doesn't care about you. 00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:04.740 He threw in the towel 00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:05.619 a long time ago. 00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:06.940 You're on your own. 00:24:07.859 --> 00:24:08.899 And unless you take control 00:24:08.899 --> 00:24:09.339 of your life 00:24:09.339 --> 00:24:10.000 and make it happen 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:10.500 for yourself 00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:11.680 you've got no hope. 00:24:11.859 --> 00:24:12.700 So you better get going. 00:24:13.339 --> 00:24:14.139 And so what do you do? 00:24:14.339 --> 00:24:15.539 You begin to try to grab on 00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:16.500 to greater and greater 00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:17.899 control in your life. 00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:19.079 And here's the sick paradox 00:24:19.079 --> 00:24:19.720 with anxiety 00:24:19.720 --> 00:24:20.220 for those of you 00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:20.919 who struggle with it. 00:24:21.019 --> 00:24:21.700 The more you try 00:24:21.700 --> 00:24:22.539 to control your life 00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:23.680 the more it ramps up 00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:24.279 your anxiety. 00:24:24.859 --> 00:24:26.299 It's a vicious cycle 00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:27.159 and all you do 00:24:27.159 --> 00:24:28.440 is drive yourself crazy. 00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:30.299 That's the cosmic rays 00:24:30.299 --> 00:24:31.759 tearing your ship apart. 00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:36.099 And the only hope 00:24:36.099 --> 00:24:38.200 is to turn to God 00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:39.379 and allow the shadow 00:24:39.379 --> 00:24:40.139 of the Almighty 00:24:40.139 --> 00:24:42.039 to be our refuge. 00:24:42.619 --> 00:24:43.339 And what that means 00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:44.819 is we turn in our hearts 00:24:44.819 --> 00:24:45.799 and in our minds 00:24:45.799 --> 00:24:47.420 to the character of God. 00:24:47.980 --> 00:24:49.059 And we begin to preach 00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:49.920 the truth 00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:51.160 of who God is 00:24:51.160 --> 00:24:52.820 to our own hearts. 00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:53.980 We remind ourselves 00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:55.120 that God is good. 00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:58.120 That God loves us. 00:24:58.900 --> 00:24:59.060 Right? 00:24:59.120 --> 00:25:00.600 That God is in control. 00:25:01.840 --> 00:25:02.800 And that as bad 00:25:02.800 --> 00:25:03.640 as things might get 00:25:03.640 --> 00:25:04.620 Jesus will one day 00:25:04.620 --> 00:25:05.440 crush Satan 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:06.920 under his boot. 00:25:08.140 --> 00:25:09.180 And we preach 00:25:09.180 --> 00:25:10.380 these things to ourselves. 00:25:10.560 --> 00:25:11.200 So we say 00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:12.080 whatever comes 00:25:12.080 --> 00:25:13.220 it may not be easy 00:25:13.220 --> 00:25:13.840 it may not be 00:25:13.840 --> 00:25:14.720 what I would have chosen 00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:15.840 or what I would prefer 00:25:15.840 --> 00:25:16.440 it may not be 00:25:16.440 --> 00:25:16.860 the decision 00:25:16.860 --> 00:25:17.840 that I would have made 00:25:17.840 --> 00:25:18.820 but whatever comes 00:25:18.820 --> 00:25:19.779 I know that it's coming 00:25:19.779 --> 00:25:20.799 from the hand 00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:21.980 of a good God 00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:23.000 who loves me 00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:24.039 and who's promised 00:25:24.039 --> 00:25:24.879 himself to me 00:25:24.879 --> 00:25:26.180 and who will never 00:25:26.180 --> 00:25:26.779 let me go. 