WEBVTT 00:00:00.540 --> 00:00:08.460 Father, sometimes your word is very shocking to our Canadian, to our Ottawa ears, and we 00:00:08.460 --> 00:00:09.679 don't quite know what to do with it. 00:00:09.759 --> 00:00:11.980 It's just so unexpected and shocking. 00:00:12.919 --> 00:00:18.539 We ask, Father, that you grant us a deep remembrance of Jesus Christ and him crucified 00:00:18.539 --> 00:00:25.100 and your great love for us, that we would have patience with your word, willing to learn 00:00:25.100 --> 00:00:29.440 from it, even when it seems to be most shocking and most offensive to us. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.899 And we thank and praise you, Father, that every word that comes to us from you is good, is 00:00:34.899 --> 00:00:38.380 just, is true, is loving, is merciful and kind. 00:00:39.100 --> 00:00:44.280 So, Father, grip us with the gospel, pour out the Holy Spirit upon us, and lead us and guide 00:00:44.280 --> 00:00:48.900 us into all truth as we think and read upon your word. 00:00:49.320 --> 00:00:52.140 And this we ask in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. 00:00:52.640 --> 00:00:52.960 Amen. 00:00:53.620 --> 00:00:54.519 Please be seated. 00:00:54.520 --> 00:01:00.700 Some of you might be wondering why I prayed something like that. 00:01:02.060 --> 00:01:07.659 One of the things which is a very common phrase in movies and TV nowadays is when they say, 00:01:08.159 --> 00:01:09.320 it's going to be biblical. 00:01:10.159 --> 00:01:15.159 And when they say, it's going to be biblical, you know that what's going to happen is there's 00:01:15.159 --> 00:01:22.219 going to be noise and shouting and anger and explosions and death, and it's just going 00:01:22.219 --> 00:01:23.519 to be biblical. 00:01:24.319 --> 00:01:27.859 The text that I'm going to be preaching on today would be one of those texts that if 00:01:27.859 --> 00:01:30.140 they heard it, they'd say, yep, it's going to be biblical. 00:01:30.340 --> 00:01:31.840 That's why we use this phrase. 00:01:31.939 --> 00:01:35.319 By the way, it's not normally a compliment in a movie when they say it's going to be biblical. 00:01:36.199 --> 00:01:37.879 It's a bad thing. 00:01:37.879 --> 00:01:45.019 So if you take your Bibles and turn in them to Galatians chapter 3, verses 10 to 14, Galatians 00:01:45.019 --> 00:01:48.099 3, 10 to 14, I'm going to read the text again. 00:01:48.280 --> 00:01:53.239 And those of you who didn't maybe notice it when Amy was reading the text, I think you'll 00:01:53.239 --> 00:01:56.239 see what I mean, that the text is very shocking. 00:01:56.840 --> 00:01:58.039 And here's how it goes. 00:01:59.219 --> 00:02:03.219 For all who rely, and I'll explain, those of you who aren't familiar with it, I'll explain 00:02:03.219 --> 00:02:04.799 what these different bits and pieces mean. 00:02:04.799 --> 00:02:07.980 But I want you to hear the shocking bit if you didn't notice it before. 00:02:09.060 --> 00:02:11.939 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse. 00:02:13.079 --> 00:02:13.479 What? 00:02:14.759 --> 00:02:15.879 Under a curse. 00:02:17.979 --> 00:02:24.759 For it is written, and now Paul quotes the Old Testament, cursed be everyone who does not 00:02:24.759 --> 00:02:27.560 abide by all things written in the book of the law and do them. 00:02:28.479 --> 00:02:32.719 Now you might wonder if that's just a bit of a, like, woo, did that sort of slip by the 00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:33.340 editor. 00:02:33.919 --> 00:02:36.139 But look what it goes on to say, verse 11. 00:02:37.099 --> 00:02:42.060 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for the righteous shall 00:02:42.060 --> 00:02:42.719 live by faith. 00:02:42.759 --> 00:02:45.840 And now we start to feel a little bit, okay, a little bit more calm. 00:02:46.460 --> 00:02:51.520 But then verse 12, it says, but the law is not of faith, rather the one who does them 00:02:51.520 --> 00:02:52.740 shall live by them. 00:02:52.740 --> 00:02:53.800 And that's a bit confusing. 00:02:53.800 --> 00:02:57.960 And then we get twice, or is it even three times? 00:02:58.080 --> 00:03:00.260 Three times in one verse, verse 13. 00:03:01.100 --> 00:03:07.820 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. 00:03:08.140 --> 00:03:12.660 For it is written, cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree. 00:03:12.659 --> 00:03:18.419 So that in Christ Jesus, the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might 00:03:18.419 --> 00:03:20.599 receive the promised spirit through faith. 00:03:22.079 --> 00:03:28.659 So in this one verse, the key verse, verse 13, three times it refers to curses after it 00:03:28.659 --> 00:03:31.120 refers to it as well in verse 10. 00:03:31.120 --> 00:03:33.379 So what on earth is going on? 00:03:34.599 --> 00:03:39.259 You could just well imagine what it would be like if one of you had to, you had a very, 00:03:39.400 --> 00:03:45.520 very nice co-worker or your neighbor, and they happened to come across this text, or they 00:03:45.520 --> 00:03:49.700 asked you to explain it, and you'd go, ab-da-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba. 00:03:50.180 --> 00:03:51.640 That's probably what you would do. 00:03:52.040 --> 00:03:55.879 And you'd feel a little bit uncomfortable, and you'd say, let me show you John 3.16. 00:03:56.740 --> 00:03:58.340 Why don't we talk about that instead? 00:03:59.180 --> 00:04:00.120 So what's going on? 00:04:00.120 --> 00:04:03.180 So to understand what's going on, I'm going to tell you a story. 00:04:03.800 --> 00:04:08.180 And I think, once I've told the story, and I show you how it's connected, I think you'll 00:04:08.180 --> 00:04:14.680 have a bit of a sense about what's going on here in the Bible when it refers to God cursing. 00:04:17.139 --> 00:04:23.620 Imagine a couple, and they're both working class, and their parents have worked very hard 00:04:23.620 --> 00:04:27.519 all their life, and they, like many of us, they shop at Walmart. 00:04:27.519 --> 00:04:27.680 Walmart. 00:04:29.359 --> 00:04:31.019 They don't shop at Nordstrom's. 00:04:31.019 --> 00:04:34.659 They shop at Walmart because that's what they can afford, and they live paycheck to paycheck. 00:04:35.279 --> 00:04:40.159 And a couple from a set of parents like that, they fall in love and they marry. 00:04:40.379 --> 00:04:44.500 And they also are the type of couple who shop at Nordstrom's, not at Nordstrom's, that shop 00:04:44.500 --> 00:04:46.500 at Walmart and live from paycheck to paycheck. 00:04:46.939 --> 00:04:49.740 But they love each other, and they start to work very, very, very hard. 00:04:49.740 --> 00:04:54.840 And as they work very hard, in fact, he might work two jobs and she might work two jobs, and 00:04:54.840 --> 00:04:56.319 they really work very hard. 00:04:56.439 --> 00:04:57.759 They're very careful with their money. 00:04:58.379 --> 00:05:01.519 And after they've been careful with their money, they save up enough money to start their 00:05:01.519 --> 00:05:02.360 own little business. 00:05:02.819 --> 00:05:06.100 And they work very, very hard in their business, not only working the business, but another 00:05:06.100 --> 00:05:07.000 job on the side. 00:05:07.060 --> 00:05:12.120 And after a period of time, they're actually able, their business starts to take off and 00:05:12.120 --> 00:05:13.639 take off and take off. 00:05:13.639 --> 00:05:17.240 And somewhere during this whole process, they have a daughter whom they love very, very, 00:05:17.339 --> 00:05:17.819 very much. 00:05:17.899 --> 00:05:22.459 It was a huge answer to prayer for them to be given the gift of this beautiful little 00:05:22.459 --> 00:05:22.800 girl. 00:05:23.500 --> 00:05:25.399 And they work hard and hard and hard. 00:05:25.500 --> 00:05:29.860 They've now become, by the time their daughter is about to turn 18, they've actually become 00:05:29.860 --> 00:05:34.479 very successful financially, and they've become quite comfortable financially. 00:05:35.199 --> 00:05:40.360 So in the spring, whenever it's time, whenever it is time to apply to university, their daughter 00:05:40.360 --> 00:05:42.860 is very, very, very bright, does very well in school. 