WEBVTT

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 A very good morning to you all. Please join me in your copy of God's Word in the book of Malachi.

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 I hope that you're as grateful as I am to be part of a church that sings songs the way that we do them, the types of songs that we sing, whether you recognize it or not, or feel it to be good or not.

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 We just sang a song that was a systematic theology of suffering. What a wonderful thing to be taught as we sing together.

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 Now, if you're being astute this morning, you'll notice in your bulletin that this is not the text that's in your bulletin.

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 And so I want to speak a little bit to our preaching plans and why I'm here and why we're not doing what was previously planned.

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 We have in our intention, Clay Naylor's been preaching on the life of David through some selected texts.

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 I believe the bulletin says 1 Samuel chapter 16.

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 I can tell you that I was looking forward to hearing on that passage today.

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 However, he is not well. His family has had the flu this past week.

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 We were praying that he would be spared from it.

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 And last night he texted me, 101 fever and shivering.

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 And I said, please stay home.

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 So he's not here with us this week for that reason.

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 He also, as part of the original plan, was not going to be with us for the next two weeks.

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 One a trip to go see some dear friends of our church as they get ready to head overseas.

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 And another in recovery from a minor surgery that he's going to be having.

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 So we already had planned for two weeks that I was going to step in and interrupt the life of David work that he's doing.

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 And now I'm just adding to that today.

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 So in the following two weeks, I want to explain what the Bible says is the improper and the proper place of emotions in the life of the Christian.

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 We generally want to preach through the Bible.

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 We generally want to preach through the Bible, verse by verse expositions.

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 But it's good from time to time to stop and think.

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 What does the Bible say about any given subject?

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 And so we're going to labor to do that over the next two weeks.

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 What is the place, improper and proper, of emotions in the life of the Christian?

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 This morning, with the responsibility of preaching added to my day at the 11th hour,

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 I want to peel out a bit of that teaching and expand upon it for our benefit.

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 So this is my introduction as planned for next week, and I'm just expanding it a bit.

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 It may be a bit brief this morning for that reason, but we shall see.

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 We're going to take some time in the coming moments to consider an oft-neglected attribute of God.

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 You have likely never heard of this attribute, or if you have, heard very little about it.

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 The attribute I want us to think about is the impassibility of God.

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 Now let me tell you immediately, before I tell you what it is, that this does not mean that God can't be passed by in some race.

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 The impossibility of God does not mean that.

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 But before I define the attribute and tell you why it matters, we need to define some terms.

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 Historically, careful distinctions have been made between the words emotions, passions, and affections.

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 Emotions, passions, and affections.

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 You perhaps could add to that feelings, although I don't think that's a very good word.

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 I feel things when I cut my finger that has nothing to do with my emotions.

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 We tend to lump, though, those three words, emotions, passions, and affections, all together, and use them without any distinction at all.

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 However, it's important to draw from the Bible a more nuanced understanding of how the soul interacts with truth and experience.

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 So let's talk in brief about the distinctions, and we'll work some of this out further in the next two weeks.

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 First, emotions.

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 Emotions are the broadest category encompassing all human feelings, both rational and irrational, fleeting and enduring.

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 All those feelings that work around inside of us.

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 They can either be governed by truth and grace, or can be led astray by sin and the flesh.

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 The word emotion comes from the Latin word immovere, which translated literally means to move out,

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 and from the following Old French immovoir, which means to excite or to stir up.

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 I think that we do well to use this term in this broadest of sense,

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 and to note that our emotions include passions and affections.

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 So passions.

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 Secondly, passions are the more instinctual, bodily, and uncontrolled aspects of emotion.

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 We often use this term positively.

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 He's so passionate.

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 But often, and most often in history, it was used negatively.

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 Passions are reactionary, often tied to the flesh, and can easily lead to sin when not disciplined by the truth and grace.

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 The word passion comes from the Latin word passio, which means to suffer.

