WEBVTT

00:00:00.280 --> 00:00:09.359
 Father, we just read from your Word just a minute ago how Jesus opened the minds of the

00:00:09.359 --> 00:00:16.199
 disciples to understand the Scriptures, and Jesus said, Father, that he would send the

00:00:16.199 --> 00:00:18.199
 promise of the Father to the disciples.

00:00:19.460 --> 00:00:21.580
 Father, we ask for that for us.

00:00:22.440 --> 00:00:24.460
 May Jesus be present in our midst.

00:00:24.460 --> 00:00:30.339
 May he open our minds to help us to understand the Bible, which is your Word written.

00:00:31.179 --> 00:00:35.399
 And Father, we are weak, and we can be so timid.

00:00:36.320 --> 00:00:41.640
 And so, Father, we ask that you would pour out your Holy Spirit upon us so that we would

00:00:41.640 --> 00:00:48.439
 be bold witnesses to proclaim your name, not only in this city of Ottawa, but to every

00:00:48.439 --> 00:00:49.820
 people group on the planet.

00:00:49.820 --> 00:00:56.960
 Father, please, we ask these things in the name of Jesus, your Son, and our Savior.

00:00:57.700 --> 00:00:58.039
 Amen.

00:00:58.579 --> 00:00:59.659
 Please be seated.

00:01:04.859 --> 00:01:09.799
 So, first of all, Happy Father's Day.

00:01:10.120 --> 00:01:13.620
 We didn't say that, but it's Father's Day, and so Happy Father's Day.

00:01:13.620 --> 00:01:18.520
 And that's sort of the whole Father's Day part of the service out of the way, other than

00:01:18.520 --> 00:01:19.719
 maybe something in the prayers.

00:01:21.960 --> 00:01:24.719
 Some of you maybe have heard this story before, but that's fine.

00:01:27.020 --> 00:01:34.060
 I started going to what was the equivalent of my seminary, of course, in September, quite

00:01:34.060 --> 00:01:35.340
 a long, long time ago now.

00:01:35.340 --> 00:01:43.060
 And just a couple of weeks after I started what was to be my seminary experience, Louise

00:01:43.060 --> 00:01:46.579
 and I had Jesse, our second child.

00:01:48.219 --> 00:01:55.260
 And about two months after Jesse was born, there was an event that really shook me.

00:01:55.359 --> 00:01:58.600
 In fact, it's been, I don't know if Louise thinks about it as much as I think about it,

00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:00.820
 but I often think about this particular event.

00:02:00.819 --> 00:02:06.759
 For you young parents, it's, you know, nowadays with babies, it's as if you almost, you know,

00:02:06.779 --> 00:02:11.139
 as soon as they're born, you put them in like a hockey helmet and body armor, and you put

00:02:11.139 --> 00:02:17.039
 them in big plastic things so they can survive nuclear wars or car crashes or tumbling down

00:02:17.039 --> 00:02:17.519
 stairs.

00:02:17.699 --> 00:02:21.539
 But it wasn't like that, like in the dark ages, 30 some odd years ago.

00:02:21.939 --> 00:02:26.039
 We still cared for children, but we didn't have all the armor that you have nowadays.

00:02:26.039 --> 00:02:32.239
 And anyway, Louise had this really beautiful basket that would have been about this long

00:02:32.239 --> 00:02:36.560
 and about this wide, and it was like a wicker basket and had a nice, you know, blanket and

00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:37.340
 cushion on the bottom.

00:02:37.859 --> 00:02:43.239
 And sometimes we would put Jesse in that basket because it was really handy.

00:02:43.319 --> 00:02:44.259
 You could carry it around.

00:02:44.359 --> 00:02:45.939
 It was nice and cozy and safe.

00:02:46.780 --> 00:02:54.039
 And so one day when Jesse was about two months old, I had put the basket on like a chest of

00:02:54.039 --> 00:02:54.299
 drawers.

00:02:54.300 --> 00:02:55.380
 It was about that high.

00:02:56.340 --> 00:03:00.540
 And then I just sort of, I just stepped out of the room for a second to go and do something.

00:03:01.360 --> 00:03:06.300
 And one of the things I was still discovering then is that two-year-olds have the ability

00:03:06.300 --> 00:03:13.620
 to materialize in rooms silently without letting anybody know, and that they also have the ability

00:03:13.620 --> 00:03:16.900
 to stretch their arms up farther than their height.

00:03:17.080 --> 00:03:19.400
 They're like Fantastic Four, Mr. Fantastic.

00:03:19.860 --> 00:03:21.420
 I didn't know that about two-year-olds.

00:03:21.480 --> 00:03:22.439
 I was still learning it.

00:03:22.439 --> 00:03:29.500
 And anyway, I'm just out of the room for the briefest of seconds, and I hear a thump, not

00:03:29.500 --> 00:03:30.379
 a nice thump.

00:03:30.840 --> 00:03:32.060
 And I hear a cry.

00:03:32.699 --> 00:03:34.359
 And I come rushing into the room.

00:03:34.360 --> 00:03:38.440
 And my son Tosh had pulled the basket off the chest of drawers.

00:03:38.480 --> 00:03:45.160
 And when I come in, all I see is Jesse's little head on the hardwood floor.

00:03:45.159 --> 00:03:49.579
 And the rest of his body is in the basket.

00:03:49.579 --> 00:03:55.439
 So that's very, very, very upsetting for anybody, any parent.

00:03:55.439 --> 00:03:59.259
 So several things happen very quickly.

00:03:59.659 --> 00:04:03.659
 You know, we, of course, pick them up, and you call, and you yell, and we get a car.

00:04:03.719 --> 00:04:04.300
 We didn't own a car.

00:04:04.359 --> 00:04:05.060
 We had to get a car.

00:04:05.199 --> 00:04:08.680
 And I'm driving, you know, Jesse to the CHEO Children's Hospital.

00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:14.139
 And all the way that I'm going there, of course, I'm really worried, and I'm praying like crazy

00:04:14.139 --> 00:04:15.680
 that Jesse will be all right.

00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:20.280
 And at the same time that I'm praying like crazy that Jesse would be all right, I was

00:04:20.280 --> 00:04:23.720
 saying to myself, all of my professors are completely wrong.

00:04:25.160 --> 00:04:30.120
 And why I would say that, let's look at the Bible, and you'll understand why I would say

00:04:30.120 --> 00:04:34.000
 that all of my professors were completely and utterly wrong.

00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:39.000
 So take your Bible, and you'll understand why I was saying that.

00:04:39.500 --> 00:04:41.100
 And we're looking at Luke.

00:04:41.399 --> 00:04:45.340
 Those of you who are guests, we've taken quite a while, and we've gone through the entire

00:04:45.339 --> 00:04:46.099
 gospel of Luke.

00:04:46.139 --> 00:04:48.500
 We preach through books of the Bible here at Church of the Messiah.

00:04:49.219 --> 00:04:53.659
 And so today we're looking at Luke chapter 24, verses 33 to the end, and it's the last

00:04:53.659 --> 00:04:54.859
 part of Luke's gospel.

00:04:55.000 --> 00:04:59.879
 Next week, we begin, I think it's 11 or 12-week series on the book of Proverbs, and after

00:04:59.879 --> 00:05:02.019
 that, in the fall, we begin Romans.

00:05:02.599 --> 00:05:04.000
 And we'll do the book of Romans.

00:05:04.539 --> 00:05:05.919
 So we're finishing Luke today.

00:05:06.539 --> 00:05:10.279
 And you already heard, if you were here, I gave a bit of the context of what happens

00:05:10.279 --> 00:05:12.239
 at verse 33 and what's going on before.

00:05:12.240 --> 00:05:17.879
 And so just continuing on from verse 33, what is it in this passage of scripture that is

00:05:17.879 --> 00:05:26.680
 relevant to my son Jesse with his little head on the hardwood floor and my prayers and why

00:05:26.680 --> 00:05:28.460
 I was thinking at the same time?

00:05:28.720 --> 00:05:33.259
 Actually, it was some anger that all of my professors were completely and utterly wrong.

00:05:34.100 --> 00:05:35.220
 Here's how the text goes.

00:05:35.220 --> 00:05:41.300
 And they rose, that's the two disciples, the Emmaus disciples, that same hour and returned

00:05:41.300 --> 00:05:41.960
 to Jerusalem.

00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:46.880
 And they found the 11 and those who were with them gathered together.

00:05:47.500 --> 00:05:51.520
 And just sort of note there, it's the 11 and those who were with them.

00:05:51.620 --> 00:05:52.760
 So we don't know how many of them were.

00:05:52.780 --> 00:05:55.100
 It might very well have been Mary, the mother of Jesus.

00:05:55.100 --> 00:05:59.340
 It might, we don't know, it might have been, you know, Mary Magdalene or some of the women

00:05:59.340 --> 00:06:04.160
 who'd also, you know, seen Jesus.

00:06:04.660 --> 00:06:06.980
 It's pretty obvious by this point in time.

00:06:07.420 --> 00:06:13.180
 In fact, it shows a little bit of the historical accuracy of the account and the cultural prejudices.

00:06:14.140 --> 00:06:20.700
 You see, God doesn't use perfect people to write the Bible because it doesn't matter that

00:06:20.700 --> 00:06:22.080
 it's people who wrote the Bible.

00:06:22.079 --> 00:06:24.500
 It wasn't that the people are inspired and brilliant.

00:06:25.219 --> 00:06:27.019
 It's that God is brilliant.

00:06:27.859 --> 00:06:31.659
 And he used sinful people to cause his word to be written.

00:06:31.859 --> 00:06:34.240
 And his word is the way he wants his word to be written.

00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:39.479
 So, you know, if you look at all the four historical evidences, all the four witnesses,

00:06:39.699 --> 00:06:45.240
 historical witnesses of what happened back in that day, we know that Jesus has also appeared

00:06:45.240 --> 00:06:45.799
 to Mary.

00:06:46.779 --> 00:06:51.259
 But we see reflected here the cultural prejudice of the day is that they're not excited that

00:06:51.259 --> 00:06:53.439
 Jesus has appeared to Mary, a woman.

00:06:53.939 --> 00:06:57.420
 They're excited that Jesus has appeared to Peter, a man.

00:06:57.779 --> 00:07:03.980
 The Bible doesn't say this is right, but it's just Luke's trying to record what happens,

00:07:04.399 --> 00:07:05.699
 what happened.

00:07:06.240 --> 00:07:08.779
 Not the way the world should be, but the way the world was.

00:07:09.500 --> 00:07:12.800
 And so, but you notice here that there's the 11 and others.

00:07:12.980 --> 00:07:14.459
 We don't know how many others there were.

00:07:14.639 --> 00:07:16.719
 Sorry, continue reading verse 34.

00:07:16.720 --> 00:07:20.320
 And they're all saying, the Lord is risen indeed and has appeared to Simon.

00:07:21.060 --> 00:07:27.180
 Then they told what, then the two Emmaus disciples told what had happened on the road and how

00:07:27.180 --> 00:07:28.680
 he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:30.480
 And just sort of pause here for a second.

00:07:30.620 --> 00:07:34.880
 I know I'm going to maybe upset some people, but I said last week, the breaking of the bread

00:07:34.880 --> 00:07:36.120
 isn't a reference to communion.

00:07:37.500 --> 00:07:38.460
 The Lord's Supper.

00:07:38.459 --> 00:07:44.279
 But what's significant about this, why it was such an important detail to them is just

00:07:44.279 --> 00:07:49.159
 imagine for yourself for a second that you have, maybe you know, you've been at university

00:07:49.159 --> 00:07:54.579
 or whatever, but over the last three years, you've developed a really close group of friends,

00:07:54.740 --> 00:07:59.039
 like really, really, really close group of friends over the last three years.

00:07:59.040 --> 00:08:03.900
 And then you have the worst day of your life.

00:08:04.960 --> 00:08:14.060
 And on the worst day of your life that begins with your best friends, at the very beginning

00:08:14.060 --> 00:08:23.820
 of the worst day of your life, all of your friends abandon you and deny you and aren't there

00:08:23.820 --> 00:08:24.879
 to support you.

00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:28.560
 Three days later, you see one of them.

00:08:32.340 --> 00:08:32.740
 Okay?

00:08:33.159 --> 00:08:34.360
 You see a couple of them.

00:08:35.460 --> 00:08:36.600
 And they see you.

00:08:37.860 --> 00:08:41.480
 And they're probably thinking, oh my gosh.

00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:50.240
 And maybe because they have tender consciences, they might say, you know, George, I'm so sorry.

00:08:50.399 --> 00:08:51.440
 Like, I shouldn't have done that.

00:08:51.580 --> 00:08:53.940
 I was a, you know, whatever.

00:08:54.139 --> 00:08:54.720
 I was bad.

00:08:55.639 --> 00:08:57.279
 You know, will you forgive me?

00:08:57.740 --> 00:09:00.139
 Can we go out and have lunch together?

00:09:00.899 --> 00:09:02.000
 And you might say, okay.

00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:05.120
 The worst day of my life?

00:09:05.120 --> 00:09:07.500
 And you abandoned me?

00:09:07.500 --> 00:09:08.120
 You denied me?

00:09:08.120 --> 00:09:09.120
 You denied me?

00:09:09.120 --> 00:09:09.200
 You denied me?

00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:11.200
 Did not support me?

00:09:11.200 --> 00:09:14.059
 Listen, I'm working on forgiving you.

00:09:14.059 --> 00:09:17.179
 But there's no way on God's earth.

00:09:17.179 --> 00:09:18.959
 I'm going to say, I'm going to sit down and have a meal with you.

00:09:20.179 --> 00:09:21.299
 You might not say it like that.

00:09:21.319 --> 00:09:22.159
 That's going on in your mind.

00:09:22.199 --> 00:09:25.059
 You might just say, I don't know if I'm ready to sit down and have a meal with you.

00:09:26.599 --> 00:09:32.079
 See, that's why the breaking of the bread is so significant to these two Emmaus disciples,

00:09:32.080 --> 00:09:35.200
 is that they had walked with Jesus.

