WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.339 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.839 --> 00:00:09.359 Our passion is to experience and express grace. 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:10.500 Join us. 00:00:12.740 --> 00:00:16.160 It was an awesome week of VBS. 00:00:16.260 --> 00:00:17.780 Anybody in here have fun this week? 00:00:18.600 --> 00:00:19.400 All right. 00:00:19.699 --> 00:00:21.699 That sounded like mostly adults. 00:00:21.839 --> 00:00:22.960 Did the kids have fun too? 00:00:24.080 --> 00:00:25.440 Okay, good. 00:00:25.560 --> 00:00:26.140 I'm glad. 00:00:26.140 --> 00:00:33.060 But you can still see evidence of the God sightings on the coral reef out in the hallway. 00:00:33.620 --> 00:00:34.780 Stop by and read some of those. 00:00:34.859 --> 00:00:40.480 I think they'll encourage your heart, how our kids are seeing God at work in their lives and around them. 00:00:40.859 --> 00:00:45.600 It was a special week of diving into friendship with God. 00:00:46.719 --> 00:00:48.640 Thanks for all of you who are a part of that. 00:00:49.540 --> 00:00:54.560 That is actually what we are also talking about in our sermons this summer. 00:00:54.560 --> 00:00:59.700 How do I walk with God day by day? 00:01:00.040 --> 00:01:03.859 The way that he made me to live in relationship with him. 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:05.760 That's what he created me for. 00:01:06.780 --> 00:01:14.460 The people who taught me most about that at an early age and in many VBSs of my own are here this morning. 00:01:14.579 --> 00:01:16.460 My parents are here. 00:01:16.459 --> 00:01:22.000 I'm very thankful for that and how they taught me of relationship with God. 00:01:23.139 --> 00:01:30.780 Probably of all the things I learned from them, one of the things that sticks out for me is the value of God's word. 00:01:32.419 --> 00:01:34.819 That's what we're going to talk about a bit more this morning. 00:01:35.179 --> 00:01:36.899 We marveled at that last week. 00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:42.619 Remember, if you were here, that God speaks to us. 00:01:42.620 --> 00:01:45.660 In his word, he speaks to us. 00:01:45.700 --> 00:01:47.120 His word is perfect. 00:01:48.060 --> 00:01:50.700 It's practical for our lives today. 00:01:50.960 --> 00:01:53.280 It always points us to Jesus. 00:01:54.500 --> 00:02:00.040 Before we talk more about our listening to God, our engagement with the Bible, 00:02:00.180 --> 00:02:05.420 I've been reflecting this week on how Jesus viewed the Bible. 00:02:05.620 --> 00:02:08.280 How he used God's word in his life. 00:02:08.280 --> 00:02:14.259 It's yet one more encouragement for us to have a high view of God's word. 00:02:14.840 --> 00:02:15.840 It's that Jesus did. 00:02:16.319 --> 00:02:17.639 That's a pretty good encouragement, right? 00:02:17.659 --> 00:02:21.139 A pretty good reason for us to think highly of God's word. 00:02:21.240 --> 00:02:27.319 In fact, Jesus said that he came not to abolish the law and the prophets, but to fulfill it. 00:02:27.560 --> 00:02:30.520 Every jot and tittle was important to him, right? 00:02:31.740 --> 00:02:37.659 When he spoke to the crowds and the religious leaders and he quoted the scriptures to them, 00:02:37.659 --> 00:02:42.099 he asserted that they cannot be broken. 00:02:42.299 --> 00:02:44.120 They're perfect, right? 00:02:44.479 --> 00:02:45.319 That was his view. 00:02:47.120 --> 00:02:52.439 Perhaps most profoundly and helpfully for us, when Jesus is tempted by Satan, 00:02:53.879 --> 00:02:58.939 he reminds us that man cannot live by bread alone. 00:02:59.620 --> 00:03:00.699 We need more than that. 00:03:00.699 --> 00:03:07.259 Man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of God. 00:03:07.399 --> 00:03:09.479 That's breathed out by God, right? 00:03:09.519 --> 00:03:12.280 That's essential for life. 00:03:12.819 --> 00:03:14.060 And he lives that. 00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:19.819 Jesus does in his life as every difficult trial that he faces from the devil, he responds how? 00:03:20.699 --> 00:03:23.259 By quoting scripture. 00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:28.519 Walking faithfully in relationship with God. 00:03:28.520 --> 00:03:32.200 See, Satan loves twisting God's words, doesn't he? 00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:35.120 All the way back to the garden. 00:03:35.439 --> 00:03:37.500 Did God really say? 00:03:38.980 --> 00:03:40.060 Satan loves that. 00:03:40.160 --> 00:03:42.160 He tried it on Jesus too. 00:03:42.520 --> 00:03:47.660 But Jesus won't allow God's word to be twisted in his life. 00:03:47.760 --> 00:03:49.860 He understands the heart of God's word. 00:03:50.200 --> 00:03:54.840 He shows us how it directs his life day by day, moment by moment. 00:03:54.840 --> 00:03:59.500 That, friends, is a high view of God's word. 00:03:59.719 --> 00:04:14.020 Not putting it high up on a shelf where it can't be reached, but actually bringing it down into your life daily so that it transforms everything that you do and think and say. 00:04:14.020 --> 00:04:18.639 Hey, that's the way Jesus delighted in the Bible. 00:04:20.160 --> 00:04:23.240 Seems like a good path for us to walk with him. 00:04:24.139 --> 00:04:25.379 To meet him there. 00:04:25.500 --> 00:04:27.400 To grow in his grace, right? 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:35.960 We're going to read this morning many different parts of God's word as we think about what this can look like in our lives. 00:04:35.959 --> 00:04:38.579 But I'd like us to start with Psalm 1. 00:04:39.759 --> 00:04:45.939 It's the beginning of the book that shapes our hearts and our lives in relationship with God. 00:04:46.500 --> 00:04:53.060 Helps us see in this very first Psalm where true blessing is found. 00:04:54.060 --> 00:04:55.259 Will we believe it? 00:04:56.979 --> 00:04:58.459 Psalm 1 at verse 1. 00:04:58.459 --> 00:05:05.060 This is the inerrant, infallible, inspired word of God. 00:05:05.659 --> 00:05:06.259 Perfect. 00:05:07.979 --> 00:05:08.739 Practical. 00:05:09.759 --> 00:05:14.019 Living today and enduring forever. 00:05:14.599 --> 00:05:20.959 In other words, it is the one thing you'll read today that you can completely trust. 00:05:21.579 --> 00:05:23.839 That you desperately need. 00:05:24.120 --> 00:05:26.579 That you will always find life in. 00:05:26.579 --> 00:05:27.539 The one thing. 00:05:28.459 --> 00:05:31.239 Psalm 1 verse 1. 