WEBVTT

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 Father, many of us here this morning are facing really big decisions.

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 Some of us, Father, are maybe making big decisions around stocks.

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 Others maybe about whether we should do something about our marriage or try to get married.

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 Some of us are trying to maybe decide how to deal with really problematic relationships.

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 Father, you know that many of us here this morning are struggling, pondering very big decisions.

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 We ask, Father, that you would lead us and guide us.

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 We ask, Father, that you help us to hear your word so that we would hear your wisdom,

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 that your wisdom would speak into our life about how to make these decisions and how to move forward.

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 Father, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us that your word might enter deep into our lives

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 and that our lives will then bear much fruit to bring you glory.

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 And this we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

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 Please be seated.

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 So, does God guide Christians?

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 Can you know God's will about really important decisions?

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 Can you know God's will about the direction of your life?

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 Does God only give guidance about spiritual things?

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 Will he give you guidance about practical things,

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 like whether you should buy a particular house or sell stocks,

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 for those of us who actually have any money to buy stocks,

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 or get out of the stock market right now?

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 Does God guide Christians?

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 Does he guide in important decisions and in small decisions?

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 Today, we're going to look at a series of Proverbs from the book of Proverbs

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 that talk about knowing God's will and doing it.

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 And as those of you who have been here some of the other weeks,

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 in the reading that came in your bulletin,

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 I just put all of the Proverbs in the order that they come in the Bible.

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 But as we look at these questions,

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 and this is sort of the key Proverbs in the book of Proverbs about this,

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 we're going to look at them not in the order that they're written.

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 That's sort of how the book of Proverbs is designed.

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 So, Andrew, if you could put up the very first proverb.

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 It's Proverbs 21, verse 5.

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 Proverbs 21, 5.

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 And could you folks read this proverb with me?

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 The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,

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 but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

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 Now, this could be in the business pages of the National Post

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 or the Globe and Mail or the Citizen,

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 especially if you sort of understood some of the language here a little bit.

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 It's a very, very good translation.

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 But actually, the word hasty in the original language has a double sense.

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 It not only means you're making really quick decisions,

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 but it's saying that your decisions are basically influenced by events,

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 that you're just merely responding to events.

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 In other words, behind this is the image,

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 those of us who are really, really old

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 and remember that there used to be these things called pinball machines.

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 And, you know, you'd bang the ball and it would go up

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 and it would just sort of bounce around in there

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 and you had little flippers that you could do.

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 And that's sort of the image of the hasty person.

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 That they're basically just being pushed around by events.

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 And the image of the diligent person has a similar,

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 like the opposite type of an image connected to diligence,

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 that it's not just that you're really, really like having a plan and moving forward,

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 but that you've thought the plan through separate from events

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 so that you're not only, you're not just merely responding to events,

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 but you're in a sense influencing events.

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 And you're influencing, you're actually picking a path through events.

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 And so the Proverbs, I mean, you know, when you understand it that way,

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 the plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance.

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 And, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

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 I said, that could be in the National Post.

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 And that could be in the Globe and Mail.

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 It could be in the Citizen.

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 It could be on TV.

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 It's very sort of like commonplace, but, you know, wise advice.

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 And let's look at another proverb.

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 You could put up 1522, Andrew.

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 Let's say it together.

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 Without counsel, plans fail.

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 But with many advisors, they succeed.

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 Now, see, once again, this has, you know,

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 you can see how there's some wisdom to this.

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 All of us have probably met this type of person

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 where they basically, they don't do any reading.

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 They don't do any research.

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 They just sort of sit on their duff

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 and three thoughts come into their head.

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 And as far as they're concerned,

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 those three thoughts that have come into the head,

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 that's sufficient.

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 And now they know something about a topic.

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 I mean, maybe some of us are sitting beside that person this morning.

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 I don't know.

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 But we all know that type of a person.

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 They don't take any type of research.

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 They don't take any type of outside advice.

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 There's a basic type of pridefulness and ignorance

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 in terms of how they go through life.

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 And this proverb is, once again,

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 this could be in the National Post.

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 It could be in Globe and Mail.

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 It could be on CBC.

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 It's just, you know, that if you want to be wise

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 about making decisions,

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 you should have a basic humility

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 that allows you to seek out, you know,

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 other people who are going to speak into that situation.

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 You try to get really good advice,

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 and then you try to move forward.

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 Now, at this point in time in the sermon,

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 some of you are saying,

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 gosh, is this ever boring stuff.

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 And let me say something here.

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 I don't know.

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 If you're a non-Christian,

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 and you've come into this room,

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 at this point in time,

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 the Christians around you,

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 something for many of them,

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 many of us,

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 is going on.

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 You see, many Christians suffer with a deep-seated disappointment in God.

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 And we suffer with a deep-seated disappointment in God

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 that leads us to a fundamental cynicism about life.

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 And we might cover that disappointment with God

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 and that cynicism about life

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 by saying that we're prophetic

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 or really hip Christians

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 or emergent Christians

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 or really reformed or really,

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 you know, whatever.

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 Well, we have some type of cover.

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 But the fact of the matter is,

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 is that we were really hoping for something more

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 about knowing God's will

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 than something that could be in the National Post

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 or the Globe and Mail.

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 We were hoping that the Bible was going to give us

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 actually a lot more concrete, like real advice.

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 And so we start to hear these proverbs

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 and we start to settle back and say,

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 oh yeah, okay, once again,

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 we're not always conscious of this, right?

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 Once again, I'm going to be disappointed.

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 I'm not going to get any help at all this morning

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 about these decisions.

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 And that's the way the Bible always is.

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 And that's the way God is.

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 But then in a couple of minutes,

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 we'll get up and sing

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 and we'll say how great thou art

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 and how wonderful

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 and we just bow down and all that.

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 But actually we're doing it

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 with a fundamentally cynical spirit.

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 For you non-Christians who are present,

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 you might not realize that.

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 Probably about many of the people

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 that you know who are Christians.

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 In fact, we don't even struggle with cynicism.

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 We embrace it.

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 We don't struggle with disappointment with God.

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 We have learned how to live with it.

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 So maybe I'll just end right now.

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 I'll just end right now.

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 We'll all go home depressed.

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 So, well, let's look at this.

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 We're still talking about guidance

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 and we're still talking about knowing God's will.

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 But now let's at least acknowledge

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 that so far we're a bit disappointed.

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 But let's look at another proverb.

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 Andrew, could you put up Proverbs 12.5?

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 Could you folks say this with me?

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 The thoughts of the righteous are just.

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 The counsels of the wicked are deceitful.

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 Now, you see, if you just look at all of these Proverbs,

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 it sounds like they could be just like truisms

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 and power of positive thinking.

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 You might just think that the Bible

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 is like a power of positive thinking book,

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 only just not as effective and not as helpful.

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 But actually, all of a sudden now you realize that,

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 because you have to look at all these Proverbs together

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 to actually start to get their wisdom.

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 And you realize that the book of Proverbs

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 is actually very, very wise

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 without being cynical about what human beings are like.

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 Here's the problem.

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 You know that earlier proverb that we said

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 that if you seek lots of counselors,

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 you're more likely to succeed?

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 The problem in life is

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 that there are lots of counselors in life

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 who are downright deceitful and evil.

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 And they are not shy about sharing their advice.

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 In fact, just think about this for a moment.

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 Imagine that you put a little thing in Kijiji this afternoon.

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 I have just come in to $100,000 inheritance.

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 I am seeking some financial advisors

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 to help me know how to advise me.

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 Could you please email me?

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 How many people think that the first 100 people to respond

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 would all be trying to help you?

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 If you do,

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 I have some swampland to sell you after the service.

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 I mean, the fact of the matter is,

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 we all know that maybe there's going to be

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 like a really good, self-effacing, wise person

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 who will respond to that Kijiji ad,

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 but for every one of them,

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 there will be a whole pile of crooks,

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 charlatans, deluded, evil individuals

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 who will quickly respond.

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 And some of them have professional certification.

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 So all of a sudden,

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 okay, well, one, okay, that's,

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 okay, I mean, that's sort of a good,

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 that's a good of a bit of a bit warning, George.

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 And it's good to see that the Bible,

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 as you'll see on and on,

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 this isn't a cynical thing, by the way,

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 but, okay, that's sort of good to know,

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 but I'd still like some more concrete help.

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 Well, let's look at Proverbs 19.21.

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 Proverbs 19.21.

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 Can you say this with me?

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 Many are the plans in the mind of a man,

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 but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

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 Now, why is this significant?

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 So here's the problem.

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 So I'm trying to make a decision about something,

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 you know, or a group is trying to make a decision

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 about something,

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 and we want God to make it clear to us

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 what his will is,

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 but the fact of the matter is

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 is that we don't want to acknowledge

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 that we are, in many cases,

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 a pinball machine inside.

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 That it is not just that there's external things

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 that keep batting us around,

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 but we, in fact, are often blind to the fact

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 that, you know, in the same day,

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 in the same day,

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 a Christian young man might sort of have images

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 of him being like another,

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 a second coming of Billy Graham,

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 and then later on,

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 he'll think about how he's God's gift to women,

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 and then later on,

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 he'll think about how great a scholar he's going to be,

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 and then later on,

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 he'll think about how great an athlete he's going to be,

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 and then later on,

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 he'll think about how spectacular rich he's going to be,

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 and then later on,

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 he'll think about how he's going to be like Mother Teresa

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 and give his life to the poor,

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 and that's just in three hours.

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 Now, if that's what we're like,

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 how can God guide us?

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 We don't even know who we are.

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 We're not even often honest about the fact

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 that those thoughts,

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 those desires,

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 those self-images,

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 those motivations,

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 and we haven't even got to motivations.

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 Like, often when we're seeking God's guidance

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 and will about a thing,

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 well, what's actually influencing our choice?

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 Are we trying to make a particular choice

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 because we're still angry at our parents?

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 Are we trying to make a particular choice

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 because we want to show that coach

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 that we had when we were kids

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 that he was completely and utterly wrong about us?

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 Are we trying to make a decision

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 because we want to be hip?

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 Are we trying to make a decision

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 because we want to make sure

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 that nobody thinks we're trying to be hip

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 in such a way that we're really, really, really hip?

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 Are we trying to make a decision

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 because the last thing we've ever been in our life is hip

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 and we want to have it stay that way?

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 Are we trying to make a decision

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 because we really, really, really, really, really

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 just have made an idol or something?

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 And how many of us think that we know

00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:22.840
 that other people's motives are mixed

00:12:22.840 --> 00:12:24.180
 but our motives are pure?

00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:27.299
 How can God give you advice?

00:12:27.659 --> 00:12:29.340
 How can he give me advice

00:12:29.340 --> 00:12:31.279
 when I'm not even aware

00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:34.120
 of all of the motives and plans

00:12:34.120 --> 00:12:35.840
 that are going around in my head?

00:12:35.840 --> 00:12:42.360
 Part of the thing that makes us so confused about God

00:12:42.360 --> 00:12:43.519
 if you look at this proverb

00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:47.680
 is that it's so easy for us.

00:12:47.860 --> 00:12:49.480
 We're not even conscious of the fact

00:12:49.480 --> 00:12:53.240
 that we live in complete and utter confused denial

00:12:53.240 --> 00:12:55.240
 about what's going on inside of us

00:12:55.240 --> 00:12:58.660
 and that God is not like that.

00:12:58.660 --> 00:13:04.420
 We project and transfer our cacophony,

00:13:04.419 --> 00:13:06.139
 our voices inside

00:13:06.139 --> 00:13:07.299
 and we project that onto God

00:13:07.299 --> 00:13:08.360
 and we don't understand

00:13:08.360 --> 00:13:09.279
 that God is not like that.

00:13:09.319 --> 00:13:10.179
 He doesn't have an environment.

00:13:10.919 --> 00:13:12.579
 He's not pushed around by events.

00:13:13.659 --> 00:13:14.939
 He's consistent.

00:13:15.699 --> 00:13:16.919
 He's always himself

00:13:16.919 --> 00:13:18.939
 and his plans stand.

00:13:20.019 --> 00:13:21.259
 That's what God's like.

00:13:22.819 --> 00:13:24.299
 The true and living God.

00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:26.919
 So some of us say,

00:13:26.919 --> 00:13:28.959
 okay, okay, George.

00:13:29.839 --> 00:13:30.659
 Yeah, okay.

00:13:31.899 --> 00:13:33.219
 Okay, I mean, just okay.

00:13:33.279 --> 00:13:34.319
 Maybe some of that was right.

00:13:34.519 --> 00:13:35.479
 I mean, I've actually never thought

00:13:35.479 --> 00:13:36.620
 I'd be like another Billy Graham,

00:13:36.740 --> 00:13:38.219
 but you know, you've missed a couple,

00:13:38.360 --> 00:13:39.819
 maybe some rude and evil ones

00:13:39.819 --> 00:13:40.919
 that you didn't want to say in church.

00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:42.919
 But you know, maybe,

00:13:43.079 --> 00:13:45.419
 maybe God could just give an experience

00:13:46.059 --> 00:13:47.120
 or a Bible verse

00:13:47.120 --> 00:13:48.979
 that would really help me focus.

00:13:50.139 --> 00:13:52.120
 Well, let's look at another proverb.

00:13:52.279 --> 00:13:54.559
 Let's put up Proverbs 16.2.

00:13:55.139 --> 00:13:56.759
 Proverbs 16.2.

00:13:57.419 --> 00:13:59.719
 And let's say this together.

00:13:59.720 --> 00:14:02.580
 All the ways of a man

00:14:02.580 --> 00:14:04.540
 are pure in his own eyes,

00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:06.740
 but the Lord weighs the spirit.

00:14:07.980 --> 00:14:10.899
 Now, here's another problem, folks.