00:05:42.860 --> 00:05:46.300 So they encourage their daughter to apply to lots of different universities. 00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:50.060 And they've heard about this very prestigious university in the United States, and they 00:05:50.060 --> 00:05:51.080 say, you should apply to that. 00:05:51.259 --> 00:05:52.199 You know, you're really smart. 00:05:52.259 --> 00:05:54.319 I think you could get into that prestigious university. 00:05:54.840 --> 00:05:58.259 And she says to them, well, you see how much money it costs to go to that school? 00:05:58.319 --> 00:05:59.220 And they say, no, just apply. 00:05:59.819 --> 00:06:04.759 So she applies to all the different universities, and she gets accepted in every one of the universities, 00:06:04.920 --> 00:06:07.319 including the very prestigious one in the United States. 00:06:07.900 --> 00:06:12.660 So when it comes time for her to send in her acceptances, she said, I've decided I'm going 00:06:12.660 --> 00:06:14.460 to send, I'm going to go to Ottawa U. 00:06:15.160 --> 00:06:17.400 Because it's, I can live at home, and I can be with you. 00:06:17.660 --> 00:06:24.240 And the parents say, honey, we love you so much. 00:06:25.240 --> 00:06:29.700 We love you so much, and we just want to bless you. 00:06:29.699 --> 00:06:34.560 And we would love it if you lived at home with us and went to Ottawa U. 00:06:34.639 --> 00:06:35.719 But we want to bless you. 00:06:36.199 --> 00:06:37.740 So here's what we're going to do with you. 00:06:37.920 --> 00:06:40.579 We've talked about it, and we have the money for it. 00:06:41.099 --> 00:06:43.939 We'd like you to go to that prestigious university in the United States. 00:06:44.519 --> 00:06:45.560 And here's what we're going to do. 00:06:46.500 --> 00:06:48.819 Year by year, we'll pay the full tuition. 00:06:49.759 --> 00:06:50.339 Not a loan. 00:06:50.519 --> 00:06:51.560 We'll pay the full tuition. 00:06:52.459 --> 00:06:56.280 And because we want to bless you, we want to give you that opportunity to go to a university 00:06:56.280 --> 00:06:59.060 like that, to have those professors, those types of experiences. 00:06:59.060 --> 00:07:01.199 We want to really bless you to be able to do that. 00:07:01.639 --> 00:07:03.139 So we're quite happy to do it. 00:07:03.439 --> 00:07:06.840 And here's what else we'd like to do, because we only want to bless you, because we love you 00:07:06.840 --> 00:07:07.560 so much. 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:09.120 Love you so much. 00:07:09.579 --> 00:07:14.500 We'd really like it if, rather than living in residence, you have a two-bedroom apartment. 00:07:14.500 --> 00:07:15.899 You'll have to find a good roommate. 00:07:16.500 --> 00:07:17.600 We'll sign the lease. 00:07:18.500 --> 00:07:22.260 And here's what we'd like to do, once again, because one of the things that we found that's 00:07:22.260 --> 00:07:25.280 really blessed us, it's a blessing to work. 00:07:26.200 --> 00:07:30.900 It's a blessing to have to be disciplined about work and managing your money. 00:07:31.500 --> 00:07:33.100 So what we'd like to do is this. 00:07:33.200 --> 00:07:37.240 We'd like it that when you move to this city, that as soon as you possibly can, you find 00:07:37.240 --> 00:07:37.660 a job. 00:07:37.740 --> 00:07:39.879 We only want you to work four or five hours a week. 00:07:40.460 --> 00:07:42.960 And we'll set up a joint bank account between you and us. 00:07:42.959 --> 00:07:44.680 And what we'll do is this. 00:07:45.859 --> 00:07:51.759 Every time your paycheck goes in, for every dollar that goes into your bank account, as 00:07:51.759 --> 00:07:55.579 long as you're only working no more than five hours a week, for every dollar that you put 00:07:55.579 --> 00:07:56.899 in, we'll put in four dollars. 00:08:00.740 --> 00:08:05.579 Because we would just love you to have this experience of going to that school, having 00:08:05.579 --> 00:08:08.699 the apartment, and it's a blessing to work. 00:08:08.819 --> 00:08:09.879 It's a blessing to work. 00:08:09.919 --> 00:08:10.759 And we just want to bless you. 00:08:10.759 --> 00:08:11.719 We just love you so much. 00:08:11.779 --> 00:08:13.779 But there's a few conditions, honey. 00:08:14.599 --> 00:08:16.740 Because we know that sometimes things can go off the rail. 00:08:17.659 --> 00:08:21.240 If it turns out that you start spending, you don't spend your time studying, your marks 00:08:21.240 --> 00:08:24.019 go way down, there's going to be some consequences to you. 00:08:24.219 --> 00:08:26.680 Like, if you just fail out, we're not going to do it for the second year. 00:08:26.860 --> 00:08:28.159 Like, you've got to work hard. 00:08:29.319 --> 00:08:34.039 And if something goes on and you start not working or whatever, we're not going to just 00:08:34.039 --> 00:08:35.379 cut you off and put you on the street. 00:08:35.480 --> 00:08:38.439 But rather than four dollars, it might just be two dollars or a dollar. 00:08:38.440 --> 00:08:41.200 Because you need to work. 00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:45.980 And if other things go on and just, you know, there'll be some consequences. 00:08:46.120 --> 00:08:46.700 But we love you. 00:08:46.740 --> 00:08:47.260 We trust you. 00:08:47.300 --> 00:08:50.380 We want to just bless you because we love you so much. 00:08:52.040 --> 00:08:55.700 Now, I can tell you that's not what my parents said to me. 00:08:55.700 --> 00:09:01.140 And I wish Louise and I had the money that we could have said that to our kids. 00:09:01.280 --> 00:09:02.020 But we didn't. 00:09:02.580 --> 00:09:02.940 Don't. 00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:09.759 Some of you who maybe are still in high school are thinking, maybe I should tell my parents 00:09:09.759 --> 00:09:13.560 to listen to a tape of this sermon to give them some ideas as to how they should handle 00:09:13.560 --> 00:09:14.440 things in the future. 00:09:14.440 --> 00:09:16.180 But here's the point. 00:09:16.520 --> 00:09:20.980 Understanding this story, and you can see how much the parents love the daughter and 00:09:20.980 --> 00:09:23.440 how wise they are in terms of blessing her to the utmost. 00:09:23.640 --> 00:09:27.980 Because it's actually more of a blessing to make her work a little bit and be disciplined 00:09:27.980 --> 00:09:32.980 than just to give her an American Express, whatever the best American Express card is, and 00:09:32.980 --> 00:09:33.920 said, just go crazy. 00:09:34.760 --> 00:09:37.460 That's not actually as loving as making them work a little bit. 00:09:37.460 --> 00:09:42.860 So if you're mindful of that, to understand the biblical teaching of blessing, I'd like 00:09:42.860 --> 00:09:45.600 you to turn in your Bibles to Deuteronomy chapter 30. 00:09:47.180 --> 00:09:48.600 Deuteronomy chapter 30. 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:53.400 And we're going to look at verses 11 to 19. 00:09:54.540 --> 00:09:57.080 Deuteronomy chapter 30, verses 11 to 19. 00:09:57.900 --> 00:10:03.560 Now, when I was reading that text that I'm going to preach on in a moment, two of the times 00:10:03.560 --> 00:10:05.820 there's four Bible verses quoted. 00:10:05.820 --> 00:10:07.620 First, they quote Deuteronomy. 00:10:08.220 --> 00:10:10.080 Then I think it's they quote Habakkuk. 00:10:10.180 --> 00:10:11.580 Then they quote Leviticus. 00:10:11.700 --> 00:10:13.160 And then they quote Deuteronomy again. 00:10:13.980 --> 00:10:18.680 And in both of the Deuteronomy quotes, it comes in a section of the book of Deuteronomy. 00:10:19.440 --> 00:10:23.760 And the two verses we're going to read in a moment are the conclusion of the whole section 00:10:23.760 --> 00:10:25.540 that the verses are found in. 00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:32.600 And these two verses perfectly capture the biblical understanding of blessing and curses. 00:10:32.600 --> 00:10:38.279 And just to get the context, you remember that God has called his people to himself. 