00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:36.920
 God keeps it from their eyes.

00:09:36.920 --> 00:09:39.200
 They're not saying, oh my gosh.

00:09:39.720 --> 00:09:41.139
 He keeps it from their eyes.

00:09:42.540 --> 00:09:45.759
 And Jesus sits and eats with them.

00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:49.259
 He has forgiven them.

00:09:50.340 --> 00:09:58.279
 And he has shown that he's willing to be reconciled to them in the most unbelievably emotionally powerful way

00:09:58.279 --> 00:10:02.519
 by sitting down and having a meal with them.

00:10:05.480 --> 00:10:11.159
 So they say, not only did we see Jesus, he was willing to have a meal with us.

00:10:11.159 --> 00:10:15.819
 But, how amazing is that?

00:10:16.959 --> 00:10:21.360
 He didn't spend the time telling me how bad I was.

00:10:21.559 --> 00:10:23.519
 He ate with me.

00:10:24.620 --> 00:10:26.559
 That's why it's such a significant fact.

00:10:27.639 --> 00:10:29.120
 So continue on here.

00:10:29.199 --> 00:10:29.839
 Because I'm still talking.

00:10:29.899 --> 00:10:33.639
 I haven't forgotten about Jesse and his poor little head and why my professors,

00:10:34.299 --> 00:10:37.179
 why I was praying like crazy, which I think you can all understand,

00:10:37.179 --> 00:10:40.579
 and why I was also mad and angry at my professors.

00:10:41.159 --> 00:10:43.519
 So first, we'll go back to verse 36.

00:10:43.699 --> 00:10:46.899
 As they were talking about these things,

00:10:47.039 --> 00:10:50.939
 Jesus himself stood among them and said to them,

00:10:51.299 --> 00:10:52.059
 Peace to you.

00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:53.100
 Notice that.

00:10:53.199 --> 00:10:53.679
 Think about that.

00:10:53.719 --> 00:10:55.319
 He didn't say, You goofballs.

00:10:55.799 --> 00:10:58.259
 He doesn't say, I am so angry at you.

00:10:58.519 --> 00:11:00.319
 He doesn't say anything sarcastic.

00:11:00.459 --> 00:11:01.819
 He doesn't say anything demeaning.

00:11:02.179 --> 00:11:03.959
 He doesn't say anything at all like that.

00:11:03.959 --> 00:11:06.620
 His words to them are peace to you.

00:11:06.620 --> 00:11:12.659
 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a disembodied spirit.

00:11:12.919 --> 00:11:13.919
 That's what that means.

00:11:14.539 --> 00:11:18.879
 And he said to them, Why are you troubled and why do doubts arise in your hearts?

00:11:19.700 --> 00:11:21.419
 See my hands and my feet.

00:11:22.419 --> 00:11:22.659
 Right?

00:11:22.980 --> 00:11:25.539
 He wants to make sure that they understand that he's physical.

00:11:25.539 --> 00:11:29.279
 And so he says, And look, there's the nail prints.

00:11:30.759 --> 00:11:34.159
 He wouldn't have been wearing socks with sandals, which I know is a fashion faux pas.

00:11:36.059 --> 00:11:36.799
 What the heck?

00:11:36.839 --> 00:11:37.199
 I'm old.

00:11:37.259 --> 00:11:38.439
 I don't care about fashion, right?

00:11:38.559 --> 00:11:43.439
 So he would have pulled up his robe so they could have seen where the nails went in there.

00:11:43.839 --> 00:11:44.919
 He wants them to see.

00:11:45.839 --> 00:11:47.360
 And he wants them to touch him.

00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:53.960
 Touch me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones that I have.

00:11:54.539 --> 00:11:57.100
 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.

00:11:57.320 --> 00:11:57.639
 41.

00:11:58.200 --> 00:12:06.340
 And while they still disbelieved for joy, what that means here is they were just so overcome with happiness,

00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:10.100
 it's as if their minds just couldn't work.

00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:12.659
 That's what it's trying to get at.

00:12:13.980 --> 00:12:15.100
 And we're marveling.

00:12:15.100 --> 00:12:17.180
 He said to them, Have you anything here to eat?

00:12:17.700 --> 00:12:19.320
 And he gave them a piece of broiled fish.

00:12:19.899 --> 00:12:22.039
 And he took it and ate it before them.

00:12:23.259 --> 00:12:26.539
 Then he said to them, These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you,

00:12:26.600 --> 00:12:31.000
 that everything, everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms.

00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:34.379
 That's one way of saying the whole, what we call now the Old Testament.

00:12:34.560 --> 00:12:35.560
 The whole Old Testament.

00:12:36.139 --> 00:12:39.360
 Everything written about me in the Old Testament must be fulfilled.

00:12:39.740 --> 00:12:44.340
 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures and said to them,

00:12:44.340 --> 00:12:49.780
 And thus it is written that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead.

00:12:50.620 --> 00:12:51.720
 And we'll just pause there.

00:12:51.800 --> 00:12:52.500
 We're going to come back.

00:12:52.600 --> 00:12:55.840
 As those of you who know, we'll go through the scriptures several times.

00:12:56.519 --> 00:13:01.280
 Because what's more important not is that you remember what I say, but you remember what the Bible says.

00:13:01.279 --> 00:13:05.480
 That if you go away not remembering anything in the Bible, but remembering me, I failed.

00:13:05.740 --> 00:13:05.899
 Okay?

00:13:06.779 --> 00:13:07.699
 You have to go back.

00:13:07.980 --> 00:13:10.059
 Hopefully we understand the Bible at the end of it.

00:13:10.079 --> 00:13:12.399
 Or at least understand it a little bit better and understand Jesus.

00:13:13.199 --> 00:13:14.279
 So here's the thing.

00:13:14.339 --> 00:13:16.379
 We'll go back to my professors.

00:13:16.379 --> 00:13:25.240
 One of the things in my first year, I went to a very, very, very, very liberal equivalent of seminary.

00:13:25.259 --> 00:13:28.939
 It was a seminary for some, but anyway, a very, very, very, very liberal place.

00:13:29.820 --> 00:13:35.620
 And in every one of my biblical courses, the professors basically, not basically, they said,

00:13:36.139 --> 00:13:38.720
 nothing in the Bible actually happened.

00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:45.720
 Like basically, not only the Old Testament, but the New Testament doesn't deal with historical things.

00:13:45.720 --> 00:13:54.000
 Their mantra was, you need to distinguish between the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith.

00:13:55.019 --> 00:13:59.399
 And that might sound very pious, but it's hogwash.

00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:04.300
 You need to distinguish between the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith.

00:14:04.620 --> 00:14:07.980
 So it doesn't matter that things in the New Testament didn't happen.

00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:13.519
 It doesn't matter, as one of my professors said, that you could find the bones of Jesus and still believe in the resurrection.

00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:16.980
 It doesn't matter that things in the New Testament didn't happen.

00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:19.319
 You have to have the Christ of faith.

00:14:20.259 --> 00:14:27.620
 And if you look here in this text, Luke does everything he can to say that this is completely and utterly wrong.

00:14:29.199 --> 00:14:31.019
 Completely and utterly wrong.

00:14:31.319 --> 00:14:32.480
 And what does this mean?

00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:38.419
 If you have to separate the Jesus of history from the Christ of faith, then what do you have?

00:14:38.419 --> 00:14:41.019
 If, well, what do I want?

00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:43.839
 I'm driving along there.

00:14:44.959 --> 00:14:55.159
 And if nothing in the New Testament actually happened, if God doesn't do miracles, then why am I praying for my son?

00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:59.099
 And listen, I'm praying my heart out for my son.

00:14:59.559 --> 00:15:00.759
 And when I don't, you know what?

00:15:00.759 --> 00:15:06.899
 Like any praying parent in a situation like that, I'm just hoping and praying that my son's all right.

00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:10.419
 By the way, he has already ended up graduating summa cum laude and all that stuff.

00:15:10.539 --> 00:15:12.539
 His little head was fine.

00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:13.419
 But you know what?

00:15:14.059 --> 00:15:17.960
 In heaven, I don't, you know, it's not going to make any difference to me if God says,

00:15:18.439 --> 00:15:22.299
 yeah, George, as you were driving along, Jesse actually was, you know, in heaven, God says to me,

00:15:22.340 --> 00:15:25.240
 Jesse was brain damaged and I healed him right there in the car.

00:15:25.240 --> 00:15:27.620
 And the doctors didn't even know it.

00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:31.120
 I didn't want you to know that I'd performed a miracle, but now I can tell you because you're in heaven.

00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:35.919
 Well, I don't care if God says, yeah, George, I had my own plans for Jesse.

00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:43.320
 And so just before Jesse's little head hit the wooden floor, I had an angel come and catch Jesse's little head and just put it on the floor.

00:15:43.940 --> 00:15:46.600
 And even before you prayed about it, I was acting.

00:15:46.779 --> 00:15:52.100
 Or if it was just purely that the physics of the matter meant that his head was completely and utterly fine or the biology.

00:15:52.100 --> 00:15:56.100
 No parent cares about the difference in that, right?

00:15:56.779 --> 00:15:58.580
 You're just hoping the baby's fine.

00:16:00.300 --> 00:16:07.120
 And I will praise God in heaven just as much for the physics or the biology or the angels or the answer to prayer

00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:14.420
 or if it had been necessary that God would give the skill to the doctors and the people who invented drugs and all that thing so that my son would be fine.

00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:15.879
 That's what matters to me, right?

00:16:16.620 --> 00:16:18.460
 But I'm praying for a miracle.

00:16:18.460 --> 00:16:24.120
 I'm praying that there isn't a difference between the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith,

00:16:24.220 --> 00:16:29.000
 that God can reach down and touch my son and heal him.

00:16:29.540 --> 00:16:31.160
 That's what I am praying.

00:16:31.960 --> 00:16:33.360
 And that's what you would pray too.

00:16:34.300 --> 00:16:37.660
 And if there is a difference between the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith,

00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:40.560
 then all the Bible is is moralism.

00:16:40.980 --> 00:16:43.160
 I don't need more moralism in my life.

00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:43.580
 Do you?

00:16:43.580 --> 00:16:44.200
 Do you?

00:16:44.440 --> 00:16:47.600
 If there is a difference between the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith,

00:16:47.780 --> 00:16:52.720
 all you have is a deist God who set everything up like a clock and wound it up,

00:16:52.800 --> 00:16:55.879
 and then he went off on a holiday and he lets the world run.

00:16:56.340 --> 00:16:57.879
 I don't need a God like that.

00:16:57.940 --> 00:16:58.879
 That's not God.

00:16:59.660 --> 00:17:02.960
 If there's a difference between the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith,

00:17:03.020 --> 00:17:04.920
 then all you have in the Bible is therapy.

00:17:05.299 --> 00:17:06.840
 All you have is techniques.

00:17:06.839 --> 00:17:10.500
 All you have is institutions and religions.

00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:13.059
 And all you have is rituals.

00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:19.099
 And all you have are things that form social cohesion so that we live together better

00:17:19.099 --> 00:17:21.119
 because we teach the kids right and wrong.

00:17:21.379 --> 00:17:23.439
 And who wants any of that stuff?

00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:25.440
 If you're...

00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:27.440
 If you're...

00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:31.299
 If there isn't a God who does exist,

00:17:32.100 --> 00:17:38.420
 who's dealt with my separation from him in history for real,

00:17:40.100 --> 00:17:42.900
 the Bible is just about moralism or therapy.

00:17:43.120 --> 00:17:45.259
 I have a lot better things to do with my time,

00:17:45.420 --> 00:17:48.220
 and I don't need a whole pile of extra moralism in my life.

00:17:48.220 --> 00:17:53.339
 I can't keep up with all the advice I get all the time.

00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:54.500
 I don't need more advice.

00:17:59.640 --> 00:18:01.220
 Everything in this text...

00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:03.220
 Here's the thing.

00:18:03.799 --> 00:18:05.140
 It's going to be very, very brief.

00:18:06.180 --> 00:18:08.700
 Actually, today I could have a very simple four-point sermon.

00:18:09.880 --> 00:18:11.319
 Jesus really rose from the dead.

00:18:13.059 --> 00:18:14.380
 Jesus opens minds.

00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:16.900
 Jesus tells us the Bible is about him.

00:18:16.900 --> 00:18:19.680
 And the fourth thing is Jesus says he's going to send the Holy Spirit.

00:18:20.120 --> 00:18:22.400
 But because of clever people,

00:18:22.560 --> 00:18:24.340
 I've actually taken that first idea,

00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:25.580
 and I want to put it in two forms.

00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:27.180
 I'll just say them very briefly.

00:18:27.300 --> 00:18:28.519
 And if you're wishing, you could put it up.

00:18:28.800 --> 00:18:30.120
 If you're wishing, you could write them down.

00:18:30.180 --> 00:18:31.180
 I haven't left you enough time.

00:18:31.420 --> 00:18:33.200
 On Monday, they'll all be up online.

00:18:33.300 --> 00:18:35.880
 You can just go online if they're all helpful to you.

00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:38.720
 Here's the first thing that Luke's trying to communicate,

00:18:38.900 --> 00:18:40.460
 and the grammar's a bit awkward, I know,

00:18:40.580 --> 00:18:43.900
 but you can pray for me that I'll be better at grammar.

00:18:43.900 --> 00:18:49.620
 The real, historical, physical person who died on Friday

00:18:49.620 --> 00:18:56.400
 is the same real, historical, physical, resurrected person on Sunday.

00:18:56.740 --> 00:18:57.220
 Jesus.

00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:02.540
 That's what Luke wants you to know.

00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:05.000
 See my hands.

00:19:05.340 --> 00:19:06.440
 See my feet.

00:19:06.780 --> 00:19:09.480
 I'm the same guy who was on the cross on Friday.

00:19:09.480 --> 00:19:13.460
 Hey, I'm the same guy who was walking around with you for three years,

00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:15.779
 and I kept telling you I was going to be betrayed,

00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:17.940
 I was going to die, I was going to rise,

00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:19.380
 and I was going to speak to you.