00:14:12.160 --> 00:14:12.700
 Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:14:12.700 --> 00:14:13.160
 Okay, George.

00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:13.540
 Yeah, yeah.

00:14:13.639 --> 00:14:14.540
 I know yet, you know,

00:14:14.600 --> 00:14:15.399
 I was, you know,

00:14:15.460 --> 00:14:16.240
 in any given day,

00:14:16.279 --> 00:14:16.820
 I might be thinking

00:14:16.820 --> 00:14:17.840
 I'm God's gift to women

00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:18.480
 and I, you know,

00:14:18.500 --> 00:14:19.700
 how faithful I am

00:14:19.700 --> 00:14:20.220
 and then I, you know,

00:14:20.259 --> 00:14:21.180
 and then how rich I am

00:14:21.180 --> 00:14:22.259
 and then how generous I am

00:14:22.259 --> 00:14:23.279
 and how powerful I am

00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:25.160
 and how self-serving I am

00:14:25.159 --> 00:14:26.319
 and not realize how,

00:14:26.439 --> 00:14:27.839
 yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:30.699
 But it's not only that,

00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:31.939
 but the fact of the matter

00:14:31.939 --> 00:14:33.299
 is that we regularly think

00:14:33.299 --> 00:14:33.980
 that we're pure.

00:14:34.699 --> 00:14:35.339
 We're pure.

00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:37.559
 I mean, just as I said

00:14:37.559 --> 00:14:38.379
 a couple of minutes ago,

00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:39.339
 how many of us,

00:14:39.779 --> 00:14:40.759
 when we're in trying

00:14:40.759 --> 00:14:41.399
 to make a decision

00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:42.379
 or listening to advisors,

00:14:42.579 --> 00:14:44.240
 we think that everybody else

00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:45.939
 has lots of different motives,

00:14:46.100 --> 00:14:47.039
 but we know our motive

00:14:47.039 --> 00:14:48.299
 and our motive is pure.

00:14:48.539 --> 00:14:49.439
 I'm a good person.

00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:52.100
 See, the problem is,

00:14:52.100 --> 00:14:53.639
 the problem is

00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:55.200
 that we already have focus.

00:14:56.620 --> 00:14:57.200
 Problem is,

00:14:57.259 --> 00:14:57.840
 the focus is

00:14:57.840 --> 00:14:58.820
 that we think we're pure.

00:15:00.279 --> 00:15:02.279
 How can God give me guidance

00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:03.700
 when that's what's going on

00:15:03.700 --> 00:15:04.220
 in my heart

00:15:04.220 --> 00:15:05.820
 and I don't even recognize it?

00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:08.379
 Like, how can God speak to me

00:15:08.379 --> 00:15:10.120
 and guide me

00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:12.000
 when I am unaware

00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:13.759
 that that's what's going on?

00:15:15.080 --> 00:15:15.440
 Proverbs,

00:15:15.720 --> 00:15:17.120
 I think it's Psalm 36 too.

00:15:17.220 --> 00:15:18.700
 It's in part of the going deeper

00:15:18.700 --> 00:15:20.420
 and just in case you're curious,

00:15:20.580 --> 00:15:21.899
 every week in the bulletin,

00:15:21.899 --> 00:15:23.459
 I put something called

00:15:23.459 --> 00:15:24.199
 growing in grace

00:15:24.199 --> 00:15:24.939
 and going deeper

00:15:24.939 --> 00:15:26.299
 and a lot of,

00:15:26.340 --> 00:15:27.220
 like some people wonder

00:15:27.220 --> 00:15:28.299
 why I don't keep going off

00:15:28.299 --> 00:15:29.539
 to lots of other Bible verses

00:15:29.539 --> 00:15:30.240
 throughout the Bible,

00:15:30.340 --> 00:15:31.419
 but what I always do

00:15:31.419 --> 00:15:32.240
 is I give you

00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:33.439
 those other Bible verses

00:15:33.439 --> 00:15:34.379
 in a thing called

00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:35.079
 going deeper

00:15:35.079 --> 00:15:36.519
 and you can look at it later on.

00:15:37.019 --> 00:15:38.500
 You look at Psalm 36 too,

00:15:38.559 --> 00:15:39.439
 it's very, very important,

00:15:39.579 --> 00:15:40.439
 we should memorize it,

00:15:40.500 --> 00:15:42.259
 that we flatter ourselves.

00:15:42.740 --> 00:15:45.299
 I flatter myself too much

00:15:45.299 --> 00:15:47.179
 to detect or hate my own sin.

00:15:48.740 --> 00:15:51.879
 That's very profound psychology.

00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:53.759
 So some of you might say,

00:15:53.860 --> 00:15:54.120
 okay,

00:15:55.299 --> 00:15:57.679
 George,

00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:00.500
 I actually don't think I'm pure.

00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:02.220
 I actually think I'm really,

00:16:02.340 --> 00:16:03.779
 really, really, really dumb

00:16:03.779 --> 00:16:04.720
 and bad

00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:05.620
 and stupid

00:16:05.620 --> 00:16:07.079
 and

00:16:07.079 --> 00:16:10.259
 that's actually

00:16:10.259 --> 00:16:11.720
 not quite

00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:13.100
 how I

00:16:13.100 --> 00:16:15.480
 think of myself.

00:16:15.899 --> 00:16:17.259
 Well, I'm going to help you.

00:16:17.980 --> 00:16:19.500
 Let's look at Proverbs 3,

00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:20.519
 7 and 8,

00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:21.519
 although you're not going to think

00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:22.220
 it's very helpful.

00:16:22.700 --> 00:16:23.580
 Let's read it together.

00:16:24.419 --> 00:16:25.819
 Be not wise

00:16:25.819 --> 00:16:27.159
 in your own eyes.

00:16:27.720 --> 00:16:28.500
 Fear the Lord

00:16:28.500 --> 00:16:29.740
 and turn away

00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:30.439
 from evil.

00:16:30.980 --> 00:16:32.059
 It will be healing

00:16:32.059 --> 00:16:33.080
 to your flesh

00:16:33.080 --> 00:16:34.419
 and refreshment

00:16:34.419 --> 00:16:35.259
 to your bones.

00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:38.220
 You see,

00:16:38.279 --> 00:16:39.539
 here's part of the great dilemma

00:16:39.539 --> 00:16:41.899
 is that even those of us

00:16:41.899 --> 00:16:43.099
 who think that

00:16:43.099 --> 00:16:44.899
 we don't have a problem

00:16:44.899 --> 00:16:45.379
 with thinking

00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:46.019
 that we're pure

00:16:46.019 --> 00:16:46.799
 in our own eyes.

00:16:47.339 --> 00:16:48.039
 Our problem is

00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:49.439
 we think that we're really bad,

00:16:49.799 --> 00:16:50.959
 we think we're really stupid,

00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:52.019
 that we think

00:16:52.019 --> 00:16:53.219
 everybody else is good,

00:16:53.379 --> 00:16:54.620
 that everybody else is wise

00:16:54.620 --> 00:16:56.579
 and God's just made me stupid

00:16:56.579 --> 00:16:58.339
 and he's made me bad

00:16:58.339 --> 00:16:59.659
 and he's made me a failure.

00:17:00.219 --> 00:17:01.579
 The fact of the matter is

00:17:01.579 --> 00:17:02.919
 is that when we're saying that

00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:03.620
 about ourselves,

00:17:03.699 --> 00:17:04.859
 we think we're wise

00:17:04.859 --> 00:17:06.680
 in terms of understanding ourselves.

00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:14.019
 And, you know,

00:17:14.060 --> 00:17:14.460
 once again,

00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:15.680
 if you're asking God

00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:16.580
 to give you guidance

00:17:16.580 --> 00:17:18.060
 and if you actually think

00:17:18.060 --> 00:17:18.720
 you're wise,

00:17:18.840 --> 00:17:19.180
 in fact,

00:17:19.259 --> 00:17:21.180
 if the fundamental Canadian problem

00:17:21.180 --> 00:17:22.820
 is that we basically think

00:17:22.820 --> 00:17:24.100
 we're wiser than God

00:17:24.100 --> 00:17:26.200
 and whenever we even read

00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:26.799
 the Bible,

00:17:27.019 --> 00:17:28.120
 many of us are waiting

00:17:28.120 --> 00:17:29.380
 to see if the wisdom

00:17:29.380 --> 00:17:29.960
 of the Bible

00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:30.700
 will match up

00:17:30.700 --> 00:17:31.600
 with our wisdom.

00:17:33.640 --> 00:17:34.820
 So how can God

00:17:34.820 --> 00:17:35.560
 give us guidance?

00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:39.200
 How would we recognize it

00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:41.140
 if that's who we are?

00:17:43.560 --> 00:17:44.500
 And some of you say,

00:17:44.620 --> 00:17:45.060
 George, okay,

00:17:45.120 --> 00:17:47.900
 okay, that's all true.

00:17:48.360 --> 00:17:49.799
 I would just like to know

00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:50.500
 how things are going

00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:51.060
 to shape out.

00:17:51.960 --> 00:17:53.720
 Like, are there some proverbs

00:17:53.720 --> 00:17:55.299
 like that will help us

00:17:55.299 --> 00:17:56.200
 to know how things

00:17:56.200 --> 00:17:56.960
 are going to work out

00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:57.720
 or shape up?

00:17:58.279 --> 00:17:59.340
 Well, there's a proverb

00:17:59.340 --> 00:18:00.019
 about that.

00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:01.120
 If you would join with me

00:18:01.120 --> 00:18:02.940
 in saying Proverbs 27.1.

00:18:02.940 --> 00:18:06.960
 Do not boast about tomorrow

00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:08.980
 for you do not know

00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:10.820
 what a day may bring.

00:18:13.220 --> 00:18:14.559
 I mean, this is going to sound

00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:16.240
 like I'm being anti-left-wing

00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:17.539
 and I don't intend to make

00:18:17.539 --> 00:18:19.000
 a political type of comment

00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:19.519
 on this.

00:18:20.080 --> 00:18:21.160
 It just is that,

00:18:21.259 --> 00:18:22.660
 like in our day and age,

00:18:22.980 --> 00:18:24.600
 people who think they know

00:18:24.600 --> 00:18:26.279
 how history is progressing,

00:18:26.279 --> 00:18:29.519
 if I was doing a sermon

00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:30.960
 in the 1930s,

00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:32.299
 it would be that I'd give

00:18:32.299 --> 00:18:33.700
 left and right-wing examples,

00:18:33.940 --> 00:18:34.940
 but today there's virtually

00:18:34.940 --> 00:18:36.639
 nobody on the right

00:18:36.639 --> 00:18:38.579
 who sort of believes

00:18:38.579 --> 00:18:39.700
 that they understand

00:18:39.700 --> 00:18:40.779
 where history is going.

00:18:41.579 --> 00:18:42.619
 But, I mean,

00:18:42.680 --> 00:18:43.839
 anytime somebody says

00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:45.500
 they have progressive values,

00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:46.819
 they think they know

00:18:46.819 --> 00:18:47.460
 the future.

00:18:48.899 --> 00:18:50.139
 Nobody knows the future.

00:18:50.140 --> 00:18:53.560
 The Fed does not know

00:18:53.560 --> 00:18:54.580
 what's going to happen

00:18:54.580 --> 00:18:55.380
 in the economy

00:18:55.380 --> 00:18:57.200
 over the next couple of years.

00:18:58.460 --> 00:18:59.720
 Neither does the

00:18:59.720 --> 00:19:00.720
 International Bank,

00:19:00.840 --> 00:19:01.520
 the World Bank,

00:19:01.620 --> 00:19:03.120
 the International Monetary Fund,

00:19:03.259 --> 00:19:04.280
 neither does any bank,

00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:05.920
 neither does any financial investor,

00:19:06.380 --> 00:19:07.520
 and now to completely

00:19:07.520 --> 00:19:09.000
 and utterly offend many of you,

00:19:09.080 --> 00:19:10.259
 nobody knows what the climate

00:19:10.259 --> 00:19:11.620
 is going to be in 20 years.

00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:13.759
 Nobody knows that.

00:19:15.840 --> 00:19:16.320
 Nobody.

00:19:17.940 --> 00:19:19.180
 Nobody knows the future.

00:19:20.140 --> 00:19:23.120
 Nobody knows the future.

00:19:26.320 --> 00:19:28.040
 George, are you just saying

00:19:28.040 --> 00:19:29.500
 that we should just despair?

00:19:30.220 --> 00:19:32.020
 That we should just be passive?

00:19:32.920 --> 00:19:34.160
 Are you saying that Christians

00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:35.800
 are just couch potatoes?

00:19:36.780 --> 00:19:38.740
 That we shouldn't make plans?

00:19:39.420 --> 00:19:40.280
 I thought you said

00:19:40.280 --> 00:19:41.380
 that the hasty person

00:19:41.380 --> 00:19:42.820
 is a person just banged around

00:19:42.820 --> 00:19:43.440
 by events,

00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:44.500
 and the diligent person

00:19:44.500 --> 00:19:46.080
 is the one who has a plan

00:19:46.080 --> 00:19:46.740
 and moves things.

00:19:46.820 --> 00:19:47.780
 Are you now saying that,

00:19:47.840 --> 00:19:48.759
 is this proverb saying

00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:49.920
 the opposite of that?

00:19:50.140 --> 00:19:51.340
 Well, I'm going to answer that,

00:19:51.540 --> 00:19:52.420
 but I just want to say,

00:19:52.800 --> 00:19:54.140
 nobody knows the future.

00:19:54.660 --> 00:19:55.700
 Absolutely nobody.

00:19:56.820 --> 00:19:57.860
 Absolutely nobody.

