WEBVTT 00:00:00.280 --> 00:00:02.800 Morning everyone, lovely to see you. 00:00:04.160 --> 00:00:07.480 Let me tell you about two people who've been, I've been reading about this week. 00:00:09.040 --> 00:00:12.300 Ready for these? Two people I've been reading about this week. Here's the first man. 00:00:13.060 --> 00:00:14.560 His name is Darren Brown. 00:00:15.820 --> 00:00:20.359 Okay, if you've not heard of him, he is, and there's a wee Wikipedia quote up there about him. 00:00:21.179 --> 00:00:24.500 He's one of the world's top illusionists. 00:00:25.359 --> 00:00:29.960 And I never knew this about this man before. I've heard lots about him living in the UK. 00:00:30.579 --> 00:00:34.460 But I never knew he was actually a Christian by his own admission in his teens. 00:00:35.859 --> 00:00:41.179 But as life went on, and he got more and more into magic and more into tricks, 00:00:41.320 --> 00:00:44.039 and he began to understand that he was really good at it, 00:00:44.719 --> 00:00:50.299 he began to see how easily people can be duped into believing next to anything. 00:00:50.299 --> 00:00:54.679 And so what happened in his mind is that the resurrection of Jesus, 00:00:55.500 --> 00:00:58.399 which is the centre point of the Christian faith, 00:00:58.959 --> 00:01:04.259 slid into that category of things that people can easily believe, 00:01:04.399 --> 00:01:07.099 but cannot be proved to be right. 00:01:07.799 --> 00:01:11.979 So in his mind, the resurrection of Jesus becomes just like that. 00:01:11.980 --> 00:01:16.620 And so today, not only is he openly sceptical about the Christian faith, 00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:20.840 but he's worth a reported $7.5 million. 00:01:22.540 --> 00:01:24.840 So this is the first guy I was reading about this week. 00:01:25.980 --> 00:01:27.680 Darren Brown. Here's the second person. 00:01:28.620 --> 00:01:29.300 Kate Forbes. 00:01:30.040 --> 00:01:31.680 I think you can say this week. 00:01:32.780 --> 00:01:35.900 She has been the cat among the political pigeons, hasn't she? 00:01:35.900 --> 00:01:41.620 And we've watched as she's unashamedly nailed her Christian convictions to the mast. 00:01:43.080 --> 00:01:44.320 And I don't know about you, 00:01:44.540 --> 00:01:48.380 but as I've watched the flack that she has been prepared to take this week 00:01:48.380 --> 00:01:49.520 because of those things, 00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:52.719 I have been greatly challenged and emboldened 00:01:52.719 --> 00:01:56.280 in terms of my own witness to the risen Lord Jesus. 00:01:57.380 --> 00:01:58.480 And we stand with her, don't we, 00:01:58.500 --> 00:02:00.960 on the things that she believes and that she's standing for. 00:02:02.020 --> 00:02:03.740 But what are people saying about her? 00:02:03.739 --> 00:02:05.739 You read the political commentators who are on Twitter 00:02:05.739 --> 00:02:07.640 and different social media things this week. 00:02:07.719 --> 00:02:08.680 What are they saying to her? 00:02:08.719 --> 00:02:11.099 Kate, you can believe whatever you want. 00:02:11.599 --> 00:02:11.719 Okay? 00:02:12.120 --> 00:02:13.319 Believe whatever you want. 00:02:13.900 --> 00:02:16.400 But please just don't share what you believe. 00:02:16.759 --> 00:02:18.719 Because if you did that, Kate, 00:02:18.799 --> 00:02:20.659 you would be an absolute shoo-in 00:02:20.659 --> 00:02:23.840 for the biggest job in our country. 00:02:25.120 --> 00:02:28.139 But to quote another famous lady from British politics, 00:02:29.240 --> 00:02:31.979 this lady is not for turning. 00:02:31.979 --> 00:02:34.239 So here's the thing. 00:02:34.340 --> 00:02:37.199 I have witnessed these two people this week, 00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:38.239 read about them this week. 00:02:39.060 --> 00:02:42.719 And you have to say that one of them 00:02:42.719 --> 00:02:45.899 has turned their back on the Christian faith, 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:48.879 has moved on in their own mind from God 00:02:48.879 --> 00:02:50.259 and has gone up. 00:02:51.299 --> 00:02:54.379 And the other is sticking to her guns 00:02:54.379 --> 00:02:55.879 about what she believes about the gospel 00:02:55.879 --> 00:02:57.039 and the Christian faith. 00:02:57.280 --> 00:02:58.719 And in the eyes of the world, 00:02:59.099 --> 00:03:00.019 she's gone down. 00:03:00.020 --> 00:03:03.420 And so my heart has watched 00:03:03.420 --> 00:03:06.700 and read about both of those individuals this week. 00:03:06.900 --> 00:03:09.460 And here's the question that I've asked myself. 00:03:10.320 --> 00:03:14.060 Is it really worth it following Jesus? 00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:16.820 You ever asked that question? 00:03:16.920 --> 00:03:17.360 You've been there. 00:03:17.480 --> 00:03:18.439 Is it worth it? 00:03:19.439 --> 00:03:20.240 Or here's the question, 00:03:20.320 --> 00:03:22.120 put it another way for this morning. 00:03:22.480 --> 00:03:25.860 Is there any gain in godliness? 00:03:25.860 --> 00:03:30.560 You see, that's where many in Malachi's generation are at. 00:03:30.620 --> 00:03:32.640 If you come with me to the text here's verse 14. 00:03:32.840 --> 00:03:34.680 What are they saying to themselves? 00:03:34.840 --> 00:03:35.600 They are saying, 00:03:36.080 --> 00:03:38.120 it is vain to serve the Lord. 00:03:38.620 --> 00:03:39.160 Do you see that? 00:03:39.540 --> 00:03:41.200 It is vain to serve the Lord. 00:03:43.120 --> 00:03:44.020 Verse 15, 00:03:44.680 --> 00:03:46.780 not only do evildoers prosper, 00:03:47.640 --> 00:03:50.260 but they put God to the test 00:03:50.259 --> 00:03:52.859 and they escape. 00:03:53.099 --> 00:03:54.679 So God, you don't do anything. 00:03:56.399 --> 00:03:57.939 You don't make any distinction 00:03:57.939 --> 00:03:59.299 between the people of God 00:03:59.299 --> 00:04:01.840 and the peoples of the world right now. 00:04:01.959 --> 00:04:03.859 And so they're beginning to think to themselves, 00:04:04.060 --> 00:04:05.019 it's not worth it. 00:04:05.060 --> 00:04:06.120 It's like that slogan 00:04:06.120 --> 00:04:07.879 that some of you might remember 00:04:07.879 --> 00:04:10.399 that the atheist bus campaign, 00:04:10.620 --> 00:04:11.840 way back in 2008, 00:04:11.979 --> 00:04:13.379 that it was doing the rounds in London 00:04:13.379 --> 00:04:15.359 on the sides of buses. 00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:16.600 The slogan read, 00:04:16.680 --> 00:04:17.899 there's probably no God. 00:04:18.420 --> 00:04:20.459 Now stop worrying and enjoy your life. 00:04:22.620 --> 00:04:24.399 Does your heart wonder if they're right? 00:04:26.980 --> 00:04:28.120 Is it worth it? 00:04:28.959 --> 00:04:31.560 Following Jesus in our world today. 00:04:32.480 --> 00:04:33.939 You know, I bought our kids this week. 00:04:34.740 --> 00:04:36.639 I bought them a Where's Wally book. 00:04:37.339 --> 00:04:40.379 All right, big Where's Wally fans in our house. 00:04:40.420 --> 00:04:41.060 Except this one, 00:04:41.100 --> 00:04:42.060 when it popped up on Amazon, 00:04:42.060 --> 00:04:43.839 I bought it because we got the collection, 00:04:43.959 --> 00:04:44.980 but we didn't have this one. 00:04:45.339 --> 00:04:47.639 This one is a Spot the Difference edition. 00:04:49.300 --> 00:04:51.180 Okay, we've had great fun this week, 00:04:51.259 --> 00:04:52.620 but do you know what the kids keep saying? 00:04:52.699 --> 00:04:53.639 The line from their mouths, 00:04:53.759 --> 00:04:54.540 the line is, 00:04:55.180 --> 00:04:57.740 Daddy, we don't see any differences. 00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:00.639 We just don't see them. 00:05:00.779 --> 00:05:01.899 Are there any differences? 00:05:03.959 --> 00:05:05.639 So often what our hearts say 00:05:05.639 --> 00:05:07.379 as we look 00:05:07.379 --> 00:05:10.500 at the world around us 00:05:10.500 --> 00:05:11.000 and the people, 00:05:11.000 --> 00:05:11.519 our friends, 00:05:11.579 --> 00:05:13.500 how they're living their lives. 00:05:13.920 --> 00:05:15.319 Is there any difference? 00:05:15.399 --> 00:05:17.120 Is Christianity like a bounty 00:05:17.120 --> 00:05:18.500 in a box of celebrations? 00:05:19.180 --> 00:05:20.379 Some people like it. 00:05:20.740 --> 00:05:21.759 Some people hate it. 00:05:21.860 --> 00:05:22.660 But don't worry 00:05:22.660 --> 00:05:24.040 because there's other chocolate 00:05:24.040 --> 00:05:24.779 that you can choose 00:05:24.779 --> 00:05:26.279 from according to your taste. 00:05:28.279 --> 00:05:29.500 Is there a difference? 00:05:29.500 --> 00:05:29.720 difference? 00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:32.160 That is what my heart 00:05:32.160 --> 00:05:33.339 has been asking this week. 00:05:34.720 --> 00:05:36.160 But this is what my God 00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:37.600 has been saying to me this week. 00:05:37.680 --> 00:05:38.339 Verse 18. 00:05:39.879 --> 00:05:40.959 And to this generation, 00:05:41.139 --> 00:05:41.800 he says, 00:05:41.800 --> 00:05:43.980 you will see again 00:05:43.980 --> 00:05:45.079 the distinction 00:05:45.079 --> 00:05:46.560 between the righteous 00:05:46.560 --> 00:05:47.620 and the wicked, 00:05:48.180 --> 00:05:50.360 between those who serve God 00:05:50.360 --> 00:05:52.040 and those who do not. 00:05:52.120 --> 00:05:54.259 So in the eyes of the Lord, 00:05:55.259 --> 00:05:56.680 there is a difference. 