WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.340 Let's pray. 00:00:04.339 --> 00:00:18.080 Heavenly Father, this morning we come to you with complete confidence in your character, 00:00:18.080 --> 00:00:29.980 ! in your sufficiency, in the word that you've given to us, in the indwelling spirit in the 00:00:29.980 --> 00:00:40.299 promises that you have given to us that hold us and strengthen us in the moments of challenge 00:00:40.299 --> 00:00:41.000 and darkness. 00:00:42.899 --> 00:00:59.600 And I, along with this dear people, trust you and call upon your name to make your word 00:00:59.600 --> 00:01:07.980 clear, convicting, strengthening, and Christ-exalting. 00:01:08.980 --> 00:01:10.960 We ask this in Jesus' name. 00:01:11.780 --> 00:01:12.099 Amen. 00:01:12.099 --> 00:01:12.239 Amen. 00:01:14.159 --> 00:01:18.759 I'd like you to turn in your Bibles this morning to Isaiah chapter 60. 00:01:18.760 --> 00:01:32.560 By way of explanation, a reminder that the purpose of preaching is rooted in the great responsibility 00:01:32.560 --> 00:01:34.560 of making the word of God clear. 00:01:36.160 --> 00:01:41.460 Doing so through the power of the Spirit of God for the glory of Christ. 00:01:41.459 --> 00:01:47.879 And I read that to you not just to kind of give an introductory statement, but to tell 00:01:47.879 --> 00:01:49.699 you right up front what I'm here to do. 00:01:50.780 --> 00:01:58.439 My desire is to lift up Jesus and do so clearly that you walk out of here with confidence and 00:01:58.439 --> 00:02:02.919 abiding trust in His finished work on the cross. 00:02:02.920 --> 00:02:03.920 Saturday. 00:02:03.920 --> 00:02:04.920 Saturday. 00:02:08.140 --> 00:02:12.000 And I have been making numerous trips to Home Depot. 00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:14.120 Some of you know that I'm a permanent remodeler. 00:02:14.800 --> 00:02:18.840 When I die, I'm going to the place that's finished and somebody else did the work. 00:02:21.379 --> 00:02:23.400 And I got to tell you, I like that idea. 00:02:23.400 --> 00:02:29.020 But I am checking out. 00:02:30.099 --> 00:02:32.140 One young guy says to me, how are you doing? 00:02:33.099 --> 00:02:34.120 You know what I said, right? 00:02:35.300 --> 00:02:36.520 Any better than I'd be dead. 00:02:38.480 --> 00:02:40.780 Guy got this really quizzical look on his face. 00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:49.259 He's like, are you saying that, let me see, are you glad you're not dead? 00:02:49.340 --> 00:02:50.580 I said, well, yeah, I was okay. 00:02:50.740 --> 00:02:52.060 But I said, that's not what I said. 00:02:52.060 --> 00:02:54.319 What I said is, any better than I'd be dead. 00:02:56.219 --> 00:02:58.879 That just took it further into the dark. 00:02:59.020 --> 00:03:02.120 I mean, what do you mean? 00:03:02.300 --> 00:03:08.099 I said, well, the truth of the matter is, is when I die, I'm going to heaven and I'm going 00:03:08.099 --> 00:03:08.920 to see Jesus. 00:03:10.099 --> 00:03:13.879 And today doesn't compare with that time. 00:03:15.620 --> 00:03:21.360 And, you know, the reason I could say that with absolute confidence, do you understand 00:03:21.360 --> 00:03:21.640 that? 00:03:22.060 --> 00:03:32.379 Real confidence is because the God who is my Lord and Savior, the Lord Jesus, who is my 00:03:32.379 --> 00:03:38.060 Redeemer, keeps every one of His promises. 00:03:38.060 --> 00:03:42.280 He makes a promise. 00:03:44.879 --> 00:03:48.319 Now, by the way, you have to parse the fact that He doesn't make all the promises to the 00:03:48.319 --> 00:03:49.560 same people exactly the right. 00:03:49.879 --> 00:03:52.020 But when He makes a promise to me, He keeps it. 00:03:52.020 --> 00:03:56.240 His unconditional promises, I rest on. 00:03:56.240 --> 00:03:56.800 I rest on. 00:03:56.800 --> 00:03:58.380 And I have confidence in. 00:03:58.780 --> 00:04:02.900 And that's the reason that Saturday when I was speaking to the young man there, I could 00:04:02.900 --> 00:04:04.240 say, any better than I'd be dead. 00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:12.460 Because when I die and I leave this place, I am going to see the Lord Jesus face to face 00:04:12.460 --> 00:04:18.620 and I will delight myself in His presence beyond my present imagination. 00:04:18.620 --> 00:04:32.379 And when we come to Isaiah chapter 60, we're looking at a compressed portion of text that tells us about our promise 00:04:32.379 --> 00:04:33.379 keeping God. 00:04:33.379 --> 00:04:48.699 I admit that one of the challenges of interpreting the book of Isaiah is dealing with the question of what happens to the nation of Israel 00:04:48.699 --> 00:04:59.000 and does God actually keep His promises to Abraham and to the people that He promised the things that we read of so often in the Old Testament. 00:05:00.759 --> 00:05:15.079 And so as we step into this passage, I want to kind of bring together, first of all, kind of the overview of the ugly reality of the nation of Israel's difficulties and hardness. 00:05:15.740 --> 00:05:18.459 How many of you have ever read through the book of Judges and thought to yourself, 00:05:18.699 --> 00:05:19.519 really? 00:05:21.019 --> 00:05:22.500 Or just try this. 00:05:22.819 --> 00:05:30.399 You've worked your way through the care that God gave to the nation of Israel after He brought them out of the land of Egypt. 00:05:30.860 --> 00:05:38.500 Remember how willing they were to obey Him in everything and how enthusiastic they were in following God and just really tender hearts towards God. 00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:39.039 Isn't that right? 00:05:40.219 --> 00:05:40.659 No. 00:05:41.719 --> 00:05:45.699 And you think to yourself, how in the world could God put up with them? 00:05:45.699 --> 00:05:50.639 Until you wake up and look at yourself in the mirror and think, I'm really glad. 00:05:51.339 --> 00:05:53.159 You know, He was faithful to them. 00:05:53.459 --> 00:05:55.240 I can trust Him to be faithful to me. 00:05:56.219 --> 00:06:02.500 And Isaiah gives us a reason to have confidence in our promise-keeping God. 00:06:02.500 --> 00:06:11.279 Now, I want you to, by way of background, take a look at the point of hope for Israel by turning back just for a moment to Isaiah chapter 59. 00:06:11.439 --> 00:06:12.319 You're there in 60. 00:06:13.160 --> 00:06:14.819 You don't have to go very far back. 00:06:14.819 --> 00:06:17.980 But look at Isaiah 59, verse 20 and 21. 00:06:17.980 --> 00:06:46.900 Now, stop and think with me just for a moment. 00:06:46.899 --> 00:06:56.679 about what we've learned so far in the book of Isaiah, namely in relationship to His prophetic utterances to the land of Israel, to the nation of Israel. 00:06:57.120 --> 00:07:00.079 What kind of people populated that land? 00:07:00.919 --> 00:07:03.179 A pretty disobedient, hard-headed group. 00:07:03.259 --> 00:07:03.679 Isn't that right? 00:07:03.680 --> 00:07:07.579 And He had every reason to deal with them. 00:07:07.980 --> 00:07:12.060 And eventually, He dealt with them with unbelievable firmness. 00:07:12.420 --> 00:07:14.360 And He sent them off into the land of captivity. 00:07:14.840 --> 00:07:17.680 And He was very firm in His discipline with them. 00:07:19.100 --> 00:07:20.579 But here are promises made. 00:07:20.579 --> 00:07:26.939 A Redeemer will come to Zion and to those in Jacob who turned from transgression. 00:07:27.079 --> 00:07:32.639 There is something that's going to happen that is supernatural and something that is not earned or deserved. 00:07:34.099 --> 00:07:35.259 God's going to do something. 00:07:36.120 --> 00:07:38.659 And when you stop and think about it, when you think about the word Redeemer, 00:07:38.799 --> 00:07:44.019 you're recognizing that it suggests to us that there's somebody who's in a mess and needs help. 00:07:44.019 --> 00:07:46.879 A Redeemer is someone who rescues. 00:07:47.000 --> 00:07:49.099 A Redeemer is someone who delivers. 00:07:49.560 --> 00:07:55.219 A Redeemer is someone who comes into the picture when all is lost and there's nothing that you can lean upon. 00:07:55.399 --> 00:07:57.060 And then the Redeemer arrives. 00:07:58.959 --> 00:08:04.319 The value of a Redeemer is not seen when everything is going well and there are no difficulties. 00:08:04.500 --> 00:08:10.299 The value of the Redeemer is seen in brokenness and in heartache and in difficulty. 00:08:10.300 --> 00:08:20.639 So here, at the cusp of the change between the history of Israel and the promises of God, 00:08:20.740 --> 00:08:24.720 we find here that this nation which had drifted away into idolatry 00:08:24.720 --> 00:08:27.759 and who had endured the firm judgment of God, 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:32.879 nevertheless is given this promise and this hope that there will be a day 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:39.399 when God will do something spectacular for His people and according to His promise. 00:08:40.299 --> 00:08:47.599 So here we have, we know, we know God will not break His promises. 00:08:47.919 --> 00:08:50.959 And that's kind of an underlying theme that I want you to hold on to this morning. 00:08:51.179 --> 00:08:53.620 And really it's something that when you walk out of here, 00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:56.419 if you are here this morning and you are a believer, 00:08:56.819 --> 00:08:59.859 one of the things that should be an abiding confidence to you 00:08:59.859 --> 00:09:02.120 and an encouragement to your soul is this, 00:09:02.359 --> 00:09:04.759 is the one who has redeemed you is going to keep His promises. 00:09:04.759 --> 00:09:06.480 He's not going to break them. 00:09:07.240 --> 00:09:11.939 I was thinking of illustration of dealing with little kids 00:09:11.939 --> 00:09:13.960 and one of the things I have a tendency to do, 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:17.559 putting out my hand and they smack my hand and they smack my hand and they smack. 00:09:17.740 --> 00:09:19.299 What do I do eventually? 00:09:20.919 --> 00:09:22.799 Pastor Andrew, you've got a good spirit. 00:09:22.899 --> 00:09:23.460 I like that. 00:09:23.799 --> 00:09:24.899 He's a little bit of a tease. 00:09:24.960 --> 00:09:25.620 I can tell that. 00:09:25.679 --> 00:09:28.580 He's tamped down because he's going to be a senior pastor in a couple months here. 00:09:28.580 --> 00:09:32.080 But, you know, you let him hit it three or four times and then what do you do? 00:09:34.340 --> 00:09:35.020 Atticus, you're right. 