00:19:59.860 --> 00:20:00.300
 None.

00:20:02.220 --> 00:20:03.000
 And so to base

00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:04.759
 an ethical system,

00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:06.080
 a political system,

00:20:06.740 --> 00:20:07.960
 on a sure knowledge

00:20:07.960 --> 00:20:08.720
 of the future

00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:10.460
 is really foolish.

00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:10.680
 foolish.

00:20:11.059 --> 00:20:12.640
 I don't mean to offend you,

00:20:12.779 --> 00:20:13.660
 but it just is.

00:20:16.660 --> 00:20:18.019
 Let's look at another proverb

00:20:18.019 --> 00:20:19.620
 now that I'm really

00:20:19.620 --> 00:20:20.680
 depressing you

00:20:20.680 --> 00:20:21.360
 and offending you.

00:20:21.420 --> 00:20:22.519
 Let's look at Proverbs 20,

00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:22.940
 24,

00:20:23.059 --> 00:20:23.440
 and then we're going to

00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:24.259
 sort of gather up

00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:25.220
 some of these thoughts.

00:20:25.840 --> 00:20:26.900
 Could you say this with me?

00:20:27.539 --> 00:20:28.799
 A man's steps

00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:29.900
 are from the Lord.

00:20:30.460 --> 00:20:31.980
 How then can man

00:20:31.980 --> 00:20:33.440
 understand his way?

00:20:34.120 --> 00:20:35.460
 So here's the first thing

00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:36.240
 before I just comment

00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:37.079
 specifically on this.

00:20:37.639 --> 00:20:38.919
 Why is it that we find

00:20:38.919 --> 00:20:40.059
 it depressing to be told

00:20:40.059 --> 00:20:40.740
 that we're human?

00:20:43.379 --> 00:20:44.199
 Like when I say

00:20:44.199 --> 00:20:45.119
 that no human being

00:20:45.119 --> 00:20:45.899
 knows the future,

00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:47.220
 many of us take that

00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:48.240
 as a depressing thought.

00:20:48.339 --> 00:20:49.980
 Why is it depressing

00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:50.699
 to be told

00:20:50.699 --> 00:20:51.720
 that we're human?

00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:53.839
 I mean,

00:20:53.859 --> 00:20:54.599
 the Bible would say

00:20:54.599 --> 00:20:55.359
 that the reason is

00:20:55.359 --> 00:20:56.500
 is that at the very center

00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:58.279
 of every person's heart

00:20:58.279 --> 00:21:00.079
 is a desire to be God.

00:21:01.199 --> 00:21:02.439
 And if at the very center

00:21:02.439 --> 00:21:03.039
 of our heart

00:21:03.039 --> 00:21:04.240
 is a desire to be God,

00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:04.900
 to be told

00:21:04.900 --> 00:21:05.660
 that we are human

00:21:05.660 --> 00:21:06.519
 is depressing.

00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:08.839
 But do you think

00:21:08.839 --> 00:21:09.680
 a fish is depressed

00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:10.700
 to be told it's a fish?

00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:14.079
 When Rocky,

00:21:14.220 --> 00:21:15.839
 my German shepherd puppy,

00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:16.559
 comes up to me,

00:21:16.599 --> 00:21:16.720
 I say,

00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:17.240
 oh, Rocky,

00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:18.079
 you're a dog.

00:21:18.299 --> 00:21:19.220
 You think Rocky goes,

00:21:19.319 --> 00:21:20.539
 oh, no, I'm a dog.

00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:21.079
 I mean, maybe,

00:21:21.180 --> 00:21:21.900
 maybe because dogs

00:21:21.900 --> 00:21:22.740
 sort of think they're humans.

00:21:23.099 --> 00:21:23.720
 So that might be

00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:24.620
 not a good example.

00:21:25.339 --> 00:21:26.740
 And cats think they're God.

00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:27.400
 So,

00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:31.240
 apart from dogs and cats,

00:21:31.299 --> 00:21:32.779
 which sort of confuse things,

00:21:32.779 --> 00:21:33.059
 right?

00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:34.960
 But, you know,

00:21:35.059 --> 00:21:35.740
 why is it we,

00:21:35.879 --> 00:21:37.440
 why do we find it depressing

00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:38.639
 to be told that we're human

00:21:38.639 --> 00:21:40.339
 and to be reminded

00:21:40.339 --> 00:21:41.379
 that just every human being

00:21:41.379 --> 00:21:42.200
 is finite

00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:43.279
 and does not know the future?

00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:44.579
 And here,

00:21:44.700 --> 00:21:45.639
 this other type of thing,

00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:45.839
 you know,

00:21:45.879 --> 00:21:46.859
 Proverbs 20, 24,

00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:47.940
 a man steps it from the Lord.

00:21:48.180 --> 00:21:48.879
 How then can a man

00:21:48.879 --> 00:21:49.700
 understand his way?

00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:52.559
 I will say it.

00:21:53.779 --> 00:21:54.139
 Men,

00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:55.920
 we're all Jason Bourne.

00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:57.779
 And for many of us,

00:21:57.839 --> 00:21:58.200
 we think,

00:21:58.319 --> 00:21:59.299
 wow, that's really cool.

00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:02.000
 I can be on the ferry

00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:03.079
 and how is it that I know

00:22:03.079 --> 00:22:03.700
 that the gun

00:22:03.700 --> 00:22:05.039
 is going to be in that vehicle

00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:05.759
 and then that guy

00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:06.380
 can do that?

00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:07.059
 Wouldn't we all,

00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:07.680
 guys,

00:22:07.779 --> 00:22:08.440
 a lot of us wish

00:22:08.440 --> 00:22:09.319
 we could be Jason Bourne.

00:22:09.400 --> 00:22:09.519
 No,

00:22:09.559 --> 00:22:10.400
 I don't mean it that way.

00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:13.019
 If you've seen the movie,

00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:14.279
 Jason Bourne,

00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:15.700
 the movie sort of begins

00:22:15.700 --> 00:22:16.839
 with him floating in the water

00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:17.420
 and he wakes up,

00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:18.359
 he doesn't know his past.

00:22:19.700 --> 00:22:21.000
 And an amnesiac

00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:23.000
 can't know who he really is

00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:24.819
 because he doesn't know his past.

00:22:25.180 --> 00:22:25.700
 If you're a,

00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:27.460
 she can't know who she is

00:22:27.460 --> 00:22:28.039
 because she knows,

00:22:28.220 --> 00:22:28.900
 doesn't know her past.

00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:30.640
 And this proverb

00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:31.340
 is telling us

00:22:31.340 --> 00:22:32.420
 that every human being

00:22:32.420 --> 00:22:34.500
 is an amnesiac.

00:22:35.820 --> 00:22:37.380
 That we don't remember

00:22:37.380 --> 00:22:38.220
 all of the things

00:22:38.220 --> 00:22:39.100
 about our past.

00:22:39.220 --> 00:22:40.140
 We don't know everything

00:22:40.140 --> 00:22:41.040
 about ourselves.

00:22:41.420 --> 00:22:41.440
 That,

00:22:42.040 --> 00:22:42.519
 in fact,

00:22:42.600 --> 00:22:43.160
 even at a very,

00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:43.960
 very fundamental way,

00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:44.480
 remember I said,

00:22:44.600 --> 00:22:45.100
 why is it that,

00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:46.240
 why is it that we find it

00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:47.380
 depressing to be reminded

00:22:47.380 --> 00:22:48.600
 that we are a human being?

00:22:49.460 --> 00:22:49.640
 Well,

00:22:49.660 --> 00:22:51.120
 that's maybe an indication

00:22:51.120 --> 00:22:52.660
 that we actually really do think

00:22:52.660 --> 00:22:53.700
 that we should be God.

00:22:55.200 --> 00:22:56.700
 But the fact of the matter is,

00:22:56.759 --> 00:22:57.680
 is that for Christians,

00:22:57.680 --> 00:22:59.060
 in the Bible's understanding,

00:22:59.160 --> 00:22:59.740
 which is a very,

00:22:59.900 --> 00:23:01.140
 very wise understanding,

00:23:01.820 --> 00:23:03.440
 human beings are not just

00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:04.500
 like a machine.

00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:05.700
 We're not just a collection

00:23:05.700 --> 00:23:06.340
 of atoms

00:23:06.340 --> 00:23:07.880
 that are randomly

00:23:07.880 --> 00:23:08.740
 thrown together.

00:23:09.060 --> 00:23:10.180
 We are not just

00:23:10.180 --> 00:23:12.000
 a piece of consciousness

00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:13.100
 that separated itself

00:23:13.100 --> 00:23:13.720
 from God

00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:14.880
 and their ultimate destiny

00:23:14.880 --> 00:23:16.980
 is to lose any sense of self

00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:17.680
 and to be merged

00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:18.360
 into the one.

00:23:18.680 --> 00:23:18.820
 No,

00:23:18.860 --> 00:23:19.759
 every human being

00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:20.940
 is made in the image

00:23:20.940 --> 00:23:22.120
 and likeness of God.

00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:23.140
 And that means

00:23:23.140 --> 00:23:24.519
 that we do not understand

00:23:24.519 --> 00:23:25.600
 or know ourselves

00:23:25.600 --> 00:23:26.580
 unless we know

00:23:26.579 --> 00:23:27.460
 the one

00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:28.379
 that we are made

00:23:28.379 --> 00:23:29.399
 in the image of.

00:23:33.740 --> 00:23:34.480
 And so,

00:23:35.699 --> 00:23:36.439
 a man steps her

00:23:36.439 --> 00:23:37.159
 from the Lord,

00:23:37.339 --> 00:23:38.240
 how then can a man

00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:39.099
 understand his way?

00:23:39.199 --> 00:23:39.980
 This is a proverb

00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:41.119
 talking about the fact

00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:42.759
 that the Lord,

00:23:43.019 --> 00:23:43.879
 it's not just that

00:23:43.879 --> 00:23:44.399
 the Lord has,

00:23:44.859 --> 00:23:45.699
 it's not as if

00:23:45.699 --> 00:23:46.500
 the Lord has made us

00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:47.179
 a marionette

00:23:47.179 --> 00:23:47.859
 that's controlled

00:23:47.859 --> 00:23:48.699
 this throughout our life,

00:23:48.799 --> 00:23:50.740
 but that the Lord

00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:51.939
 is ultimately sovereign

00:23:51.939 --> 00:23:52.559
 over everything.

00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:53.579
 He's not a God

00:23:53.579 --> 00:23:54.299
 who's distant

00:23:54.299 --> 00:23:55.500
 and now has completely

00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:56.659
 and utterly forgotten us.

00:23:56.720 --> 00:23:58.299
 He's always present with us.

00:23:59.079 --> 00:24:00.259
 He knows what goes on

00:24:00.259 --> 00:24:00.740
 in our life.

00:24:01.119 --> 00:24:01.759
 The God that,

00:24:01.859 --> 00:24:02.579
 the living God,

00:24:02.659 --> 00:24:03.519
 the God that really

00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:04.379
 does exist,

00:24:05.119 --> 00:24:06.159
 he knows me

00:24:06.159 --> 00:24:06.879
 and you

00:24:06.879 --> 00:24:07.460
 from the moment

00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:08.339
 of our conception.

00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:10.279
 He knows

00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:11.980
 even what is for me

00:24:11.980 --> 00:24:12.539
 future

00:24:12.539 --> 00:24:13.359
 and you future.

00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:14.279
 He knows the moment

00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:14.879
 of our death.

00:24:15.319 --> 00:24:16.619
 He knows every instant

00:24:16.619 --> 00:24:17.740
 along that line

00:24:17.740 --> 00:24:18.279
 of us.

00:24:18.379 --> 00:24:18.980
 He knows us

00:24:18.980 --> 00:24:19.519
 right down

00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:20.299
 to our depths.

00:24:20.819 --> 00:24:21.720
 He knows the dreams

00:24:21.720 --> 00:24:22.579
 that we have at night

00:24:22.579 --> 00:24:23.619
 that we do not remember

00:24:23.619 --> 00:24:24.500
 when we wake up.

00:24:25.179 --> 00:24:26.500
 He knows how

00:24:26.500 --> 00:24:27.519
 there are things

00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.279
 in our lives

00:24:28.279 --> 00:24:29.220
 that have been mountains

00:24:29.220 --> 00:24:29.939
 that influence.

00:24:30.159 --> 00:24:31.480
 He knows how we think

00:24:31.480 --> 00:24:32.319
 that there are things

00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:32.899
 in our past

00:24:32.899 --> 00:24:33.359
 that are mountains

00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:33.839
 that influence

00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:34.679
 that actually don't,

00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:36.159
 that there are hidden

00:24:36.159 --> 00:24:38.079
 mountains in our past

00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:38.859
 that are influencing

00:24:38.859 --> 00:24:39.960
 how we move.

00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:41.299
 He knows everything

00:24:41.299 --> 00:24:41.779
 about us

00:24:41.779 --> 00:24:43.379
 and we are fundamentally

00:24:43.379 --> 00:24:45.399
 an amnesiac

00:24:45.399 --> 00:24:46.919
 about much of our life

00:24:46.919 --> 00:24:48.000
 and therefore

00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:49.980
 how can we understand

00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:50.500
 ourselves

00:24:50.500 --> 00:24:51.579
 and how can we

00:24:51.579 --> 00:24:52.579
 even understand

00:24:52.579 --> 00:24:53.579
 why it is

00:24:53.579 --> 00:24:54.119
 that sometimes

00:24:54.119 --> 00:24:54.939
 God will tell us

00:24:54.939 --> 00:24:55.919
 to do certain things

00:24:55.919 --> 00:24:57.099
 even if we maybe

00:24:57.099 --> 00:24:57.939
 recognize that it

00:24:57.939 --> 00:24:58.740
 comes from God.