00:05:56.680 --> 00:05:58.939 And if you are here 00:05:58.939 --> 00:06:00.240 and you wouldn't call yourself 00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:00.900 a believer, 00:06:01.100 --> 00:06:02.560 a follower of Jesus, 00:06:02.740 --> 00:06:04.120 I love that you are here. 00:06:04.220 --> 00:06:04.959 You are so, 00:06:05.180 --> 00:06:05.759 so welcome. 00:06:06.860 --> 00:06:07.379 Can I just say 00:06:07.379 --> 00:06:08.480 for you to hang around 00:06:08.480 --> 00:06:09.579 just for 20 or so minutes 00:06:09.579 --> 00:06:10.439 as we go through this, 00:06:10.500 --> 00:06:11.519 there is sobering 00:06:11.519 --> 00:06:12.840 and there's stunning truth 00:06:12.840 --> 00:06:13.319 for you 00:06:13.319 --> 00:06:14.960 in this passage today. 00:06:15.960 --> 00:06:16.840 And the invitation 00:06:16.840 --> 00:06:18.000 I make to you 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:18.819 is to come 00:06:18.819 --> 00:06:20.120 and enter 00:06:20.120 --> 00:06:20.680 and explore 00:06:20.680 --> 00:06:21.319 explore 00:06:21.319 --> 00:06:24.040 the Christian story. 00:06:24.340 --> 00:06:24.920 And can I just say 00:06:24.920 --> 00:06:25.939 it is a story 00:06:25.939 --> 00:06:27.300 that might well resonate 00:06:27.300 --> 00:06:28.139 with you 00:06:28.139 --> 00:06:29.060 and where you're at 00:06:29.060 --> 00:06:31.379 way more than you think it will. 00:06:32.519 --> 00:06:34.040 As you get to know 00:06:34.040 --> 00:06:35.860 who the God of the Bible is, 00:06:36.379 --> 00:06:37.899 the God in whose image 00:06:37.899 --> 00:06:39.680 you are made. 00:06:40.480 --> 00:06:42.240 And if you are here 00:06:42.240 --> 00:06:44.600 and you are weary 00:06:44.600 --> 00:06:47.980 and you're tired 00:06:47.980 --> 00:06:50.079 and you're struggling, 00:06:50.680 --> 00:06:53.660 tired as you slog on 00:06:53.660 --> 00:06:55.160 in the bog of life 00:06:55.160 --> 00:06:56.340 in your Christian faith, 00:06:57.180 --> 00:06:58.879 weighed down by worries 00:06:58.879 --> 00:07:00.340 and concerns 00:07:00.340 --> 00:07:01.740 about what tomorrow 00:07:01.740 --> 00:07:03.160 might hold, 00:07:03.360 --> 00:07:04.699 so much so 00:07:04.699 --> 00:07:06.400 that tomorrow morning 00:07:06.400 --> 00:07:08.500 seems like a burdensome 00:07:08.500 --> 00:07:09.680 thought to you. 00:07:10.460 --> 00:07:11.939 If you are struggling 00:07:11.939 --> 00:07:13.720 physically today, 00:07:14.579 --> 00:07:17.899 then there is wonderful strength 00:07:17.899 --> 00:07:18.939 to be found 00:07:18.939 --> 00:07:20.800 in God's 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:21.600 word 00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:22.420 today. 00:07:22.939 --> 00:07:23.939 And that's why 00:07:23.939 --> 00:07:24.740 I want you to listen 00:07:24.740 --> 00:07:25.779 to what this is saying 00:07:25.779 --> 00:07:27.040 because it's beautiful. 00:07:27.620 --> 00:07:28.600 It is stunning. 00:07:29.639 --> 00:07:30.480 It is 00:07:30.480 --> 00:07:31.560 sobering. 00:07:31.959 --> 00:07:32.959 But as we take 00:07:32.959 --> 00:07:33.439 in the word 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:33.879 of the Lord 00:07:33.879 --> 00:07:34.279 today, 00:07:34.360 --> 00:07:35.259 I pray 00:07:35.259 --> 00:07:35.879 that we will be 00:07:35.879 --> 00:07:37.639 greatly strengthened. 00:07:38.480 --> 00:07:39.319 Now here are just 00:07:39.319 --> 00:07:39.839 two 00:07:39.839 --> 00:07:40.800 takeaways 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:42.800 from this passage 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:43.240 today. 00:07:43.579 --> 00:07:44.199 You up for it? 00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:45.680 Here's number one. 00:07:45.680 --> 00:07:48.040 God sees the difference. 00:07:48.540 --> 00:07:48.780 Okay, 00:07:48.819 --> 00:07:50.019 he sees the difference 00:07:50.019 --> 00:07:52.160 in this day. 00:07:52.900 --> 00:07:53.660 Now if you come with me 00:07:53.660 --> 00:07:54.259 to the text, 00:07:54.360 --> 00:07:55.019 you see 00:07:55.019 --> 00:07:57.319 that while there is 00:07:57.319 --> 00:07:58.120 a group of people 00:07:58.120 --> 00:07:59.040 in Israel 00:07:59.040 --> 00:07:59.939 who, 00:08:00.139 --> 00:08:01.660 verses 13 to 15, 00:08:02.160 --> 00:08:03.280 are set 00:08:03.280 --> 00:08:04.280 on leaving God 00:08:04.280 --> 00:08:04.759 behind, 00:08:05.060 --> 00:08:05.220 right? 00:08:05.259 --> 00:08:05.800 They've concluded 00:08:05.800 --> 00:08:06.879 it is vain 00:08:06.879 --> 00:08:08.560 to serve the Lord. 00:08:09.600 --> 00:08:10.379 And just notice 00:08:10.379 --> 00:08:11.079 in the description 00:08:11.079 --> 00:08:11.879 there that they've 00:08:11.879 --> 00:08:13.100 turned the scales 00:08:13.100 --> 00:08:16.400 in terms of deciding 00:08:16.400 --> 00:08:17.520 what is right 00:08:17.520 --> 00:08:17.980 and wrong. 00:08:19.280 --> 00:08:20.100 And they've gone 00:08:20.100 --> 00:08:21.080 hard against 00:08:21.080 --> 00:08:21.660 the Lord 00:08:21.660 --> 00:08:23.140 with their words. 00:08:23.220 --> 00:08:23.340 Okay, 00:08:23.360 --> 00:08:24.580 this is one group. 00:08:25.620 --> 00:08:26.120 But, 00:08:26.860 --> 00:08:27.480 wonderfully, 00:08:28.140 --> 00:08:29.080 there is another 00:08:29.080 --> 00:08:30.040 group that we read 00:08:30.040 --> 00:08:30.680 about from 00:08:30.680 --> 00:08:32.200 verse 16. 00:08:34.080 --> 00:08:34.580 And it's hard 00:08:34.580 --> 00:08:35.019 to tell whether 00:08:35.019 --> 00:08:35.560 this group have 00:08:35.560 --> 00:08:36.580 responded to what 00:08:36.580 --> 00:08:37.740 Malachi's been saying 00:08:37.740 --> 00:08:39.100 or whether they've 00:08:39.100 --> 00:08:39.639 just been there 00:08:39.639 --> 00:08:40.480 the whole time. 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:41.940 But whatever it is, 00:08:41.940 --> 00:08:43.120 they come at this 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:43.780 point in the book 00:08:43.780 --> 00:08:44.660 and it's marvellous 00:08:44.660 --> 00:08:45.860 because if one group 00:08:45.860 --> 00:08:47.220 are marked by doubt, 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:49.460 this group are 00:08:49.460 --> 00:08:50.580 marked by faith. 00:08:50.980 --> 00:08:51.580 Do you see? 00:08:52.780 --> 00:08:54.160 They're marked by faith. 00:08:54.740 --> 00:08:54.860 Now, 00:08:54.880 --> 00:08:55.480 can we just do a little 00:08:55.480 --> 00:08:56.320 bit of work 00:08:56.320 --> 00:08:57.200 on that word 00:08:57.200 --> 00:08:57.860 for a second? 00:08:58.500 --> 00:08:59.280 Because it's been 00:08:59.280 --> 00:09:00.220 trending this week 00:09:00.220 --> 00:09:00.640 if you've been 00:09:00.640 --> 00:09:01.440 following it. 00:09:01.540 --> 00:09:02.380 One article I read 00:09:02.380 --> 00:09:03.380 in the BBC this week 00:09:03.380 --> 00:09:03.680 read, 00:09:04.180 --> 00:09:05.420 the perils of mixing 00:09:05.420 --> 00:09:06.980 politics and faith. 00:09:07.620 --> 00:09:08.020 Clearly, 00:09:08.220 --> 00:09:09.300 the whole point 00:09:09.300 --> 00:09:09.680 of the article 00:09:09.680 --> 00:09:10.260 was they're like 00:09:10.260 --> 00:09:10.880 oil and water, 00:09:10.980 --> 00:09:11.520 don't mix, 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:11.779 okay? 00:09:12.019 --> 00:09:12.699 Can I chuck out 00:09:12.699 --> 00:09:13.419 to you a radical 00:09:13.419 --> 00:09:14.319 thought on this 00:09:14.319 --> 00:09:14.919 Sunday morning? 00:09:17.279 --> 00:09:18.039 Particularly if you 00:09:18.039 --> 00:09:18.699 are here and you 00:09:18.699 --> 00:09:19.279 would not call 00:09:19.279 --> 00:09:20.439 yourself a Christian, 00:09:20.699 --> 00:09:21.679 if we are defining 00:09:21.679 --> 00:09:22.740 that word faith 00:09:22.740 --> 00:09:24.799 as truth and values 00:09:24.799 --> 00:09:25.860 which we believe, 00:09:26.279 --> 00:09:26.980 that which we are 00:09:26.980 --> 00:09:27.740 trusting in, 00:09:27.799 --> 00:09:28.299 and that which 00:09:28.299 --> 00:09:29.899 shape our lives, 00:09:31.500 --> 00:09:31.879 then we, 00:09:32.059 --> 00:09:32.840 every single human 00:09:32.840 --> 00:09:33.120 being, 00:09:33.159 --> 00:09:33.939 has faith. 00:09:34.960 --> 00:09:35.639 An alternative 00:09:35.639 --> 00:09:36.220 heading to that 00:09:36.220 --> 00:09:36.659 article, 00:09:36.779 --> 00:09:37.500 and I tweeted it 00:09:37.500 --> 00:09:37.919 this week, 00:09:38.199 --> 00:09:39.139 should be something 00:09:39.139 --> 00:09:39.500 like this. 00:09:39.500 --> 00:09:40.480 Every human being 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:41.139 has a world 00:09:41.139 --> 00:09:42.200 through which 00:09:42.200 --> 00:09:43.200 they see the world, 00:09:43.620 --> 00:09:44.759 understand themselves, 00:09:45.220 --> 00:09:45.539 others, 00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:46.360 and by which 00:09:46.360 --> 00:09:46.919 they live. 00:09:47.240 --> 00:09:48.120 Let's have a loving 00:09:48.120 --> 00:09:49.179 discussion as to 00:09:49.179 --> 00:09:50.100 what yours is 00:09:50.100 --> 00:09:51.039 and why. 00:09:51.899 --> 00:09:53.279 We all have ways 00:09:53.279 --> 00:09:54.200 of understanding 00:09:54.200 --> 00:09:55.120 the world. 00:09:56.019 --> 00:09:56.879 All have ways 00:09:56.879 --> 00:09:57.500 of understanding 00:09:57.500 --> 00:09:57.940 the world. 