WEBVTT

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 As we sit, let's bow our heads and pray together.

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!

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 That we might receive your word, and your word would transform us to be the people you call us to be.

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 In Christ our Lord. Amen.

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 So Jesus said to this curious group that we meet in the New Testament,

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 these somewhat excoriating, harsh words.

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 You are in error because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God.

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 I want to talk to you today, particularly those of you who feel, when you're being honest with yourself,

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 that you're not really making progress in your walk with God.

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 It feels like, if you think about it, and honestly ask yourself the question, you feel stuck.

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 And I want to try and explain to you the best way I know that you can get unstuck.

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 And one of the things that I have detected over the years with the people of God

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 is that we can be a little over-optimistic when we assess ourselves as to exactly where we are in our walk with God.

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 And to put it another way, I would say that many of us think we're doing better than we actually are.

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 And part of the reason for that is that we don't really give close enough scrutiny to our lives.

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 So, this is a word that I hope will help you, as the old hymn had it that I just quoted, help you wake up.

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 Because God knows the church in the Western world needs to wake up at the moment.

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 I haven't come here this morning to make you feel bad about your walk with God.

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 Your experience is entirely human, and there's a reason for that.

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 And the reason Paul gives us in 2 Corinthians is that we keep this treasure.

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 That is the gospel. We keep it in earthen vessels.

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 We have this great truth. Our souls are saved.

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 But we're still stuck with the temptations and the limitations of our bodies.

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 And very often, they win the battle in our wills for our behaviours.

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 In 1834, a man called Friedrich Schleiermacher died.

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 I don't know if you've ever heard of him.

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 In some ways, he isn't somebody who kind of figures big in the pages of theology or philosophy.

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 But he is somebody who I think was hugely influential.

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 And the ideas that he propagated at that time, before his death,

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 really, how we end up today with what we call the cultural elite.

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 The well-educated, often politicians, often people of influence in their workplace,

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 who brought this kind of liberal and progressive mindset to what they do.

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 Every week in our newspapers and on the television,

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 you will see stories of how this cultural elite,

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 which claims to want us all to be kinder to each other,

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 can be so difficult and so vindictive, especially if you do social media.

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 And the reason that Schleiermacher is somebody who could be credited with this change in society

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 is that Schleiermacher was a theologian.

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 Certainly, between the time of Jesus' death

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 and the time that Schleiermacher arrived on the scene,

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 by and large, we Christians all believed the same things,

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 or at least we said we did.

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 We all believed that Jesus came to earth.

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 We all believed that Jesus came to earth

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 to rescue us from the consequences of our sin.

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 We all believed in God, the Holy Trinity.

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 Okay, there were some aberrant movements that arose,

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 Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, people like that.

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 But by and large, Christians thought the same thing

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 until Schleiermacher and his like arrived on the scene.

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 And Schleiermacher, although he was the son of a pastor,

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 some say they're always the worst,

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 he was the son of a pastor,

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 he became very involved with a type of philosophy called skepticism.

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 That is, you don't believe that things are true.

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 And that thinking became more and more developed

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 until the moment when it came out like this,

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 that we will not accept anything,

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 that we can't square with our own rationality,

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 with our own thoughts.

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 See a lot of that, don't you, in society today.

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 Our education system, by and large,

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 in the last 80 years,

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 has been built on that kind of rational basis.

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 And it's this,

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 that if somebody can prove to me something is true

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 and can give me statements of proof

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 and through experiment can assure me

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 that what they're talking about is truth,

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 I will believe it.

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 We have a catchphrase for it

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 that we say,

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 seeing is believing.

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 You heard that?

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 Actually, the Bible asks you to do exactly the opposite.

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 The Bible actually says,

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 believing is seeing.

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 You start to trust in Christ

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 and the assumption is,

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 you will start to look at life differently,

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 your life and the life of the world around you.

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 And in a way, that's our problem.

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 Because what I can tell you is,

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 no one in this church has the inner strength

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 to do that on their own.

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 So Schleiermacher is not top of my Christmas card list,

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 but he's worthy of scrutiny

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 because he teaches us

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 why it is that the church is the way it is today.

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 Sleepy,

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 not really measuring the kind of things

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 that we ought to measure

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 if we were trying to assess our success as a church.

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 I think there's one thing

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 that matters more than anything.

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 Forget numbers,

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 forget money,

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 forget all these things.

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 One thing.

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 Are you,

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 am I,

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 becoming more like Jesus?

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 And I'm not going to shout out

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 your answer to that question,

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 but if I were a gambling man,

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 I would put some money on the likelihood

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 that many of you

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 have got a bit stuck

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 in that process.

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 The Bible's got a big word for it,

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 sanctification.

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 Becoming holy,

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 becoming more like Jesus.

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 And so we come

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 to the Sadducees.

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 The Sadducees

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 didn't believe

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 in the resurrection.

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 The Sadducees,

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 their Bible

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 was very short.

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 It was just the five,

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 first five books

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 of the Bible

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 known by scholars

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 as the Pentateuch.

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 And they were

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 a cultural elite.

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 A bit like

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 Schleiermacher

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 fashioned

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 in our society today.

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 They were

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 people who were

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 right at the sharp end,

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 the top end

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 of Judaism.

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 And they had

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 that slight inclination

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 that all of us have

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 if we feel ourselves

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 to be at the top end

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 of some kind of group

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 or company

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 or church.

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 If we feel ourselves

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 to be at the top end

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 of that,

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 the great danger

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 is what?

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 We look down

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 on other people.

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 The Sadducees

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 had a bit of that

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 about them

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 and they were

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 very,

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 very elite,

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 very,

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 very

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 influential.

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 If you look at

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 the period

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 of the Sadducees,

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 which isn't very long

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 in biblical history,

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 it all fell apart

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 in AD 70

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 when the temple

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 was destroyed

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 by the Romans.

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 And the reason

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 for that was

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 Sadducees

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 were really only

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 interested in

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 running the temple.

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 The focus

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 of the Jewish

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 religion,

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 although at the time

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 of Jesus

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 it was starting

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 to lose focus,

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 people were

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 moving out

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 of the synagogue

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 in the first

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 three centuries

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 of the Christian

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 church

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 and they were

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 going to

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 synagogues.

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 But while the

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 temple stood

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 for all Jews,

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 it would seem

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 to be the

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 primary expression

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 of God's

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 presence.

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 No wonder

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 there was a group

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 of them that

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 wanted to run it.

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 So you look

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 at the history

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 of the Sadducees,

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 they had more

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 people who were

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 high priests

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 in the key

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 person in

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 the temple.

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 They had more

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 of them with

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 Sadducees than

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 any other group.

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 So the Pharisees

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 didn't like them

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 that much.

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 The scribes

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 didn't like them

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 that much.

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 And so they

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 come to Jesus

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 with this

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 ridiculous question.

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 There was a

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 practice around

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 in the centuries

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 before Jesus

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 arrived called

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 Levirate

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 marriage.

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 church.

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 And it was

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 this, that

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 if a woman

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 died and

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 she didn't

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 have a son,

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 then her

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 former husband's

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 brother was

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 expected to

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 take on the

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 woman as his

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 wife.

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 It was a way

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 of kind of

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 giving social

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 care to those

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 who'd been dumped

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 with no income

00:11:11.540 --> 00:11:12.320
 and no anything

00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:12.800
 else.

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 And the

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 Sadducees, it

00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:16.680
 seemed, had got

00:11:16.680 --> 00:11:17.340
 hold of this

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 idea and they

00:11:17.920 --> 00:11:18.780
 came to Jesus

00:11:18.779 --> 00:11:19.699
 trying to

00:11:19.699 --> 00:11:20.159
 mock him.