00:25:00.279 --> 00:25:00.699
 Andrew,

00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:01.220
 could you put up

00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:02.019
 my first point

00:25:02.019 --> 00:25:02.819
 just to try to

00:25:02.819 --> 00:25:04.079
 bring this all together?

00:25:06.659 --> 00:25:08.399
 I deceive myself

00:25:08.399 --> 00:25:09.960
 and want binoculars,

00:25:10.599 --> 00:25:11.179
 techniques,

00:25:11.720 --> 00:25:12.299
 control,

00:25:13.079 --> 00:25:13.679
 guarantees,

00:25:14.419 --> 00:25:15.799
 and a two-button life

00:25:15.799 --> 00:25:16.759
 for my life.

00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:20.140
 that is why

00:25:20.140 --> 00:25:21.420
 we are disappointed

00:25:21.420 --> 00:25:22.460
 with God.

00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:28.720
 We are disappointed

00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:29.400
 with God

00:25:29.400 --> 00:25:30.900
 to the extent

00:25:30.900 --> 00:25:31.759
 that we deceive

00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:32.339
 ourselves

00:25:32.339 --> 00:25:33.819
 and think that

00:25:33.819 --> 00:25:34.299
 what we want

00:25:34.299 --> 00:25:35.099
 are binoculars.

00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:36.279
 I want to know

00:25:36.279 --> 00:25:36.920
 the future.

00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:37.980
 By the way,

00:25:38.279 --> 00:25:39.319
 there's all sorts

00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:40.140
 of Christians

00:25:40.140 --> 00:25:41.660
 who rush in

00:25:41.660 --> 00:25:42.759
 and...

00:25:43.299 --> 00:25:44.019
 Sorry,

00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:45.099
 I don't want to

00:25:45.099 --> 00:25:45.740
 offend anybody.

00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:48.079
 But who

00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:49.460
 mistakenly

00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:51.000
 believe

00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:52.440
 they can turn

00:25:52.440 --> 00:25:53.180
 the Bible

00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:54.440
 into binoculars

00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:56.180
 and nobody

00:25:56.180 --> 00:25:57.539
 can turn

00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:58.299
 the Bible

00:25:58.299 --> 00:26:00.019
 into binoculars

00:26:00.019 --> 00:26:01.779
 to know the future.

00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:03.019
 I have the power

00:26:03.019 --> 00:26:03.819
 to know the future.

00:26:03.940 --> 00:26:04.839
 I have the power

00:26:04.839 --> 00:26:06.059
 to know how stock markets

00:26:06.059 --> 00:26:06.920
 are going to go up,

00:26:07.420 --> 00:26:08.259
 how the wars

00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:09.019
 are going to happen

00:26:09.019 --> 00:26:09.619
 and what you should

00:26:09.619 --> 00:26:09.980
 be doing.

00:26:11.619 --> 00:26:12.420
 That's what we want.

00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:13.420
 We want binoculars.

00:26:13.420 --> 00:26:13.900
 We want...

00:26:13.900 --> 00:26:14.740
 You are hope...

00:26:14.740 --> 00:26:15.320
 People come...

00:26:15.320 --> 00:26:15.600
 We're disappointed

00:26:15.600 --> 00:26:15.900
 with God

00:26:15.900 --> 00:26:16.420
 because we hope

00:26:16.420 --> 00:26:17.240
 that I will give you

00:26:17.240 --> 00:26:17.740
 a proverb

00:26:17.740 --> 00:26:18.660
 that will be

00:26:18.660 --> 00:26:19.420
 binoculars

00:26:19.420 --> 00:26:21.500
 to see into the future.

00:26:21.900 --> 00:26:22.580
 And we want...

00:26:22.580 --> 00:26:23.960
 We want techniques.

00:26:24.400 --> 00:26:25.279
 We want the Bible

00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:25.960
 to tell us

00:26:25.960 --> 00:26:26.920
 that if we do

00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:28.920
 these particular steps...

00:26:28.920 --> 00:26:29.940
 You do this step,

00:26:30.580 --> 00:26:31.160
 this step,

00:26:31.380 --> 00:26:31.880
 this step,

00:26:31.980 --> 00:26:32.300
 this step,

00:26:32.300 --> 00:26:33.700
 and then this will happen.

00:26:33.840 --> 00:26:34.279
 And we go,

00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:34.820
 whoa,

00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:35.759
 that's what I want

00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:36.220
 in the Bible.

00:26:36.380 --> 00:26:36.920
 I want...

00:26:36.920 --> 00:26:38.000
 I want God

00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:38.720
 to tell me

00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:39.539
 those steps

00:26:39.539 --> 00:26:40.279
 that I do.

00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:40.759
 Okay,

00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:42.019
 I have a financial decision.

00:26:42.319 --> 00:26:42.480
 Okay,

00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:43.720
 you flip through the Bible.

00:26:43.819 --> 00:26:44.019
 Okay,

00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:44.740
 I do this step,

00:26:44.819 --> 00:26:45.079
 this step,

00:26:45.139 --> 00:26:45.379
 this step,

00:26:45.420 --> 00:26:45.779
 and then I'm going

00:26:45.779 --> 00:26:46.480
 to have success.

00:26:47.119 --> 00:26:47.839
 What is it I want?

00:26:48.240 --> 00:26:50.259
 I want God

00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:51.559
 to give me

00:26:51.559 --> 00:26:52.779
 the steps

00:26:52.779 --> 00:26:54.539
 I can use

00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:56.539
 for my plans

00:26:56.539 --> 00:26:58.660
 so I'm successful.

00:27:00.059 --> 00:27:01.240
 And God doesn't give it

00:27:01.240 --> 00:27:02.680
 and I am disappointed

00:27:02.680 --> 00:27:03.399
 with God.

00:27:04.339 --> 00:27:05.680
 And I don't even recognize

00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:06.440
 why I'm disappointed

00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:06.980
 with God.

00:27:07.500 --> 00:27:08.700
 And not only do I want God

00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:09.740
 to give me binoculars

00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:10.360
 and techniques,

00:27:10.500 --> 00:27:11.039
 I want Him

00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:11.980
 to give me control.

00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:14.600
 I can do

00:27:14.600 --> 00:27:15.600
 these steps

00:27:15.600 --> 00:27:16.580
 that come from God.

00:27:17.160 --> 00:27:18.400
 And if they come from God,

00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:19.100
 I want Him

00:27:19.100 --> 00:27:20.640
 to guarantee success.

00:27:21.259 --> 00:27:22.460
 And on top of it all,

00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:23.920
 I want a two-button life.

00:27:24.680 --> 00:27:25.420
 It's an adaptation

00:27:25.420 --> 00:27:26.240
 from an image

00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:27.299
 from the movie,

00:27:27.900 --> 00:27:28.860
 the Will Smith movie,

00:27:28.940 --> 00:27:29.580
 iRobot.

00:27:30.380 --> 00:27:30.600
 Right?

00:27:30.660 --> 00:27:31.299
 All the cars

00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:32.120
 are self-driving,

00:27:33.120 --> 00:27:34.500
 but Will Smith,

00:27:34.819 --> 00:27:35.559
 he likes to drive

00:27:35.559 --> 00:27:36.720
 the car himself sometimes.

00:27:37.720 --> 00:27:38.440
 And so what this is,

00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:40.259
 imagine that Google cars

00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:41.039
 are successful

00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:43.160
 in 10 or 15 years' time.

00:27:43.440 --> 00:27:44.279
 We all have

00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:45.380
 self-driving cars.

00:27:46.100 --> 00:27:46.940
 And what do we want

00:27:46.940 --> 00:27:47.420
 in our life?

00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:48.059
 We want to be able

00:27:48.059 --> 00:27:49.100
 to have this self-driving car,

00:27:49.180 --> 00:27:50.100
 but every once in a while

00:27:50.100 --> 00:27:50.839
 we want to do something

00:27:50.839 --> 00:27:51.079
 ourselves.

00:27:51.160 --> 00:27:51.960
 We'd like to have a button

00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:52.440
 in that car

00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:53.360
 that we can press

00:27:53.360 --> 00:27:54.740
 so that all of a sudden

00:27:54.740 --> 00:27:55.799
 I have control of the car.

00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:57.519
 I can cut that person off.

00:27:57.559 --> 00:27:58.539
 I don't like that person.

00:27:59.539 --> 00:28:01.059
 I want to drive really slow

00:28:01.059 --> 00:28:02.100
 to really bother

00:28:02.100 --> 00:28:03.420
 everybody behind me

00:28:03.420 --> 00:28:04.400
 because that's a way

00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:05.240
 to get some control

00:28:05.240 --> 00:28:05.820
 in my life

00:28:05.820 --> 00:28:07.600
 to go 40 in a 60 zone

00:28:07.600 --> 00:28:09.340
 and frustrate the heck

00:28:09.340 --> 00:28:10.200
 out of all the people

00:28:10.200 --> 00:28:10.860
 behind me.

00:28:12.920 --> 00:28:13.740
 And then, you know,

00:28:13.800 --> 00:28:14.400
 when we're tired of that,

00:28:14.440 --> 00:28:15.200
 we like to push a button

00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:16.519
 and let it go back

00:28:16.519 --> 00:28:17.720
 to the car being control.

00:28:17.779 --> 00:28:18.779
 How does that work with God?

00:28:19.060 --> 00:28:20.019
 We get into trouble

00:28:20.019 --> 00:28:20.680
 in our life

00:28:20.680 --> 00:28:22.140
 and we wish

00:28:22.140 --> 00:28:23.100
 that we could push

00:28:23.100 --> 00:28:24.220
 a button in the Bible

00:28:24.220 --> 00:28:26.300
 and then all of a sudden

00:28:26.300 --> 00:28:28.340
 God wakes up,

00:28:28.740 --> 00:28:30.500
 gets into marionette roll,

00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:32.519
 He attaches little strings

00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:33.680
 to every person

00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:34.640
 in our situation

00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:36.180
 and He can start

00:28:36.180 --> 00:28:37.259
 to control things

00:28:37.259 --> 00:28:38.779
 and He can make this person

00:28:38.779 --> 00:28:39.880
 give me $5,000

00:28:39.880 --> 00:28:40.980
 and this person

00:28:40.980 --> 00:28:41.660
 is going to remove

00:28:41.660 --> 00:28:42.420
 all of my debt

00:28:42.420 --> 00:28:43.920
 and these three people

00:28:43.920 --> 00:28:44.819
 are going to forgive me

00:28:44.819 --> 00:28:45.859
 and these two people

00:28:45.859 --> 00:28:46.819
 are going to actually

00:28:46.819 --> 00:28:47.920
 invite me home.

00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:49.000
 Oh, and this woman

00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:49.859
 is going to date me

00:28:49.859 --> 00:28:51.400
 and this school

00:28:51.400 --> 00:28:52.420
 is going to accept me

00:28:52.420 --> 00:28:53.519
 and then we have

00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:54.559
 all the marionettes going

00:28:54.559 --> 00:28:55.279
 and finally

00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:56.539
 our financial problems,

00:28:56.640 --> 00:28:57.680
 our relational problems,

00:28:57.799 --> 00:28:58.500
 our career problems

00:28:58.500 --> 00:28:58.960
 are fixed

00:28:58.960 --> 00:28:59.839
 and then we hope

00:28:59.839 --> 00:29:00.899
 we can press a button

00:29:00.899 --> 00:29:02.939
 so God cuts all the strings

00:29:02.939 --> 00:29:03.539
 and we can get on

00:29:03.539 --> 00:29:04.359
 with running our life

00:29:04.359 --> 00:29:06.859
 and if you don't think

00:29:06.859 --> 00:29:07.839
 that goes on in your life

00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:09.159
 you are really self-deceived.

00:29:10.039 --> 00:29:10.919
 If I don't think

00:29:10.919 --> 00:29:11.679
 that goes on in my life

00:29:11.679 --> 00:29:13.079
 I am really self-deceived.

00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:15.439
 That's what we want.

00:29:16.220 --> 00:29:16.579
 In fact, you know,

00:29:16.599 --> 00:29:17.339
 in an odd way

00:29:17.339 --> 00:29:18.539
 one of the things

00:29:18.539 --> 00:29:19.899
 that terrifies non-Christians

00:29:19.899 --> 00:29:20.879
 about the Christian faith

00:29:20.879 --> 00:29:22.799
 because everybody

00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:23.519
 would like God

00:29:23.519 --> 00:29:24.119
 to show up

00:29:24.119 --> 00:29:25.619
 and do a marionette act

00:29:25.619 --> 00:29:27.559
 to fix things periodically,

00:29:27.980 --> 00:29:28.659
 one of the things

00:29:28.660 --> 00:29:30.040
 that terrifies non-Christians

00:29:30.040 --> 00:29:31.120
 is they worry

00:29:31.120 --> 00:29:32.180
 that if they press

00:29:32.180 --> 00:29:33.420
 the marionette strings

00:29:33.420 --> 00:29:35.060
 that they'll never,

00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:36.759
 that God will never

00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:37.300
 allow them

00:29:37.300 --> 00:29:38.060
 to press the button

00:29:38.060 --> 00:29:39.040
 to get control again

00:29:39.040 --> 00:29:39.519
 and they'll spend

00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:40.240
 the rest of their life

00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:40.920
 as a marionette

00:29:40.920 --> 00:29:41.800
 and before you know it

00:29:41.800 --> 00:29:43.019
 they're a suicide bomber

00:29:43.019 --> 00:29:46.080
 or they're decapitating people

00:29:46.080 --> 00:29:47.060
 on Greyhound buses

00:29:47.060 --> 00:29:50.660
 and that's the fear

00:29:50.660 --> 00:29:51.300
 of a lot of people

00:29:51.300 --> 00:29:52.320
 about becoming a Christian.