00:09:35.060 --> 00:09:35.759 You pull it away. 00:09:36.700 --> 00:09:36.840 Okay. 00:09:37.280 --> 00:09:37.639 Ah! 00:09:39.340 --> 00:09:40.960 God never does that to us. 00:09:41.000 --> 00:09:41.840 Do you understand that? 00:09:43.180 --> 00:09:45.780 When He makes a promise, He follows through with it. 00:09:45.800 --> 00:09:47.259 He doesn't mess with us ever. 00:09:49.100 --> 00:09:51.639 Now, by the way, a little sidebar on that 00:09:51.639 --> 00:09:57.280 is that God's promises to His children are that He will get you home. 00:09:58.580 --> 00:09:59.500 You like that, don't you? 00:10:00.440 --> 00:10:03.400 But a little part of that promise is that He'll get you home 00:10:03.400 --> 00:10:05.440 if He has to put the hurt to you to get your attention. 00:10:06.379 --> 00:10:08.720 You don't realize that sometimes, but if you're sitting here 00:10:08.720 --> 00:10:12.040 and you're a child of God and you drift left of center, 00:10:12.420 --> 00:10:15.639 trust me, He'll work to help you. 00:10:16.379 --> 00:10:19.900 And so my advice to you, kind of a little note on the side, is don't mess. 00:10:21.180 --> 00:10:24.920 Trust His promises and follow His Word. 00:10:25.420 --> 00:10:28.300 Walk in obedience and humility and don't mess things up. 00:10:28.580 --> 00:10:32.440 And the reason I bring that to you is because Israel had struggled 00:10:32.440 --> 00:10:36.040 with obedience and trust, and they brought a lot of heartache 00:10:36.040 --> 00:10:36.960 into their lives. 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:40.900 God dropped the hammer on them, and yet here, 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:45.100 He is letting them know that He will redeem them. 00:10:45.100 --> 00:10:49.960 It's interesting to notice that this passage, actually, 00:10:50.060 --> 00:10:52.000 that I read there in Isaiah chapter 59, 00:10:52.560 --> 00:10:54.360 appears elsewhere in the Scriptures. 00:10:54.620 --> 00:10:57.399 And so I want you to...we'll be there for a while. 00:10:57.500 --> 00:11:01.100 So go ahead and turn to Romans chapter 12. 00:11:01.639 --> 00:11:03.100 Romans chapter 12. 00:11:03.100 --> 00:11:11.500 By the way, when you find a passage being recited in another place in the Bible, 00:11:11.899 --> 00:11:19.000 it's an indication that the previous passage has bearing on the argument 00:11:19.000 --> 00:11:23.759 or the case that is being presented in the next passage. 00:11:23.960 --> 00:11:26.720 And so we're in Romans chapter...did I say 12? 00:11:26.779 --> 00:11:27.440 I meant 11. 00:11:28.180 --> 00:11:30.680 Romans chapter 11, verse 26 and 27. 00:11:30.679 --> 00:11:31.679 Let me read it to you. 00:11:33.059 --> 00:11:37.000 And in this way, all Israel will be saved as it is written. 00:11:37.879 --> 00:11:41.979 And what you find next is the very passage out of Isaiah chapter 59. 00:11:42.479 --> 00:11:44.039 The deliverer will come from Zion. 00:11:44.179 --> 00:11:45.899 He will banish ungodliness from Jacob. 00:11:46.359 --> 00:11:47.879 And this will be my covenant with them, 00:11:47.939 --> 00:11:49.899 that I will take away their sins. 00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:55.939 The larger context of the ministry that Isaiah had prophetically. 00:11:55.940 --> 00:12:04.640 Now, it is important for us to recognize that when Paul recited this passage from Isaiah, 00:12:05.560 --> 00:12:07.840 he had a reason for doing it. 00:12:08.640 --> 00:12:15.880 The book of Romans is a book that lays out God's glory in salvation. 00:12:15.879 --> 00:12:22.000 And the starting point of helping us realize God's glory in salvation 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:27.600 is the recognition of the absolute darkness and depravity of our hearts. 00:12:27.700 --> 00:12:28.480 Do you realize that? 00:12:28.759 --> 00:12:32.580 People don't get saved without coming to grips with the darkness of their soul. 00:12:32.580 --> 00:12:39.100 And that's one of the reasons that you have the first three chapters of Romans 00:12:39.100 --> 00:12:44.300 argue very clearly for the reality of the hardness and darkness of men's souls 00:12:44.300 --> 00:12:48.759 so that they can hear also the message of salvation in Christ. 00:12:49.540 --> 00:12:51.540 You work your way through the book of Romans, 00:12:51.660 --> 00:12:54.740 and after Romans chapter 8, it begins now with this statement, 00:12:54.960 --> 00:12:58.340 there is now therefore no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus. 00:12:58.420 --> 00:12:58.900 Isn't that right? 00:12:58.899 --> 00:13:02.079 Hey, if you're saved, the case is closed. 00:13:02.419 --> 00:13:02.980 It's done. 00:13:03.639 --> 00:13:06.699 In the court of heaven, you are redeemed for all eternity, 00:13:06.980 --> 00:13:10.360 and you can look forward to the day that you're going to see him face to face. 00:13:11.379 --> 00:13:15.439 The argument also follows on, and beginning there in Romans chapter 8, verse 28, 00:13:15.579 --> 00:13:16.399 it says what? 00:13:16.819 --> 00:13:17.799 All things work together. 00:13:17.879 --> 00:13:19.439 How many of you are going through things that you're wondering, 00:13:19.620 --> 00:13:20.240 is this good? 00:13:21.319 --> 00:13:22.000 Is this good? 00:13:22.919 --> 00:13:23.319 Yeah. 00:13:23.320 --> 00:13:29.640 It says all things work together for good to those that are called according to his purpose 00:13:29.640 --> 00:13:31.800 and those that love God or are loved by him. 00:13:31.900 --> 00:13:35.120 So here we have this ongoing argument. 00:13:36.379 --> 00:13:37.379 God saves us. 00:13:37.480 --> 00:13:41.100 He grants us the blessing of peace with him, 00:13:41.240 --> 00:13:45.620 and he will never stop loving us. 00:13:47.280 --> 00:13:48.160 Why don't you think about that? 00:13:50.160 --> 00:13:51.200 Why don't you think about that? 00:13:51.200 --> 00:14:00.560 God will never change his mind in relationship to you who have been called by him and loved by him. 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:02.440 That's a pretty neat promise, isn't it? 00:14:03.180 --> 00:14:07.320 But when you think about that, the very next thought that you have to ask yourself is, 00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:08.060 really? 00:14:08.059 --> 00:14:16.059 Paul takes three chapters to prove the unconditional, unchangeable love of God, 00:14:16.239 --> 00:14:22.239 and he does so by bringing your attention to the nation of Israel. 00:14:23.979 --> 00:14:24.659 What? 00:14:26.039 --> 00:14:28.419 You really don't change your mind? 00:14:29.379 --> 00:14:34.419 You really continue loving people like them, like me? 00:14:34.419 --> 00:14:41.179 Three chapters give us a picture of God's love for the nation of Israel, 00:14:41.439 --> 00:14:46.500 and what you find in Romans 9, 10, and 11 is this clear argument 00:14:46.500 --> 00:14:55.459 that our confidence in our salvation can rest in the sovereign faithfulness of God to the nation. 00:14:55.460 --> 00:15:03.060 Paul takes great pains to show us that though God has dealt with the nation of Israel 00:15:03.060 --> 00:15:06.560 and with their rebellious heart incredibly firmly, 00:15:06.900 --> 00:15:09.759 nevertheless, he's going to keep his promises and are going to redeem them. 00:15:10.700 --> 00:15:11.980 Now, with that in mind, 00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:16.759 I want you to next look at a promise that was made to Abraham 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:20.340 that we actually find over in Isaiah being fulfilled, 00:15:20.340 --> 00:15:23.540 and in Genesis chapter 12, 00:15:23.660 --> 00:15:28.740 I want you to mark the very first promise made in relationship to the nation of Israel. 00:15:28.840 --> 00:15:30.000 Now, here, follow me. 00:15:30.500 --> 00:15:34.899 Why is it important to track the promises of God? 00:15:36.280 --> 00:15:37.420 Why is it? 00:15:37.800 --> 00:15:43.120 Because we find ourselves in a regular situation where we wonder, 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:45.700 is God a promise-keeping God? 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:48.160 Is this going to work out well? 00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:50.980 Well, every one of us here, 00:15:52.100 --> 00:15:54.639 struggling with adversity and hardship and difficulty, 00:15:54.939 --> 00:15:57.419 and life is not the way we would like it. 00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:00.519 But do we know how the story ends? 00:16:01.100 --> 00:16:03.339 I believe we do because of who God is 00:16:03.339 --> 00:16:05.379 and because of the promises that he's made. 00:16:05.819 --> 00:16:07.299 So in Genesis chapter 12, 00:16:09.039 --> 00:16:12.579 I want you to mark the promise that God made to Abraham. 00:16:12.699 --> 00:16:14.279 By the way, how did Abraham start out? 00:16:14.339 --> 00:16:14.899 Does anybody know? 00:16:15.779 --> 00:16:16.639 Hey, listen up. 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:18.039 He was a really neat guy. 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:20.659 He just, he had a heart for God. 00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:23.220 He was just all over being spiritual. 00:16:23.819 --> 00:16:24.879 Is that the truth? 00:16:25.580 --> 00:16:27.159 He was just an ordinary pagan, 00:16:27.699 --> 00:16:29.059 and God called him. 00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:32.759 And so here, we work our way through the story, 00:16:32.860 --> 00:16:34.759 and in Genesis chapter 12, it says, 00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:35.939 Now the Lord said to Abraham, 00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:39.179 Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house 00:16:39.179 --> 00:16:40.580 to the land that I will show you, 00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:44.779 and I will make of you a great nation, 00:16:44.779 --> 00:16:47.000 and I will bless you and make your name great 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:48.600 so that you will be a blessing. 00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:50.779 I will bless those who bless you, 00:16:50.939 --> 00:16:53.679 and him who dishonors you I will curse, 00:16:53.980 --> 00:16:56.860 and in you all the families of the earth 00:16:56.860 --> 00:16:58.379 shall be blessed. 