00:10:38.840 --> 00:10:44.899 He's done a series of miracles to bring the nation of Israel out of bondage and slavery 00:10:44.899 --> 00:10:47.379 into Egypt, into the promised land. 00:10:47.740 --> 00:10:51.240 He does all these miracles, including even parting the Red Sea. 00:10:51.340 --> 00:10:53.100 They come to the edge of the promised land. 00:10:53.240 --> 00:10:54.300 They don't trust him. 00:10:54.299 --> 00:10:56.740 They don't trust God. 00:10:56.819 --> 00:10:57.719 So they turn away. 00:10:57.939 --> 00:11:01.859 And so God punishes them that they have to wander in the wilderness for 40 years. 00:11:02.519 --> 00:11:07.259 And what happens is the book of Deuteronomy is written by Moses at the end of the time 00:11:07.259 --> 00:11:08.399 of wandering in the wilderness. 00:11:08.839 --> 00:11:10.659 And they're once again, they're just on the edge. 00:11:10.719 --> 00:11:15.779 Like if this is the promised land right there with the pews that the seats are there right 00:11:15.779 --> 00:11:17.519 here, they can see the promised land. 00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:22.899 And in Deuteronomy, the whole covenant with God is reminded. 00:11:23.620 --> 00:11:27.439 And part of it that goes from the seven or eight chapters before this, and this is the 00:11:27.439 --> 00:11:31.639 conclusion of them, is they actually have a ceremony to once again be reminded of the 00:11:31.639 --> 00:11:31.919 covenant. 00:11:32.059 --> 00:11:35.379 And the heart of the covenant is all the things that God's going to do to bless them. 00:11:35.980 --> 00:11:37.179 He's provided for them. 00:11:37.299 --> 00:11:38.360 He brought them out of Egypt. 00:11:38.519 --> 00:11:39.919 He's provided for them in the wilderness. 00:11:40.259 --> 00:11:42.299 He's going to bring them into the promised land. 00:11:42.379 --> 00:11:44.220 He promises that he'll defeat their enemies. 00:11:44.379 --> 00:11:45.480 He'll give them the land. 00:11:45.480 --> 00:11:53.980 If they keep his law, the wheat will grow, the vines will grow, the figs will grow, everything 00:11:53.980 --> 00:11:55.920 will go, everything will flourish and grow. 00:11:56.440 --> 00:11:58.539 But there's also warnings. 00:11:59.340 --> 00:12:01.539 If you go after other gods, this is going to happen. 00:12:01.800 --> 00:12:03.220 Other gods, this is going to happen. 00:12:03.340 --> 00:12:05.539 And this is the conclusion of this. 00:12:05.680 --> 00:12:06.519 Here's how it goes. 00:12:07.420 --> 00:12:09.460 Deuteronomy 30 verses 19 and 20. 00:12:10.100 --> 00:12:12.519 This is Moses speaking on behalf of God. 00:12:12.519 --> 00:12:15.220 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today. 00:12:15.480 --> 00:12:21.039 I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. 00:12:21.860 --> 00:12:23.720 Therefore, choose life. 00:12:24.920 --> 00:12:30.340 Choose life that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his 00:12:30.340 --> 00:12:32.019 voice and holding fast to him. 00:12:32.360 --> 00:12:38.220 For he is your life and length of days that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore 00:12:38.220 --> 00:12:42.300 to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob to give them. 00:12:42.299 --> 00:12:47.539 And I can tell you that if you go back to the original language, if you look at verse 19 and 00:12:47.539 --> 00:12:50.000 you go to the original language, I call heaven and earth. 00:12:50.539 --> 00:12:54.219 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and 00:12:54.219 --> 00:12:55.579 death, blessing and curse. 00:12:55.939 --> 00:13:00.979 That in the original language, the language is made to emphasize blessing. 00:13:00.980 --> 00:13:03.220 I give you blessing. 00:13:05.220 --> 00:13:06.700 I give you life. 00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:09.779 I give you blessing and curse. 00:13:10.259 --> 00:13:13.379 I give you life and death. 00:13:14.220 --> 00:13:19.240 It's still said, but it's very obvious in the original language that what God wants to do is 00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:19.700 bless. 00:13:19.860 --> 00:13:21.519 What he wants to do is life. 00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:26.699 Now, think then back to the whole problem. 00:13:27.079 --> 00:13:30.439 If you could put up the first point, Andrew, that would be great. 00:13:31.220 --> 00:13:36.319 In the world, curses flow from hatred and a lust for power. 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:41.220 That's why we're so shocked when we see the word curse in the New Testament or in the Old 00:13:41.220 --> 00:13:44.379 Testament, because that's how curses work in this world. 00:13:45.079 --> 00:13:49.539 What you really have, and it's not just in Angola, it's here, as I'll talk about more later 00:13:49.539 --> 00:13:57.559 on, but when I was in Angola with the missionaries, many of the people who, native Angolans, still 00:13:57.559 --> 00:14:00.679 believed in the power of witch doctors and the power of curses. 00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:04.719 And so what would happen in there is, of course, in a sense, it was amoral. 00:14:04.839 --> 00:14:08.120 And to be amoral when you should be moral is to be immoral. 00:14:08.939 --> 00:14:15.360 And so it's basically just an amoral thing that I'm the witch doctor and Amy comes to me 00:14:15.360 --> 00:14:21.139 and she's really mad at Matt, and so she gives me the money or whatever, and I put a curse 00:14:21.139 --> 00:14:22.259 on Matt. 00:14:22.659 --> 00:14:25.419 I don't even inquire whether Amy's in the right or in the wrong. 00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:30.460 Maybe Matt's a saint and Amy's really, really bad, but Amy gives me the money and Matt doesn't. 00:14:30.539 --> 00:14:33.340 So I listen to Amy and I curse Matt. 00:14:33.740 --> 00:14:35.300 And so that's how it works in the world. 00:14:35.379 --> 00:14:41.019 When we hear the word curse, we expect that it's coming out of amoral, like that morality 00:14:41.019 --> 00:14:42.100 doesn't come into it all. 00:14:42.159 --> 00:14:44.559 It's all just about hatred and lust for power. 00:14:44.779 --> 00:14:48.919 Because if you actually had the power to curse a person who doesn't deserve it and it actually 00:14:48.919 --> 00:14:50.600 worked, that's hatred, right? 00:14:51.279 --> 00:14:58.740 And so the curse comes out of an amoral, immoral world filled with hatred and a lust for power. 00:14:59.199 --> 00:15:00.559 And what does a curse do? 00:15:00.559 --> 00:15:07.019 A curse is something that will weaken or diminish or frustrate you. 00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:08.100 That's what a curse does. 00:15:08.100 --> 00:15:13.980 It will weaken, in theory, it'll weaken, it will diminish or it will frustrate you. 00:15:14.879 --> 00:15:17.620 Now, Andrew, if you could put up the next point. 00:15:18.580 --> 00:15:26.420 For the triune God, his curse is spoken out of his great, great love for you and his desire 00:15:26.420 --> 00:15:27.540 to bless you. 00:15:27.620 --> 00:15:33.480 For the triune God, his curse is spoken out of his great, great love for you and his desire 00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:34.259 to bless you. 00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:36.980 Think about the parents with the young girl. 00:15:36.980 --> 00:15:40.060 That gives it to you understand. 00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:41.240 What do the parents say? 00:15:41.680 --> 00:15:43.159 The parents say, we want to bless you. 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:44.320 We want to bless you so much. 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:44.659 I don't know. 00:15:44.680 --> 00:15:45.480 Let's pick it Princeton. 00:15:45.580 --> 00:15:49.000 I have no idea how much money it costs to go to Princeton for a year in U.S. dollars. 00:15:49.560 --> 00:15:52.060 Let's say it's $55,000 U.S. 00:15:52.080 --> 00:15:52.440 I don't know. 00:15:52.460 --> 00:15:52.800 What is that? 00:15:52.860 --> 00:15:54.560 Like 85,000 Canadian? 00:15:55.019 --> 00:15:56.519 And they say, we want to bless you. 00:15:56.779 --> 00:15:59.100 We'll cover the $85,000 tuition. 