00:09:58.320 --> 00:09:58.779 This group 00:09:58.779 --> 00:09:59.460 have faith. 00:10:00.379 --> 00:10:01.120 Faith in what 00:10:01.120 --> 00:10:01.860 is the question. 00:10:02.720 --> 00:10:03.519 Faith in, 00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:04.679 and you see it's 00:10:04.679 --> 00:10:05.620 wrapped up in that 00:10:05.620 --> 00:10:06.480 word fear. 00:10:06.480 --> 00:10:08.920 So this group 00:10:08.920 --> 00:10:09.720 have faith. 00:10:10.180 --> 00:10:11.000 They fear 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:12.200 the Lord. 00:10:12.500 --> 00:10:13.139 And what that 00:10:13.139 --> 00:10:13.779 word means 00:10:13.779 --> 00:10:14.360 is that their 00:10:14.360 --> 00:10:15.840 eyes have been 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:16.920 drawn to 00:10:16.920 --> 00:10:18.200 magnetically 00:10:18.200 --> 00:10:19.600 this God 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:21.019 of blazing 00:10:21.019 --> 00:10:21.860 holiness 00:10:21.860 --> 00:10:23.920 and 00:10:23.920 --> 00:10:24.840 compelling 00:10:24.840 --> 00:10:26.080 beauty. 00:10:26.460 --> 00:10:27.440 A fear 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:28.519 that doesn't 00:10:28.519 --> 00:10:29.440 cause us 00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:30.700 to run away 00:10:30.700 --> 00:10:31.399 and hide. 00:10:31.600 --> 00:10:32.379 It's a fear 00:10:32.379 --> 00:10:33.240 that magnetically 00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:34.180 draws us into 00:10:34.180 --> 00:10:34.620 delight. 00:10:34.759 --> 00:10:35.220 This is who 00:10:35.220 --> 00:10:35.980 this God is. 00:10:37.480 --> 00:10:38.039 And like the 00:10:38.039 --> 00:10:39.019 earth's relationship 00:10:39.019 --> 00:10:40.100 to the sun, 00:10:40.420 --> 00:10:41.019 when we 00:10:41.019 --> 00:10:42.399 understand that, 00:10:42.620 --> 00:10:43.320 our lives 00:10:43.320 --> 00:10:43.940 begin to 00:10:43.940 --> 00:10:45.039 orbit around 00:10:45.039 --> 00:10:45.840 him. 00:10:46.899 --> 00:10:47.659 Trusting what 00:10:47.659 --> 00:10:48.519 he says is 00:10:48.519 --> 00:10:48.860 true. 00:10:49.300 --> 00:10:49.779 Longing what 00:10:49.779 --> 00:10:50.480 Gary was saying 00:10:50.480 --> 00:10:50.940 right at the 00:10:50.940 --> 00:10:51.360 start in our 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:51.860 opening worship. 00:10:52.300 --> 00:10:52.820 Longing to 00:10:52.820 --> 00:10:53.399 know him 00:10:53.399 --> 00:10:54.399 more. 00:10:55.600 --> 00:10:56.360 Obeying what 00:10:56.360 --> 00:10:57.379 he says is 00:10:57.379 --> 00:10:57.800 right. 00:10:58.139 --> 00:10:58.580 And what are 00:10:58.580 --> 00:10:58.960 this group 00:10:58.960 --> 00:10:59.279 doing? 00:10:59.340 --> 00:10:59.920 I love this. 00:11:00.080 --> 00:11:00.460 What are they 00:11:00.460 --> 00:11:00.779 doing? 00:11:02.259 --> 00:11:03.039 They're speaking 00:11:03.039 --> 00:11:03.860 with one another. 00:11:04.600 --> 00:11:04.960 Do you see 00:11:04.960 --> 00:11:05.259 that? 00:11:06.480 --> 00:11:07.220 Is that not 00:11:07.220 --> 00:11:08.159 wonderfully and 00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:09.019 beautifully and 00:11:09.019 --> 00:11:10.080 profoundly simple? 00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:12.039 They're just 00:11:12.039 --> 00:11:12.480 nattering. 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:13.920 Right? 00:11:14.019 --> 00:11:14.560 I'd love to 00:11:14.560 --> 00:11:14.960 have been 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:16.700 getting Amazon 00:11:16.700 --> 00:11:17.279 all or nothing 00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:17.879 fly-in-the-wall 00:11:17.879 --> 00:11:18.800 documentary about 00:11:18.800 --> 00:11:19.960 those conversations, 00:11:20.080 --> 00:11:20.539 would you not, 00:11:20.580 --> 00:11:21.120 at this time? 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:22.259 I'd love to know 00:11:22.259 --> 00:11:22.920 what they're saying. 00:11:23.340 --> 00:11:23.840 I'd love to know 00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:24.159 what they were 00:11:24.159 --> 00:11:24.460 saying. 00:11:25.300 --> 00:11:25.700 Tantalizingly, 00:11:25.700 --> 00:11:26.480 we're not told. 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:29.240 But I wonder 00:11:29.240 --> 00:11:32.519 if it resembled 00:11:32.519 --> 00:11:33.060 much of what 00:11:33.060 --> 00:11:33.420 we're kind of 00:11:33.420 --> 00:11:34.000 doing today. 00:11:35.480 --> 00:11:35.820 Right? 00:11:38.320 --> 00:11:38.800 Saying to 00:11:38.800 --> 00:11:39.039 one another, 00:11:39.159 --> 00:11:39.800 do you remember 00:11:39.800 --> 00:11:40.300 who the Lord 00:11:40.300 --> 00:11:40.659 is? 00:11:42.639 --> 00:11:43.120 Remember who 00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:43.399 he is? 00:11:43.779 --> 00:11:44.659 Do you remember 00:11:44.659 --> 00:11:45.279 what he did 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:45.899 in the past? 00:11:47.440 --> 00:11:47.879 Do you remember 00:11:47.879 --> 00:11:48.820 that this God 00:11:48.820 --> 00:11:49.560 has a track 00:11:49.560 --> 00:11:51.320 record of 00:11:51.320 --> 00:11:52.159 delivering on 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:53.259 his promises? 00:11:53.259 --> 00:11:57.220 Do you remember 00:11:57.220 --> 00:11:58.179 how this God 00:11:58.179 --> 00:11:58.779 promised that 00:11:58.779 --> 00:11:59.740 he was taking 00:11:59.740 --> 00:12:00.259 us somewhere? 00:12:00.460 --> 00:12:01.899 That our story, 00:12:02.179 --> 00:12:02.639 because it's 00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:03.159 wrapped up in 00:12:03.159 --> 00:12:03.720 him, is going 00:12:03.720 --> 00:12:04.159 somewhere? 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:05.039 Do you remember 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:05.740 how this God 00:12:05.740 --> 00:12:06.399 promised that 00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:06.860 he would bring 00:12:06.860 --> 00:12:07.899 us back out 00:12:07.899 --> 00:12:08.460 of exile? 00:12:08.580 --> 00:12:09.080 And he did. 00:12:11.939 --> 00:12:12.559 And what did 00:12:12.559 --> 00:12:13.179 the Lord do? 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:14.639 They spoke to 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:15.100 one another. 00:12:15.179 --> 00:12:15.860 What did he do? 00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:16.899 And this ties 00:12:16.899 --> 00:12:18.580 into what Florence 00:12:18.580 --> 00:12:19.220 was saying there 00:12:19.220 --> 00:12:19.919 at the start as 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:20.100 well. 00:12:20.139 --> 00:12:20.740 What did this God 00:12:20.740 --> 00:12:20.879 do? 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:21.879 He paid attention. 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:22.340 Do you see? 00:12:22.340 --> 00:12:23.680 He heard. 00:12:24.379 --> 00:12:25.060 And I hope that 00:12:25.060 --> 00:12:25.960 greatly encourages 00:12:25.960 --> 00:12:26.639 all of us this 00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:26.860 morning, 00:12:26.960 --> 00:12:27.340 corporately, 00:12:27.480 --> 00:12:27.840 personally, 00:12:28.560 --> 00:12:29.259 in our prayer 00:12:29.259 --> 00:12:29.720 lives, 00:12:30.860 --> 00:12:31.740 that this God 00:12:31.740 --> 00:12:32.820 hears. 00:12:32.980 --> 00:12:33.740 And get this, 00:12:34.180 --> 00:12:34.720 a book of 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:35.740 remembrance was 00:12:35.740 --> 00:12:36.580 written before 00:12:36.580 --> 00:12:36.879 him. 00:12:37.899 --> 00:12:38.940 The names of 00:12:38.940 --> 00:12:39.620 every single 00:12:39.620 --> 00:12:40.820 person of faith, 00:12:41.420 --> 00:12:42.000 it's almost as 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:42.440 like it was 00:12:42.440 --> 00:12:43.519 right before his 00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:44.040 eyes, 00:12:44.300 --> 00:12:44.899 written in a 00:12:44.899 --> 00:12:45.180 book. 00:12:46.940 --> 00:12:47.519 This is not 00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:48.220 like when you 00:12:48.220 --> 00:12:49.000 order a drink at 00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:49.420 Starbucks, 00:12:49.780 --> 00:12:50.320 right, and they 00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:50.879 write your name 00:12:50.879 --> 00:12:51.519 on the side of 00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:51.920 the cup, 00:12:52.340 --> 00:12:53.360 trying to give 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:54.080 you the impression 00:12:54.080 --> 00:12:54.840 that they know 00:12:54.840 --> 00:12:55.000 you. 00:12:55.060 --> 00:12:55.500 I've heard some 00:12:55.500 --> 00:12:56.320 weird and wonderful 00:12:56.320 --> 00:12:56.879 spellings of 00:12:56.879 --> 00:12:57.460 Graham over the 00:12:57.460 --> 00:12:58.000 years, let me 00:12:58.000 --> 00:12:58.440 tell you. 00:12:58.620 --> 00:12:59.480 My favorite was 00:12:59.480 --> 00:13:00.639 G-R-I-M. 00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:01.620 Leave that with 00:13:01.620 --> 00:13:01.820 you. 00:13:03.940 --> 00:13:04.820 But this is not 00:13:04.820 --> 00:13:05.480 what's going on 00:13:05.480 --> 00:13:05.700 here. 00:13:05.800 --> 00:13:07.460 Do you see how 00:13:07.460 --> 00:13:08.280 this God 00:13:08.280 --> 00:13:10.860 intimately and 00:13:10.860 --> 00:13:12.540 personally and 00:13:12.540 --> 00:13:14.899 fully knows his 00:13:14.899 --> 00:13:15.740 people? 