00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:20.680
 I'm the same guy.

00:19:23.099 --> 00:19:25.420
 And the second thing, if you could put up the second point,

00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:28.779
 Jesus of Nazareth crucified,

00:19:29.539 --> 00:19:32.360
 and the Lord and Savior Jesus Messiah

00:19:32.360 --> 00:19:34.460
 are the same person.

00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:38.700
 The text even says Christ in it.

00:19:39.600 --> 00:19:44.660
 Jesus of history talks about the Christ and all the promises,

00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:47.740
 and Luke wants us to understand that.

00:19:48.700 --> 00:19:54.140
 He wants us to understand that God isn't a deist God who's distant,

00:19:54.539 --> 00:19:58.740
 and God isn't just about adding moralism or therapy to our lives.

00:19:58.740 --> 00:20:01.220
 He's not into just creating, you know,

00:20:01.299 --> 00:20:07.019
 being an excuse for a religious institution or a ritual or anything like that.

00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:11.980
 He sends his son into real history, real time,

00:20:12.259 --> 00:20:16.420
 as a real person to die a real death on a real cross

00:20:16.420 --> 00:20:18.079
 and be put in a real tomb

00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:19.880
 and taste all there is to taste,

00:20:20.059 --> 00:20:22.460
 really taste of death with nothing left out.

00:20:22.680 --> 00:20:25.480
 And on the third day, he rises from the dead,

00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:27.980
 he defeats sin, defeats death,

00:20:28.259 --> 00:20:30.519
 defeats all hostile spiritual powers.

00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:32.000
 The grave is empty,

00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:36.579
 and he makes itself very clear to his disciples

00:20:36.579 --> 00:20:38.779
 that he is Jesus of Nazareth.

00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:41.319
 He is the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

00:20:41.940 --> 00:20:44.960
 And I have come to be your Savior in real history.

00:20:45.559 --> 00:20:46.860
 That's what Luke wants you to know.

00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:49.140
 My professors were all wrong.

00:20:50.599 --> 00:20:51.559
 Lord, have mercy.

00:20:52.279 --> 00:20:53.339
 Lord, have mercy.

00:20:53.819 --> 00:20:54.799
 Lord, have mercy.

00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:54.839
 Lord, have mercy.

00:20:56.259 --> 00:20:58.279
 Here's just a little takeaway point.

00:20:59.059 --> 00:20:59.899
 You could put up A.

00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:04.180
 Here's a prayer we can pray.

00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:06.659
 Jesus, please help me to pray more

00:21:06.659 --> 00:21:08.700
 and pray boldly in your name.

00:21:09.339 --> 00:21:11.700
 Remember last week I was talking about my friend Bob,

00:21:11.819 --> 00:21:14.779
 and he understood that he didn't remember.

00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:16.779
 I talked about how he couldn't believe in the resurrection,

00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:18.200
 and he also then, of course,

00:21:18.220 --> 00:21:19.980
 didn't believe in any miracle in the Bible.

00:21:20.940 --> 00:21:22.460
 And he also couldn't pray.

00:21:22.460 --> 00:21:28.220
 When it came time for prayer in church services,

00:21:28.500 --> 00:21:32.299
 he understood it as a time of quiet reflection.

00:21:32.299 --> 00:21:39.419
 And remember those, if you go remember the story from last week,

00:21:39.460 --> 00:21:42.039
 it was just one of those times I was mainly called to listen,

00:21:42.159 --> 00:21:44.379
 because I'll talk to him lots of times.

00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:46.000
 It's not like I just have this one shot.

00:21:46.859 --> 00:21:51.960
 But if you don't think God acts in history, you can't pray.

00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:57.940
 I mean, people pray despite it, but it's really hard.

00:21:59.299 --> 00:22:01.539
 And, you know, one of the things we get here from the resurrection

00:22:01.539 --> 00:22:05.880
 is that Jesus wants us to pray more and pray with boldness.

00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:08.559
 Pray that that will be true of me.

00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:10.660
 I'll pray that will be true of you.

00:22:10.660 --> 00:22:21.279
 Now, one of the things that people say about Christians

00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:24.860
 is that we're narrow-minded, that we're close-minded,

00:22:25.980 --> 00:22:27.960
 that we're anti-intellectual.

00:22:28.940 --> 00:22:31.380
 It's a very, very common belief in our culture

00:22:31.380 --> 00:22:35.420
 that Christians just want to shut down discussion and debate.

00:22:35.420 --> 00:22:38.720
 It's a very, very common belief in our culture

00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:41.460
 that to become a Christian is to kiss your mind goodbye

00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:45.160
 and that we don't ask ourselves tough questions.

00:22:45.980 --> 00:22:46.539
 And you know what?

00:22:46.700 --> 00:22:49.180
 Lamentably, that is true of maybe...

00:22:49.180 --> 00:22:50.600
 I mean, if it's true of one Christian,

00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:52.759
 it's true of one Christian too many.

00:22:54.080 --> 00:22:57.180
 But, you know, most of the world gives itself a pass.

00:22:57.180 --> 00:23:00.300
 I just want to ask you a little bit of a thought experiment.

00:23:02.120 --> 00:23:03.840
 Imagine that you went on a blog

00:23:03.839 --> 00:23:05.480
 in the city of Ottawa.

00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:06.319
 You know where they have...

00:23:06.319 --> 00:23:07.399
 And you can make comments.

00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:10.539
 And imagine there was a blog about Bruce Jenner

00:23:10.539 --> 00:23:11.980
 who now goes by Caitlin.

00:23:12.939 --> 00:23:16.339
 And in the blog, you wrote down in a response

00:23:16.339 --> 00:23:21.679
 with your name, not, you know, exiled in Ottawa,

00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:22.859
 but you actually...

00:23:22.859 --> 00:23:24.119
 I wrote George Sinclair.

00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:26.500
 And in your blog, you actually said

00:23:26.500 --> 00:23:29.899
 that I'm only going to refer to Caitlin as Bruce and as he.

00:23:30.699 --> 00:23:32.240
 And all the way through the blog,

00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:36.220
 you refer to Caitlin as Bruce or he.

00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:38.359
 Just a thought experiment.

00:23:39.859 --> 00:23:43.500
 How do you think the responses would be to the blog?

00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:49.539
 Do you think they would be measured, reasonable,

00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:55.000
 appreciating your appeal to biology and science,

00:23:55.380 --> 00:23:58.440
 and thanking you for your insightful comments?

00:23:58.440 --> 00:24:03.620
 Or do you think it might get launched into the Twitterverse

00:24:03.620 --> 00:24:08.340
 and you would be dealing with all sorts of unbelievably angry,

00:24:08.600 --> 00:24:16.360
 hostile, name-calling, slanderous tweets, blogs, etc.

00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:17.840
 Now, which one do you think it would be?

00:24:18.840 --> 00:24:20.980
 And it wouldn't be the religious right

00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:22.900
 that are sending all those tweets.

00:24:22.900 --> 00:24:24.900
 Here's the thing.

00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:28.660
 If there's one thing that characterizes our country

00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:30.380
 is that we're leaving Christendom

00:24:30.380 --> 00:24:36.019
 and that actual general debate and inquiry

00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:38.240
 is also becoming less and less and less.

00:24:39.720 --> 00:24:41.560
 In fact, it's interesting.

00:24:42.220 --> 00:24:45.940
 The problem with having a closed mind is a human problem.

00:24:46.280 --> 00:24:47.380
 It's not a religious problem.

00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:48.360
 It's a human problem.

00:24:48.359 --> 00:24:50.939
 And the interesting question is,

00:24:51.099 --> 00:24:52.619
 in whatever your system of thought is,

00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:55.240
 does it have the resources within it

00:24:55.240 --> 00:25:00.139
 to encourage having an open mind and civility?

00:25:00.839 --> 00:25:04.099
 Does your system of thought have the resources for that?

00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:07.740
 So look here again at what Jesus says.

00:25:07.819 --> 00:25:09.479
 It's actually quite stunning

00:25:09.479 --> 00:25:14.059
 what Luke tells us, records historically that Jesus says.

00:25:14.139 --> 00:25:16.519
 Look at verses 44 and following.

00:25:16.519 --> 00:25:18.539
 Then Jesus said to them,

00:25:19.079 --> 00:25:20.779
 These are my words that I spoke to you

00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:21.879
 while I was still with you,

00:25:22.099 --> 00:25:23.480
 that everything written about me

00:25:23.480 --> 00:25:25.160
 in the law of Moses and the prophets

00:25:25.160 --> 00:25:27.940
 and the Psalms must be fulfilled.

00:25:28.200 --> 00:25:31.279
 Then he opened their minds

00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:33.319
 to understand the scriptures.

00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:36.940
 Then he opened their minds

00:25:36.940 --> 00:25:38.579
 to understand the scriptures

00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:39.519
 and said to them,

00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:40.299
 Thus it is written,

00:25:40.759 --> 00:25:42.059
 that the Christ should suffer

00:25:42.059 --> 00:25:44.059
 and on the third day rise from the dead.

00:25:44.799 --> 00:25:46.059
 And we'll just sort of pause there.

00:25:46.519 --> 00:25:48.119
 Here's the first thing,

00:25:48.200 --> 00:25:49.200
 if you could put up the point.

00:25:50.660 --> 00:25:52.119
 Jesus opens minds.

00:25:54.200 --> 00:25:56.639
 Jesus opens minds.

00:25:58.700 --> 00:26:01.519
 This, right here,

00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:04.660
 you see this huge gulf

00:26:04.660 --> 00:26:07.019
 that opens up between Jesus

00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:09.740
 and other religious teachers.

00:26:10.700 --> 00:26:12.099
 You know, right now,

00:26:12.180 --> 00:26:13.920
 the way that most people experience

00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:15.300
 Hinduism and Buddhism

00:26:15.300 --> 00:26:19.560
 is that they like the meditation practices

00:26:19.560 --> 00:26:22.500
 because it's a way of calming themselves

00:26:22.500 --> 00:26:25.420
 and trying to get a bit of perspective.

00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:27.920
 But in their original form

00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:29.740
 and in their fundamental intent,

00:26:30.920 --> 00:26:33.320
 meditation in Hinduism and Buddhism

00:26:33.320 --> 00:26:34.660
 is to kill the mind

00:26:34.660 --> 00:26:37.200
 because the mind is a problem.

00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:40.080
 because the human problem,

00:26:40.140 --> 00:26:41.680
 expressed slightly different in both faiths,

00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:45.720
 but the problem that human beings face

00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:49.019
 is that the mind keeps making distinctions

00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:53.100
 and therefore the mind is getting in the way

00:26:53.100 --> 00:26:54.180
 of the fact that in fact

00:26:54.180 --> 00:26:55.400
 there is only the one.

00:26:56.940 --> 00:26:58.100
 Minds make distinctions

00:26:58.100 --> 00:27:00.000
 between beautiful and ugly,

00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:02.799
 between the good and the bad.

00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:04.339
 The minds make distinctions

00:27:04.339 --> 00:27:05.579
 between myself

00:27:05.579 --> 00:27:07.399
 and that which is not myself.

00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:08.419
 It makes distinctions

00:27:08.419 --> 00:27:11.279
 in terms of this object

00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:11.960
 and that object

00:27:11.960 --> 00:27:12.579
 and this color

00:27:12.579 --> 00:27:13.940
 and that color.

00:27:14.379 --> 00:27:15.039
 And so meditation

00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:16.579
 is actually a way

00:27:16.579 --> 00:27:19.099
 to kill the mind

00:27:19.099 --> 00:27:20.319
 so that one

00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:22.399
 can be at one with the one.

00:27:24.639 --> 00:27:26.039
 And in Islam,

00:27:29.180 --> 00:27:30.460
 I mean, one of the things

00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:32.120
 which is a problem for it

00:27:32.120 --> 00:27:34.660
 is that in a sense

00:27:34.660 --> 00:27:37.680
 the person is almost like a slave

00:27:37.680 --> 00:27:41.400
 and the relationship with God

00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:43.100
 is one that if God says jump,

00:27:43.660 --> 00:27:46.240
 it's almost a sin to say how high

00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:48.539
 because you should just jump.

00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:52.279
 Islam does not have the book of Job.

00:27:53.220 --> 00:27:54.920
 God, why are you doing this to me?

00:27:55.680 --> 00:27:56.600
 I don't understand.

00:27:57.819 --> 00:27:58.900
 Maybe you're wrong.

00:27:58.900 --> 00:28:00.780
 And even though

00:28:00.780 --> 00:28:02.140
 at the end of the book of Job,

00:28:02.380 --> 00:28:03.620
 God shows up

00:28:03.620 --> 00:28:04.420
 and Job says,

00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:04.920
 you know what?

00:28:05.140 --> 00:28:06.500
 Now that I actually have

00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:07.660
 even more of a knowledge

00:28:07.660 --> 00:28:08.420
 of you, God,

00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:10.120
 I realize I was wrong.

00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:13.460
 And Job talks to God

00:28:13.460 --> 00:28:15.540
 and asks questions of God

00:28:15.540 --> 00:28:17.120
 and that's missing in Islam.

00:28:17.400 --> 00:28:18.440
 It's just command.

00:28:20.920 --> 00:28:22.340
 And if it's just command,

00:28:22.480 --> 00:28:23.820
 how can you open your mind?

00:28:24.360 --> 00:28:25.440
 And even actually

00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:27.480
 in scientism and materialism,

00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:29.039
 a great problem

00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:30.860
 for atheistic thought

00:28:30.860 --> 00:28:32.259
 is that if everything

00:28:32.259 --> 00:28:33.360
 is just a result

00:28:33.360 --> 00:28:34.279
 of cause and effect

00:28:34.279 --> 00:28:35.279
 and cause and effect,

00:28:35.579 --> 00:28:37.160
 how is it that we can actually

00:28:37.160 --> 00:28:39.019
 trust that our mind can know?