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 In its simplest form, it means to suffer, but its use is not limited to the emotion associated with grief or pain.

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 Richard Sibbes, a Puritan pastor, warned against unrestrained passions,

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 which he saw as the enemy of Christian piety and self-control.

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 He believed that passions must be subdued under the governance of the Holy Spirit to avoid sin.

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 Thirdly, affections.

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 Affections are emotions of the will.

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 They are rooted in the soul and directed by the truth and grace.

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 The word affection comes from the Latin word afficere, which means to influence.

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 Affections.

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 Affections are the highest form of human feeling.

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 Not mere reactions, but deliberate inclinations of the heart.

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 Jonathan Edwards, in Religious Affections, argued that true Christian experience is marked by holy affections.

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 Affections governed by the truth of God's word and the work of the Holy Spirit.

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 And so that's how we're going to use these three words across these coming weeks.

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 Emotions, passions, and affections.

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 Okay, so when we speak of God's impossibility, in the simplest of terms,

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 we are saying that he does not suffer.

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 He does not have passions.

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 But in broader terms, we mean that God's emotions are not acted upon by outside forces.

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 Forces.

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 We're not saying he's unemotional.

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 But what we're saying is that his emotions are not acted upon.

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 He is never overwhelmed, controlled, or altered by anything outside of himself.

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 If you would like the fancy word for God's godness, it's his aseity.

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 He is self-existent.

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 Impossibility is a necessary aspect of God's immutability, which is his unchangeable nature.

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 If God were subject to emotional turmoil, he would be less than God.

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 This is not a denial that God loves, rejoices, or even expresses those emotions along with wrath.

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 But rather a declaration that these are not reactions forced upon him.

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 They are the perfect, eternal expressions of his unchanging nature.

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 The church fathers upheld this doctrine.

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 The reformers defended it, and the Puritans cherished it.

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 It is a doctrine often denied today.

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 One of my favorite systematic theologies.

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 In the section on immutability, the author just flatly denies impassibility.

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 And his simple explanation is, because God has emotions.

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 And I don't think he, tragically, didn't take the time to define his terms

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 and understand what is meant by the doctrine of impassibility.

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 I think because people don't want to think that God does not have emotions,

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 because the definitions of the affirmation words have just been flattened in our cultural moment.

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 It is a doctrine that we must reclaim, because it is essential to our understanding of who God is,

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 and I think it is an important place to begin our thinking about our own emotional lives.

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 Now, I want to be clear, just for a moment, this is not a communicable attribute.

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 So I just want you to know, over the coming weeks,

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 I'm going to not make the case to you that we should be without passion.

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 There's a proper place for it in the life of a Christian.

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 We're not trying to emulate God and his impassibility,

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 but the fact that he is impassible is a really great place for us to begin thinking about emotions in our own lives.

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 So Malachi, chapter 3 and verse 6.

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 This is where we'll start.

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 This is not a complete exposition of this passage.

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 Much more could be said about it.

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 We'll need to go to some other texts as well,

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 but we'll start here.

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 Before I read it, let me remind you, beloved,

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 that this is God's word to us,

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 written for his glory and our good,

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 that we might believe its promises,

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 obey its commands,

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 and have affection for its author.

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 May we hear it and respond accordingly to it.

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 Malachi 3 and verse 6 says,

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 For I, the Lord, do not change.

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 Therefore you, O children of Jacob,

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 are not consumed.

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 And what's been going on in this chapter in Malachi,

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 as a judgment is being declared,

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 God will come and he will judge.

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 And there's language about bringing Israel back into conformity with his will.

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 And then the nations that will be judged

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 because they're not in conformity with his will.

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 And he roots that, right?

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 God's people will not be consumed

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 because God does not change.

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 He has made promises.

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 And he is sure to his word.

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 And so I have a four-point brief outline for us this morning.

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 I'm going to repeat these points.

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 They're a little bit wordy.

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 But I want to run through it so you know where we're going

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 and then we'll get right to it.