00:13:15.940 --> 00:13:16.500 Do you see it in 00:13:16.500 --> 00:13:17.000 the text? 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:18.180 Do you see what 00:13:18.180 --> 00:13:19.139 God calls them? 00:13:19.200 --> 00:13:20.259 He says they are 00:13:20.259 --> 00:13:21.379 mine. 00:13:21.379 --> 00:13:22.080 And what does 00:13:22.080 --> 00:13:22.559 he say they'll 00:13:22.559 --> 00:13:23.259 be on that 00:13:23.259 --> 00:13:23.559 day? 00:13:23.960 --> 00:13:24.659 This is the 00:13:24.659 --> 00:13:25.379 day when Jesus 00:13:25.379 --> 00:13:26.939 Christ returns. 00:13:27.639 --> 00:13:28.059 That we'll come 00:13:28.059 --> 00:13:29.120 to in a minute. 00:13:29.320 --> 00:13:30.100 They are my 00:13:30.100 --> 00:13:32.360 treasured possession. 00:13:32.580 --> 00:13:33.059 And we've got to 00:13:33.059 --> 00:13:33.740 take in the 00:13:33.740 --> 00:13:34.620 language here. 00:13:35.379 --> 00:13:36.179 Take in every 00:13:36.179 --> 00:13:36.639 word. 00:13:36.939 --> 00:13:37.620 There's a reason 00:13:37.620 --> 00:13:38.240 that this has been 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:38.700 preserved. 00:13:38.919 --> 00:13:39.340 God in his 00:13:39.340 --> 00:13:39.960 sovereignty has 00:13:39.960 --> 00:13:40.840 allowed this book 00:13:40.840 --> 00:13:41.720 to be in our 00:13:41.720 --> 00:13:42.399 language at this 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:42.700 time. 00:13:42.879 --> 00:13:43.679 So we need to 00:13:43.679 --> 00:13:44.159 take in what 00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:44.700 he's saying. 00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:46.120 God says they 00:13:46.120 --> 00:13:47.980 are my treasured 00:13:47.980 --> 00:13:48.759 possession. 00:13:48.919 --> 00:13:49.379 It's what we used 00:13:49.379 --> 00:13:50.059 to do as children, 00:13:50.059 --> 00:13:50.559 isn't it? 00:13:52.099 --> 00:13:52.419 I remember 00:13:52.419 --> 00:13:53.099 Grace when I took 00:13:53.099 --> 00:13:53.639 her to school the 00:13:53.639 --> 00:13:53.879 other day. 00:13:53.939 --> 00:13:54.239 One of her 00:13:54.239 --> 00:13:55.619 friends came and 00:13:55.619 --> 00:13:56.379 just brought out of 00:13:56.379 --> 00:13:56.919 her pocket all 00:13:56.919 --> 00:13:57.799 these shells that 00:13:57.799 --> 00:13:58.859 she collected on 00:13:58.859 --> 00:13:59.500 the beach as she 00:13:59.500 --> 00:14:00.159 walked with her 00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:00.819 mum and dad during 00:14:00.819 --> 00:14:01.399 half term. 00:14:02.059 --> 00:14:02.699 She's all bringing 00:14:02.699 --> 00:14:03.079 them in. 00:14:03.199 --> 00:14:04.039 Bringing them in 00:14:04.039 --> 00:14:05.239 for show and 00:14:05.239 --> 00:14:05.459 tell. 00:14:05.579 --> 00:14:06.139 These are mine. 00:14:06.199 --> 00:14:06.719 My precious. 00:14:09.479 --> 00:14:10.099 And that's what 00:14:10.099 --> 00:14:10.619 God is saying 00:14:10.619 --> 00:14:10.979 here. 00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:12.379 My people. 00:14:13.479 --> 00:14:14.299 And don't miss 00:14:14.299 --> 00:14:15.719 God's affection 00:14:15.719 --> 00:14:17.679 for and his 00:14:17.679 --> 00:14:18.599 commitment to 00:14:18.599 --> 00:14:20.339 his people. 00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:21.479 And his 00:14:21.479 --> 00:14:23.019 declaration that 00:14:23.019 --> 00:14:23.919 in a day when 00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:24.719 many question 00:14:24.719 --> 00:14:25.299 whether there 00:14:25.299 --> 00:14:26.679 is a difference, 00:14:27.500 --> 00:14:29.059 God says there 00:14:29.059 --> 00:14:29.419 is. 00:14:30.620 --> 00:14:31.620 And I see it. 00:14:32.199 --> 00:14:32.979 And God says, 00:14:33.059 --> 00:14:33.479 do you notice 00:14:33.479 --> 00:14:34.519 here once more 00:14:34.519 --> 00:14:35.559 I will show 00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:35.859 it. 00:14:36.299 --> 00:14:37.059 That's at verse 00:14:37.059 --> 00:14:37.599 18. 00:14:38.819 --> 00:14:39.659 Which makes you 00:14:39.659 --> 00:14:40.399 ask, doesn't it, 00:14:40.439 --> 00:14:41.359 as you read that 00:14:41.359 --> 00:14:43.199 through, when has 00:14:43.199 --> 00:14:44.179 he done it before? 00:14:44.299 --> 00:14:47.219 And the answer 00:14:47.219 --> 00:14:47.979 you'll find in the 00:14:47.979 --> 00:14:48.759 book of Exodus, 00:14:48.979 --> 00:14:50.240 the second book in 00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:51.219 the Bible, chapter 00:14:51.219 --> 00:14:53.199 nine, during the 00:14:53.199 --> 00:14:54.279 plagues that God 00:14:54.279 --> 00:14:55.199 sent on the 00:14:55.199 --> 00:14:56.819 Egyptians to 00:14:56.819 --> 00:14:58.259 convince Pharaoh 00:14:58.259 --> 00:15:00.359 to let his people 00:15:00.359 --> 00:15:00.740 go. 00:15:01.599 --> 00:15:02.500 To let his people 00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:03.459 out of slavery 00:15:03.459 --> 00:15:04.799 that they might 00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:06.379 go into the 00:15:06.379 --> 00:15:07.159 desert and do 00:15:07.159 --> 00:15:07.519 what? 00:15:07.839 --> 00:15:08.599 Worship the 00:15:08.599 --> 00:15:08.919 Lord. 00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:10.299 It's always the 00:15:10.299 --> 00:15:11.019 way salvation 00:15:11.019 --> 00:15:11.439 works. 00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:12.219 Not just save 00:15:12.219 --> 00:15:12.759 to wander 00:15:12.759 --> 00:15:13.279 aimlessly. 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:14.959 saved with a 00:15:14.959 --> 00:15:16.019 purpose that we 00:15:16.019 --> 00:15:16.759 might live for 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:17.939 Yahweh, live for 00:15:17.939 --> 00:15:18.299 Jesus. 00:15:19.579 --> 00:15:20.459 In chapter nine, 00:15:20.539 --> 00:15:21.019 we get those 00:15:21.019 --> 00:15:21.620 plagues, and it's 00:15:21.620 --> 00:15:22.319 during the fifth 00:15:22.319 --> 00:15:24.379 plague that this 00:15:24.379 --> 00:15:25.459 same word comes 00:15:25.459 --> 00:15:25.860 up. 00:15:26.620 --> 00:15:28.019 As a plague 00:15:28.019 --> 00:15:28.819 comes on the 00:15:28.819 --> 00:15:30.039 Egyptian livestock, 00:15:31.100 --> 00:15:31.679 and yet it 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:32.720 doesn't come on 00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:33.879 God's people's 00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:34.679 livestock. 00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:35.339 God's saying, 00:15:35.480 --> 00:15:36.199 I'm making a 00:15:36.199 --> 00:15:37.720 distinction between 00:15:37.720 --> 00:15:38.419 the Egyptians 00:15:38.419 --> 00:15:40.819 and my people, 00:15:41.219 --> 00:15:42.539 and not one of 00:15:42.539 --> 00:15:43.500 the livestock of 00:15:43.500 --> 00:15:44.059 God's people 00:15:44.059 --> 00:15:44.620 dies. 00:15:46.139 --> 00:15:46.879 And yet that is 00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:47.860 but a warm-up 00:15:47.860 --> 00:15:49.199 act for the 00:15:49.199 --> 00:15:50.399 ultimate distinction 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:51.439 that God makes in 00:15:51.439 --> 00:15:52.139 that scene in 00:15:52.139 --> 00:15:52.439 Egypt. 00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:54.419 As God tells his 00:15:54.419 --> 00:15:55.199 people to take the 00:15:55.199 --> 00:15:56.579 blood of a slain 00:15:56.579 --> 00:15:58.779 lamb and put it 00:15:58.779 --> 00:15:59.620 above their 00:15:59.620 --> 00:16:01.620 doorposts, and 00:16:01.620 --> 00:16:02.879 when the destroyer 00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:04.500 comes, God almost 00:16:04.500 --> 00:16:05.719 will stand in that 00:16:05.719 --> 00:16:06.879 doorway and say, 00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:08.460 no, they are 00:16:08.460 --> 00:16:08.840 mine. 00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:11.000 And he will not 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:12.039 kill the firstborn 00:16:12.039 --> 00:16:13.399 of the family. 00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:16.259 And there's an 00:16:16.259 --> 00:16:16.779 outcry. 00:16:16.939 --> 00:16:18.659 There's a great 00:16:18.659 --> 00:16:19.419 mourning in Egypt 00:16:19.419 --> 00:16:21.580 the next day as 00:16:21.580 --> 00:16:22.419 this happens. 00:16:23.539 --> 00:16:24.679 But the blood of 00:16:24.679 --> 00:16:27.200 the lamb is the 00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:28.100 thing that saves 00:16:28.100 --> 00:16:28.799 God's people. 00:16:28.980 --> 00:16:29.519 Park that for 00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:30.019 where we're ending 00:16:30.019 --> 00:16:30.340 this. 