00:28:40.559 --> 00:28:41.339
 Because actually,

00:28:41.539 --> 00:28:43.039
 the odd thing is

00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:43.880
 that the theory

00:28:43.880 --> 00:28:45.680
 developed by the mind

00:28:45.680 --> 00:28:47.720
 brings you to the point

00:28:47.720 --> 00:28:48.339
 where the mind

00:28:48.339 --> 00:28:49.880
 actually can't develop theory.

00:28:50.940 --> 00:28:51.960
 Sorry, that was probably

00:28:51.960 --> 00:28:53.319
 way over a lot of your heads.

00:28:53.319 --> 00:28:55.299
 I had to throw it in.

00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:57.579
 But here's the thing

00:28:57.579 --> 00:28:58.939
 which is so astounding.

00:28:59.259 --> 00:29:00.339
 Jesus doesn't say,

00:29:01.079 --> 00:29:02.119
 I'm going to shut your minds,

00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:03.299
 I'm going to close your minds,

00:29:03.379 --> 00:29:03.799
 I'm going to make

00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:04.839
 your minds more dumb,

00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:07.319
 I'm going to make your mind.

00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:10.519
 He opens their minds.

00:29:12.899 --> 00:29:14.059
 And here's the thing,

00:29:15.059 --> 00:29:16.119
 as we'll see in a second,

00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:17.079
 Jesus doesn't say,

00:29:17.179 --> 00:29:18.039
 okay, whoa, whoa, whoa,

00:29:18.039 --> 00:29:18.379
 whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,

00:29:18.379 --> 00:29:19.579
 don't get carried away,

00:29:19.879 --> 00:29:20.919
 I'm just going to open your mind

00:29:20.919 --> 00:29:22.139
 to understand the Bible,

00:29:22.140 --> 00:29:23.920
 but I'm going to close your mind

00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:25.800
 to science, art, beauty,

00:29:26.420 --> 00:29:29.200
 common sense, politics, economics,

00:29:29.460 --> 00:29:29.840
 whoa, whoa, whoa,

00:29:29.880 --> 00:29:30.520
 don't get carried away.

00:29:30.840 --> 00:29:31.780
 No, no, no, no, no, no.

00:29:34.340 --> 00:29:35.780
 He opens minds.

00:29:36.860 --> 00:29:38.860
 And as he opens minds

00:29:38.860 --> 00:29:40.220
 to understand the Bible,

00:29:40.520 --> 00:29:42.440
 the mind stays open.

00:29:43.759 --> 00:29:44.380
 If you could put up

00:29:44.380 --> 00:29:45.460
 the next point, Andrew.

00:29:46.340 --> 00:29:46.980
 Yeah, Andrew.

00:29:47.900 --> 00:29:49.500
 Jesus, first point three

00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:50.040
 was Jesus opened.

00:29:50.140 --> 00:29:51.880
 Fourth point is Jesus opens minds

00:29:51.880 --> 00:29:53.540
 to understand the Bible,

00:29:53.800 --> 00:29:54.840
 God's word written.

00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:57.060
 And this is very, very important

00:29:57.060 --> 00:29:58.260
 because it tells us something

00:29:58.260 --> 00:29:59.820
 about the nature of the human

00:29:59.820 --> 00:30:01.180
 that God has created.

00:30:01.620 --> 00:30:02.880
 And what redemption means

00:30:03.640 --> 00:30:06.080
 is that, you know,

00:30:06.120 --> 00:30:07.100
 nowadays we think

00:30:07.100 --> 00:30:08.380
 that being open-minded

00:30:08.380 --> 00:30:09.800
 means that you don't actually

00:30:09.800 --> 00:30:11.660
 ever come to any conclusions.

00:30:15.540 --> 00:30:17.140
 We'll talk about this more next week

00:30:17.140 --> 00:30:18.320
 because actually that's

00:30:18.320 --> 00:30:19.600
 what the book of Proverbs

00:30:19.599 --> 00:30:21.179
 says is a fool.

00:30:22.879 --> 00:30:23.679
 But G.K.

00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:24.599
 Trusted once said

00:30:24.599 --> 00:30:26.240
 that we are to open our minds

00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:27.159
 like the way a baby

00:30:27.159 --> 00:30:28.119
 opens its mouth

00:30:28.119 --> 00:30:29.779
 so that it can get some food.

00:30:30.139 --> 00:30:30.740
 Have you ever tried

00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:31.859
 to feed a little one-year-old

00:30:31.859 --> 00:30:33.079
 or a nine-month-old?

00:30:33.159 --> 00:30:34.119
 It's so cute, you know.

00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:36.559
 You have the baby gruel

00:30:36.559 --> 00:30:39.139
 and you have the spoon

00:30:39.139 --> 00:30:40.439
 and the little baby,

00:30:40.599 --> 00:30:40.819
 of course,

00:30:40.939 --> 00:30:42.919
 is with its mouth like that.

00:30:42.959 --> 00:30:43.299
 So I don't know,

00:30:43.319 --> 00:30:44.599
 you do the airplane sound

00:30:44.599 --> 00:30:45.539
 or car sound

00:30:45.539 --> 00:30:46.379
 or something like that

00:30:46.379 --> 00:30:47.539
 and you make it go like this

00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:48.879
 and their little eyes dart around

00:30:48.879 --> 00:30:49.720
 because the goal is

00:30:49.720 --> 00:30:50.519
 that the little mouth,

00:30:50.899 --> 00:30:51.819
 little plump mouth

00:30:51.819 --> 00:30:52.559
 will open up

00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:53.980
 and you stick the little spoon

00:30:53.980 --> 00:30:54.460
 in the mouth

00:30:54.460 --> 00:30:55.359
 and then the little mouth

00:30:55.359 --> 00:30:56.079
 comes down

00:30:56.079 --> 00:30:57.599
 and you hope that the little mouth

00:30:57.599 --> 00:30:58.680
 doesn't immediately squirt

00:30:58.680 --> 00:31:00.079
 all the food right back out

00:31:00.079 --> 00:31:02.159
 because that's a separate problem.

00:31:03.539 --> 00:31:04.399
 But, you know,

00:31:04.519 --> 00:31:05.139
 Chesterton said

00:31:05.139 --> 00:31:05.940
 the Bible teaches

00:31:05.940 --> 00:31:06.599
 that our minds

00:31:06.599 --> 00:31:08.259
 are to be like baby's mouths.

00:31:08.399 --> 00:31:08.899
 They open

00:31:08.899 --> 00:31:10.000
 so they can fall

00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:11.759
 on something to eat.

00:31:12.839 --> 00:31:13.879
 And that's what we see here.

00:31:13.880 --> 00:31:15.440
 Jesus opens the minds

00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:16.180
 of the disciples

00:31:16.180 --> 00:31:19.140
 so they can feed on

00:31:19.140 --> 00:31:19.900
 the truth

00:31:19.900 --> 00:31:21.580
 that comes from God.

00:31:22.460 --> 00:31:24.120
 Our minds were made

00:31:24.120 --> 00:31:25.660
 to be fed by truth.

00:31:28.400 --> 00:31:29.880
 Our emotions, by the way,

00:31:30.260 --> 00:31:31.340
 are meant to be fed

00:31:31.340 --> 00:31:32.200
 with beauty.

00:31:33.500 --> 00:31:34.500
 And our wills

00:31:34.500 --> 00:31:35.520
 are meant to be fed

00:31:35.520 --> 00:31:36.180
 by goodness.

00:31:37.460 --> 00:31:38.500
 And what makes us,

00:31:38.500 --> 00:31:38.840
 us,

00:31:39.080 --> 00:31:39.960
 the command center

00:31:39.960 --> 00:31:40.780
 of our lives,

00:31:41.800 --> 00:31:42.860
 that the heart,

00:31:42.859 --> 00:31:43.899
 as the Bible calls it,

00:31:43.939 --> 00:31:44.839
 that's meant to be fed

00:31:44.839 --> 00:31:45.479
 by love.

00:31:46.679 --> 00:31:47.679
 Because ultimately

00:31:47.679 --> 00:31:48.659
 it's meant to be

00:31:48.659 --> 00:31:49.659
 at one with God

00:31:49.659 --> 00:31:50.819
 who is the Father,

00:31:50.979 --> 00:31:51.419
 the Son,

00:31:51.479 --> 00:31:52.359
 and the Holy Spirit.

00:31:52.500 --> 00:31:53.199
 Three persons,

00:31:53.379 --> 00:31:54.859
 one God forever and ever

00:31:54.859 --> 00:31:56.479
 who have existed

00:31:56.479 --> 00:31:57.799
 in perfect love

00:31:57.799 --> 00:31:58.819
 for all eternity

00:31:58.819 --> 00:32:00.559
 and God has made us

00:32:00.559 --> 00:32:01.579
 for himself.

00:32:02.359 --> 00:32:03.159
 And that is why

00:32:03.159 --> 00:32:03.839
 the food

00:32:03.839 --> 00:32:05.299
 of the command center

00:32:05.299 --> 00:32:06.199
 of the human being

00:32:06.199 --> 00:32:06.899
 is love.

00:32:07.699 --> 00:32:08.500
 But the food

00:32:08.500 --> 00:32:09.159
 for the mind

00:32:09.159 --> 00:32:09.779
 is truth.

00:32:09.779 --> 00:32:13.519
 If you could put up

00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:14.220
 the final point

00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:14.639
 for this,

00:32:15.039 --> 00:32:16.599
 Jesus tells his disciples

00:32:16.599 --> 00:32:17.700
 that the Bible

00:32:17.700 --> 00:32:18.639
 is all about

00:32:18.639 --> 00:32:19.519
 who he is

00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:20.579
 and his work

00:32:20.579 --> 00:32:21.139
 of redemption.

00:32:22.139 --> 00:32:23.099
 So he doesn't just

00:32:23.099 --> 00:32:24.139
 point us to the Bible,

00:32:25.019 --> 00:32:25.960
 but he tells us.

00:32:26.680 --> 00:32:27.039
 He says,

00:32:27.160 --> 00:32:27.420
 George,

00:32:27.639 --> 00:32:27.940
 he says,

00:32:28.019 --> 00:32:28.299
 Peter,

00:32:28.799 --> 00:32:29.359
 John,

00:32:29.639 --> 00:32:30.119
 Andrew,

00:32:30.539 --> 00:32:31.099
 George,

00:32:31.519 --> 00:32:31.980
 Anne,

00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:33.599
 Louise,

00:32:34.639 --> 00:32:35.139
 Daniel,

00:32:36.279 --> 00:32:37.299
 you read the Bible,

00:32:37.299 --> 00:32:39.359
 call out to me.

00:32:39.399 --> 00:32:40.639
 I want to open your mind

00:32:40.639 --> 00:32:41.419
 so you can understand

00:32:41.419 --> 00:32:41.940
 the Bible.

00:32:42.919 --> 00:32:43.899
 And you need to understand

00:32:43.899 --> 00:32:45.339
 that everything in the Bible

00:32:45.339 --> 00:32:46.599
 is helping you

00:32:46.599 --> 00:32:47.339
 to understand

00:32:47.339 --> 00:32:48.379
 who I am

00:32:48.379 --> 00:32:50.039
 and what I've done

00:32:50.039 --> 00:32:50.539
 for you.

00:32:51.299 --> 00:32:52.759
 That I am the power

00:32:52.759 --> 00:32:53.440
 of God

00:32:53.440 --> 00:32:54.339
 for salvation

00:32:54.339 --> 00:32:55.879
 for all who believe.

00:32:57.740 --> 00:32:58.859
 That's what this book

00:32:58.859 --> 00:32:59.680
 is going to be about.

00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:00.240
 I'm going to open

00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:01.399
 your minds to it.

00:33:03.079 --> 00:33:04.019
 Here's the little

00:33:04.019 --> 00:33:05.000
 prayer takeaway

00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:06.180
 for you.

00:33:06.180 --> 00:33:08.460
 I want this to be

00:33:08.460 --> 00:33:10.460
 just to encourage you

00:33:10.460 --> 00:33:11.680
 to consider praying.

00:33:12.039 --> 00:33:12.320
 Jesus,

00:33:13.120 --> 00:33:14.580
 please open my mind

00:33:14.580 --> 00:33:16.160
 as I daily read

00:33:16.160 --> 00:33:16.860
 your word written.

00:33:17.620 --> 00:33:17.900
 Jesus,

00:33:18.100 --> 00:33:19.740
 please open my mind

00:33:19.740 --> 00:33:21.380
 as I daily read

00:33:21.380 --> 00:33:21.900
 your word written.

00:33:21.940 --> 00:33:22.519
 You know the wonderful

00:33:22.519 --> 00:33:23.240
 thing about a prayer

00:33:23.240 --> 00:33:23.799
 like that?

00:33:25.779 --> 00:33:26.640
 It's obvious

00:33:26.640 --> 00:33:27.920
 that Jesus wants us

00:33:27.920 --> 00:33:28.600
 to pray a prayer

00:33:28.600 --> 00:33:29.160
 like that.

00:33:30.820 --> 00:33:31.860
 He wants us

00:33:31.860 --> 00:33:32.340
 to pray that.

00:33:32.400 --> 00:33:32.759
 He said,

00:33:32.880 --> 00:33:34.640
 I'm opening your minds

00:33:34.640 --> 00:33:35.840
 to understand

00:33:35.840 --> 00:33:36.460
 the scriptures.

00:33:37.920 --> 00:33:38.120
 So,

00:33:38.600 --> 00:33:40.560
 just call out

00:33:40.560 --> 00:33:41.020
 to Jesus

00:33:41.020 --> 00:33:41.420
 and say,

00:33:41.500 --> 00:33:41.740
 Jesus,

00:33:41.920 --> 00:33:42.920
 open my mind.