00:05:31.240 --> 00:05:41.660 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers. 00:05:42.300 --> 00:05:45.240 But his delight is in the law of the Lord. 00:05:45.960 --> 00:05:49.519 And on his law he meditates day and night. 00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:56.900 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither. 00:05:56.899 --> 00:06:00.479 In all that he does, he prospers. 00:06:01.979 --> 00:06:02.899 Let's pray together. 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:12.620 God, we are so grateful for your word that you speak to us and that again this morning we hear your voice. 00:06:12.620 --> 00:06:19.420 Would you speak so clearly by your spirit to our hearts that it would be your voice we hear. 00:06:19.620 --> 00:06:25.680 As we open this word, as it sits open before us and we come to be directed by it. 00:06:25.819 --> 00:06:27.519 Father, we want to hear from you. 00:06:28.840 --> 00:06:30.300 Make us long for that more. 00:06:30.860 --> 00:06:34.420 Transform us by your word and spirit today we ask in Jesus' name. 00:06:34.420 --> 00:06:35.580 Amen. 00:06:35.580 --> 00:06:35.720 Amen. 00:06:39.319 --> 00:06:43.759 There are a lot of ways to delight in something, aren't there? 00:06:44.900 --> 00:06:53.480 If you're into art, you can delight in art by painting a beautiful masterpiece, copying it one brush stroke at a time. 00:06:53.819 --> 00:06:59.080 Or you might put it in a museum so others can see it. 00:06:59.079 --> 00:07:06.359 You can delight in college football by putting on a helmet and pads and running onto the field. 00:07:06.699 --> 00:07:15.680 Or you can delight in college football without leaving your living room and just turning on the TV screen and some tailgate food and delighting. 00:07:16.439 --> 00:07:20.659 You can delight in your spouse by merely writing poetry about her. 00:07:21.719 --> 00:07:24.439 Or you can actually spend time together. 00:07:24.439 --> 00:07:35.100 The psalmist writes here about the blessed, happy person delighting in God's word. 00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:39.959 And what a wonder that we can even do that, right? 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:49.159 We contemplated that last week that God, the king and creator of the universe and us, speaks to us. 00:07:49.160 --> 00:08:00.820 When he speaks, when we have his word, when we long to delight in what God says, how do we do that? 00:08:02.040 --> 00:08:05.560 How do we listen to it? 00:08:06.760 --> 00:08:17.140 Is it so precious that we take our copy of the Bible and we put it far away so that we never touch it and make sure the spine doesn't get cracked and that's how we delight in it? 00:08:17.139 --> 00:08:29.879 Or do we take it and we so want to delight in God's word that we sleep with it under our pillow every night and hope that by doing that, our relationship with God will grow deeper? 00:08:30.019 --> 00:08:32.539 Is that how we delight in God's word? 00:08:34.620 --> 00:08:37.960 Well, let's be practical today. 00:08:37.960 --> 00:08:53.500 How does God direct us to listen to him as he speaks so that our lives are transformed so that we live with him the way he made us to, the way we so long to experience in our lives? 00:08:54.740 --> 00:09:00.759 I hope not surprisingly, the first part of listening is to engage our ears. 00:09:00.759 --> 00:09:06.740 We actually need to sit with God's word regularly. 00:09:06.879 --> 00:09:09.080 Oh, how I need that. 00:09:09.740 --> 00:09:18.319 Do you feel that need to listen, to hear what God is saying and how he would shape our lives? 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:20.399 There's so many other things to listen to. 00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:28.460 The psalmist says, the blessed one, on his law, he meditates day and night. 00:09:28.460 --> 00:09:36.820 Friends, to walk in relationship with Jesus means regularly reading his word. 00:09:37.740 --> 00:09:44.960 Perhaps in a variety of different ways, not always just reading, maybe listening to it read to you. 00:09:45.040 --> 00:09:54.300 Many of us, especially if we're auditory learners, are finding that very helpful these days as you can listen to the scriptures read even as you look at them or even as you drive. 00:09:54.299 --> 00:09:57.639 Maybe at different times. 00:09:58.319 --> 00:10:07.099 Yes, I hope having one time that is just you and God each day that can direct all of your other times throughout the day. 00:10:07.599 --> 00:10:11.959 Like I told you about my wife and me having Friday morning coffee dates. 00:10:13.479 --> 00:10:15.099 It's just the two of us. 00:10:15.100 --> 00:10:20.840 But relationship, remember, is day and night and in all sorts of different contexts. 00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:26.899 In other words, it is throughout the day and all the time that we're to be meditating on God's word. 00:10:28.159 --> 00:10:33.120 Likely, when you think about reading God's word, you'll think about different amounts of God's word. 00:10:33.399 --> 00:10:35.600 Sometimes you might read multiple chapters. 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:41.360 Maybe in that one time that you have just the two of you with God, you read quite a bit. 00:10:41.560 --> 00:10:51.720 But probably through the day, you need to pick just maybe a verse that you're going to go back to and think on and ponder throughout the day. 00:10:52.040 --> 00:11:01.580 However it plays out for you, the goal is that you're sinking your roots deep into God's life-giving word. 00:11:01.580 --> 00:11:08.080 Like a tree, right, planted by fertile streams that will yield fruit. 00:11:08.740 --> 00:11:13.100 That's where our High Life Youth Ministry logo comes from. 00:11:13.180 --> 00:11:20.360 That tree because we want young people as well as old people nourished by God's word. 00:11:20.440 --> 00:11:24.160 The one place that promises that kind of life-giving nourishment. 00:11:25.560 --> 00:11:30.220 Many Christians, surveys tell us, don't really know what to do with the Bible. 00:11:31.580 --> 00:11:39.879 Some of us, if we're honest, read a verse as a magic charm for our day so that hopefully we'll have a good day. 00:11:40.020 --> 00:11:41.900 That's not what this is talking about. 00:11:43.240 --> 00:11:47.060 I think many of us view the Bible as a reference book. 00:11:47.059 --> 00:11:58.359 When I need to know something about parenting or grief or God's will for me or my finances. 00:11:58.899 --> 00:12:03.000 I'll pull it out and I'll look that up and see what it has to say about that. 