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 Number one, the unchanging nature of God.

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 Number two, the nature of divine emotions.

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 Number three, the impossibility of God in Christ.

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 And number four, why this doctrine matters for us today.

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 So let's think together first about the unchanging nature of God.

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 There in Malachi 3.6, God himself declares,

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 I, the Lord, do not change.

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 He is static.

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 He is immovable.

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 Nothing acts upon him.

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 He acts, but nothing upon him.

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 He doesn't derive his power from anywhere else.

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 He is self-existent.

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 Plugs into nothing, but everything plugs into him.

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 Another place, James 1, verse 17.

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 James says,

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 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,

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 coming down from the Father of lights,

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 with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

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 No variation or shadow.

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 No changing in God because of the circumstances that surround him.

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 God is immutable.

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 Immutable is that term again for you.

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 Immutable.

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 He does not change in his being, his purposes, or his promises.

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 If he did, he would cease to be God.

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 Impassibility is a necessary inclusion of immutability.

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 It is part and parcel with it.

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 When God declares in Malachi 3, 6,

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 I, the Lord, do not change,

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 he is also talking about his emotions.

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 A being subject to fluctuating emotions or reactions

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 would be a being in process.

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 If he is being changed by outside forces,

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 he would be a being in process.

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 And there is a theology called process theology,

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 and it is a heresy, right?

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 God is not in process.

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 God is complete.

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 It's accomplished who he is.

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 He's the eternally perfect, self-existent,

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 and self-sufficient God that we see in the Scripture.

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 God is not becoming.

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 He is being.

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 If God could change in his love, his mercy, or his justice,

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 he would not be reliable.

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 He would not be reliable.

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 We could not trust anything that he says if he changes.

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 The very foundation of our faith rests on the fact

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 that he is always as he has always been.

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 He is always as he has always been.

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 This is why Malachi 3.6,

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 there God assures us that we, God's people,

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 are not consumed because his faithfulness does not waver.

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 I think as a church,

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 we generally wrap our minds around this concept of God's immutability

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 and appreciate it.

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 But we want to press beyond to the implication

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 that God is also impassable.

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 God is impassable in his nature.

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 Secondly, let's think together about the nature of divine emotions.

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 In Numbers chapter 23 and verse 19, we can read,

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 God is not man that he should lie,

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 or a son of man that he should change his mind.

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 Has he said and will he not do it?

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 Or has he spoken and will he not fulfill it?

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 And in 1 Samuel chapter 15 and verse 29,

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 and also the glory of Israel will not lie or have regret,

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 for he is not a man that he should have regret.

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 The Bible often speaks of God's emotions,

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 his wrath, his love, his joy, his grief.

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 But we must interpret these descriptions in a way that is consistent with his divine nature.

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 When scripture attributes human-like emotions to God,

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 it is using anthropopathism,

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 a way of speaking about God in human terms

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 so that we can understand him.

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 God, however, does not experience emotions as we do.

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 God's love is not a reaction,

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 but an eternal attribute.

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 The last part of 1 John chapter 4 verse 8,

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 there John declares,

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 God is love.

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 It's who he is.

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 Not because we're lovable does he love us,

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 but God is love and therefore he loves.

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 His wrath is not an uncontrollable passion.

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 Praise God.

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 But his settled opposition to sin.

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 God's wrath is not reckless.

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 His love is not reckless.

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 God is never reckless, to be clear.

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 Romans chapter 1 and verse 18,

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 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against.

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 It's pointed at something.

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 His wrath is pointed at all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.

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 It's not an uncontrollable passion.

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 It has a purpose to play out.

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 God's love is not an emotional high.

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 Excuse me.

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 His joy is not an emotional high,

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 but his perfect delight in himself and in his purposes fulfilled.

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 Zephaniah chapter 3 and verse 17.

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 The Lord your God is in your midst,

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 a mighty one who will save.

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 He will rejoice over you with gladness.

