WEBVTT

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 As we take our seats, it would be helpful if you have that passage open in front of you.

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 We're going to be referring to it as we go through this morning's sermon.

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 For those of you who don't know me, my name is Alistair.

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 I have the privilege of being on staff here at the church,

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 and I have the joy of speaking on this passage.

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 But before we look at it, let's just take a moment to still our hearts

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 and pray to the God of this universe.

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 Lord, we thank you that you are with us.

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 We thank you that your rod and staff comfort us

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 and that you have promised to never leave us.

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 Help us remember these truths as we think about your word this morning

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 and help us learn and be challenged from it.

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 In Jesus' name we ask all these things. Amen.

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 On December 29th, 1913, so it's quite a little bit away,

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 there was an ad in the London Times newspaper by Ernest Shackleton.

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 He was a polar explorer, and during his life he led three expeditions to the Antarctic.

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 The ad in the Times read like this.

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 Now when I first read this ad, my thought was,

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 Ernest, what are you playing at?

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 Why would you get an ad like that?

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 You're not going to get anyone on your side.

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 This is the worst recruitment strategy in the world.

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 If you were going to write an ad like that,

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 maybe you'd start with something along the lines of

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 Antarctic cruise, get paid to be on holiday,

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 skiing in untouched snow, unseen wildlife, majestic views.

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 See, we'd love to sugarcoat it, wouldn't we?

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 But the truth is that Ernest was giving an honest picture

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 of what it would be like to go on an Antarctic expedition.

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 He put all of his cards on the table,

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 told the people the way it was going to be,

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 and let them decide whether they wanted to join him or not.

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 He didn't promise them a bed of roses,

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 but told them exactly what to expect.

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 And the truth is that it wasn't going to be pretty.

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 Now in the passage that was read out to us earlier on,

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 Jesus gives his disciples a similar kind of description, doesn't he?

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 Jesus is telling his disciples what life is going to look like

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 when he is taken away from them.

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 Now at this point in Luke's Gospel,

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 we are in Jerusalem with Jesus.

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 Jesus arrived in chapter 19,

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 and he's been teaching in the temple every day.

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 But now Jesus turns and focuses on his disciples,

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 because the cross is just on the horizon.

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 In just a few days, their Lord and Savior will be crucified,

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 but he will be raised from the dead.

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 And when he is in heaven with the Father,

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 there will be a time of waiting until his return.

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 There will be a time where King Jesus is physically absent,

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 and so in our passage this morning,

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 we see the departing words of the returning King.

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 The departing words of the returning King.

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 Jesus is preparing his disciples

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 for what life is going to be like

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 as they wait for his second coming.

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 And he gives them three imperatives,

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 three actions that they are to do

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 as they live in anticipation of his return.

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 Watch out, stand firm, and look up.

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 So let's look at these departing words

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 of the returning King together.

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 The first thing we see in verses 5 to 8,

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 Jesus says to his disciples,

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 Watch out, watch out.

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 If you have an NIV this morning,

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 or one of the Pew Bibles,

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 look down with me at verse 8,

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 and you'll see that Jesus says,

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 Watch out that you are not deceived.

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 What is it that the disciples are to watch out for?

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 And why?

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 Well, in verse 5,

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 they are standing admiring the temple.

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 They see the massive stones,

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 the beautiful furnishings,

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 the vast grounds which all point to

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 the spectacular architectural achievement

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 that the temple is.

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 The temple is beautiful.

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 It is big.

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 It is a monument to remind people

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 of the strength,

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 power,

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 and beauty of the God

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 who is worshipped there.

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 And quite rightfully,

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 the disciples stand there

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 and they're taken aback.

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 And they're discussing

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 how beautiful it is together.

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 And then Jesus drops a bomb

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 on their conversation.

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 One day,

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 Jesus says,

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 this monument which is dedicated to God,

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 this magnificent place of worship,

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 will be gone.

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 It will be destroyed.

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 Not one stone will be left

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 in its place.

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 The outward beauty of the temple

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 is no indication

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 of the spiritual state

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 of those who are in it.

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 If you remember back to chapter 19,

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 you'll remember that the spiritual state

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 of those in the temple

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 was not great.

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 The temple was beautiful

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 on the outside,

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 but the hearts of those

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 who were in it

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 were far from beautiful.

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 God's judgment is going to come

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 on the people of Israel

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 because of their disobedience.

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 And the temple

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 will be destroyed.

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 Devastating news

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 for any Jew.

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 The temple was their place

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 of worship.

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 It was the place

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 where they went to show

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 their dedication

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 and devotion to God.

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 The place where they met with God

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 and worshipped Him.

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 And one day,

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 it's all going to be gone.

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 Can you imagine

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 some of the questions

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 running through the disciples' minds

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 as they hear this?

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 But Jesus,

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 haven't you come

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 to kick out the Romans?

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 To sit on your earthly throne

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 here and rule over Jerusalem

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 as God's king?

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 How can you say

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 that the temple

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 will be destroyed?

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 Where will we worship God?

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 Tons of questions

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 running through their minds.

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 But the question they ask

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 is not

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 to do with

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 exactly how all this will happen,

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 but they say,

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 Jesus, when?

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 When will this happen

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 and what are the signs

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 of its coming?

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 You see that in verse 7.

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 When will these things happen?

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 And Jesus answers their question

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 and tells them

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 the first sign

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 of the coming kingdom of God.

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 The first sign

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 that the kingdom of God

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 is coming

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 is that false teachers

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 will rise up

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 and claim

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 that they are Jesus.

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 They will claim

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 that they are sent

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 by God

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 and Jesus says

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 in verse 8,

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 watch out.

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 Do not be deceived.

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 Do not follow them.

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 Now we might sit here today

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 and think,

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 well, obviously.

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 If someone stands

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 on the corner

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 of the street

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 and shouts

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 that they are God's king

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 and that God's kingdom

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 is coming,

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 we're not going to

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 believe them, are we?

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 But put yourself

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 in the shoes

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 of the disciples.

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 In just a few days,

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 their teacher,

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 their Lord,

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 their friend,

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 is going to be crucified.

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 Once he is resurrected

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 and with the Father,

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 they will be looking

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 for Jesus' return.

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 They will be eagerly

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 expecting him

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 to come back.

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 And so Jesus warns them,

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 says, watch out.

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 People will come

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 and they will try

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 to divert your attention

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 from the kingdom of God.

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 They will try to pull you

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 away from me.

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 Watch out,

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 Jesus says.

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 One of the signs

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 of the coming kingdom

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 of God

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 is that false messiahs

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 will appear

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 and try to distract you

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 from God.

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 Do not be deceived,

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 Jesus says.

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 Do not follow them.

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 Are we watching out?

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 And we sit here

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 this morning

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 around 2,000 years

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 away from the events

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 described here.

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 But the warning

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 to watch out

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 is just as true today

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 as it was back then.

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 King Jesus

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 has not yet returned.

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 We are still waiting

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 for God's kingdom

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 to come in its fullness.

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 And so like the disciples,

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 we have to watch out.

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 We need to pay attention

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 to the things

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 that we read,

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 to the things

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 that we listen to,

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 to the things

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 that we allow access

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 to influence

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 our hearts and minds.

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 Now the internet

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 is a wonderful thing.

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 I love the internet.

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 I really do.

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 Not just for the cat videos,

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 but for everything else.

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 It gives you access

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 to some wonderful resources,

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 great sermons,

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 great books,

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 great articles,

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 great podcasts,

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 you name it.

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 But it also has things

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 that aren't helpful,

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 things that can be

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 quite dangerous.

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 Just like the temple,

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 on the surface,

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 it all looks fine.

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 But if you dig around

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 a little bit,

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 you'll find that

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 it is not fine at all.

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 It is just as deceitful

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 as the hearts

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 that are currently

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 worshipping in the temple.

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 We need to watch out

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 and not be deceived.

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 Do not listen to those

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 who speak of themselves

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 as more than mere people.

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 Do not listen to those

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 who proclaim

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 that they have

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 a greater knowledge

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 of God's kingdom

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 or of God's timing.

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 Be careful

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 and watch out

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 for those

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 who proclaim

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 Jesus plus something

00:09:50.860 --> 00:09:52.240
 equals salvation.

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 Because the truth is

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 that Jesus plus anything

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 equals wrong.

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 Jesus is everything.

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 Jesus is all.

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 And we need to watch out.

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 Jesus says,

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 do not be deceived

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 and do not follow them.

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 The King will come back

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 and if we trust in Him,

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 if we are at peace

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 with Him,

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 we will be in His arms

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 and His comfort

00:10:22.279 --> 00:10:23.220
 will be with us.

