WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.540 Good morning. 00:00:03.500 --> 00:00:04.459 Sunling fai luk. 00:00:05.860 --> 00:00:07.160 Kong hai fai choy. 00:00:08.679 --> 00:00:11.660 So this is Chinese New Year season. 00:00:11.800 --> 00:00:13.400 It's a season of blessings. 00:00:14.599 --> 00:00:18.940 I think everyone in life searches for blessings, 00:00:19.160 --> 00:00:21.280 even the little kids out there, right? 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:24.160 Like, after service today, you'll see it. 00:00:24.879 --> 00:00:25.760 Here's what's going to happen. 00:00:26.640 --> 00:00:30.620 They're going to swarm around every single married person in here 00:00:30.620 --> 00:00:31.720 looking for these. 00:00:32.840 --> 00:00:34.579 And they're going to come up to you and they're going to say, 00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:35.719 Lai si, dao loi. 00:00:37.280 --> 00:00:39.160 Because they want to be blessed, 00:00:39.160 --> 00:00:44.520 and in their mind, getting lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of red pockets 00:00:44.520 --> 00:00:46.980 is equal to being blessed. 00:00:48.219 --> 00:00:50.420 And it's something that doesn't go away as we get older. 00:00:51.240 --> 00:00:53.579 We just don't necessarily get it in Lai si. 00:00:53.579 --> 00:00:59.500 I think every single one of us wants to be blessed in this upcoming year. 00:01:00.539 --> 00:01:05.359 But I think the way we define blessings could be very different for some of us. 00:01:06.939 --> 00:01:10.280 And I think for some of us, there's not necessarily a fixed standard of 00:01:10.280 --> 00:01:12.159 this is blessing, this is not. 00:01:12.239 --> 00:01:15.719 So I think I could come up to six different people one year from today 00:01:15.719 --> 00:01:18.420 and ask each of them, were you blessed this past year? 00:01:18.640 --> 00:01:21.620 And maybe one would say, yes, I made lots and lots of money. 00:01:21.620 --> 00:01:26.180 And one would say, yes, I was absolutely blessed this past year. 00:01:26.260 --> 00:01:27.540 I got straight A's in school. 00:01:28.920 --> 00:01:31.660 One could say, I wasn't really blessed this year 00:01:31.660 --> 00:01:33.500 because I didn't get that promotion at work. 00:01:34.219 --> 00:01:37.200 And another right next to them could say, yes, I was blessed this past year 00:01:37.200 --> 00:01:38.380 because I didn't lose my job. 00:01:39.800 --> 00:01:42.920 One could say, no, I wasn't blessed this past year. 00:01:42.960 --> 00:01:43.860 My boyfriend dumped me. 00:01:44.340 --> 00:01:47.900 And then another right next to them could say, yes, I was absolutely blessed this past year. 00:01:47.939 --> 00:01:48.939 My boyfriend dumped me. 00:01:48.939 --> 00:01:51.200 It could happen. 00:01:52.319 --> 00:01:56.480 And I think if we look at the Bible, it paints a very clear picture of blessing. 00:01:57.879 --> 00:02:02.400 And this story that we just had read to us in Exodus 33 of the Israelites in the desert 00:02:02.400 --> 00:02:04.759 gives us a very clear picture of this. 00:02:05.019 --> 00:02:10.719 Now to give a little backstory, the Israelites 400 years previously had received a promise from God 00:02:10.719 --> 00:02:14.819 that they would be a great nation, that they would rule over this land, 00:02:14.819 --> 00:02:18.180 that it would be a land flowing with milk and honey, that it would be good. 00:02:18.900 --> 00:02:22.639 And for the previous 400 years, they have been slaves in a foreign land. 00:02:23.739 --> 00:02:26.019 Now the Bible doesn't explicitly tell us this, 00:02:26.079 --> 00:02:29.400 but I'm sure that at some point in that 400 year time period, 00:02:29.699 --> 00:02:33.299 people started to doubt whether God was actually going to keep his promise. 