00:16:58.379 --> 00:17:02.439 I want you to recognize here in these promises 00:17:02.439 --> 00:17:03.539 that is made to Abraham, 00:17:03.779 --> 00:17:05.779 they kind of break down into three different parts 00:17:05.779 --> 00:17:06.700 that I want you to recognize. 00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:09.259 Number one, God promised a land 00:17:09.259 --> 00:17:11.140 to the descendants of Abraham. 00:17:12.619 --> 00:17:15.299 This promise is explained more completely 00:17:15.299 --> 00:17:17.660 in Genesis chapter 15. 00:17:17.660 --> 00:17:19.140 We're not going to look at it in detail, 00:17:19.600 --> 00:17:21.900 but recognize that in Genesis chapter 15, 00:17:22.320 --> 00:17:24.040 the boundaries of the land 00:17:24.040 --> 00:17:26.420 that God said he would give to Abraham 00:17:26.420 --> 00:17:28.940 are clearly stipulated. 00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:31.340 You can Google it, 00:17:32.060 --> 00:17:33.820 and you can check and say, 00:17:34.019 --> 00:17:37.140 Hey, what is the land that God promised? 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:38.640 What are the boundaries of that? 00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:40.380 And you'll get an idea of it. 00:17:41.700 --> 00:17:42.300 Incidentally, 00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:46.000 the covenant that God made with Abraham 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:47.859 was not conditional. 00:17:48.660 --> 00:17:49.700 It was unconditional. 00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:50.740 Let me make a distinction 00:17:50.740 --> 00:17:52.700 so you follow along with me here. 00:17:53.019 --> 00:17:54.960 A conditional contract or a covenant 00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:58.480 is a little bit like the one you make 00:17:58.480 --> 00:18:00.859 with your mortgage company. 00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:02.920 What's that contract like? 00:18:03.380 --> 00:18:04.200 You make a covenant. 00:18:05.099 --> 00:18:07.220 Hey, I get to live in this house, 00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:08.960 but I have to make monthly payments. 00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:11.380 What happens if you stop making monthly payments? 00:18:12.700 --> 00:18:15.099 Eventually, they invite you to leave. 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:19.019 And if you don't leave under invitation, 00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:22.440 they will help you by moving your stuff out 00:18:22.440 --> 00:18:24.640 and setting it on the street 00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:25.980 or on the curb. 00:18:26.339 --> 00:18:26.779 Got that? 00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:28.839 Same thing with a car. 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:30.920 They say, 00:18:31.059 --> 00:18:32.119 You can buy that car. 00:18:32.619 --> 00:18:34.920 You make X number of dollar monthly payment, 00:18:35.099 --> 00:18:38.400 and what happens if you don't make the payment? 00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:41.660 I was driving through my neighborhood a little while back, 00:18:41.780 --> 00:18:46.720 and I saw this guy working his truck up to the car 00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:48.100 that was sitting on the curb. 00:18:49.700 --> 00:18:52.180 And I noticed that he was a little nervous about doing it, 00:18:52.259 --> 00:18:53.400 and I actually, 00:18:53.600 --> 00:18:55.259 being a conversationalist that I am, 00:18:55.300 --> 00:18:55.440 I said, 00:18:55.480 --> 00:18:56.120 Hey, what are you doing? 00:18:57.519 --> 00:18:57.900 He said, 00:18:57.960 --> 00:18:59.060 Well, I'm picking up this car. 00:19:00.500 --> 00:19:01.019 I said, 00:19:01.060 --> 00:19:02.019 Is there something wrong with it? 00:19:02.040 --> 00:19:02.259 He says, 00:19:02.300 --> 00:19:03.560 No, they just didn't make the payments. 00:19:04.620 --> 00:19:04.860 Ah. 00:19:04.859 --> 00:19:07.419 That's a conditional covenant. 00:19:07.919 --> 00:19:08.979 You keep your part. 00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:09.919 I'll keep my part. 00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:13.799 An unconditional covenant is one in which 00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:15.979 there's no two parties agreeing to everything. 00:19:16.359 --> 00:19:17.659 There's one party that says, 00:19:17.879 --> 00:19:19.799 I'm going to do this. 00:19:20.139 --> 00:19:22.139 Let me give you an illustration of an unconditional covenant. 00:19:23.859 --> 00:19:25.479 Here's what I said to my wife. 00:19:26.959 --> 00:19:28.459 I'm 48 years ago almost. 00:19:28.579 --> 00:19:29.019 Yeah, 48. 00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:29.939 I said, 00:19:30.699 --> 00:19:34.319 I will love you in sickness and in health 00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:37.539 until death do us part. 00:19:39.980 --> 00:19:41.000 That's unconditional. 00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:43.279 There's no qualifier in it. 00:19:43.539 --> 00:19:45.439 I'll love you so long as you love me 00:19:45.439 --> 00:19:47.939 and you bring me breakfast in bed and blah, blah, blah. 00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:48.599 You know, no. 00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:50.960 This is me. 00:19:51.159 --> 00:19:52.079 I'm doing it. 00:19:53.500 --> 00:19:56.019 And here is God saying to Abraham, 00:19:56.179 --> 00:19:57.179 Genesis chapter 12, 00:19:57.179 --> 00:20:00.059 I am going to keep my promise to you 00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:02.000 and I'm going to give you a land. 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:07.480 Has this promise been met completely? 00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:10.359 Not yet. 00:20:12.099 --> 00:20:13.019 Number two, 00:20:14.220 --> 00:20:16.980 God also promised a nation to Abraham. 00:20:17.299 --> 00:20:18.119 Going back there, 00:20:19.180 --> 00:20:19.559 verse two, 00:20:19.619 --> 00:20:22.339 I will make of you a great nation. 00:20:22.759 --> 00:20:23.380 By the way, 00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:26.079 Abraham at that point was 75. 00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:29.779 Now, I'm not going to get into biology, 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:32.079 but 75 is kind of stretching it 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:34.279 for being a daddy. 00:20:36.379 --> 00:20:38.639 And here is God saying to Abraham, 00:20:38.819 --> 00:20:40.980 who had been childless for all these years, 00:20:41.099 --> 00:20:42.139 many years, 00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:46.139 someday you're going to be a great nation. 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:46.879 His answer was, 00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:47.859 yeah, right, really? 00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:51.339 Where's the start to all of this? 00:20:51.339 --> 00:20:57.199 And yet we find that God kept his promise 00:20:57.199 --> 00:21:00.419 and made a great nation of Abraham 00:21:00.419 --> 00:21:05.539 and his offspring spread all over the world. 00:21:06.959 --> 00:21:10.679 Furthermore, God promised that all the nations of the earth 00:21:10.679 --> 00:21:14.919 would be blessed through God's blessing to Abraham. 00:21:15.879 --> 00:21:17.019 How was that? 00:21:17.339 --> 00:21:18.199 How is that? 00:21:18.200 --> 00:21:21.940 Well, to help you think it through in broad terms, 00:21:22.059 --> 00:21:25.059 you understand that it was through the seed of Abraham 00:21:25.059 --> 00:21:27.940 that God brought David 00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:30.860 and brought ultimately our Redeemer, 00:21:30.980 --> 00:21:32.140 the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:36.220 He came through Abraham's line. 00:21:38.539 --> 00:21:39.779 And so here we have, 00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:42.400 and I want you to see the picture, 00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:45.360 against the backdrop of the ugliness 00:21:45.360 --> 00:21:48.160 of the absolute spiritual failure of Israel 00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:52.100 God says to his people that he is chastising 00:21:52.100 --> 00:21:53.680 and he's disciplining, 00:21:54.220 --> 00:21:56.920 I am going to keep my promise. 00:21:58.759 --> 00:21:59.960 I remind you, 00:22:01.160 --> 00:22:02.420 the promises of God 00:22:02.420 --> 00:22:06.100 are cast in particularly neat light 00:22:06.100 --> 00:22:07.320 against the backdrop 00:22:07.320 --> 00:22:09.400 of some of the hardest moments of our life. 00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:10.180 Do you understand that? 00:22:10.540 --> 00:22:11.519 I want to say that to you 00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:12.880 who are sitting here today 00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:15.700 and your life is marked by difficulty 00:22:15.700 --> 00:22:16.279 and hardship 00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:17.779 and things you didn't choose. 00:22:17.879 --> 00:22:19.039 I encourage you to know this. 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:21.220 God's promises are most precious 00:22:21.220 --> 00:22:24.059 against the backdrop of the hardship you're in. 00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:25.920 And I want to remind you 00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:28.119 that if he keeps his promise to the nation of Israel, 00:22:28.379 --> 00:22:29.899 he'll keep his promise to you. 00:22:30.879 --> 00:22:31.920 So here we are. 00:22:32.940 --> 00:22:33.619 God says, 00:22:33.619 --> 00:22:36.239 you're going to have a land, 00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:38.739 you're going to have children, 00:22:38.739 --> 00:22:41.879 and you are going to be a blessing to other people. 00:22:42.299 --> 00:22:44.539 And the full range of God's promise to Abraham 00:22:44.539 --> 00:22:45.859 is yet to be fulfilled. 00:22:47.159 --> 00:22:50.319 But do we believe that God is going to keep his promise? 00:22:50.719 --> 00:22:51.159 Absolutely. 