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 He will quiet you by his love.

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 He will exult over you with loud singing.

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 If God's emotions were subject to change,

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 he would be vulnerable to external forces.

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 That would make him dependent on his creation

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 rather than the sovereign Lord over all.

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 This is why we must not sentimentalize God

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 or reduce him to a being who merely feels things the way we do.

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 Emotions like his love, his joy, his wrath

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 are always expressed in perfect harmony with his character.

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 Thirdly, let's think together about the impassibility of God in Christ.

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 I hope that some of your minds,

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 as soon as I said that God is impassable,

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 ran to Christ and said,

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 but wait, but wait,

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 what about Christ and his suffering?

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 That bears a dressing.

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 He is unable to sympathize with our weakness,

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 but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are,

00:19:38.060 --> 00:19:40.580
 yet without sin.

00:19:40.840 --> 00:19:44.580
 He experienced everything we experience,

00:19:44.820 --> 00:19:46.880
 and yet did not sin.

00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:50.140
 Philippians 2, verse 6 and 7,

00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:52.780
 Christ, though he was in the form of God,

00:19:52.860 --> 00:19:56.040
 did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

00:19:56.440 --> 00:19:59.880
 but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant

00:19:59.880 --> 00:20:03.880
 being born in the likeness of men.

00:20:05.180 --> 00:20:07.200
 Some argue that the incarnation

00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:09.880
 disproves divine impassibility.

00:20:09.880 --> 00:20:18.400
 After all, did not Jesus suffer and weep and feel anguish?

00:20:18.780 --> 00:20:20.480
 He most certainly did.

00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:24.040
 You have likely heard the life and death of Jesus

00:20:24.040 --> 00:20:28.580
 referred to as the passion of the Christ.

00:20:29.180 --> 00:20:34.220
 A phrase that long outdated the movie you may know of.

00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:37.900
 The answer to this question

00:20:37.900 --> 00:20:42.120
 is found in the hypostatic union,

00:20:42.420 --> 00:20:46.440
 the mystery of Christ's two natures.

00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:49.480
 When Christ took on human flesh,

00:20:49.620 --> 00:20:52.160
 He was, at the same time,

00:20:52.620 --> 00:20:55.240
 truly God, 100% God,

00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:57.480
 and truly man.

00:20:57.680 --> 00:21:00.240
 100% man.

00:21:00.660 --> 00:21:01.819
 And it is a mystery.

00:21:01.980 --> 00:21:03.900
 And it's a thing for us to marvel at

00:21:03.900 --> 00:21:06.460
 and try to work out.

00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:09.680
 In His divine nature,

00:21:10.080 --> 00:21:12.300
 Christ remains impassable.

00:21:13.019 --> 00:21:16.980
 He's fully God and does not suffer as God.

00:21:17.940 --> 00:21:19.180
 In His human nature,

00:21:19.500 --> 00:21:23.300
 Christ experiences suffering and emotions.

00:21:23.560 --> 00:21:24.800
 He truly weeps,

00:21:25.360 --> 00:21:25.880
 grieves,

00:21:26.220 --> 00:21:28.259
 and endures pain.

00:21:29.340 --> 00:21:31.400
 Yet in both natures,

00:21:31.400 --> 00:21:35.040
 He remains sinless and sovereign.

00:21:35.259 --> 00:21:37.860
 His emotions never control Him,

00:21:37.960 --> 00:21:42.480
 nor do they compromise His divine nature.

00:21:43.620 --> 00:21:45.720
 The impassibility of Christ,

00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:48.200
 coupled with the passibility of Christ,

00:21:48.540 --> 00:21:50.820
 makes His life and death

00:21:50.820 --> 00:21:52.740
 all the more wonderful.

00:21:53.259 --> 00:21:56.360
 A thing for us to just consider

00:21:56.359 --> 00:21:57.959
 and mull over.