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:09.219 But Psalm 1 is actually painting a different picture of how we use God's word. 00:12:09.319 --> 00:12:11.259 It's of a daily relationship. 00:12:11.259 --> 00:12:16.659 Listen, I hope you don't treat your spouse or your best friend as a reference book. 00:12:17.319 --> 00:12:19.279 Yeah, I'll bring you out when I need you. 00:12:20.039 --> 00:12:22.600 Does that feel like a relationship you want to be a part of? 00:12:23.980 --> 00:12:29.659 No, in this relationship there's desperation here and delight, right? 00:12:30.659 --> 00:12:32.799 Listen, let me encourage you. 00:12:33.139 --> 00:12:37.039 When you read God's word, this happens, I think, to all of us at times. 00:12:37.340 --> 00:12:38.120 Happens to me a lot. 00:12:38.120 --> 00:12:42.560 You spend time reading God's word and you're not immediately sure what you learned. 00:12:43.539 --> 00:12:48.279 You're not immediately sure what you should do or how it makes you different. 00:12:48.539 --> 00:12:51.419 I just spent 10 minutes reading and I'm not really sure. 00:12:53.060 --> 00:12:54.139 That's okay. 00:12:55.960 --> 00:13:03.620 Sometimes spending time listening to the one you love is actually growing the relationship, 00:13:03.860 --> 00:13:06.100 even if you can't completely explain it. 00:13:06.279 --> 00:13:06.919 Amen, fathers? 00:13:08.120 --> 00:13:10.960 Especially with God. 00:13:11.480 --> 00:13:17.379 In that relationship, you can be trusting him to be shaping your heart 00:13:17.379 --> 00:13:21.120 because that's who he is and what he promises to do. 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:25.700 Listen to how he instructs his people in Colossians chapter 3. 00:13:25.700 --> 00:13:33.940 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, 00:13:34.340 --> 00:13:39.960 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 00:13:39.960 --> 00:13:50.360 Let it dwell in you, not visit occasionally, not shallow, but richly. 00:13:50.360 --> 00:14:09.000 Let it dwell among you richly, all of you in all your conversations as you gather and sing, 00:14:09.100 --> 00:14:12.340 as you teach and admonish, as you walk through life together. 00:14:12.340 --> 00:14:18.240 Father, if that's going to happen in our church family, in our community, in the y'all, 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:27.180 God's word must be at home, dwelling richly in more and more of us individually, right? 00:14:27.179 --> 00:14:36.159 More and more of us being shaped by, molded by, directed by what God says to us about us. 00:14:36.159 --> 00:14:44.059 If you weren't here last week, we have a lot of resources to help with reading God's word. 00:14:44.159 --> 00:14:46.500 You can scan this QR code. 00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:49.279 Even right now, I give you my blessing. 00:14:49.439 --> 00:14:50.419 You have three seconds. 00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:51.919 No, you can take a minute. 00:14:53.259 --> 00:14:56.379 That QR code is also in your bulletin for later, 00:14:56.500 --> 00:14:58.799 so don't get stressed if it goes away too quickly. 00:14:58.799 --> 00:15:06.699 Right now, Southwood is reading a couple chapters a day through a Bible reading plan, 00:15:07.059 --> 00:15:11.959 doing that together, that we would together be soaking in God's word. 00:15:13.559 --> 00:15:19.159 I also wanted to just say to you, young people, kids, or even adults, 00:15:19.339 --> 00:15:23.319 maybe many of you who have never read the Bible before, 00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:25.859 where do I start? 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:28.199 You can start anywhere. 00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:32.259 I'd encourage you to consider starting with the New Testament. 00:15:33.060 --> 00:15:36.280 You can read right at the beginning, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 00:15:36.340 --> 00:15:40.060 I think it's a great place to start because you'll read stories, 00:15:40.180 --> 00:15:41.960 many of which you've heard about before. 00:15:42.340 --> 00:15:46.420 You may have read or you may have heard other people talking about them. 00:15:46.700 --> 00:15:50.240 There's stories about the life of Jesus that you can understand 00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:52.840 and that you can get to know Him. 00:15:52.940 --> 00:15:55.600 That's a great place for you to start reading. 00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:59.279 And I just read one story at a time. 00:15:59.460 --> 00:16:02.180 One little section as you look in your Bible. 00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:03.720 They'll usually break it up for you. 00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:05.779 Just read one section at a time. 00:16:06.580 --> 00:16:10.120 If you don't have a relationship with God, 00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:13.620 or you're wondering what that might be like, 00:16:13.659 --> 00:16:16.220 or you're not even sure what you think about the Bible, 00:16:16.220 --> 00:16:20.440 I would urge you all the more to read it. 00:16:20.840 --> 00:16:23.500 Let the Bible speak for itself. 00:16:23.940 --> 00:16:28.080 Don't take what you've just heard around about what the Bible says 00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:31.500 or whether or not you can trust it or whether it'll speak into your life. 00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:34.120 Would you let the Bible speak? 00:16:34.200 --> 00:16:38.360 Would you let God speak and listen to what He actually says? 00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:41.399 If that's a struggle for you, we would love to read it with you. 00:16:41.779 --> 00:16:46.480 If you would like, grab any of us and we'll read alongside you and talk with you about it. 00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:51.419 For all of us, as we read God's Word, 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:54.139 to help our roots sink in deep, 00:16:54.200 --> 00:16:55.800 I like to ask three questions. 00:16:57.300 --> 00:16:59.019 No matter what part of the Bible I'm reading, 00:16:59.139 --> 00:17:01.240 you can ask these three simple questions. 00:17:01.560 --> 00:17:03.600 What does it teach me about God? 00:17:04.299 --> 00:17:06.360 I want to know Him more. 00:17:06.359 --> 00:17:08.199 That's why I'm in His Word. 00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:10.079 What am I learning about Him? 