00:15:59.460 --> 00:16:00.720 We'll give you the apartment. 00:16:00.860 --> 00:16:03.580 We'll put our name on the lease so you're never thrown out on the street. 00:16:03.580 --> 00:16:06.120 And for every dollar you make, we're going to give you $4. 00:16:06.800 --> 00:16:09.240 And we're going to bless you because it's a blessing to work. 00:16:09.340 --> 00:16:10.720 It's a blessing to learn discipline. 00:16:10.940 --> 00:16:12.740 These are all blessings. 00:16:13.340 --> 00:16:14.200 But what do they say? 00:16:14.200 --> 00:16:22.000 If we start to look and there's no money going into your bank account and we call you, we'll ask you. 00:16:22.060 --> 00:16:27.800 You know, if you're in some trouble, if it turns out there's way more work and you need a couple of weeks off of work, just call us. 00:16:27.820 --> 00:16:28.700 That's the equivalent of prayer. 00:16:28.820 --> 00:16:30.720 Call us and we'll make a special arrangement. 00:16:31.860 --> 00:16:35.280 Be honest and humble to us and we'll make a special arrangement with you. 00:16:35.320 --> 00:16:35.540 Why? 00:16:35.680 --> 00:16:37.879 Because we love you and we want to bless you. 00:16:37.879 --> 00:16:46.080 But if it turns out that the girl is not studying and her marks are going down and she's not working, what do the parents say? 00:16:46.179 --> 00:16:50.779 We're going to do something to frustrate, diminish and weaken you. 00:16:52.460 --> 00:16:55.000 We won't put $4 and it might only be $1. 00:16:55.139 --> 00:16:56.080 It might be no dollars. 00:16:56.179 --> 00:16:57.980 We'll just cover the rent and we'll give you no money. 00:16:58.100 --> 00:16:59.059 Why do they do that? 00:16:59.279 --> 00:17:00.320 Because they hate her? 00:17:00.539 --> 00:17:00.879 No. 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:03.419 Because they love her. 00:17:03.899 --> 00:17:05.279 Is it because they want to hurt her? 00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:05.619 No. 00:17:05.740 --> 00:17:06.500 What do they want to do? 00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:07.759 They want to bless her. 00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:09.280 And so what do they do? 00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:23.040 They do things to diminish, weaken and frustrate her in the hope that she will turn, return to her senses, repent and get back on track. 00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:30.660 And that's what God does for you and for me. 00:17:31.660 --> 00:17:35.420 That is the context of the curses. 00:17:35.420 --> 00:17:51.279 If you drink excessive alcohol, it ruins your mental capacities, it ruins your liver, it ruins your life, it ruins your job prospects, it frustrates, weakens and diminishes you. 00:17:51.460 --> 00:17:51.860 Why? 00:17:52.360 --> 00:17:55.360 God desires you stop drinking. 00:17:55.359 --> 00:18:01.599 So now let's look at the text. 00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:10.419 And if you turn back to Galatians chapter 3 verses 10 to 14, you're going to see that God in his word does three remarkable things. 00:18:10.420 --> 00:18:12.100 The first one is very shocking. 00:18:12.100 --> 00:18:15.720 He warns you against religion and spirituality. 00:18:15.720 --> 00:18:18.720 The second thing is he explains the glory of the gospel. 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:25.980 And the third thing, he gives a special word of comfort for those of us who are cursed or who think we are cursed. 00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:27.440 He's going to do three things. 00:18:27.660 --> 00:18:31.259 He's going to warn us about religion and spirituality for our good. 00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:33.820 He's going to explain the glory of the gospel. 00:18:33.819 --> 00:18:38.740 And third, he's going to give a special word of comfort for those of us who think that we might be cursed. 00:18:39.399 --> 00:18:40.559 So let's see what happens. 00:18:40.659 --> 00:18:43.319 Go back to Galatians chapter 3 verses 10 to 14. 00:18:44.460 --> 00:18:46.079 It begins like this. 00:18:47.019 --> 00:18:51.200 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse, for it is written, 00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:56.679 Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law and do them. 00:18:57.419 --> 00:18:59.439 Now, this is very, very shocking. 00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:04.720 First of all, when it says the book of the law and do everything in them, 00:19:05.360 --> 00:19:07.680 there's a technical meaning to it. 00:19:07.779 --> 00:19:11.539 But here's a better way to understand it if you want to try to explain this to somebody. 00:19:12.220 --> 00:19:16.500 You do get in that situation where one of your neighbors or your co-worker asks you about it. 00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:20.400 We're all used to using a phrase like if I said to you, you know, 00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:22.940 we have a big problem right now going on in Canada. 00:19:23.140 --> 00:19:25.259 It's the undue influence of Bay Street. 00:19:25.640 --> 00:19:29.220 You know I'm not just referring to a street in Toronto. 00:19:30.080 --> 00:19:31.840 Bay Street is a way to refer to capitalism. 00:19:32.259 --> 00:19:35.820 It's a way to refer to banks and insurance companies and interest rates 00:19:35.820 --> 00:19:41.440 and all of the aspects of capitalism and private enterprise. 00:19:41.700 --> 00:19:44.000 And I just use that word Bay Street or Wall Street. 00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:47.820 If I use Hollywood, I'm talking about a whole range of big things. 00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:51.900 And so what you can understand is whenever you see the book of the law and works, 00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:54.900 it's like talking about Wall Street only in a different way. 00:19:54.900 --> 00:20:00.519 What it's talking about is any attempt, whether it's one of the ancient faiths, 00:20:01.019 --> 00:20:04.300 whether it's a boutique or curated personal faith, 00:20:04.700 --> 00:20:09.700 or whether it's even using Christianity but not using Christianity in the gospel sense 00:20:09.700 --> 00:20:14.360 but in a religious sense or spiritual sense but not the gospel sense. 00:20:14.359 --> 00:20:21.740 It's anything that thinks that if you do certain things and then you speak certain ways, 00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:25.719 you're going to get the right type of accomplishment in terms of a connection with God. 00:20:25.879 --> 00:20:26.959 And that's what it means. 00:20:27.399 --> 00:20:27.539 Okay? 00:20:27.539 --> 00:20:31.059 And part of the reason which is very shocking about this text, 00:20:31.139 --> 00:20:32.920 if you just think, and this was written, 00:20:33.379 --> 00:20:38.159 by the way, there are many, many parts of the world that still believe in curses in a literal sense. 00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:42.359 And I'm only partially familiar with it, 00:20:42.399 --> 00:20:45.279 but if you're a little bit familiar with amulets and stuff like that, 00:20:45.299 --> 00:20:50.779 you'll be surprised how many people wear things to ward off the evil eye and other types of things. 00:20:50.839 --> 00:20:52.559 Like, you'll be surprised how much it is. 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:57.200 It's a very major feature of Islam is a concern with curses. 00:20:57.419 --> 00:21:02.059 But it's also present in Buddhism, Hinduism, and all native spiritualities and paganism, 00:21:02.119 --> 00:21:06.700 a concern, and of course all with Wicca and all of the whole realm of magic. 00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:10.460 It's an ongoing thing to be concerned about these types of things. 00:21:10.919 --> 00:21:13.759 And normally in context where there's a concern about this, 00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:15.960 if you think you're under a curse, what do you do? 