00:21:58.919 --> 00:22:00.159
 The fact that Christ,

00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:01.299
 in His humanity,

00:22:02.139 --> 00:22:03.240
 suffered for us,

00:22:03.379 --> 00:22:04.579
 is what makes Him

00:22:04.579 --> 00:22:07.219
 the perfect High Priest.

00:22:07.719 --> 00:22:09.379
 Reference in Hebrews 4,

00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:11.639
 and verse 15.

00:22:11.640 --> 00:22:16.780
 He understands our frailties.

00:22:17.600 --> 00:22:18.560
 Yet as God,

00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:22.520
 He remains unshaken by them.

00:22:23.400 --> 00:22:25.640
 You see how the two work together

00:22:25.640 --> 00:22:27.800
 in some mystery.

00:22:28.860 --> 00:22:30.160
 The Scripture tells us that

00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:34.120
 Jesus Christ is interceding for us.

00:22:34.800 --> 00:22:36.360
 This means that when we pray,

00:22:36.360 --> 00:22:38.060
 we come to an intercessor

00:22:38.059 --> 00:22:40.519
 who is both transcendent

00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:42.839
 and is near.

00:22:43.539 --> 00:22:44.940
 He is both sovereign

00:22:44.940 --> 00:22:47.779
 and He is sympathetic.

00:22:49.159 --> 00:22:50.980
 Christ knows how to pray

00:22:50.980 --> 00:22:52.299
 on our behalf

00:22:52.299 --> 00:22:53.799
 to the Father

00:22:53.799 --> 00:22:54.559
 because

00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:55.899
 He was both

00:22:55.899 --> 00:22:57.539
 impassable

00:22:57.539 --> 00:22:58.279
 and

00:22:58.279 --> 00:22:59.639
 passable

00:22:59.639 --> 00:23:01.980
 in His hypostatic union.

00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:04.460
 Fourthly,

00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:06.240
 why does this

00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:06.519
 today?

00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:09.240
 God's love

00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:10.200
 is

00:23:10.200 --> 00:23:12.200
 unshakable.

00:23:12.920 --> 00:23:14.480
 His love is not a fleeting passion

00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:16.120
 but an eternal

00:23:16.120 --> 00:23:17.480
 commitment.

00:23:18.220 --> 00:23:19.200
 Romans chapter 8,

00:23:19.360 --> 00:23:20.079
 verse 38

00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:21.539
 and 39.

00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:23.319
 Always working

00:23:23.319 --> 00:23:23.980
 for

00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:24.700
 our

00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:25.940
 good.

00:23:26.620 --> 00:23:28.319
 Regardless of how you might

00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:29.180
 feel

00:23:29.180 --> 00:23:31.140
 if you belong to God,

00:23:31.360 --> 00:23:31.740
 God

00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:32.579
 is

00:23:32.579 --> 00:23:33.980
 for you.

00:23:34.460 --> 00:23:36.340
 God's

00:23:36.340 --> 00:23:37.000
 justice

00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:37.600
 is

00:23:37.600 --> 00:23:39.480
 unwavering.

00:23:40.340 --> 00:23:41.100
 He does not

00:23:41.100 --> 00:23:42.420
 cool down

00:23:42.420 --> 00:23:43.600
 over sin.

00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:44.799
 He does not

00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:46.039
 set it aside.

00:23:46.160 --> 00:23:46.360
 If you

00:23:46.360 --> 00:23:47.600
 belong to Him,

00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:48.960
 He corrects us

00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:49.660
 as a loving

00:23:49.660 --> 00:23:50.539
 Father.

00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:51.100
 Hebrews

00:23:51.100 --> 00:23:52.480
 chapter 12.

00:23:53.420 --> 00:23:54.100
 If you have been

00:23:54.100 --> 00:23:54.819
 wronged,

00:23:54.880 --> 00:23:56.400
 someday there will be

00:23:56.400 --> 00:23:57.920
 proper punishment

00:23:57.920 --> 00:23:59.019
 for that wrong

00:23:59.019 --> 00:24:00.220
 against you.