00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:52.979 And it is because of that 00:22:52.979 --> 00:22:54.299 that we kind of step in now 00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:56.919 to the broad picture of Isaiah chapter 60, 00:22:56.920 --> 00:22:59.200 and I want you to look at the future blessings 00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:00.519 to the nation of Israel. 00:23:01.420 --> 00:23:03.580 You look there at Isaiah chapter 60, 00:23:04.380 --> 00:23:07.400 and we're not going to read all through the passage, 00:23:07.539 --> 00:23:08.820 but in Isaiah chapter 60, 00:23:08.860 --> 00:23:10.180 beginning there in verse 1 and 2, 00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:10.519 it says, 00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:12.840 Arise, shine, for your light has come, 00:23:13.080 --> 00:23:15.560 and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 00:23:17.860 --> 00:23:19.080 I want you to recognize 00:23:19.080 --> 00:23:21.279 as you work your way through that, 00:23:21.400 --> 00:23:22.240 look at verse 4, 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:33.160 What is God saying to the nation here? 00:23:33.460 --> 00:23:35.180 And this is Isaiah making a promise 00:23:35.180 --> 00:23:37.059 to a group of people 00:23:37.059 --> 00:23:38.920 that are going to suffer great hardship. 00:23:39.339 --> 00:23:39.599 He says, 00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:40.579 I want you to understand 00:23:40.579 --> 00:23:42.019 that the day is coming 00:23:42.019 --> 00:23:44.720 that God is going to fulfill his promises to Abraham, 00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:46.180 and he's going to bless you. 00:23:46.519 --> 00:23:46.819 How? 00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:48.740 He is going to gather 00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:50.559 the dispersed people 00:23:50.559 --> 00:23:52.019 that he drove out 00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:53.559 because of the rebellion of their hearts. 00:23:53.680 --> 00:23:55.799 He's going to bring them back together again. 00:23:57.579 --> 00:23:59.119 God drove them from the land 00:23:59.119 --> 00:24:00.619 because of discipline. 00:24:01.799 --> 00:24:03.139 He will regather them 00:24:03.139 --> 00:24:05.400 as a people 00:24:05.400 --> 00:24:08.240 from every corner of the world. 00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:11.660 That has happened only in part, 00:24:11.819 --> 00:24:13.819 and it will happen in its entirety, 00:24:14.119 --> 00:24:15.279 and in doing so, 00:24:15.379 --> 00:24:16.720 people are going to look at this and say, 00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:19.480 Wow, this is God doing something 00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:20.559 unbelievable, 00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:21.839 and he's doing it 00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:22.940 according to his promise. 00:24:25.579 --> 00:24:26.819 Why could I say 00:24:26.819 --> 00:24:29.419 to the man in Home Depot, 00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:31.960 My end is going to be better 00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:32.659 than the present? 00:24:32.879 --> 00:24:33.839 It's because I know 00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:34.899 God keeps his promises. 00:24:35.740 --> 00:24:37.339 And here we are being reminded, 00:24:37.539 --> 00:24:37.980 God says, 00:24:38.059 --> 00:24:38.299 Listen, 00:24:38.700 --> 00:24:39.659 there will be a regathering 00:24:40.179 --> 00:24:41.399 of these dispersed people 00:24:41.399 --> 00:24:42.599 wherever they've been sent to. 00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:44.039 I'll bring them back. 00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:45.720 Secondly, 00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:47.119 you look there in verse 9. 00:24:47.119 --> 00:24:49.319 It says, 00:24:49.439 --> 00:24:50.939 For the coastlands shall hope for me, 00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:52.459 the ships of Tarshish first, 00:24:52.739 --> 00:24:54.599 to bring your children from afar, 00:24:54.979 --> 00:24:56.519 their silver and gold with them, 00:24:56.559 --> 00:24:57.899 for the name of the Lord your God 00:24:57.899 --> 00:24:59.479 and for the Holy One of Israel, 00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:01.899 because he has made you beautiful. 00:25:02.979 --> 00:25:05.059 There will be a rejoicing 00:25:05.059 --> 00:25:07.459 in God's care for his people. 00:25:07.579 --> 00:25:09.879 Not only is he going to bring them back, 00:25:10.119 --> 00:25:11.419 but there are going to be people 00:25:11.419 --> 00:25:12.639 that rejoice together 00:25:12.639 --> 00:25:15.000 in the reality that he keeps his promises. 00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:17.500 What value is it 00:25:17.500 --> 00:25:18.839 that God keeps his promises 00:25:18.839 --> 00:25:19.700 to other people? 00:25:20.700 --> 00:25:22.099 Do you benefit from that? 00:25:22.859 --> 00:25:23.359 Yes. 00:25:23.539 --> 00:25:24.279 How do you benefit? 00:25:24.779 --> 00:25:26.079 Because you have assurance 00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:28.960 that if he did it for them, 00:25:29.140 --> 00:25:30.640 he will do it for you. 00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:34.319 I think about the song 00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:35.900 that we probably don't sing 00:25:35.900 --> 00:25:36.740 very often anymore. 00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:38.960 It is no secret what God can do, 00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:40.079 what he's done for others. 00:25:40.859 --> 00:25:41.940 He'll do for you. 00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:44.880 And God, keeping his promise 00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:46.080 to the nation of Israel, 00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:47.920 reminds me that he will also 00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:48.980 keep his promise to me. 00:25:49.080 --> 00:25:50.640 He is going to fulfill his promises. 00:25:51.019 --> 00:25:52.420 He is not going to back away 00:25:52.420 --> 00:25:53.900 from bringing blessing to me, 00:25:54.120 --> 00:25:55.840 despite the hardness of my heart 00:25:55.840 --> 00:25:57.820 and the similarity I have 00:25:57.820 --> 00:25:59.840 between my life and pattern 00:25:59.840 --> 00:26:02.059 and the life of the nation of Israel. 00:26:03.600 --> 00:26:05.100 Furthermore, I want you to recognize 00:26:05.100 --> 00:26:05.700 in the passage 00:26:05.700 --> 00:26:10.460 that the nation will honor God 00:26:10.460 --> 00:26:12.100 by delighting in his work 00:26:12.100 --> 00:26:13.340 for his people. 00:26:15.080 --> 00:26:16.420 Mark what we find there 00:26:16.420 --> 00:26:17.900 in Isaiah chapter 60, 00:26:18.279 --> 00:26:20.840 looking at verse 19 through 21. 00:26:22.519 --> 00:26:24.019 Isaiah chapter 16, 00:26:24.200 --> 00:26:25.600 verse 19 through 21. 00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:26.819 The sun shall be no more, 00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:28.059 your light by day, 00:26:28.440 --> 00:26:29.259 nor for brightness 00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:30.559 shall the moon give you light, 00:26:30.640 --> 00:26:31.779 but the Lord will be 00:26:31.779 --> 00:26:32.980 your everlasting light 00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:34.519 and your God will be your glory. 00:26:35.700 --> 00:26:39.140 Your sun shall no more go down, 00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:40.580 nor your moon withdraw itself, 00:26:40.660 --> 00:26:41.440 for the Lord will be 00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:42.500 your everlasting light 00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:44.220 and your days of mourning 00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:45.080 shall be ended. 00:26:46.380 --> 00:26:49.039 Your people shall all be righteous. 00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:50.819 They shall possess the land forever, 00:26:51.180 --> 00:26:52.580 the branch of my planting, 00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:53.940 the work of my hands, 00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:55.980 that I might be glorified. 00:26:57.140 --> 00:26:59.180 And what will the response 00:26:59.180 --> 00:27:00.620 of others be 00:27:00.620 --> 00:27:02.660 when they see the hand of God 00:27:02.660 --> 00:27:04.220 in the life of his people? 00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:05.559 They are going to rejoice. 00:27:06.120 --> 00:27:07.839 They're going to mark the success 00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:09.360 and the certainty of God 00:27:09.360 --> 00:27:10.299 who keeps his promises, 00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:11.920 and they're going to find pleasure 00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:13.339 and satisfaction in it. 00:27:15.100 --> 00:27:16.220 I want you to turn 00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:18.640 over to Revelation 00:27:18.640 --> 00:27:21.120 and see what the future 00:27:21.120 --> 00:27:22.860 is going to be 00:27:22.860 --> 00:27:23.960 according to the promises 00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:24.579 of Scripture. 00:27:25.140 --> 00:27:25.799 Go in your Bible 00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:27.220 to Revelation chapter 21, 00:27:27.220 --> 00:27:27.860 verse 23. 00:27:27.860 --> 00:27:27.860 00:27:27.860 --> 00:27:28.220 verse 23. 00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:28.220 00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:30.079 verse 23. 00:27:33.500 --> 00:27:35.440 Revelation chapter 21, 00:27:35.940 --> 00:27:36.839 verse 23. 00:27:38.680 --> 00:27:40.860 There in Isaiah chapter 60, 00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:42.440 we have this assurance 00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:44.640 that God will keep 00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:46.940 his promises to his people. 