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:20.159 Well, you try to be good is one of the things you try to do. 00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:23.440 You try to become more religious and spiritual as a way of dealing with it. 00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:28.000 But if you could put up the third point, Andrew, that would be very handy. 00:21:28.140 --> 00:21:32.880 Here's the shocking thing, is that the Bible is saying that to try to do that, 00:21:32.940 --> 00:21:37.360 to try to do religion, to try to do spirituality, is actually to be under a curse. 00:21:38.500 --> 00:21:40.940 And here's the thing, I'll explain it more later on. 00:21:41.360 --> 00:21:46.920 The Bible warns you that pursuing religion or spirituality is like pedaling down the hill, 00:21:47.560 --> 00:21:49.700 thinking it is the way to get to the top of the hill. 00:21:50.640 --> 00:21:52.840 I'll show you why I mean that in a moment. 00:21:53.380 --> 00:21:57.440 So just to make it clear, it would be as if we use Matt and Amy again, 00:21:57.560 --> 00:22:00.759 but this time we'll make sure that Amy's the good person, not the bad person. 00:22:01.160 --> 00:22:05.340 And so Amy takes Matt up to her favorite place in the Rockies, 00:22:05.400 --> 00:22:07.560 where the road is going up the hills and over the Rockies. 00:22:07.560 --> 00:22:12.779 And she knows the biggest height that you go, the longest up you have to go to get to the top. 00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:17.160 And she says, you know, honey, I'm going to drop you off two-thirds from the top. 00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:18.119 I'm going to give you a bike. 00:22:18.660 --> 00:22:21.779 And you can bike the rest of the way, because you've always wanted to bike in the Rockies. 00:22:21.859 --> 00:22:23.039 You can't bike this long hill. 00:22:23.119 --> 00:22:24.700 Just bike this last little third. 00:22:25.099 --> 00:22:25.920 I'll be at the top. 00:22:26.180 --> 00:22:27.779 I'm going to have a thermos of coffee. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:29.379 I'm going to have a sports drink. 00:22:29.579 --> 00:22:33.279 I'm going to have a homemade scone, blueberries, and white chocolate. 00:22:33.339 --> 00:22:34.839 I have no idea if he likes that, by the way. 00:22:34.839 --> 00:22:37.799 Anyway, and so she drops him off. 00:22:37.959 --> 00:22:38.959 He gets on his bike. 00:22:39.059 --> 00:22:40.179 She goes up to the top of the hill. 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:44.439 She looks in her rearview mirror, and Matt immediately starts pedaling downhill. 00:22:44.859 --> 00:22:45.919 She's going, what? 00:22:47.939 --> 00:22:51.179 How is going downhill going to get you to the top of the hill? 00:22:51.899 --> 00:22:55.819 Every second she's pedaling, like he's really good. 00:22:55.879 --> 00:22:58.000 Look how fast he's going, but he's going the wrong way. 00:22:58.039 --> 00:23:00.079 He's getting farther away from the top of the hill, 00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:04.619 where the flask of dark roast coffee, the energy cold energy drink, 00:23:04.679 --> 00:23:06.359 and the homemade scones are. 00:23:06.439 --> 00:23:09.480 He's going the opposite way from where he has to be. 00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:12.240 And what Paul is saying, what the Bible reveals, 00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:14.939 is that the more religious and spiritual you become, 00:23:15.639 --> 00:23:19.279 tragically, you're actually becoming farther away. 00:23:19.379 --> 00:23:22.939 You're going to get more under the consequences of God's judgment 00:23:22.939 --> 00:23:25.519 because you're actually going farther away from God. 00:23:26.139 --> 00:23:27.859 Now, that will become clear in the other verses. 00:23:27.859 --> 00:23:28.980 Look at verse 12. 00:23:30.079 --> 00:23:31.139 Verse 12, it says, 00:23:31.399 --> 00:23:33.679 Now, it is evident that no one is justified, 00:23:33.859 --> 00:23:36.159 and justified here means made right with God, 00:23:36.699 --> 00:23:40.079 by the law, by your efforts, by religion, by spirituality. 00:23:40.460 --> 00:23:40.639 Why? 00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:42.939 Because there's a Bible text in Habakkuk that says, 00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:44.299 the righteous shall live by faith. 00:23:44.339 --> 00:23:48.259 In other words, it's by faith, by trusting God, 00:23:48.679 --> 00:23:50.000 that he makes you right. 00:23:51.199 --> 00:23:54.859 In other words, God provides all these messages in the Torah, 00:23:54.859 --> 00:23:58.240 the Tanakh, what our Jewish friends call the Tanakh. 00:23:58.339 --> 00:23:59.159 It's all there. 00:23:59.160 --> 00:24:00.019 It's all there. 00:24:00.100 --> 00:24:02.500 But it's only Jesus that makes everything clear, 00:24:02.620 --> 00:24:04.420 brings everything out so that you go, 00:24:05.060 --> 00:24:05.600 Ah! 00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:07.840 Ah! 00:24:08.060 --> 00:24:09.560 That's how it all goes together. 00:24:10.560 --> 00:24:12.180 And then, just to make it clear, 00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:14.440 in other words, it's not just bad news. 00:24:14.519 --> 00:24:16.480 Doing religion and spirituality is going to leave you cursed. 00:24:16.600 --> 00:24:16.740 Why? 00:24:16.860 --> 00:24:18.200 Because God wants to bless you. 00:24:18.940 --> 00:24:21.840 And so there's this other text that there is going to be a way to be made right with God 00:24:21.840 --> 00:24:23.779 where you can be blessed, but it's going to be by faith. 00:24:23.779 --> 00:24:26.019 And then in verse 12, it says this, 00:24:26.519 --> 00:24:31.160 But the law, remember, doing good things, religious things, spiritual things, 00:24:31.160 --> 00:24:32.720 is not of faith. 00:24:33.059 --> 00:24:33.559 Because why? 00:24:33.639 --> 00:24:34.779 It's all about human effort. 00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:39.619 It's all about the effort of the individual, the family, the tribe, the institution. 00:24:40.119 --> 00:24:41.180 And that's what it means by, 00:24:41.180 --> 00:24:42.960 the one who does them shall live by them. 00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:45.180 In other words, once you begin pedaling downhill, 00:24:45.340 --> 00:24:46.799 you're committed to pedaling downhill. 00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:48.500 That's the way you're living. 00:24:48.620 --> 00:24:49.660 That's the way you're directed. 00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:52.019 And then this shocking piece of news. 00:24:52.220 --> 00:24:53.360 Christ, verse 13, 00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:57.900 Christ redeemed us, rescues us, delivers us from slavery. 00:24:58.140 --> 00:24:59.220 That's what redeemed means, 00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:03.180 to be bought, delivered, freed from slavery. 00:25:03.840 --> 00:25:07.340 Christ redeems us from slavery, from the curse of the law. 00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:07.860 Why? 00:25:07.859 --> 00:25:08.359 How? 00:25:09.199 --> 00:25:12.000 By becoming a curse for us. 00:25:13.159 --> 00:25:13.919 It is written, 00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:19.339 Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree, who is crucified. 00:25:19.939 --> 00:25:21.319 So that in Christ Jesus, 00:25:21.500 --> 00:25:24.599 the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, 00:25:24.839 --> 00:25:29.159 so that we might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith. 00:25:29.579 --> 00:25:31.199 If you could put up the next point, Andrew. 00:25:31.699 --> 00:25:34.779 So what the Bible is saying here is that the Bible warns you, 00:25:34.779 --> 00:25:43.099 sorry, the triune God broke into the real world to do for you what you could never do for yourself. 