00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:37.879 Maybe he's not strong enough to, maybe he's not reliable enough to. 00:02:37.879 --> 00:02:44.099 You know, he made this promise, but we don't see any progress towards the fulfillment of it. 00:02:45.699 --> 00:02:47.919 And they slaved away and slaved away. 00:02:48.259 --> 00:02:50.460 And finally, one day, this guy Moses comes. 00:02:51.419 --> 00:02:53.219 He performs these great feats. 00:02:53.560 --> 00:02:56.019 And the Egyptians, the people who are keeping them as slaves, 00:02:56.340 --> 00:02:57.539 say, get out of here. 00:02:57.620 --> 00:02:58.079 You're trouble. 00:02:58.199 --> 00:02:59.099 We don't want you anymore. 00:02:59.099 --> 00:03:01.120 And finally, the Israelites are free. 00:03:01.239 --> 00:03:03.099 They're setting off to their new land. 00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:04.400 Hope has come. 00:03:04.680 --> 00:03:05.340 They're ready. 00:03:05.699 --> 00:03:09.019 They're going across the desert towards this land of milk and honey 00:03:09.019 --> 00:03:10.740 that is soon to be theirs. 00:03:15.259 --> 00:03:16.979 And they have a hiccup along the way. 00:03:17.159 --> 00:03:19.500 You know, Moses, their leader, is up talking to God, 00:03:19.579 --> 00:03:22.400 and the people build this idol, which God has just told them, 00:03:22.599 --> 00:03:23.319 don't do that. 00:03:23.879 --> 00:03:25.280 And God is not happy with them. 00:03:25.280 --> 00:03:30.699 But, you know, they wake up this one morning, 00:03:30.900 --> 00:03:33.180 and it seems to be a morning like any other. 00:03:34.979 --> 00:03:37.840 And if you were to go up to anyone in the Israelite camp that day 00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:38.719 and say to them, 00:03:38.979 --> 00:03:41.960 what does it look like for you to be blessed in this upcoming year? 00:03:43.439 --> 00:03:45.719 I think there are a handful of answers that they would give you. 00:03:45.979 --> 00:03:50.180 One, we are going to settle in our new land. 00:03:50.259 --> 00:03:51.280 We're going to take it over, 00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:54.620 and we're finally going to have this promise that God gave us fulfilled. 00:03:56.280 --> 00:03:59.360 We will be able to build houses and live in them 00:03:59.360 --> 00:04:02.439 and not have to be living in tents as nomads anymore. 00:04:03.920 --> 00:04:06.319 We will be able to farm our own food 00:04:06.319 --> 00:04:10.159 and not have to eat the same thing day after day after day. 00:04:10.240 --> 00:04:11.639 We can have variety in our diet. 00:04:11.759 --> 00:04:13.580 That is going to be wonderful. 00:04:15.580 --> 00:04:17.000 And God appears to them, 00:04:17.160 --> 00:04:18.339 and he speaks to them, 00:04:18.339 --> 00:04:22.540 and he tells them everything that they would have just listed right there, 00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:23.540 they're going to get. 00:04:23.540 --> 00:04:27.040 Listen to this in verses 1 and 3 of Exodus 33. 00:04:28.540 --> 00:04:29.439 The Lord said to Moses, 00:04:29.660 --> 00:04:30.060 Depart. 