00:33:43.100 --> 00:33:43.860
 Open my mind

00:33:43.860 --> 00:33:44.440
 to understand

00:33:44.440 --> 00:33:45.000
 your word

00:33:45.000 --> 00:33:45.880
 and open my mind

00:33:45.880 --> 00:33:46.460
 to understand

00:33:46.460 --> 00:33:46.940
 the truth

00:33:46.940 --> 00:33:47.540
 about what's going

00:33:47.540 --> 00:33:48.240
 on in the world

00:33:48.240 --> 00:33:49.600
 and the truth

00:33:49.600 --> 00:33:51.040
 of science.

00:33:51.540 --> 00:33:51.940
 Jesus,

00:33:52.140 --> 00:33:52.920
 open my mind.

00:33:53.140 --> 00:33:53.900
 Feed me with truth.

00:33:54.060 --> 00:33:55.020
 Feed me with your word.

00:33:55.140 --> 00:33:55.740
 Help me to read

00:33:55.740 --> 00:33:56.560
 your word every day

00:33:56.560 --> 00:33:57.160
 and as I read

00:33:57.160 --> 00:33:57.540
 your word,

00:33:57.680 --> 00:33:58.420
 open my mind.

00:33:58.520 --> 00:33:59.140
 Open my mind.

00:33:59.259 --> 00:33:59.500
 Jesus,

00:34:00.060 --> 00:34:00.800
 thank you

00:34:00.800 --> 00:34:01.420
 that you love me.

00:34:01.620 --> 00:34:02.660
 Please open my mind.

00:34:02.660 --> 00:34:06.100
 a couple of weeks ago,

00:34:06.400 --> 00:34:08.000
 two weeks ago,

00:34:08.039 --> 00:34:09.099
 I talked about forgiveness

00:34:09.099 --> 00:34:12.559
 and one of the things

00:34:12.559 --> 00:34:13.119
 that happened to me,

00:34:13.320 --> 00:34:13.340
 just,

00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:14.519
 it actually,

00:34:14.619 --> 00:34:15.260
 I almost used it

00:34:15.260 --> 00:34:16.220
 as a sermon illustration

00:34:16.220 --> 00:34:17.039
 two weeks ago

00:34:17.039 --> 00:34:18.119
 because it actually happened

00:34:18.119 --> 00:34:19.079
 just before the sermon

00:34:19.079 --> 00:34:20.380
 but then I realized

00:34:20.380 --> 00:34:21.200
 I was going to be talking

00:34:21.200 --> 00:34:22.059
 about it here today

00:34:22.059 --> 00:34:23.340
 and I thought I'd save it.

00:34:24.460 --> 00:34:25.880
 I had a really remarkable

00:34:25.880 --> 00:34:26.800
 thing happen to me

00:34:26.800 --> 00:34:27.579
 in Starbucks

00:34:27.579 --> 00:34:28.900
 just over two weeks ago,

00:34:29.000 --> 00:34:29.900
 two and a half weeks ago.

00:34:29.900 --> 00:34:32.519
 a man that had

00:34:32.519 --> 00:34:33.340
 very,

00:34:33.440 --> 00:34:34.119
 very wrong,

00:34:34.240 --> 00:34:35.579
 very much wronged me

00:34:35.579 --> 00:34:36.860
 and hurt me

00:34:36.860 --> 00:34:39.619
 for almost ten years

00:34:39.619 --> 00:34:40.539
 I had been praying

00:34:40.539 --> 00:34:41.539
 that I could forgive him.

00:34:43.260 --> 00:34:44.079
 Some of you might remember

00:34:44.079 --> 00:34:44.740
 I said sometimes

00:34:44.740 --> 00:34:45.160
 when we pray

00:34:45.160 --> 00:34:46.280
 to forgive another person

00:34:46.280 --> 00:34:47.300
 sometimes God answers

00:34:47.300 --> 00:34:48.200
 it just like that

00:34:48.200 --> 00:34:49.619
 but sometimes

00:34:49.619 --> 00:34:50.500
 you have to pray

00:34:50.500 --> 00:34:51.500
 for a long time

00:34:51.500 --> 00:34:53.079
 and I think

00:34:53.079 --> 00:34:53.579
 one of the ways

00:34:53.579 --> 00:34:54.200
 that you understand

00:34:54.200 --> 00:34:54.780
 that you've actually

00:34:54.780 --> 00:34:56.019
 finally forgiven the person

00:34:56.019 --> 00:34:57.280
 is that when you see them

00:34:57.280 --> 00:34:58.320
 and you're with them

00:34:58.320 --> 00:35:00.180
 you don't feel like

00:35:00.180 --> 00:35:01.539
 punching them

00:35:01.539 --> 00:35:03.820
 you don't feel like

00:35:03.820 --> 00:35:04.660
 yelling at them

00:35:04.660 --> 00:35:05.559
 or being mad at them

00:35:05.559 --> 00:35:06.400
 and you also don't feel

00:35:06.400 --> 00:35:07.420
 like running from them

00:35:07.420 --> 00:35:08.180
 you can just sort of

00:35:08.180 --> 00:35:09.400
 be calm in their presence

00:35:09.400 --> 00:35:11.200
 and I was sitting

00:35:11.200 --> 00:35:12.200
 in this Starbucks

00:35:12.200 --> 00:35:13.160
 that I often go to

00:35:13.160 --> 00:35:13.720
 and this guy

00:35:13.720 --> 00:35:14.660
 that I'd been praying for

00:35:14.660 --> 00:35:15.559
 that I could forgive him

00:35:15.559 --> 00:35:16.780
 for almost ten years

00:35:16.780 --> 00:35:18.940
 I've never seen him

00:35:18.940 --> 00:35:19.660
 in this Starbucks

00:35:19.660 --> 00:35:20.760
 but he shows up

00:35:20.760 --> 00:35:21.480
 in this Starbucks

00:35:21.480 --> 00:35:23.780
 and I realized

00:35:23.780 --> 00:35:26.039
 I felt no fight or flight

00:35:26.039 --> 00:35:27.800
 and that my prayers

00:35:27.800 --> 00:35:29.059
 for almost ten years

00:35:29.059 --> 00:35:29.739
 had been answered

00:35:29.739 --> 00:35:33.279
 I'd forgiven him

00:35:33.279 --> 00:35:35.440
 in fact afterwards

00:35:35.440 --> 00:35:36.159
 when I was going home

00:35:36.159 --> 00:35:36.900
 I thanked God

00:35:36.900 --> 00:35:38.739
 that he'd answered

00:35:38.739 --> 00:35:39.460
 those prayers

00:35:39.460 --> 00:35:42.259
 and I was able

00:35:42.259 --> 00:35:43.079
 to forgive the guy

00:35:43.079 --> 00:35:44.699
 and

00:35:44.699 --> 00:35:47.119
 here's the thing

00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:47.980
 about the text

00:35:47.980 --> 00:35:49.019
 is that

00:35:49.019 --> 00:35:51.559
 Jesus talks about

00:35:51.559 --> 00:35:52.960
 his death upon the cross

00:35:52.960 --> 00:35:53.719
 we talked about this

00:35:53.719 --> 00:35:54.539
 more two weeks ago

00:35:54.539 --> 00:35:55.460
 but it's really important

00:35:55.460 --> 00:35:56.139
 to bring home

00:35:56.139 --> 00:35:57.320
 and that the way

00:35:57.320 --> 00:35:58.639
 that we are to explain

00:35:58.639 --> 00:35:59.279
 one of the ways

00:35:59.279 --> 00:35:59.860
 that we are to go

00:35:59.860 --> 00:36:00.539
 into all the world

00:36:00.539 --> 00:36:01.699
 and explain what it is

00:36:01.699 --> 00:36:02.759
 that Jesus has accomplished

00:36:02.759 --> 00:36:03.940
 for us on the cross

00:36:03.940 --> 00:36:05.320
 is that one of the ways

00:36:05.320 --> 00:36:06.820
 that we are to understand this

00:36:06.820 --> 00:36:07.880
 is that God

00:36:07.880 --> 00:36:09.300
 forgives us

00:36:09.300 --> 00:36:10.119
 in Jesus

00:36:10.119 --> 00:36:11.800
 listen to it again

00:36:11.800 --> 00:36:12.900
 if you go back

00:36:12.900 --> 00:36:13.840
 to verse 44

00:36:13.840 --> 00:36:15.639
 then Jesus said to them

00:36:15.639 --> 00:36:16.500
 these are my words

00:36:16.500 --> 00:36:17.199
 that I spoke to you

00:36:17.199 --> 00:36:18.219
 while I was still with you

00:36:18.219 --> 00:36:19.179
 that everything written

00:36:19.179 --> 00:36:19.699
 about me

00:36:19.699 --> 00:36:20.719
 in the law of Moses

00:36:20.719 --> 00:36:21.440
 and the prophets

00:36:21.440 --> 00:36:22.059
 and the Psalms

00:36:22.059 --> 00:36:22.920
 must be fulfilled

00:36:22.920 --> 00:36:24.700
 then he opened their minds

00:36:24.700 --> 00:36:26.019
 to understand the scriptures

00:36:26.019 --> 00:36:26.960
 and said to them

00:36:26.960 --> 00:36:27.760
 thus it is written

00:36:27.760 --> 00:36:28.980
 that the Christ

00:36:28.980 --> 00:36:30.039
 should suffer

00:36:30.039 --> 00:36:31.079
 and on the third day

00:36:31.079 --> 00:36:31.960
 rise from the dead

00:36:31.960 --> 00:36:34.000
 and that repentance

00:36:34.000 --> 00:36:35.200
 that's our repentance

00:36:35.200 --> 00:36:37.300
 and forgiveness of sins

00:36:37.300 --> 00:36:38.159
 that's what Jesus

00:36:38.159 --> 00:36:39.000
 has accomplished

00:36:39.000 --> 00:36:40.820
 should be proclaimed

00:36:40.820 --> 00:36:41.820
 in his name

00:36:41.820 --> 00:36:42.820
 to all nations

00:36:42.820 --> 00:36:43.639
 and the word nations

00:36:43.639 --> 00:36:44.440
 there is actually

00:36:44.440 --> 00:36:45.139
 people group

00:36:45.139 --> 00:36:47.000
 to every people group

00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:49.240
 beginning from Jerusalem

00:36:49.240 --> 00:36:50.079
 you are witnesses

00:36:50.079 --> 00:36:51.039
 of these things

00:36:51.039 --> 00:36:52.400
 you are witnesses

00:36:52.400 --> 00:36:53.299
 of these things

00:36:53.299 --> 00:36:57.159
 if you could put up

00:36:57.159 --> 00:36:57.900
 the first point

00:36:57.900 --> 00:36:59.759
 here's the thing

00:36:59.759 --> 00:37:00.779
 which is so amazing

00:37:00.779 --> 00:37:01.380
 and I

00:37:01.380 --> 00:37:02.360
 you know

00:37:02.360 --> 00:37:03.219
 I just really tried

00:37:03.219 --> 00:37:03.699
 to make sure

00:37:03.699 --> 00:37:04.719
 I tried to just add

00:37:04.719 --> 00:37:05.719
 a whole pile of words

00:37:05.719 --> 00:37:06.519
 it doesn't have rhythm

00:37:06.519 --> 00:37:08.000
 and if I was like smarter

00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:09.559
 they'd all spell a word