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 We need to watch out.

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 And the second thing

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 that this departing King says

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 is that His disciples

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 need to stand firm.

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 In verses 9 to 24,

00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:37.279
 stand firm.

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 The disciples need to stand firm

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 in light of different signs

00:10:42.439 --> 00:10:44.080
 of the coming kingdom of God.

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 these signs are

00:10:45.860 --> 00:10:47.060
 wars and disasters,

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 the destruction of Jerusalem

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 and persecution.

00:10:52.420 --> 00:10:53.920
 And in light of all of these signs,

00:10:54.040 --> 00:10:55.780
 Jesus says in verse 19,

00:10:56.580 --> 00:10:58.100
 stand firm.

00:10:59.800 --> 00:11:01.400
 In verses 9 to 11,

00:11:01.500 --> 00:11:02.720
 you see Jesus saying

00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:04.540
 that they are to stand firm

00:11:04.540 --> 00:11:06.639
 in light of wars and disasters

00:11:06.639 --> 00:11:08.100
 that will come upon the earth.

00:11:09.340 --> 00:11:10.780
 Jesus is explaining

00:11:10.780 --> 00:11:12.580
 some of the terrifying events

00:11:12.580 --> 00:11:13.320
 that will happen.

00:11:14.060 --> 00:11:15.220
 But He doesn't say this

00:11:15.220 --> 00:11:16.600
 so that they can speculate

00:11:16.600 --> 00:11:17.960
 as to when the kingdom of God

00:11:17.960 --> 00:11:18.420
 is coming.

00:11:19.000 --> 00:11:21.639
 He says this to encourage them

00:11:21.639 --> 00:11:24.460
 because all of these events,

00:11:24.580 --> 00:11:26.160
 as terrible and terrifying

00:11:26.160 --> 00:11:26.879
 as they are,

00:11:27.180 --> 00:11:28.780
 they are pointing to the great event

00:11:28.780 --> 00:11:30.000
 of the King's return.

00:11:32.200 --> 00:11:33.220
 These are the signs

00:11:33.220 --> 00:11:35.500
 which will affect the whole world.

00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:37.280
 But in verse 9,

00:11:38.340 --> 00:11:39.940
 Jesus encourages His disciples

00:11:39.940 --> 00:11:40.720
 and says,

00:11:40.720 --> 00:11:42.779
 do not be frightened.

00:11:44.360 --> 00:11:45.800
 Can you see the tenderness

00:11:45.800 --> 00:11:46.340
 of Jesus?

00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:48.700
 Even though He is predicting

00:11:48.700 --> 00:11:50.420
 times of difficulty,

00:11:51.680 --> 00:11:53.440
 He looks at His disciples

00:11:53.440 --> 00:11:53.800
 and says,

00:11:53.899 --> 00:11:55.340
 don't be scared.

00:11:57.080 --> 00:11:58.560
 This is the Son of God

00:11:58.560 --> 00:11:59.279
 who is speaking.

00:12:00.160 --> 00:12:01.060
 This is the one

00:12:01.060 --> 00:12:01.680
 through whom

00:12:01.680 --> 00:12:02.440
 the whole world

00:12:02.440 --> 00:12:03.100
 was creating.

00:12:03.500 --> 00:12:04.720
 He knows what's going to happen.

00:12:05.139 --> 00:12:06.600
 He knows the end result.

00:12:07.779 --> 00:12:08.639
 These wars,

00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:09.500
 yes,

00:12:09.559 --> 00:12:10.299
 they will be painful.

00:12:10.539 --> 00:12:10.779
 Yes,

00:12:10.819 --> 00:12:12.039
 they will destroy people

00:12:12.039 --> 00:12:12.720
 and places.

00:12:13.139 --> 00:12:13.860
 But Jesus knows

00:12:13.860 --> 00:12:15.179
 they will not last forever

00:12:15.179 --> 00:12:19.059
 because the King will come

00:12:19.059 --> 00:12:20.559
 victorious

00:12:20.559 --> 00:12:21.860
 and there will be

00:12:21.860 --> 00:12:22.759
 no more crying,

00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:23.759
 no more pain

00:12:23.759 --> 00:12:25.039
 and God will dwell

00:12:25.039 --> 00:12:26.220
 with His people.

00:12:27.720 --> 00:12:28.879
 And until then,

00:12:29.439 --> 00:12:30.220
 there will be wars

00:12:30.220 --> 00:12:30.879
 and disasters.

00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:32.120
 But do not be frightened

00:12:32.120 --> 00:12:33.720
 because these wars

00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:34.500
 will not hinder

00:12:34.500 --> 00:12:35.500
 the kingdom of God.

00:12:35.500 --> 00:12:37.740
 and nor will the kingdom

00:12:37.740 --> 00:12:38.659
 of God delay.

00:12:38.840 --> 00:12:39.840
 God is working

00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:42.399
 according to His perfect timing,

00:12:43.059 --> 00:12:44.580
 according to His perfect plan

00:12:44.580 --> 00:12:46.279
 which no war can foil,

00:12:47.220 --> 00:12:49.460
 which no person can mess up.

00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:52.539
 God's plan will be accomplished.

00:12:54.200 --> 00:12:57.080
 And then in verses 20 to 24,

00:12:57.980 --> 00:12:59.580
 Jesus is speaking about the signs

00:12:59.580 --> 00:13:00.860
 that will befall Jerusalem.

00:13:01.919 --> 00:13:02.919
 Now we've seen this before,

00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:03.440
 haven't we?

00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:04.400
 Again,

00:13:04.500 --> 00:13:05.900
 in chapter 19,

00:13:06.040 --> 00:13:07.820
 Jesus has warned Jerusalem

00:13:07.820 --> 00:13:09.300
 of their coming judgment

00:13:09.300 --> 00:13:11.360
 for how they've rejected God.

00:13:12.560 --> 00:13:13.680
 In verse 22,

00:13:13.900 --> 00:13:14.680
 if you look down,

00:13:14.780 --> 00:13:16.300
 you'll see it says,

00:13:16.400 --> 00:13:17.680
 for this is the time

00:13:17.680 --> 00:13:18.540
 of punishment

00:13:18.540 --> 00:13:19.780
 in fulfillment

00:13:19.780 --> 00:13:21.480
 of all that has been written.

00:13:23.720 --> 00:13:24.880
 God has been warning

00:13:24.880 --> 00:13:25.780
 the people of Israel

00:13:25.780 --> 00:13:26.680
 for hundreds

00:13:26.680 --> 00:13:28.440
 and hundreds of years

00:13:28.440 --> 00:13:30.020
 that they need to repent

00:13:30.020 --> 00:13:30.820
 and turn to Him.

00:13:30.820 --> 00:13:33.320
 God has been patiently waiting

00:13:33.320 --> 00:13:34.360
 and calling them back

00:13:34.360 --> 00:13:35.040
 to Himself,

00:13:35.300 --> 00:13:36.620
 but they have not listened.

00:13:38.780 --> 00:13:39.820
 They have continued

00:13:39.820 --> 00:13:41.240
 in their lives of rebellion,

00:13:41.420 --> 00:13:41.920
 but now,

00:13:42.020 --> 00:13:42.680
 Jesus says,

00:13:42.840 --> 00:13:44.060
 the time of fulfillment

00:13:44.060 --> 00:13:44.640
 has come.

00:13:45.280 --> 00:13:46.220
 Judgment is coming.

00:13:47.960 --> 00:13:48.780
 Now if we look back

00:13:48.780 --> 00:13:49.260
 in history,

00:13:49.420 --> 00:13:50.540
 we can see that this judgment

00:13:50.540 --> 00:13:52.080
 came in 70 AD

00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:53.960
 as the Romans march in

00:13:53.960 --> 00:13:55.100
 and destroy Jerusalem.

00:13:55.100 --> 00:13:57.840
 Jesus is warning

00:13:57.840 --> 00:13:58.480
 His disciples

00:13:58.480 --> 00:13:59.580
 of what is going to happen.

00:14:00.680 --> 00:14:01.960
 He is telling them

00:14:01.960 --> 00:14:03.220
 that they need

00:14:03.220 --> 00:14:04.560
 to stand firm.

00:14:05.700 --> 00:14:06.259
 Jerusalem,

00:14:06.820 --> 00:14:08.000
 you need to stop

00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:09.060
 putting your confidence

00:14:09.060 --> 00:14:10.620
 in this temple.

00:14:11.440 --> 00:14:12.779
 Stop putting your confidence

00:14:12.779 --> 00:14:13.700
 in a building.

00:14:15.540 --> 00:14:15.960
 Instead,

00:14:16.620 --> 00:14:18.399
 focus on the King Jesus.