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:14.519 Number two, what does it show me about people, 00:17:15.219 --> 00:17:16.240 about myself, 00:17:17.619 --> 00:17:20.419 how He made me to be? 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:24.539 Maybe how I'm not being the way He made me to be. 00:17:24.859 --> 00:17:26.959 And then the last one, remember the hero. 00:17:27.299 --> 00:17:28.519 We talked about this last week. 00:17:28.579 --> 00:17:30.740 How does it point me to Jesus? 00:17:31.479 --> 00:17:33.299 How much I need Him. 00:17:33.299 --> 00:17:38.299 How gracious He is to meet my needs. 00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:43.299 Wherever you are, you can ask those three questions as you read. 00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:45.859 As God's Word starts to come in to your ears. 00:17:45.980 --> 00:17:48.259 First, we listen to God with our ears. 00:17:49.539 --> 00:17:51.779 We want to hear Him speaking to us regularly. 00:17:53.240 --> 00:17:55.000 Next, I want us to think about our minds. 00:17:55.000 --> 00:18:00.559 Remember, we are called to love the Lord our God with all our minds. 00:18:00.819 --> 00:18:05.839 Part of that is that we seek to understand His Word. 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:07.960 He's spoken to us. 00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:10.900 We want to know, understand what He's saying. 00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:13.000 And I just want to be honest. 00:18:13.099 --> 00:18:16.259 I suspect many of you like me have gone through seasons of life 00:18:16.259 --> 00:18:19.380 or parts of God's Word that you read it 00:18:19.380 --> 00:18:23.100 and you're just confused and frustrated. 00:18:23.900 --> 00:18:26.880 Which, for many of us, that can be very demotivating, yes? 00:18:27.020 --> 00:18:28.300 When you're confused and frustrated, 00:18:28.380 --> 00:18:29.680 who wants to go do that in the morning? 00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:33.180 No, I got lots of other ways to get confused and frustrated. 00:18:33.640 --> 00:18:35.220 And it can demotivate us. 00:18:35.300 --> 00:18:38.140 It can turn us away from God's Word. 00:18:38.140 --> 00:18:42.440 And I'll admit, there are certainly some things in the Bible 00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:46.220 that our finite minds will never get totally wrapped around, 00:18:46.340 --> 00:18:47.340 completely understand. 00:18:47.980 --> 00:18:49.460 But there's so much we can. 00:18:49.580 --> 00:18:51.960 We should seek to understand. 00:18:52.140 --> 00:18:52.420 Why? 00:18:53.420 --> 00:18:57.800 Because we love the God who is speaking to us. 00:18:57.920 --> 00:18:59.000 He's given it to us. 00:18:59.060 --> 00:19:01.440 He wants us to know Him, to understand. 00:19:02.020 --> 00:19:04.740 I love the picture in Nehemiah chapter 8 00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:10.079 of the people of God, listening to the Word of God. 00:19:10.420 --> 00:19:15.019 Ezra brings God's Word before the men and women 00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:21.759 and children of Israel, and he reads it for several hours. 00:19:23.380 --> 00:19:24.519 Let's practice. 00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:30.960 He reads it for several hours, and we're told what? 00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:32.039 About how they responded. 00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:36.200 Their ears were attentive. 00:19:37.539 --> 00:19:40.240 What a beautiful picture of the people of God 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:43.279 gathered longing to be people of the book. 00:19:43.700 --> 00:19:44.619 They want to know what it says. 00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:46.079 They want to understand their God. 00:19:46.579 --> 00:19:49.639 And what's also highlighted in this story in Nehemiah 8 00:19:49.639 --> 00:19:53.539 is that the leaders, the teachers, the priests, 00:19:53.779 --> 00:19:55.279 going around through the crowds. 00:19:55.420 --> 00:19:56.899 You know, they're not using microphones, right? 00:19:57.099 --> 00:19:58.779 So they're going through the crowds of people, 00:19:58.779 --> 00:20:03.079 helping them understand what's being read. 00:20:03.079 --> 00:20:06.819 Verse 8, they gave the sense 00:20:06.819 --> 00:20:11.000 so the people understood the reading. 00:20:11.700 --> 00:20:14.220 It's important to hear God's Word. 00:20:14.359 --> 00:20:17.160 It's also important to understand it. 00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:21.200 We have lots of resources to aid in that these days, 00:20:21.360 --> 00:20:25.779 from study Bibles to commentaries to online helps. 00:20:27.060 --> 00:20:31.779 And especially, God calls the leaders of his people 00:20:31.779 --> 00:20:35.220 to help them understand his Word. 00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:41.140 Our confession of faith says God uses the reading of his Word, 00:20:41.880 --> 00:20:46.299 but especially the preaching of his Word 00:20:46.299 --> 00:20:49.259 to bring his grace into our lives, 00:20:49.380 --> 00:20:53.339 to help us walk day by day with Jesus. 00:20:53.819 --> 00:20:56.620 Do you remember reading about that last week in 2 Timothy 3, 00:20:56.759 --> 00:21:01.579 that all Scripture, all God's Word is breathed out by him. 00:21:01.579 --> 00:21:07.000 It's God's Word so that it is profitable for our lives. 00:21:07.339 --> 00:21:08.099 And in light of that, 00:21:08.159 --> 00:21:10.279 do you know what Paul says to Pastor Timothy? 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:12.980 What's the one serious command he gives him 00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:16.899 in light of how holy and perfect God's Word is? 00:21:18.980 --> 00:21:21.139 Preach the Word. 00:21:22.779 --> 00:21:24.799 That's the result of that reality is, 00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:26.139 here's what you should do, Timothy. 00:21:26.599 --> 00:21:29.119 Preach the Word in season and out of season. 00:21:29.119 --> 00:21:32.039 Teach it whether they like the message of the Bible or not. 00:21:32.399 --> 00:21:34.119 Teach it whether you like the passage 00:21:34.119 --> 00:21:35.699 you're getting to next Sunday or not. 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:37.079 I didn't ask you whether you liked it, Timothy. 