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:30.700 You can be 00:16:30.700 --> 00:16:31.600 surprised, okay? 00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:33.639 It's the blood 00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:34.500 that stands in the 00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:34.639 way. 00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:35.279 It's the blood 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:35.820 that makes a 00:16:35.820 --> 00:16:36.740 distinction between 00:16:36.740 --> 00:16:38.279 God's people and 00:16:38.279 --> 00:16:38.919 the peoples of 00:16:38.919 --> 00:16:39.419 the world. 00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:42.180 Just as he did 00:16:42.180 --> 00:16:42.919 then, God is 00:16:42.919 --> 00:16:43.600 saying to this 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:44.580 generation, remember 00:16:44.580 --> 00:16:46.560 pre-Jesus, that 00:16:46.560 --> 00:16:48.700 on that day, God 00:16:48.700 --> 00:16:49.200 will make a 00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:50.840 distinction once 00:16:50.840 --> 00:16:51.200 again. 00:16:52.700 --> 00:16:53.560 And God would 00:16:53.560 --> 00:16:54.120 say to his 00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:55.320 people, I see the 00:16:55.320 --> 00:16:56.299 difference in this 00:16:56.299 --> 00:16:56.600 day. 00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:58.440 I see it. 00:16:59.080 --> 00:17:00.299 And secondly, he 00:17:00.299 --> 00:17:01.019 wants them to know 00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:02.159 that he will make 00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:04.880 the difference on 00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:05.920 that day. 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:07.500 And that's the 00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:08.120 phrase that comes 00:17:08.120 --> 00:17:08.680 to the fore. 00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:09.460 Just as we enter 00:17:09.460 --> 00:17:11.280 chapter 4, and 00:17:11.280 --> 00:17:12.360 God is talking 00:17:12.360 --> 00:17:13.240 about that day 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:14.100 when he will deal 00:17:14.100 --> 00:17:15.300 decisively with 00:17:15.300 --> 00:17:17.300 all that is evil 00:17:17.300 --> 00:17:18.600 in the world. 00:17:19.600 --> 00:17:20.780 And he will deal 00:17:20.780 --> 00:17:21.940 with all those who 00:17:21.940 --> 00:17:22.780 have not, and take 00:17:22.780 --> 00:17:23.520 the language from 00:17:23.520 --> 00:17:27.640 verse 18, between 00:17:27.640 --> 00:17:28.260 those who have 00:17:28.260 --> 00:17:29.500 served them and 00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:30.420 those who have not 00:17:30.420 --> 00:17:31.340 served him. 00:17:31.339 --> 00:17:33.639 the day that 00:17:33.639 --> 00:17:35.439 will reveal this 00:17:35.439 --> 00:17:37.059 God's settled 00:17:37.059 --> 00:17:39.240 opposition as the 00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:40.659 three times holy 00:17:40.659 --> 00:17:42.839 God to all that 00:17:42.839 --> 00:17:44.500 is unholy in 00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:46.019 this world. 00:17:47.139 --> 00:17:47.980 Because if God 00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:48.659 didn't, he would 00:17:48.659 --> 00:17:50.419 be compromising on 00:17:50.419 --> 00:17:51.859 his character. 00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:53.259 He cannot do one 00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:54.419 without the other. 00:17:54.539 --> 00:17:55.119 There cannot be 00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:56.259 liberation for his 00:17:56.259 --> 00:17:57.519 people without 00:17:57.519 --> 00:17:58.539 judgment on the 00:17:58.539 --> 00:17:58.879 world. 00:17:59.359 --> 00:18:00.399 This is the day 00:18:00.400 --> 00:18:01.759 when the God of 00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:03.680 light will overcome 00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:05.500 and decisively 00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:07.220 banish the 00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:07.620 darkness. 00:18:09.120 --> 00:18:09.620 I think it's 00:18:09.620 --> 00:18:10.200 something that we 00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:11.380 intuitively know 00:18:11.380 --> 00:18:12.259 as human beings. 00:18:12.360 --> 00:18:12.720 Can I just say, 00:18:12.800 --> 00:18:14.180 I think it's, you 00:18:14.180 --> 00:18:14.980 see that because 00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:16.160 it's reflected in 00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:17.000 the best love 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:17.960 stories that our 00:18:17.960 --> 00:18:18.840 culture tells. 00:18:20.860 --> 00:18:22.400 Because Aslan, if 00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:23.120 he's going to bring 00:18:23.120 --> 00:18:23.920 the fullness of 00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:25.860 his kingdom, there's 00:18:25.860 --> 00:18:26.780 going to be peace, 00:18:26.860 --> 00:18:27.200 if there's going to 00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:28.100 be life, then the 00:18:28.100 --> 00:18:30.380 white witch must 00:18:30.380 --> 00:18:31.020 be banished. 00:18:31.160 --> 00:18:31.760 She can't still 00:18:31.760 --> 00:18:32.260 be wandering 00:18:32.260 --> 00:18:32.660 around. 00:18:34.640 --> 00:18:35.660 Sauron must be 00:18:35.660 --> 00:18:36.480 defeated if there's 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:37.600 to be peace on 00:18:37.600 --> 00:18:38.880 Middle Earth. 00:18:39.960 --> 00:18:41.340 All evil will be 00:18:41.340 --> 00:18:41.800 judged. 00:18:42.780 --> 00:18:43.880 It will be judged 00:18:43.880 --> 00:18:45.960 as this God makes 00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:48.280 every wrong right. 00:18:48.540 --> 00:18:49.480 It's why our 00:18:49.480 --> 00:18:50.960 culture's desire for 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:52.120 justice, if you've 00:18:52.120 --> 00:18:52.840 noticed that, 00:18:53.780 --> 00:18:55.920 justice is right. 00:18:56.700 --> 00:18:57.700 It is right and 00:18:57.700 --> 00:18:58.660 it's there because we 00:18:58.660 --> 00:18:59.660 are made in God's 00:18:59.660 --> 00:19:00.080 image. 00:19:01.460 --> 00:19:02.840 But if a perfectly 00:19:02.840 --> 00:19:04.259 holy God is to 00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:05.580 judge human sin, 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:07.700 then every single 00:19:07.700 --> 00:19:09.140 one of us falls 00:19:09.140 --> 00:19:11.279 short of his 00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:12.220 glory. 00:19:12.540 --> 00:19:13.720 And every single 00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:14.960 one of us will 00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:16.000 have to answer to 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:17.480 him as to how 00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:18.980 we've lived and as 00:19:18.980 --> 00:19:19.480 to how we've 00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:20.660 responded to Jesus 00:19:20.660 --> 00:19:22.600 on that day. 00:19:23.300 --> 00:19:24.120 And it's to the 00:19:24.120 --> 00:19:25.019 risen Jesus, I 00:19:25.019 --> 00:19:25.700 take it he's the 00:19:25.700 --> 00:19:26.440 one of whom this 00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:27.580 Elijah figure at the 00:19:27.579 --> 00:19:29.259 end, who is John 00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:30.119 the Baptist as we 00:19:30.119 --> 00:19:30.779 come to the New 00:19:30.779 --> 00:19:31.939 Testament, has come 00:19:31.939 --> 00:19:32.980 to get us ready for. 00:19:34.359 --> 00:19:35.159 How have we 00:19:35.159 --> 00:19:36.220 responded to him? 00:19:38.139 --> 00:19:39.099 And we have to 00:19:39.099 --> 00:19:40.199 feel the strength 00:19:40.199 --> 00:19:42.379 and the severity of 00:19:42.379 --> 00:19:43.379 the picture language 00:19:43.379 --> 00:19:45.119 that God gives this 00:19:45.119 --> 00:19:45.919 generation. 00:19:46.079 --> 00:19:46.899 I take it just to 00:19:46.899 --> 00:19:47.619 wake them up. 00:19:47.619 --> 00:19:51.799 the arrogant and 00:19:51.799 --> 00:19:52.659 evildoers will be 00:19:52.659 --> 00:19:53.219 stubble. 00:19:54.500 --> 00:19:56.319 That day shall set 00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:57.519 them ablaze. 00:19:57.579 --> 00:19:58.379 And we've got to 00:19:58.379 --> 00:19:59.859 feel the strength of 00:19:59.859 --> 00:20:00.859 that language. 00:20:01.919 --> 00:20:03.119 And it's a stark 00:20:03.119 --> 00:20:04.099 warning for all of 00:20:04.099 --> 00:20:05.019 us here today, 00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:06.239 particularly if you 00:20:06.239 --> 00:20:07.159 are here today and 00:20:07.159 --> 00:20:08.559 you would not say 00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:09.059 that you have 00:20:09.059 --> 00:20:10.179 accepted this Jesus 00:20:10.179 --> 00:20:11.119 as your Savior. 00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:12.359 Friends, this day is 00:20:12.359 --> 00:20:12.659 real. 00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:13.399 It is coming. 00:20:13.400 --> 00:20:16.280 But here's the 00:20:16.280 --> 00:20:17.040 good news of the 00:20:17.040 --> 00:20:17.420 gospel. 