00:14:18.940 --> 00:14:20.240
 The glory of a temple

00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:21.100
 is nothing

00:14:21.100 --> 00:14:22.540
 compared to the King

00:14:22.540 --> 00:14:23.759
 who will return one day.

00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:26.700
 and all people

00:14:26.700 --> 00:14:27.860
 will see His power

00:14:27.860 --> 00:14:29.279
 and His majestic glory.

00:14:31.819 --> 00:14:32.860
 Sandwiched in between

00:14:32.860 --> 00:14:33.819
 the wars

00:14:33.819 --> 00:14:35.319
 and the destruction

00:14:35.319 --> 00:14:35.919
 of Jerusalem

00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:37.720
 is the third sign

00:14:37.720 --> 00:14:38.720
 which points

00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:39.220
 to the return

00:14:39.220 --> 00:14:39.779
 of the King.

00:14:40.299 --> 00:14:41.659
 Verses 12 to 19,

00:14:42.159 --> 00:14:43.000
 Jesus explains

00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:43.860
 that the disciples

00:14:43.860 --> 00:14:45.539
 will be persecuted.

00:14:46.939 --> 00:14:47.439
 And in light

00:14:47.439 --> 00:14:48.279
 of all of this,

00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:49.299
 in verse 19,

00:14:49.439 --> 00:14:50.120
 Jesus says,

00:14:50.759 --> 00:14:52.139
 stand firm.

00:14:52.139 --> 00:14:55.340
 Jesus is laying out

00:14:55.340 --> 00:14:56.439
 the difficult truths

00:14:56.439 --> 00:14:57.819
 about the cost

00:14:57.819 --> 00:14:59.259
 of being a Christian.

00:15:00.500 --> 00:15:02.240
 They will be persecuted,

00:15:03.220 --> 00:15:03.720
 betrayed,

00:15:04.539 --> 00:15:05.399
 taken to court

00:15:05.399 --> 00:15:06.199
 and some of them

00:15:06.199 --> 00:15:06.899
 will be killed.

00:15:08.360 --> 00:15:09.480
 Why is all of this

00:15:09.480 --> 00:15:09.819
 happening?

00:15:10.840 --> 00:15:11.279
 Why?

00:15:13.399 --> 00:15:15.059
 Verses 12 and 17,

00:15:15.240 --> 00:15:16.340
 Jesus says twice

00:15:16.340 --> 00:15:17.559
 that all of this

00:15:17.559 --> 00:15:18.059
 is happening

00:15:18.059 --> 00:15:19.720
 because of His name.

00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:22.340
 Jesus tells His disciples

00:15:22.340 --> 00:15:23.000
 that they will be

00:15:23.000 --> 00:15:23.920
 taken to court.

00:15:24.940 --> 00:15:25.940
 They will be imprisoned.

00:15:26.100 --> 00:15:26.879
 They will be betrayed

00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:27.920
 by family members

00:15:27.920 --> 00:15:28.440
 and friends,

00:15:28.540 --> 00:15:29.660
 even put to death.

00:15:30.040 --> 00:15:30.379
 Why?

00:15:31.160 --> 00:15:32.040
 Verse 17,

00:15:33.220 --> 00:15:34.019
 because this world

00:15:34.019 --> 00:15:34.639
 hates me,

00:15:34.899 --> 00:15:35.580
 Jesus says.

00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:38.600
 Whilst these horrendous

00:15:38.600 --> 00:15:40.620
 acts affect the disciples,

00:15:40.820 --> 00:15:41.460
 the truth is

00:15:41.460 --> 00:15:42.259
 that they are actually

00:15:42.259 --> 00:15:42.920
 an attack

00:15:42.920 --> 00:15:44.300
 on Jesus Himself.

00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:47.700
 Imagine the fear

00:15:47.700 --> 00:15:48.340
 of the disciples

00:15:48.340 --> 00:15:48.899
 when they hear

00:15:48.899 --> 00:15:49.480
 these things.

00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:51.480
 It's not like

00:15:51.480 --> 00:15:52.280
 the departing king

00:15:52.280 --> 00:15:52.820
 is giving them

00:15:52.820 --> 00:15:53.840
 a nice to-do list.

00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:55.660
 Make sure the grass

00:15:55.660 --> 00:15:56.620
 is cut when I'm gone.

00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:58.300
 Make sure the grounds

00:15:58.300 --> 00:15:59.040
 are kept neat

00:15:59.040 --> 00:15:59.620
 and tidy.

00:16:00.139 --> 00:16:00.879
 Make sure the people

00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:01.500
 of my house

00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:02.340
 are kept happy,

00:16:02.500 --> 00:16:03.480
 healthy and well fed.

00:16:03.820 --> 00:16:04.100
 No.

00:16:04.940 --> 00:16:05.720
 Jesus is saying,

00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:06.519
 in my absence

00:16:06.519 --> 00:16:07.660
 you will be mistreated.

00:16:08.620 --> 00:16:09.600
 You will be hated

00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:11.139
 and looked down on

00:16:11.139 --> 00:16:12.220
 all because of me.

00:16:14.300 --> 00:16:15.280
 You can imagine

00:16:15.280 --> 00:16:16.400
 the disciples asking

00:16:16.400 --> 00:16:17.000
 in their minds,

00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:17.460
 can't you,

00:16:17.460 --> 00:16:18.019
 Jesus,

00:16:18.180 --> 00:16:18.980
 what is the point?

00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:21.240
 Why are you going

00:16:21.240 --> 00:16:22.280
 to let all this happen?

00:16:24.160 --> 00:16:25.200
 In verse 13,

00:16:25.320 --> 00:16:25.940
 Jesus says,

00:16:26.019 --> 00:16:27.000
 all of this will happen

00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:28.440
 but you will be

00:16:28.440 --> 00:16:29.220
 bearing witness

00:16:29.220 --> 00:16:29.920
 of me.

00:16:30.759 --> 00:16:31.519
 The way you

00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:32.519
 conduct yourselves,

00:16:32.660 --> 00:16:33.259
 the stands

00:16:33.259 --> 00:16:33.980
 that you take

00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:34.480
 for me,

00:16:34.940 --> 00:16:35.840
 the way you act

00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:36.480
 in front of your

00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:37.200
 persecutors,

00:16:37.259 --> 00:16:37.879
 all of it

00:16:37.879 --> 00:16:39.040
 will bear witness

00:16:39.040 --> 00:16:39.740
 to my name.

00:16:41.660 --> 00:16:42.860
 The way you live

00:16:42.860 --> 00:16:43.820
 and show

00:16:43.820 --> 00:16:45.560
 what the gospel

00:16:45.560 --> 00:16:46.279
 really is.

00:16:46.379 --> 00:16:46.960
 All of this

00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:47.740
 is an opportunity

00:16:47.740 --> 00:16:49.100
 for you to tell people

00:16:49.100 --> 00:16:50.120
 about me,

00:16:50.200 --> 00:16:50.960
 Jesus says.

00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:52.300
 All of this

00:16:52.300 --> 00:16:53.240
 is not meaningless

00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:54.879
 but it is pointing

00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:55.379
 to me,

00:16:55.460 --> 00:16:56.480
 the future king

00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:58.899
 who will return.

00:17:00.779 --> 00:17:01.120
 Now,

00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:01.560
 I know that

00:17:01.560 --> 00:17:02.200
 for some of us

00:17:02.200 --> 00:17:02.659
 this morning

00:17:02.659 --> 00:17:03.399
 this is a very

00:17:03.399 --> 00:17:04.500
 live situation.

00:17:04.500 --> 00:17:06.500
 Maybe you've

00:17:06.500 --> 00:17:07.480
 come from a week

00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:08.059
 at work

00:17:08.059 --> 00:17:08.839
 in the office

00:17:08.839 --> 00:17:10.220
 or at home

00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:11.039
 and you've been

00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:11.980
 struggling on account

00:17:11.980 --> 00:17:12.619
 of your faith

00:17:12.619 --> 00:17:13.099
 in Jesus.

00:17:14.259 --> 00:17:14.980
 You've had to

00:17:14.980 --> 00:17:15.559
 take a stand

00:17:15.559 --> 00:17:16.220
 for something

00:17:16.220 --> 00:17:17.220
 because of what

00:17:17.220 --> 00:17:17.859
 you believe.

00:17:20.140 --> 00:17:21.619
 Listen to Jesus

00:17:21.619 --> 00:17:23.099
 as he encourages

00:17:23.099 --> 00:17:24.339
 you through his

00:17:24.339 --> 00:17:25.700
 word that none

00:17:25.700 --> 00:17:26.759
 of it is in vain.