00:11:21.579 --> 00:11:22.159
 So they're

00:11:22.159 --> 00:11:22.919
 talking about

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 this woman

00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:25.980
 who had

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 seven husbands,

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 every one of

00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:28.759
 them died,

00:11:29.100 --> 00:11:29.699
 every one of

00:11:29.699 --> 00:11:30.000
 them was

00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:30.860
 taken on by

00:11:30.860 --> 00:11:32.120
 her, by

00:11:32.120 --> 00:11:33.459
 her brother-in-law.

00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:35.600
 And so their

00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:36.139
 question was,

00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:37.379
 so who's

00:11:37.379 --> 00:11:37.899
 going to be a

00:11:37.899 --> 00:11:38.559
 husband when we

00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:39.139
 get to heaven?

00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:42.339
 And Jesus

00:11:42.339 --> 00:11:43.519
 just gives

00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:45.159
 this excoriating

00:11:45.159 --> 00:11:45.860
 response.

00:11:45.860 --> 00:11:48.159
 you don't

00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:49.300
 know the

00:11:49.300 --> 00:11:51.120
 scriptures or

00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:51.779
 the power of

00:11:51.779 --> 00:11:52.039
 God.

00:11:53.539 --> 00:11:54.320
 Let me say

00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:54.860
 that again.

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 You don't

00:11:57.180 --> 00:11:57.899
 know the

00:11:57.899 --> 00:12:00.060
 scriptures nor

00:12:00.060 --> 00:12:00.759
 the power of

00:12:00.759 --> 00:12:01.019
 God.

00:12:03.100 --> 00:12:03.899
 And then

00:12:03.899 --> 00:12:04.820
 Jesus tells

00:12:04.820 --> 00:12:07.440
 us that our

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 presence in

00:12:08.620 --> 00:12:09.639
 heaven, when

00:12:09.639 --> 00:12:10.680
 we receive our

00:12:10.680 --> 00:12:11.240
 resurrection

00:12:11.240 --> 00:12:12.500
 bodies, which

00:12:12.500 --> 00:12:12.940
 is not

00:12:12.940 --> 00:12:13.879
 immediately after

00:12:13.879 --> 00:12:14.399
 we die,

00:12:14.539 --> 00:12:15.179
 incidentally.

00:12:15.480 --> 00:12:16.179
 Your soul

00:12:16.179 --> 00:12:16.980
 lives on after

00:12:16.980 --> 00:12:17.659
 you die, if

00:12:17.659 --> 00:12:18.000
 you're a

00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:18.860
 believer, and

00:12:18.860 --> 00:12:19.460
 goes to be

00:12:19.460 --> 00:12:20.320
 with Jesus, but

00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:20.860
 you won't

00:12:20.860 --> 00:12:21.559
 receive your

00:12:21.559 --> 00:12:22.120
 resurrection

00:12:22.120 --> 00:12:23.960
 body until

00:12:23.960 --> 00:12:24.679
 the Lord

00:12:24.679 --> 00:12:25.320
 returns.

00:12:27.100 --> 00:12:27.820
 I'm rather

00:12:27.820 --> 00:12:28.759
 sad about that,

00:12:28.860 --> 00:12:29.419
 and the reason

00:12:29.419 --> 00:12:30.139
 I'm sad about

00:12:30.139 --> 00:12:30.639
 that is I've

00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:30.980
 got to look

00:12:30.980 --> 00:12:31.439
 in a mirror.

00:12:34.860 --> 00:12:37.259
 So, in

00:12:37.259 --> 00:12:38.500
 heaven, don't

00:12:38.500 --> 00:12:39.240
 worry about

00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:39.600
 this.

00:12:39.799 --> 00:12:40.379
 If, you know,

00:12:40.460 --> 00:12:41.059
 you're a

00:12:41.059 --> 00:12:41.839
 widow, and

00:12:41.839 --> 00:12:42.719
 you're worrying

00:12:42.719 --> 00:12:43.319
 about, will

00:12:43.319 --> 00:12:44.079
 I see my

00:12:44.079 --> 00:12:44.799
 Harry ever

00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:45.559
 again, don't

00:12:45.559 --> 00:12:46.259
 worry about

00:12:46.259 --> 00:12:47.159
 it, because

00:12:47.159 --> 00:12:48.619
 I think the

00:12:48.619 --> 00:12:49.059
 waste of

00:12:49.059 --> 00:12:50.019
 biblical evidence

00:12:50.019 --> 00:12:51.439
 would be that

00:12:51.439 --> 00:12:52.419
 though marriage

00:12:52.419 --> 00:12:52.879
 won't be

00:12:52.879 --> 00:12:54.019
 necessary in

00:12:54.019 --> 00:12:56.279
 heaven, I

00:12:56.279 --> 00:12:56.819
 think we

00:12:56.819 --> 00:12:57.879
 will recognize

00:12:57.879 --> 00:12:58.459
 one another,

00:12:58.579 --> 00:12:59.159
 maybe not

00:12:59.159 --> 00:12:59.619
 immediately.

00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:00.259
 You remember

00:13:00.259 --> 00:13:01.279
 when Jesus

00:13:01.279 --> 00:13:01.899
 was on the

00:13:01.899 --> 00:13:02.299
 road to

00:13:02.299 --> 00:13:03.399
 Emmaus, and

00:13:03.399 --> 00:13:04.159
 the disciples

00:13:04.159 --> 00:13:04.699
 started to

00:13:04.699 --> 00:13:05.059
 walk along,

00:13:05.139 --> 00:13:05.479
 they didn't

00:13:05.479 --> 00:13:06.159
 recognize him

00:13:06.159 --> 00:13:06.500
 at first,

00:13:06.719 --> 00:13:07.379
 because Jesus

00:13:07.379 --> 00:13:08.099
 had his

00:13:08.099 --> 00:13:08.639
 resurrection

00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:11.600
 body, and

00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:12.220
 it was only,

00:13:12.819 --> 00:13:13.299
 it's what

00:13:13.299 --> 00:13:14.100
 St. Luke

00:13:14.100 --> 00:13:14.639
 tells us,

00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:15.240
 when they

00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:16.100
 broke bread,

00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:17.799
 then suddenly

00:13:17.799 --> 00:13:18.899
 they recognized

00:13:18.899 --> 00:13:19.899
 it was

00:13:19.899 --> 00:13:20.319
 Jesus.

00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:24.199
 So,

00:13:25.199 --> 00:13:27.980
 I suspect

00:13:27.980 --> 00:13:30.559
 part of the

00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:32.539
 reason that

00:13:32.539 --> 00:13:33.500
 we get stuck

00:13:33.500 --> 00:13:34.360
 in our lives

00:13:34.360 --> 00:13:35.080
 is we do

00:13:35.080 --> 00:13:35.759
 not give

00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:38.080
 ourselves to

00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:38.860
 knowing the

00:13:38.860 --> 00:13:39.280
 scriptures,

00:13:40.400 --> 00:13:41.100
 and we

00:13:41.100 --> 00:13:43.440
 don't give

00:13:43.440 --> 00:13:44.820
 ourselves to

00:13:44.820 --> 00:13:45.480
 the power of

00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:45.680
 God.

00:13:45.800 --> 00:13:46.379
 Incidentally,

00:13:47.920 --> 00:13:48.900
 the power of

00:13:48.900 --> 00:13:52.000
 God is not

00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:52.759
 the kind of

00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:54.340
 power that

00:13:54.340 --> 00:13:54.960
 makes you

00:13:54.960 --> 00:13:55.860
 bigger in the

00:13:55.860 --> 00:13:56.480
 eyes of other

00:13:56.480 --> 00:13:57.240
 human beings.