00:29:53.040 --> 00:29:54.800
 They press that marionette button

00:29:54.800 --> 00:29:56.019
 and they lose all control

00:29:56.019 --> 00:29:58.079
 and then they end up

00:29:58.079 --> 00:29:59.259
 preaching on street corners

00:29:59.259 --> 00:30:00.299
 or something weird.

00:30:01.119 --> 00:30:01.740
 If you do that

00:30:01.740 --> 00:30:02.400
 I'm not saying you're weird.

00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:02.839
 I'm just saying

00:30:02.839 --> 00:30:04.079
 what people are afraid of, okay?

00:30:06.180 --> 00:30:06.839
 You'll end up being

00:30:06.839 --> 00:30:07.680
 at the front of a church

00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:08.759
 as a pastor preaching

00:30:08.759 --> 00:30:09.759
 and not really terrifying.

00:30:09.900 --> 00:30:10.160
 I don't know,

00:30:10.220 --> 00:30:11.119
 whatever it is, you know?

00:30:12.500 --> 00:30:14.960
 And so that's what's going on.

00:30:15.019 --> 00:30:15.900
 That's one of the reasons

00:30:15.900 --> 00:30:17.039
 why we're disappointed with God.

00:30:17.119 --> 00:30:17.799
 That's one of the reasons

00:30:17.799 --> 00:30:18.799
 why we have a hard time

00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:20.119
 recognizing God's guidance

00:30:20.119 --> 00:30:23.359
 is because I deceive myself

00:30:23.359 --> 00:30:24.399
 and want binoculars,

00:30:24.639 --> 00:30:26.159
 techniques, control, guarantees

00:30:26.159 --> 00:30:28.059
 and a two-button life for my life

00:30:28.059 --> 00:30:30.339
 and I want versions of Christianity

00:30:30.339 --> 00:30:31.899
 that pretend to show me that

00:30:31.899 --> 00:30:33.839
 and I've just told you

00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:34.479
 it doesn't happen

00:30:34.479 --> 00:30:35.319
 and that's why there's only

00:30:35.319 --> 00:30:36.399
 about a hundred of you here

00:30:36.399 --> 00:30:37.599
 and a lot of times

00:30:37.599 --> 00:30:38.579
 if I pretend

00:30:38.579 --> 00:30:39.839
 that there's ways to do all of that

00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:42.939
 those churches might have 15,000.

00:30:43.339 --> 00:30:43.899
 Go figure.

00:30:46.539 --> 00:30:46.919
 By the way,

00:30:46.939 --> 00:30:48.319
 empty churches can try to do it as well.

00:30:48.419 --> 00:30:50.319
 I'm not dissing big churches.

00:30:50.959 --> 00:30:52.379
 There's good big churches.

00:30:53.359 --> 00:30:54.279
 So what do we do?

00:30:55.299 --> 00:30:56.279
 In some ways,

00:30:56.979 --> 00:30:58.119
 the whole sermon

00:30:58.119 --> 00:30:59.699
 is just trying to help us

00:30:59.699 --> 00:31:01.559
 desire to memorize and pray

00:31:01.559 --> 00:31:03.879
 one proverb from the book of Proverbs

00:31:03.879 --> 00:31:05.319
 and if you put it up right now,

00:31:05.379 --> 00:31:06.699
 I've just changed the wording slightly

00:31:06.699 --> 00:31:08.459
 to make the third line more literal.

00:31:09.119 --> 00:31:09.839
 We're going to end up

00:31:09.839 --> 00:31:10.879
 reading this several times

00:31:10.879 --> 00:31:12.740
 because if all you get away from this

00:31:12.740 --> 00:31:14.099
 is an awareness

00:31:14.099 --> 00:31:17.279
 that part of your problem

00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:18.099
 and my problem

00:31:18.099 --> 00:31:20.259
 is our self-deception

00:31:20.259 --> 00:31:22.059
 and what we desire for God to do

00:31:22.059 --> 00:31:23.859
 and realize that this is the heart

00:31:23.859 --> 00:31:25.460
 of guidance

00:31:25.460 --> 00:31:27.679
 and you just memorize this thing

00:31:27.679 --> 00:31:29.819
 that if that's all I've accomplished

00:31:29.819 --> 00:31:30.899
 then I've accomplished

00:31:30.899 --> 00:31:32.019
 a really good thing.

00:31:32.980 --> 00:31:34.259
 Could you read with me Proverbs,

00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:36.339
 say with me Proverbs 3, 5, and 6.

00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:38.399
 Trust in the Lord

00:31:38.399 --> 00:31:39.639
 with all your heart

00:31:39.640 --> 00:31:41.200
 and do not lean

00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:42.720
 on your own understanding.

00:31:43.460 --> 00:31:45.460
 Know Him in all your ways

00:31:45.460 --> 00:31:47.800
 and He will make your paths straight.

00:31:48.120 --> 00:31:49.220
 Can you say it with me again?

00:31:49.900 --> 00:31:51.020
 Trust in the Lord

00:31:51.020 --> 00:31:52.180
 with all your heart

00:31:52.180 --> 00:31:53.660
 and do not lean

00:31:53.660 --> 00:31:55.120
 on your own understanding.

00:31:55.800 --> 00:31:57.720
 Know Him in all your ways

00:31:57.720 --> 00:32:00.220
 and He will make your paths straight.

00:32:03.860 --> 00:32:06.540
 Here's the thing about this proverb.

00:32:06.539 --> 00:32:09.339
 It's well worth meditating upon.

00:32:09.619 --> 00:32:11.079
 It's well worth memorizing.

00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:13.819
 It's well worth turning into a prayer.

00:32:15.159 --> 00:32:16.240
 Trust in the Lord.

00:32:17.359 --> 00:32:19.599
 In Hebrew, unlike in English,

00:32:20.399 --> 00:32:22.480
 there are many words for God

00:32:22.480 --> 00:32:25.740
 and in all of the words

00:32:25.740 --> 00:32:26.879
 that they have for God

00:32:26.879 --> 00:32:29.799
 in the Hebrew language,

00:32:30.700 --> 00:32:32.819
 they have what we often think of

00:32:32.819 --> 00:32:34.619
 like the general view of God

00:32:34.619 --> 00:32:35.539
 in our culture,

00:32:36.379 --> 00:32:37.039
 which is that,

00:32:37.639 --> 00:32:38.379
 I mean, one view is

00:32:38.379 --> 00:32:39.279
 that sort of everything's God,

00:32:39.359 --> 00:32:40.019
 but another view is

00:32:40.019 --> 00:32:41.519
 that God is something

00:32:41.519 --> 00:32:42.599
 or someone

00:32:42.599 --> 00:32:43.579
 or some principle

00:32:43.579 --> 00:32:44.599
 which is very distant

00:32:44.599 --> 00:32:45.239
 and far away.

00:32:46.459 --> 00:32:47.859
 But the Lord

00:32:47.859 --> 00:32:50.459
 is always used,

00:32:50.859 --> 00:32:52.219
 the Hebrew word translated

00:32:52.219 --> 00:32:52.779
 as Lord

00:32:52.779 --> 00:32:53.459
 is here

00:32:53.459 --> 00:32:54.519
 the intimate,

00:32:54.899 --> 00:32:55.979
 personal God

00:32:55.979 --> 00:32:58.119
 who enters into a covenant

00:32:58.119 --> 00:33:01.679
 with ordinary human beings

00:33:01.679 --> 00:33:02.399
 like you and me.

00:33:02.400 --> 00:33:03.980
 that's the word

00:33:03.980 --> 00:33:04.840
 which is here.

00:33:05.980 --> 00:33:06.800
 Like a marriage,

00:33:07.320 --> 00:33:08.680
 marriage is no longer

00:33:08.680 --> 00:33:09.400
 viewed as a covenant.

00:33:09.600 --> 00:33:11.000
 It's viewed as a type of contract

00:33:11.000 --> 00:33:12.780
 governed by the state.

00:33:13.540 --> 00:33:14.380
 But historically,

00:33:14.840 --> 00:33:15.820
 the idea of marriage

00:33:15.820 --> 00:33:16.940
 is that it's a covenant,

00:33:17.080 --> 00:33:17.580
 that you're entering

00:33:17.580 --> 00:33:18.400
 into a type of,

00:33:18.440 --> 00:33:19.880
 a special type of relationship

00:33:19.880 --> 00:33:20.900
 with another person.

00:33:21.480 --> 00:33:22.180
 And so every time

00:33:22.180 --> 00:33:23.300
 you see the word Lord

00:33:23.300 --> 00:33:25.820
 in the Old Testament,

00:33:26.080 --> 00:33:28.380
 it's in a well-translated Bible,

00:33:28.560 --> 00:33:30.360
 it's using that understanding of God.

00:33:30.359 --> 00:33:30.959
 So when it says,

00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:32.240
 trust in the Lord

00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:33.259
 with all your heart,

00:33:33.299 --> 00:33:34.179
 it's not saying trust

00:33:34.179 --> 00:33:35.139
 in the distant God,

00:33:35.259 --> 00:33:36.179
 trust in the force,

00:33:36.699 --> 00:33:38.259
 trust in an impersonal God,

00:33:38.399 --> 00:33:39.259
 trust in a God

00:33:39.259 --> 00:33:40.299
 who only set things up

00:33:40.299 --> 00:33:41.799
 and then is off

00:33:41.799 --> 00:33:42.659
 doing something

00:33:42.659 --> 00:33:43.639
 far more interesting.

00:33:43.839 --> 00:33:44.839
 It's not saying trust

00:33:44.839 --> 00:33:46.639
 in what is everything.

00:33:46.779 --> 00:33:47.599
 It's saying trust

00:33:47.599 --> 00:33:48.679
 in the God

00:33:48.679 --> 00:33:49.679
 who is a person

00:33:49.679 --> 00:33:51.919
 who enters into a covenant

00:33:51.919 --> 00:33:53.879
 with ordinary human beings

00:33:53.879 --> 00:33:54.859
 like you and me.

00:33:55.159 --> 00:33:57.119
 And who enters into a covenant

00:33:57.119 --> 00:33:58.199
 with ordinary human beings

00:33:58.199 --> 00:33:59.059
 like you and me,

00:33:59.059 --> 00:34:00.379
 and He knows,

00:34:00.859 --> 00:34:02.619
 He knows that our hearts

00:34:02.619 --> 00:34:03.879
 are full with different plans.

00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:05.559
 He knows that we don't

00:34:05.559 --> 00:34:06.519
 recognize ourselves

00:34:06.519 --> 00:34:07.599
 and understand ourselves.

00:34:07.919 --> 00:34:09.639
 He knows that we desire

00:34:09.639 --> 00:34:11.039
 to be like God

00:34:11.039 --> 00:34:12.460
 and not have Him be God.

00:34:12.659 --> 00:34:14.519
 He knows all those things

00:34:14.519 --> 00:34:15.019
 about us

00:34:15.019 --> 00:34:16.699
 and still He,

00:34:17.039 --> 00:34:18.400
 knowing you and me perfectly,

00:34:18.799 --> 00:34:20.719
 desires to enter in

00:34:20.719 --> 00:34:22.579
 to a covenant of love

00:34:22.579 --> 00:34:23.400
 and protection

00:34:23.400 --> 00:34:24.579
 for all eternity

00:34:24.579 --> 00:34:25.739
 with ordinary,

00:34:26.460 --> 00:34:27.179
 rebellious,

00:34:27.480 --> 00:34:28.840
 fallen human beings

00:34:28.840 --> 00:34:29.860
 like you and me.

00:34:31.880 --> 00:34:32.960
 And so for many people,

00:34:33.039 --> 00:34:34.360
 the idea that we are to,

00:34:34.500 --> 00:34:36.380
 say Proverbs with me again,

00:34:36.840 --> 00:34:37.980
 trust in the Lord

00:34:37.980 --> 00:34:39.279
 with all your heart

00:34:39.279 --> 00:34:40.779
 and do not lean

00:34:40.779 --> 00:34:42.380
 on your own understanding.

00:34:43.039 --> 00:34:45.000
 Know Him in all your ways

00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:46.199
 and He will make

00:34:46.199 --> 00:34:47.219
 your path straight.

00:34:47.659 --> 00:34:49.179
 The whole idea of knowing God

00:34:49.179 --> 00:34:49.799
 for many people

00:34:49.799 --> 00:34:51.099
 is very frightening.

00:34:51.099 --> 00:34:52.559
 It's either like knowing a force

00:34:52.559 --> 00:34:53.239
 or it's like knowing

00:34:53.239 --> 00:34:55.960
 some big, huge, angry judge.

00:34:56.619 --> 00:34:58.579
 But not only is the word Lord

00:34:58.579 --> 00:35:00.179
 a covenant word,

00:35:00.519 --> 00:35:01.159
 for us,

00:35:01.380 --> 00:35:03.559
 on the other side of the cross,

00:35:04.099 --> 00:35:04.779
 we understand

00:35:04.779 --> 00:35:06.259
 that the fundamental way

00:35:06.259 --> 00:35:07.819
 that we know the Lord

00:35:07.819 --> 00:35:09.699
 is through Jesus.

00:35:10.599 --> 00:35:11.059
 If you just,

00:35:11.179 --> 00:35:11.980
 if you have Bibles

00:35:11.980 --> 00:35:13.360
 and if you don't have Bibles,

00:35:13.460 --> 00:35:13.739
 that's fine,

00:35:13.759 --> 00:35:14.199
 I'm going to read it.

00:35:14.219 --> 00:35:15.799
 If you turn to the Gospel of John,

00:35:16.739 --> 00:35:18.159
 there's this very, very,

00:35:18.259 --> 00:35:19.579
 very profound way

00:35:19.579 --> 00:35:21.619
 that the Gospel of John opens.