00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:28.240
 In all the

00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:29.119
 difficulties of

00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:29.819
 living life

00:17:29.819 --> 00:17:30.839
 as a Christian

00:17:30.839 --> 00:17:31.539
 in a world

00:17:31.539 --> 00:17:32.519
 that hates Jesus,

00:17:33.299 --> 00:17:34.259
 we are bearing

00:17:34.259 --> 00:17:35.960
 witness to him.

00:17:36.819 --> 00:17:37.779
 In all of this

00:17:37.779 --> 00:17:38.759
 stand firm,

00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:39.740
 Jesus says.

00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:42.720
 In verse 14

00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:43.700
 we see the

00:17:43.700 --> 00:17:44.579
 fourth and final

00:17:44.579 --> 00:17:45.599
 do not statement.

00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:47.299
 Follow along

00:17:47.299 --> 00:17:47.680
 with me.

00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:49.099
 In verse 8

00:17:49.099 --> 00:17:49.799
 you see

00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:50.500
 do not be

00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:51.180
 deceived,

00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:52.640
 do not follow

00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:52.940
 them.

00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:54.819
 In verse 9

00:17:54.819 --> 00:17:55.500
 do not be

00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:56.259
 frightened of

00:17:56.259 --> 00:17:56.720
 the wars

00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:57.339
 and disasters

00:17:57.339 --> 00:17:58.920
 and in verse 14

00:17:58.920 --> 00:17:59.819
 Jesus says

00:17:59.819 --> 00:18:01.279
 do not worry.

00:18:02.740 --> 00:18:03.779
 How can Jesus

00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:04.299
 say this

00:18:04.299 --> 00:18:04.720
 in light of

00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:05.160
 all of these

00:18:05.160 --> 00:18:05.519
 things?

00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:07.599
 Well,

00:18:07.660 --> 00:18:08.359
 verse 15

00:18:08.359 --> 00:18:10.000
 the amazing

00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:10.759
 promise that

00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:11.200
 is there.

00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:12.180
 Jesus says

00:18:12.180 --> 00:18:12.859
 you don't have

00:18:12.859 --> 00:18:13.960
 to worry

00:18:13.960 --> 00:18:15.240
 because I

00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:16.279
 will be with

00:18:16.279 --> 00:18:16.559
 you.

00:18:18.059 --> 00:18:18.940
 Jesus isn't

00:18:18.940 --> 00:18:19.639
 going to leave

00:18:19.639 --> 00:18:20.359
 his disciples

00:18:20.359 --> 00:18:21.379
 empty handed.

00:18:22.180 --> 00:18:22.960
 He isn't

00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:23.619
 going away

00:18:23.619 --> 00:18:24.059
 and leaving

00:18:24.059 --> 00:18:24.559
 them to their

00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:25.240
 own devices.

00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:26.019
 No,

00:18:26.579 --> 00:18:27.440
 Jesus says

00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:28.700
 I will be

00:18:28.700 --> 00:18:29.160
 with you.

00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:30.180
 That is why

00:18:30.180 --> 00:18:30.740
 you do not

00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:31.160
 have to

00:18:31.160 --> 00:18:31.500
 worry.

00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:33.339
 Do not

00:18:33.339 --> 00:18:33.980
 worry about

00:18:33.980 --> 00:18:34.380
 what you

00:18:34.380 --> 00:18:34.740
 are going

00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:35.380
 to say

00:18:35.380 --> 00:18:36.859
 because I

00:18:36.859 --> 00:18:37.220
 will give

00:18:37.220 --> 00:18:37.519
 you the

00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:38.480
 words to

00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:39.099
 say when

00:18:39.099 --> 00:18:39.539
 the time

00:18:39.539 --> 00:18:40.079
 is right.

00:18:40.299 --> 00:18:40.740
 I will

00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:41.000
 give you

00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:41.559
 the wisdom

00:18:41.559 --> 00:18:42.380
 that you

00:18:42.380 --> 00:18:43.359
 need so

00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:43.819
 that your

00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:44.200
 enemies,

00:18:44.339 --> 00:18:44.640
 so that

00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:45.720
 my enemies

00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:46.880
 will not

00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:47.480
 be able to

00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:48.339
 contradict or

00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:49.059
 resist you.

00:18:49.960 --> 00:18:50.539
 In all of

00:18:50.539 --> 00:18:50.920
 this,

00:18:51.120 --> 00:18:51.839
 Jesus says,

00:18:52.339 --> 00:18:53.960
 stand firm

00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:55.759
 and not a

00:18:55.759 --> 00:18:56.299
 hair on your

00:18:56.299 --> 00:18:57.180
 head will

00:18:57.180 --> 00:18:57.640
 perish,

00:18:57.740 --> 00:18:58.279
 Jesus says

00:18:58.279 --> 00:18:58.660
 in verse

00:18:58.660 --> 00:18:59.079
 18.

00:19:00.899 --> 00:19:01.619
 Now this

00:19:01.619 --> 00:19:02.200
 doesn't mean

00:19:02.200 --> 00:19:02.519
 that the

00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:03.220
 disciples won't

00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:03.519
 die.

00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:04.720
 Jesus has

00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:05.180
 just told

00:19:05.180 --> 00:19:05.460
 them in

00:19:05.460 --> 00:19:06.480
 verse 16

00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:06.879
 that they

00:19:06.879 --> 00:19:07.200
 will,

00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:08.420
 but it

00:19:08.420 --> 00:19:08.899
 means that

00:19:08.899 --> 00:19:09.500
 Jesus is

00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:10.039
 offering them

00:19:10.039 --> 00:19:10.660
 a greater

00:19:10.660 --> 00:19:11.440
 protection,

00:19:12.059 --> 00:19:12.460
 a more

00:19:12.460 --> 00:19:13.019
 important

00:19:13.019 --> 00:19:13.639
 protection,

00:19:14.259 --> 00:19:15.139
 the protection

00:19:15.139 --> 00:19:16.119
 of their

00:19:16.119 --> 00:19:16.720
 souls.

00:19:18.460 --> 00:19:19.379
 The worst

00:19:19.379 --> 00:19:19.759
 thing that

00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:20.700
 your persecutors

00:19:20.700 --> 00:19:21.180
 can do,

00:19:21.299 --> 00:19:22.000
 Jesus says,

00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:22.859
 is they

00:19:22.859 --> 00:19:23.319
 can kill

00:19:23.319 --> 00:19:23.819
 your body.

00:19:24.379 --> 00:19:24.899
 That's it.

00:19:26.279 --> 00:19:27.220
 They cannot

00:19:27.220 --> 00:19:27.859
 harm your

00:19:27.859 --> 00:19:28.160
 soul.

00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:30.059
 Your soul

00:19:30.059 --> 00:19:30.740
 is protected

00:19:30.740 --> 00:19:31.339
 by God.

00:19:31.500 --> 00:19:32.339
 Stand firm

00:19:32.339 --> 00:19:33.000
 and you

00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:33.379
 will win

00:19:33.379 --> 00:19:33.879
 life.

00:19:35.399 --> 00:19:36.079
 As you

00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:36.720
 stand firm,

00:19:36.819 --> 00:19:37.359
 Jesus says,

00:19:37.420 --> 00:19:37.700
 you are

00:19:37.700 --> 00:19:38.599
 bearing witness

00:19:38.599 --> 00:19:39.579
 to me,

00:19:40.259 --> 00:19:40.920
 living in a

00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:41.420
 world which

00:19:41.420 --> 00:19:41.980
 hates me.

00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:42.879
 Remember

00:19:42.879 --> 00:19:44.059
 all the

00:19:44.059 --> 00:19:44.559
 time that

00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:45.160
 your soul

00:19:45.160 --> 00:19:46.240
 is hiding

00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:46.920
 in the

00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:47.619
 protection of

00:19:47.619 --> 00:19:48.000
 the king.

00:19:50.680 --> 00:19:51.200
 Richard

00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:51.720
 Wurmbrand

00:19:51.720 --> 00:19:52.740
 is a

00:19:52.740 --> 00:19:53.740
 practical

00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:54.420
 example of

00:19:54.420 --> 00:19:54.660
 what it

00:19:54.660 --> 00:19:55.099
 looks like

00:19:55.099 --> 00:19:55.720
 to stand

00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:56.319
 in light,

00:19:57.220 --> 00:19:57.599
 to stand

00:19:57.599 --> 00:19:58.179
 firm in

00:19:58.179 --> 00:19:58.759
 persecution.