00:27:47.920 --> 00:27:50.000 In Revelation chapter 21, 00:27:50.600 --> 00:27:52.980 we find out what that future 00:27:52.980 --> 00:27:54.420 is going to be. 00:27:54.420 --> 00:27:56.779 And mark what we read there 00:27:56.779 --> 00:27:57.580 in verse 23. 00:27:58.320 --> 00:27:59.680 And the city has no need 00:27:59.680 --> 00:28:01.000 of sun or moon 00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:02.279 to shine on it, 00:28:02.440 --> 00:28:04.140 for the glory of God 00:28:04.140 --> 00:28:05.320 gives its light, 00:28:05.500 --> 00:28:08.300 and its lamp is the Lamb. 00:28:09.100 --> 00:28:10.240 By its lights 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:13.220 will nations walk, 00:28:13.860 --> 00:28:15.580 and the kings of the earth 00:28:15.580 --> 00:28:17.779 will bring their glory into it, 00:28:17.860 --> 00:28:20.039 and its gates will never be shut 00:28:20.039 --> 00:28:20.680 by day, 00:28:20.840 --> 00:28:23.220 and there will be no night there. 00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:24.640 They will bring into it 00:28:24.640 --> 00:28:26.059 the glory and the honor 00:28:26.059 --> 00:28:26.940 of the nations. 00:28:28.140 --> 00:28:28.960 What's the future 00:28:28.960 --> 00:28:29.799 going to be like? 00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:31.799 Stop and think with me 00:28:31.799 --> 00:28:32.420 just for a moment 00:28:32.420 --> 00:28:33.799 of how messy the day is 00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:34.440 that we live in. 00:28:36.120 --> 00:28:38.400 How unbelievably tense, 00:28:39.120 --> 00:28:40.240 marked by turmoil. 00:28:40.559 --> 00:28:42.079 Everywhere you turn, 00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:44.079 you see good reason 00:28:44.079 --> 00:28:45.759 to be reasonably anxiety, 00:28:45.940 --> 00:28:47.480 or have a reasonable anxiety, 00:28:47.779 --> 00:28:49.319 with the messiness of life. 00:28:50.120 --> 00:28:51.059 Our government is not 00:28:51.059 --> 00:28:51.620 what you'd like. 00:28:51.640 --> 00:28:52.079 Am I right? 00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:53.960 The neighborhoods 00:28:53.960 --> 00:28:54.720 that you live in 00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:55.419 are not as safe 00:28:55.419 --> 00:28:56.139 as you'd like. 00:28:57.199 --> 00:28:59.059 The job that you have, 00:28:59.099 --> 00:28:59.819 it's not as certain 00:28:59.819 --> 00:29:00.579 as you'd like. 00:29:01.679 --> 00:29:03.599 The health that you enjoy 00:29:03.599 --> 00:29:05.139 is not what you hope. 00:29:06.119 --> 00:29:07.159 And everywhere we live, 00:29:07.220 --> 00:29:07.859 relationships, 00:29:09.139 --> 00:29:09.659 a struggle. 00:29:10.819 --> 00:29:11.519 Well, guess what? 00:29:11.639 --> 00:29:12.539 The day is coming 00:29:12.539 --> 00:29:15.500 when we will enjoy 00:29:15.500 --> 00:29:17.679 the fulfilled promises of God 00:29:17.679 --> 00:29:19.339 in every aspect of our life, 00:29:19.339 --> 00:29:22.019 and one of the proofs of that 00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:23.659 is what God did 00:29:23.659 --> 00:29:25.059 and is doing 00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:26.419 for the nation of Israel. 00:29:28.459 --> 00:29:29.659 You mark there 00:29:29.659 --> 00:29:31.859 of how this story ends 00:29:31.859 --> 00:29:33.639 in Revelation, 00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:35.259 but I want you to turn 00:29:35.259 --> 00:29:36.179 to another passage 00:29:36.179 --> 00:29:39.480 to see a better picture 00:29:39.480 --> 00:29:41.139 of the promises God made 00:29:41.139 --> 00:29:42.099 to the nation of Israel 00:29:42.099 --> 00:29:42.720 in particular. 00:29:43.159 --> 00:29:45.699 Go over to Jeremiah chapter 31. 00:29:45.700 --> 00:29:47.759 Jeremiah chapter 31. 00:29:47.880 --> 00:29:48.580 If you're in Isaiah, 00:29:48.980 --> 00:29:50.080 just kind of cut forward 00:29:50.080 --> 00:29:50.660 a little bit 00:29:50.660 --> 00:29:52.640 and go to Isaiah chapter 31 00:29:52.640 --> 00:29:53.539 or Jeremiah 31. 00:29:53.680 --> 00:29:55.640 Let me remind you of something. 00:29:56.160 --> 00:29:56.940 We had communion. 00:29:57.600 --> 00:29:58.600 Was it last week, Pastor? 00:29:58.680 --> 00:29:59.380 Yes, it was, right? 00:29:59.539 --> 00:29:59.759 Yeah. 00:30:00.340 --> 00:30:02.080 And if you're looking 00:30:02.080 --> 00:30:03.019 at the passage 00:30:03.019 --> 00:30:04.440 in 1 Corinthians 11, 00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:07.640 Jesus speaks of the new covenant, 00:30:08.200 --> 00:30:08.539 right? 00:30:08.539 --> 00:30:11.399 This cup is the new covenant 00:30:11.399 --> 00:30:12.220 in my blood. 00:30:12.420 --> 00:30:14.839 What is the new covenant? 00:30:16.819 --> 00:30:18.599 Remember, covenant is a promise. 00:30:19.480 --> 00:30:20.639 Basically, there are two kinds 00:30:20.639 --> 00:30:21.200 of promises. 00:30:22.579 --> 00:30:24.539 There's promises in which you agree 00:30:24.539 --> 00:30:25.940 and somebody else agrees, 00:30:26.279 --> 00:30:28.039 or there's an unconditional covenant. 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:30.420 I want you to look at Isaiah 00:30:30.420 --> 00:30:32.539 or Jeremiah chapter 31 00:30:32.539 --> 00:30:35.039 and go to 31 through 34. 00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:40.619 Behold, the days are coming, 00:30:40.779 --> 00:30:41.579 declares the Lord, 00:30:41.619 --> 00:30:43.379 that I will make a new covenant 00:30:43.379 --> 00:30:44.700 with the house of Israel 00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:46.299 and the house of Judah, 00:30:47.379 --> 00:30:48.839 not like the covenant 00:30:48.839 --> 00:30:50.119 that I made with their fathers 00:30:50.119 --> 00:30:50.799 on the day 00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:52.859 when I took them by the hand 00:30:52.859 --> 00:30:53.500 to bring them out 00:30:53.500 --> 00:30:54.339 of the land of Egypt, 00:30:54.460 --> 00:30:55.980 my covenant that they broke, 00:30:56.379 --> 00:30:57.899 though I was their husband, 00:30:58.099 --> 00:30:58.759 declares the Lord. 00:30:58.799 --> 00:30:59.680 Now stop for a moment. 00:31:00.559 --> 00:31:01.700 God says the new covenant 00:31:01.700 --> 00:31:02.619 is going to be different 00:31:02.619 --> 00:31:03.599 than that covenant. 00:31:05.039 --> 00:31:06.619 That covenant is one 00:31:06.619 --> 00:31:08.740 that they failed to keep. 00:31:09.599 --> 00:31:10.139 A reminder. 00:31:11.180 --> 00:31:13.200 After God gave the Ten Commandments 00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:14.299 to the nation of Israel, 00:31:14.619 --> 00:31:15.559 if you were to go back 00:31:15.559 --> 00:31:16.379 into the book of Exodus, 00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:17.259 you would find there 00:31:17.259 --> 00:31:20.319 that after Moses read the covenant 00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:22.399 and the sacrifice was made, 00:31:22.639 --> 00:31:24.119 here's what the nation of Israel said. 00:31:24.480 --> 00:31:26.279 All that you have said, 00:31:26.619 --> 00:31:28.480 we will do. 00:31:29.240 --> 00:31:30.039 How'd that go? 00:31:30.039 --> 00:31:36.200 You read through the Pentateuch 00:31:36.200 --> 00:31:36.680 and you think, 00:31:36.920 --> 00:31:38.480 I can't believe it. 00:31:39.700 --> 00:31:40.859 I mean, you stop and think about it. 00:31:41.220 --> 00:31:43.319 Every morning when an Israelite got up, 00:31:43.700 --> 00:31:45.299 he had food that came from where? 00:31:46.740 --> 00:31:47.180 Heaven. 00:31:48.980 --> 00:31:50.879 And every morning when he got up, 00:31:51.240 --> 00:31:54.579 he saw that there was a pillar of cloud 00:31:54.579 --> 00:31:56.500 or there was a cloud over the tabernacle 00:31:56.500 --> 00:31:58.299 or there was a pillar of fire by night. 00:31:58.500 --> 00:31:59.740 Do you think they had any doubt 00:31:59.740 --> 00:32:00.559 who was in charge 00:32:00.559 --> 00:32:01.519 and who was leading them? 00:32:01.680 --> 00:32:01.880 No. 00:32:02.680 --> 00:32:03.140 And yet, 00:32:03.400 --> 00:32:04.339 in their stubborn, 00:32:05.059 --> 00:32:05.779 dark hearts, 00:32:05.900 --> 00:32:07.160 they kept on rebelling 00:32:07.160 --> 00:32:09.119 and God kept on caring for them. 00:32:10.259 --> 00:32:11.119 So here we are. 00:32:12.579 --> 00:32:12.980 Jeremiah, 00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:15.079 I'm going to make a different covenant with you. 00:32:15.779 --> 00:32:16.900 And in verse 33, 00:32:16.900 --> 00:32:18.519 this is the covenant 00:32:18.519 --> 00:32:20.180 that I will make with the house of Israel 00:32:20.180 --> 00:32:21.180 after those days, 00:32:21.280 --> 00:32:22.040 declares the Lord. 00:32:22.700 --> 00:32:26.720 I will put my law within them 00:32:26.720 --> 00:32:29.320 and I will write it on their hearts 00:32:29.320 --> 00:32:31.259 and I will be their God 00:32:31.259 --> 00:32:33.580 and they will be my people. 00:32:36.060 --> 00:32:36.580 Periodically, 00:32:36.700 --> 00:32:38.240 I end up in conversation with people 00:32:38.240 --> 00:32:40.460 who make professions of faith, 00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:45.500 but they really have no evidence of faith. 00:32:45.620 --> 00:32:46.700 Do you follow what I'm talking about? 00:32:47.900 --> 00:32:48.400 I mean, 00:32:48.660 --> 00:32:50.680 it's still moderately popular to say, 00:32:50.820 --> 00:32:51.420 yes, I'm a believer, 00:32:51.519 --> 00:32:52.019 I'm a believer. 00:32:54.660 --> 00:32:55.900 But the truth of the matter is, 00:32:55.940 --> 00:32:56.720 there's no evidence. 