00:35:22.360 --> 00:35:23.599
 And it's in John 1,

00:35:23.719 --> 00:35:25.039
 verses 14 to 18.

00:35:25.219 --> 00:35:25.940
 Many of us who come

00:35:25.940 --> 00:35:26.900
 to church on Christmas

00:35:26.900 --> 00:35:29.659
 stop reading it at John 1, 14.

00:35:29.840 --> 00:35:31.099
 But if you keep going

00:35:31.099 --> 00:35:32.179
 to finish the rest

00:35:32.179 --> 00:35:32.739
 of the introduction,

00:35:32.840 --> 00:35:33.619
 it goes like this.

00:35:34.360 --> 00:35:35.659
 And the Word became flesh

00:35:35.659 --> 00:35:36.920
 and dwelt among us.

00:35:37.179 --> 00:35:38.340
 And we have seen His glory,

00:35:38.920 --> 00:35:40.239
 glory as of the only Son

00:35:40.239 --> 00:35:41.000
 from the Father,

00:35:41.500 --> 00:35:42.619
 full of grace and truth.

00:35:42.699 --> 00:35:44.000
 It's a very, very beautiful text.

00:35:44.119 --> 00:35:44.920
 We've seen the glory.

00:35:45.759 --> 00:35:46.860
 We've seen His glory.

00:35:46.860 --> 00:35:49.420
 John, verse 15,

00:35:49.519 --> 00:35:50.220
 John the Baptist

00:35:50.220 --> 00:35:51.300
 bore witness about Him

00:35:51.300 --> 00:35:51.820
 and cried out,

00:35:51.920 --> 00:35:53.260
 This was He of whom I said,

00:35:53.380 --> 00:35:54.480
 He who comes after me

00:35:54.480 --> 00:35:55.420
 ranks before me

00:35:55.420 --> 00:35:56.900
 because He was before me.

00:35:57.900 --> 00:35:59.039
 And in this wonderful text,

00:35:59.460 --> 00:36:00.579
 and from His fullness,

00:36:01.220 --> 00:36:02.300
 we have all received

00:36:02.300 --> 00:36:03.420
 grace upon grace.

00:36:04.260 --> 00:36:05.320
 For the law was given

00:36:05.320 --> 00:36:05.940
 through Moses.

00:36:06.660 --> 00:36:07.980
 Grace and truth

00:36:07.980 --> 00:36:10.079
 came through Jesus Christ.

00:36:10.620 --> 00:36:12.720
 No one has ever seen God,

00:36:12.820 --> 00:36:13.720
 the only God,

00:36:13.800 --> 00:36:15.039
 who was at the Father's side.

00:36:15.039 --> 00:36:15.079
 God,

00:36:15.559 --> 00:36:17.980
 but Jesus has made Him known.

00:36:18.860 --> 00:36:19.980
 What this text is saying

00:36:19.980 --> 00:36:20.860
 in the original language

00:36:20.860 --> 00:36:21.559
 is that Jesus

00:36:21.559 --> 00:36:24.079
 is the exegesis of God.

00:36:25.340 --> 00:36:26.320
 He is the one

00:36:26.320 --> 00:36:28.019
 who makes God known.

00:36:30.400 --> 00:36:32.219
 And so when we as Christians,

00:36:32.460 --> 00:36:33.300
 if we pray

00:36:33.300 --> 00:36:34.460
 and we think about

00:36:34.460 --> 00:36:35.420
 and we meditate upon

00:36:35.420 --> 00:36:36.300
 trust in the Lord

00:36:36.300 --> 00:36:37.259
 with all your heart

00:36:37.259 --> 00:36:38.460
 and lean not

00:36:38.460 --> 00:36:39.679
 on your own understanding,

00:36:40.279 --> 00:36:40.940
 know Him

00:36:40.940 --> 00:36:42.059
 in all your ways

00:36:42.059 --> 00:36:42.739
 and He will make

00:36:42.739 --> 00:36:43.699
 your paths straight,

00:36:43.699 --> 00:36:45.039
 it's telling us

00:36:45.039 --> 00:36:46.980
 that in all of our ways,

00:36:47.119 --> 00:36:48.259
 in all of our paths,

00:36:48.359 --> 00:36:49.239
 in all of our days,

00:36:49.339 --> 00:36:50.519
 even when we find ourselves

00:36:50.519 --> 00:36:51.199
 in failure,

00:36:51.399 --> 00:36:52.299
 even when we find ourselves

00:36:52.299 --> 00:36:53.039
 in disappointment,

00:36:53.279 --> 00:36:54.579
 in the day of great success,

00:36:54.899 --> 00:36:55.839
 in the day of triumph,

00:36:56.199 --> 00:36:57.339
 in the midst of our strengths,

00:36:57.619 --> 00:36:58.819
 in the midst of our weaknesses,

00:36:59.359 --> 00:37:03.460
 in the midst of our giftedness,

00:37:03.639 --> 00:37:05.139
 and all of that,

00:37:05.159 --> 00:37:06.359
 in every single way

00:37:06.359 --> 00:37:07.779
 that we find ourselves in,

00:37:07.819 --> 00:37:08.819
 whether it's a good time

00:37:08.820 --> 00:37:09.380
 or it's bad,

00:37:09.640 --> 00:37:10.539
 it's asking us

00:37:10.539 --> 00:37:12.019
 to know Him,

00:37:12.100 --> 00:37:13.019
 to see Him

00:37:13.019 --> 00:37:14.539
 in all our ways.

00:37:14.820 --> 00:37:16.180
 And we don't just see Him,

00:37:16.519 --> 00:37:17.740
 we see Jesus

00:37:17.740 --> 00:37:19.019
 and we see Him crucified

00:37:19.019 --> 00:37:21.120
 because it's in the crucifixion

00:37:21.120 --> 00:37:21.620
 of Jesus

00:37:21.620 --> 00:37:24.460
 that the full glory of God

00:37:24.460 --> 00:37:25.400
 is revealed

00:37:25.400 --> 00:37:26.400
 and made known.

00:37:26.900 --> 00:37:27.640
 If you turn back

00:37:27.640 --> 00:37:28.340
 towards the end

00:37:28.340 --> 00:37:29.300
 of John's Gospel,

00:37:29.420 --> 00:37:30.100
 John 17,

00:37:30.640 --> 00:37:31.240
 and those of you

00:37:31.240 --> 00:37:31.740
 who know how

00:37:31.740 --> 00:37:33.660
 the Gospel of John works,

00:37:34.580 --> 00:37:35.580
 this John 17

00:37:35.580 --> 00:37:37.280
 is just before Jesus

00:37:37.280 --> 00:37:38.300
 is going to be captured,

00:37:38.460 --> 00:37:39.340
 He's going to be crucified,

00:37:39.580 --> 00:37:40.220
 He knows He's going

00:37:40.220 --> 00:37:40.860
 to be crucified.

00:37:41.660 --> 00:37:42.580
 The disciples

00:37:42.580 --> 00:37:44.280
 hear Jesus praying

00:37:44.280 --> 00:37:45.080
 His heart out

00:37:45.080 --> 00:37:46.500
 and if you look at

00:37:46.500 --> 00:37:47.800
 just these first few verses,

00:37:47.960 --> 00:37:48.740
 it goes like this.

00:37:49.120 --> 00:37:50.220
 When Jesus had spoken

00:37:50.220 --> 00:37:50.800
 these words,

00:37:50.900 --> 00:37:51.800
 He lifted up His eyes

00:37:51.800 --> 00:37:52.580
 to heaven and said,

00:37:52.580 --> 00:37:52.980
 Father,

00:37:53.420 --> 00:37:54.580
 the hour has come.

00:37:55.160 --> 00:37:56.420
 Glorify Your Son

00:37:56.420 --> 00:37:57.800
 that the Son

00:37:57.800 --> 00:37:58.860
 may glorify You

00:37:58.860 --> 00:38:00.740
 since You have given Him

00:38:00.740 --> 00:38:02.180
 authority over all flesh

00:38:02.180 --> 00:38:03.260
 to give eternal life

00:38:03.260 --> 00:38:04.620
 to all to whom

00:38:04.620 --> 00:38:05.420
 You have given Him.

00:38:05.880 --> 00:38:07.140
 And this is eternal life.

00:38:07.280 --> 00:38:09.560
 that they know You,

00:38:09.700 --> 00:38:10.820
 the only true God,

00:38:11.260 --> 00:38:12.140
 and Jesus Christ

00:38:12.140 --> 00:38:12.900
 whom You have sent.

00:38:13.400 --> 00:38:14.660
 I have glorified You

00:38:14.660 --> 00:38:15.120
 on earth,

00:38:15.540 --> 00:38:16.420
 having accomplished

00:38:16.420 --> 00:38:17.260
 the work

00:38:17.260 --> 00:38:18.480
 that You gave Me to do.

00:38:19.000 --> 00:38:19.840
 And now, Father,

00:38:19.980 --> 00:38:20.800
 glorify Me

00:38:20.800 --> 00:38:21.640
 in Your presence

00:38:21.640 --> 00:38:22.540
 with the glory

00:38:22.540 --> 00:38:23.400
 that I had with You

00:38:23.400 --> 00:38:24.560
 before the world existed.

00:38:25.620 --> 00:38:26.660
 What's He talking about?

00:38:27.120 --> 00:38:28.000
 The cross.

00:38:31.660 --> 00:38:32.300
 You know,

00:38:32.420 --> 00:38:33.700
 our fallen flesh,

00:38:34.180 --> 00:38:34.880
 we want to see

00:38:34.880 --> 00:38:35.640
 the glory of God.

00:38:35.639 --> 00:38:36.619
 We want it to be like

00:38:36.619 --> 00:38:37.619
 in that movie

00:38:37.619 --> 00:38:38.639
 Independence Day

00:38:38.639 --> 00:38:39.619
 when the really mean,

00:38:39.739 --> 00:38:41.379
 bad, world-conquering,

00:38:41.579 --> 00:38:42.819
 nasty aliens come

00:38:42.819 --> 00:38:43.420
 and they have this

00:38:43.420 --> 00:38:45.619
 overwhelming spaceship

00:38:45.619 --> 00:38:46.639
 that just seems

00:38:46.639 --> 00:38:48.199
 to completely overshadow

00:38:48.199 --> 00:38:49.259
 even the biggest city.

00:38:49.699 --> 00:38:50.799
 And that's what we want

00:38:50.799 --> 00:38:51.659
 the glory of God

00:38:51.659 --> 00:38:52.139
 to be like

00:38:52.139 --> 00:38:53.059
 because secretly,

00:38:53.339 --> 00:38:54.539
 that's what I want

00:38:54.539 --> 00:38:55.299
 to do and be.

00:38:56.579 --> 00:38:57.619
 And Jesus is saying

00:38:57.619 --> 00:38:59.879
 the full glory of God

00:38:59.879 --> 00:39:00.699
 is revealed

00:39:00.699 --> 00:39:02.059
 when Jesus,

00:39:02.799 --> 00:39:04.299
 in love for you and me,

00:39:04.559 --> 00:39:06.619
 dies upon the cross.

00:39:07.559 --> 00:39:08.259
 So you,

00:39:09.439 --> 00:39:10.839
 He can take upon Him

00:39:10.839 --> 00:39:11.719
 the doom that you

00:39:11.719 --> 00:39:12.379
 and I deserve

00:39:12.379 --> 00:39:13.239
 and you,

00:39:13.379 --> 00:39:15.019
 by faith and trust in Him,

00:39:15.460 --> 00:39:16.579
 can receive the destiny

00:39:16.579 --> 00:39:17.319
 that He deserves.

00:39:18.419 --> 00:39:19.539
 So how is it

00:39:19.539 --> 00:39:20.439
 that I am to hear

00:39:20.439 --> 00:39:22.739
 Proverbs 3, 5, and 6,

00:39:23.619 --> 00:39:24.579
 trust in the Lord

00:39:24.579 --> 00:39:25.519
 with all your heart?

00:39:26.000 --> 00:39:26.719
 Say it with me.

00:39:27.339 --> 00:39:28.459
 Trust in the Lord

00:39:28.459 --> 00:39:29.659
 with all your heart

00:39:29.659 --> 00:39:31.139
 and do not lean

00:39:31.139 --> 00:39:32.699
 on your own understanding.

00:39:33.359 --> 00:39:34.079
 Know Him

00:39:34.079 --> 00:39:35.279
 in all your ways

00:39:35.279 --> 00:39:36.599
 and He will make

00:39:36.599 --> 00:39:37.579
 your paths straight.

00:39:38.319 --> 00:39:39.219
 How is it that I am

00:39:39.219 --> 00:39:39.939
 to know Him?

00:39:40.980 --> 00:39:42.099
 I know Him

00:39:42.099 --> 00:39:43.159
 by coming to Him

00:39:43.159 --> 00:39:44.359
 in repentance and faith

00:39:44.359 --> 00:39:45.139
 and having Him

00:39:45.139 --> 00:39:45.919
 be my Savior

00:39:45.919 --> 00:39:46.639
 and my Lord.

00:39:47.500 --> 00:39:48.719
 And I am not just

00:39:48.719 --> 00:39:50.480
 to know some cosmic power

00:39:50.480 --> 00:39:51.959
 and ask to see Jesus

00:39:51.959 --> 00:39:53.480
 and to be sensitive

00:39:53.480 --> 00:39:53.980
 of Jesus

00:39:53.980 --> 00:39:55.039
 as I go through my day,

00:39:55.139 --> 00:39:56.179
 but I am to be sensitive

00:39:56.179 --> 00:39:57.179
 of Jesus dying

00:39:57.179 --> 00:39:58.079
 upon the cross.

