WEBVTT

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 Well, good morning, church. Our sermon text this morning is Psalm 46. Let me encourage you to grab

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 a Bible and go there with me. This is a psalm that Old and New Testament believers have turned

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 to in times of trouble again and again. In fact, the first hymn that we sang this morning,

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 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, was based on this very psalm. So let's turn to Psalm 46 together,

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 and as we do that, let me pray, and then I'll read it for us.

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 Oh, Father, we've just sung an old hymn of the church, praise God from whom all blessings flow.

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 Lord, we do praise you this morning, and we ask that you would send your Spirit

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 to use your word in our hearts. Lord, help us above all to see you more clearly

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 as a result of coming to your word. Open up our eyes to see your greatness, God,

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 and your goodness, your faithfulness, your power, your mercy. Lord, in our own hearts,

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 in our own eyes, we can't do this. We need you. But God, you are faithful, and you promise to do so.

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 So we pray with confidence, and we come to your word with expectation that you will do a work this

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 morning. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. Psalm 46. God is our refuge and strength,

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 a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth gives way,

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 though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam,

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 though the mountains tremble at its swelling. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

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 the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her. She shall not be moved.

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 God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter. He utters his voice,

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 the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our fortress.

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 Come behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth.

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 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear.

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 He burns the chariots with fire. Be still and know that I am God.

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 I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us.

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 The God of Jacob is our fortress.

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 So, here we are. We're sitting in our living rooms, watching on our laptops or our phones.

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 Someone just texted me, showing me how they're watching on their TV screen.

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 Well done in New London. Glad you guys are with us.

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 Maybe you're by yourself. Maybe you're gathered with your immediate family or a few friends.

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 I'm standing here preaching basically to an empty sanctuary.

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 What a week it has been, right?

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 Schools have been canceled. Events have been indefinitely postponed.

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 And the news reports keep coming in about the spread of the virus.

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 The last I checked the statistics, there had been over 132,000 confirmed cases and almost 5,000 deaths worldwide.

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 And I'm sure those numbers are already out of date.

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 What does God's word have to say to us at a moment like this?

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 How are we as a church to respond?

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 What does being a follower of Jesus mean in these tumultuous times?

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 Well, Psalm 46 was written for a context just like ours.

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 When the world seems to be turning upside down, when there's uncertainty and confusion,

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 when we're not sure what the future holds,

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 this psalm points us to God and speaks directly to our hearts.

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 You see, the message of Psalm 46 is this.

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 Because God is our refuge, we need not fear.

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 The first stanza, the first part of the psalm, tells us that because God is our refuge,

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 we need not fear even when nature comes apart.

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 Look again at verses 2 and 3.

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 Listen to the natural chaos that's described there.

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 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth gives way,

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 though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

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 though its waters roar and foam,

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 though the mountains tremble at its swelling,

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 waters foaming, mountains trembling.

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 It's a picture of natural upheaval, of chaos.

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 A picture where no place is safe.

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 As we follow the news reports, as we watch the maps showing us where the virus spreads day by day,

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 perhaps we can share some of that unsettled feeling spoken of here in Psalm 46.

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 That the earth seems to be giving way.

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 That is, that there are fewer and fewer places that are safe, that are secure.

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 We can start to feel vulnerable on the outside and weak on the inside.

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 And fear starts to creep in.

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 What if I get sick?

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 What if my children get sick?

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 What if my parents or my grandparents get sick?

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 Now, maybe you're not experiencing this sort of fear at this moment.

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 That's a good thing.

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 However, this is still a message we need to hear.

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 I read a quote recently that said,

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 We do theology in the light so that we can stand on it in the dark.

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 We do theology in the light so we can stand on it in the dark.

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 If you're not afraid at just this moment,

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 well then this is the right time to consider the real reasons why you shouldn't be terrified.

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 Because sooner or later, hard times will come.

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 The earth may at one point feel like it's giving away.

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 The mountain of all that's certain in our lives may feel like it's being thrown into the sea.

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 We do theology in the light so we can stand on it in the dark.

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 So why shouldn't the church be afraid?

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 Why should we be able to face these tumultuous times with wisdom, courage, and love?

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 Not because of anything in us.

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 You know, it's easy not to be afraid when I'm feeling secure and strong.

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 But what about when I'm feeling vulnerable and weak?

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 Can I be unafraid even then?

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 And this is what Psalm 46 tells us.

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 When we are vulnerable, we still have a shelter against every storm.