00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:48.299 And this is offered to you as an unmerited and humbling gift. 00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:53.700 The triune God broke into history, into the real world, 00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:59.419 the world of armies, the world of governments, the world of laws, the world of food, 00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:04.079 the world of sweat, of sickness, of marriage, of children, 00:26:04.599 --> 00:26:10.180 the real world to do for you and for me what you and I could never do for ourselves. 00:26:10.180 --> 00:26:13.240 And this is offered to you as an unmerited and humbling gift. 00:26:13.620 --> 00:26:15.640 And I say it's the triune God who breaks in. 00:26:15.779 --> 00:26:15.960 Why? 00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:18.420 Because the Father speaks into the world. 00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:19.039 Why? 00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:21.240 Because Jesus walked in the world. 00:26:21.460 --> 00:26:22.519 He lives this life. 00:26:22.600 --> 00:26:23.660 He dies this death. 00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:24.960 He rises from the dead. 00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:29.660 The Holy Spirit breaks into the world to bring you to Jesus, 00:26:29.820 --> 00:26:31.000 to bring you to the Scriptures. 00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:38.119 It's the triune God, the full Godhead acting together to do something for us 00:26:38.119 --> 00:26:41.740 that we could never, ever, ever do for ourselves. 00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:43.440 The next point. 00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:48.680 Jesus offers to trade places with you on him, 00:26:49.140 --> 00:26:54.420 all that shames, all that diminishes, and all that punishes you, 00:26:54.420 --> 00:27:00.980 and all that you have done to deserve that shame, diminishment, and punishment, 00:27:01.380 --> 00:27:02.640 all on him. 00:27:03.019 --> 00:27:05.440 And he offers to you that on you, 00:27:05.779 --> 00:27:13.440 his sinless, loving, sacrificial, risen life of union with the living God. 00:27:15.340 --> 00:27:17.420 That is what the text is saying. 00:27:19.160 --> 00:27:22.200 Jesus offers to trade places with you. 00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:23.759 He's already done it. 00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:27.319 Will you accept what he has already done for you? 00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:28.660 You do not have to say, 00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:32.740 Jesus, could you please do this sometime for me in the future? 00:27:33.200 --> 00:27:36.140 Because he's already done it for you right now. 00:27:36.220 --> 00:27:39.440 It's a gift waiting for you to receive. 00:27:40.460 --> 00:27:44.059 And what that gift is, is on him all that shames you, 00:27:44.140 --> 00:27:46.940 all that diminishes you, all that punishes you, 00:27:47.319 --> 00:27:50.259 and all that you have done to deserve that shame, 00:27:50.259 --> 00:27:55.460 diminishment, punishment, and weakness, and punishment is laid on him. 00:27:56.279 --> 00:28:02.299 And he offers you his sinless, loving, sacrificial, risen life of perfect union 00:28:02.299 --> 00:28:04.559 with the living God. 00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:13.579 You see, the judgment and the curse itself is on Jesus. 00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:20.619 Could you put up the first image, Andrew? 00:28:22.019 --> 00:28:26.879 Remember I said to you that the Bible warns you about pursuing religion or spirituality? 00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:31.540 It says that it's like pedaling downhill, thinking it is the way to the top of the hill. 00:28:32.300 --> 00:28:36.520 Here's the way of religion and spirituality, right? 00:28:37.140 --> 00:28:38.780 It doesn't matter if it's Islam. 00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:41.140 It doesn't matter if it's forms of Christianity. 00:28:41.340 --> 00:28:42.940 It doesn't matter if it's Buddhism. 00:28:42.940 --> 00:28:47.140 It doesn't matter if it's a boutique spirituality, a curated spirituality of your own. 00:28:48.340 --> 00:28:52.279 You know, maybe if it's a curated spirituality, then you become vegan. 00:28:52.519 --> 00:28:53.960 That's your first step of being good. 00:28:54.279 --> 00:28:55.180 You vote green. 00:28:55.620 --> 00:28:57.120 That's the next step of being good. 00:28:58.059 --> 00:29:01.860 And then maybe you go to an Earth Day or some other type of thing 00:29:01.860 --> 00:29:05.640 where you call down the moon, and the point is that you do the good things, 00:29:05.660 --> 00:29:09.039 and then you start to connect with God, and then you have union with God. 00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:10.539 And that's how it works. 00:29:10.539 --> 00:29:14.000 Maybe if it's a Roman Catholic, you go to confession. 00:29:14.339 --> 00:29:16.940 You start going to Mass on a regular basis. 00:29:17.099 --> 00:29:20.180 And then while you're there, you shoot up the odd little phrase to God. 00:29:20.579 --> 00:29:24.759 And then after that, maybe God's going to accept you for himself. 00:29:25.299 --> 00:29:29.519 So it's all, and people will say it in the restaurants or in the bars or in the coffee shops. 00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:31.379 You know, I started to do a few good things, and I say, 00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:35.980 I throw up the few little shots of conversation with the big guy upstairs 00:29:35.980 --> 00:29:38.980 or the big gals upstairs or the big it all around. 00:29:38.980 --> 00:29:41.599 And then eventually I'm going to be at union with him. 00:29:42.539 --> 00:29:43.740 And that's the way you work. 00:29:43.819 --> 00:29:44.500 You be good. 00:29:45.360 --> 00:29:46.360 You connect. 00:29:46.940 --> 00:29:47.720 You have union. 00:29:48.200 --> 00:29:49.400 If you could put up the next image. 00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:50.799 But what does the gospel tell you? 00:29:51.200 --> 00:29:53.720 The gospel goes the opposite direction. 00:29:54.440 --> 00:29:55.180 Look what it does. 00:29:55.839 --> 00:29:56.720 How do you become? 00:29:57.120 --> 00:29:57.960 How does it begin? 00:29:58.120 --> 00:29:58.819 It becomes. 00:30:00.099 --> 00:30:00.779 How does it begin? 00:30:00.860 --> 00:30:02.180 Here's how it would begin in the Old Testament. 00:30:02.920 --> 00:30:04.660 You're trying to fulfill the law. 00:30:05.420 --> 00:30:07.080 You're trying to say the prayers. 00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:09.160 You're hoping and hoping and hoping. 00:30:09.300 --> 00:30:10.880 But every time you try to do this, 00:30:11.120 --> 00:30:14.019 what is it that irreligious people say about religious people? 00:30:14.100 --> 00:30:15.840 What are the many things they say about us? 00:30:16.700 --> 00:30:17.480 Religious people? 00:30:18.920 --> 00:30:21.540 They think their poop smells better than other people. 00:30:23.019 --> 00:30:25.300 They think they're really good, but they're not really good. 00:30:25.960 --> 00:30:28.100 They think their tribe is better than other tribes. 00:30:28.100 --> 00:30:30.880 That's why there's so much violence, and that's why there's so much hatred. 00:30:30.880 --> 00:30:34.440 They're just doing all of this thing to please themselves. 00:30:34.560 --> 00:30:36.560 And look at all the ways it's bending them out of shape. 00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:38.360 And that's what happens. 