00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:20.940 The good news of 00:20:20.940 --> 00:20:21.940 the gospel is that 00:20:21.940 --> 00:20:23.060 just like there was 00:20:23.060 --> 00:20:24.380 at Passover, that 00:20:24.380 --> 00:20:26.980 first one, another 00:20:26.980 --> 00:20:27.980 lamb who was 00:20:27.980 --> 00:20:30.740 slain, another 00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:32.480 lamb has come, 00:20:33.100 --> 00:20:33.800 whose blood 00:20:33.800 --> 00:20:35.160 sprinkled above the 00:20:35.160 --> 00:20:36.259 door of our lives 00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:37.519 as we take God at 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:39.540 his word, saves 00:20:39.540 --> 00:20:39.940 us. 00:20:40.460 --> 00:20:41.740 We are not saved 00:20:41.740 --> 00:20:42.780 because we are good 00:20:42.779 --> 00:20:43.180 people. 00:20:43.319 --> 00:20:44.299 We are not saved 00:20:44.299 --> 00:20:45.200 because we've made 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:46.779 decent decisions in 00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:47.059 life. 00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:48.099 That is not the 00:20:48.099 --> 00:20:48.480 case. 00:20:48.819 --> 00:20:50.139 We are saved simply 00:20:50.139 --> 00:20:51.279 because of the blood 00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:52.420 that's above the door 00:20:52.420 --> 00:20:53.920 of our lives and 00:20:53.920 --> 00:20:55.339 through nothing else. 00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:58.639 Jesus, he lived that 00:20:58.639 --> 00:20:59.740 perfect life that we 00:20:59.740 --> 00:21:00.779 could never live. 00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:02.559 He died on the cross 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:03.480 the death that you 00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:05.099 and I deserve to die. 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:06.480 And while for one 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:08.379 group his return, 00:21:09.220 --> 00:21:10.279 having risen and 00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:11.920 ascended, one day his 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:13.700 return, for one group 00:21:13.700 --> 00:21:15.039 it will be devastation. 00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:17.600 For another group 00:21:17.600 --> 00:21:20.860 it will be liberation. 00:21:23.120 --> 00:21:24.680 Of all the prophecies 00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:25.640 about God's new 00:21:25.640 --> 00:21:26.740 creation, and get 00:21:26.740 --> 00:21:27.700 those ideas of 00:21:27.700 --> 00:21:28.779 clouds and harps 00:21:28.779 --> 00:21:29.640 out your mind, 00:21:29.900 --> 00:21:30.200 okay? 00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:33.480 God's new creation, 00:21:33.840 --> 00:21:35.700 his physical world, 00:21:36.019 --> 00:21:37.640 this is the one that 00:21:37.640 --> 00:21:40.180 stirs my heart the 00:21:40.180 --> 00:21:40.700 most. 00:21:42.100 --> 00:21:43.240 And God doesn't just 00:21:43.240 --> 00:21:44.320 want his people to 00:21:44.320 --> 00:21:45.820 know what that will 00:21:45.820 --> 00:21:46.800 be like as they're 00:21:46.800 --> 00:21:48.020 struggling on in their 00:21:48.020 --> 00:21:48.960 Christian lives. 00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:51.580 I'd imagine this first 00:21:51.580 --> 00:21:52.660 group are laughing at 00:21:52.660 --> 00:21:52.780 them. 00:21:52.840 --> 00:21:53.600 You're wasting your 00:21:53.600 --> 00:21:54.000 time. 00:21:54.120 --> 00:21:54.920 Why not just go and 00:21:54.920 --> 00:21:55.960 join the peoples of the 00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:56.220 world? 00:21:56.540 --> 00:21:57.620 God wants them not just 00:21:57.620 --> 00:21:58.740 to know it intellectually, 00:21:59.400 --> 00:22:01.420 he wants them to feel it 00:22:01.420 --> 00:22:02.800 emotionally. 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:06.059 And again, as we've 00:22:06.059 --> 00:22:07.019 done justice to the 00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:09.720 picture language that's 00:22:09.720 --> 00:22:11.099 there, we've got to do 00:22:11.099 --> 00:22:12.000 justice to the picture 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:13.279 language that is here as 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:13.559 well. 00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:15.159 And on that note, we 00:22:15.159 --> 00:22:15.839 need to grasp the 00:22:15.839 --> 00:22:16.500 difference between 00:22:16.500 --> 00:22:19.339 emotionalism, which I 00:22:19.339 --> 00:22:20.440 take it is just cheap 00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:23.059 and short-lasting 00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:24.359 affections. 00:22:24.359 --> 00:22:27.119 and God in the 00:22:27.119 --> 00:22:29.679 gospel, by his word 00:22:29.679 --> 00:22:31.159 and by his spirit, 00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:34.059 awakening in us deep 00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:36.419 emotions, affections, 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:38.819 and love as we respond 00:22:38.819 --> 00:22:40.779 to Jesus as we see and 00:22:40.779 --> 00:22:42.039 hear the gospel. 00:22:42.159 --> 00:22:42.719 Do you see if there's a 00:22:42.719 --> 00:22:43.199 difference? 00:22:44.219 --> 00:22:46.500 We should be marked by 00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:48.599 moved emotions as we 00:22:48.599 --> 00:22:49.559 consider what God has 00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:50.479 done for us in sending 00:22:50.479 --> 00:22:51.839 Jesus, that is ours in 00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:52.019 him. 00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:53.279 As we gaze upon his 00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:54.139 beauty, we cannot 00:22:54.140 --> 00:22:55.120 help but be moved. 00:22:55.840 --> 00:22:56.480 There's a difference 00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:58.300 between emotionalism and 00:22:58.300 --> 00:22:59.740 gospel-fueled emotions. 00:23:00.500 --> 00:23:01.200 And we've got to feel 00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:01.980 it as we think about 00:23:01.980 --> 00:23:03.120 what's going on here. 00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:05.000 As we think about where 00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:06.000 this finds its ultimate 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:07.820 climax in Jesus. 00:23:08.180 --> 00:23:08.820 And this is where we 00:23:08.820 --> 00:23:09.960 tap back into Christmas 00:23:09.960 --> 00:23:11.020 and that carol that we 00:23:11.020 --> 00:23:11.680 love to sing. 00:23:14.320 --> 00:23:15.400 Hark the Herald Angels 00:23:15.400 --> 00:23:16.780 sing, Isaac Watts got it 00:23:16.780 --> 00:23:17.240 bang on. 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:20.440 You rightly identified 00:23:20.440 --> 00:23:22.780 the son of 00:23:22.780 --> 00:23:23.300 righteousness. 00:23:23.299 --> 00:23:25.279 risen with healing in 00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:25.779 his wings. 00:23:26.099 --> 00:23:27.319 He rightly identified 00:23:27.319 --> 00:23:28.259 him with the risen 00:23:28.259 --> 00:23:28.799 Jesus. 00:23:31.579 --> 00:23:32.319 Friends, as we 00:23:32.319 --> 00:23:33.659 contemplate his return, 00:23:35.159 --> 00:23:36.180 feel the language there. 00:23:36.279 --> 00:23:37.379 It will be like the kind 00:23:37.379 --> 00:23:38.819 of joy that a bird feels 00:23:38.819 --> 00:23:39.259 at dawn. 00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:43.019 Have you not loved just 00:23:43.019 --> 00:23:43.839 hearing the bird sing 00:23:43.839 --> 00:23:44.139 again? 00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:47.019 Is what is felt just like a 00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:49.579 brutal and long and cold 00:23:49.579 --> 00:23:50.619 and expensive winter? 00:23:52.139 --> 00:23:52.980 You've just heard the 00:23:52.980 --> 00:23:53.740 bird sing again. 00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:54.559 What does it say? 00:23:54.659 --> 00:23:55.859 It says something's 00:23:55.859 --> 00:23:56.960 changing. 00:23:57.119 --> 00:23:58.099 It's why so many people 00:23:58.099 --> 00:23:59.339 use it as white noise on 00:23:59.339 --> 00:24:00.359 their phone, isn't it? 00:24:00.419 --> 00:24:01.039 Birds singing. 00:24:01.199 --> 00:24:01.439 Why? 00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:02.659 Because it's just one of 00:24:02.659 --> 00:24:03.759 the most beautiful sounds 00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:05.759 we'll ever hope to hear. 00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:08.299 It's like the kind of joy 00:24:08.299 --> 00:24:09.599 that a photographer feels 00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:11.299 as he captures a sunrise. 00:24:11.859 --> 00:24:11.980 Right? 