00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:01.380
 Perfect justice

00:24:01.380 --> 00:24:01.920
 will

00:24:01.920 --> 00:24:02.640
 be

00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:03.500
 accomplished

00:24:03.500 --> 00:24:04.680
 because God's

00:24:04.680 --> 00:24:05.140
 justice

00:24:05.140 --> 00:24:05.779
 is

00:24:05.779 --> 00:24:08.259
 unwavering

00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:09.099
 and His

00:24:09.099 --> 00:24:10.180
 wrath

00:24:10.180 --> 00:24:10.740
 is

00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:11.819
 perfectly

00:24:11.819 --> 00:24:13.319
 just.

00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:15.140
 Revelation 19

00:24:15.140 --> 00:24:15.640
 and verse

00:24:15.640 --> 00:24:17.299
 15.

00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:19.140
 We can know,

00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:20.740
 we can rest

00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:21.599
 in the fact

00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:22.420
 that everything

00:24:22.420 --> 00:24:23.160
 is going to be

00:24:23.160 --> 00:24:23.740
 sorted out

00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.900
 exactly as

00:24:24.900 --> 00:24:25.779
 it ought

00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:26.799
 to be.

00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:28.299
 I suggest

00:24:28.299 --> 00:24:28.519
 to you

00:24:28.519 --> 00:24:28.839
 that that

00:24:28.839 --> 00:24:29.159
 sorting

00:24:29.159 --> 00:24:29.480
 is going

00:24:29.480 --> 00:24:29.859
 to far

00:24:29.859 --> 00:24:30.139
 surpass

00:24:30.139 --> 00:24:31.259
 our own

00:24:31.259 --> 00:24:31.819
 perception

00:24:31.819 --> 00:24:32.259
 of what

00:24:32.259 --> 00:24:32.799
 might be

00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:33.899
 just.

00:24:34.599 --> 00:24:35.079
 God will

00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:35.639
 make it

00:24:35.639 --> 00:24:37.019
 all right

00:24:37.019 --> 00:24:38.220
 in the end.

00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:40.139
 God's

00:24:40.139 --> 00:24:40.519
 promises

00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:41.200
 are

00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:42.299
 certain.

00:24:43.460 --> 00:24:43.639
 His

00:24:43.639 --> 00:24:44.319
 faithfulness

00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:44.779
 does not

00:24:44.779 --> 00:24:45.839
 fluctuate

00:24:45.839 --> 00:24:46.399
 with

00:24:46.399 --> 00:24:48.039
 circumstances.

00:24:48.039 --> 00:24:48.119
 promises.

00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:49.519
 I need

00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:49.720
 to be

00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:50.079
 reminded

00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:50.500
 of this

00:24:50.500 --> 00:24:51.220
 all

00:24:51.220 --> 00:24:51.639
 the

00:24:51.639 --> 00:24:52.259
 time.

00:24:52.399 --> 00:24:52.839
 God has

00:24:52.839 --> 00:24:53.200
 said it,

00:24:53.279 --> 00:24:53.740
 it is

00:24:53.740 --> 00:24:54.259
 true,

00:24:54.420 --> 00:24:54.680
 and it

00:24:54.680 --> 00:24:55.119
 does

00:24:55.119 --> 00:24:55.639
 not

00:24:55.639 --> 00:24:56.279
 matter

00:24:56.279 --> 00:24:57.659
 how I

00:24:57.659 --> 00:24:58.019
 feel

00:24:58.019 --> 00:24:59.279
 about it.

00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:00.220
 Numbers

00:25:00.220 --> 00:25:00.700
 23

00:25:00.700 --> 00:25:01.379
 and verse

00:25:01.379 --> 00:25:02.960
 19.

00:25:04.319 --> 00:25:04.819
 God's

00:25:04.819 --> 00:25:05.359
 comfort

00:25:05.359 --> 00:25:06.519
 is

00:25:06.519 --> 00:25:07.920
 secure.