00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:30.359 And whatever happens 00:25:30.359 --> 00:25:31.319 it will be exactly 00:25:31.319 --> 00:25:32.480 as he intended it. 00:25:33.960 --> 00:25:34.359 That's 00:25:34.359 --> 00:25:35.899 sheltering ourselves 00:25:35.899 --> 00:25:36.879 in the shadow 00:25:36.879 --> 00:25:37.559 of the Almighty 00:25:37.559 --> 00:25:39.160 so that the things 00:25:39.160 --> 00:25:39.740 that would otherwise 00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.599 tear us apart 00:25:40.599 --> 00:25:41.839 are deflected 00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:42.599 by a God 00:25:42.599 --> 00:25:43.519 who's greater than us. 00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:43.759 Right? 00:25:43.960 --> 00:25:44.799 One more example 00:25:44.799 --> 00:25:46.000 would be the struggle 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:46.859 that many of us have 00:25:46.859 --> 00:25:48.119 with inadequacy 00:25:48.119 --> 00:25:49.699 which is hard 00:25:49.699 --> 00:25:50.719 when you come to D.C. 00:25:50.819 --> 00:25:51.739 and you're all 00:25:51.739 --> 00:25:53.039 bright and brilliant 00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:54.239 and have done amazing things 00:25:54.239 --> 00:25:55.219 but you get to D.C. 00:25:55.259 --> 00:25:55.759 and you feel like 00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:56.500 everybody else 00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:57.299 fits that description 00:25:57.299 --> 00:25:58.779 but not necessarily me. 00:25:59.039 --> 00:25:59.659 And it can breed 00:25:59.659 --> 00:26:00.839 this ongoing sense 00:26:00.839 --> 00:26:01.899 of inadequacy. 00:26:02.019 --> 00:26:03.000 I'm not good enough 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:04.139 and people are smarter 00:26:04.139 --> 00:26:05.000 and more well read 00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:06.179 and more accomplished 00:26:06.179 --> 00:26:06.919 than I am. 00:26:07.139 --> 00:26:07.779 And what that can do 00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:08.939 is it can drive us 00:26:08.939 --> 00:26:10.699 to constantly feel 00:26:10.699 --> 00:26:12.339 a kind of low grade despair 00:26:12.339 --> 00:26:13.399 like we're failing. 00:26:13.400 --> 00:26:15.100 You know, 00:26:15.220 --> 00:26:16.759 I turned 40 this year, 00:26:16.960 --> 00:26:17.220 right? 00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:19.600 What? 00:26:19.940 --> 00:26:20.840 Yeah, I turned 40. 00:26:20.900 --> 00:26:21.340 You know that? 00:26:22.780 --> 00:26:23.580 Dan groans. 00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:25.600 Yeah, I turned 40 00:26:25.600 --> 00:26:26.900 and I'm thinking, 00:26:27.060 --> 00:26:27.940 man, so many people 00:26:27.940 --> 00:26:28.680 have done so much more 00:26:28.680 --> 00:26:29.560 than I have at age 40. 00:26:30.380 --> 00:26:31.600 I can't believe I'm 40. 00:26:31.860 --> 00:26:32.480 That much of my life 00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:32.860 is gone. 00:26:34.920 --> 00:26:35.580 Inadequacy, right? 00:26:36.640 --> 00:26:38.100 And Satan can take that 00:26:38.100 --> 00:26:39.720 and he can begin to say, 00:26:40.180 --> 00:26:41.240 yeah, you better get on it. 00:26:41.960 --> 00:26:42.539 You better start 00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:44.039 making things happen. 00:26:44.420 --> 00:26:44.799 You better start 00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:45.400 making a difference. 00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:46.380 All the things you wanted to do, 00:26:46.420 --> 00:26:47.099 if you don't do them now, 00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:48.120 you're never going to do them. 00:26:49.099 --> 00:26:49.940 You need to get on the stick 00:26:49.940 --> 00:26:50.779 and maybe you need 00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:51.339 a different job 00:26:51.339 --> 00:26:51.819 and maybe you need 00:26:51.819 --> 00:26:52.400 more education. 