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:31.580 Go up from here, 00:04:31.740 --> 00:04:34.860 you and the people whom you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, 00:04:35.060 --> 00:04:38.480 to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, 00:04:38.660 --> 00:04:39.620 saying to your offspring, 00:04:39.740 --> 00:04:40.280 I will give it. 00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:40.980 So he's saying, 00:04:41.100 --> 00:04:43.680 Go up to the land that I have promised you. 00:04:44.420 --> 00:04:46.100 I will send an angel before you, 00:04:46.140 --> 00:04:47.980 and I will drive out all these lands. 00:04:47.980 --> 00:04:50.660 So I'm going to give it to you. 00:04:50.740 --> 00:04:51.600 You're going to take it over. 00:04:52.280 --> 00:04:52.540 He says, 00:04:52.800 --> 00:04:54.759 Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey, 00:04:54.960 --> 00:04:56.319 but I will not go up among you, 00:04:56.420 --> 00:04:57.860 lest I consume you on the way, 00:04:58.180 --> 00:04:59.520 for you're a stiff-necked people. 00:05:00.379 --> 00:05:00.920 God says, 00:05:01.080 --> 00:05:01.540 Go up. 00:05:01.819 --> 00:05:03.680 I'm going to give you this land. 00:05:03.840 --> 00:05:04.860 You're going to take it over. 00:05:05.100 --> 00:05:06.439 It is a good land, 00:05:06.540 --> 00:05:07.840 and you can have it. 00:05:07.839 --> 00:05:11.139 But I won't be with you. 00:05:14.359 --> 00:05:16.379 See, that little incident with building the idol, 00:05:16.939 --> 00:05:17.779 God was not happy, 00:05:18.259 --> 00:05:19.019 and he told them, 00:05:19.679 --> 00:05:20.639 I'm going to keep my promise. 00:05:20.719 --> 00:05:21.779 I'm going to give you this land, 00:05:22.339 --> 00:05:25.159 but I'm not going with you. 00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:29.359 And the people look at all of these blessings 00:05:29.359 --> 00:05:31.399 that they were so excited about. 00:05:31.559 --> 00:05:32.819 We're going to have our own land. 00:05:32.879 --> 00:05:33.939 We're going to have our own houses. 00:05:33.939 --> 00:05:35.719 We're going to have food to eat 00:05:35.720 --> 00:05:38.140 that's not just bread day after day after day. 00:05:40.340 --> 00:05:43.500 And when they see this promise 00:05:43.500 --> 00:05:45.680 in light of the fact that God's not going to be with them, 00:05:46.160 --> 00:05:47.020 they don't rejoice. 00:05:47.240 --> 00:05:47.940 They don't celebrate. 00:05:48.960 --> 00:05:50.520 They go into a time of mourning. 00:05:53.160 --> 00:05:55.000 Because the nation of Israel realizes 00:05:55.000 --> 00:05:57.700 that all the blessings that God can give to them 00:05:57.700 --> 00:05:58.720 mean nothing 00:05:58.720 --> 00:06:01.480 if it's not accompanied by God himself. 00:06:01.480 --> 00:06:06.080 The nation of Israel realizes 00:06:06.080 --> 00:06:08.200 that the presence of God among them 00:06:08.200 --> 00:06:09.879 is the greatest blessing. 00:06:11.400 --> 00:06:12.920 And that in comparison to that, 00:06:13.200 --> 00:06:16.000 everything else falls so miserably short 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:18.879 that if you can have it all without God's presence, 00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:20.780 it's not a cause for celebration. 00:06:20.939 --> 00:06:21.939 It's a cause for mourning. 00:06:23.720 --> 00:06:25.520 So Moses goes up to God, 00:06:25.700 --> 00:06:27.100 and he begs God, 00:06:27.100 --> 00:06:27.140 God, 00:06:27.580 --> 00:06:28.620 please, 00:06:28.820 --> 00:06:29.760 we are your people. 00:06:30.600 --> 00:06:31.540 Don't abandon us. 00:06:31.620 --> 00:06:32.500 Come with us. 00:06:33.700 --> 00:06:34.520 And God says, 00:06:34.600 --> 00:06:34.939 all right, 00:06:35.080 --> 00:06:36.720 I will go with you. 00:06:37.300 --> 00:06:38.280 He gives them this wish. 00:06:38.420 --> 00:06:40.320 God doesn't come to Moses and say, 00:06:40.379 --> 00:06:40.580 Moses, 00:06:40.680 --> 00:06:42.360 you have your priorities all wrong. 