00:32:58.880 --> 00:33:00.519 This passage is indicating 00:33:00.519 --> 00:33:03.400 that one of the genuine characteristics 00:33:03.400 --> 00:33:05.620 of a person who is a believer 00:33:05.620 --> 00:33:08.200 is a connection with the Word of God. 00:33:10.900 --> 00:33:13.700 There's an affection, 00:33:14.120 --> 00:33:14.680 not always, 00:33:14.820 --> 00:33:15.340 but there is, 00:33:15.720 --> 00:33:16.360 remember it says, 00:33:16.900 --> 00:33:18.660 as newborn babes desiring 00:33:18.660 --> 00:33:20.080 the sincere milk of the Word. 00:33:20.180 --> 00:33:22.759 One of the things that I get into 00:33:22.759 --> 00:33:23.900 when I'm talking to a person 00:33:23.900 --> 00:33:25.480 about the authenticity of their faith 00:33:25.480 --> 00:33:25.660 is, 00:33:25.860 --> 00:33:26.480 question is, 00:33:26.920 --> 00:33:28.259 has there ever been a time 00:33:28.259 --> 00:33:29.480 when you were actually 00:33:29.480 --> 00:33:31.759 genuinely interested in the Word? 00:33:32.460 --> 00:33:33.920 You were encouraged by it, 00:33:33.940 --> 00:33:35.019 you were strengthened by it, 00:33:35.140 --> 00:33:36.420 you were convicted by it, 00:33:36.680 --> 00:33:39.240 you were connected to it. 00:33:39.240 --> 00:33:42.460 You know, 00:33:42.620 --> 00:33:45.539 it's one thing to read a letter 00:33:45.539 --> 00:33:46.660 from somebody you don't care. 00:33:48.099 --> 00:33:49.620 It's another thing to read a letter 00:33:49.620 --> 00:33:50.900 from someone you really love. 00:33:52.259 --> 00:33:54.059 Years ago when we had a Christian school here, 00:33:54.099 --> 00:33:55.900 I remember walking across the, 00:33:56.279 --> 00:33:57.180 between the two buildings 00:33:57.180 --> 00:33:59.500 and finding a note folded up real small. 00:34:01.559 --> 00:34:01.920 Now, 00:34:02.000 --> 00:34:03.920 being a person who grew up in boarding school, 00:34:04.039 --> 00:34:06.700 there was a lot of a perverse curiosity in me, 00:34:06.700 --> 00:34:07.980 so I opened it up. 00:34:09.780 --> 00:34:10.139 Oh, 00:34:10.199 --> 00:34:10.780 it was drippy. 00:34:13.260 --> 00:34:13.840 It was, 00:34:13.920 --> 00:34:15.699 it was as sappy a note 00:34:15.699 --> 00:34:17.119 as I've read in some time. 00:34:17.199 --> 00:34:17.320 Of course, 00:34:17.360 --> 00:34:18.119 I haven't read many of those 00:34:18.119 --> 00:34:18.720 for a long time, 00:34:18.820 --> 00:34:18.860 but, 00:34:19.019 --> 00:34:20.220 but I remember reading it 00:34:20.220 --> 00:34:20.880 and so, 00:34:21.079 --> 00:34:21.740 I had the nerve 00:34:21.740 --> 00:34:22.820 to take it to the young man 00:34:22.820 --> 00:34:23.079 and say, 00:34:23.139 --> 00:34:23.260 hey, 00:34:23.539 --> 00:34:25.000 this probably belongs to you 00:34:25.000 --> 00:34:25.840 because your name's on it. 00:34:25.840 --> 00:34:30.079 when I read the letter, 00:34:30.160 --> 00:34:31.079 it didn't mean a thing to me. 00:34:31.740 --> 00:34:33.200 He turned all colors of red, 00:34:33.280 --> 00:34:33.440 you know, 00:34:33.480 --> 00:34:33.720 it was like, 00:34:34.039 --> 00:34:37.800 but it meant a lot to him. 00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:40.360 So, 00:34:40.760 --> 00:34:41.640 coming back, 00:34:41.700 --> 00:34:42.200 here's God. 00:34:42.760 --> 00:34:43.340 Look at the passage. 00:34:43.940 --> 00:34:44.320 He says, 00:34:44.400 --> 00:34:45.240 here's what I'm going to do. 00:34:45.380 --> 00:34:48.100 I'm going to put my law within you 00:34:48.100 --> 00:34:50.300 and I'm going to write it on your hearts. 00:34:50.300 --> 00:34:54.160 Are there any of you here 00:34:54.160 --> 00:34:55.740 that have ever memorized Bible verses 00:34:55.740 --> 00:34:57.400 and they didn't mean a thing to you? 00:34:58.180 --> 00:34:59.240 You were just doing it 00:34:59.240 --> 00:35:01.240 because you wanted to play games 00:35:01.240 --> 00:35:01.760 in Awana 00:35:01.760 --> 00:35:02.039 or, 00:35:02.420 --> 00:35:02.560 you know, 00:35:02.640 --> 00:35:03.960 you got a prize in VBS 00:35:03.960 --> 00:35:04.740 or something like that, 00:35:04.820 --> 00:35:04.900 but, 00:35:05.140 --> 00:35:05.840 but then, 00:35:06.400 --> 00:35:06.740 then, 00:35:07.340 --> 00:35:08.440 there have been those moments 00:35:08.440 --> 00:35:08.840 where, 00:35:09.120 --> 00:35:11.580 where adversity and hardship 00:35:11.580 --> 00:35:13.140 has just brought you 00:35:13.140 --> 00:35:14.380 brokenhearted to God 00:35:14.380 --> 00:35:16.420 and the word has touched 00:35:16.420 --> 00:35:18.000 and encouraged your heart 00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:19.640 and lifted you up 00:35:19.639 --> 00:35:21.339 and it's found a place 00:35:21.339 --> 00:35:23.619 and it's been revival 00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:24.519 and encouragement, 00:35:24.659 --> 00:35:24.900 right? 00:35:26.159 --> 00:35:26.719 God says, 00:35:26.819 --> 00:35:26.920 hey, 00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:28.480 this is what I'm going to do 00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:30.920 and here he is 00:35:30.920 --> 00:35:31.940 talking to a people 00:35:31.940 --> 00:35:33.420 who he gave him the word 00:35:33.420 --> 00:35:34.519 and it just didn't connect 00:35:34.519 --> 00:35:34.900 and he says, 00:35:35.179 --> 00:35:36.239 here's what I'm going to do. 00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:37.359 You don't need to worry about, 00:35:37.420 --> 00:35:38.940 I'm going to drive that business home. 00:35:39.019 --> 00:35:40.400 I'm going to get the word in your life, 00:35:40.960 --> 00:35:41.239 okay? 00:35:41.839 --> 00:35:42.879 And verse 34, 00:35:43.000 --> 00:35:44.619 and no longer shall each one 00:35:44.619 --> 00:35:45.319 teach his neighbor 00:35:45.319 --> 00:35:45.980 and each his brother 00:35:45.980 --> 00:35:46.299 saying, 00:35:46.379 --> 00:35:46.819 know the Lord 00:35:46.819 --> 00:35:47.579 for they'll know me. 00:35:47.579 --> 00:35:50.539 from the least of them 00:35:50.539 --> 00:35:51.199 to the greatest 00:35:51.199 --> 00:35:53.460 and then mark the last part 00:35:53.460 --> 00:35:55.099 for I will forgive 00:35:55.099 --> 00:35:56.199 their iniquity 00:35:56.199 --> 00:35:58.000 and I will remember 00:35:58.000 --> 00:35:59.139 their sins 00:35:59.139 --> 00:36:00.739 no more. 00:36:04.059 --> 00:36:05.360 I have been reading 00:36:05.360 --> 00:36:06.639 through the scriptures 00:36:06.639 --> 00:36:08.960 and 00:36:08.960 --> 00:36:11.440 I'm in the Psalms 00:36:11.440 --> 00:36:11.920 right now 00:36:11.920 --> 00:36:14.460 and one of the things 00:36:14.460 --> 00:36:15.000 that I've been 00:36:15.000 --> 00:36:16.019 kind of struck by 00:36:16.019 --> 00:36:17.300 is 00:36:17.300 --> 00:36:18.880 the psalmist 00:36:18.880 --> 00:36:19.960 talking about 00:36:19.960 --> 00:36:23.519 the sins of youth, 00:36:24.820 --> 00:36:25.119 okay? 00:36:25.619 --> 00:36:26.559 Forgive the sins 00:36:26.559 --> 00:36:27.119 of my youth. 00:36:27.220 --> 00:36:27.860 Don't remember 00:36:27.860 --> 00:36:28.519 my sins 00:36:28.519 --> 00:36:29.300 from my youth 00:36:29.300 --> 00:36:30.360 and 00:36:30.360 --> 00:36:31.639 boy, 00:36:31.980 --> 00:36:33.380 I don't know 00:36:33.380 --> 00:36:33.860 how many of you 00:36:33.860 --> 00:36:34.720 kind of think back 00:36:34.720 --> 00:36:35.980 and some of you 00:36:35.980 --> 00:36:36.599 are fairly young 00:36:36.599 --> 00:36:37.700 are still in that youth part 00:36:37.700 --> 00:36:38.119 and are kind of 00:36:38.119 --> 00:36:39.119 stacking up the crowd 00:36:39.119 --> 00:36:40.940 or the tally 00:36:40.940 --> 00:36:42.099 but some of you 00:36:42.099 --> 00:36:42.539 are older 00:36:42.539 --> 00:36:43.420 and you can remember 00:36:43.420 --> 00:36:43.980 oh, 00:36:44.880 --> 00:36:45.739 that wasn't smart. 00:36:46.699 --> 00:36:47.659 That was wicked. 00:36:47.880 --> 00:36:48.119 I mean, 00:36:49.759 --> 00:36:50.079 yeah. 00:36:51.219 --> 00:36:52.239 Here is God 00:36:52.239 --> 00:36:53.380 saying to his people, 00:36:53.679 --> 00:36:54.940 look at that passage again, 00:36:55.460 --> 00:36:56.239 I will forgive 00:36:56.239 --> 00:36:57.059 their iniquity 00:36:57.059 --> 00:36:58.599 and I will remember 00:36:58.599 --> 00:36:59.400 their sin 00:36:59.400 --> 00:37:00.739 no more. 00:37:00.739 --> 00:37:05.599 one of the 00:37:05.599 --> 00:37:07.179 undeniable pleasures, 00:37:07.500 --> 00:37:09.000 pleasure that I have 00:37:09.000 --> 00:37:10.519 in talking to people 00:37:10.519 --> 00:37:11.500 about the Lord Jesus 00:37:11.500 --> 00:37:13.879 is I can look them 00:37:13.879 --> 00:37:14.579 in the eye 00:37:14.579 --> 00:37:16.479 and I can tell them this, 00:37:16.959 --> 00:37:17.799 I know 00:37:17.799 --> 00:37:18.539 the one 00:37:18.539 --> 00:37:19.419 who can forgive 00:37:19.419 --> 00:37:20.739 all of your sins 00:37:20.739 --> 00:37:23.919 and take away 00:37:23.919 --> 00:37:25.119 the shame 00:37:25.119 --> 00:37:26.399 and guilt 00:37:26.399 --> 00:37:28.059 of the darkness 00:37:28.059 --> 00:37:28.859 of your heart. 00:37:28.860 --> 00:37:32.660 You ever laid awake 00:37:32.660 --> 00:37:33.039 at night 00:37:33.039 --> 00:37:34.980 feeling bad 00:37:34.980 --> 00:37:35.620 about something? 00:37:36.860 --> 00:37:37.820 A lie you told? 00:37:39.039 --> 00:37:40.019 Something you stole? 00:37:41.500 --> 00:37:43.039 A gross dishonesty? 00:37:44.740 --> 00:37:45.960 Manipulating someone else 00:37:45.960 --> 00:37:46.720 and taking something 00:37:46.720 --> 00:37:47.320 from them? 00:37:48.720 --> 00:37:49.320 Immorality? 00:37:50.260 --> 00:37:51.519 And the burden 00:37:51.519 --> 00:37:52.420 of that darkness 00:37:52.420 --> 00:37:53.320 just eats away 00:37:53.320 --> 00:37:54.000 at your heart 00:37:54.000 --> 00:37:54.519 at night 00:37:54.519 --> 00:37:55.039 and there really 00:37:55.039 --> 00:37:55.620 seems to be 00:37:55.620 --> 00:37:56.860 no recovery. 00:37:56.860 --> 00:37:58.660 You know what it says 00:37:58.660 --> 00:37:59.099 in the Bible? 00:38:00.940 --> 00:38:02.360 I will forgive 00:38:02.360 --> 00:38:03.500 all your sins. 00:38:03.640 --> 00:38:05.120 I will take away 00:38:05.120 --> 00:38:07.240 that burden 00:38:07.240 --> 00:38:08.180 and that sin. 00:38:09.260 --> 00:38:10.700 And here we are 00:38:10.700 --> 00:38:12.860 understanding 00:38:12.860 --> 00:38:14.440 that God 00:38:14.440 --> 00:38:15.920 made promises 00:38:15.920 --> 00:38:16.700 to the nation 00:38:16.700 --> 00:38:17.180 of Israel 00:38:17.180 --> 00:38:17.840 and God 00:38:17.840 --> 00:38:18.480 is going 00:38:18.480 --> 00:38:19.400 to keep them. 00:38:20.400 --> 00:38:20.940 Now his 00:38:20.940 --> 00:38:22.360 unconditional covenant 00:38:22.360 --> 00:38:24.740 to Abraham 00:38:24.739 --> 00:38:26.419 and to the nation 00:38:26.419 --> 00:38:27.059 of Israel 00:38:27.059 --> 00:38:28.759 gives us 00:38:28.759 --> 00:38:29.459 confidence 00:38:29.459 --> 00:38:30.319 in his 00:38:30.319 --> 00:38:31.179 unconditional 00:38:31.179 --> 00:38:31.819 covenant 00:38:31.819 --> 00:38:32.539 with us. 00:38:33.879 --> 00:38:35.079 We are a people 00:38:35.079 --> 00:38:36.479 that do believe 00:38:36.479 --> 00:38:38.379 in salvation 00:38:38.379 --> 00:38:39.659 being something 00:38:39.659 --> 00:38:40.819 that when we are 00:38:40.819 --> 00:38:41.239 saved 00:38:41.239 --> 00:38:42.339 we don't have to 00:38:42.339 --> 00:38:43.079 sit in constant 00:38:43.079 --> 00:38:43.779 anxiety 00:38:43.779 --> 00:38:45.079 about whether or not 00:38:45.079 --> 00:38:45.459 we're going to 00:38:45.459 --> 00:38:46.059 make it home. 00:38:48.199 --> 00:38:50.559 I bump into people 00:38:50.559 --> 00:38:51.159 periodically 00:38:51.159 --> 00:38:51.859 and you know 00:38:51.859 --> 00:38:52.059 hey 00:38:52.059 --> 00:38:52.879 if you were to 00:38:52.879 --> 00:38:53.359 die tonight 00:38:53.360 --> 00:38:53.700 and God 00:38:53.700 --> 00:38:54.240 were to ask you 00:38:54.240 --> 00:38:54.599 why he should 00:38:54.599 --> 00:38:55.000 let you into 00:38:55.000 --> 00:38:55.180 heaven 00:38:55.180 --> 00:38:55.599 what would you 00:38:55.599 --> 00:38:55.860 say? 00:38:56.260 --> 00:38:56.840 Well I don't 00:38:56.840 --> 00:38:57.099 know. 00:38:57.940 --> 00:38:58.579 I'm trying 00:38:58.579 --> 00:38:59.519 the best I can. 00:39:00.800 --> 00:39:01.380 Have you ever 00:39:01.380 --> 00:39:01.920 heard that answer? 