00:24:12.059 --> 00:24:12.759 I love to hear about a 00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:13.339 group of students, 00:24:13.439 --> 00:24:14.039 trying not to look at 00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:14.919 them here, who got up 00:24:14.919 --> 00:24:16.199 early a month or so ago 00:24:16.199 --> 00:24:17.299 and climbed Blackford Hill 00:24:17.299 --> 00:24:18.339 to watch the sunrise 00:24:18.339 --> 00:24:19.680 because there is no more 00:24:19.680 --> 00:24:20.799 beautiful sight in our 00:24:20.799 --> 00:24:23.039 world than watching a sun 00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:24.419 come up. 00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:26.779 On this day, God is saying 00:24:26.779 --> 00:24:28.659 it will feel like the 00:24:28.659 --> 00:24:30.259 whole earth is being 00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:31.919 healed by the sun's 00:24:31.919 --> 00:24:32.799 light. 00:24:33.099 --> 00:24:34.960 It will be like snow as 00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:36.639 it thaws when the sun 00:24:36.639 --> 00:24:37.980 warms it. 00:24:38.059 --> 00:24:38.779 Friends, are you feeling 00:24:38.779 --> 00:24:39.159 that? 00:24:40.500 --> 00:24:41.500 As you read it here, 00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:43.879 living in our world where 00:24:43.879 --> 00:24:45.279 it so often feels like what 00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:46.839 C.S. Lewis captures so 00:24:46.839 --> 00:24:48.599 poignantly when one of his 00:24:48.599 --> 00:24:49.799 characters described in 00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:51.339 Narnia as a place where 00:24:51.339 --> 00:24:53.279 it's always winter, but 00:24:53.279 --> 00:24:54.099 never Christmas. 00:24:56.459 --> 00:24:57.759 You know, I often find as I 00:24:57.759 --> 00:24:58.779 meet people who are going 00:24:58.779 --> 00:24:59.599 through the mill. 00:25:03.879 --> 00:25:05.240 Honestly, all you've got 00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:06.399 sometimes is a pastor. 00:25:06.879 --> 00:25:07.599 And not just a pastor, 00:25:07.699 --> 00:25:08.659 sometimes as a loving 00:25:08.659 --> 00:25:09.059 friend. 00:25:09.179 --> 00:25:11.599 All you've got sometimes is 00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:12.539 that phrase that the other 00:25:12.539 --> 00:25:13.759 Christians used to use 00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:14.379 frequently. 00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:15.279 And you find at the end of 00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:17.240 1 Corinthians chapter 16, 00:25:18.500 --> 00:25:19.139 Maranatha. 00:25:20.839 --> 00:25:21.899 Do you know what it means? 00:25:22.859 --> 00:25:24.200 It just means come, Lord 00:25:24.200 --> 00:25:25.319 Jesus, and make it right. 00:25:26.599 --> 00:25:27.720 Sometimes that's all you've 00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:27.960 got. 00:25:28.899 --> 00:25:31.960 Come, Lord Jesus, and make 00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:32.379 it right. 00:25:32.519 --> 00:25:33.559 Friends, if you're struggling 00:25:33.559 --> 00:25:36.859 with your physical health, 00:25:36.859 --> 00:25:41.159 if you just wake up in the 00:25:41.159 --> 00:25:42.019 morning and you just think, 00:25:42.240 --> 00:25:43.959 I cannot bear another day of 00:25:43.959 --> 00:25:44.919 this, I want you to be 00:25:44.919 --> 00:25:46.599 greatly heartened by what 00:25:46.599 --> 00:25:47.179 this says. 00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:49.959 That because of your faith in 00:25:49.959 --> 00:25:52.559 Jesus, hear me right, you will 00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:55.099 one day be fully healed of your 00:25:55.099 --> 00:25:55.659 hardships. 00:25:55.859 --> 00:25:57.319 You will be fully healed. 00:25:57.799 --> 00:25:59.579 It might not be in this life, 00:26:00.099 --> 00:26:03.639 but 100% sure it will be in this 00:26:03.639 --> 00:26:04.419 new creation. 00:26:04.420 --> 00:26:05.720 We will have new bodies. 00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:08.420 I thought about that, making 00:26:08.420 --> 00:26:09.740 that a conversation for church 00:26:09.740 --> 00:26:10.620 lunch upstairs. 00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:11.800 What are you most looking 00:26:11.800 --> 00:26:13.240 forward to be free of? 00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:17.620 You know, for me, I've just my 00:26:17.620 --> 00:26:19.140 eczema in my hands for months. 00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:20.360 I just cannot get rid of it. 00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:21.420 Cannot wash the dishes. 00:26:21.560 --> 00:26:22.360 Cannot change a nappy. 00:26:22.440 --> 00:26:23.220 Cannot do anything. 00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:25.000 And it just drains me of 00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:25.460 energy. 00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:27.700 What are you most looking 00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:28.960 forward to being rid of? 00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:31.759 Physical bodies that God gives 00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:32.079 us. 00:26:33.940 --> 00:26:35.220 The hope of the Christian 00:26:35.220 --> 00:26:37.839 life is not that life might 00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:39.500 get better and easier for us 00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:39.920 here. 00:26:40.599 --> 00:26:42.119 The hope of the Christian 00:26:42.119 --> 00:26:45.019 life is that Jesus loves us 00:26:45.019 --> 00:26:47.859 and has given himself for us. 00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:50.119 And one day he is coming back 00:26:50.119 --> 00:26:53.180 to make all things new. 00:26:53.180 --> 00:26:57.060 It's why I love that scene that 00:26:57.060 --> 00:26:58.640 we get in Acts chapter 3. 00:26:59.840 --> 00:27:00.880 And you can read it in your own 00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:01.539 time if you want. 00:27:01.600 --> 00:27:02.600 You can look it up if you want. 00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:06.200 As Peter and John meet that 00:27:06.200 --> 00:27:07.400 lame man. 00:27:08.840 --> 00:27:10.200 His ankles are gone. 00:27:10.360 --> 00:27:11.799 He's been lame for birth. 00:27:11.860 --> 00:27:13.100 All these details that were told 00:27:13.100 --> 00:27:14.440 about in Acts chapter 3. 00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:17.080 And he says to them, what have you 00:27:17.080 --> 00:27:17.500 got? 00:27:17.600 --> 00:27:18.960 Can I have alms? 00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:20.759 Right? 00:27:20.759 --> 00:27:22.240 Can you give me something? 00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:22.940 He's begging. 00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:24.059 And what did he say? 00:27:24.140 --> 00:27:25.460 And it goes with that kid's song 00:27:25.460 --> 00:27:26.319 that some of you might have 00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:27.420 grown up singing. 00:27:28.019 --> 00:27:29.619 Silver and gold we have none, 00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:30.900 but what we have we give you. 00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:32.579 In the name of Jesus Christ of 00:27:32.579 --> 00:27:35.039 Nazareth, rise up and walk. 00:27:36.920 --> 00:27:39.240 Two things were told as he does. 00:27:39.420 --> 00:27:40.779 Number one, what does he do 00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:41.980 connecting with this passage? 00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:43.220 What does he do? 00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:45.259 Doesn't give them a high five and 00:27:45.259 --> 00:27:46.000 go on his way. 00:27:46.420 --> 00:27:47.579 He's leaping. 00:27:47.579 --> 00:27:50.879 He's walking and he's leaping 00:27:50.879 --> 00:27:52.500 and he's praising God. 00:27:53.539 --> 00:27:55.319 God's kingdom arriving in the 00:27:55.319 --> 00:27:56.279 person of Jesus. 00:27:56.619 --> 00:27:57.859 What else does he do? 00:27:59.220 --> 00:28:00.720 He goes to the temple. 00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:02.539 Into the temple. 00:28:02.659 --> 00:28:05.279 He goes into God's presence. 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:07.419 And it's almost as if we read 00:28:07.419 --> 00:28:07.639 that. 00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:10.639 And here is God glorifying the 00:28:10.639 --> 00:28:12.299 name of Jesus in the eyes of the 00:28:12.299 --> 00:28:14.000 watching world in that moment in 00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:14.919 Acts chapter 3. 00:28:14.920 --> 00:28:16.880 But it's a picture for everyone 00:28:16.880 --> 00:28:18.120 watching and everyone reading 00:28:18.120 --> 00:28:21.060 now of the glorious foretaste 00:28:21.060 --> 00:28:23.039 of life that what it'll be like 00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:24.779 for every single one of us when 00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:26.960 he comes to bring in his kingdom 00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:28.900 fully and finally when he returns. 