00:19:59.619 --> 00:20:00.159
 For those

00:20:00.159 --> 00:20:00.480
 of you who've

00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:00.919
 never heard

00:20:00.919 --> 00:20:01.219
 of him,

00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:02.019
 he was a

00:20:02.019 --> 00:20:02.399
 Romanian

00:20:02.399 --> 00:20:04.039
 pastor who

00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:04.959
 spoke out

00:20:04.959 --> 00:20:06.240
 against the

00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:06.599
 communist

00:20:06.599 --> 00:20:07.299
 government as

00:20:07.299 --> 00:20:07.819
 they tried to

00:20:07.819 --> 00:20:08.500
 control the

00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:09.000
 church in

00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:09.319
 Romania.

00:20:10.439 --> 00:20:11.119
 He was

00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:12.000
 imprisoned and

00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:12.699
 tortured for

00:20:12.699 --> 00:20:14.000
 14 years

00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:15.000
 because of

00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:16.219
 his outspokenness

00:20:16.219 --> 00:20:16.939
 and his

00:20:16.939 --> 00:20:17.959
 illegal work

00:20:17.959 --> 00:20:18.219
 with the

00:20:18.219 --> 00:20:18.599
 underground

00:20:18.599 --> 00:20:19.339
 churches in

00:20:19.339 --> 00:20:19.719
 Romania.

00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:21.200
 and he

00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:21.600
 has to

00:20:21.600 --> 00:20:22.240
 say this

00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:23.339
 about

00:20:23.339 --> 00:20:23.900
 standing

00:20:23.900 --> 00:20:24.660
 firm in

00:20:24.660 --> 00:20:25.299
 Jesus in

00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:25.740
 his book

00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:26.319
 Tortured

00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:27.000
 for Christ.

00:20:28.539 --> 00:20:29.079
 I

00:20:29.079 --> 00:20:29.779
 tremble

00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:30.600
 because of

00:20:30.600 --> 00:20:31.259
 the sufferings

00:20:31.259 --> 00:20:31.620
 of those

00:20:31.620 --> 00:20:32.600
 persecuted in

00:20:32.600 --> 00:20:33.440
 different lands.

00:20:34.100 --> 00:20:34.519
 In the

00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:34.980
 depth of

00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:35.579
 my heart,

00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:36.160
 I would

00:20:36.160 --> 00:20:36.620
 like to

00:20:36.620 --> 00:20:36.980
 keep the

00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:37.539
 beauty of

00:20:37.539 --> 00:20:38.000
 my own

00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:38.579
 vineyard,

00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:39.500
 to not

00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:40.079
 be involved

00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:40.620
 in such

00:20:40.620 --> 00:20:41.240
 a huge

00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:42.019
 fight.

00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:43.380
 I would

00:20:43.380 --> 00:20:43.839
 like so

00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:44.259
 much to

00:20:44.259 --> 00:20:44.799
 be somewhere

00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:45.759
 in quietness

00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:46.279
 and rest,

00:20:46.380 --> 00:20:46.740
 but it is

00:20:46.740 --> 00:20:47.500
 not possible.

00:20:47.500 --> 00:20:49.420
 the quietness

00:20:49.420 --> 00:20:50.420
 and rest

00:20:50.420 --> 00:20:51.039
 for which I

00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:51.960
 long would

00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:52.680
 be an escape

00:20:52.680 --> 00:20:53.519
 from reality

00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:54.859
 and dangerous

00:20:54.859 --> 00:20:55.920
 for my soul.

00:20:58.099 --> 00:20:58.859
 Richard is

00:20:58.859 --> 00:20:59.259
 saying that

00:20:59.259 --> 00:20:59.859
 yes, we can

00:20:59.859 --> 00:21:00.640
 shy away from

00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:01.380
 standing up for

00:21:01.380 --> 00:21:02.660
 Jesus, but that

00:21:02.660 --> 00:21:03.279
 is dangerous

00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:04.480
 and it is

00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:05.319
 detached from

00:21:05.319 --> 00:21:05.819
 reality.

00:21:06.619 --> 00:21:07.400
 Instead, Jesus

00:21:07.400 --> 00:21:08.279
 is calling us to

00:21:08.279 --> 00:21:08.819
 a life of

00:21:08.819 --> 00:21:10.700
 sacrifice as we

00:21:10.700 --> 00:21:11.440
 face a world

00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:12.039
 which hates

00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:13.240
 him and as a

00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:13.900
 result of that

00:21:13.900 --> 00:21:14.519
 hatred will

00:21:14.519 --> 00:21:15.500
 persecute us.

00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:17.619
 Jesus

00:21:17.619 --> 00:21:18.299
 says, stand

00:21:18.299 --> 00:21:19.200
 firm to

00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:19.920
 his disciples.

00:21:21.539 --> 00:21:22.299
 Are we

00:21:22.299 --> 00:21:23.019
 standing firm

00:21:23.019 --> 00:21:23.579
 this morning?

00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:26.220
 As we

00:21:26.220 --> 00:21:26.640
 live in a

00:21:26.640 --> 00:21:27.099
 world which

00:21:27.099 --> 00:21:27.900
 hates Jesus,

00:21:28.440 --> 00:21:29.440
 which persecutes

00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:30.140
 and judges

00:21:30.140 --> 00:21:31.019
 Christians because

00:21:31.019 --> 00:21:31.720
 of their faith,

00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:32.700
 are we taking

00:21:32.700 --> 00:21:33.359
 a stand?

00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:34.720
 Are we

00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:35.380
 representing

00:21:35.380 --> 00:21:35.940
 Jesus?

00:21:37.460 --> 00:21:38.279
 This is the

00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:39.039
 cost of being

00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:39.579
 a Christian.

00:21:40.859 --> 00:21:41.759
 You will be

00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:42.079
 hated.

00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:43.779
 We will be

00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:44.720
 rejected and

00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:45.259
 despised.

00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:45.779
 We will be

00:21:45.779 --> 00:21:46.759
 judged and

00:21:46.759 --> 00:21:48.000
 persecuted, but

00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:48.619
 not because of

00:21:48.619 --> 00:21:50.559
 ourselves, but

00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:51.119
 because of who

00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:51.759
 we serve.

00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:54.500
 What might it

00:21:54.500 --> 00:21:55.099
 look like for

00:21:55.099 --> 00:21:55.680
 us to stand

00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:56.019
 firm?

00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:58.019
 For some of

00:21:58.019 --> 00:21:58.579
 us it might be

00:21:58.579 --> 00:21:59.259
 a very public

00:21:59.259 --> 00:21:59.940
 thing because

00:21:59.940 --> 00:22:00.519
 we're naturally

00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:01.079
 in the public

00:22:01.079 --> 00:22:01.460
 eye.

00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:03.379
 For others it

00:22:03.379 --> 00:22:05.160
 might mean not

00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:06.019
 joining in with

00:22:06.019 --> 00:22:06.779
 something or not

00:22:06.779 --> 00:22:07.779
 encouraging something

00:22:07.779 --> 00:22:08.299
 within our

00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:08.740
 families.

00:22:10.119 --> 00:22:11.440
 In any case,

00:22:11.859 --> 00:22:12.720
 for each and

00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:13.680
 every one of us

00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:14.539
 this definitely

00:22:14.539 --> 00:22:15.340
 means that in

00:22:15.340 --> 00:22:16.320
 all situations,

00:22:16.500 --> 00:22:16.940
 in all

00:22:16.940 --> 00:22:17.640
 circumstances,

00:22:17.640 --> 00:22:18.580
 we are to

00:22:18.580 --> 00:22:19.340
 bear witness

00:22:19.340 --> 00:22:20.320
 to Jesus.

00:22:23.320 --> 00:22:24.200
 And we are

00:22:24.200 --> 00:22:24.900
 to take every

00:22:24.900 --> 00:22:25.840
 opportunity to

00:22:25.840 --> 00:22:27.480
 explain why we

00:22:27.480 --> 00:22:27.980
 are different.

00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:29.600
 Our obligation

00:22:29.600 --> 00:22:31.080
 is to God,

00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:31.900
 not to this

00:22:31.900 --> 00:22:32.240
 world.

00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:34.420
 Our duty is to

00:22:34.420 --> 00:22:34.940
 serve the

00:22:34.940 --> 00:22:35.740
 King, the one

00:22:35.740 --> 00:22:36.400
 who protects

00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:37.240
 our souls,

00:22:37.860 --> 00:22:39.060
 not to serve

00:22:39.060 --> 00:22:40.039
 people who can

00:22:40.039 --> 00:22:40.680
 only destroy

00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:41.220
 our bodies.

00:22:42.839 --> 00:22:43.879
 Take courage

00:22:43.879 --> 00:22:45.299
 in the promise

00:22:45.299 --> 00:22:46.240
 of verse 15.