00:39:59.319 --> 00:39:59.879
 Actually, Andrew,

00:39:59.919 --> 00:40:00.440
 if you could put up

00:40:00.440 --> 00:40:01.279
 the second point,

00:40:01.579 --> 00:40:02.059
 I mean, really,

00:40:02.199 --> 00:40:02.940
 the main point

00:40:02.940 --> 00:40:04.319
 is knowing Proverbs 3, 5, and 6.

00:40:04.460 --> 00:40:05.259
 We're going to say it again

00:40:05.259 --> 00:40:05.879
 a couple of times,

00:40:06.000 --> 00:40:07.759
 but here's, I think,

00:40:07.799 --> 00:40:08.719
 what the book of Proverbs

00:40:08.719 --> 00:40:10.239
 is trying to tell us.

00:40:10.919 --> 00:40:12.000
 The living God

00:40:12.000 --> 00:40:13.339
 lovingly offers

00:40:13.339 --> 00:40:14.559
 to provide a mirror,

00:40:15.319 --> 00:40:16.039
 the cross,

00:40:16.599 --> 00:40:17.519
 and the new covenant

00:40:17.519 --> 00:40:19.219
 to fallen rebels

00:40:19.219 --> 00:40:20.059
 like you and me.

00:40:20.679 --> 00:40:21.519
 The living God

00:40:21.519 --> 00:40:22.440
 lovingly offers

00:40:22.440 --> 00:40:23.419
 to provide a mirror,

00:40:24.059 --> 00:40:24.699
 the cross,

00:40:24.699 --> 00:40:26.000
 and the new covenant

00:40:26.000 --> 00:40:27.500
 to fallen rebels

00:40:27.500 --> 00:40:28.699
 like you and me.

00:40:29.099 --> 00:40:29.779
 What's the mirror?

00:40:30.319 --> 00:40:31.279
 The book of Proverbs.

00:40:32.059 --> 00:40:32.599
 The Bible.

00:40:36.500 --> 00:40:36.939
 It's,

00:40:38.359 --> 00:40:38.759
 George,

00:40:38.839 --> 00:40:39.519
 do you realize

00:40:39.519 --> 00:40:40.659
 that you have

00:40:40.659 --> 00:40:42.579
 56 different plans

00:40:42.579 --> 00:40:44.719
 and 123 different motivations

00:40:44.719 --> 00:40:45.439
 going on

00:40:45.439 --> 00:40:45.939
 when you're trying

00:40:45.939 --> 00:40:46.419
 to figure out

00:40:46.419 --> 00:40:47.460
 what you're trying to do?

00:40:48.159 --> 00:40:48.539
 George,

00:40:48.699 --> 00:40:49.579
 this is you.

00:40:49.579 --> 00:40:51.539
 Don't read this

00:40:51.539 --> 00:40:52.500
 because you think

00:40:52.500 --> 00:40:53.259
 it's a microscope

00:40:53.259 --> 00:40:54.699
 to examine all the people

00:40:54.699 --> 00:40:55.259
 around you.

00:40:55.340 --> 00:40:56.860
 Yeah, it's true about them as well.

00:40:56.920 --> 00:40:57.559
 This is you.

00:40:58.739 --> 00:40:59.279
 Many times,

00:40:59.340 --> 00:41:00.299
 the Bible's a mirror.

00:41:00.860 --> 00:41:01.880
 We want binoculars.

00:41:02.319 --> 00:41:03.259
 We want a microscope

00:41:03.259 --> 00:41:05.500
 to analyze other people

00:41:05.500 --> 00:41:06.219
 in a binocular

00:41:06.219 --> 00:41:07.019
 to know the future,

00:41:07.460 --> 00:41:09.119
 and what God offers me

00:41:09.119 --> 00:41:09.659
 is a mirror

00:41:09.659 --> 00:41:10.519
 to start to actually

00:41:10.519 --> 00:41:11.360
 know myself,

00:41:12.000 --> 00:41:13.019
 to know my heart,

00:41:13.019 --> 00:41:15.219
 and He offers me

00:41:15.219 --> 00:41:15.840
 to do that

00:41:15.840 --> 00:41:16.780
 within the context

00:41:16.780 --> 00:41:17.659
 of the cross.

00:41:18.440 --> 00:41:19.539
 His death upon me.

00:41:21.039 --> 00:41:22.519
 His death upon the cross

00:41:22.519 --> 00:41:23.079
 for me

00:41:23.079 --> 00:41:24.679
 so that I can,

00:41:25.119 --> 00:41:26.099
 by faith in Him,

00:41:26.239 --> 00:41:27.659
 enter into a new covenant

00:41:27.659 --> 00:41:28.800
 with the living God,

00:41:28.880 --> 00:41:29.920
 the creator of all things,

00:41:30.019 --> 00:41:31.400
 the sustainer of all things,

00:41:31.699 --> 00:41:32.860
 the end of all things,

00:41:33.159 --> 00:41:34.840
 the one who is always present,

00:41:34.840 --> 00:41:38.380
 and that I can talk to Him

00:41:38.380 --> 00:41:40.820
 not as a rebel

00:41:40.820 --> 00:41:41.920
 to the one

00:41:41.920 --> 00:41:42.800
 that I'm hoping

00:41:42.800 --> 00:41:43.980
 He'll occasionally

00:41:43.980 --> 00:41:45.840
 throw some goodies my way,

00:41:45.940 --> 00:41:46.440
 but fundamentally,

00:41:46.619 --> 00:41:47.200
 I'm in rebellion,

00:41:47.519 --> 00:41:48.519
 and not as one

00:41:48.519 --> 00:41:49.300
 who is distant,

00:41:49.940 --> 00:41:52.420
 but as my heavenly Father

00:41:52.420 --> 00:41:53.180
 who loves me,

00:41:53.240 --> 00:41:54.820
 and I can do my day

00:41:54.820 --> 00:41:56.019
 with my heavenly Father

00:41:56.019 --> 00:41:56.760
 who loves me,

00:41:57.139 --> 00:41:58.240
 thinking about Jesus

00:41:58.240 --> 00:41:59.820
 and His death upon the cross

00:41:59.820 --> 00:42:01.079
 because there is a God

00:42:01.079 --> 00:42:01.800
 who does exist

00:42:01.800 --> 00:42:03.059
 who loves me,

00:42:03.059 --> 00:42:04.139
 who wants to do

00:42:04.139 --> 00:42:05.139
 my day with me

00:42:05.139 --> 00:42:06.400
 and my life with me,

00:42:06.980 --> 00:42:09.320
 and I can pour out

00:42:09.320 --> 00:42:10.300
 my heart to Him

00:42:10.300 --> 00:42:12.500
 as I start to learn

00:42:12.500 --> 00:42:14.019
 who I really am

00:42:14.019 --> 00:42:15.740
 and who I really am

00:42:15.740 --> 00:42:16.880
 at the level of my heart.

00:42:19.680 --> 00:42:20.940
 I'm going to wrap things up

00:42:20.940 --> 00:42:21.700
 very quickly.

00:42:22.700 --> 00:42:24.200
 Proverbs 16.3.

00:42:24.320 --> 00:42:25.300
 Could we say that together,

00:42:25.380 --> 00:42:25.600
 Andrew,

00:42:25.700 --> 00:42:26.480
 if we can get that up?

00:42:27.480 --> 00:42:28.780
 Commit your work

00:42:28.780 --> 00:42:29.519
 to the Lord

00:42:29.519 --> 00:42:30.900
 and your plans

00:42:30.900 --> 00:42:31.980
 will be established.

00:42:32.220 --> 00:42:33.140
 You know what's so wonderful

00:42:33.140 --> 00:42:33.660
 about this?

00:42:33.720 --> 00:42:34.660
 This behind the image

00:42:34.660 --> 00:42:35.140
 of commit,

00:42:35.139 --> 00:42:38.299
 it's an image

00:42:38.299 --> 00:42:39.379
 of something

00:42:39.379 --> 00:42:40.199
 which is really,

00:42:40.299 --> 00:42:41.139
 really, really, really

00:42:41.139 --> 00:42:43.219
 too heavy to lift.

00:42:44.079 --> 00:42:44.739
 So when it says

00:42:44.739 --> 00:42:45.579
 commit your work

00:42:45.579 --> 00:42:46.059
 to the Lord,

00:42:46.159 --> 00:42:48.199
 the image of your work

00:42:48.199 --> 00:42:49.259
 is way too heavy

00:42:49.259 --> 00:42:50.719
 for you to possibly lift.

00:42:51.960 --> 00:42:53.179
 And all you can do

00:42:53.179 --> 00:42:55.279
 is try to roll it

00:42:55.279 --> 00:42:56.519
 to the Lord.

00:42:57.839 --> 00:42:58.819
 What's this saying?

00:42:59.679 --> 00:43:00.699
 One of the reasons

00:43:00.699 --> 00:43:01.400
 that we can get

00:43:01.400 --> 00:43:02.099
 so depressed

00:43:02.099 --> 00:43:05.019
 and be so heavy-hearted

00:43:05.019 --> 00:43:06.000
 is that we think

00:43:06.000 --> 00:43:06.779
 we have to carry

00:43:06.779 --> 00:43:08.059
 the burden of our life.

00:43:09.579 --> 00:43:10.380
 And the burden

00:43:10.380 --> 00:43:10.960
 of your life

00:43:10.960 --> 00:43:11.659
 will crush you.

00:43:12.299 --> 00:43:13.440
 We think we have to carry

00:43:13.440 --> 00:43:13.860
 the burden

00:43:13.860 --> 00:43:14.519
 of our marriage.

00:43:14.519 --> 00:43:15.779
 We think we have to carry

00:43:15.779 --> 00:43:16.239
 the burden

00:43:16.239 --> 00:43:17.019
 of our family.

00:43:17.159 --> 00:43:18.119
 We think we have to carry

00:43:18.119 --> 00:43:19.199
 the burden of our church.

00:43:19.319 --> 00:43:20.239
 We think we have to carry

00:43:20.239 --> 00:43:21.480
 the burden of our company.

00:43:21.659 --> 00:43:23.099
 And all of those things

00:43:23.099 --> 00:43:24.339
 will crush us.

00:43:25.799 --> 00:43:26.940
 And this is an invitation

00:43:26.940 --> 00:43:28.480
 to realize

00:43:28.480 --> 00:43:30.599
 that there is one

00:43:30.599 --> 00:43:32.380
 who can carry that weight

00:43:32.380 --> 00:43:34.119
 as he carries you

00:43:34.119 --> 00:43:35.679
 and as he carries me.

00:43:36.659 --> 00:43:38.500
 And it's the man who died upon the cross

00:43:38.500 --> 00:43:40.639
 with his arms spread wide out of love for you.

00:43:42.659 --> 00:43:44.659
 And I can say, and you can say to God,

00:43:44.839 --> 00:43:46.239
 Father, forgive me for thinking

00:43:46.239 --> 00:43:48.079
 that I carry the weight of this decision

00:43:48.079 --> 00:43:49.259
 or the weight of this church,

00:43:49.339 --> 00:43:50.299
 that it's all on me.

00:43:50.639 --> 00:43:51.920
 I cannot carry it.

00:43:51.940 --> 00:43:52.900
 It is crushing me.

00:43:53.380 --> 00:43:54.759
 I roll it over to you.

00:43:54.759 --> 00:43:56.639
 I thank you that you can carry it

00:43:56.639 --> 00:43:58.599
 as you carry me.

00:43:58.599 --> 00:44:02.679
 Could you put Proverbs 3, 5, and 6 up again, Andrew?

00:44:02.799 --> 00:44:03.659
 Could we say it together?

00:44:04.420 --> 00:44:06.839
 Trust in the Lord with all your heart

00:44:06.839 --> 00:44:09.519
 and do not lean on your own understanding.

00:44:10.179 --> 00:44:12.079
 Know him in all your ways

00:44:12.079 --> 00:44:14.239
 and he will make your paths straight.

00:44:14.679 --> 00:44:16.920
 Let's put up Proverbs 29, 18.

00:44:18.299 --> 00:44:19.360
 Say it with me.

00:44:19.699 --> 00:44:21.860
 Where there is no prophetic vision,

00:44:22.059 --> 00:44:23.980
 the people cast off restraint,

00:44:24.460 --> 00:44:26.679
 but blessed is he who keeps the law.

00:44:26.679 --> 00:44:28.759
 So here what it's saying is

00:44:28.759 --> 00:44:30.179
 know the word, know the word,

00:44:30.299 --> 00:44:31.500
 know the word, know the word,

00:44:31.579 --> 00:44:32.079
 know the word.

00:44:32.159 --> 00:44:34.639
 And sometimes God gives you specific words.

00:44:36.399 --> 00:44:38.559
 And as the mirror of God

00:44:38.559 --> 00:44:40.119
 starts to work in our lives

00:44:40.119 --> 00:44:42.440
 and as we start to be gripped by the gospel

00:44:42.440 --> 00:44:44.759
 and prepared to realize

00:44:44.759 --> 00:44:46.659
 that sometimes if we want to know God's will,

00:44:46.819 --> 00:44:48.339
 a trust word, by the way,

00:44:48.359 --> 00:44:49.519
 is you've got to do something.

00:44:49.980 --> 00:44:50.719
 Get moving.

00:44:51.319 --> 00:44:53.239
 If you're just sitting on a couch,

00:44:53.940 --> 00:44:55.259
 you're not trusting the Lord,

00:44:55.260 --> 00:44:56.640
 you're just sitting on a couch

00:44:56.640 --> 00:44:58.180
 watching TV.

00:44:58.720 --> 00:44:59.480
 Like do something.