00:37:09.559 --> 00:37:11.139
 or all begin with the same letter

00:37:11.139 --> 00:37:12.079
 or something like that

00:37:12.079 --> 00:37:12.619
 but I'm not

00:37:12.619 --> 00:37:13.920
 have that type of mind

00:37:13.920 --> 00:37:15.819
 Jesus offers pure

00:37:15.819 --> 00:37:16.539
 full

00:37:16.539 --> 00:37:17.219
 free

00:37:17.219 --> 00:37:18.099
 complete

00:37:18.099 --> 00:37:18.839
 deep

00:37:18.839 --> 00:37:19.579
 total

00:37:19.579 --> 00:37:20.699
 whole life

00:37:20.699 --> 00:37:21.739
 undeserved

00:37:21.739 --> 00:37:23.259
 forgiveness from God

00:37:23.259 --> 00:37:24.659
 to ordinary people

00:37:24.659 --> 00:37:25.959
 because of his

00:37:25.959 --> 00:37:26.579
 death

00:37:26.579 --> 00:37:27.599
 and resurrection

00:37:27.599 --> 00:37:31.019
 that's what Jesus

00:37:31.019 --> 00:37:32.059
 wins for us

00:37:32.059 --> 00:37:32.859
 on the cross

00:37:32.859 --> 00:37:34.419
 I'll say it again

00:37:34.419 --> 00:37:35.959
 it's pure forgiveness

00:37:35.959 --> 00:37:37.099
 full forgiveness

00:37:37.099 --> 00:37:38.119
 free forgiveness

00:37:38.119 --> 00:37:39.259
 complete forgiveness

00:37:39.259 --> 00:37:40.459
 deep forgiveness

00:37:40.459 --> 00:37:41.500
 total forgiveness

00:37:41.500 --> 00:37:42.819
 whole life forgiveness

00:37:42.819 --> 00:37:43.500
 it goes from

00:37:43.500 --> 00:37:44.459
 a moment of your

00:37:44.459 --> 00:37:44.980
 conception

00:37:44.980 --> 00:37:45.899
 in your mother's womb

00:37:45.900 --> 00:37:47.420
 to that time in the future

00:37:47.420 --> 00:37:48.480
 at which you die

00:37:48.480 --> 00:37:50.700
 undeserved forgiveness

00:37:50.700 --> 00:37:51.880
 and it's forgiveness

00:37:51.880 --> 00:37:52.800
 from God

00:37:52.800 --> 00:37:53.740
 and it's offered

00:37:53.740 --> 00:37:55.000
 to ordinary people

00:37:55.000 --> 00:37:56.039
 like you and me

00:37:56.039 --> 00:37:56.860
 and the people we meet

00:37:56.860 --> 00:37:57.760
 in the city of Ottawa

00:37:57.760 --> 00:37:58.940
 and around the world

00:37:58.940 --> 00:37:59.639
 and it's

00:37:59.639 --> 00:38:00.760
 and it's because of

00:38:00.760 --> 00:38:01.820
 Jesus' death

00:38:01.820 --> 00:38:02.639
 and resurrection

00:38:02.639 --> 00:38:06.400
 that if you put

00:38:06.400 --> 00:38:06.960
 if you

00:38:06.960 --> 00:38:07.980
 repentance

00:38:07.980 --> 00:38:08.820
 doesn't

00:38:08.820 --> 00:38:09.480
 doesn't

00:38:09.480 --> 00:38:10.619
 sometimes you feel guilty

00:38:10.619 --> 00:38:11.119
 in repentance

00:38:11.119 --> 00:38:12.260
 repentance is all about

00:38:12.260 --> 00:38:12.660
 turning

00:38:12.660 --> 00:38:15.639
 it's turning to Jesus

00:38:15.639 --> 00:38:17.480
 turning to God

00:38:17.480 --> 00:38:19.299
 maybe you've been involved

00:38:19.299 --> 00:38:20.139
 in ritual

00:38:20.139 --> 00:38:21.219
 maybe you've been involved

00:38:21.219 --> 00:38:21.799
 in religion

00:38:21.799 --> 00:38:23.019
 maybe you've been involved

00:38:23.019 --> 00:38:24.019
 in irreligion

00:38:24.019 --> 00:38:25.059
 maybe you've been involved

00:38:25.059 --> 00:38:25.960
 in witchcraft

00:38:25.960 --> 00:38:26.839
 maybe you've been involved

00:38:26.839 --> 00:38:27.359
 in different

00:38:27.359 --> 00:38:28.500
 whatever it is

00:38:28.500 --> 00:38:29.799
 and you turn

00:38:29.799 --> 00:38:31.599
 to the living God

00:38:31.599 --> 00:38:32.900
 and you turn to Jesus

00:38:32.900 --> 00:38:35.319
 and in a sense

00:38:35.319 --> 00:38:36.139
 you give yourself

00:38:36.139 --> 00:38:36.739
 to him

00:38:36.739 --> 00:38:37.400
 you might not have

00:38:37.400 --> 00:38:38.480
 very much of an understanding

00:38:38.480 --> 00:38:39.159
 about who he is

00:38:39.159 --> 00:38:39.980
 or what he's done

00:38:39.980 --> 00:38:41.599
 God doesn't ask you

00:38:41.599 --> 00:38:43.059
 to pass a theology test

00:38:43.059 --> 00:38:43.960
 before you can become

00:38:43.960 --> 00:38:44.539
 a Christian

00:38:44.539 --> 00:38:45.900
 but you turn

00:38:45.900 --> 00:38:46.519
 to Jesus

00:38:46.519 --> 00:38:47.360
 and

00:38:47.360 --> 00:38:48.119
 and

00:38:48.119 --> 00:38:49.000
 and

00:38:49.000 --> 00:38:49.679
 complete

00:38:49.679 --> 00:38:50.320
 full

00:38:50.320 --> 00:38:50.800
 pure

00:38:50.800 --> 00:38:51.420
 forgiveness

00:38:51.420 --> 00:38:52.179
 is offered

00:38:52.179 --> 00:38:52.639
 to us

00:38:52.639 --> 00:38:53.199
 from God

00:38:53.199 --> 00:38:55.639
 Jesus tells us

00:38:55.639 --> 00:38:55.860
 that

00:38:55.860 --> 00:38:57.119
 I'm not making this up

00:38:57.119 --> 00:38:57.800
 that's what Jesus

00:38:57.800 --> 00:38:58.340
 tells us

00:38:58.340 --> 00:38:59.380
 after he is risen

00:38:59.380 --> 00:38:59.980
 from the dead

00:38:59.980 --> 00:39:01.139
 that's what he's

00:39:01.139 --> 00:39:02.059
 telling you and me

00:39:02.059 --> 00:39:04.599
 and if you could

00:39:04.599 --> 00:39:05.420
 put up the next point

00:39:05.420 --> 00:39:05.900
 as well

00:39:05.900 --> 00:39:07.679
 Jesus

00:39:07.679 --> 00:39:08.800
 has obtained

00:39:08.800 --> 00:39:09.380
 for me

00:39:09.380 --> 00:39:10.980
 peace with God

00:39:10.980 --> 00:39:12.079
 and forgiveness

00:39:12.079 --> 00:39:13.139
 from God

00:39:13.139 --> 00:39:14.699
 so I can walk

00:39:14.699 --> 00:39:15.340
 with God

00:39:15.340 --> 00:39:16.619
 day by day

00:39:16.619 --> 00:39:17.639
 into eternity

00:39:17.639 --> 00:39:20.259
 see that

00:39:20.259 --> 00:39:20.980
 you catch that

00:39:20.980 --> 00:39:21.319
 when he

00:39:21.319 --> 00:39:22.119
 the first words

00:39:22.119 --> 00:39:22.759
 he says to the

00:39:22.759 --> 00:39:23.179
 disciples

00:39:23.179 --> 00:39:23.799
 are peace

00:39:23.799 --> 00:39:26.579
 and it's not only

00:39:26.579 --> 00:39:28.139
 him reassuring them

00:39:28.139 --> 00:39:29.739
 he's also telling them

00:39:29.739 --> 00:39:31.159
 what he has accomplished

00:39:31.159 --> 00:39:32.199
 for them

00:39:32.199 --> 00:39:34.000
 and he

00:39:34.000 --> 00:39:34.319
 he

00:39:34.319 --> 00:39:36.480
 embodies it

00:39:36.480 --> 00:39:37.619
 he acts it out

00:39:37.619 --> 00:39:38.940
 he eats with them

00:39:38.940 --> 00:39:39.360
 he's

00:39:39.360 --> 00:39:40.420
 his demeanor

00:39:40.420 --> 00:39:40.860
 to them

00:39:40.860 --> 00:39:41.240
 is

00:39:41.240 --> 00:39:42.340
 is one of

00:39:42.340 --> 00:39:43.519
 a favor

00:39:43.519 --> 00:39:44.360
 towards them

00:39:44.360 --> 00:39:45.720
 and by

00:39:45.720 --> 00:39:46.240
 you know

00:39:46.240 --> 00:39:46.760
 the other

00:39:46.760 --> 00:39:47.420
 you can look at

00:39:47.420 --> 00:39:47.920
 we can look at

00:39:47.920 --> 00:39:48.740
 Paul and Hebrews

00:39:48.740 --> 00:39:49.680
 and there's other ways

00:39:49.680 --> 00:39:50.099
 to try to

00:39:50.099 --> 00:39:51.079
 figure out

00:39:51.079 --> 00:39:51.720
 how to try to get

00:39:51.720 --> 00:39:52.519
 into the mystery

00:39:52.519 --> 00:39:52.960
 but at the

00:39:52.960 --> 00:39:54.680
 most simple level

00:39:54.680 --> 00:39:55.320
 of the mystery

00:39:55.320 --> 00:39:56.539
 are these two things

00:39:56.539 --> 00:39:57.640
 that Jesus'

00:39:57.920 --> 00:39:59.059
 death upon the cross

00:39:59.059 --> 00:40:00.000
 and his resurrection

00:40:00.000 --> 00:40:01.059
 are what the Bible

00:40:01.059 --> 00:40:01.820
 is telling you

00:40:01.820 --> 00:40:02.900
 all the Old Testament

00:40:02.900 --> 00:40:03.740
 is pointing to that

00:40:03.740 --> 00:40:04.880
 preparing you for that

00:40:04.880 --> 00:40:05.960
 and that

00:40:05.960 --> 00:40:07.200
 what is offered

00:40:07.200 --> 00:40:07.780
 to us

00:40:07.780 --> 00:40:08.900
 by God

00:40:08.900 --> 00:40:09.740
 through Jesus'