00:22:46.379 --> 00:22:47.579
 Jesus is with

00:22:47.579 --> 00:22:47.859
 you.

00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:49.700
 The King of

00:22:49.700 --> 00:22:50.460
 this universe

00:22:50.460 --> 00:22:51.319
 is on your

00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:51.940
 side.

00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:53.119
 The hands

00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:53.839
 which created

00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:54.519
 and sustained

00:22:54.519 --> 00:22:55.500
 the whole world,

00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:56.440
 the God whose

00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:57.240
 power spoke

00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:58.079
 this very world

00:22:58.079 --> 00:22:58.980
 into being,

00:22:59.579 --> 00:23:00.399
 is with you.

00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:03.639
 In all of the

00:23:03.639 --> 00:23:04.500
 persecution that

00:23:04.500 --> 00:23:05.359
 we suffer now,

00:23:05.619 --> 00:23:06.200
 or that we will

00:23:06.200 --> 00:23:06.819
 suffer in the

00:23:06.819 --> 00:23:08.200
 future as a

00:23:08.200 --> 00:23:08.920
 result of our

00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:09.740
 faith in Jesus,

00:23:10.300 --> 00:23:11.920
 stand firm.

00:23:14.759 --> 00:23:15.600
 So we are to

00:23:15.600 --> 00:23:16.200
 watch out.

00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:17.519
 We are to

00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:18.300
 stand firm.

00:23:19.120 --> 00:23:19.700
 And then Jesus

00:23:19.700 --> 00:23:20.300
 tells his

00:23:20.300 --> 00:23:21.220
 disciples in

00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:22.980
 verses 25 to

00:23:22.980 --> 00:23:23.960
 38 that they

00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:24.759
 are to look up.

00:23:25.360 --> 00:23:26.920
 25 to 38,

00:23:27.060 --> 00:23:27.800
 look up.

00:23:29.120 --> 00:23:30.120
 So Jesus is

00:23:30.120 --> 00:23:30.660
 telling his

00:23:30.660 --> 00:23:31.460
 disciples about

00:23:31.460 --> 00:23:32.039
 all of these

00:23:32.039 --> 00:23:34.060
 signs that

00:23:34.060 --> 00:23:34.660
 will come,

00:23:35.420 --> 00:23:36.200
 but not so

00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:36.620
 that they can

00:23:36.620 --> 00:23:37.680
 speculate as to

00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:38.440
 the timing of

00:23:38.440 --> 00:23:38.860
 the King's

00:23:38.860 --> 00:23:39.240
 return.

00:23:40.120 --> 00:23:40.420
 Instead,

00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:41.059
 he's telling

00:23:41.059 --> 00:23:41.680
 them all of

00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:42.299
 these things so

00:23:42.299 --> 00:23:42.740
 that they can

00:23:42.740 --> 00:23:43.259
 remember,

00:23:43.700 --> 00:23:44.240
 even though he

00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:44.680
 is gone,

00:23:45.299 --> 00:23:45.840
 he's coming

00:23:45.840 --> 00:23:46.279
 back.

00:23:47.259 --> 00:23:48.059
 All of these

00:23:48.059 --> 00:23:48.559
 signs are

00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:49.799
 pointers to

00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:50.460
 the King's

00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:51.000
 return,

00:23:51.180 --> 00:23:51.600
 but the

00:23:51.600 --> 00:23:52.519
 question remains,

00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:53.539
 how will

00:23:53.539 --> 00:23:54.380
 Jesus return?

00:23:55.799 --> 00:23:56.340
 Well, look at

00:23:56.340 --> 00:23:56.960
 the marvelous

00:23:56.960 --> 00:23:57.820
 description that

00:23:57.820 --> 00:23:58.340
 we see in

00:23:58.340 --> 00:23:59.360
 verse 27.

00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:01.120
 Jesus will

00:24:01.120 --> 00:24:02.299
 return coming

00:24:02.299 --> 00:24:03.000
 in a cloud

00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:03.779
 with power

00:24:03.779 --> 00:24:04.859
 and with

00:24:04.859 --> 00:24:05.819
 great glory.

00:24:07.960 --> 00:24:08.220
 Jesus'

00:24:08.420 --> 00:24:08.920
 return will

00:24:08.920 --> 00:24:09.480
 not be a

00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:10.220
 secret event

00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:10.839
 hidden from

00:24:10.839 --> 00:24:11.420
 the world,

00:24:11.579 --> 00:24:12.500
 but all will

00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:13.200
 see him as

00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:13.799
 he comes.

00:24:15.619 --> 00:24:16.200
 And on that

00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:17.539
 day, all

00:24:17.539 --> 00:24:18.579
 people will

00:24:18.579 --> 00:24:19.399
 acknowledge his

00:24:19.399 --> 00:24:20.660
 power and

00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:21.240
 his glory.

00:24:22.839 --> 00:24:23.639
 When Jesus

00:24:23.639 --> 00:24:24.460
 entered Jerusalem

00:24:24.460 --> 00:24:25.539
 in chapter 19,

00:24:25.799 --> 00:24:26.319
 we looked at

00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:26.740
 this a few

00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:27.259
 weeks ago,

00:24:27.700 --> 00:24:28.559
 he entered the

00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:28.980
 city on the

00:24:28.980 --> 00:24:29.399
 back of a

00:24:29.399 --> 00:24:29.700
 donkey.

00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:31.500
 But when

00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:32.319
 he returns,

00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:33.259
 there will

00:24:33.259 --> 00:24:33.720
 be no

00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:35.160
 mistake about

00:24:35.160 --> 00:24:35.660
 who Jesus

00:24:35.660 --> 00:24:37.360
 is, because

00:24:37.360 --> 00:24:38.380
 his power and

00:24:38.380 --> 00:24:39.259
 his glory will

00:24:39.259 --> 00:24:40.160
 be on display.

00:24:41.319 --> 00:24:42.019
 The rightful

00:24:42.019 --> 00:24:42.940
 King will

00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:45.140
 return with

00:24:45.140 --> 00:24:46.299
 true authority,

00:24:46.860 --> 00:24:48.059
 with glory and

00:24:48.059 --> 00:24:48.920
 sovereign power.

00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:49.819
 All nations

00:24:49.819 --> 00:24:50.920
 and peoples from

00:24:50.920 --> 00:24:52.360
 every language

00:24:52.360 --> 00:24:53.920
 will gather and

00:24:53.920 --> 00:24:54.680
 worship him.

00:24:55.580 --> 00:24:56.740
 His dominion is

00:24:56.740 --> 00:24:58.420
 everlasting and

00:24:58.420 --> 00:24:59.440
 his kingdom will

00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:01.660
 never, ever be

00:25:01.660 --> 00:25:02.100
 destroyed.

00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:04.620
 This is God's

00:25:04.620 --> 00:25:06.340
 King and this

00:25:06.340 --> 00:25:07.100
 is how he will

00:25:07.100 --> 00:25:07.660
 return.

00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:09.940
 But notice the

00:25:09.940 --> 00:25:10.940
 two responses to

00:25:10.940 --> 00:25:12.820
 Jesus' return in

00:25:12.820 --> 00:25:14.700
 verses 26 and

00:25:14.700 --> 00:25:15.340
 28.

00:25:16.620 --> 00:25:17.960
 In verse 26,

00:25:18.080 --> 00:25:18.640
 you see some

00:25:18.640 --> 00:25:19.299
 people who will

00:25:19.299 --> 00:25:21.000
 be terrified as

00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:21.519
 they see the

00:25:21.519 --> 00:25:22.180
 King returning.

00:25:23.480 --> 00:25:23.960
 And then in

00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:25.019
 verse 28, you

00:25:25.019 --> 00:25:25.860
 see some people

00:25:25.860 --> 00:25:26.880
 who will welcome

00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:27.380
 the King.

00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:28.620
 They will stand

00:25:28.620 --> 00:25:29.360
 up, lift up

00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:30.039
 their heads and

00:25:30.039 --> 00:25:31.419
 rejoice because

00:25:31.419 --> 00:25:32.099
 their redemption

00:25:32.099 --> 00:25:33.079
 is drawing near.

00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:35.759
 These are the

00:25:35.759 --> 00:25:36.500
 two responses

00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:38.159
 to Jesus.

00:25:40.719 --> 00:25:41.519
 If people

00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:42.659
 reject Jesus,

00:25:43.379 --> 00:25:44.099
 if they don't

00:25:44.099 --> 00:25:44.859
 believe in him

00:25:44.859 --> 00:25:45.599
 and have faith

00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:46.219
 in him,

00:25:47.339 --> 00:25:48.019
 then when he

00:25:48.019 --> 00:25:48.599
 returns they

00:25:48.599 --> 00:25:49.139
 will be afraid

00:25:49.139 --> 00:25:49.679
 of the coming

00:25:49.679 --> 00:25:50.039
 judgment.