00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:37.719 Preach it. 00:21:39.919 --> 00:21:41.519 Preach the Word. 00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:45.139 Is that what you delight in when you're listening to a sermon? 00:21:46.179 --> 00:21:47.759 Are you wanting to be entertained, 00:21:48.179 --> 00:21:50.799 or are you longing to know God more, 00:21:51.019 --> 00:21:54.379 to hear his voice because his Word is opened, 00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:56.419 to understand more of what it would look like 00:21:56.420 --> 00:21:58.880 to walk with him today and this week? 00:21:59.640 --> 00:22:02.120 It's important for the Word to be preached 00:22:02.120 --> 00:22:05.400 because it is vital for us to understand the God 00:22:05.400 --> 00:22:09.220 who made us and made himself known to us in it. 00:22:09.420 --> 00:22:11.400 He speaks so that we might listen 00:22:11.400 --> 00:22:14.380 and find true life in knowing him. 00:22:14.940 --> 00:22:17.279 See, that's exactly what happens in Nehemiah chapter 8. 00:22:17.360 --> 00:22:18.440 Let's look back there. 00:22:18.519 --> 00:22:20.960 The people begin to understand God's Word, 00:22:21.160 --> 00:22:22.279 and as it's explained to them, 00:22:22.300 --> 00:22:23.500 and they understand it, what do they do? 00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:25.339 They weep. 00:22:26.119 --> 00:22:28.619 They start weeping because they realize 00:22:28.619 --> 00:22:31.400 they've not been living with him as they ought. 00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:34.079 That's what happens as we understand God's Word. 00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:35.180 We're convicted. 00:22:35.559 --> 00:22:37.160 They're convicted of idolatry, 00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:40.880 of their unbelief, of their selfishness, 00:22:41.299 --> 00:22:43.799 but it doesn't stop there. 00:22:44.140 --> 00:22:47.000 As Ezra keeps reading and the leaders keep explaining, 00:22:47.319 --> 00:22:49.900 they start to tell them that they don't need to weep anymore. 00:22:49.900 --> 00:22:53.360 Actually, there's great reason to rejoice. 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:54.220 That's what they're told. 00:22:54.420 --> 00:22:57.840 There's a faithful God who keeps covenant even when you break it, 00:22:58.060 --> 00:23:00.680 who even now is calling you back to himself. 00:23:01.360 --> 00:23:04.040 And the people realized that while weeping was appropriate, 00:23:04.540 --> 00:23:08.460 now so much more is rejoicing appropriate too. 00:23:09.300 --> 00:23:15.000 Do you see how understanding God's Word begins to shape their lives, 00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:18.160 their emotions, their actions. 00:23:18.339 --> 00:23:23.640 It's starting to tell them what it looks like to live in relationship with God. 00:23:25.160 --> 00:23:28.880 That's the final thing delighting in God's Word looks like here. 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:31.079 It goes into our ears, 00:23:31.960 --> 00:23:34.059 it processes in our minds, 00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:36.420 and it transforms our hearts. 00:23:36.420 --> 00:23:39.880 We don't merely sit with it to listen, 00:23:40.420 --> 00:23:41.420 seek to understand, 00:23:41.539 --> 00:23:44.080 but we must soak in it 00:23:44.080 --> 00:23:46.460 until we're transformed. 00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:52.039 Listen, on his law he meditates day and night. 00:23:52.660 --> 00:23:54.279 Oh, how I love thy law. 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:58.620 It is my meditation all the day. 00:23:58.840 --> 00:24:02.259 I have hidden your Word in my heart, 00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:03.660 listened to it, 00:24:03.940 --> 00:24:04.640 brought it in, 00:24:04.779 --> 00:24:05.500 stored it up, 00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:06.579 understood it. 00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:07.079 Why? 00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:09.420 Just for intellectual curiosity? 00:24:09.960 --> 00:24:15.339 No, that I might not sin against you. 00:24:15.500 --> 00:24:16.680 So that like Jesus, 00:24:16.920 --> 00:24:18.279 when I'm squeezed, 00:24:18.660 --> 00:24:20.079 God's Word comes out. 00:24:20.339 --> 00:24:22.359 It directs my life faithfully, 00:24:22.880 --> 00:24:23.440 meditating, 00:24:23.859 --> 00:24:24.519 soaking in, 00:24:25.059 --> 00:24:25.759 marinating, 00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:29.680 until the flavor goes all the way through the meat, right? 00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:32.180 And it oozes out in something that's tasty. 00:24:32.180 --> 00:24:36.900 Maybe it changes me completely from the inside out. 00:24:38.320 --> 00:24:42.779 Maybe you keep contemplating that verse you read this morning, 00:24:43.580 --> 00:24:46.019 just chewing on it over and over. 00:24:46.019 --> 00:24:50.400 Maybe you revisit the sermon once you've left this room. 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:54.960 You might even use the grace group questions that are provided for you. 00:24:55.079 --> 00:24:57.799 You might look at all of the extensive notes you've written. 00:24:58.740 --> 00:24:59.680 Someone else was preaching, 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:04.339 but you took notes to go back to it, 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:08.180 to have a conversation in your grace group about it. 00:25:08.180 --> 00:25:10.500 Whatever that might look like. 00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:12.779 It might be a Bible study that you've been in, 00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:15.420 and you're going back and pondering it again, 00:25:15.480 --> 00:25:18.039 and you're asking the Holy Spirit to transform your heart 00:25:18.039 --> 00:25:20.440 so that you're renewed in relationship with God, 00:25:20.500 --> 00:25:22.160 and you actually begin to live differently. 00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:25.460 Will you slow down for that? 00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:28.840 We don't slow down for much, do we? 00:25:31.340 --> 00:25:34.900 Slow down for not just checking a box quickly each morning 00:25:34.900 --> 00:25:36.680 so you feel like a good Christian today, 00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:40.400 but really longing to be changed, 00:25:40.620 --> 00:25:43.800 to be shaped, to be directed by God. 00:25:43.880 --> 00:25:44.980 Don't we need that? 00:25:45.420 --> 00:25:48.780 All the day, day and night, with God's Word. 00:25:49.019 --> 00:25:51.720 Remember, nothing else in your busy life is perfect. 