00:06:42.740 --> 00:06:43.980 You need all these other things. 00:06:44.040 --> 00:06:44.820 You don't really need me. 00:06:44.939 --> 00:06:45.360 God's like, 00:06:45.540 --> 00:06:45.760 yeah, 00:06:45.820 --> 00:06:46.020 Moses, 00:06:46.100 --> 00:06:46.700 you got it right. 00:06:47.040 --> 00:06:47.840 You need me. 00:06:50.260 --> 00:06:51.840 But I think this story 00:06:51.840 --> 00:06:53.220 gives us an interesting perspective 00:06:53.220 --> 00:06:54.320 from the Bible 00:06:54.319 --> 00:06:57.060 that everything they could want, 00:06:57.199 --> 00:06:58.819 everything they dreamt of, 00:06:59.560 --> 00:07:01.560 when it was held out in front of them 00:07:01.560 --> 00:07:02.879 and they were told you can have it, 00:07:03.420 --> 00:07:04.680 but God's not going to be with it. 00:07:06.439 --> 00:07:07.319 They abandon it. 00:07:07.379 --> 00:07:08.040 They give it up 00:07:08.040 --> 00:07:11.560 because the presence of God in their lives 00:07:11.560 --> 00:07:13.539 is the greatest blessing. 00:07:16.539 --> 00:07:16.800 You know, 00:07:16.819 --> 00:07:18.219 it's a simple concept, 00:07:19.139 --> 00:07:20.240 but super, 00:07:20.480 --> 00:07:21.079 super deep. 00:07:21.079 --> 00:07:23.279 It's simple enough 00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:24.839 that even a child can understand it. 00:07:24.939 --> 00:07:26.879 I was talking to a very proud father 00:07:26.879 --> 00:07:28.180 from Watermark a week ago. 00:07:29.399 --> 00:07:30.339 He was telling me a story 00:07:30.339 --> 00:07:31.000 about his children. 00:07:31.139 --> 00:07:31.899 A couple months ago, 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:33.860 the kids transitioned Sunday school classes 00:07:33.860 --> 00:07:34.919 up to the next grade 00:07:34.919 --> 00:07:36.860 and his daughter was moving 00:07:36.860 --> 00:07:39.579 from stream class to river class, 00:07:39.879 --> 00:07:41.319 which means she's very young. 00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:43.959 And she was scared. 00:07:45.299 --> 00:07:46.259 She was nervous 00:07:46.259 --> 00:07:48.039 because all she's ever known 00:07:48.039 --> 00:07:48.919 is stream class. 00:07:48.920 --> 00:07:51.040 And what's going to happen in river class? 00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:51.900 I don't know. 00:07:53.100 --> 00:07:54.600 Are the people going to like me there? 00:07:54.699 --> 00:07:55.860 Is it going to be fun there? 00:07:56.100 --> 00:07:57.480 Are they going to be mean to me there? 00:07:58.420 --> 00:07:59.720 And as the kids were dismissed 00:07:59.720 --> 00:08:00.699 going out into the hallway, 00:08:00.900 --> 00:08:02.240 she stopped in the middle of the hall 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:03.160 and started crying 00:08:03.160 --> 00:08:03.560 and said, 00:08:03.620 --> 00:08:03.879 Mommy, 00:08:03.960 --> 00:08:05.600 I don't want to go to river class. 00:08:07.259 --> 00:08:08.280 And her older brother, 00:08:08.540 --> 00:08:09.420 that same exact day, 00:08:09.480 --> 00:08:10.840 was moving out of river class 00:08:10.840 --> 00:08:12.020 into Rapids class, 00:08:12.280 --> 00:08:13.460 which meant that he wouldn't be 00:08:13.460 --> 00:08:14.180 in class with her. 00:08:14.180 --> 00:08:17.100 And he sees his sister crying. 00:08:17.199 --> 00:08:17.860 He comes up to her 00:08:17.860 --> 00:08:18.939 and he puts his arm around her 00:08:18.939 --> 00:08:19.379 and he says, 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:20.139 It's going to be okay. 00:08:20.819 --> 00:08:22.500 You're going to love river class. 