00:13:57.360 --> 00:13:57.879
 Unfortunately,

00:13:58.180 --> 00:13:59.020
 worldly power

00:13:59.020 --> 00:13:59.940
 has gone a bit

00:13:59.940 --> 00:14:00.420
 that way.

00:14:00.520 --> 00:14:01.180
 It's used for

00:14:01.180 --> 00:14:03.060
 people, for

00:14:03.060 --> 00:14:04.200
 self-aggrandizement,

00:14:04.300 --> 00:14:04.740
 to make

00:14:04.740 --> 00:14:05.480
 themselves look

00:14:05.480 --> 00:14:05.920
 better than

00:14:05.920 --> 00:14:06.259
 they can.

00:14:06.340 --> 00:14:06.759
 That's why

00:14:06.759 --> 00:14:07.480
 people are so

00:14:07.480 --> 00:14:08.299
 desperate for

00:14:08.299 --> 00:14:08.659
 power.

00:14:09.960 --> 00:14:10.659
 You've probably

00:14:10.659 --> 00:14:11.299
 read it in

00:14:11.299 --> 00:14:12.120
 articles or

00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:12.580
 thought it

00:14:12.580 --> 00:14:13.319
 yourself that

00:14:13.319 --> 00:14:15.059
 you sometimes

00:14:15.059 --> 00:14:15.620
 look at our

00:14:15.620 --> 00:14:16.659
 political classes,

00:14:16.860 --> 00:14:17.460
 part of the

00:14:17.460 --> 00:14:18.340
 elite, and

00:14:18.340 --> 00:14:18.879
 think to

00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:19.319
 yourself,

00:14:19.620 --> 00:14:20.279
 these people

00:14:20.279 --> 00:14:20.679
 are just

00:14:20.679 --> 00:14:21.439
 desperate for

00:14:21.439 --> 00:14:22.379
 power, and

00:14:22.379 --> 00:14:22.939
 they'll say

00:14:22.939 --> 00:14:23.620
 anything.

00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:26.200
 They'll sort

00:14:26.200 --> 00:14:26.799
 out social

00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:27.460
 care, they'll

00:14:27.460 --> 00:14:28.200
 sort out this,

00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:28.819
 they'll sort

00:14:28.819 --> 00:14:29.720
 out that, and

00:14:29.720 --> 00:14:30.319
 there'll be free

00:14:30.319 --> 00:14:30.879
 sweets on

00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:31.600
 Thursdays.

00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:34.100
 And we

00:14:34.100 --> 00:14:34.600
 buy it.

00:14:39.340 --> 00:14:41.220
 Power, the

00:14:41.220 --> 00:14:41.680
 power of

00:14:41.680 --> 00:14:43.600
 God, is

00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:44.139
 not given

00:14:44.139 --> 00:14:46.080
 to you so

00:14:46.080 --> 00:14:47.000
 that you can

00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:47.720
 boss it.

00:14:49.860 --> 00:14:50.720
 No, the

00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:51.500
 power of God,

00:14:51.659 --> 00:14:52.480
 the power of

00:14:52.480 --> 00:14:53.019
 God's Holy

00:14:53.019 --> 00:14:54.960
 Spirit, according

00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:55.960
 to Galatians

00:14:55.960 --> 00:14:57.180
 chapter 5, where

00:14:57.180 --> 00:14:57.940
 it talks about

00:14:57.940 --> 00:14:58.820
 the fruit of the

00:14:58.820 --> 00:14:59.120
 Spirit.

00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:00.580
 That is, what's

00:15:00.580 --> 00:15:01.259
 supposed to be

00:15:01.259 --> 00:15:02.399
 growing in your

00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:03.419
 life if you

00:15:03.419 --> 00:15:04.179
 are a follower

00:15:04.179 --> 00:15:04.820
 of Jesus?

00:15:06.220 --> 00:15:07.860
 Love, joy,

00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:10.279
 peace, patience,

00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:12.500
 kindness, self-control.

00:15:16.019 --> 00:15:17.179
 I would call

00:15:17.179 --> 00:15:18.379
 that the hard

00:15:18.379 --> 00:15:19.419
 yards of the

00:15:19.419 --> 00:15:19.919
 work of the

00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:20.720
 Holy Spirit in

00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:22.720
 my life, and

00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:23.259
 maybe in

00:15:23.259 --> 00:15:23.680
 yours.

00:15:25.080 --> 00:15:25.759
 Are we

00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:27.240
 becoming more

00:15:27.240 --> 00:15:27.899
 like Jesus?

00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:32.460
 today, I

00:15:32.460 --> 00:15:33.440
 think in

00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:34.139
 the church, and

00:15:34.139 --> 00:15:34.940
 I can only

00:15:34.940 --> 00:15:36.159
 primarily speak

00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:36.639
 about the

00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:37.080
 Church of

00:15:37.080 --> 00:15:37.620
 England, which

00:15:37.620 --> 00:15:38.220
 I've served

00:15:38.220 --> 00:15:38.940
 for goodness

00:15:38.940 --> 00:15:39.519
 knows how

00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:40.179
 many years

00:15:40.179 --> 00:15:40.519
 now.

00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:42.240
 But it

00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:42.820
 seems to

00:15:42.820 --> 00:15:44.039
 me there

00:15:44.039 --> 00:15:45.340
 is cynicism.

00:15:46.580 --> 00:15:47.399
 There is

00:15:47.399 --> 00:15:48.779
 cynicism about

00:15:48.779 --> 00:15:49.500
 the truth of

00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:50.179
 God's Word,

00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:52.100
 and there is

00:15:52.100 --> 00:15:53.840
 cynicism about

00:15:53.840 --> 00:15:54.500
 the power of

00:15:54.500 --> 00:15:54.740
 God.

00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:54.919
 God.

00:15:56.680 --> 00:15:57.600
 You realize

00:15:57.600 --> 00:15:58.519
 that in a

00:15:58.519 --> 00:15:59.060
 poll of

00:15:59.060 --> 00:16:00.120
 clergy, by

00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:00.799
 far the

00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:01.139
 greatest

00:16:01.139 --> 00:16:02.259
 majority of

00:16:02.259 --> 00:16:03.200
 them didn't

00:16:03.200 --> 00:16:04.320
 believe in

00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:05.519
 any way that

00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:06.180
 God could be

00:16:06.180 --> 00:16:06.539
 healed.

00:16:07.159 --> 00:16:07.820
 A smaller

00:16:07.820 --> 00:16:08.680
 majority of

00:16:08.680 --> 00:16:09.500
 them didn't

00:16:09.500 --> 00:16:10.399
 believe that

00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:11.060
 God raised

00:16:11.060 --> 00:16:11.879
 Jesus Christ

00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:12.299
 from the

00:16:12.299 --> 00:16:13.080
 death physically.

00:16:14.740 --> 00:16:15.159
 See, my

00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:15.840
 view is, how

00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:16.340
 can you take

00:16:16.340 --> 00:16:16.779
 the Bible

00:16:16.779 --> 00:16:17.620
 seriously and

00:16:17.620 --> 00:16:18.139
 come up with

00:16:18.139 --> 00:16:18.740
 that stuff?

00:16:22.860 --> 00:16:24.539
 And God, when

00:16:24.539 --> 00:16:25.259
 He saved

00:16:25.259 --> 00:16:28.519
 you, assuming

00:16:28.519 --> 00:16:29.460
 you are

00:16:29.460 --> 00:16:31.840
 saved, God,

00:16:31.980 --> 00:16:32.759
 when He saved

00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:33.819
 you, didn't

00:16:33.819 --> 00:16:34.419
 save you to

00:16:34.419 --> 00:16:35.080
 sit around

00:16:35.080 --> 00:16:35.740
 doing not

00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:36.659
 much and

00:16:36.659 --> 00:16:37.179
 just waiting

00:16:37.179 --> 00:16:37.779
 for heaven.