00:25:52.400 --> 00:25:55.259 Nothing else you're going to encounter this afternoon is perfect, 00:25:55.840 --> 00:25:57.680 is life-giving like this. 00:25:57.680 --> 00:26:00.280 This is the Bible's power. 00:26:00.780 --> 00:26:01.640 Hebrews chapter 4, 00:26:01.640 --> 00:26:04.800 For the Word of God is living and active, 00:26:05.200 --> 00:26:07.200 sharper than any two-edged sword, 00:26:07.640 --> 00:26:09.880 piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, 00:26:10.220 --> 00:26:11.420 of joints and of marrow, 00:26:11.820 --> 00:26:15.440 discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 00:26:16.220 --> 00:26:18.900 God's Word will expose you, 00:26:20.060 --> 00:26:22.259 which is a bit scary, 00:26:23.460 --> 00:26:24.860 but hang with me. 00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:29.180 The surgery is for your good. 00:26:29.180 --> 00:26:32.880 God wounds in order to heal. 00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:36.480 It's the grace of this pathway we're talking about. 00:26:36.920 --> 00:26:38.840 His Word, many of you have experienced this, 00:26:39.080 --> 00:26:41.460 will expose your heart if you listen to it. 00:26:41.980 --> 00:26:44.060 It cuts deep, doesn't it? 00:26:44.500 --> 00:26:47.039 A sword that pierces to the vitals, 00:26:47.080 --> 00:26:48.220 unless we avoid it altogether, 00:26:48.400 --> 00:26:49.660 it's going to cut all the way through. 00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:53.860 It shows the thoughts and intentions of our hearts, 00:26:53.960 --> 00:26:55.880 what we most deeply feel, 00:26:56.400 --> 00:26:58.279 what priorities really motivate us, 00:26:58.279 --> 00:27:01.019 what relationship really shapes our life. 00:27:01.980 --> 00:27:04.180 I still remember as a young boy, 00:27:05.039 --> 00:27:06.980 reading of Moses, 00:27:07.379 --> 00:27:11.240 and of how he regarded the reproach of God 00:27:11.240 --> 00:27:14.980 greater than all the treasures of Egypt. 00:27:16.779 --> 00:27:19.519 I remember feeling like, 00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:22.639 that's not exactly the way I'm looking at life. 00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:24.720 I was convicted about my pursuit 00:27:24.720 --> 00:27:27.559 of worldly fame and comfort. 00:27:27.740 --> 00:27:28.779 It softened my heart. 00:27:28.860 --> 00:27:30.400 It changed my priorities. 00:27:31.779 --> 00:27:33.019 I remember in college, 00:27:33.259 --> 00:27:34.600 reading of God's Word 00:27:34.600 --> 00:27:36.380 as the source of true wisdom, 00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:38.920 and being convicted of how often 00:27:38.920 --> 00:27:40.480 I was relying on my own wisdom, 00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:43.180 even giving really unwise advice, 00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:44.700 as it sometimes turned out, 00:27:44.940 --> 00:27:45.799 in light of that. 00:27:46.019 --> 00:27:48.440 And God used that to lead me to seminary 00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:50.799 to learn more about His Word. 00:27:50.799 --> 00:27:51.419 I said, 00:27:51.460 --> 00:27:53.440 I don't want to be an unwise advice giver. 00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:57.359 I remember recently being convicted 00:27:57.359 --> 00:28:00.079 about exasperating my children 00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:02.299 when I read that passage in Ephesians. 00:28:04.859 --> 00:28:06.379 Happy Father's Day. 00:28:07.539 --> 00:28:10.240 Have you repented to your children lately? 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:13.640 I needed to repent to them 00:28:13.640 --> 00:28:14.940 about being defensive, 00:28:16.299 --> 00:28:16.819 impatient, 00:28:17.579 --> 00:28:18.960 insisting on my own way. 00:28:19.220 --> 00:28:21.400 God's Word did that in my heart. 00:28:21.480 --> 00:28:23.319 It showed me what was going on. 00:28:23.859 --> 00:28:24.620 Notice, by the way, 00:28:24.740 --> 00:28:26.740 you don't have to make this exposure 00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:27.940 of your heart happen. 00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:30.019 You're the patient here, 00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:30.859 not the surgeon. 00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:34.440 Will you commit to surgery today? 00:28:35.099 --> 00:28:36.440 Will you pick a time 00:28:36.440 --> 00:28:38.380 to sit before God 00:28:38.380 --> 00:28:40.100 and open His Word? 00:28:41.560 --> 00:28:43.720 He is the best surgeon. 00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:46.980 Just see what He'll do. 00:28:47.840 --> 00:28:48.860 Sit down before Him 00:28:48.860 --> 00:28:50.240 with His Word open. 00:28:50.880 --> 00:28:52.760 You soak deeply, 00:28:53.300 --> 00:28:53.920 richly, 00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:56.040 consistently in God's Word. 00:28:56.460 --> 00:28:57.080 That's all. 00:28:57.480 --> 00:28:58.480 It is alive. 00:28:58.880 --> 00:29:00.160 It is powerful, 00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:01.020 revealing, 00:29:01.340 --> 00:29:02.340 eternal life-giving, 00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:04.000 salvation powerful, 00:29:04.180 --> 00:29:05.360 that level power. 00:29:05.720 --> 00:29:06.640 That's what it has. 00:29:06.840 --> 00:29:07.560 You don't have it. 00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:08.879 You open it up 00:29:08.879 --> 00:29:10.419 and it does that work 00:29:10.419 --> 00:29:11.659 on your heart. 00:29:14.200 --> 00:29:15.240 It pierces. 00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:16.779 It exposes. 00:29:18.759 --> 00:29:19.819 And this would chase 00:29:19.819 --> 00:29:20.919 all of us away from it 00:29:20.919 --> 00:29:22.279 in fear of being exposed. 00:29:23.059 --> 00:29:24.720 If it didn't also promise 00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:26.859 that when we're exposed, 00:29:27.059 --> 00:29:28.399 we'll also be embraced. 