00:08:23.060 --> 00:08:24.379 They play fun games 00:08:24.379 --> 00:08:25.860 and tell us Bible stories 00:08:25.860 --> 00:08:27.120 and the teachers are really cool 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:28.319 and they teach us about God. 00:08:29.060 --> 00:08:30.280 And God will be with you. 00:08:30.920 --> 00:08:32.600 And today I'm going to a new class 00:08:32.600 --> 00:08:34.320 and God's going to be with me too. 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:36.200 And the little girl 00:08:36.200 --> 00:08:37.039 looked up at her mom 00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:38.120 and she said, 00:08:38.580 --> 00:08:40.539 Will God really be with me? 00:08:41.279 --> 00:08:42.080 And the mom said, 00:08:42.080 --> 00:08:42.460 Yes. 00:08:43.540 --> 00:08:44.780 And the daughter had the courage 00:08:44.780 --> 00:08:45.379 all of a sudden 00:08:45.379 --> 00:08:46.540 to go to this new class 00:08:46.540 --> 00:08:47.340 and she loved it. 00:08:48.680 --> 00:08:50.780 And I know that's sort of a silly story 00:08:50.780 --> 00:08:51.740 about this little girl 00:08:51.740 --> 00:08:52.740 who had this fear 00:08:52.740 --> 00:08:53.980 that seemed sort of irrational 00:08:53.980 --> 00:08:54.820 to all of us. 00:08:55.139 --> 00:08:56.139 But when we think about it 00:08:56.139 --> 00:08:57.240 on the grand scheme of things, 00:08:57.800 --> 00:08:59.520 the things that were scaring her there 00:08:59.520 --> 00:09:00.660 are the exact same things 00:09:00.660 --> 00:09:01.500 that we get worried about. 00:09:03.340 --> 00:09:04.400 Fear of the unknown 00:09:04.400 --> 00:09:06.320 for us or people that we love. 00:09:07.020 --> 00:09:07.759 Fear of stepping out 00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:08.900 from places where we're comfortable 00:09:08.900 --> 00:09:10.220 to places where we don't know 00:09:10.220 --> 00:09:10.940 what's going to happen. 00:09:12.080 --> 00:09:13.460 Fear of what does the future hold 00:09:13.460 --> 00:09:14.460 because we can't tell. 00:09:15.960 --> 00:09:17.080 It's the same exact issues 00:09:17.080 --> 00:09:17.660 that we face 00:09:17.660 --> 00:09:18.920 that this little girl is facing. 00:09:19.780 --> 00:09:21.320 And it's the same exact solution 00:09:21.320 --> 00:09:22.280 of God's presence 00:09:22.280 --> 00:09:24.520 that is ultimately what we need. 00:09:26.620 --> 00:09:27.780 And I know sometimes 00:09:27.780 --> 00:09:29.820 it can be sort of nerve-wracking 00:09:29.820 --> 00:09:30.660 when we hear this. 00:09:31.620 --> 00:09:31.840 You know, 00:09:31.980 --> 00:09:33.200 I need God's presence 00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:35.020 but do I have God's presence? 00:09:36.759 --> 00:09:37.580 And if we're Christians, 00:09:37.580 --> 00:09:38.879 the Bible promises us 00:09:38.879 --> 00:09:40.160 that we do. 00:09:41.520 --> 00:09:42.360 The Bible says 00:09:42.360 --> 00:09:43.900 that Jesus was born as a baby. 00:09:44.040 --> 00:09:45.440 They called his name Emmanuel 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:47.620 which means God with us. 00:09:48.259 --> 00:09:49.460 Jesus came to earth 00:09:49.460 --> 00:09:50.700 to be God with us. 00:09:51.580 --> 00:09:52.379 He grew up 00:09:52.379 --> 00:09:54.040 and he was killed 00:09:54.040 --> 00:09:55.879 for you and for me 00:09:55.879 --> 00:09:56.540 to give us 00:09:56.540 --> 00:09:58.100 this relationship with God 00:09:58.100 --> 00:09:58.700 that we need. 00:09:58.700 --> 00:10:02.080 and then he rose again 00:10:02.080 --> 00:10:03.340 and the Bible says 00:10:03.340 --> 00:10:05.440 that he met with his followers 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:08.160 before going back up to heaven 00:10:08.160 --> 00:10:09.320 and he gave them 00:10:09.320 --> 00:10:11.660 this one last piece of teaching 00:10:11.660 --> 00:10:14.540 and the very last thing 00:10:14.540 --> 00:10:15.400 that he said to them. 00:10:17.140 --> 00:10:18.920 He could have told them anything. 