00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:51.279
 God will

00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:52.039
 be

00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:54.680
 and have faith in

00:25:54.680 --> 00:25:54.960
 Jesus.

00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:56.099
 They will rejoice

00:25:56.099 --> 00:25:57.200
 because he is

00:25:57.200 --> 00:25:58.299
 returning to reign

00:25:58.299 --> 00:25:59.240
 over his people

00:25:59.240 --> 00:26:01.059
 and we will be

00:26:01.059 --> 00:26:02.559
 completely reconciled

00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:03.059
 with God.

00:26:03.579 --> 00:26:04.599
 That is the great

00:26:04.599 --> 00:26:05.659
 news of our

00:26:05.659 --> 00:26:06.960
 returning King.

00:26:07.639 --> 00:26:08.659
 They will rejoice

00:26:08.659 --> 00:26:09.299
 because their

00:26:09.299 --> 00:26:10.159
 redemption, their

00:26:10.159 --> 00:26:11.519
 salvation will be

00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:12.039
 complete.

00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:13.879
 God will dwell with

00:26:13.879 --> 00:26:15.420
 them and we will

00:26:15.420 --> 00:26:16.240
 dwell with God.

00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:19.359
 these are the two

00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:20.319
 reactions to the

00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:20.579
 King.

00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:22.940
 How will you react

00:26:22.940 --> 00:26:23.500
 this morning?

00:26:25.819 --> 00:26:26.779
 Will you rejoice

00:26:26.779 --> 00:26:27.740
 because your King

00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:29.599
 is coming or will

00:26:29.599 --> 00:26:31.359
 you tremble because

00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:32.259
 judgment is coming?

00:26:34.140 --> 00:26:35.539
 Your response is not

00:26:35.539 --> 00:26:37.900
 insignificant but it

00:26:37.900 --> 00:26:38.980
 has eternal

00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:40.019
 implications.

00:26:40.980 --> 00:26:42.000
 Your response to

00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:43.019
 Jesus affects your

00:26:43.019 --> 00:26:44.279
 eternal state before

00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:45.420
 God so please let me

00:26:45.420 --> 00:26:47.259
 ask you how will

00:26:47.259 --> 00:26:49.440
 you react at

00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:50.399
 Jesus' return.

00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:55.779
 In verses 29 to

00:26:55.779 --> 00:26:57.460
 31 Jesus tells

00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:59.119
 them a story so

00:26:59.119 --> 00:26:59.660
 that people can

00:26:59.660 --> 00:27:00.519
 understand everything

00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:01.319
 he has been saying

00:27:01.319 --> 00:27:02.579
 in this chapter.

00:27:03.480 --> 00:27:04.720
 He says just as the

00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:05.440
 leaves of a tree

00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:06.519
 indicate that summer

00:27:06.519 --> 00:27:07.279
 is coming, that

00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:07.879
 summer is just

00:27:07.879 --> 00:27:08.579
 around the corner,

00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:10.119
 all of these events

00:27:10.119 --> 00:27:11.740
 in verses 8 to

00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:13.960
 28 are signs of

00:27:13.960 --> 00:27:15.100
 the return of the

00:27:15.100 --> 00:27:15.360
 King.

00:27:18.039 --> 00:27:19.559
 And in verses 32

00:27:19.559 --> 00:27:20.660
 and 33 Jesus

00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:21.579
 says these signs

00:27:21.579 --> 00:27:22.279
 will take place

00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:23.259
 almost imminently

00:27:23.259 --> 00:27:25.500
 but the return of

00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:26.720
 Jesus will come

00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:27.299
 one day.

00:27:27.940 --> 00:27:28.400
 There will be a

00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:29.500
 time of waiting.

00:27:31.259 --> 00:27:32.019
 These signs will

00:27:32.019 --> 00:27:32.819
 start as soon as

00:27:32.819 --> 00:27:34.880
 Jesus departs and

00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:35.620
 they will continue

00:27:35.620 --> 00:27:36.980
 until he returns.

00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:38.600
 That's what Jesus

00:27:38.600 --> 00:27:39.640
 means when he says

00:27:39.640 --> 00:27:40.759
 that surely this

00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:41.660
 generation will not

00:27:41.660 --> 00:27:42.960
 pass away until

00:27:42.960 --> 00:27:44.019
 these things happen.

00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:47.819
 Jesus says this

00:27:47.819 --> 00:27:48.759
 world will pass

00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:49.079
 away.

00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:50.240
 It will be

00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:51.160
 destroyed but the

00:27:51.160 --> 00:27:52.059
 words of God,

00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:54.579
 the words of God's

00:27:54.579 --> 00:27:55.660
 Son will not pass

00:27:55.660 --> 00:27:56.420
 away nor will they

00:27:56.420 --> 00:27:57.860
 lose their power or

00:27:57.860 --> 00:27:58.700
 their meaning but

00:27:58.700 --> 00:27:59.340
 they will last

00:27:59.340 --> 00:27:59.799
 forever.

00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:02.539
 God's word is

00:28:02.539 --> 00:28:03.319
 everlasting.

00:28:04.620 --> 00:28:05.759
 The promises that

00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:06.860
 Jesus is making in

00:28:06.860 --> 00:28:07.720
 this passage from

00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:09.660
 this morning, they

00:28:09.660 --> 00:28:10.620
 will not pass away.

00:28:10.619 --> 00:28:12.799
 the promises that

00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:13.619
 he will be with

00:28:13.619 --> 00:28:16.199
 his disciples, the

00:28:16.199 --> 00:28:16.839
 promise that he

00:28:16.839 --> 00:28:17.759
 will protect his

00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:19.439
 disciples, they are

00:28:19.439 --> 00:28:20.599
 everlasting and just

00:28:20.599 --> 00:28:22.099
 as true today as

00:28:22.099 --> 00:28:22.839
 they were then.

00:28:26.259 --> 00:28:27.479
 And in light of all

00:28:27.479 --> 00:28:28.739
 of this, in verses

00:28:28.739 --> 00:28:30.619
 34 and 35, Jesus

00:28:30.619 --> 00:28:31.959
 reminds his disciples

00:28:31.959 --> 00:28:34.239
 to look up and have

00:28:34.239 --> 00:28:35.539
 their focus on him.

00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:36.979
 In light of all of

00:28:36.979 --> 00:28:38.379
 these events and signs

00:28:38.380 --> 00:28:38.940
 of the coming

00:28:38.940 --> 00:28:39.900
 kingdom of God,

00:28:40.840 --> 00:28:41.680
 they need to be

00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:42.140
 careful.

00:28:42.860 --> 00:28:43.560
 They need to pay

00:28:43.560 --> 00:28:44.200
 attention.

00:28:45.220 --> 00:28:46.360
 Watch and pray,

00:28:46.520 --> 00:28:47.480
 Jesus says, because

00:28:47.480 --> 00:28:48.840
 the king's return will

00:28:48.840 --> 00:28:49.700
 come suddenly.

00:28:51.340 --> 00:28:52.400
 And these signs are

00:28:52.400 --> 00:28:53.200
 already happening.

00:28:54.600 --> 00:28:55.520
 Watch and pray that

00:28:55.520 --> 00:28:56.600
 you will be found in

00:28:56.600 --> 00:28:57.680
 faith and able to

00:28:57.680 --> 00:28:58.780
 stand at the coming

00:28:58.780 --> 00:28:59.440
 of the king.

00:29:00.860 --> 00:29:01.800
 Jesus is saying,

00:29:02.060 --> 00:29:03.060
 don't get caught up in

00:29:03.060 --> 00:29:03.840
 the things of this

00:29:03.840 --> 00:29:05.380
 world but have your

00:29:05.380 --> 00:29:07.640
 gaze fixed on me.

00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:10.320
 They are to remain

00:29:10.320 --> 00:29:11.960
 faithful until he

00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:12.460
 returns.

00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:15.880
 And each day, people

00:29:15.880 --> 00:29:17.000
 gather to hear Jesus

00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:17.980
 speak in the temple.

00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:21.260
 People come day after

00:29:21.260 --> 00:29:23.200
 day to listen to Jesus

00:29:23.200 --> 00:29:24.300
 but the question is,

00:29:24.360 --> 00:29:25.340
 does it seep into their

00:29:25.340 --> 00:29:25.760
 hearts?