00:29:29.639 --> 00:29:30.960 This is so wonderful 00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:32.679 as we walk in relationship with God. 00:29:32.899 --> 00:29:33.559 Don't miss this 00:29:33.559 --> 00:29:34.519 or you'll never get close 00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:35.139 to God's Word. 00:29:35.319 --> 00:29:36.039 If you believe everything 00:29:36.039 --> 00:29:36.759 I said so far 00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:37.659 but you don't know this, 00:29:37.859 --> 00:29:38.240 you'll say, 00:29:38.460 --> 00:29:39.220 keep it away from me. 00:29:39.359 --> 00:29:40.379 It might really show me 00:29:40.379 --> 00:29:41.259 what's going on in here 00:29:41.259 --> 00:29:42.639 and I might be afraid. 00:29:43.960 --> 00:29:45.139 See, not only does Jesus 00:29:45.139 --> 00:29:46.339 take us to the Bible, 00:29:47.579 --> 00:29:48.819 the thing we need to know 00:29:48.819 --> 00:29:49.839 to walk with Him, 00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:51.059 but gloriously, 00:29:51.259 --> 00:29:52.500 let's remember again today, 00:29:52.599 --> 00:29:55.200 the Bible takes us to Jesus. 00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:57.460 Just this week 00:29:57.460 --> 00:29:58.279 at General Assembly, 00:29:58.440 --> 00:29:59.039 the annual gathering 00:29:59.659 --> 00:30:00.740 of our denomination 00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:01.559 that is committed 00:30:01.559 --> 00:30:02.940 to being faithful 00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:03.799 to the scriptures. 00:30:04.679 --> 00:30:05.720 I got to sit with brothers 00:30:05.720 --> 00:30:06.299 and sisters 00:30:06.299 --> 00:30:07.440 to hear stories 00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:09.399 of the living Word 00:30:09.399 --> 00:30:10.299 bearing fruit 00:30:10.299 --> 00:30:11.659 in the whole world 00:30:11.659 --> 00:30:12.639 and in us 00:30:12.639 --> 00:30:13.619 as Paul promised 00:30:13.619 --> 00:30:14.519 the Colossians. 00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:15.779 I saw examples 00:30:15.779 --> 00:30:16.559 from Texas 00:30:16.559 --> 00:30:17.899 and South Korea 00:30:17.899 --> 00:30:19.079 of Christians 00:30:19.079 --> 00:30:19.859 transformed 00:30:19.859 --> 00:30:21.059 to live on God's mission 00:30:21.059 --> 00:30:23.000 by reading His Word. 00:30:24.259 --> 00:30:25.119 In one lunch, 00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:26.299 I heard of Muslims 00:30:26.299 --> 00:30:26.980 in Malaysia, 00:30:27.879 --> 00:30:29.200 Buddhists in Thailand, 00:30:29.200 --> 00:30:30.500 and atheists 00:30:30.500 --> 00:30:31.299 in Bangladesh 00:30:31.299 --> 00:30:32.840 coming to faith 00:30:32.840 --> 00:30:33.840 in Jesus Christ 00:30:33.840 --> 00:30:35.279 and seeing their lives 00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:36.240 totally altered 00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:37.600 because they started 00:30:37.600 --> 00:30:40.000 reading God's Word. 00:30:41.180 --> 00:30:42.980 Because they started asking, 00:30:43.799 --> 00:30:44.779 seeking to understand 00:30:44.779 --> 00:30:45.819 what it meant, 00:30:45.960 --> 00:30:47.000 they asked others 00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:47.680 who were sent 00:30:47.680 --> 00:30:48.799 to share with them. 00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:50.480 They started soaking in it 00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:51.299 until their hearts 00:30:51.299 --> 00:30:51.840 were exposed 00:30:51.840 --> 00:30:52.819 and they found 00:30:52.819 --> 00:30:53.700 the embrace 00:30:53.700 --> 00:30:55.680 of Jesus for them. 00:30:55.880 --> 00:30:56.620 It will happen 00:30:56.620 --> 00:30:57.400 for you too. 00:30:57.680 --> 00:30:58.480 It doesn't just happen 00:30:58.480 --> 00:30:59.160 around the world. 00:31:00.039 --> 00:31:01.120 It happens here. 00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:03.880 See, 00:31:03.940 --> 00:31:04.340 when your heart 00:31:04.340 --> 00:31:05.080 is exposed, 00:31:05.340 --> 00:31:07.120 what do you think 00:31:07.120 --> 00:31:07.620 we'll find? 00:31:09.819 --> 00:31:10.600 I'm like you, 00:31:10.660 --> 00:31:11.299 so I know the things 00:31:11.299 --> 00:31:11.840 in my own heart. 00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:12.620 I talked to you. 00:31:12.880 --> 00:31:13.580 You've told me 00:31:13.580 --> 00:31:14.220 some of the things 00:31:14.220 --> 00:31:14.680 in your heart. 00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:15.840 What are you concerned 00:31:15.840 --> 00:31:16.700 might be uncovered 00:31:16.700 --> 00:31:18.680 if something cuts deeply 00:31:18.680 --> 00:31:19.759 and exposes 00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:20.920 what's in the depths 00:31:20.920 --> 00:31:21.539 of our heart? 00:31:22.880 --> 00:31:24.360 What if we find guilt 00:31:24.360 --> 00:31:26.360 and shame? 00:31:28.019 --> 00:31:28.960 Is that possible? 00:31:29.200 --> 00:31:31.480 Oh yes. 00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:34.180 But God's word 00:31:34.180 --> 00:31:34.880 doesn't leave you 00:31:34.880 --> 00:31:35.779 exposed there. 00:31:36.740 --> 00:31:37.900 It takes you to Jesus 00:31:37.900 --> 00:31:40.360 who has made sin 00:31:40.360 --> 00:31:41.259 for us 00:31:41.259 --> 00:31:42.200 that we might 00:31:42.200 --> 00:31:42.860 become 00:31:42.860 --> 00:31:43.799 the righteousness 00:31:43.799 --> 00:31:44.960 of God 00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:45.819 in him, 00:31:46.080 --> 00:31:47.420 2 Corinthians 5. 00:31:47.580 --> 00:31:48.759 Because God 00:31:48.759 --> 00:31:49.720 in his great 00:31:49.720 --> 00:31:50.799 faithfulness 00:31:50.799 --> 00:31:52.160 forgives our sins 00:31:52.160 --> 00:31:53.400 and cleanses us 00:31:53.400 --> 00:31:55.160 from all unrighteousness, 00:31:55.160 --> 00:31:56.680 1 John 1. 00:31:57.320 --> 00:31:58.259 And as a result 00:31:58.259 --> 00:31:58.820 of that, 00:31:59.100 --> 00:31:59.680 the Savior 00:31:59.680 --> 00:32:00.519 who dies 00:32:00.519 --> 00:32:01.060 on the cross 00:32:01.060 --> 00:32:01.460 for us 00:32:01.460 --> 00:32:02.140 to make that 00:32:02.140 --> 00:32:02.600 a reality 00:32:02.600 --> 00:32:03.560 is no longer 00:32:03.560 --> 00:32:04.120 ashamed 00:32:04.120 --> 00:32:05.340 to call us 00:32:05.340 --> 00:32:06.240 his brothers 00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:07.360 and sisters. 