00:10:19.080 --> 00:10:19.820 The one last thing 00:10:19.820 --> 00:10:21.180 that he wanted them to remember 00:10:21.180 --> 00:10:22.400 more than anything else. 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:25.600 You know what he said? 00:10:25.659 --> 00:10:25.980 He said, 00:10:26.360 --> 00:10:27.879 I will be with you always. 00:10:29.699 --> 00:10:30.639 I'm not leaving you. 00:10:30.699 --> 00:10:31.579 I'm not abandoning you. 00:10:31.659 --> 00:10:32.360 I am with you. 00:10:32.779 --> 00:10:33.559 You are my people. 00:10:33.980 --> 00:10:34.919 I am with you. 00:10:36.319 --> 00:10:37.439 He could have told them, 00:10:37.740 --> 00:10:39.399 I'm going to make you 00:10:39.399 --> 00:10:40.319 super rich and powerful. 00:10:41.620 --> 00:10:42.860 That is the blessing you need. 00:10:43.079 --> 00:10:44.019 He could have told them, 00:10:44.340 --> 00:10:46.519 I am going to keep you very safe 00:10:46.519 --> 00:10:48.120 because that is the blessing you need. 00:10:48.139 --> 00:10:48.980 But he doesn't say that. 00:10:49.039 --> 00:10:49.519 He says, 00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:51.100 I'm going to be with you. 00:10:51.100 --> 00:10:53.360 And everything else that happens, 00:10:53.480 --> 00:10:54.860 everything else that could go wrong, 00:10:55.180 --> 00:10:56.000 it's going to be okay 00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:57.040 because I am with you. 00:10:58.680 --> 00:10:59.820 And if we're here today 00:10:59.820 --> 00:11:00.700 and we're not Christians, 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:02.560 this fact that God's presence 00:11:02.560 --> 00:11:04.159 is the biggest blessing 00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:05.740 can be good news for us 00:11:05.740 --> 00:11:06.720 or bad news for us. 00:11:07.659 --> 00:11:08.460 Good news 00:11:08.460 --> 00:11:11.800 because he says 00:11:11.800 --> 00:11:12.960 anyone who believes in him 00:11:12.960 --> 00:11:14.180 can be saved. 00:11:14.779 --> 00:11:16.139 Anyone who trusts in him 00:11:16.139 --> 00:11:17.600 can become one of his people 00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:18.920 and he will be with us. 00:11:21.100 --> 00:11:21.820 But bad news 00:11:21.820 --> 00:11:22.820 because if we refuse 00:11:22.820 --> 00:11:23.700 to trust in him, 00:11:24.100 --> 00:11:25.580 there's no amount of effort 00:11:25.580 --> 00:11:26.320 we can put in, 00:11:26.600 --> 00:11:27.860 no amount of trying 00:11:27.860 --> 00:11:28.759 that we can manufacture 00:11:28.759 --> 00:11:30.940 that will give us this blessing 00:11:30.940 --> 00:11:32.080 through our efforts. 00:11:36.080 --> 00:11:36.519 You know, 00:11:36.580 --> 00:11:38.040 the Bible again and again 00:11:38.040 --> 00:11:38.960 and again and again 00:11:38.960 --> 00:11:40.680 talks about how God's presence 00:11:40.680 --> 00:11:41.540 in our lives 00:11:41.540 --> 00:11:42.779 is the greatest blessing 00:11:42.779 --> 00:11:43.560 and we don't have time 00:11:43.560 --> 00:11:44.540 to go into all of these 00:11:44.540 --> 00:11:45.540 different places today. 