00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:53.140 Maybe you need to start 00:26:53.140 --> 00:26:53.460 doing this. 00:26:53.940 --> 00:26:54.720 And all of a sudden 00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:55.359 you start doing 00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:56.539 more and more and more 00:26:56.539 --> 00:26:57.059 and your life 00:26:57.059 --> 00:26:58.279 can just become this churn 00:26:58.279 --> 00:26:59.559 of unceasing accomplishment 00:26:59.559 --> 00:27:00.819 trying to make sure 00:27:00.819 --> 00:27:02.039 that you're staying abreast 00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:02.779 or just ahead 00:27:02.779 --> 00:27:03.799 of everybody around you. 00:27:04.099 --> 00:27:05.099 It'll tear you apart. 00:27:06.339 --> 00:27:07.120 But then again, 00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:08.140 you come into the shadow 00:27:08.140 --> 00:27:08.819 of the Almighty 00:27:08.819 --> 00:27:10.039 and you begin to trust 00:27:10.039 --> 00:27:10.700 God's character 00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:11.779 and you begin to preach 00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:12.319 to yourself 00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:13.819 and you begin to remind yourself 00:27:13.819 --> 00:27:15.059 that God's approval 00:27:15.059 --> 00:27:16.299 is the only approval 00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:16.900 that matters. 00:27:17.640 --> 00:27:18.920 And you begin to remind yourself 00:27:18.920 --> 00:27:19.819 the truth of the gospel 00:27:19.819 --> 00:27:21.160 that God is absolutely 00:27:21.160 --> 00:27:22.680 delighted in his children. 00:27:23.080 --> 00:27:24.360 He is delighted in you. 00:27:25.220 --> 00:27:26.600 He is delighted in you. 00:27:27.600 --> 00:27:28.700 And the reason is 00:27:28.700 --> 00:27:29.660 because he has done 00:27:29.660 --> 00:27:30.940 more for you. 00:27:31.340 --> 00:27:33.180 He's done everything for you 00:27:33.180 --> 00:27:36.360 already in Jesus Christ. 00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:37.240 And there's nothing 00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:38.200 that you can do 00:27:38.200 --> 00:27:39.259 to add to that. 00:27:40.220 --> 00:27:40.960 You're never going 00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:41.660 to make yourself 00:27:41.660 --> 00:27:42.620 more impressive, 00:27:42.880 --> 00:27:43.640 more attractive, 00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:45.380 more anything to God. 00:27:45.579 --> 00:27:46.680 He's already done it all. 00:27:48.120 --> 00:27:49.779 He is crazy about you. 00:27:50.859 --> 00:27:52.420 And you preach to yourself, 00:27:52.799 --> 00:27:53.940 he's crazy about me. 00:27:54.059 --> 00:27:54.880 He loves me. 00:27:55.960 --> 00:27:57.599 Not only does he approve of me, 00:27:57.660 --> 00:27:58.680 he embraces me. 00:27:58.740 --> 00:28:00.039 And you begin to remind yourself 00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:00.960 that there's nothing 00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:01.660 that I can do 00:28:01.660 --> 00:28:02.539 to change that. 00:28:03.079 --> 00:28:03.460 And you know, 00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:04.779 there are countless examples 00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:05.980 like resentment and anger 00:28:05.980 --> 00:28:06.879 and lust and greed 00:28:06.879 --> 00:28:07.539 and insecurity. 00:28:07.879 --> 00:28:08.839 All of these things 00:28:08.839 --> 00:28:09.480 that can be like 00:28:09.480 --> 00:28:10.500 those cosmic rays 00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:12.079 that will tear us apart 00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:12.920 in the sky 00:28:12.920 --> 00:28:14.359 unless we have a shield 00:28:14.359 --> 00:28:15.639 or a refuge. 00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:18.119 The shadow of the Almighty, 00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:19.480 right, 00:28:20.059 --> 00:28:22.180 being kept in his name. 00:28:23.879 --> 00:28:24.759 So of course we see 00:28:24.759 --> 00:28:26.519 this is why things like prayer 00:28:26.519 --> 00:28:27.899 and scripture matter 00:28:27.899 --> 00:28:28.740 in the Christian life. 00:28:28.899 --> 00:28:30.579 Not because some pastor says 00:28:30.579 --> 00:28:31.339 you better be reading 00:28:31.339 --> 00:28:31.839 your Bible. 