00:16:38.819 --> 00:16:39.740
 No, He has

00:16:39.740 --> 00:16:40.620
 a life for

00:16:40.620 --> 00:16:40.939
 you.

00:16:42.220 --> 00:16:42.779
 And you

00:16:42.779 --> 00:16:43.419
 learn about

00:16:43.419 --> 00:16:44.139
 that life in

00:16:44.139 --> 00:16:44.620
 the Scriptures.

00:16:44.759 --> 00:16:45.240
 The Scriptures

00:16:45.240 --> 00:16:46.259
 tell us how

00:16:46.259 --> 00:16:46.740
 we're meant

00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:47.220
 to live.

00:16:48.139 --> 00:16:49.299
 As Simon

00:16:49.299 --> 00:16:50.159
 pointed out in

00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:51.080
 his very first

00:16:51.080 --> 00:16:52.299
 message when

00:16:52.299 --> 00:16:52.819
 he preached

00:16:52.819 --> 00:16:53.659
 here, there

00:16:53.659 --> 00:16:54.199
 are some

00:16:54.199 --> 00:16:54.600
 things in

00:16:54.600 --> 00:16:55.139
 Scripture that

00:16:55.139 --> 00:16:55.740
 don't sound

00:16:55.740 --> 00:16:56.519
 quite right to

00:16:56.519 --> 00:16:57.279
 our 21st

00:16:57.279 --> 00:16:58.139
 century ears,

00:16:58.480 --> 00:16:59.059
 but are we

00:16:59.059 --> 00:16:59.879
 arrogant enough

00:16:59.879 --> 00:17:00.899
 to think that

00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:01.699
 our society

00:17:01.699 --> 00:17:02.019
 has got

00:17:02.019 --> 00:17:02.819
 everything right

00:17:02.819 --> 00:17:03.120
 at the

00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:03.399
 moment?

00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:05.480
 Things change,

00:17:06.220 --> 00:17:06.839
 thank God.

00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:09.740
 You know

00:17:09.740 --> 00:17:10.980
 neither the

00:17:10.980 --> 00:17:13.200
 Scriptures nor

00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:13.859
 the power of

00:17:13.859 --> 00:17:14.160
 God.

00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:17.200
 I mean,

00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:20.200
 the centrality,

00:17:20.360 --> 00:17:21.259
 the authority

00:17:21.259 --> 00:17:21.819
 of the

00:17:21.819 --> 00:17:22.220
 Scriptures

00:17:22.220 --> 00:17:24.080
 seems to

00:17:24.080 --> 00:17:24.779
 me to be

00:17:24.779 --> 00:17:25.759
 obvious

00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:28.259
 because if

00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:28.660
 we didn't

00:17:28.660 --> 00:17:29.160
 have the

00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:29.539
 Scriptures,

00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:30.660
 we would

00:17:30.660 --> 00:17:31.319
 know nothing

00:17:31.319 --> 00:17:32.080
 about Jesus

00:17:32.080 --> 00:17:32.660
 virtually.

00:17:34.660 --> 00:17:35.259
 Oh, we

00:17:35.259 --> 00:17:35.880
 might read

00:17:35.880 --> 00:17:37.059
 classical history,

00:17:37.539 --> 00:17:38.059
 Tacitus,

00:17:38.279 --> 00:17:39.100
 Pliny II,

00:17:39.360 --> 00:17:40.039
 Josephus,

00:17:40.299 --> 00:17:40.880
 people like

00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:42.100
 that, and

00:17:42.100 --> 00:17:42.420
 they would

00:17:42.420 --> 00:17:43.360
 mention Jesus

00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:44.099
 and they

00:17:44.099 --> 00:17:44.659
 would say

00:17:44.659 --> 00:17:45.679
 that a group

00:17:45.679 --> 00:17:46.119
 of Jews

00:17:46.119 --> 00:17:46.719
 believed that

00:17:46.719 --> 00:17:46.819
 they had

00:17:46.819 --> 00:17:47.259
 actually been

00:17:47.259 --> 00:17:47.819
 raised from

00:17:47.819 --> 00:17:48.279
 the dead.

00:17:49.479 --> 00:17:50.139
 But no

00:17:50.139 --> 00:17:51.379
 historian outside

00:17:51.379 --> 00:17:52.199
 of the Bible

00:17:52.199 --> 00:17:53.059
 tries in

00:17:53.059 --> 00:17:53.639
 any way to

00:17:53.639 --> 00:17:54.539
 explain why

00:17:54.539 --> 00:17:55.439
 Jesus died,

00:17:55.879 --> 00:17:56.779
 bearing shame

00:17:56.779 --> 00:17:57.799
 and scoffing

00:17:57.799 --> 00:17:58.799
 rude, in

00:17:58.799 --> 00:17:59.479
 my place

00:17:59.479 --> 00:18:00.019
 condemned

00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:00.659
 he stood,

00:18:02.939 --> 00:18:03.619
 sealed my

00:18:03.619 --> 00:18:05.479
 pardon with

00:18:05.479 --> 00:18:06.099
 his blood.

00:18:07.099 --> 00:18:07.500
 Hallelujah,

00:18:08.099 --> 00:18:08.519
 what a

00:18:08.519 --> 00:18:08.859
 Savior.

00:18:08.859 --> 00:18:12.740
 Bible's

00:18:12.740 --> 00:18:13.299
 important

00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:14.479
 because it

00:18:14.479 --> 00:18:14.879
 is the

00:18:14.879 --> 00:18:15.959
 primary way

00:18:15.959 --> 00:18:16.719
 that God

00:18:16.719 --> 00:18:17.579
 reveals himself

00:18:17.579 --> 00:18:18.299
 to us.

00:18:20.019 --> 00:18:20.500
 What would

00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:21.059
 we know

00:18:21.059 --> 00:18:21.819
 about God

00:18:21.819 --> 00:18:22.339
 if we

00:18:22.339 --> 00:18:22.759
 didn't have

00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:23.179
 the Bible?

00:18:23.299 --> 00:18:23.599
 What would

00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:23.959
 we know

00:18:23.959 --> 00:18:24.899
 about ourselves

00:18:24.899 --> 00:18:25.599
 if we

00:18:25.599 --> 00:18:26.019
 didn't have

00:18:26.019 --> 00:18:26.559
 the Bible?

00:18:28.479 --> 00:18:29.059
 And you

00:18:29.059 --> 00:18:29.679
 sit light

00:18:29.679 --> 00:18:30.039
 to the

00:18:30.039 --> 00:18:30.779
 Bible and

00:18:30.779 --> 00:18:31.319
 I promise

00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:32.039
 you the

00:18:32.039 --> 00:18:32.759
 true course

00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:33.219
 that God

00:18:33.219 --> 00:18:33.839
 has set

00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:34.219
 for your

00:18:34.219 --> 00:18:34.519
 life,

00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:35.240
 you will

00:18:35.240 --> 00:18:36.199
 wander.

00:18:36.200 --> 00:18:39.200
 And you

00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:39.819
 know that

00:18:39.819 --> 00:18:40.900
 because you

00:18:40.900 --> 00:18:42.140
 are a

00:18:42.140 --> 00:18:42.960
 world-class

00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:44.740
 classroom of

00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:45.360
 wanderers.

00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:48.460
 You know

00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:49.819
 neither the

00:18:49.819 --> 00:18:50.559
 scriptures nor

00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:51.120
 the power of

00:18:51.120 --> 00:18:51.279
 God.

00:18:51.539 --> 00:18:51.779
 Listen,

00:18:52.900 --> 00:18:53.539
 watch this.