00:32:07.500 --> 00:32:07.860 Do you see 00:32:07.860 --> 00:32:08.580 what happens 00:32:08.580 --> 00:32:09.320 when it takes us 00:32:09.320 --> 00:32:09.860 to Jesus? 00:32:10.360 --> 00:32:11.420 No more guilt, 00:32:11.820 --> 00:32:12.800 no more shame. 00:32:12.900 --> 00:32:13.779 He takes both 00:32:13.779 --> 00:32:14.240 of those 00:32:14.240 --> 00:32:15.160 on himself. 00:32:15.160 --> 00:32:16.759 You are his delight. 00:32:16.759 --> 00:32:21.599 What if we find 00:32:21.599 --> 00:32:22.259 pride 00:32:22.259 --> 00:32:25.200 and self-righteousness? 00:32:26.240 --> 00:32:27.440 Is that possible? 00:32:28.799 --> 00:32:29.640 Oh yes. 00:32:31.400 --> 00:32:32.039 But God's word 00:32:32.039 --> 00:32:32.680 doesn't leave you 00:32:32.680 --> 00:32:33.779 exposed there. 00:32:34.119 --> 00:32:34.680 It takes you 00:32:34.680 --> 00:32:35.220 to Jesus 00:32:35.220 --> 00:32:36.579 where we realize 00:32:36.579 --> 00:32:37.079 with Paul 00:32:37.079 --> 00:32:37.759 that whatever 00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:38.599 was to our gain, 00:32:38.879 --> 00:32:39.920 whatever record 00:32:39.920 --> 00:32:41.160 we had to commend us, 00:32:41.379 --> 00:32:42.579 we count as loss 00:32:42.579 --> 00:32:43.480 compared to the 00:32:43.480 --> 00:32:44.700 surpassing greatness 00:32:44.700 --> 00:32:45.759 of one thing, 00:32:46.100 --> 00:32:48.279 knowing Christ Jesus, 00:32:48.680 --> 00:32:49.559 Philippians 3. 00:32:50.140 --> 00:32:50.940 The one who 00:32:50.940 --> 00:32:53.120 humbled himself, 00:32:54.580 --> 00:32:55.380 Philippians 2. 00:32:57.480 --> 00:32:58.680 So that we would 00:32:58.680 --> 00:32:59.460 never boast, 00:33:00.420 --> 00:33:02.140 never boast, 00:33:02.600 --> 00:33:03.920 except in the cross 00:33:03.920 --> 00:33:05.380 of Jesus, 00:33:05.740 --> 00:33:06.920 Galatians 6. 00:33:07.500 --> 00:33:09.640 Exposed in our pride 00:33:09.640 --> 00:33:11.940 and embraced 00:33:11.940 --> 00:33:13.620 by his grace. 00:33:13.720 --> 00:33:14.500 That's what will happen. 00:33:14.700 --> 00:33:17.580 One last thing 00:33:17.580 --> 00:33:18.240 we might find. 00:33:18.319 --> 00:33:18.940 What if we find 00:33:18.940 --> 00:33:20.720 fear and anxiety? 00:33:21.120 --> 00:33:21.680 I know there's 00:33:21.680 --> 00:33:22.460 plenty in here. 00:33:24.259 --> 00:33:25.279 That's possible. 00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:26.980 But God's word 00:33:26.980 --> 00:33:27.740 doesn't leave you 00:33:27.740 --> 00:33:29.259 exposed there. 00:33:29.600 --> 00:33:30.319 It takes you 00:33:30.319 --> 00:33:30.980 to Jesus 00:33:30.980 --> 00:33:32.279 who tells you 00:33:32.279 --> 00:33:33.440 that no one 00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:34.819 can snatch you 00:33:34.819 --> 00:33:36.200 out of his hand. 00:33:36.500 --> 00:33:37.480 John 10. 00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:38.799 Who assures you 00:33:38.799 --> 00:33:40.080 that he is with you 00:33:40.080 --> 00:33:41.200 by his spirit 00:33:41.200 --> 00:33:42.200 so that greater 00:33:42.200 --> 00:33:43.500 is he who is in you 00:33:43.500 --> 00:33:44.680 than he that is 00:33:44.680 --> 00:33:45.420 in the world. 00:33:45.420 --> 00:33:47.039 1 John 4. 00:33:47.180 --> 00:33:48.380 And nothing you do 00:33:48.380 --> 00:33:49.779 and nothing anyone, 00:33:49.920 --> 00:33:51.339 including Satan himself, 00:33:51.460 --> 00:33:52.559 can do to you, 00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:54.039 can separate you 00:33:54.039 --> 00:33:55.119 from his love 00:33:55.119 --> 00:33:55.819 ever. 00:33:56.420 --> 00:33:57.480 Romans 8. 00:33:57.920 --> 00:33:58.180 See, 00:33:58.259 --> 00:33:59.380 you are exposed 00:33:59.380 --> 00:34:01.039 as unlovely 00:34:01.039 --> 00:34:02.460 and rightfully 00:34:02.460 --> 00:34:02.480 and rightfully 00:34:02.480 --> 00:34:03.399 you're afraid 00:34:03.399 --> 00:34:04.659 of what may come 00:34:04.659 --> 00:34:05.159 to you 00:34:05.159 --> 00:34:06.559 except that you 00:34:06.559 --> 00:34:07.920 are embraced 00:34:07.920 --> 00:34:09.139 by the surgeon, 00:34:09.559 --> 00:34:11.779 the one who is love 00:34:11.779 --> 00:34:13.019 and you walk 00:34:13.019 --> 00:34:13.900 with him 00:34:13.900 --> 00:34:15.360 so that you are safe 00:34:15.360 --> 00:34:16.679 and secure 00:34:16.679 --> 00:34:17.840 always 00:34:17.840 --> 00:34:19.759 and forever. 00:34:19.760 --> 00:34:21.860 indeed blessed 00:34:21.860 --> 00:34:23.720 is the man 00:34:23.720 --> 00:34:24.620 or woman 00:34:24.620 --> 00:34:25.960 or child 00:34:25.960 --> 00:34:26.980 whose delight 00:34:26.980 --> 00:34:28.980 is in the law 00:34:28.980 --> 00:34:29.620 of the Lord 00:34:29.620 --> 00:34:31.900 on which he meditates 00:34:31.900 --> 00:34:32.380 day 00:34:32.380 --> 00:34:33.680 and night. 00:34:33.680 --> 00:34:34.340 Let's pray. 00:34:39.300 --> 00:34:39.860 Jesus, 00:34:39.980 --> 00:34:41.100 would you so help us 00:34:41.100 --> 00:34:41.680 to walk 00:34:41.680 --> 00:34:42.480 with you 00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:46.040 in this pathway 00:34:46.040 --> 00:34:46.920 where we find 00:34:46.920 --> 00:34:47.780 your grace 00:34:47.780 --> 00:34:49.880 where we find 00:34:49.880 --> 00:34:51.139 a surgeon 00:34:51.139 --> 00:34:52.900 who never stops 00:34:52.900 --> 00:34:54.139 mid-procedure, 00:34:54.960 --> 00:34:57.240 who starts 00:34:57.240 --> 00:34:58.139 to work on us 00:34:58.139 --> 00:34:58.720 as his word 00:34:58.720 --> 00:35:00.079 exposes our heart 00:35:00.079 --> 00:35:01.000 and then 00:35:01.000 --> 00:35:02.280 carries it on 00:35:02.280 --> 00:35:03.099 to completion 00:35:03.099 --> 00:35:03.760 at the day 00:35:03.760 --> 00:35:04.840 of Christ Jesus. 00:35:05.440 --> 00:35:06.860 You're with us. 00:35:07.180 --> 00:35:08.579 You speak to us. 00:35:08.720 --> 00:35:09.940 We can listen 00:35:09.940 --> 00:35:10.800 to you 00:35:10.800 --> 00:35:12.260 even today. 00:35:12.800 --> 00:35:14.300 So give us grace 00:35:14.300 --> 00:35:15.099 that we would hear 00:35:15.099 --> 00:35:15.639 your voice 00:35:15.639 --> 00:35:16.559 and walk with you 00:35:16.559 --> 00:35:17.940 and we ask it 00:35:17.940 --> 00:35:18.440 in your name, 00:35:18.559 --> 00:35:18.799 Jesus. 00:35:19.500 --> 00:35:19.779 Amen. 00:35:21.219 --> 00:35:22.360 For more information, 00:35:22.679 --> 00:35:23.619 visit us online 00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:24.679 at southwood.org. 00:35:24.679 --> 00:35:25.879 보겠습니다. 00:35:30.059 --> 00:35:30.679 Refes chaos 00:35:30.679 --> 00:36:00.659 Thank you.