00:11:45.539 --> 00:11:47.299 but if you look through 00:11:47.299 --> 00:11:47.679 your Bible, 00:11:47.799 --> 00:11:48.439 if you read it, 00:11:48.759 --> 00:11:49.939 you'll see again 00:11:49.939 --> 00:11:50.980 and again and again 00:11:50.980 --> 00:11:53.299 that God's presence 00:11:53.299 --> 00:11:54.299 in our lives 00:11:54.299 --> 00:11:56.659 is the greatest blessing. 00:11:59.219 --> 00:12:00.259 And as we close today, 00:12:00.379 --> 00:12:01.599 I want to leave us 00:12:01.599 --> 00:12:03.539 with a little diagnostic 00:12:03.539 --> 00:12:04.299 for our hearts 00:12:04.299 --> 00:12:08.839 to see, 00:12:09.179 --> 00:12:09.719 you know, 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:10.759 is God truly 00:12:10.759 --> 00:12:11.719 our greatest blessing? 00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:13.259 is that how we see 00:12:13.259 --> 00:12:13.680 the world? 00:12:16.660 --> 00:12:17.879 And here's the question. 00:12:18.200 --> 00:12:19.540 If God were to appear 00:12:19.540 --> 00:12:20.320 to you today 00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:22.279 and say to you, 00:12:22.500 --> 00:12:23.560 in this next year, 00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:25.620 I will give you 00:12:25.620 --> 00:12:28.019 a billion U.S. dollars 00:12:28.019 --> 00:12:31.500 but I won't be with you. 00:12:34.779 --> 00:12:35.740 Would you see that 00:12:35.740 --> 00:12:36.220 as a blessing? 00:12:38.100 --> 00:12:38.920 Would you jump 00:12:38.920 --> 00:12:39.600 at that opportunity 00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:40.000 and say, 00:12:40.120 --> 00:12:40.320 yes, 00:12:40.360 --> 00:12:41.180 let's go for it? 00:12:41.720 --> 00:12:45.800 How about this? 00:12:45.860 --> 00:12:46.940 If God were to appear 00:12:46.940 --> 00:12:47.600 to you today 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:48.540 and he said, 00:12:48.660 --> 00:12:49.500 in this next year, 00:12:50.040 --> 00:12:51.519 you're going to lose 00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:51.960 your job. 00:12:53.680 --> 00:12:54.080 Also, 00:12:54.160 --> 00:12:54.560 you're going to get 00:12:54.560 --> 00:12:55.279 severely sick. 00:12:57.560 --> 00:12:58.399 You're going to struggle 00:12:58.399 --> 00:12:59.240 to make ends meet. 00:12:59.340 --> 00:13:00.100 It's going to be difficult. 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:00.680 There's going to be 00:13:00.680 --> 00:13:01.300 some long, 00:13:01.440 --> 00:13:02.120 sleepless nights. 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:05.840 It's going to be tough 00:13:05.840 --> 00:13:06.680 to feed your family. 00:13:08.460 --> 00:13:09.540 You'll have to really 00:13:09.540 --> 00:13:11.320 downsize your style 00:13:11.320 --> 00:13:11.760 of living. 00:13:13.580 --> 00:13:14.460 But through it all, 00:13:14.540 --> 00:13:15.400 I will be with you. 00:13:18.280 --> 00:13:19.180 Would we take that 00:13:19.180 --> 00:13:20.100 over the billion dollars 00:13:20.100 --> 00:13:20.660 without God? 00:13:28.200 --> 00:13:28.800 And I know 00:13:28.800 --> 00:13:29.700 it's not that simple. 