00:44:59.660 --> 00:45:00.360
 Make a mistake.

00:45:00.500 --> 00:45:01.460
 Make five mistakes.

00:45:02.120 --> 00:45:03.480
 Because God can direct you

00:45:03.480 --> 00:45:04.040
 when you're moving.

00:45:04.260 --> 00:45:05.300
 It's a trust word.

00:45:06.240 --> 00:45:08.100
 And you roll your burdens.

00:45:08.260 --> 00:45:08.820
 Study the word.

00:45:09.080 --> 00:45:10.600
 And you study the word

00:45:10.600 --> 00:45:11.580
 and you pour out your heart

00:45:11.580 --> 00:45:12.560
 to the covenant God

00:45:12.560 --> 00:45:13.580
 who does your day with you.

00:45:13.640 --> 00:45:15.040
 And you make mistakes

00:45:15.040 --> 00:45:16.420
 and you realize that you repent

00:45:16.420 --> 00:45:17.960
 and Jesus still loves you.

00:45:18.080 --> 00:45:19.420
 He died upon the cross for you.

00:45:19.660 --> 00:45:21.240
 And you keep on pressing on

00:45:21.240 --> 00:45:22.500
 and you try to move.

00:45:22.500 --> 00:45:23.820
 And sometimes in the midst

00:45:23.820 --> 00:45:24.539
 of all those things,

00:45:24.639 --> 00:45:26.500
 God gives you a very specific word

00:45:26.500 --> 00:45:27.820
 and you can pray

00:45:27.820 --> 00:45:29.000
 that you can recognize it.

00:45:29.360 --> 00:45:31.300
 Put up Proverbs 3, 5, and 6 again.

00:45:31.380 --> 00:45:32.099
 Let's say it together.

00:45:33.219 --> 00:45:34.239
 Trust in the Lord

00:45:34.239 --> 00:45:35.400
 with all your heart

00:45:35.400 --> 00:45:36.800
 and do not lean

00:45:36.800 --> 00:45:38.219
 on your own understanding.

00:45:38.900 --> 00:45:40.800
 Know him in all your ways

00:45:40.800 --> 00:45:43.000
 and he will make your paths straight.

00:45:44.659 --> 00:45:46.079
 What will this look like

00:45:46.079 --> 00:45:47.960
 as we enter into the book of Proverbs?

00:45:48.480 --> 00:45:49.900
 As we enter into realizing

00:45:49.900 --> 00:45:51.480
 that God does not,

00:45:51.900 --> 00:45:53.039
 he offers us a mirror

00:45:53.039 --> 00:45:54.519
 and he offers us the cross

00:45:54.519 --> 00:45:55.860
 and he offers us a new covenant?

00:45:56.720 --> 00:45:57.320
 You know, one of the things

00:45:57.320 --> 00:45:58.260
 which is so cool

00:45:58.260 --> 00:45:59.679
 about the book of Proverbs,

00:45:59.860 --> 00:46:00.840
 the way it's written

00:46:00.840 --> 00:46:02.199
 as a literary thing

00:46:02.199 --> 00:46:03.480
 is it's written

00:46:03.480 --> 00:46:05.079
 in Proverbs 10, 1.

00:46:05.240 --> 00:46:06.720
 It's a father giving instruction

00:46:06.720 --> 00:46:07.400
 to his son,

00:46:07.500 --> 00:46:08.559
 but the dad's checked it out

00:46:08.559 --> 00:46:09.079
 with the mom.

00:46:09.860 --> 00:46:10.720
 And so all the way,

00:46:10.780 --> 00:46:12.039
 the language is always addressed

00:46:12.039 --> 00:46:12.980
 as a father to a son,

00:46:13.079 --> 00:46:13.720
 father to a son,

00:46:13.840 --> 00:46:14.619
 father to a son.

00:46:15.259 --> 00:46:16.659
 And then at the end of the book,

00:46:17.219 --> 00:46:18.059
 at the end of the book,

00:46:18.500 --> 00:46:20.359
 the very last little bit

00:46:20.359 --> 00:46:20.819
 in the book

00:46:20.819 --> 00:46:21.940
 is an acrostic.

00:46:22.339 --> 00:46:23.059
 In other words,

00:46:23.179 --> 00:46:25.440
 every couplet

00:46:25.440 --> 00:46:27.159
 begins with the letter

00:46:27.159 --> 00:46:28.099
 of the Hebrew alphabet

00:46:28.099 --> 00:46:28.799
 in order.

00:46:29.900 --> 00:46:30.839
 And it's to really try

00:46:30.839 --> 00:46:31.839
 to bring it home to you

00:46:31.839 --> 00:46:34.239
 is that this last 22-verse section

00:46:34.239 --> 00:46:36.420
 is encapsulating the entire,

00:46:36.659 --> 00:46:38.099
 all of the words of the book

00:46:38.099 --> 00:46:39.839
 are being encapsulated

00:46:39.839 --> 00:46:41.639
 in these last 22 verses.

00:46:41.639 --> 00:46:42.980
 And you'd think,

00:46:43.420 --> 00:46:44.219
 this is just how God

00:46:44.219 --> 00:46:45.059
 likes to play with you,

00:46:45.299 --> 00:46:46.619
 you'd think that it's going

00:46:46.619 --> 00:46:48.359
 to be the noble warrior.

00:46:48.500 --> 00:46:48.879
 It's going to be

00:46:48.879 --> 00:46:49.719
 the mighty king.

00:46:49.839 --> 00:46:50.199
 It's going to be,

00:46:50.359 --> 00:46:52.339
 it's a story about a woman

00:46:52.339 --> 00:46:53.379
 who's married to a man.

00:46:54.059 --> 00:46:54.859
 And the person

00:46:54.859 --> 00:46:55.960
 who encapsulates

00:46:55.960 --> 00:46:56.879
 all of the teaching,

00:46:56.980 --> 00:46:57.239
 the wisdom,

00:46:57.339 --> 00:46:59.179
 the book is the wife,

00:46:59.460 --> 00:47:00.359
 the story of the wife

00:47:00.359 --> 00:47:01.239
 at the end of the book.

00:47:02.039 --> 00:47:03.599
 And look at verse,

00:47:03.960 --> 00:47:04.759
 chapter 31,

00:47:04.859 --> 00:47:05.759
 that's part of the final thing.

00:47:05.819 --> 00:47:07.179
 Look at verse 31, 25.

00:47:08.279 --> 00:47:09.359
 Can you read it with me?

00:47:09.360 --> 00:47:11.579
 Strength and dignity

00:47:11.579 --> 00:47:12.680
 are her clothing.

00:47:13.160 --> 00:47:14.059
 And she laughs

00:47:14.059 --> 00:47:15.360
 at the time to come.

00:47:16.240 --> 00:47:18.099
 I want to be that person.

00:47:20.720 --> 00:47:22.720
 I want to be so immersed

00:47:22.720 --> 00:47:23.400
 in the word

00:47:23.400 --> 00:47:25.220
 and so willing

00:47:25.220 --> 00:47:26.740
 to be taught by Jesus

00:47:26.740 --> 00:47:30.420
 and so willing

00:47:30.420 --> 00:47:32.700
 to confront my self-deception

00:47:32.700 --> 00:47:34.840
 and my disappointment

00:47:34.840 --> 00:47:35.579
 with God

00:47:35.579 --> 00:47:36.720
 and my cynicism

00:47:36.719 --> 00:47:39.059
 and so pour out

00:47:39.059 --> 00:47:40.039
 my heart to God

00:47:40.039 --> 00:47:42.000
 and so see Jesus

00:47:42.000 --> 00:47:43.199
 who died on the cross

00:47:43.199 --> 00:47:43.659
 for me

00:47:43.659 --> 00:47:45.159
 in all of the things

00:47:45.159 --> 00:47:46.159
 that I have to face

00:47:46.159 --> 00:47:49.419
 that I will laugh

00:47:49.419 --> 00:47:50.919
 at the time to come.

00:47:51.779 --> 00:47:52.899
 Who knows what the future

00:47:52.899 --> 00:47:53.619
 is going to bring?

00:47:54.099 --> 00:47:54.379
 Whoa!

00:47:54.799 --> 00:47:55.959
 Who knows what the future

00:47:55.959 --> 00:47:56.500
 is going to bring?

00:47:57.079 --> 00:47:57.939
 I'm going to face it.

00:47:58.579 --> 00:47:59.339
 I'm going to face it

00:47:59.339 --> 00:47:59.859
 with Jesus

00:47:59.859 --> 00:48:01.279
 in the context

00:48:01.279 --> 00:48:01.939
 of the new covenant.

00:48:03.639 --> 00:48:04.539
 That's what the Bible

00:48:04.539 --> 00:48:06.400
 wants us to so soak up

00:48:06.400 --> 00:48:06.699
 the word

00:48:06.699 --> 00:48:08.539
 that that describes

00:48:08.539 --> 00:48:10.039
 your day-to-day life.

00:48:10.360 --> 00:48:10.900
 Please stand.

00:48:16.500 --> 00:48:17.460
 Just bow our heads

00:48:17.460 --> 00:48:17.920
 in prayer.

00:48:25.000 --> 00:48:25.440
 Father,

00:48:25.659 --> 00:48:26.840
 help us to pour out

00:48:26.840 --> 00:48:27.599
 our hearts to you

00:48:27.599 --> 00:48:28.360
 about the decisions

00:48:28.360 --> 00:48:29.340
 we have to make.

00:48:30.139 --> 00:48:30.519
 Father,

00:48:30.679 --> 00:48:31.539
 please guide us

00:48:31.539 --> 00:48:32.380
 to counselors

00:48:32.380 --> 00:48:34.219
 who can love us

00:48:34.219 --> 00:48:36.179
 and speak wise words

00:48:36.179 --> 00:48:36.980
 into our lives

00:48:36.980 --> 00:48:37.579
 and help us

00:48:37.579 --> 00:48:38.380
 to recognize

00:48:38.380 --> 00:48:39.400
 father lies

00:48:39.400 --> 00:48:40.320
 that people tell us

00:48:40.320 --> 00:48:40.820
 and help us

00:48:40.820 --> 00:48:41.400
 to recognize

00:48:41.400 --> 00:48:42.219
 self-deception

00:48:42.219 --> 00:48:43.599
 and most of all,

00:48:43.699 --> 00:48:43.900
 father,

00:48:44.019 --> 00:48:44.840
 help us to keep

00:48:44.840 --> 00:48:45.579
 our eyes fixed

00:48:45.579 --> 00:48:46.320
 on your son.

00:48:46.460 --> 00:48:47.099
 Help us to keep

00:48:47.099 --> 00:48:47.940
 moving forward

00:48:47.940 --> 00:48:48.920
 and doing something

00:48:48.920 --> 00:48:49.539
 as you lead us

00:48:49.539 --> 00:48:50.139
 in Gaius.

00:48:50.440 --> 00:48:51.400
 Help us to pour

00:48:51.400 --> 00:48:52.079
 out our hearts

00:48:52.079 --> 00:48:52.440
 to you

00:48:52.440 --> 00:48:53.259
 and know the word

00:48:53.259 --> 00:48:54.199
 and father,

00:48:54.360 --> 00:48:55.440
 thank you so much

00:48:55.440 --> 00:48:56.199
 that you've given us

00:48:56.199 --> 00:48:56.480
 Jesus.

00:48:56.659 --> 00:48:57.679
 Thank you so much,

00:48:57.920 --> 00:48:58.219
 father,

00:48:58.759 --> 00:48:59.460
 that when we put

00:48:59.460 --> 00:49:00.320
 our faith and trust

00:49:00.320 --> 00:49:00.800
 in Jesus,

00:49:01.100 --> 00:49:02.059
 I cannot know

00:49:02.059 --> 00:49:02.800
 everything that will

00:49:02.800 --> 00:49:03.620
 happen tomorrow

00:49:03.620 --> 00:49:04.360
 or the day after

00:49:04.360 --> 00:49:05.360
 but I can know

00:49:05.360 --> 00:49:06.340
 your final word

00:49:06.340 --> 00:49:06.920
 about me.

00:49:07.760 --> 00:49:08.400
 Well done,

00:49:08.500 --> 00:49:09.140
 my child,

00:49:09.320 --> 00:49:10.260
 enter into the kingdom

00:49:10.260 --> 00:49:11.100
 prepared for you

00:49:11.100 --> 00:49:11.840
 for all eternity.

00:49:12.420 --> 00:49:12.880
 Thank you,

00:49:13.019 --> 00:49:13.220
 father,

00:49:13.320 --> 00:49:14.000
 that in Jesus

00:49:14.000 --> 00:49:14.960
 I can know

00:49:14.960 --> 00:49:16.320
 the final word

00:49:16.320 --> 00:49:17.300
 that you will say

00:49:17.300 --> 00:49:18.620
 over my life

00:49:18.620 --> 00:49:20.200
 and I can know it now

00:49:20.200 --> 00:49:22.000
 and act in light of it.

00:49:22.360 --> 00:49:22.660
 Father,

00:49:23.019 --> 00:49:24.240
 pour out your Holy Spirit

00:49:24.240 --> 00:49:24.880
 upon us.

00:49:25.320 --> 00:49:26.240
 Help us to be people

00:49:26.240 --> 00:49:27.260
 who pour out our hearts

00:49:27.260 --> 00:49:27.660
 to you

00:49:27.660 --> 00:49:28.840
 and follow Jesus.

00:49:29.360 --> 00:49:30.180
 All this we ask

00:49:30.179 --> 00:49:31.079
 in the name of Jesus,

00:49:31.480 --> 00:49:32.059
 your son

00:49:32.059 --> 00:49:33.099
 and our savior.

00:49:33.619 --> 00:49:33.980
 Amen.