00:18:54.580 --> 00:18:55.220
 These two

00:18:55.220 --> 00:18:56.240
 things are

00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:57.440
 not mutually

00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:58.100
 exclusive.

00:18:58.420 --> 00:18:59.100
 It's not like

00:18:59.100 --> 00:18:59.660
 some of you

00:18:59.660 --> 00:19:00.360
 can be really

00:19:00.360 --> 00:19:01.240
 diligent about

00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:01.900
 reading and

00:19:01.900 --> 00:19:02.759
 understanding the

00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:03.900
 Bible and

00:19:03.900 --> 00:19:04.640
 others can get

00:19:04.640 --> 00:19:05.080
 off on a

00:19:05.080 --> 00:19:05.440
 kind of

00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:06.059
 charismatic

00:19:06.059 --> 00:19:07.019
 wave of

00:19:07.019 --> 00:19:08.480
 celebrating

00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:08.879
 the Bible.

00:19:08.940 --> 00:19:09.159
 No.

00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:11.220
 It's both.

00:19:11.879 --> 00:19:12.159
 They're

00:19:12.159 --> 00:19:12.619
 connected.

00:19:13.740 --> 00:19:14.779
 John writes

00:19:14.779 --> 00:19:15.440
 in chapter

00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:16.119
 14,

00:19:16.779 --> 00:19:17.460
 John writes

00:19:17.460 --> 00:19:17.720
 this,

00:19:18.059 --> 00:19:18.700
 he says,

00:19:19.339 --> 00:19:20.019
 when he

00:19:20.019 --> 00:19:20.419
 comes,

00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:20.879
 the Holy

00:19:20.879 --> 00:19:21.359
 Spirit,

00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:22.460
 he will

00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:23.299
 teach you

00:19:23.299 --> 00:19:23.960
 all the

00:19:23.960 --> 00:19:24.659
 things I

00:19:24.659 --> 00:19:25.119
 commanded

00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:25.859
 and bring

00:19:25.859 --> 00:19:26.119
 to

00:19:26.119 --> 00:19:26.799
 remembrance

00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:28.000
 the things

00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:28.519
 I have

00:19:28.519 --> 00:19:29.099
 taught you.

00:19:30.619 --> 00:19:31.519
 You can

00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:32.079
 only have

00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:32.299
 your

00:19:32.299 --> 00:19:32.799
 memories

00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:33.179
 jogged

00:19:33.179 --> 00:19:33.500
 if you

00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:33.759
 know

00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:34.279
 stuff in

00:19:34.279 --> 00:19:34.679
 the first

00:19:34.679 --> 00:19:35.019
 place.

00:19:35.019 --> 00:19:35.319
 I mean,

00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:35.960
 my goodness,

00:19:36.099 --> 00:19:36.339
 I'm at

00:19:36.339 --> 00:19:36.660
 the age

00:19:36.660 --> 00:19:36.920
 where I

00:19:36.920 --> 00:19:37.500
 really get

00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:37.879
 that.

00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:42.139
 The Holy

00:19:42.139 --> 00:19:42.799
 Spirit

00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:44.400
 brings the

00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:44.920
 truth of

00:19:44.920 --> 00:19:45.299
 Scripture

00:19:45.299 --> 00:19:46.259
 home to

00:19:46.259 --> 00:19:47.000
 his people.

00:19:49.379 --> 00:19:49.859
 David

00:19:49.859 --> 00:19:50.859
 Watson had

00:19:50.859 --> 00:19:51.259
 it right,

00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:51.639
 didn't he?

00:19:51.639 --> 00:19:52.240
 He had this

00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:53.119
 little adage.

00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:53.599
 I mean,

00:19:53.680 --> 00:19:54.519
 incidentally,

00:19:55.539 --> 00:19:56.200
 David Watson

00:19:56.200 --> 00:19:56.980
 is mainly

00:19:56.980 --> 00:19:57.639
 known as a

00:19:57.639 --> 00:19:58.339
 very popular

00:19:58.339 --> 00:19:58.740
 preacher,

00:19:58.839 --> 00:19:59.279
 and indeed

00:19:59.279 --> 00:19:59.700
 he was,

00:19:59.740 --> 00:20:00.000
 and he was

00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:00.480
 a brilliant

00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:01.000
 preacher.

00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:02.559
 you need

00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:02.920
 to know

00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:03.279
 is this

00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:03.740
 guy's

00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:04.579
 ultra-bright,

00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:04.859
 you know,

00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:05.180
 got a

00:20:05.180 --> 00:20:05.900
 double-starred

00:20:05.900 --> 00:20:06.440
 first from

00:20:06.440 --> 00:20:07.059
 Cambridge,

00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:08.599
 really clever

00:20:08.599 --> 00:20:09.019
 guy,

00:20:09.799 --> 00:20:10.460
 who could

00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:13.019
 take the

00:20:13.019 --> 00:20:15.579
 grass and

00:20:15.579 --> 00:20:16.059
 put it where

00:20:16.059 --> 00:20:16.680
 the goats

00:20:16.680 --> 00:20:17.140
 could eat

00:20:17.140 --> 00:20:17.359
 it.

00:20:19.980 --> 00:20:20.880
 David Watson

00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:21.660
 used to say

00:20:21.660 --> 00:20:22.140
 this,

00:20:22.680 --> 00:20:23.500
 all word

00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:24.319
 and no

00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:24.900
 spirit

00:20:24.900 --> 00:20:26.319
 dry up.

00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:28.779
 I've been

00:20:28.779 --> 00:20:29.159
 around

00:20:29.159 --> 00:20:29.960
 conservative

00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:30.480
 churches

00:20:30.480 --> 00:20:31.000
 for a

00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:31.539
 very long

00:20:31.539 --> 00:20:31.899
 time,

00:20:32.039 --> 00:20:32.259
 and I

00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:32.779
 can tell

00:20:32.779 --> 00:20:33.000
 you,

00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:33.720
 some of

00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:34.099
 them are

00:20:34.099 --> 00:20:34.579
 as dry

00:20:34.579 --> 00:20:34.939
 as the

00:20:34.939 --> 00:20:35.799
 grass outside

00:20:35.799 --> 00:20:36.279
 today.

00:20:41.980 --> 00:20:42.919
 All word,

00:20:43.019 --> 00:20:43.559
 no spirit,

00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:44.460
 dry up.

00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:46.220
 All spirit,

00:20:46.539 --> 00:20:47.259
 no word,

00:20:47.779 --> 00:20:48.399
 blow up.

00:20:49.859 --> 00:20:50.899
 Spirit and

00:20:50.899 --> 00:20:52.119
 word grow

00:20:52.119 --> 00:20:52.439
 up.

00:20:52.440 --> 00:20:56.320
 Let me

00:20:56.320 --> 00:20:56.740
 say that

00:20:56.740 --> 00:20:57.039
 again.

00:20:57.220 --> 00:20:57.740
 Repeat it

00:20:57.740 --> 00:20:58.299
 after me.

00:20:58.920 --> 00:20:59.539
 All word

00:20:59.539 --> 00:21:00.039
 and no

00:21:00.039 --> 00:21:00.480
 spirit,

00:21:01.259 --> 00:21:04.220
 dry up.

00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:06.720
 All spirit

00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:07.380
 and no

00:21:07.380 --> 00:21:07.900
 word,

00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:12.080
 blow up.

00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:15.039
 Word and

00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:15.660
 spirit,

00:21:16.100 --> 00:21:18.860
 grow up.

00:21:18.860 --> 00:21:18.900
 Grow up.