00:39:02.519 --> 00:39:03.099 I'm trying 00:39:03.099 --> 00:39:04.000 the best I can. 00:39:04.900 --> 00:39:05.500 Well I am 00:39:05.500 --> 00:39:05.960 thankful 00:39:05.960 --> 00:39:06.820 that my 00:39:06.820 --> 00:39:07.380 getting home 00:39:07.380 --> 00:39:07.860 does not 00:39:07.860 --> 00:39:08.320 have anything 00:39:08.320 --> 00:39:08.700 to do 00:39:08.700 --> 00:39:09.079 with me 00:39:09.079 --> 00:39:09.519 trying the 00:39:09.519 --> 00:39:10.380 best I can. 00:39:12.380 --> 00:39:13.300 My confidence 00:39:13.300 --> 00:39:13.820 rests 00:39:13.820 --> 00:39:14.640 in the finished 00:39:14.640 --> 00:39:15.300 work of Christ 00:39:15.300 --> 00:39:16.099 not in mine. 00:39:17.460 --> 00:39:18.360 And Jeremiah 00:39:18.360 --> 00:39:19.599 reminds me 00:39:19.599 --> 00:39:20.360 of that 00:39:20.360 --> 00:39:21.780 work of God. 00:39:21.780 --> 00:39:23.540 Let me bring 00:39:23.540 --> 00:39:24.000 you to the 00:39:24.000 --> 00:39:24.760 last part 00:39:24.760 --> 00:39:25.240 that I want 00:39:25.240 --> 00:39:25.660 you to see. 00:39:25.740 --> 00:39:26.120 Go back 00:39:26.120 --> 00:39:27.340 to Isaiah 00:39:27.340 --> 00:39:28.600 chapter 60 00:39:28.600 --> 00:39:29.800 and see the 00:39:29.800 --> 00:39:30.800 blessing to 00:39:30.800 --> 00:39:31.660 the nations. 00:39:33.820 --> 00:39:34.640 Do other 00:39:34.640 --> 00:39:35.160 people get 00:39:35.160 --> 00:39:35.660 blessed 00:39:35.660 --> 00:39:38.460 when Israel 00:39:38.460 --> 00:39:40.220 is blessed? 00:39:41.420 --> 00:39:41.840 Well 00:39:41.840 --> 00:39:43.000 God told 00:39:43.000 --> 00:39:43.720 Abraham that 00:39:43.720 --> 00:39:44.240 that's the way 00:39:44.240 --> 00:39:45.019 it would work. 00:39:45.019 --> 00:39:45.059 work. 00:39:46.780 --> 00:39:47.259 Incidentally 00:39:47.259 --> 00:39:48.679 as a 00:39:48.679 --> 00:39:49.360 corollary 00:39:49.360 --> 00:39:49.900 to that 00:39:49.900 --> 00:39:50.860 over in 00:39:50.860 --> 00:39:51.460 2 Corinthians 00:39:51.460 --> 00:39:52.099 and we're 00:39:52.099 --> 00:39:52.420 just kind 00:39:52.420 --> 00:39:52.619 of a 00:39:52.619 --> 00:39:53.019 sidebar 00:39:53.019 --> 00:39:53.360 here for 00:39:53.360 --> 00:39:53.659 a moment 00:39:53.659 --> 00:39:54.059 but in 00:39:54.059 --> 00:39:54.619 2 Corinthians 00:39:54.619 --> 00:39:55.360 chapter 1 00:39:55.360 --> 00:39:55.900 verse 4 00:39:55.900 --> 00:39:56.800 it tells 00:39:56.800 --> 00:39:57.199 me 00:39:57.199 --> 00:39:58.360 that the 00:39:58.360 --> 00:39:58.759 blessings 00:39:58.759 --> 00:39:59.280 I've 00:39:59.280 --> 00:39:59.759 received 00:39:59.759 --> 00:40:00.539 in part 00:40:00.539 --> 00:40:00.880 are to 00:40:00.880 --> 00:40:01.320 play out 00:40:01.320 --> 00:40:01.639 into the 00:40:01.639 --> 00:40:01.860 lives 00:40:01.860 --> 00:40:02.159 of other 00:40:02.159 --> 00:40:02.420 people. 00:40:02.500 --> 00:40:02.579 Isn't 00:40:02.579 --> 00:40:02.980 that right? 00:40:07.239 --> 00:40:07.860 And so 00:40:07.860 --> 00:40:08.259 we look 00:40:08.259 --> 00:40:08.539 at 00:40:08.539 --> 00:40:09.719 Isaiah 00:40:09.719 --> 00:40:10.699 chapter 60 00:40:10.699 --> 00:40:11.079 and look 00:40:11.079 --> 00:40:11.519 at verse 00:40:11.519 --> 00:40:12.000 2 and 00:40:12.000 --> 00:40:12.320 3. 00:40:13.579 --> 00:40:14.019 The latter 00:40:14.019 --> 00:40:14.440 part of 00:40:14.440 --> 00:40:14.759 2 it 00:40:14.759 --> 00:40:14.900 says 00:40:14.900 --> 00:40:15.179 but the 00:40:15.179 --> 00:40:15.539 Lord will 00:40:15.539 --> 00:40:16.219 arise upon 00:40:16.219 --> 00:40:16.480 you and 00:40:16.480 --> 00:40:16.940 his glory 00:40:16.940 --> 00:40:17.239 will be 00:40:17.239 --> 00:40:18.239 seen upon 00:40:18.239 --> 00:40:19.139 you and 00:40:19.139 --> 00:40:19.980 nations will 00:40:19.980 --> 00:40:20.480 come to 00:40:20.480 --> 00:40:21.019 your light 00:40:21.019 --> 00:40:21.860 and kings 00:40:21.860 --> 00:40:22.239 to the 00:40:22.239 --> 00:40:22.639 brightness 00:40:22.639 --> 00:40:23.679 of your 00:40:23.679 --> 00:40:24.159 rising. 00:40:26.579 --> 00:40:27.139 Think 00:40:27.139 --> 00:40:27.539 back with 00:40:27.539 --> 00:40:28.019 me again 00:40:28.019 --> 00:40:28.360 to the 00:40:28.360 --> 00:40:28.960 promise that 00:40:28.960 --> 00:40:29.539 God made 00:40:29.539 --> 00:40:30.400 to Abraham 00:40:30.400 --> 00:40:32.280 through you 00:40:32.280 --> 00:40:34.179 all the 00:40:34.179 --> 00:40:34.739 nations of 00:40:34.739 --> 00:40:35.219 the earth 00:40:35.219 --> 00:40:36.380 will be 00:40:36.380 --> 00:40:36.719 blessed. 00:40:38.039 --> 00:40:38.679 I'm going 00:40:38.679 --> 00:40:38.920 to make 00:40:38.920 --> 00:40:39.139 you a 00:40:39.139 --> 00:40:39.679 great nation 00:40:39.679 --> 00:40:41.619 and I'm 00:40:41.619 --> 00:40:41.820 going to 00:40:41.820 --> 00:40:42.320 bless you 00:40:42.320 --> 00:40:43.619 and I'm 00:40:43.619 --> 00:40:43.780 going to 00:40:43.780 --> 00:40:44.100 make your 00:40:44.100 --> 00:40:44.360 name 00:40:44.360 --> 00:40:44.820 great 00:40:44.820 --> 00:40:46.820 and all 00:40:46.820 --> 00:40:47.540 the families 00:40:47.540 --> 00:40:47.900 of the 00:40:47.900 --> 00:40:48.460 earth will 00:40:48.460 --> 00:40:49.000 be blessed 00:40:49.000 --> 00:40:50.460 through you. 00:40:51.840 --> 00:40:52.360 Now 00:40:52.360 --> 00:40:53.600 do you see 00:40:53.600 --> 00:40:54.280 the similarity? 00:40:55.500 --> 00:40:56.160 God made 00:40:56.160 --> 00:40:56.620 a promise 00:40:56.620 --> 00:40:57.260 to Abraham 00:40:57.260 --> 00:40:58.040 that all 00:40:58.040 --> 00:40:58.660 the nations 00:40:58.660 --> 00:40:59.040 of the 00:40:59.040 --> 00:40:59.700 earth would 00:40:59.700 --> 00:41:00.320 be blessed 00:41:00.320 --> 00:41:00.780 through his 00:41:00.780 --> 00:41:01.160 offspring 00:41:01.160 --> 00:41:03.060 and that 00:41:03.060 --> 00:41:03.940 promise has 00:41:03.940 --> 00:41:04.920 had partial 00:41:04.920 --> 00:41:05.540 fulfillment 00:41:05.540 --> 00:41:06.640 in the coming 00:41:06.640 --> 00:41:07.000 of our 00:41:07.000 --> 00:41:07.720 Christ who 00:41:07.720 --> 00:41:08.860 died and 00:41:08.860 --> 00:41:09.500 rose again 00:41:09.500 --> 00:41:10.000 to be the 00:41:10.000 --> 00:41:10.519 savior of 00:41:10.519 --> 00:41:10.900 all who 00:41:10.900 --> 00:41:11.440 trust in 00:41:11.440 --> 00:41:12.019 him by 00:41:12.019 --> 00:41:12.420 faith. 00:41:12.420 --> 00:41:14.180 But there 00:41:14.180 --> 00:41:15.720 still is a 00:41:15.720 --> 00:41:16.720 portion of 00:41:16.720 --> 00:41:17.360 the promises 00:41:17.360 --> 00:41:18.480 that are yet 00:41:18.480 --> 00:41:19.320 to be realized 00:41:19.320 --> 00:41:20.079 and that is 00:41:20.079 --> 00:41:20.800 in the eternal 00:41:20.800 --> 00:41:21.680 reign of 00:41:21.680 --> 00:41:22.500 Christ over 00:41:22.500 --> 00:41:22.920 all the 00:41:22.920 --> 00:41:23.240 earth. 00:41:24.740 --> 00:41:26.260 I listen 00:41:26.260 --> 00:41:26.760 to our 00:41:26.760 --> 00:41:27.639 songs and I 00:41:27.639 --> 00:41:28.220 think about 00:41:28.220 --> 00:41:29.220 the things we 00:41:29.220 --> 00:41:30.300 sing about 00:41:30.300 --> 00:41:31.579 Jesus being 00:41:31.579 --> 00:41:32.200 king. 00:41:33.159 --> 00:41:34.119 The day is 00:41:34.119 --> 00:41:35.079 coming that 00:41:35.079 --> 00:41:36.380 he will reign 00:41:36.380 --> 00:41:37.720 over all the 00:41:37.720 --> 00:41:38.599 earth and he 00:41:38.599 --> 00:41:39.380 will reign for 00:41:39.380 --> 00:41:40.340 all eternity. 00:41:42.740 --> 00:41:43.500 I am 00:41:43.500 --> 00:41:44.400 thankful that 00:41:44.400 --> 00:41:45.860 I see less 00:41:45.860 --> 00:41:46.539 on Facebook 00:41:46.539 --> 00:41:47.220 today about 00:41:47.220 --> 00:41:47.720 politics. 00:41:47.960 --> 00:41:48.500 I'm not sure 00:41:48.500 --> 00:41:48.800 it's just 00:41:48.800 --> 00:41:49.940 because I've 00:41:49.940 --> 00:41:51.019 excluded people 00:41:51.019 --> 00:41:51.360 that are 00:41:51.360 --> 00:41:52.240 obsessive about 00:41:52.240 --> 00:41:52.480 it. 00:41:53.220 --> 00:41:53.680 But you know 00:41:53.680 --> 00:41:54.200 I can only 00:41:54.200 --> 00:41:54.680 take so 00:41:54.680 --> 00:41:55.119 much. 00:41:57.200 --> 00:41:57.920 It does 00:41:57.920 --> 00:41:58.280 make me 00:41:58.280 --> 00:41:58.599 kind of 00:41:58.599 --> 00:41:59.079 think forward 00:41:59.079 --> 00:41:59.640 I am 00:41:59.640 --> 00:42:00.480 looking forward 00:42:00.480 --> 00:42:01.079 to the day 00:42:01.079 --> 00:42:01.880 that Jesus 00:42:01.880 --> 00:42:02.460 is in 00:42:02.460 --> 00:42:03.079 charge. 00:42:03.079 --> 00:42:08.079 And that's 00:42:08.079 --> 00:42:08.360 going to be 00:42:08.360 --> 00:42:08.739 wonderful. 00:42:10.599 --> 00:42:11.019 And so you 00:42:11.019 --> 00:42:11.460 look here in 00:42:11.460 --> 00:42:12.500 the reality 00:42:12.500 --> 00:42:13.219 of the fact 00:42:13.219 --> 00:42:13.500 and you 00:42:13.500 --> 00:42:14.199 realize that 00:42:14.199 --> 00:42:15.259 the promise 00:42:15.259 --> 00:42:15.679 that God 00:42:15.679 --> 00:42:16.059 made to 00:42:16.059 --> 00:42:16.519 Abraham has 00:42:16.519 --> 00:42:17.019 had partial 00:42:17.019 --> 00:42:17.619 fulfillment in 00:42:17.619 --> 00:42:18.019 the coming of 00:42:18.019 --> 00:42:18.460 our Savior. 00:42:19.119 --> 00:42:19.380 But the 00:42:19.380 --> 00:42:19.920 promise of 00:42:19.920 --> 00:42:20.500 blessing will 00:42:20.500 --> 00:42:21.119 be completed 00:42:21.119 --> 00:42:21.519 in the 00:42:21.519 --> 00:42:22.199 eternal reign 00:42:22.199 --> 00:42:22.719 of Christ. 