00:30:38.520 --> 00:30:41.620 In the Old Testament, the hope of God is you try to do this. 00:30:41.700 --> 00:30:42.560 You try to do this. 00:30:42.620 --> 00:30:43.320 You try to do this. 00:30:43.360 --> 00:30:47.500 But you realize as you do it that your heart is still not right with God, 00:30:47.580 --> 00:30:49.900 that you still can't do all of the things you have to do. 00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:53.800 And the hope of the Bible is that rather than doing this and doing this 00:30:53.800 --> 00:30:55.540 and doing this and getting farther away from God, 00:30:55.640 --> 00:30:57.020 that the time comes that you say, 00:30:58.640 --> 00:30:59.160 God. 00:31:00.880 --> 00:31:02.200 Have mercy on me. 00:31:04.100 --> 00:31:05.440 I can't do it. 00:31:05.880 --> 00:31:07.000 It doesn't work. 00:31:08.060 --> 00:31:08.980 Have mercy. 00:31:10.880 --> 00:31:12.960 You're no longer doing it on your own power, 00:31:13.080 --> 00:31:15.200 away from God, thinking you're meeting God. 00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:16.660 But you come and you just say, 00:31:16.860 --> 00:31:17.300 Have mercy. 00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:19.100 Have mercy. 00:31:22.940 --> 00:31:23.900 And God says, 00:31:23.980 --> 00:31:24.760 I have good news. 00:31:24.759 --> 00:31:30.680 The curse has laid on the Lamb of God. 00:31:31.059 --> 00:31:32.920 The curse has been laid on Jesus. 00:31:34.119 --> 00:31:37.539 And his perfect fellowship with me is offered to you. 00:31:38.119 --> 00:31:39.220 Put your hand in his. 00:31:39.359 --> 00:31:40.420 Reach out and have mercy. 00:31:40.579 --> 00:31:41.579 Father, I can do nothing. 00:31:41.720 --> 00:31:43.059 I have nothing in my hand to bring. 00:31:43.059 --> 00:31:44.480 All I can do is reach it out to you. 00:31:45.220 --> 00:31:46.240 And Jesus takes it. 00:31:46.299 --> 00:31:47.740 And there's this great exchange. 00:31:48.179 --> 00:31:50.119 And now you have union with God. 00:31:50.179 --> 00:31:51.859 And now that you have union with God, 00:31:51.940 --> 00:31:55.519 you can talk to him as your father in heaven and the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:31:55.519 --> 00:32:01.920 And now you have a capability and an understanding of why it is that you should forgive. 00:32:02.799 --> 00:32:04.059 Or why that try to forgive. 00:32:04.379 --> 00:32:06.480 Or try to be more generous financially. 00:32:06.900 --> 00:32:09.900 Or have more of a heart for poor people. 00:32:10.039 --> 00:32:13.079 And not be as judgmental and ignoring of them. 00:32:13.079 --> 00:32:16.160 And be concerned that there's justice in government. 00:32:16.599 --> 00:32:19.839 And now all of a sudden, because you're made right with God 00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:22.119 and you can start to talk to him as your heavenly father. 00:32:22.119 --> 00:32:27.739 And living out of this great gift starts to become more obvious and more powerful. 00:32:28.239 --> 00:32:28.559 See? 00:32:29.739 --> 00:32:33.719 If you do in religion, you're pedaling down the hill away from God. 00:32:35.179 --> 00:32:37.559 Thinking you're very self-righteous and holy. 00:32:38.500 --> 00:32:41.459 And the time comes you need to throw up your arms and say, 00:32:41.639 --> 00:32:42.559 Have mercy upon me. 00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:46.099 Just in closing, 00:32:46.099 --> 00:32:53.759 Remember I said that this text is a warning against religion and spirituality. 00:32:54.179 --> 00:32:56.240 And it's a proclamation of the greatness of the gospel. 00:32:56.399 --> 00:32:56.819 But it's also, 00:32:57.119 --> 00:32:58.399 And just in closing, 00:32:58.559 --> 00:33:01.359 for those of us who think we are cursed. 00:33:01.879 --> 00:33:03.159 And I'm conscious that when I speak, 00:33:03.219 --> 00:33:04.319 I'm not just speaking to you, 00:33:04.379 --> 00:33:05.339 but I'm also speaking, 00:33:05.599 --> 00:33:06.879 this service is taped. 00:33:07.679 --> 00:33:09.859 And so it'll be available as a podcast. 00:33:10.179 --> 00:33:12.000 I'm speaking to people who will listen to it. 00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:14.679 And I've preached the same sermon on the online service. 00:33:14.680 --> 00:33:17.860 And so those who will watch the online service. 00:33:18.100 --> 00:33:20.400 And so it might very well be that some of you here, 00:33:20.940 --> 00:33:22.799 this text is not an abstract text, 00:33:22.860 --> 00:33:24.060 but a very personal text, 00:33:24.060 --> 00:33:26.320 because there might be people here who think you're cursed. 00:33:27.160 --> 00:33:30.120 Or there might be people listening to this who think you're under a curse. 00:33:35.100 --> 00:33:39.060 And there's two other types of secular forms of curses. 00:33:39.059 --> 00:33:44.779 One of the secular forms of curses is that there are probably people here, 00:33:44.899 --> 00:33:47.179 or probably people who are listening to this, 00:33:47.740 --> 00:33:53.059 who think that there is something fundamentally broken and doomed about you 00:33:53.059 --> 00:33:56.059 because of something you did or failed to do. 00:33:57.339 --> 00:34:00.579 I remember years ago counseling a young fellow, 00:34:01.319 --> 00:34:03.700 now at that point in time he was around 40, 00:34:03.700 --> 00:34:05.539 who the love of his life, 00:34:05.539 --> 00:34:09.099 he chose his career over loving her and marrying her. 00:34:09.880 --> 00:34:11.599 And this is now 15 years later, 00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:13.860 and he realized that he had missed his one, 00:34:13.940 --> 00:34:17.800 he thought in his eye he'd missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, 00:34:17.800 --> 00:34:19.920 that everything in his values were wrong. 00:34:20.360 --> 00:34:21.539 And even though outwardly successful, 00:34:22.420 --> 00:34:25.860 inwardly he was profoundly beating himself up, 00:34:26.340 --> 00:34:27.780 that by his action, 00:34:28.099 --> 00:34:32.519 there was now something fundamentally wrong and broken about him 00:34:32.519 --> 00:34:33.840 that could never be redeemed. 00:34:34.980 --> 00:34:37.420 And maybe it's because you've had an abortion, 00:34:37.639 --> 00:34:38.960 maybe it's because of an affair, 00:34:39.119 --> 00:34:40.980 maybe it's because you spent time in jail, 00:34:41.119 --> 00:34:44.019 maybe it's because of some secret thing of shame that you have done 00:34:44.019 --> 00:34:46.980 that you cannot even bear to tell another person about, 00:34:47.079 --> 00:34:50.360 some secret activity that you have that has just broken you, 00:34:50.400 --> 00:34:51.940 maybe one that you cannot stop, 00:34:51.980 --> 00:34:57.159 and you feel completely and utterly broken and misshapen and doomed. 00:34:57.159 --> 00:35:02.159 And there's others of us who have that same experience 00:35:02.159 --> 00:35:03.859 of feeling broken and shamed and doomed, 00:35:03.980 --> 00:35:06.519 not necessarily because of something you have done, 00:35:06.599 --> 00:35:09.019 but because of something that has been done to you. 00:35:09.980 --> 00:35:13.779 Maybe it's still overcoming the problem of your parents' divorce. 00:35:14.059 --> 00:35:16.500 Maybe it's the words that your mom or your dad 00:35:16.500 --> 00:35:18.420 or your aunt or your uncle or your grandfather 00:35:18.420 --> 00:35:20.960 or your brother or sister constantly spoke into you 00:35:20.960 --> 00:35:22.500 for year after year after year, 00:35:22.819 --> 00:35:23.899 that you are no good, 00:35:23.980 --> 00:35:24.839 that you are bad, 00:35:24.840 --> 00:35:26.260 that there is something wrong with you, 00:35:26.320 --> 00:35:27.600 that you will never be a success, 00:35:27.800 --> 00:35:28.840 that you will never be loved, 00:35:28.940 --> 00:35:30.200 nobody will ever love you, 00:35:30.440 --> 00:35:32.079 there's something dirty about you. 00:35:32.300 --> 00:35:34.000 And there are people in our culture, 00:35:34.160 --> 00:35:35.820 those of us here listening to this, 00:35:36.260 --> 00:35:41.079 who have been cursed in a secular way. 00:35:44.220 --> 00:35:45.780 And if that is one of you, 00:35:46.440 --> 00:35:48.640 Galatians 3 verses 13 and 14 00:35:48.640 --> 00:35:50.079 is a verse that you should meditate, 00:35:50.260 --> 00:35:53.000 memorize and meditate upon and pray into every day. 00:35:53.600 --> 00:35:54.620 Because what does it say? 00:35:54.619 --> 00:35:55.960 If you could put up the final point, 00:35:55.960 --> 00:35:56.339 Andrew, 00:35:57.119 --> 00:35:58.440 in Christ Jesus, 00:35:58.819 --> 00:36:01.719 I pronounce this not because I have anything special. 