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 When we are weak, we still have a power that cannot fail.

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 Because God is our refuge and strength.

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 And note the second half of verse 2.

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 What does the psalmist say there?

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 God is not just a present help in times of trouble, but a very present help.

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 Ever present is how some translations put it.

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 When trouble comes, God is very present.

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 Ready to be found.

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 Sufficient for the need.

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 Very present.

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 The phrase can even mean well-proved.

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 One who has shown himself faithful, reliable, again and again.

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 Brothers and sisters, have you found God to be very present?

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 To be well-proved in times of trouble.

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 For many of us, the pandemic that we're facing today is unprecedented in our lifetime.

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 But you know, this isn't the first time that the church has faced such a crisis.

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 In the second century, the church lived through a 15-year epidemic

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 that claimed anywhere from a third to a quarter of the Roman Empire.

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 In the middle of the third century, another epidemic struck,

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 hitting the rural areas as hard as the cities.

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 In the 14th and the 16th centuries, plagues ravaged Europe.

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 And in the early 20th century, the Spanish flu took millions of lives.

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 The church has lived through tumultuous times before.

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 And in those tumultuous times, God has shown himself very present in times of trouble.

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 God, as Psalm 46 tells us, and as church history shows us,

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 is with us in our sorrows, in our fears, in our suffering.

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 But the ultimate display of God being with us in our trouble

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 is seen above all in our Lord Jesus Christ,

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 who is called Emmanuel, God with us.

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 At the center of the Bible is the message that God became a human being.

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 He entered into our fallen world that we might never be alone,

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 that we might never be forsaken, that we might never be truly afraid.

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 Even if the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the sea,

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 God in Christ is with us.

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 He gave up heaven's glory.

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 He took up our infirmities and our sickness and our sin

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 to bring us back to the Father to ensure us that he would never leave us or forsake us.

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 And so because God is with us, the psalmist says,

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 we need not be afraid.

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 How much more can we say that today as New Testament believers,

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 knowing what we know of God and Jesus Christ?

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 And so rather than being afraid,

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 we have a call to love.

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 If God is very present to us in our time of trouble,

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 how can we be very present to one another in Christ's name?

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 Even when it's not wise to be physically near to one another,

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 we can still be relationally near.

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 A phone call, a text, an email,

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 letting someone know that you're thinking of them,

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 praying with them, just talking with them.

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 We don't have to go through all of this alone.

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 We can be with one another.

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 Now, of course, we should all be following the healthy guidelines

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 for mitigating the spread of the virus.

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 Even Martin Luther, who encouraged Christians not to flee the plague,

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 recommended that people still fumigate their homes.

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 To refuse to take such healthy measures, Luther said,

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 isn't trusting God, it's tempting God.

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 And so we should love our neighbors

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 by following the safe guidelines that are being recommended.

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 But we should also be actively seeking out

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 how to use all the lawful means we have

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 to connect with one another,

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 to encourage one another,

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 to serve and be generous with one another.

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 They'll know we are Christians by our love, Jesus said.

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 This is the time when the church must not be afraid,

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 but heed the call of proactive love.

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 Let's go on and look at the second stanza of this psalm.

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 Verses 4 through 7 tell us that because God is our refuge,

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 we need not fear,

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 even when society is in upheaval.

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 If the first stanza is about nature going crazy,

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 the second stanza is about

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 how we cannot be afraid when the nations are in upheaval.

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 Verse 6 says,

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 The nation's rage,

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 the kingdom's totter.

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 The picture is one of political and economic turmoil.

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 And you know,

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 if we're honest,

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 many of us aren't primarily afraid of the virus itself.

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 We're afraid of the impact it will have

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 on other areas of our life.

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 Our jobs will suffer.

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 Our workplaces will shut down.

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 Our savings will dwindle.

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 What will happen if we can't go to work for a week

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 or two or three or four?

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 What will happen if the stock market continues to fall?

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 The nation's rage.

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 The kingdom's totter.

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 But listen to verses 4 and 5.

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 Verse 4,

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 For there is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

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 the holy habitation of the Most High.

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 In the Old Testament,

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 the city of God was Jerusalem,

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 the earthly capital of the kingdom of Israel.

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 But the city of God was also a metaphor for the people of God,

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 God's church in the Old Testament and in the New.

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 Now, there was no actual river in the ancient city of Jerusalem.

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 So the reference here to a river must be symbolic.