00:40:09.980 --> 00:40:10.900
 death and the resurrection

00:40:10.900 --> 00:40:12.720
 is that peace

00:40:12.720 --> 00:40:13.940
 we can be at peace

00:40:13.940 --> 00:40:14.480
 with him

00:40:14.480 --> 00:40:15.760
 God has

00:40:15.760 --> 00:40:18.140
 never been

00:40:18.140 --> 00:40:20.140
 against us

00:40:20.140 --> 00:40:21.280
 it is that

00:40:21.280 --> 00:40:21.800
 I have

00:40:21.800 --> 00:40:23.180
 been against him

00:40:23.180 --> 00:40:25.180
 and God

00:40:25.180 --> 00:40:26.300
 has never wronged me

00:40:26.300 --> 00:40:27.160
 but I

00:40:27.160 --> 00:40:28.079
 have wronged him

00:40:28.079 --> 00:40:29.860
 and God

00:40:29.860 --> 00:40:30.480
 offers me

00:40:30.480 --> 00:40:31.200
 through Jesus

00:40:31.200 --> 00:40:32.320
 when I turn

00:40:32.320 --> 00:40:32.760
 to him

00:40:32.760 --> 00:40:34.440
 forgiveness

00:40:34.440 --> 00:40:36.119
 and peace

00:40:36.119 --> 00:40:36.559
 with him

00:40:36.559 --> 00:40:38.579
 that's what

00:40:38.579 --> 00:40:39.559
 Jesus tells us

00:40:39.559 --> 00:40:40.280
 that's what

00:40:40.280 --> 00:40:41.019
 I'm telling you

00:40:41.019 --> 00:40:42.700
 so here just

00:40:42.700 --> 00:40:43.220
 one thing

00:40:43.220 --> 00:40:43.880
 a take away

00:40:43.880 --> 00:40:44.320
 prayer

00:40:44.320 --> 00:40:46.500
 if you could

00:40:46.500 --> 00:40:47.079
 put it up

00:40:47.079 --> 00:40:49.260
 Jesus

00:40:49.260 --> 00:40:50.200
 please help me

00:40:50.200 --> 00:40:50.659
 to stop

00:40:50.659 --> 00:40:51.300
 trying to

00:40:51.300 --> 00:40:52.340
 forgive myself

00:40:52.340 --> 00:40:53.980
 by the way

00:40:53.980 --> 00:40:54.280
 you know

00:40:54.280 --> 00:40:55.000
 the Bible

00:40:55.000 --> 00:40:55.880
 never tells you

00:40:55.880 --> 00:40:56.320
 to forgive

00:40:56.320 --> 00:40:56.820
 yourself

00:40:56.820 --> 00:41:00.480
 when we're

00:41:00.480 --> 00:41:00.840
 trying to

00:41:00.840 --> 00:41:01.559
 forgive ourselves

00:41:01.559 --> 00:41:02.079
 it's because

00:41:02.079 --> 00:41:02.860
 we're proud

00:41:02.860 --> 00:41:07.000
 please give me

00:41:07.000 --> 00:41:08.280
 both a tender

00:41:08.280 --> 00:41:09.000
 conscience

00:41:09.000 --> 00:41:11.000
 and an ability

00:41:11.000 --> 00:41:11.740
 to accept

00:41:11.740 --> 00:41:12.680
 God's forgiveness

00:41:12.680 --> 00:41:14.180
 that's what we

00:41:14.180 --> 00:41:14.460
 need

00:41:14.460 --> 00:41:15.920
 that's what we

00:41:15.920 --> 00:41:16.539
 see here from

00:41:16.539 --> 00:41:17.140
 this text

00:41:17.140 --> 00:41:17.860
 because God

00:41:17.860 --> 00:41:18.519
 forgives us

00:41:18.519 --> 00:41:19.059
 in Jesus

00:41:19.059 --> 00:41:20.579
 he forgives me

00:41:20.579 --> 00:41:21.140
 I don't want to

00:41:21.140 --> 00:41:22.019
 I don't plan to

00:41:22.019 --> 00:41:22.880
 sin next week

00:41:22.880 --> 00:41:24.480
 or in 10 years

00:41:24.480 --> 00:41:25.039
 or tomorrow

00:41:25.039 --> 00:41:25.740
 but I will

00:41:25.740 --> 00:41:26.480
 because I am

00:41:26.480 --> 00:41:27.280
 a bent human

00:41:27.280 --> 00:41:27.640
 being

00:41:27.640 --> 00:41:29.019
 and that's all

00:41:29.019 --> 00:41:29.440
 been dealt

00:41:29.440 --> 00:41:30.180
 with by Jesus

00:41:30.180 --> 00:41:30.980
 on the cross

00:41:30.980 --> 00:41:32.320
 there's nothing

00:41:32.320 --> 00:41:33.219
 I can add to it

00:41:33.219 --> 00:41:33.659
 there's nothing

00:41:33.659 --> 00:41:34.400
 I can subtract

00:41:34.400 --> 00:41:36.360
 and I don't need

00:41:36.360 --> 00:41:36.840
 to learn to

00:41:36.840 --> 00:41:37.659
 forgive myself

00:41:37.659 --> 00:41:38.960
 I need God

00:41:38.960 --> 00:41:39.659
 to keep my

00:41:39.659 --> 00:41:40.460
 conscience

00:41:40.460 --> 00:41:41.840
 ever more tender

00:41:41.840 --> 00:41:42.760
 so I recognize

00:41:42.760 --> 00:41:43.380
 when I've done

00:41:43.380 --> 00:41:43.780
 wrong

00:41:43.780 --> 00:41:45.480
 and I need

00:41:45.480 --> 00:41:46.659
 him to work

00:41:46.659 --> 00:41:47.519
 in my heart

00:41:47.519 --> 00:41:48.900
 so that I

00:41:48.900 --> 00:41:49.519
 accept

00:41:49.519 --> 00:41:50.760
 the forgiveness

00:41:50.760 --> 00:41:52.119
 that was won

00:41:52.119 --> 00:41:52.699
 for me

00:41:52.699 --> 00:41:53.960
 by Jesus

00:41:53.960 --> 00:41:55.119
 and is offered

00:41:55.119 --> 00:41:55.559
 to me

00:41:55.559 --> 00:41:56.260
 by Jesus

00:41:56.260 --> 00:41:57.099
 from God

00:41:57.099 --> 00:41:57.579
 himself

00:41:57.579 --> 00:41:59.019
 and I need

00:41:59.019 --> 00:41:59.639
 to have a tender

00:41:59.639 --> 00:42:00.119
 conscience

00:42:00.119 --> 00:42:00.839
 and live

00:42:00.839 --> 00:42:01.779
 out of being

00:42:01.779 --> 00:42:02.219
 forgiven

00:42:02.219 --> 00:42:05.920
 it's a prayer

00:42:05.920 --> 00:42:07.139
 that many of us

00:42:07.139 --> 00:42:08.199
 need to pray

00:42:08.199 --> 00:42:09.179
 maybe some of us

00:42:09.179 --> 00:42:09.779
 have to pray it

00:42:09.779 --> 00:42:10.460
 for 10 years

00:42:10.460 --> 00:42:11.099
 maybe the rest

00:42:11.099 --> 00:42:11.719
 of our lives

00:42:11.719 --> 00:42:12.379
 until we can

00:42:12.379 --> 00:42:13.039
 actually start

00:42:13.039 --> 00:42:13.799
 to enter into it

00:42:13.799 --> 00:42:14.559
 and walk in it

00:42:14.559 --> 00:42:17.739
 and that just

00:42:17.739 --> 00:42:18.400
 leads me to this

00:42:18.400 --> 00:42:19.019
 final thing

00:42:19.019 --> 00:42:19.940
 as part of my

00:42:19.940 --> 00:42:20.879
 preparation for this

00:42:20.879 --> 00:42:21.659
 sermon on Friday

00:42:21.659 --> 00:42:22.319
 night I watched

00:42:22.319 --> 00:42:23.219
 Legally Blonde

00:42:23.219 --> 00:42:23.699
 again

00:42:23.699 --> 00:42:25.859
 that

00:42:25.859 --> 00:42:26.779
 you know that

00:42:26.779 --> 00:42:27.659
 movie Legally Blonde

00:42:27.659 --> 00:42:29.039
 with Reese Witherspoon

00:42:29.039 --> 00:42:30.320
 a 14 year old

00:42:30.320 --> 00:42:30.619
 movie

00:42:30.619 --> 00:42:32.099
 and there's

00:42:32.099 --> 00:42:32.679
 at the end

00:42:32.679 --> 00:42:33.159
 of the movie

00:42:33.159 --> 00:42:34.320
 without giving

00:42:34.320 --> 00:42:34.679
 it away

00:42:34.679 --> 00:42:35.239
 it's like every

00:42:35.239 --> 00:42:35.940
 American movie

00:42:35.940 --> 00:42:36.940
 every American

00:42:36.940 --> 00:42:37.400
 movie

00:42:37.400 --> 00:42:37.940
 or a lot of

00:42:37.940 --> 00:42:38.539
 American movies

00:42:38.539 --> 00:42:39.219
 either end with

00:42:39.219 --> 00:42:40.239
 a man and a woman

00:42:40.239 --> 00:42:41.199
 kissing each other

00:42:41.199 --> 00:42:41.860
 or they end

00:42:41.860 --> 00:42:42.659
 with applause

00:42:42.659 --> 00:42:43.440
 right

00:42:43.440 --> 00:42:44.340
 so this didn't

00:42:44.340 --> 00:42:45.059
 end with kissing

00:42:45.059 --> 00:42:45.579
 but it ended

00:42:45.579 --> 00:42:46.360
 with applause

00:42:46.360 --> 00:42:48.019
 and the heroine

00:42:48.019 --> 00:42:48.900
 gets a standing

00:42:48.900 --> 00:42:49.340
 ovation

00:42:49.340 --> 00:42:49.940
 and all that

00:42:49.940 --> 00:42:50.219
 stuff

00:42:50.219 --> 00:42:50.679
 and she gives

00:42:50.679 --> 00:42:51.500
 a very typical

00:42:51.500 --> 00:42:52.500
 commencement address

00:42:52.500 --> 00:42:53.099
 that what she's

00:42:53.099 --> 00:42:53.759
 really learned

00:42:53.759 --> 00:42:54.599
 is that she has

00:42:54.599 --> 00:42:55.159
 to have faith

00:42:55.159 --> 00:42:55.719
 in herself

00:42:55.719 --> 00:42:57.779
 you go to

00:42:57.779 --> 00:42:58.000
 just about

00:42:58.000 --> 00:42:58.739
 any type

00:42:58.739 --> 00:42:59.439
 of commencement

00:42:59.439 --> 00:42:59.879
 that's

00:42:59.879 --> 00:43:00.559
 we all are

00:43:00.559 --> 00:43:01.000
 learning to

00:43:01.000 --> 00:43:01.579
 have faith

00:43:01.579 --> 00:43:02.199
 in ourself

00:43:02.199 --> 00:43:02.779
 faith in

00:43:02.779 --> 00:43:03.139
 ourself

00:43:03.139 --> 00:43:03.379
 in fact

00:43:03.379 --> 00:43:03.679
 one of the

00:43:03.679 --> 00:43:04.000
 things about

00:43:04.000 --> 00:43:04.359
 Christianity

00:43:04.359 --> 00:43:05.119
 is that it's

00:43:05.119 --> 00:43:05.639
 viewed as a

00:43:05.639 --> 00:43:06.879
 downer

00:43:06.879 --> 00:43:07.919
 many Christians

00:43:07.919 --> 00:43:08.480
 actually will try

00:43:08.480 --> 00:43:09.159
 to make it look

00:43:09.159 --> 00:43:09.739
 as if the Bible

00:43:09.739 --> 00:43:10.299
 is talking about

00:43:10.299 --> 00:43:10.939
 us having faith

00:43:10.939 --> 00:43:11.379
 in ourselves

00:43:11.379 --> 00:43:12.879
 but I don't

00:43:12.879 --> 00:43:13.879
 want to depress

00:43:13.879 --> 00:43:14.139
 you

00:43:14.139 --> 00:43:14.679
 I want to give

00:43:14.679 --> 00:43:15.579
 you better news

00:43:15.579 --> 00:43:17.079
 don't have faith

00:43:17.079 --> 00:43:17.759
 in yourself

00:43:17.759 --> 00:43:19.719
 none of us

00:43:19.719 --> 00:43:20.579
 need more faith

00:43:20.579 --> 00:43:21.319
 in ourselves

00:43:21.320 --> 00:43:22.960
 Jesus says

00:43:22.960 --> 00:43:23.680
 we need more

00:43:23.680 --> 00:43:24.760
 awareness of

00:43:24.760 --> 00:43:25.300
 our weakness

00:43:25.300 --> 00:43:26.620
 and faith

00:43:26.620 --> 00:43:27.240
 in the promise

00:43:27.240 --> 00:43:27.800
 of God

00:43:27.800 --> 00:43:29.539
 that's what we

00:43:29.539 --> 00:43:29.800
 need

00:43:29.800 --> 00:43:30.580
 look it's right

00:43:30.580 --> 00:43:30.920
 here in the

00:43:30.920 --> 00:43:31.240
 Bible

00:43:31.240 --> 00:43:32.160
 verse 48

00:43:32.160 --> 00:43:33.180
 you are witnesses

00:43:33.180 --> 00:43:33.920
 of these things

00:43:33.920 --> 00:43:34.519
 and behold

00:43:34.519 --> 00:43:35.400
 I am sending

00:43:35.400 --> 00:43:35.940
 the promise

00:43:35.940 --> 00:43:36.559
 of my father

00:43:36.559 --> 00:43:37.200
 upon you

00:43:37.200 --> 00:43:38.160
 but stay in

00:43:38.160 --> 00:43:38.559
 the city

00:43:38.559 --> 00:43:39.260
 until you are

00:43:39.260 --> 00:43:40.080
 clothed

00:43:40.080 --> 00:43:40.980
 with power

00:43:40.980 --> 00:43:42.100
 from on high

00:43:42.100 --> 00:43:43.240
 here's the little

00:43:43.240 --> 00:43:44.059
 two takes away

00:43:44.059 --> 00:43:44.880
 first of all

00:43:44.880 --> 00:43:45.720
 Jesus

00:43:45.720 --> 00:43:46.780
 if you put it

00:43:46.780 --> 00:43:46.980
 up

00:43:46.980 --> 00:43:48.120
 Jesus sends

00:43:48.120 --> 00:43:48.760
 out witnesses

00:43:48.760 --> 00:43:50.019
 not spin doctors

00:43:50.019 --> 00:43:52.340
 he doesn't

00:43:52.340 --> 00:43:52.920
 need me to

00:43:52.920 --> 00:43:53.539
 go in the

00:43:53.539 --> 00:43:53.920
 Starbucks

00:43:53.920 --> 00:43:54.340
 when I have

00:43:54.340 --> 00:43:54.980
 conversations

00:43:54.980 --> 00:43:55.380
 and I say

00:43:55.380 --> 00:43:55.699
 well you know

00:43:55.699 --> 00:43:56.159
 it says this

00:43:56.159 --> 00:43:56.679
 in the Bible

00:43:56.679 --> 00:43:57.239
 but actually

00:43:57.239 --> 00:43:58.300
 I've always

00:43:58.300 --> 00:43:58.619
 thought that

00:43:58.619 --> 00:43:59.239
 was not

00:43:59.239 --> 00:43:59.739
 very well

00:43:59.739 --> 00:44:00.139
 put

00:44:00.139 --> 00:44:01.119
 then you

00:44:01.119 --> 00:44:01.500
 close it

00:44:01.500 --> 00:44:01.780
 and put it

00:44:01.780 --> 00:44:01.880
 down

00:44:01.880 --> 00:44:02.280
 listen to

00:44:02.280 --> 00:44:02.920
 my thoughts

00:44:02.920 --> 00:44:03.239
 on the

00:44:03.239 --> 00:44:03.539
 subject

00:44:03.539 --> 00:44:04.360
 because I'm

00:44:04.360 --> 00:44:04.739
 actually

00:44:04.739 --> 00:44:04.980
 you know

00:44:04.980 --> 00:44:05.420
 I think

00:44:05.420 --> 00:44:05.759
 I can

00:44:05.759 --> 00:44:07.000
 no no

00:44:07.000 --> 00:44:08.079
 at the very

00:44:08.079 --> 00:44:08.500
 end of the

00:44:08.500 --> 00:44:08.739
 day

00:44:08.739 --> 00:44:10.360
 it's a very

00:44:10.360 --> 00:44:11.099
 very interesting

00:44:11.099 --> 00:44:11.739
 process

00:44:11.739 --> 00:44:13.039
 Jesus doesn't

00:44:13.039 --> 00:44:13.539
 tell us to

00:44:13.539 --> 00:44:13.860
 go out and

00:44:13.860 --> 00:44:14.699
 convert people

00:44:14.699 --> 00:44:15.280
 he doesn't

00:44:15.280 --> 00:44:15.679
 tell us to

00:44:15.679 --> 00:44:15.940
 go out and

00:44:15.940 --> 00:44:16.420
 do all of

00:44:16.420 --> 00:44:16.739
 the work

00:44:16.739 --> 00:44:17.380
 that's necessary

00:44:17.380 --> 00:44:17.960
 he tells us

00:44:17.960 --> 00:44:18.699
 to bear witness