00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:32.859 But where do you think 00:28:32.859 --> 00:28:34.019 you get all of that stuff 00:28:34.019 --> 00:28:35.480 to preach to yourself about? 00:28:36.119 --> 00:28:37.079 We have to preach 00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:38.180 and to pray these truths 00:28:38.180 --> 00:28:38.940 into our hearts. 00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:39.680 It's the only way it'll work. 00:28:40.559 --> 00:28:41.660 We have to all be 00:28:41.660 --> 00:28:42.779 amazing preachers. 00:28:43.579 --> 00:28:44.579 Every single one of you. 00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:46.039 You have to learn to preach 00:28:46.039 --> 00:28:47.139 and you have to preach 00:28:47.139 --> 00:28:47.680 to yourself 00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:48.879 every single day. 00:28:51.680 --> 00:28:52.599 So just to kind of 00:28:52.599 --> 00:28:53.700 draw all this together, 00:28:55.720 --> 00:28:56.759 Jesus knows, 00:28:57.299 --> 00:28:59.079 Jesus knows 00:28:59.079 --> 00:29:00.180 that the evil one 00:29:00.180 --> 00:29:02.299 will do everything 00:29:02.299 --> 00:29:03.099 in his power 00:29:03.099 --> 00:29:04.319 to convince you, 00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:05.899 to convince me 00:29:05.899 --> 00:29:07.200 that we are better off 00:29:07.200 --> 00:29:07.839 without God 00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:09.200 and that we need 00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:10.079 to do it on our own. 00:29:10.839 --> 00:29:12.720 And because Jesus knows 00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:14.720 that Satan 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:15.700 will never stop 00:29:15.700 --> 00:29:16.779 trying to convince us 00:29:16.779 --> 00:29:17.539 of that fact, 00:29:18.700 --> 00:29:19.599 Jesus will never 00:29:19.599 --> 00:29:20.359 stop praying 00:29:20.359 --> 00:29:22.480 for our protection. 00:29:22.480 --> 00:29:24.420 and so that's 00:29:24.420 --> 00:29:25.420 what Jesus does. 00:29:26.099 --> 00:29:27.059 Before the Father 00:29:27.059 --> 00:29:28.180 on the throne of heaven, 00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:29.779 right now as we sit here, 00:29:30.059 --> 00:29:30.759 he is praying 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:31.680 that we would find 00:29:31.680 --> 00:29:32.700 refuge in God, 00:29:32.920 --> 00:29:34.180 that we would find shelter 00:29:34.180 --> 00:29:34.980 in the shadow 00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:35.539 of his wings. 00:29:35.680 --> 00:29:36.259 And I don't know 00:29:36.259 --> 00:29:37.599 what is bombarding you 00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:38.160 right now, 00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:38.660 I don't know 00:29:38.660 --> 00:29:39.839 what is hammering you 00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:40.740 and feels like it might 00:29:40.740 --> 00:29:41.480 tear you apart, 00:29:41.640 --> 00:29:42.539 but probably most of 00:29:42.539 --> 00:29:43.019 in this room 00:29:43.019 --> 00:29:44.740 have something like that. 00:29:44.819 --> 00:29:45.200 I do. 00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.960 And Jesus is praying 00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:49.980 that you take refuge 00:29:49.980 --> 00:29:51.480 in the character of God. 00:29:52.420 --> 00:29:53.339 And if you ever doubt 00:29:53.339 --> 00:29:54.079 that God hears 00:29:54.079 --> 00:29:55.259 and answers our prayer, 00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:57.099 remember that Jesus himself 00:29:57.099 --> 00:29:58.299 prays this for us. 00:29:58.480 --> 00:29:59.759 So whenever you pray 00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:00.700 for God's protection, 00:30:00.940 --> 00:30:01.460 you can know 00:30:01.460 --> 00:30:01.980 that that prayer 00:30:01.980 --> 00:30:03.400 has already been answered. 00:30:04.400 --> 00:30:05.559 It's already been answered. 00:30:07.559 --> 00:30:08.259 Let's pray.