00:21:20.299 --> 00:21:20.840
 If you want

00:21:20.840 --> 00:21:21.460
 to know what

00:21:21.460 --> 00:21:22.539
 passive-aggressive

00:21:22.539 --> 00:21:23.140
 looks like,

00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:23.980
 come and

00:21:23.980 --> 00:21:24.440
 stand here

00:21:24.440 --> 00:21:24.980
 right now.

00:21:28.100 --> 00:21:28.539
 So,

00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:30.539
 we need

00:21:30.539 --> 00:21:30.920
 both.

00:21:31.059 --> 00:21:31.440
 We need

00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:31.840
 to be,

00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:32.500
 if we are

00:21:32.500 --> 00:21:33.019
 to live the

00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:33.460
 life that

00:21:33.460 --> 00:21:33.880
 God has

00:21:33.880 --> 00:21:34.160
 for us,

00:21:34.380 --> 00:21:34.799
 we need

00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:35.140
 to know

00:21:35.140 --> 00:21:35.360
 the

00:21:35.360 --> 00:21:35.740
 scriptures,

00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:37.100
 and you

00:21:37.100 --> 00:21:37.420
 don't need

00:21:37.420 --> 00:21:37.940
 a doctor,

00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:38.539
 of course

00:21:38.539 --> 00:21:38.740
 not,

00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:39.000
 I'm just

00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:39.860
 talking about

00:21:39.860 --> 00:21:40.720
 knowing

00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:41.360
 what God

00:21:41.360 --> 00:21:42.019
 wants from

00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:42.279
 you.

00:21:44.140 --> 00:21:44.680
 And on

00:21:44.680 --> 00:21:45.079
 the other

00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:45.519
 hand,

00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:46.700
 we need

00:21:46.700 --> 00:21:47.220
 to know

00:21:47.220 --> 00:21:47.779
 the power

00:21:47.779 --> 00:21:48.240
 of God.

00:21:50.460 --> 00:21:51.240
 You see,

00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:51.799
 what we

00:21:51.799 --> 00:21:52.420
 can celebrate

00:21:52.420 --> 00:21:54.039
 today is

00:21:54.039 --> 00:21:54.460
 that God

00:21:54.460 --> 00:21:55.259
 doesn't leave

00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:55.859
 you alone

00:21:55.859 --> 00:21:56.339
 with this

00:21:56.339 --> 00:21:56.940
 life to

00:21:56.940 --> 00:21:57.180
 lead,

00:21:57.299 --> 00:21:57.859
 he sends

00:21:57.859 --> 00:21:58.240
 the Holy

00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:59.720
 Spirit to

00:21:59.720 --> 00:22:00.299
 help you,

00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:02.279
 to help

00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:03.000
 your character

00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:03.799
 to form in

00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:04.380
 the likeness

00:22:04.380 --> 00:22:04.900
 of Christ,

00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:05.440
 love, joy,

00:22:05.579 --> 00:22:05.779
 peace,

00:22:05.880 --> 00:22:06.180
 patience,

00:22:06.359 --> 00:22:06.599
 kindness,

00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:07.259
 humility,

00:22:07.259 --> 00:22:09.980
 and help

00:22:09.980 --> 00:22:10.660
 with how to

00:22:10.660 --> 00:22:11.120
 live your

00:22:11.120 --> 00:22:11.579
 life.

00:22:11.579 --> 00:22:11.720
 love.

00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:14.259
 I have

00:22:14.259 --> 00:22:14.960
 spent a

00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:15.279
 lot of

00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:15.859
 my life

00:22:15.859 --> 00:22:16.879
 talking to

00:22:16.879 --> 00:22:17.299
 people,

00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:21.720
 and I

00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:21.859
 mean,

00:22:21.939 --> 00:22:22.299
 I think you

00:22:22.299 --> 00:22:23.000
 would dispute

00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:23.299
 this,

00:22:23.419 --> 00:22:24.240
 but I try

00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:24.659
 and listen

00:22:24.659 --> 00:22:25.119
 to them

00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:25.559
 as well.

00:22:28.419 --> 00:22:29.179
 And I

00:22:29.179 --> 00:22:30.159
 hear a lot

00:22:30.159 --> 00:22:30.659
 of people,

00:22:30.859 --> 00:22:31.460
 particularly

00:22:31.460 --> 00:22:32.579
 like many

00:22:32.579 --> 00:22:33.039
 of you

00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:33.579
 seniors,

00:22:33.579 --> 00:22:33.799
 seniors,

00:22:34.879 --> 00:22:36.939
 who have

00:22:36.939 --> 00:22:37.879
 this haunted

00:22:37.879 --> 00:22:38.699
 feeling that

00:22:38.699 --> 00:22:39.279
 the life

00:22:39.279 --> 00:22:39.639
 they've

00:22:39.639 --> 00:22:40.039
 lived

00:22:40.039 --> 00:22:42.419
 wasn't the

00:22:42.419 --> 00:22:43.519
 life that

00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:43.879
 they were

00:22:43.879 --> 00:22:44.679
 intended to

00:22:44.679 --> 00:22:44.980
 live.

00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:49.720
 Paul Tillich,

00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:50.779
 the systematic

00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:51.720
 theologian,

00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:52.379
 put it like

00:22:52.379 --> 00:22:52.919
 this.

00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:54.299
 He said,

00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:55.339
 there is a

00:22:55.339 --> 00:22:56.159
 deep and

00:22:56.159 --> 00:22:57.359
 ineradicable

00:22:57.359 --> 00:22:59.119
 anxiety in

00:22:59.119 --> 00:22:59.480
 people.

00:23:00.859 --> 00:23:01.519
 Have we

00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:01.819
 got it

00:23:01.819 --> 00:23:02.139
 right?

00:23:05.359 --> 00:23:05.919
 Listen,

00:23:07.299 --> 00:23:08.339
 the Sadducees

00:23:08.339 --> 00:23:09.039
 in turn to

00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:09.480
 the kingdom

00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:09.960
 of God

00:23:09.960 --> 00:23:10.519
 were no

00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:11.180
 hopers.

00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:16.259
 And if

00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:16.680
 you're the

00:23:16.680 --> 00:23:17.159
 kind of

00:23:17.159 --> 00:23:17.839
 person who's

00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:18.599
 prepared to

00:23:18.599 --> 00:23:19.139
 acknowledge

00:23:19.139 --> 00:23:21.139
 today that

00:23:21.139 --> 00:23:22.079
 you're stuck,

00:23:23.180 --> 00:23:23.759
 that the

00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:24.599
 people who

00:23:24.599 --> 00:23:25.200
 love you

00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:25.720
 enough to

00:23:25.720 --> 00:23:26.119
 tell you

00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:26.700
 the truth,

00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:27.819
 if you

00:23:27.819 --> 00:23:28.500
 ask them,

00:23:28.940 --> 00:23:29.460
 am I

00:23:29.460 --> 00:23:30.140
 becoming more

00:23:30.140 --> 00:23:30.799
 like Jesus,

00:23:32.059 --> 00:23:32.460
 it might

00:23:32.460 --> 00:23:32.940
 not give

00:23:32.940 --> 00:23:33.279
 you the

00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:33.839
 answer you

00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:34.319
 would hope

00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:34.660
 for.

00:23:37.379 --> 00:23:38.160
 Does it

00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:38.480
 matter?

00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:39.779
 Yes.

00:23:40.900 --> 00:23:41.599
 Is it

00:23:41.599 --> 00:23:42.480
 irreversible?

00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:44.119
 Certainly

00:23:44.119 --> 00:23:44.619
 not.

00:23:46.259 --> 00:23:46.660
 Why?

00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:48.640
 Because God

00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:49.720
 is faithful.