00:25:09.279 --> 00:25:09.819
 He does

00:25:09.819 --> 00:25:10.399
 not grieve

00:25:10.399 --> 00:25:11.000
 as man

00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:11.579
 grieves.

00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:12.680
 He remains

00:25:12.680 --> 00:25:13.519
 our

00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:15.279
 steadfast

00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:16.639
 rock.

00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:17.380
 We can

00:25:17.380 --> 00:25:18.180
 rely on

00:25:18.180 --> 00:25:18.340
 Him.

00:25:18.420 --> 00:25:18.720
 We can

00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:19.460
 flee to

00:25:19.460 --> 00:25:19.680
 Him.

00:25:19.780 --> 00:25:20.040
 We can

00:25:20.040 --> 00:25:20.820
 depend on

00:25:20.820 --> 00:25:21.960
 Him for

00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:23.560
 comfort in

00:25:23.560 --> 00:25:23.960
 times of

00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:24.259
 trouble.

00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:26.060
 In a

00:25:26.060 --> 00:25:26.560
 world full

00:25:26.560 --> 00:25:27.360
 of uncertainty,

00:25:28.280 --> 00:25:29.060
 emotional

00:25:29.060 --> 00:25:30.240
 instability,

00:25:30.960 --> 00:25:31.920
 and shifting

00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:32.800
 sins,

00:25:33.540 --> 00:25:34.480
 we need

00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:35.259
 a God

00:25:35.259 --> 00:25:35.900
 who is

00:25:35.900 --> 00:25:37.660
 unshaken.

00:25:38.520 --> 00:25:38.820
 And as

00:25:38.820 --> 00:25:39.060
 God's

00:25:39.060 --> 00:25:39.380
 people,

00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:39.680
 we ought

00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:39.920
 to have

00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:40.500
 a great

00:25:40.500 --> 00:25:41.120
 confidence.

00:25:41.259 --> 00:25:41.600
 The world

00:25:41.600 --> 00:25:42.380
 around us

00:25:42.380 --> 00:25:42.800
 is being

00:25:42.800 --> 00:25:43.800
 shaken.

00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:44.400
 We ought

00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:44.980
 to stand

00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:45.720
 firm because

00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:46.440
 we stand

00:25:46.440 --> 00:25:46.840
 on a

00:25:46.840 --> 00:25:47.680
 foundation

00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:48.519
 that is

00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:50.600
 unshakable.

00:25:51.539 --> 00:25:52.299
 The doctrine

00:25:52.299 --> 00:25:52.860
 of divine

00:25:52.860 --> 00:25:53.720
 impossibility

00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:54.880
 does not

00:25:54.880 --> 00:25:55.460
 make God

00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:56.460
 distant.

00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:57.580
 It makes

00:25:57.580 --> 00:25:57.940
 Him

00:25:57.940 --> 00:25:59.360
 dependable.

00:26:00.360 --> 00:26:00.940
 If God

00:26:00.940 --> 00:26:01.880
 were like

00:26:01.880 --> 00:26:02.480
 us,

00:26:02.980 --> 00:26:03.360
 we would

00:26:03.360 --> 00:26:04.160
 have no

00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:04.940
 sure foundation,

00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:06.340
 no rock

00:26:06.340 --> 00:26:07.600
 to stand

00:26:07.600 --> 00:26:07.900
 on.

00:26:08.820 --> 00:26:09.180
 He is

00:26:09.180 --> 00:26:09.779
 never taken

00:26:09.779 --> 00:26:11.200
 by surprise.

00:26:11.820 --> 00:26:12.400
 He is

00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:12.980
 never

00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:14.380
 overwhelmed.

00:26:14.580 --> 00:26:14.960
 He's able

00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:15.600
 to bear

00:26:15.600 --> 00:26:16.519
 every

00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:17.400
 one

00:26:17.400 --> 00:26:18.400
 of your

00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:19.380
 external

00:26:19.380 --> 00:26:20.660
 forces.