00:13:29.860 --> 00:13:30.700 I know God's not 00:13:30.700 --> 00:13:31.680 appearing to us today, 00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:32.520 throwing that option 00:13:32.520 --> 00:13:33.060 in front of us 00:13:33.060 --> 00:13:33.500 and saying, 00:13:33.740 --> 00:13:34.300 once for all, 00:13:34.360 --> 00:13:35.140 you make this decision, 00:13:35.220 --> 00:13:35.960 let's go for it. 00:13:36.680 --> 00:13:37.360 Because really, 00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:38.280 life doesn't happen 00:13:38.280 --> 00:13:39.860 in those huge moments 00:13:39.860 --> 00:13:40.960 like that most of the time. 00:13:41.920 --> 00:13:42.580 Most of the time, 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:43.980 it happens in thousands 00:13:43.980 --> 00:13:45.100 of small decisions 00:13:45.100 --> 00:13:46.080 throughout the course 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:46.560 of the day, 00:13:46.680 --> 00:13:47.620 every single day. 00:13:49.100 --> 00:13:50.379 Thousands of small decisions 00:13:50.379 --> 00:13:51.440 where we get to make 00:13:51.440 --> 00:13:51.920 the choice, 00:13:52.300 --> 00:13:52.519 God, 00:13:52.580 --> 00:13:53.600 do I truly value 00:13:53.600 --> 00:13:54.120 your presence 00:13:54.120 --> 00:13:54.940 more than anything 00:13:54.940 --> 00:13:55.800 else in my life? 00:13:57.139 --> 00:13:58.040 And it's not just 00:13:58.040 --> 00:13:58.899 something that we do today, 00:13:59.000 --> 00:13:59.639 it's something we do 00:13:59.639 --> 00:14:00.580 tomorrow and the day 00:14:00.580 --> 00:14:01.360 after and the day 00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:01.720 after, 00:14:02.519 --> 00:14:06.000 where we choose 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:06.820 again and again 00:14:06.820 --> 00:14:07.259 and again, 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:09.000 do I truly value 00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:09.800 God's presence 00:14:09.800 --> 00:14:11.560 as the greatest treasure 00:14:11.560 --> 00:14:12.340 in my life 00:14:12.340 --> 00:14:15.000 more than anything else? 00:14:15.000 --> 00:14:18.759 Let's pray. 00:14:21.580 --> 00:14:22.019 Father, 00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:22.620 we thank you 00:14:22.620 --> 00:14:23.519 for your presence. 00:14:24.279 --> 00:14:24.879 We thank you 00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:25.759 that you are 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:27.000 the greatest blessing 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:27.539 that we need. 00:14:29.399 --> 00:14:30.240 We pray that 00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:31.159 in this coming year 00:14:31.159 --> 00:14:31.960 that we would be aware 00:14:31.960 --> 00:14:33.120 of how amazing 00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:34.200 of a blessing that is. 00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:35.500 That like the Israelites, 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:36.820 if we have the opportunity 00:14:36.820 --> 00:14:37.879 for all the wealth 00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:39.019 and all the treasures 00:14:39.019 --> 00:14:39.899 that we can imagine 00:14:39.899 --> 00:14:40.559 without you, 00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:42.080 that we would say 00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:43.200 your presence is greater. 00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:45.600 you are the greater blessing. 00:14:47.540 --> 00:14:47.980 God, 00:14:48.020 --> 00:14:48.500 please help us 00:14:48.500 --> 00:14:49.480 to be aware of this. 00:14:50.160 --> 00:14:51.120 Help us to make choices 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:51.820 every day 00:14:51.820 --> 00:14:53.140 in light of this fact. 00:14:54.560 --> 00:14:55.060 Thank you 00:14:55.060 --> 00:14:55.879 that you love us 00:14:55.879 --> 00:14:57.100 and are with us. 00:14:57.680 --> 00:14:58.660 In Jesus' name, 00:14:59.100 --> 00:14:59.300 amen.