00:23:50.900 --> 00:23:51.759
 Because God

00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:52.519
 has your

00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:53.519
 best interests

00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:54.039
 at heart,

00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:54.980
 even though

00:23:54.980 --> 00:23:55.619
 that's very

00:23:55.619 --> 00:23:56.059
 hard to

00:23:56.059 --> 00:23:56.920
 believe sometimes

00:23:56.920 --> 00:23:57.559
 when stuff

00:23:57.559 --> 00:23:58.139
 goes wrong

00:23:58.139 --> 00:23:58.700
 for you.

00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:02.200
 As Joshua

00:24:02.200 --> 00:24:02.639
 said,

00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:02.900
 you know,

00:24:02.920 --> 00:24:03.619
 as for me,

00:24:04.619 --> 00:24:05.160
 I will

00:24:05.160 --> 00:24:05.680
 trust the

00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:06.039
 Lord,

00:24:06.440 --> 00:24:07.359
 even when I

00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:07.960
 can't see

00:24:07.960 --> 00:24:08.279
 what's

00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:08.639
 happening.

00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:13.759
 I have

00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:14.660
 no idea

00:24:14.660 --> 00:24:16.059
 what Jesus

00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:16.859
 would say

00:24:16.859 --> 00:24:18.660
 if he were

00:24:18.660 --> 00:24:19.259
 to return

00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:20.539
 today and

00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:21.099
 write a

00:24:21.099 --> 00:24:21.579
 report

00:24:21.579 --> 00:24:23.960
 on the

00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:24.480
 state of

00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:25.039
 the church

00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:25.480
 in the

00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:25.879
 West.

00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:29.279
 Friends,

00:24:29.640 --> 00:24:30.500
 it wouldn't

00:24:30.500 --> 00:24:31.299
 surprise me

00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:33.400
 if he

00:24:33.400 --> 00:24:34.240
 might chastise

00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:34.819
 us and say

00:24:34.819 --> 00:24:35.359
 you don't

00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:36.460
 know the

00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:36.839
 scriptures

00:24:36.839 --> 00:24:38.839
 and you

00:24:38.839 --> 00:24:39.339
 don't know

00:24:39.339 --> 00:24:39.819
 the power

00:24:39.819 --> 00:24:40.259
 of God.

00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:42.200
 Knowing

00:24:42.200 --> 00:24:43.140
 about the

00:24:43.140 --> 00:24:43.599
 power of

00:24:43.599 --> 00:24:44.160
 God is a

00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:44.799
 very different

00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:45.379
 thing than

00:24:45.379 --> 00:24:46.079
 knowing the

00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:46.559
 power of

00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:46.859
 God.

00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:50.379
 God

00:24:50.379 --> 00:24:51.720
 calls you

00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:53.079
 to impossible

00:24:53.079 --> 00:24:53.779
 things,

00:24:54.579 --> 00:24:55.940
 but he

00:24:55.940 --> 00:24:56.700
 will also

00:24:56.700 --> 00:24:57.359
 give you the

00:24:57.359 --> 00:24:58.299
 resources to

00:24:58.299 --> 00:24:58.960
 get past

00:24:58.960 --> 00:24:59.259
 that.

00:25:02.079 --> 00:25:02.720
 David

00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:03.819
 prayed

00:25:03.819 --> 00:25:04.419
 earlier.

00:25:05.079 --> 00:25:05.359
 You're

00:25:05.359 --> 00:25:05.980
 sitting here

00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:06.359
 riddled

00:25:06.359 --> 00:25:06.919
 with guilt.

00:25:08.299 --> 00:25:09.000
 God can

00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:09.440
 help you

00:25:09.440 --> 00:25:10.039
 get past

00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:10.339
 that.

00:25:11.779 --> 00:25:12.179
 You're

00:25:12.179 --> 00:25:12.599
 sitting here

00:25:12.599 --> 00:25:13.319
 today stuck

00:25:13.319 --> 00:25:13.639
 with a

00:25:13.639 --> 00:25:14.279
 habit which

00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:14.919
 you're really

00:25:14.919 --> 00:25:15.700
 ashamed of

00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:16.240
 and you

00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:16.819
 keep meaning

00:25:16.819 --> 00:25:17.460
 to stop

00:25:17.460 --> 00:25:17.980
 it but

00:25:17.980 --> 00:25:20.200
 it's still

00:25:20.200 --> 00:25:20.839
 going on.

00:25:22.519 --> 00:25:23.279
 God can

00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:23.759
 help you

00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.380
 get past

00:25:24.380 --> 00:25:24.660
 that.

00:25:26.140 --> 00:25:26.599
 You've

00:25:26.599 --> 00:25:27.200
 got worries

00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:27.720
 about your

00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:28.160
 children,

00:25:28.420 --> 00:25:28.799
 about your

00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:29.400
 finances,

00:25:29.620 --> 00:25:30.099
 about all

00:25:30.099 --> 00:25:30.240
 this.

00:25:30.359 --> 00:25:30.779
 God can

00:25:30.779 --> 00:25:31.359
 help you

00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:31.980
 get past

00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:32.299
 that.

00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:37.700
 What a

00:25:37.700 --> 00:25:38.140
 tragedy.

00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:40.220
 If the

00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:41.120
 commentary on

00:25:41.120 --> 00:25:41.779
 Michael's

00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:43.579
 life was

00:25:43.579 --> 00:25:44.059
 you know

00:25:44.059 --> 00:25:44.480
 not the

00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:45.160
 scriptures nor

00:25:45.160 --> 00:25:45.700
 the power

00:25:45.700 --> 00:25:46.240
 of God.

00:25:48.420 --> 00:25:48.900
 Friends,

00:25:49.059 --> 00:25:49.440
 I don't

00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:49.819
 want to be

00:25:49.819 --> 00:25:50.380
 like that

00:25:50.380 --> 00:25:52.340
 and I

00:25:52.340 --> 00:25:52.740
 would hate

00:25:52.740 --> 00:25:53.120
 for any

00:25:53.120 --> 00:25:53.440
 of you

00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:53.799
 to be

00:25:53.799 --> 00:25:54.299
 like that

00:25:54.299 --> 00:25:55.559
 so as

00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:55.900
 we come

00:25:55.900 --> 00:25:56.259
 to an

00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:56.559
 end,

00:25:58.059 --> 00:25:58.539
 why don't

00:25:58.539 --> 00:25:59.120
 we just

00:25:59.120 --> 00:26:00.140
 pray together

00:26:00.140 --> 00:26:02.120
 and pray

00:26:02.120 --> 00:26:02.680
 that the

00:26:02.680 --> 00:26:03.640
 scripture and

00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:04.100
 the power

00:26:04.100 --> 00:26:04.640
 of God

00:26:04.640 --> 00:26:05.840
 will set

00:26:05.840 --> 00:26:06.420
 us free

00:26:06.420 --> 00:26:07.779
 to be

00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:08.900
 freer than

00:26:08.900 --> 00:26:09.259
 we have

00:26:09.259 --> 00:26:09.940
 ever known

00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:10.299
 in our

00:26:10.299 --> 00:26:11.059
 lives before.

00:26:11.380 --> 00:26:11.980
 Let's pray.