00:42:23.860 --> 00:42:24.440 Are you 00:42:24.440 --> 00:42:24.980 looking forward 00:42:24.980 --> 00:42:25.380 to that? 00:42:26.279 --> 00:42:26.739 Are you 00:42:26.739 --> 00:42:27.480 longing for 00:42:27.480 --> 00:42:28.159 his coming? 00:42:28.619 --> 00:42:28.960 Are you 00:42:28.960 --> 00:42:30.239 anticipating it? 00:42:30.739 --> 00:42:31.239 How many of 00:42:31.239 --> 00:42:31.559 you know what 00:42:31.559 --> 00:42:31.900 Maranatha 00:42:31.900 --> 00:42:32.279 means? 00:42:32.280 --> 00:42:33.340 It does 00:42:33.340 --> 00:42:33.600 not. 00:42:33.680 --> 00:42:34.000 It's not 00:42:34.000 --> 00:42:34.420 pronounced 00:42:34.420 --> 00:42:34.980 Marantha. 00:42:36.060 --> 00:42:36.760 In the 00:42:36.760 --> 00:42:37.340 old days 00:42:37.340 --> 00:42:37.680 when we 00:42:37.680 --> 00:42:38.000 had a 00:42:38.000 --> 00:42:38.640 school I 00:42:38.640 --> 00:42:39.019 used to 00:42:39.019 --> 00:42:40.040 just die 00:42:40.040 --> 00:42:40.960 when they 00:42:40.960 --> 00:42:41.280 would go 00:42:41.280 --> 00:42:41.580 on the 00:42:41.580 --> 00:42:42.100 radio and 00:42:42.100 --> 00:42:42.380 they'd go 00:42:42.380 --> 00:42:42.780 on the 00:42:42.780 --> 00:42:43.700 TV and 00:42:43.700 --> 00:42:44.820 say Marantha 00:42:44.820 --> 00:42:45.260 Christian 00:42:45.260 --> 00:42:45.660 school. 00:42:46.160 --> 00:42:46.880 But anyway 00:42:46.880 --> 00:42:47.620 I stopped 00:42:47.620 --> 00:42:48.040 trying to 00:42:48.040 --> 00:42:48.540 correct people. 00:42:48.860 --> 00:42:49.600 Hey it's 00:42:49.600 --> 00:42:49.820 good. 00:42:50.200 --> 00:42:50.960 Works for 00:42:50.960 --> 00:42:51.160 you. 00:42:51.580 --> 00:42:51.820 How do 00:42:51.820 --> 00:42:52.100 you spell 00:42:52.100 --> 00:42:52.280 it? 00:42:52.880 --> 00:42:54.340 Do you 00:42:54.340 --> 00:42:54.560 know what 00:42:54.560 --> 00:42:54.940 it means? 00:42:55.940 --> 00:42:56.200 Our 00:42:56.200 --> 00:42:56.519 Lord's 00:42:56.519 --> 00:42:56.820 coming. 00:42:58.100 --> 00:42:58.540 It is to 00:42:58.540 --> 00:42:59.040 be something 00:42:59.040 --> 00:42:59.320 that 00:42:59.320 --> 00:43:00.120 characterizes 00:43:00.120 --> 00:43:01.700 the heart 00:43:01.699 --> 00:43:02.139 of the 00:43:02.139 --> 00:43:02.579 believer. 00:43:03.980 --> 00:43:04.359 I'm 00:43:04.359 --> 00:43:05.179 looking forward 00:43:05.179 --> 00:43:05.779 to it. 00:43:06.399 --> 00:43:06.839 Why? 00:43:07.279 --> 00:43:08.000 Because for 00:43:08.000 --> 00:43:08.359 one I'm 00:43:08.359 --> 00:43:08.679 going to 00:43:08.679 --> 00:43:09.159 see him. 00:43:10.059 --> 00:43:11.000 For two I'm 00:43:11.000 --> 00:43:11.299 going to be 00:43:11.299 --> 00:43:11.879 like him. 00:43:12.699 --> 00:43:13.599 And third I 00:43:13.599 --> 00:43:14.159 am going to 00:43:14.159 --> 00:43:14.939 enjoy his 00:43:14.939 --> 00:43:15.960 perfect reign 00:43:15.960 --> 00:43:17.439 over all 00:43:17.439 --> 00:43:19.719 all the 00:43:19.719 --> 00:43:20.619 kingdoms of 00:43:20.619 --> 00:43:21.539 the earth and 00:43:21.539 --> 00:43:22.799 over all of 00:43:22.799 --> 00:43:24.039 creation for 00:43:24.039 --> 00:43:24.559 all of 00:43:24.559 --> 00:43:25.079 eternity. 00:43:25.079 --> 00:43:25.159 eternity. 00:43:27.239 --> 00:43:28.139 That's the 00:43:28.139 --> 00:43:29.199 way I'd 00:43:29.199 --> 00:43:30.219 like every 00:43:30.219 --> 00:43:30.920 person's 00:43:30.920 --> 00:43:31.619 story to 00:43:31.619 --> 00:43:32.199 end. 00:43:33.079 --> 00:43:33.279 Do you 00:43:33.279 --> 00:43:33.519 understand 00:43:33.519 --> 00:43:33.980 that point? 00:43:37.159 --> 00:43:37.960 But the 00:43:37.960 --> 00:43:38.360 truth of 00:43:38.360 --> 00:43:38.559 the matter 00:43:38.559 --> 00:43:41.119 is all 00:43:41.119 --> 00:43:41.639 of eternity 00:43:41.639 --> 00:43:42.099 will be 00:43:42.099 --> 00:43:42.639 spent in 00:43:42.639 --> 00:43:43.099 one of 00:43:43.099 --> 00:43:43.299 two 00:43:43.299 --> 00:43:43.980 conditions. 00:43:45.860 --> 00:43:46.480 Those who 00:43:46.480 --> 00:43:47.019 have come 00:43:47.019 --> 00:43:48.340 in humility 00:43:48.340 --> 00:43:49.360 and brokenness 00:43:49.360 --> 00:43:50.259 confessing their 00:43:50.259 --> 00:43:51.119 sins and 00:43:51.119 --> 00:43:51.679 believing in 00:43:51.679 --> 00:43:52.079 the finished 00:43:52.079 --> 00:43:52.460 work of 00:43:52.460 --> 00:43:53.219 Christ will 00:43:53.219 --> 00:43:54.179 spend eternity 00:43:54.179 --> 00:43:54.899 with him. 00:43:55.960 --> 00:43:56.619 That's good. 00:43:58.379 --> 00:43:59.159 If you were to 00:43:59.159 --> 00:43:59.739 go back to the 00:43:59.739 --> 00:44:00.000 book of 00:44:00.000 --> 00:44:00.639 Revelation and 00:44:00.639 --> 00:44:01.059 you don't need 00:44:01.059 --> 00:44:01.500 to go there 00:44:01.500 --> 00:44:02.460 this morning you 00:44:02.460 --> 00:44:03.099 will find that 00:44:03.099 --> 00:44:03.639 there is another 00:44:03.639 --> 00:44:04.379 part to it. 00:44:05.619 --> 00:44:06.039 Those who 00:44:06.039 --> 00:44:06.759 refuse the 00:44:06.759 --> 00:44:07.219 offer of 00:44:07.219 --> 00:44:07.940 salvation through 00:44:07.940 --> 00:44:08.379 the finished 00:44:08.379 --> 00:44:08.839 work of 00:44:08.839 --> 00:44:09.659 Christ will 00:44:09.659 --> 00:44:10.779 spend all of 00:44:10.779 --> 00:44:12.059 eternity in 00:44:12.059 --> 00:44:13.460 hell suffering 00:44:13.460 --> 00:44:14.419 forever for 00:44:14.419 --> 00:44:15.379 their rebellious 00:44:15.379 --> 00:44:16.039 and hardened 00:44:16.039 --> 00:44:16.579 hearts. 00:44:18.199 --> 00:44:19.000 And when's 00:44:19.000 --> 00:44:20.359 the time to 00:44:20.359 --> 00:44:20.879 come to grips 00:44:20.879 --> 00:44:21.319 with that? 00:44:22.500 --> 00:44:23.019 Now, 00:44:23.019 --> 00:44:24.739 now, 00:44:24.739 --> 00:44:24.780 now, 00:44:24.780 --> 00:44:26.840 and so I 00:44:26.840 --> 00:44:27.300 would appeal 00:44:27.300 --> 00:44:27.920 to you if you 00:44:27.920 --> 00:44:28.480 are here this 00:44:28.480 --> 00:44:28.920 morning and 00:44:28.920 --> 00:44:29.400 don't know the 00:44:29.400 --> 00:44:29.840 Lord Jesus 00:44:29.840 --> 00:44:30.599 Christ as your 00:44:30.599 --> 00:44:30.880 Savior, 00:44:31.340 --> 00:44:32.300 don't walk out 00:44:32.300 --> 00:44:32.880 of here saying 00:44:32.880 --> 00:44:33.320 well there will 00:44:33.320 --> 00:44:34.099 be another day 00:44:34.099 --> 00:44:34.880 because you 00:44:34.880 --> 00:44:35.219 don't know 00:44:35.219 --> 00:44:35.460 that. 00:44:36.639 --> 00:44:37.480 The fact of 00:44:37.480 --> 00:44:38.079 the matter is 00:44:38.079 --> 00:44:38.519 is Christ 00:44:38.519 --> 00:44:39.179 Jesus came 00:44:39.179 --> 00:44:39.500 into the 00:44:39.500 --> 00:44:39.920 world to 00:44:39.920 --> 00:44:40.539 save sinners 00:44:40.539 --> 00:44:42.420 and if you 00:44:42.420 --> 00:44:43.400 are here and 00:44:43.400 --> 00:44:44.280 you sense the 00:44:44.280 --> 00:44:44.940 burden of your 00:44:44.940 --> 00:44:45.860 heart and you 00:44:45.860 --> 00:44:46.759 realize that the 00:44:46.759 --> 00:44:47.500 darkness of your 00:44:47.500 --> 00:44:48.300 soul is not 00:44:48.300 --> 00:44:49.059 something that 00:44:49.059 --> 00:44:50.400 you can solve, 00:44:50.400 --> 00:44:52.960 I would plead 00:44:52.960 --> 00:44:53.300 with you, 00:44:53.420 --> 00:44:53.920 trust in the 00:44:53.920 --> 00:44:54.360 Lord Jesus 00:44:54.360 --> 00:44:55.500 Christ in whom 00:44:55.500 --> 00:44:56.639 alone is 00:44:56.639 --> 00:44:57.220 salvation. 00:44:58.260 --> 00:44:58.780 Let's close 00:44:58.780 --> 00:44:59.139 in prayer. 00:45:02.579 --> 00:45:03.440 Father God, 00:45:04.119 --> 00:45:06.139 I'm thankful 00:45:06.139 --> 00:45:06.700 that you keep 00:45:06.700 --> 00:45:07.160 promises. 00:45:08.740 --> 00:45:09.380 You have 00:45:09.380 --> 00:45:09.940 promised to 00:45:09.940 --> 00:45:10.360 bless. 00:45:12.099 --> 00:45:12.440 You have 00:45:12.440 --> 00:45:13.059 promised also 00:45:13.059 --> 00:45:13.720 to judge. 00:45:13.719 --> 00:45:15.519 and this 00:45:15.519 --> 00:45:16.059 morning you 00:45:16.059 --> 00:45:17.319 offer the 00:45:17.319 --> 00:45:17.939 gift of 00:45:17.939 --> 00:45:18.839 salvation to 00:45:18.839 --> 00:45:19.639 all who will 00:45:19.639 --> 00:45:20.279 believe in the 00:45:20.279 --> 00:45:20.759 Lord Jesus 00:45:20.759 --> 00:45:21.919 Christ and 00:45:21.919 --> 00:45:22.799 that work of 00:45:22.799 --> 00:45:23.579 belief is a 00:45:23.579 --> 00:45:24.139 work of your 00:45:24.139 --> 00:45:24.679 grace. 00:45:26.699 --> 00:45:27.059 And I would 00:45:27.059 --> 00:45:27.579 plead with you 00:45:27.579 --> 00:45:28.319 this morning that 00:45:28.319 --> 00:45:28.939 you would touch 00:45:28.939 --> 00:45:29.659 the lives of 00:45:29.659 --> 00:45:30.139 those that are 00:45:30.139 --> 00:45:31.179 here that do 00:45:31.179 --> 00:45:31.959 not know Christ 00:45:31.959 --> 00:45:32.379 that they would 00:45:32.379 --> 00:45:33.099 be drawn to the 00:45:33.099 --> 00:45:33.559 cross. 00:45:35.119 --> 00:45:35.939 That believers 00:45:35.939 --> 00:45:36.579 who are under 00:45:36.579 --> 00:45:37.279 the burden and 00:45:37.279 --> 00:45:37.859 heartache and 00:45:37.859 --> 00:45:38.779 challenge of life 00:45:38.779 --> 00:45:40.139 would rest in 00:45:40.139 --> 00:45:41.359 confidence that 00:45:41.359 --> 00:45:42.279 you who have 00:45:42.279 --> 00:45:43.119 done everything 00:45:43.119 --> 00:45:44.159 for our salvation 00:45:44.159 --> 00:45:45.119 will bring them 00:45:45.119 --> 00:45:45.599 through the 00:45:45.599 --> 00:45:46.119 heartache and 00:45:46.119 --> 00:45:46.819 the challenge of 00:45:46.819 --> 00:45:47.239 this day. 00:45:47.559 --> 00:45:48.279 You will not 00:45:48.279 --> 00:45:48.940 fail them. 00:45:50.299 --> 00:45:50.779 Help us to 00:45:50.779 --> 00:45:51.299 walk out of 00:45:51.299 --> 00:45:51.980 here victorious 00:45:51.980 --> 00:45:52.699 because of 00:45:52.699 --> 00:45:53.119 Christ. 00:45:54.519 --> 00:45:55.199 And to display 00:45:55.199 --> 00:45:56.000 that joy and 00:45:56.000 --> 00:45:57.179 that victory to 00:45:57.179 --> 00:45:57.739 an unbelieving 00:45:57.739 --> 00:45:58.519 world with 00:45:58.519 --> 00:45:59.279 quietness and 00:45:59.279 --> 00:46:00.019 with gentleness. 00:46:01.400 --> 00:46:02.500 We ask this in 00:46:02.500 --> 00:46:03.159 Jesus' name. 00:46:03.940 --> 00:46:04.239 Amen.