00:44:18.699 --> 00:44:19.960
 and he sends

00:44:19.960 --> 00:44:20.780
 the Holy Spirit

00:44:20.780 --> 00:44:23.340
 so you know

00:44:23.340 --> 00:44:23.880
 sometimes you

00:44:23.880 --> 00:44:24.980
 go back home

00:44:24.980 --> 00:44:25.440
 afterwards

00:44:25.440 --> 00:44:26.280
 I've had many

00:44:26.280 --> 00:44:26.800
 times I've

00:44:26.800 --> 00:44:27.320
 done I think

00:44:27.320 --> 00:44:28.099
 I probably have

00:44:28.099 --> 00:44:28.539
 done a very

00:44:28.539 --> 00:44:29.240
 poor job

00:44:29.240 --> 00:44:29.619
 in bearing

00:44:29.619 --> 00:44:29.960
 witness

00:44:29.960 --> 00:44:30.500
 at least I

00:44:30.500 --> 00:44:31.400
 did some

00:44:31.400 --> 00:44:31.820
 type of

00:44:31.820 --> 00:44:32.039
 bearing

00:44:32.039 --> 00:44:32.460
 witness

00:44:32.460 --> 00:44:33.539
 and God

00:44:33.539 --> 00:44:34.820
 does the

00:44:34.820 --> 00:44:36.539
 big work

00:44:36.539 --> 00:44:37.139
 he carries

00:44:37.139 --> 00:44:37.539
 the heavy

00:44:37.539 --> 00:44:37.900
 lifting

00:44:37.900 --> 00:44:39.340
 but here's

00:44:39.340 --> 00:44:39.800
 the final

00:44:39.800 --> 00:44:40.039
 thing

00:44:40.039 --> 00:44:40.380
 the one I

00:44:40.380 --> 00:44:41.039
 want you

00:44:41.039 --> 00:44:41.539
 to really

00:44:41.539 --> 00:44:42.000
 take to

00:44:42.000 --> 00:44:42.260
 heart

00:44:42.260 --> 00:44:42.880
 and notice

00:44:42.880 --> 00:44:43.220
 how I

00:44:43.220 --> 00:44:43.699
 put it

00:44:43.699 --> 00:44:45.079
 the promise

00:44:45.079 --> 00:44:45.419
 of the

00:44:45.419 --> 00:44:45.799
 father

00:44:45.799 --> 00:44:46.399
 is sent

00:44:46.399 --> 00:44:47.039
 by Jesus

00:44:47.039 --> 00:44:48.000
 to clothe

00:44:48.000 --> 00:44:48.699
 weaklings

00:44:48.699 --> 00:44:50.500
 in God's

00:44:50.500 --> 00:44:50.899
 power

00:44:50.899 --> 00:44:52.319
 so we can

00:44:52.319 --> 00:44:52.960
 proclaim the

00:44:52.960 --> 00:44:53.419
 gospel

00:44:53.419 --> 00:44:54.419
 and live

00:44:54.419 --> 00:44:54.759
 for his

00:44:54.759 --> 00:44:55.079
 glory

00:44:55.079 --> 00:44:59.159
 I need

00:44:59.159 --> 00:44:59.599
 to come

00:44:59.599 --> 00:45:00.059
 to God

00:45:00.059 --> 00:45:00.379
 and just

00:45:00.379 --> 00:45:00.799
 say I

00:45:00.799 --> 00:45:01.079
 don't need

00:45:01.079 --> 00:45:01.339
 to come

00:45:01.339 --> 00:45:01.579
 to God

00:45:01.579 --> 00:45:01.799
 and say

00:45:01.799 --> 00:45:02.480
 father please

00:45:02.480 --> 00:45:02.759
 help me

00:45:02.759 --> 00:45:03.199
 have more

00:45:03.199 --> 00:45:03.679
 faith in

00:45:03.679 --> 00:45:04.139
 myself

00:45:04.139 --> 00:45:07.539
 this is

00:45:07.539 --> 00:45:07.980
 really

00:45:07.980 --> 00:45:08.259
 really

00:45:08.259 --> 00:45:09.279
 counterintuitive

00:45:09.280 --> 00:45:10.620
 but it's

00:45:10.620 --> 00:45:11.400
 far better

00:45:11.400 --> 00:45:11.880
 if I

00:45:11.880 --> 00:45:12.320
 come to

00:45:12.320 --> 00:45:12.540
 God

00:45:12.540 --> 00:45:12.820
 and say

00:45:12.820 --> 00:45:13.440
 father I'm

00:45:13.440 --> 00:45:14.000
 a weakling

00:45:14.000 --> 00:45:16.300
 but Jesus

00:45:16.300 --> 00:45:17.060
 died for

00:45:17.060 --> 00:45:17.300
 me

00:45:17.300 --> 00:45:18.280
 I'm at

00:45:18.280 --> 00:45:18.840
 peace with

00:45:18.840 --> 00:45:19.240
 you through

00:45:19.240 --> 00:45:19.580
 him

00:45:19.580 --> 00:45:20.160
 you've

00:45:20.160 --> 00:45:20.760
 forgiven me

00:45:20.760 --> 00:45:21.400
 through him

00:45:21.400 --> 00:45:22.260
 and you

00:45:22.260 --> 00:45:22.940
 have promised

00:45:22.940 --> 00:45:23.300
 that you

00:45:23.300 --> 00:45:23.920
 are far

00:45:23.920 --> 00:45:24.480
 bigger than

00:45:24.480 --> 00:45:25.300
 any problem

00:45:25.300 --> 00:45:26.000
 you are far

00:45:26.000 --> 00:45:26.460
 bigger than

00:45:26.460 --> 00:45:27.140
 any obstacle

00:45:27.140 --> 00:45:28.060
 you are far

00:45:28.060 --> 00:45:28.620
 bigger than

00:45:28.620 --> 00:45:29.160
 anything I

00:45:29.160 --> 00:45:29.540
 have to

00:45:29.540 --> 00:45:29.880
 face

00:45:29.880 --> 00:45:30.800
 and you

00:45:30.800 --> 00:45:31.420
 will send

00:45:31.420 --> 00:45:32.120
 the Holy

00:45:32.120 --> 00:45:32.800
 Spirit upon

00:45:32.800 --> 00:45:33.120
 me to

00:45:33.120 --> 00:45:33.519
 help me

00:45:33.519 --> 00:45:34.019
 and father

00:45:34.019 --> 00:45:34.720
 I want

00:45:34.720 --> 00:45:35.040
 to have

00:45:35.040 --> 00:45:35.500
 a deeper

00:45:35.500 --> 00:45:36.220
 trust in

00:45:36.220 --> 00:45:36.340
 you

00:45:36.340 --> 00:45:36.800
 please

00:45:36.800 --> 00:45:37.500
 father may

00:45:37.500 --> 00:45:38.280
 you work

00:45:38.280 --> 00:45:39.340
 may you

00:45:39.340 --> 00:45:39.840
 give me

00:45:39.840 --> 00:45:40.220
 power

00:45:40.220 --> 00:45:40.720
 may I

00:45:40.720 --> 00:45:41.260
 live out

00:45:41.260 --> 00:45:41.700
 of your

00:45:41.700 --> 00:45:42.460
 power

00:45:42.460 --> 00:45:44.280
 I am

00:45:44.280 --> 00:45:45.019
 a weakling

00:45:45.019 --> 00:45:45.720
 I want

00:45:45.720 --> 00:45:46.240
 to live

00:45:46.240 --> 00:45:46.840
 out of

00:45:46.840 --> 00:45:47.519
 your power

00:45:47.519 --> 00:45:48.040
 father

00:45:48.040 --> 00:45:49.000
 I don't

00:45:49.000 --> 00:45:49.240
 want to

00:45:49.240 --> 00:45:49.420
 have

00:45:49.420 --> 00:45:49.820
 self

00:45:49.820 --> 00:45:50.300
 confidence

00:45:50.300 --> 00:45:50.800
 I want

00:45:50.800 --> 00:45:51.000
 to have

00:45:51.000 --> 00:45:51.400
 God

00:45:51.400 --> 00:45:52.040
 confidence

00:45:52.040 --> 00:45:52.640
 I don't

00:45:52.640 --> 00:45:52.860
 want to

00:45:52.860 --> 00:45:53.000
 have

00:45:53.000 --> 00:45:53.320
 self

00:45:53.320 --> 00:45:53.880
 confidence

00:45:53.880 --> 00:45:54.440
 I want

00:45:54.440 --> 00:45:54.660
 to have

00:45:54.660 --> 00:45:55.040
 Jesus

00:45:55.040 --> 00:45:55.680
 confidence

00:45:55.680 --> 00:45:56.300
 I don't

00:45:56.300 --> 00:45:56.519
 want to

00:45:56.519 --> 00:45:56.680
 have

00:45:56.680 --> 00:45:57.040
 self

00:45:57.040 --> 00:45:57.480
 confidence

00:45:57.480 --> 00:45:57.920
 I

00:45:57.920 --> 00:45:58.100
 want

00:45:58.100 --> 00:45:58.200
 to

00:45:58.200 --> 00:45:58.340
 have

00:45:58.340 --> 00:45:58.680
 Holy

00:45:58.680 --> 00:45:59.160
 Spirit

00:45:59.160 --> 00:45:59.700
 confidence

00:45:59.700 --> 00:46:00.140
 I

00:46:00.140 --> 00:46:00.300
 don't

00:46:00.300 --> 00:46:00.480
 want

00:46:00.480 --> 00:46:00.560
 to

00:46:00.560 --> 00:46:00.720
 have

00:46:00.720 --> 00:46:01.000
 self

00:46:01.000 --> 00:46:01.460
 confidence

00:46:01.460 --> 00:46:01.519
 and

00:46:01.519 --> 00:46:02.120
 keep

00:46:02.120 --> 00:46:02.180
 going

00:46:02.180 --> 00:46:03.000
肯

00:46:03.000 --> 00:46:03.440
 confidence

00:46:03.440 --> 00:46:08.080
 ifω

00:46:08.079 --> 00:46:10.440
 You can put up the prayer that I put.

00:46:11.559 --> 00:46:12.559
 Oh, no, it's already up there.

00:46:12.699 --> 00:46:14.139
 Jesus, please help me to...

00:46:14.139 --> 00:46:15.319
 Where am I?

00:46:16.659 --> 00:46:18.139
 D, Jesus, here's...

00:46:18.139 --> 00:46:19.400
 Yeah, prayer D.

00:46:19.539 --> 00:46:20.759
 Jesus, I am a weakling.

00:46:22.219 --> 00:46:23.799
 Please make me a bold witness.

00:46:25.099 --> 00:46:26.619
 Please make me a bold witness.

00:46:27.559 --> 00:46:28.639
 I want to ask you to stand.

00:46:30.920 --> 00:46:32.539
 If you could put up the final slide,

00:46:32.659 --> 00:46:33.299
 that would be great.

00:46:35.159 --> 00:46:36.940
 My friend, I told you about...

00:46:36.940 --> 00:46:37.639
 I didn't mention this,

00:46:37.639 --> 00:46:39.259
 but there's no reason I shouldn't mention his name.

00:46:39.319 --> 00:46:40.460
 My friend, Byron Wheaton,

00:46:41.079 --> 00:46:43.159
 when I was having coffee with him a little while ago,

00:46:43.259 --> 00:46:44.019
 he said to me,

00:46:44.019 --> 00:46:45.940
 like, what do you think the book of Luke is all about?

00:46:46.839 --> 00:46:49.759
 And I told him a version of this prayer.

00:46:50.059 --> 00:46:52.639
 And in some ways, as we finish the Gospel of Luke,

00:46:52.739 --> 00:46:54.779
 in some ways, I think all of Luke was written

00:46:54.779 --> 00:46:57.359
 so that we would pray a prayer something like this.

00:46:57.420 --> 00:46:59.139
 I mean, all these other prayers that I've suggested,

00:46:59.279 --> 00:47:00.679
 but a prayer something like this.

00:47:01.319 --> 00:47:04.599
 Because I think Luke is moving us

00:47:04.599 --> 00:47:07.460
 to come to the point where we've repented,

00:47:07.460 --> 00:47:10.360
 after hearing about Jesus and turned to Jesus,

00:47:10.980 --> 00:47:12.300
 that we know him as our Savior,

00:47:13.240 --> 00:47:16.280
 that our God is not a distant deist God,

00:47:16.360 --> 00:47:18.059
 but he's our Heavenly Father,

00:47:18.559 --> 00:47:20.519
 that we are to pour out our hearts to.

00:47:20.519 --> 00:47:26.780
 And God has Luke bear witness to Jesus

00:47:26.780 --> 00:47:28.059
 in this scripture to be written

00:47:28.059 --> 00:47:31.199
 so that we will come to a knowledge

00:47:31.199 --> 00:47:33.280
 and grow day by day in a knowledge

00:47:33.280 --> 00:47:36.300
 of the greatness and glory and grace of Jesus,

00:47:36.480 --> 00:47:38.960
 and that we'll walk with Jesus,

00:47:39.360 --> 00:47:42.079
 and we'll be humble before him,

00:47:42.139 --> 00:47:43.259
 and we'll trust him,

00:47:43.300 --> 00:47:44.920
 and we'll know him,

00:47:45.039 --> 00:47:47.380
 and we'll do all of that by the power of the Holy Spirit.

00:47:47.380 --> 00:47:50.260
 And I think that's what Luke wants us to come to

00:47:50.260 --> 00:47:53.180
 as a conclusion as we read his gospel.

00:47:54.360 --> 00:47:57.619
 And so I invite you to pray this prayer with me.

00:47:58.740 --> 00:47:59.780
 You don't have to,

00:47:59.860 --> 00:48:02.380
 but I invite you to pray this prayer with me.

00:48:02.840 --> 00:48:06.079
 Because I think that's why God had the gospel of Luke written,

00:48:06.480 --> 00:48:08.760
 so that we would come to this point

00:48:08.760 --> 00:48:11.420
 where not only would we want to pray a prayer like this today,

00:48:11.519 --> 00:48:13.400
 but that this would be the type of prayer

00:48:13.400 --> 00:48:15.619
 that we want to pray to the Father

00:48:15.619 --> 00:48:17.220
 and the power of the Spirit

00:48:17.220 --> 00:48:18.820
 in the name of Jesus every day.

00:48:21.360 --> 00:48:23.180
 It's how you begin the Christian life.

00:48:23.480 --> 00:48:24.900
 It's how you live the Christian life.

00:48:25.660 --> 00:48:27.820
 So if the Holy Spirit has touched your heart,

00:48:28.200 --> 00:48:29.200
 join with me in praying.

00:48:30.200 --> 00:48:31.780
 Loving Heavenly Father,

00:48:32.440 --> 00:48:35.300
 please pour out your Holy Spirit upon me

00:48:35.300 --> 00:48:39.019
 and grow in me a humble, trusting, walking,

00:48:39.440 --> 00:48:42.440
 knowing of the greatness, glory, and grace

00:48:42.440 --> 00:48:45.300
 of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,

00:48:45.780 --> 00:48:47.280
 crucified and risen.

00:48:47.820 --> 00:48:48.300
 Amen.

00:48:50.300 --> 00:48:53.100
 Father, we ask that you would gently

00:48:53.100 --> 00:48:55.380
 but deeply pour out your Holy Spirit upon us.

00:48:56.060 --> 00:48:57.160
 Grow within us, Father,

00:48:57.260 --> 00:48:58.380
 a confidence in you,

00:48:58.480 --> 00:49:00.039
 a confidence in your Son, Jesus,

00:49:00.200 --> 00:49:01.740
 a confidence in the Holy Spirit,

00:49:01.840 --> 00:49:03.280
 a confidence in your Word,

00:49:03.280 --> 00:49:05.260
 a confidence in your promises.

00:49:06.560 --> 00:49:07.000
 Father,

00:49:08.280 --> 00:49:09.540
 grow within us

00:49:09.540 --> 00:49:11.780
 this basic, humble, trusting,

00:49:12.019 --> 00:49:14.700
 walking, knowing, obedience to Jesus

00:49:14.700 --> 00:49:17.740
 and his greatness and his glory and his grace.

00:49:17.920 --> 00:49:20.680
 Father, make this the cry of our heart

00:49:20.680 --> 00:49:23.060
 as we live for your glory.

00:49:23.220 --> 00:49:25.280
 Father, make us disciples of Jesus

00:49:25.280 --> 00:49:26.480
 gripped by the Gospel

00:49:26.480 --> 00:49:27.500
 who live for your glory.

00:49:27.760 --> 00:49:29.820
 And all this we ask in the name of Jesus,

00:49:30.320 --> 00:49:32.180
 your Son and our Savior.

00:49:32.180 --> 00:49:32.960
 Amen.

00:49:33.280 --> 00:49:33.940
 Amen.

00:49:34.180 --> 00:49:54.700
 Amen.