00:26:21.319 --> 00:26:22.079
 Because of

00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:22.279
 this,

00:26:22.380 --> 00:26:22.940
 we can

00:26:22.940 --> 00:26:23.740
 trust Him

00:26:23.740 --> 00:26:24.980
 absolutely,

00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:26.039
 without

00:26:26.039 --> 00:26:27.000
 hesitation.

00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:28.259
 Our

00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:29.000
 salvation is

00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:29.440
 secure,

00:26:29.860 --> 00:26:30.720
 our hope

00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:31.539
 is unshaken,

00:26:31.539 --> 00:26:32.120
 and our

00:26:32.120 --> 00:26:33.039
 worship is

00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:33.680
 rightly

00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:34.400
 directed to

00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:34.920
 the God

00:26:34.920 --> 00:26:35.200
 who is

00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:35.840
 the same

00:26:35.840 --> 00:26:36.740
 yesterday,

00:26:37.660 --> 00:26:38.140
 today,

00:26:38.140 --> 00:26:39.700
 and forever.

00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:41.039
 Hebrews

00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:42.700
 13 and

00:26:42.700 --> 00:26:43.319
 verse 8.

00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:45.460
 Let us

00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:46.099
 rest in

00:26:46.099 --> 00:26:46.619
 the truth

00:26:46.619 --> 00:26:47.940
 that our

00:26:47.940 --> 00:26:49.359
 God does

00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:49.980
 not waver.

00:26:50.220 --> 00:26:50.440
 You see,

00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.220
 perhaps why I

00:26:51.220 --> 00:26:51.639
 think this is a

00:26:51.639 --> 00:26:52.200
 good place to

00:26:52.200 --> 00:26:52.659
 begin thinking

00:26:52.659 --> 00:26:53.079
 about our

00:26:53.079 --> 00:26:54.519
 own emotions.

00:26:55.359 --> 00:26:55.940
 We have a

00:26:55.940 --> 00:26:56.559
 God who

00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:57.420
 is not

00:26:57.420 --> 00:26:58.639
 passionate.

00:26:59.680 --> 00:27:00.059
 That's a

00:27:00.059 --> 00:27:00.680
 good place

00:27:00.680 --> 00:27:01.200
 for us to

00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:02.119
 start processing

00:27:02.119 --> 00:27:02.879
 what is

00:27:02.879 --> 00:27:03.579
 true and

00:27:03.579 --> 00:27:04.079
 how that

00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:04.619
 truth should

00:27:04.619 --> 00:27:05.159
 be shaping

00:27:05.159 --> 00:27:06.259
 how we

00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:07.460
 feel.

00:27:08.519 --> 00:27:09.220
 God does

00:27:09.220 --> 00:27:09.759
 not need

00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:10.079
 to be

00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:10.480
 rescued.

00:27:11.420 --> 00:27:11.740
 He is

00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:11.879
 the

00:27:11.879 --> 00:27:12.299
 rescuer.

00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:13.519
 He does

00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:14.019
 not suffer

00:27:14.019 --> 00:27:14.599
 loss.

00:27:14.740 --> 00:27:14.980
 He is

00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:15.440
 the giver

00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:16.900
 of life.

00:27:17.839 --> 00:27:18.099
 He is

00:27:18.099 --> 00:27:18.900
 our rock,

00:27:19.420 --> 00:27:20.460
 our fortress,

00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:22.420
 our deliverer.

00:27:22.920 --> 00:27:23.119
 To Him

00:27:23.119 --> 00:27:23.599
 be glory

00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:25.160
 now and

00:27:25.160 --> 00:27:25.740
 forevermore.

00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:26.819
 Amen.

00:27:27.379 --> 00:27:27.819
 Let's pray

00:27:27.819 --> 00:27:28.119
 together.