00:29:27.060 --> 00:29:28.360
 Or are they listening

00:29:28.360 --> 00:29:29.980
 but not understanding?

00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:33.400
 Are we looking up?

00:29:33.400 --> 00:29:36.340
 Are we eagerly

00:29:36.340 --> 00:29:38.240
 expecting the return

00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:39.400
 of our glorious

00:29:39.400 --> 00:29:39.940
 king?

00:29:42.940 --> 00:29:44.220
 Which reaction will we

00:29:44.220 --> 00:29:45.340
 have when King Jesus

00:29:45.340 --> 00:29:45.920
 returns?

00:29:47.840 --> 00:29:48.800
 Will you have the

00:29:48.800 --> 00:29:49.720
 first reaction of

00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:51.040
 people in verse 26

00:29:51.040 --> 00:29:52.540
 who listen to Jesus

00:29:52.540 --> 00:29:53.360
 every day in the

00:29:53.360 --> 00:29:55.120
 temple but who never

00:29:55.120 --> 00:29:56.320
 came to believe in him?

00:29:57.820 --> 00:29:58.940
 Or will you be like

00:29:58.940 --> 00:30:00.420
 those in verse 28 who

00:30:00.420 --> 00:30:02.540
 are waiting and who

00:30:02.539 --> 00:30:03.700
 are rejoicing when

00:30:03.700 --> 00:30:04.519
 the king returns?

00:30:05.720 --> 00:30:06.779
 This is an important

00:30:06.779 --> 00:30:07.339
 question.

00:30:09.480 --> 00:30:10.619
 Without Jesus, there

00:30:10.619 --> 00:30:11.819
 is no hope for today

00:30:11.819 --> 00:30:12.940
 and there is no hope

00:30:12.940 --> 00:30:13.539
 for the future.

00:30:14.200 --> 00:30:15.420
 Your response to

00:30:15.420 --> 00:30:17.200
 Jesus is the most

00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:18.359
 important thing in the

00:30:18.359 --> 00:30:18.519
 world.

00:30:18.619 --> 00:30:19.539
 If you've never thought

00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:20.259
 about it in these

00:30:20.259 --> 00:30:21.899
 terms, please this

00:30:21.899 --> 00:30:23.599
 morning, think about

00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:23.859
 it.

00:30:24.920 --> 00:30:27.099
 Consider Jesus, the

00:30:27.099 --> 00:30:27.399
 king.

00:30:28.480 --> 00:30:29.700
 Do not leave without

00:30:29.700 --> 00:30:31.319
 thinking about your

00:30:31.319 --> 00:30:32.880
 state before God

00:30:32.880 --> 00:30:33.420
 this morning.

00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:35.340
 How will you

00:30:35.340 --> 00:30:35.799
 respond?

00:30:37.059 --> 00:30:38.799
 Turn to Jesus, find

00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:40.059
 true hope and

00:30:40.059 --> 00:30:41.039
 lasting confidence

00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:42.019
 which can only be

00:30:42.019 --> 00:30:42.860
 found in him.

00:30:45.559 --> 00:30:46.759
 As Christians, we

00:30:46.759 --> 00:30:48.480
 have a certain hope

00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:50.019
 and a certain future

00:30:50.019 --> 00:30:50.940
 with Jesus.

00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:53.100
 As the well-known

00:30:53.100 --> 00:30:55.400
 evangelist Billy Graham

00:30:55.400 --> 00:30:57.220
 says when he expresses

00:30:57.220 --> 00:30:58.980
 his hope in Jesus, he

00:30:58.980 --> 00:30:59.680
 says this,

00:31:00.559 --> 00:31:02.039
 Someday you will hear

00:31:02.039 --> 00:31:03.019
 or read that Billy

00:31:03.019 --> 00:31:03.920
 Graham is dead.

00:31:04.640 --> 00:31:06.059
 Don't you believe a

00:31:06.059 --> 00:31:06.660
 word of it?

00:31:07.819 --> 00:31:08.880
 I shall be more

00:31:08.880 --> 00:31:10.460
 alive than I am now.

00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:12.019
 I will just have

00:31:12.019 --> 00:31:13.220
 changed my address.

00:31:14.059 --> 00:31:15.680
 I will have gone into

00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:17.579
 the presence of God.

00:31:18.259 --> 00:31:19.620
 This is the confidence

00:31:19.620 --> 00:31:21.519
 that Christians have in

00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:22.539
 the returning king.

00:31:23.980 --> 00:31:25.440
 Do you share that same

00:31:25.440 --> 00:31:26.680
 confidence that your soul

00:31:26.680 --> 00:31:28.460
 is at rest with God?

00:31:28.980 --> 00:31:31.480
 If you can say that

00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:32.220
 with Billy Graham,

00:31:32.819 --> 00:31:34.579
 are you shaping your

00:31:34.579 --> 00:31:36.160
 life around the king's

00:31:36.160 --> 00:31:36.559
 return?

00:31:37.819 --> 00:31:39.240
 Is your life built on

00:31:39.240 --> 00:31:41.140
 anticipation that Jesus

00:31:41.140 --> 00:31:42.259
 is coming back?

00:31:43.539 --> 00:31:44.940
 Are we living the life

00:31:44.940 --> 00:31:46.480
 that Jesus is asking us

00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:47.960
 to and calling us to in

00:31:47.960 --> 00:31:48.559
 this passage?

00:31:48.559 --> 00:31:52.220
 As we draw to a close

00:31:52.220 --> 00:31:54.039
 this morning, let me

00:31:54.039 --> 00:31:55.419
 encourage us all to heed

00:31:55.419 --> 00:31:58.059
 the departing words of

00:31:58.059 --> 00:31:59.039
 the returning king.

00:32:00.299 --> 00:32:01.919
 Let us watch out for the

00:32:01.919 --> 00:32:03.500
 things that would seek to

00:32:03.500 --> 00:32:04.720
 distract us from God.

00:32:04.879 --> 00:32:06.500
 Let us keep our gaze fixed

00:32:06.500 --> 00:32:07.480
 on him.

00:32:08.639 --> 00:32:10.220
 Let us stand firm in the

00:32:10.220 --> 00:32:11.059
 knowledge that all the

00:32:11.059 --> 00:32:13.500
 attacks that we face are

00:32:13.500 --> 00:32:15.460
 not on us, but they are on

00:32:15.460 --> 00:32:15.759
 Jesus.

00:32:17.380 --> 00:32:18.600
 They are because of who

00:32:18.600 --> 00:32:19.360
 we serve.

00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:21.240
 And let us see them as an

00:32:21.240 --> 00:32:22.840
 opportunity to bear witness

00:32:22.840 --> 00:32:24.900
 to him, the king who

00:32:24.900 --> 00:32:26.840
 promises to be with us.

00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:30.019
 And let us look up.

00:32:30.579 --> 00:32:32.140
 Let us keep our eyes fixed

00:32:32.140 --> 00:32:33.559
 on our returning king.

00:32:34.279 --> 00:32:35.680
 And let us have confidence

00:32:35.680 --> 00:32:37.600
 that we will be with him

00:32:37.600 --> 00:32:38.120
 forever.

00:32:38.119 --> 00:32:41.219
 Let us pray together.

00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:49.219
 Heavenly Father, we thank

00:32:49.219 --> 00:32:50.459
 you that you have not left

00:32:50.459 --> 00:32:53.019
 us to our own devices, but

00:32:53.019 --> 00:32:54.339
 that you have promised to be

00:32:54.339 --> 00:32:55.579
 with us in all of the

00:32:55.579 --> 00:32:56.879
 difficulties of our lives.

00:32:58.319 --> 00:32:59.519
 We ask, Lord, that you'd be

00:32:59.519 --> 00:33:01.459
 with us this week as we put

00:33:01.459 --> 00:33:02.859
 into practice what your word

00:33:02.859 --> 00:33:04.279
 has been challenging us on.

00:33:05.379 --> 00:33:06.519
 Help us watch out.

00:33:06.639 --> 00:33:07.799
 Help us stand firm.

00:33:08.119 --> 00:33:09.479
 And help us look up.

00:33:10.419 --> 00:33:11.879
 In all of this, remembering

00:33:11.879 --> 00:33:13.739
 that we are living for your

00:33:13.739 --> 00:33:16.259
 glory as we eagerly await the

00:33:16.259 --> 00:33:17.979
 day of your triumphal entry.

00:33:19.939 --> 00:33:21.439
 We pray all of this in the

00:33:21.439 --> 00:33:24.479
 holy, powerful, and precious

00:33:24.479 --> 00:33:26.319
 name of your Son, Jesus Christ.

00:33:27.319 --> 00:33:27.679
 Amen.