00:36:01.859 --> 00:36:02.920 I am not a shaman. 00:36:03.139 --> 00:36:06.440 I am merely an ordinary human being. 00:36:06.579 --> 00:36:09.039 I am a beggar who has met Jesus 00:36:09.039 --> 00:36:10.739 and heard the gospel. 00:36:11.299 --> 00:36:11.819 And I, 00:36:11.920 --> 00:36:12.519 a beggar, 00:36:12.819 --> 00:36:13.639 share with you, 00:36:13.719 --> 00:36:14.139 a beggar, 00:36:14.219 --> 00:36:15.579 that in Christ Jesus, 00:36:15.779 --> 00:36:17.639 every curse against you 00:36:17.639 --> 00:36:20.039 is swallowed up in life 00:36:20.039 --> 00:36:20.759 and blessing 00:36:20.759 --> 00:36:22.500 that is real today 00:36:22.500 --> 00:36:23.759 and continuous 00:36:23.759 --> 00:36:25.880 into eternity. 00:36:29.880 --> 00:36:32.579 Every curse in Christ Jesus 00:36:32.579 --> 00:36:33.759 against you 00:36:33.759 --> 00:36:36.880 is swallowed up in life and blessing. 00:36:37.099 --> 00:36:38.279 It is real today 00:36:38.279 --> 00:36:39.400 and continues 00:36:39.400 --> 00:36:41.119 into eternity 00:36:41.119 --> 00:36:43.000 and cannot be removed. 00:36:43.000 --> 00:36:48.639 That is what the Bible tells you. 00:36:50.179 --> 00:36:51.059 You see, 00:36:51.280 --> 00:36:52.940 it is not the case 00:36:52.940 --> 00:36:54.699 that God hated you 00:36:54.699 --> 00:36:57.199 until Jesus died on the cross for you. 00:36:57.340 --> 00:36:58.780 What is the case? 00:36:59.000 --> 00:37:00.639 From all eternity, 00:37:00.820 --> 00:37:01.440 the Father, 00:37:01.639 --> 00:37:02.139 the Son, 00:37:02.219 --> 00:37:03.159 the Holy Spirit 00:37:03.159 --> 00:37:04.199 has loved you 00:37:04.199 --> 00:37:05.519 and wanted to bless you 00:37:05.519 --> 00:37:07.920 and has watched with tears 00:37:07.920 --> 00:37:09.219 as you turn from Him. 00:37:09.219 --> 00:37:12.659 and God provides the means 00:37:12.659 --> 00:37:14.419 to restore and return you 00:37:14.419 --> 00:37:15.159 to the blessing 00:37:15.159 --> 00:37:16.599 He has always desired 00:37:16.599 --> 00:37:18.759 to bestow upon you 00:37:18.759 --> 00:37:20.799 that can begin today 00:37:20.799 --> 00:37:24.079 and as you're gripped by the gospel, 00:37:25.980 --> 00:37:27.639 as it becomes more real to your heart 00:37:27.639 --> 00:37:28.619 and your affections, 00:37:28.879 --> 00:37:30.719 can grow into all eternity 00:37:30.719 --> 00:37:33.859 and will grow into all eternity. 00:37:34.799 --> 00:37:35.919 I invite you to stand 00:37:35.919 --> 00:37:36.859 and we're going to pray. 00:37:37.159 --> 00:37:37.819 If you can't stand, 00:37:37.879 --> 00:37:38.399 you don't have to, 00:37:38.459 --> 00:37:39.139 but if you can stand, 00:37:39.139 --> 00:37:39.940 let's just stand, 00:37:40.420 --> 00:37:42.039 change the position to pray. 00:37:44.359 --> 00:37:45.219 And after this, 00:37:45.319 --> 00:37:46.579 if Daniel's around, 00:37:46.659 --> 00:37:47.259 he's going to come up 00:37:47.259 --> 00:37:48.480 and lead the intercessions. 00:37:48.879 --> 00:37:49.480 Let's pray. 00:37:52.319 --> 00:37:52.719 Father, 00:37:52.879 --> 00:37:54.460 you know our hearts 00:37:54.460 --> 00:37:56.420 and you know those of us 00:37:56.420 --> 00:37:57.139 in this room 00:37:57.139 --> 00:37:59.659 who either believe 00:37:59.659 --> 00:38:00.659 we have been cursed 00:38:00.659 --> 00:38:01.960 and have been living out of that 00:38:01.960 --> 00:38:05.059 or in a magical sense 00:38:05.059 --> 00:38:06.019 or are cursed 00:38:06.019 --> 00:38:07.059 in one of these two 00:38:07.059 --> 00:38:08.819 different secular ways. 00:38:08.820 --> 00:38:09.100 Father, 00:38:09.100 --> 00:38:10.059 you know those of us 00:38:10.059 --> 00:38:11.519 who deeply struggle with this. 00:38:12.580 --> 00:38:12.880 And so, 00:38:13.000 --> 00:38:13.100 Father, 00:38:13.180 --> 00:38:13.780 we thank you 00:38:13.780 --> 00:38:15.320 for the words of the scripture 00:38:15.320 --> 00:38:16.940 and the promise of Jesus. 00:38:17.200 --> 00:38:17.800 We thank you, 00:38:18.000 --> 00:38:18.059 Father, 00:38:18.160 --> 00:38:19.519 for this wonderful text 00:38:19.519 --> 00:38:20.860 that at first was a shock 00:38:20.860 --> 00:38:21.920 and offensive to us, 00:38:21.920 --> 00:38:23.180 but now we see 00:38:23.180 --> 00:38:24.200 is so precious. 00:38:24.200 --> 00:38:25.300 But now we see, 00:38:25.300 --> 00:38:25.960 your blessing, 00:38:26.260 --> 00:38:27.900 the Holy Spirit himself 00:38:27.900 --> 00:38:29.119 indwelling us 00:38:29.119 --> 00:38:31.480 to be born again 00:38:31.480 --> 00:38:32.559 and made alive 00:38:32.559 --> 00:38:33.900 by you. 00:38:34.760 --> 00:38:35.360 Father, 00:38:35.599 --> 00:38:37.400 we ask for those of us 00:38:37.400 --> 00:38:38.820 who struggle with this 00:38:38.820 --> 00:38:40.159 that you would bring 00:38:40.159 --> 00:38:41.539 the great truth of the gospel 00:38:41.539 --> 00:38:42.720 home very deeply 00:38:42.720 --> 00:38:43.599 to us today 00:38:43.599 --> 00:38:44.500 and every day 00:38:44.500 --> 00:38:45.380 as we struggle 00:38:45.380 --> 00:38:47.119 to grow out of this sense 00:38:47.119 --> 00:38:49.239 and grow into the gospel 00:38:49.239 --> 00:38:50.519 and grow more and more 00:38:50.519 --> 00:38:51.460 to see ourselves 00:38:51.460 --> 00:38:52.139 in the world 00:38:52.139 --> 00:38:53.099 and all around us 00:38:53.099 --> 00:38:54.079 in light of Jesus 00:38:54.079 --> 00:38:55.179 and who he is 00:38:55.179 --> 00:38:56.440 and what he has done for us. 00:38:56.639 --> 00:38:57.460 And we thank you, 00:38:57.719 --> 00:38:57.779 Father, 00:38:57.779 --> 00:38:59.019 that we don't have to do this 00:38:59.019 --> 00:39:00.219 just by our own memory, 00:39:00.400 --> 00:39:01.900 but that the Holy Spirit 00:39:01.900 --> 00:39:03.059 is in our lives 00:39:03.059 --> 00:39:04.019 to move us 00:39:04.019 --> 00:39:04.719 in this direction 00:39:04.719 --> 00:39:05.400 and that Jesus 00:39:05.400 --> 00:39:06.179 is with us 00:39:06.179 --> 00:39:07.179 to walk with us, 00:39:07.259 --> 00:39:08.359 to walk with us 00:39:08.359 --> 00:39:09.000 in the direction 00:39:09.000 --> 00:39:09.699 of blessing. 00:39:10.659 --> 00:39:11.019 Father, 00:39:11.079 --> 00:39:12.259 we thank you for this. 00:39:12.660 --> 00:39:13.540 And if there are any here, 00:39:13.680 --> 00:39:13.880 Father, 00:39:13.940 --> 00:39:14.640 who have not yet 00:39:14.640 --> 00:39:15.380 given their lives 00:39:15.380 --> 00:39:15.860 to Jesus, 00:39:16.020 --> 00:39:16.620 we ask that, 00:39:17.480 --> 00:39:17.720 Father, 00:39:17.820 --> 00:39:18.820 that this would be the time 00:39:18.820 --> 00:39:20.580 that they call out 00:39:20.580 --> 00:39:21.360 to you for mercy 00:39:21.360 --> 00:39:23.020 and we know 00:39:23.020 --> 00:39:23.780 and we thank you 00:39:23.780 --> 00:39:25.100 that you will receive them 00:39:25.100 --> 00:39:25.680 and take them. 00:39:26.180 --> 00:39:26.700 And we ask, 00:39:26.940 --> 00:39:26.980 Father, 00:39:27.040 --> 00:39:27.620 that you grant us 00:39:27.620 --> 00:39:29.380 a great compassion 00:39:29.380 --> 00:39:30.760 for those around us 00:39:30.760 --> 00:39:31.420 that we can see 00:39:31.420 --> 00:39:32.520 live under a curse, 00:39:32.980 --> 00:39:33.940 that you would help us 00:39:33.940 --> 00:39:35.300 to pray with compassion 00:39:35.300 --> 00:39:36.340 for them. 00:39:36.960 --> 00:39:37.480 And, Father, 00:39:37.580 --> 00:39:38.580 in our day-to-day lives, 00:39:38.660 --> 00:39:39.600 help us to be people 00:39:39.600 --> 00:39:40.660 not who curse 00:39:40.660 --> 00:39:41.960 but who bless. 00:39:42.940 --> 00:39:44.120 Who bless in the name 00:39:44.120 --> 00:39:44.640 of Jesus. 00:39:45.200 --> 00:39:45.580 Father, 00:39:45.700 --> 00:39:46.520 make us a blessing. 00:39:47.540 --> 00:39:48.440 All these things 00:39:48.440 --> 00:39:49.300 we ask in the name 00:39:49.300 --> 00:39:49.800 of Jesus 00:39:49.800 --> 00:39:51.000 and all God's people 00:39:51.000 --> 00:39:51.500 said, 00:39:52.400 --> 00:39:52.640 Amen.