00:28:31.580 --> 00:28:32.820 That's what it will be like. 00:28:34.860 --> 00:28:36.500 Be leaping like calves from the 00:28:36.500 --> 00:28:37.400 stall, right? 00:28:37.460 --> 00:28:38.160 Living in the city. 00:28:38.259 --> 00:28:39.340 I'll be honest, I don't get that 00:28:39.340 --> 00:28:39.580 one. 00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:42.279 But that's what God is saying to 00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:42.660 his people. 00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:43.740 Who would have got that one? 00:28:43.740 --> 00:28:44.880 That's what it's like. 00:28:47.140 --> 00:28:48.180 Friends, in the words of New 00:28:48.180 --> 00:28:49.859 Testament scholar and an older 00:28:49.859 --> 00:28:51.960 man who's feeling his aches and 00:28:51.960 --> 00:28:55.259 joints called Don Carson. 00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:57.059 And please hear this reverently, 00:28:57.259 --> 00:28:57.440 okay? 00:28:57.579 --> 00:28:59.160 He says this when people ask him 00:28:59.160 --> 00:29:00.079 how do you keep on going? 00:29:00.180 --> 00:29:01.920 He says, listen, I'm not 00:29:01.920 --> 00:29:04.039 suffering from anything now that a 00:29:04.039 --> 00:29:05.579 good resurrection won't fix. 00:29:05.579 --> 00:29:10.559 And so what does God say as we begin 00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:12.179 to wrap this up to the people of 00:29:12.179 --> 00:29:13.279 faith in this generation? 00:29:13.740 --> 00:29:14.859 Paraphrasing verse 4. 00:29:17.099 --> 00:29:19.199 What's the call on God's faithful 00:29:19.199 --> 00:29:20.879 remnant in Malachi's day? 00:29:21.599 --> 00:29:23.699 They're watching all this stuff going 00:29:23.699 --> 00:29:26.000 on in amongst their community. 00:29:26.119 --> 00:29:27.460 He says to them, keep waiting. 00:29:27.460 --> 00:29:29.720 Be faithful. 00:29:30.620 --> 00:29:31.500 I love you. 00:29:32.100 --> 00:29:33.079 I know you. 00:29:33.900 --> 00:29:35.200 And one day I'm coming back. 00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:38.900 I will act to make it all new. 00:29:40.180 --> 00:29:41.019 I think that's where we've got to 00:29:41.019 --> 00:29:41.720 leave it, isn't it? 00:29:42.519 --> 00:29:45.440 The application then is exactly the 00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:46.559 same application now. 00:29:47.840 --> 00:29:50.400 Got to keep obediently, faithfully 00:29:50.400 --> 00:29:53.860 waiting and loving and knowing the 00:29:53.859 --> 00:29:54.799 return of King Jesus. 00:29:56.359 --> 00:29:57.659 You know, as we close, I began by 00:29:57.659 --> 00:29:58.879 telling you about two people that I 00:29:58.879 --> 00:29:59.579 read about this week. 00:29:59.619 --> 00:30:00.679 Can I just tell you about two people 00:30:00.679 --> 00:30:01.599 who I met this week? 00:30:04.139 --> 00:30:07.399 Two ladies who sat at the table 00:30:07.399 --> 00:30:09.259 beside me in Cosa on Thursday. 00:30:10.799 --> 00:30:12.179 And after I'd finished my meeting, I 00:30:12.179 --> 00:30:12.639 met Mike. 00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:14.919 I was just sitting there doing some 00:30:14.919 --> 00:30:17.819 emails, but I couldn't help but 00:30:17.819 --> 00:30:21.819 overhear their conversation, which is 00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:23.079 always a better way than saying you 00:30:23.079 --> 00:30:24.159 were eavesdropping, isn't it? 00:30:24.679 --> 00:30:26.119 That's what I was doing on Wednesday. 00:30:27.299 --> 00:30:29.299 And every so often I would just pick 00:30:29.299 --> 00:30:30.939 up an odd word that they were saying 00:30:30.939 --> 00:30:31.639 to one another. 00:30:33.659 --> 00:30:34.559 Like Jesus. 00:30:35.859 --> 00:30:36.720 And forgiveness. 00:30:38.179 --> 00:30:39.099 And peace. 00:30:40.500 --> 00:30:41.419 And sin. 00:30:42.539 --> 00:30:43.500 And grace. 00:30:44.359 --> 00:30:45.519 And God's love. 00:30:46.339 --> 00:30:46.859 And obedience. 00:30:47.879 --> 00:30:49.460 And telling others it was like a 00:30:49.460 --> 00:30:50.299 royal flush. 00:30:50.299 --> 00:30:53.399 And my pastor's senses began to 00:30:53.399 --> 00:30:53.759 tingle. 00:30:54.519 --> 00:30:55.680 And they prayed together. 00:30:56.680 --> 00:30:58.159 And they stopped praying and they 00:30:58.159 --> 00:30:59.639 looked up and I was smiling at them, 00:30:59.700 --> 00:31:00.619 which I think freaked them out 00:31:00.619 --> 00:31:00.960 slightly. 00:31:01.319 --> 00:31:03.839 But I reassured them who I was and 00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:05.220 that I followed Jesus as well. 00:31:05.259 --> 00:31:06.480 And they begin to tell me how they 00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:07.859 go to another church somewhere in the 00:31:07.859 --> 00:31:08.180 city. 00:31:09.700 --> 00:31:10.839 And that they're doing an alpha 00:31:10.839 --> 00:31:12.240 course together, exploring the 00:31:12.240 --> 00:31:13.579 things of the Christian faith. 00:31:14.019 --> 00:31:15.220 And that life's hard. 00:31:16.419 --> 00:31:17.819 Being in the circles that they're in, 00:31:17.819 --> 00:31:18.500 different circles. 00:31:18.659 --> 00:31:20.500 And so what they do is they just 00:31:20.500 --> 00:31:22.839 meet up now and again to encourage 00:31:22.839 --> 00:31:24.019 one another in the faith. 00:31:26.519 --> 00:31:27.759 And I think that's exactly where we 00:31:27.759 --> 00:31:29.879 need to land with this series as we've 00:31:29.879 --> 00:31:30.939 gone through it in Malachi. 00:31:31.159 --> 00:31:33.779 Wouldn't that be a brilliant legacy 00:31:33.779 --> 00:31:36.779 and such wonderful fruit from our time 00:31:36.779 --> 00:31:38.279 together in this series? 00:31:38.399 --> 00:31:40.559 As God has challenged us on a number of 00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:42.879 levels as we've gone through it 00:31:42.879 --> 00:31:45.159 together, that the lasting impression 00:31:45.160 --> 00:31:47.660 this book would make on us, to nab a 00:31:47.660 --> 00:31:50.000 phrase from Hebrews, that we would 00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:53.180 encourage one another more and daily 00:31:53.180 --> 00:31:58.019 as we see that day drawing close. 00:31:58.180 --> 00:32:01.400 That day that is the wonderful return 00:32:01.400 --> 00:32:04.080 of Lord Jesus, encouraging one another 00:32:04.080 --> 00:32:08.560 about how great he is, about how wonderful 00:32:08.560 --> 00:32:11.440 the gospel is, and about how wonderful the 00:32:11.440 --> 00:32:16.100 future is, because he died, he rose, he 00:32:16.100 --> 00:32:18.660 ascended, and one day he's coming back 00:32:18.660 --> 00:32:19.500 to make it all new. 00:32:20.580 --> 00:32:22.220 So just think about who can you meet up 00:32:22.220 --> 00:32:22.980 with this week? 00:32:23.039 --> 00:32:23.960 Who can you encourage? 00:32:24.080 --> 00:32:25.860 Who's going through a really hard time? 00:32:26.320 --> 00:32:27.980 Who needs the words of Malachi? 00:32:28.600 --> 00:32:32.180 Who needs the words of any chapter, any 00:32:32.180 --> 00:32:32.880 word in the Bible? 00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:34.539 Who can you come alongside this week to 00:32:34.539 --> 00:32:36.440 encourage with that single goal? 00:32:37.880 --> 00:32:39.740 To bring the grace of Jesus to bear in 00:32:39.740 --> 00:32:40.539 each other's lives. 00:32:41.559 --> 00:32:43.240 Got a great chance to do that over lunch. 00:32:43.740 --> 00:32:44.779 You can think about it. 00:32:45.299 --> 00:32:46.380 But this is what we need. 00:32:47.240 --> 00:32:48.440 Let's pray together, will we? 00:32:53.140 --> 00:32:54.960 Father, we think of the words of the 00:32:54.960 --> 00:32:57.660 Apostle Paul, writing in Galatians, who 00:32:57.660 --> 00:33:02.019 would marvel at the Jesus who loved him 00:33:02.019 --> 00:33:06.120 and who gave himself for him, and who now 00:33:06.120 --> 00:33:08.200 he is committed to following with his whole 00:33:08.200 --> 00:33:08.580 life. 00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:13.680 And so, Lord, that is our one prayer off 00:33:13.680 --> 00:33:14.720 the back of this morning. 00:33:15.420 --> 00:33:17.360 And Lord, we trust that as your spirit has 00:33:17.360 --> 00:33:19.480 been moving in our hearts, there have been 00:33:19.480 --> 00:33:21.240 things come into mind that we need to 00:33:21.240 --> 00:33:21.700 consider. 00:33:22.559 --> 00:33:24.580 There are truths that we need to take in. 00:33:25.460 --> 00:33:26.980 There are ways that we're living that we 00:33:26.980 --> 00:33:27.840 need to change. 00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:31.019 But most of all, Father, that we would know 00:33:31.019 --> 00:33:33.840 this Jesus better. 00:33:33.839 --> 00:33:37.799 Father, thank you that you have not left us 00:33:37.799 --> 00:33:40.419 on your own, that you have given us your 00:33:40.419 --> 00:33:41.500 precious Holy Spirit. 00:33:42.319 --> 00:33:45.240 And so we pray that he would be moving in our 00:33:45.240 --> 00:33:48.959 lives this week, just shining the spotlight on 00:33:48.959 --> 00:33:50.899 Christ and his glory. 00:33:51.740 --> 00:33:53.859 So we pray all of these things in his name. 00:33:54.459 --> 00:33:54.819 Amen. 00:33:54.819 --> 00:33:55.079 Amen. 00:33:55.079 --> 00:34:25.059 Thank you.