00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:14.720
 our

00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:15.099
 gracious

00:26:15.099 --> 00:26:15.599
 father,

00:26:16.599 --> 00:26:17.720
 we have

00:26:17.720 --> 00:26:18.420
 to be

00:26:18.420 --> 00:26:18.980
 honest

00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:22.160
 and admit

00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:22.640
 to you

00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:23.099
 that we

00:26:23.099 --> 00:26:23.599
 would love

00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:24.420
 our spiritual

00:26:24.420 --> 00:26:25.160
 development,

00:26:25.360 --> 00:26:26.180
 our desire

00:26:26.180 --> 00:26:26.640
 to grow

00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:27.360
 like Jesus

00:26:27.360 --> 00:26:28.140
 was a

00:26:28.140 --> 00:26:29.480
 straight line

00:26:29.480 --> 00:26:29.839
 in an

00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:30.079
 upward

00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:30.819
 direction

00:26:30.819 --> 00:26:31.360
 but lord

00:26:31.360 --> 00:26:31.920
 you know

00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:33.960
 we fail

00:26:33.960 --> 00:26:38.120
 and lord

00:26:38.120 --> 00:26:38.579
 we've not

00:26:38.579 --> 00:26:39.600
 come here

00:26:39.600 --> 00:26:40.799
 this morning

00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:41.559
 to be made

00:26:41.559 --> 00:26:41.920
 to feel

00:26:41.920 --> 00:26:42.660
 worse when

00:26:42.660 --> 00:26:43.100
 we leave

00:26:43.100 --> 00:26:43.600
 the church

00:26:43.600 --> 00:26:43.960
 than when

00:26:43.960 --> 00:26:44.460
 we arrive

00:26:44.460 --> 00:26:45.120
 because

00:26:45.120 --> 00:26:46.600
 the truth

00:26:46.600 --> 00:26:46.980
 of your

00:26:46.980 --> 00:26:47.340
 word

00:26:47.340 --> 00:26:47.840
 and the

00:26:47.840 --> 00:26:48.240
 power

00:26:48.240 --> 00:26:48.600
 of your

00:26:48.600 --> 00:26:49.100
 spirit

00:26:49.100 --> 00:26:50.480
 can bring

00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.079
 change

00:26:51.079 --> 00:26:51.680
 to any

00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:52.460
 and every

00:26:52.460 --> 00:26:53.200
 situation

00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:53.660
 in the

00:26:53.660 --> 00:26:54.160
 life we

00:26:54.160 --> 00:26:54.539
 have

00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:56.799
 and lord

00:26:56.799 --> 00:26:57.460
 it's never

00:26:57.460 --> 00:26:58.160
 too late

00:26:58.160 --> 00:27:00.160
 we need

00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:00.539
 to come

00:27:00.539 --> 00:27:01.140
 before you

00:27:01.140 --> 00:27:02.240
 and admit

00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:03.160
 our need

00:27:03.160 --> 00:27:05.560
 we need

00:27:05.560 --> 00:27:05.960
 lord to

00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:06.620
 understand

00:27:06.620 --> 00:27:07.080
 that your

00:27:07.080 --> 00:27:07.880
 bible is

00:27:07.880 --> 00:27:08.640
 your primary

00:27:08.640 --> 00:27:09.620
 way of

00:27:09.620 --> 00:27:12.259
 communicating

00:27:12.259 --> 00:27:15.960
 communicating

00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:17.180
 your

00:27:17.180 --> 00:27:18.120
 sovereignty

00:27:18.120 --> 00:27:19.440
 and your

00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:19.900
 power

00:27:19.900 --> 00:27:20.340
 and your

00:27:20.340 --> 00:27:20.860
 beauty

00:27:20.860 --> 00:27:23.940
 and lord

00:27:23.940 --> 00:27:24.420
 we need

00:27:24.420 --> 00:27:24.800
 to know

00:27:24.800 --> 00:27:25.080
 that

00:27:25.080 --> 00:27:25.720
 but also

00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:26.300
 your word

00:27:26.300 --> 00:27:26.820
 tells us

00:27:26.820 --> 00:27:27.259
 what we're

00:27:27.259 --> 00:27:27.680
 like

00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:29.920
 lord we

00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:30.300
 can be

00:27:30.300 --> 00:27:31.120
 on fire

00:27:31.120 --> 00:27:31.680
 today

00:27:31.680 --> 00:27:35.240
 and

00:27:35.240 --> 00:27:36.620
 extinguish

00:27:36.620 --> 00:27:37.200
 tomorrow

00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:41.799
 so lord

00:27:41.799 --> 00:27:42.519
 please

00:27:42.519 --> 00:27:45.420
 refill us

00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:45.740
 with a

00:27:45.740 --> 00:27:46.560
 desire to

00:27:46.560 --> 00:27:47.140
 know your

00:27:47.140 --> 00:27:47.640
 word

00:27:47.640 --> 00:27:49.779
 send us

00:27:49.779 --> 00:27:50.460
 the power

00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:51.240
 to be

00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:52.400
 diligent

00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:54.279
 in read

00:27:54.279 --> 00:27:54.779
 mark

00:27:54.779 --> 00:27:55.820
 learning

00:27:55.820 --> 00:27:56.400
 your

00:27:56.400 --> 00:27:57.640
 word

00:27:57.640 --> 00:27:59.520
 because

00:27:59.520 --> 00:28:00.100
 lord it's

00:28:00.100 --> 00:28:00.660
 your word

00:28:00.660 --> 00:28:00.860
 that

00:28:00.860 --> 00:28:01.900
 communicates

00:28:01.900 --> 00:28:03.100
 your

00:28:03.100 --> 00:28:04.060
 amazing

00:28:04.060 --> 00:28:05.160
 difference

00:28:05.160 --> 00:28:06.720
 to each

00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:07.320
 of us

00:28:07.320 --> 00:28:12.000
 lord

00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:14.800
 it's your

00:28:14.800 --> 00:28:15.220
 way of

00:28:15.220 --> 00:28:16.060
 communicating

00:28:16.060 --> 00:28:16.500
 your

00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:17.140
 infinite

00:28:17.140 --> 00:28:17.880
 quality

00:28:17.880 --> 00:28:19.520
 to our

00:28:19.520 --> 00:28:19.920
 finite

00:28:19.920 --> 00:28:20.640
 minds

00:28:20.640 --> 00:28:25.520
 so father

00:28:25.520 --> 00:28:26.300
 we pray

00:28:26.300 --> 00:28:27.040
 that you

00:28:27.040 --> 00:28:27.640
 would give

00:28:27.640 --> 00:28:28.020
 us the

00:28:28.020 --> 00:28:28.440
 strength

00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:28.880
 and the

00:28:28.880 --> 00:28:29.160
 grace

00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:29.800
 to leave

00:28:29.800 --> 00:28:30.380
 this place

00:28:30.380 --> 00:28:31.100
 this morning

00:28:31.100 --> 00:28:32.259
 not with

00:28:32.259 --> 00:28:32.820
 bowed heads

00:28:32.820 --> 00:28:33.320
 but with a

00:28:33.320 --> 00:28:34.040
 spring in

00:28:34.040 --> 00:28:34.540
 our step

00:28:34.540 --> 00:28:35.080
 knowing

00:28:35.080 --> 00:28:38.280
 that both

00:28:38.280 --> 00:28:39.280
 your word

00:28:39.280 --> 00:28:40.120
 and your

00:28:40.120 --> 00:28:40.640
 power

00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:42.420
 can save

00:28:42.420 --> 00:28:42.820
 us from

00:28:42.820 --> 00:28:43.259
 any

00:28:43.259 --> 00:28:44.040
 situation

00:28:44.040 --> 00:28:44.620
 that we

00:28:44.620 --> 00:28:45.360
 face right

00:28:45.360 --> 00:28:45.700
 now

00:28:45.700 --> 00:28:47.140
 and we

00:28:47.140 --> 00:28:47.660
 thank you

00:28:47.660 --> 00:28:48.120
 for that

00:28:48.120 --> 00:28:48.800
 in jesus

00:28:48.800 --> 00:28:49.500
 name and

00:28:49.500 --> 00:28:50.000
 the people

00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:50.599
 who agreed

00:28:50.599 --> 00:28:50.940
 said

00:28:50.940 --> 00:28:51.440
 together

00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:52.940
 amen