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 In contrast to the raging waters of verse 3,

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 here we're told there is a river with streams

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 that will sustain the people of God.

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 What is this river?

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 Look at verse 5.

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 God is in the midst of her.

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 She shall not be moved.

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 God will help her when morning dawns.

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 God.

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 God is the river whose streams make glad the city of God.

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 Even when the kingdom's totter.

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 Even when the nations rage.

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 You see what the psalmist is saying here

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 is that God isn't just with his people.

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 God resides within his people.

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 In our very midst.

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 God is the river whose streams make the city of Jerusalem.

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 And on the day of Pentecost,

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 when the ascended Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to live in the midst of his church,

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 this promise was fulfilled in a way the psalmist could have never dreamed.

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 God, not just with us, but within us by his Holy Spirit,

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 giving us joy, gladness, refreshment,

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 like an aqueduct bringing fresh water to a besieged city.

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 Jesus said that one day living waters would well up from within us.

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 Jesus said that one day living waters would well up from within us.

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 Talking about the Holy Spirit.

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 And this means even in times of trial,

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 even in times of loss,

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 we cannot lose the most important thing.

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 Even if the water runs dry,

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 we have a river whose streams make us glad.

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 Even in times of sorrow,

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 we have a joy that cannot be taken away.

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 That is our communion with God as the people of God.

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 The Holy Spirit assuring us of the forgiveness of sins,

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 of our adoption as sons and daughters of God,

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 of our hope of eternal life,

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 that we are heirs of the new creation.

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 Assuring us that even sorrow and loss will be used for our good

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 to make us more like the image of Jesus our Lord.

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 The application then to us is this.

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 Rather than being afraid,

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 we are being called here to saving faith.

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 God is in the midst of his city.

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 God is in his church.

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 Are you?

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 Are you a part of this city,

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 this people of God,

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 where the river of God's presence doesn't run dry?

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 And how do we enter into this people?

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 How do we get into this city?

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 The Bible is very clear.

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 The only way into the people of God

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 is through Jesus,

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 the son of God.

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 Because only in Jesus is the holiness of God

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 and the mercy of God

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 fully satisfied.

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 God is the Lord of hosts,

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 verse 7 says.

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 That is,

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 he is the God of countless hosts,

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 of armies,

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 of all that is seen and unseen,

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 sun, moon, and stars,

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 angels, and archangels.

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 God is the holy,

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 sovereign creator,

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 and ruler of all.

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 He is the Lord of hosts.

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 But God is also the God of Jacob,

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 verse 7 says.

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 Jacob,

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 the patriarch,

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 whose twelve sons

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 became the twelve tribes of Israel.

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 Jacob, the trickster,

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 who wrestled with God.

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 In calling God,

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 the God of Jacob,

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 the psalmist is reminding us

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 that God is a God who is merciful.

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 A God who chooses imperfect people.

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 A God who makes his covenant,

00:17:27.299 --> 00:17:28.399
 his binding promise

00:17:28.399 --> 00:17:30.720
 with the undeserving and the lowly.

00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:34.220
 And so,

00:17:34.359 --> 00:17:35.940
 verse 7 tells us that God is both

00:17:35.940 --> 00:17:37.759
 holy and sovereign,

00:17:38.019 --> 00:17:40.139
 but also merciful and kind.

00:17:42.359 --> 00:17:44.680
 But can God be both at the same time?

00:17:45.539 --> 00:17:46.819
 Holy and merciful?

00:17:48.599 --> 00:17:50.220
 This is one of the great questions

00:17:50.220 --> 00:17:52.440
 that runs throughout the whole Old Testament.

00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:55.460
 How will God be both holy

00:17:55.460 --> 00:17:57.180
 and merciful

00:17:57.180 --> 00:17:58.900
 toward his fallen,

00:17:59.320 --> 00:18:00.220
 sinful creation?

00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:06.059
 And that question finds its resolution

00:18:06.059 --> 00:18:08.220
 in one place.

00:18:09.240 --> 00:18:12.140
 The cross of Jesus Christ.

00:18:13.400 --> 00:18:14.539
 At the cross,

00:18:14.640 --> 00:18:16.640
 the holiness of God against sin

00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:19.299
 and the mercy of God for sinners

00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:22.180
 are both expressed in perfect measure.

00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:23.259
 Jesus,

00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:24.580
 fully God

00:18:24.580 --> 00:18:25.500
 and fully human,

00:18:25.880 --> 00:18:26.799
 takes the penalty

00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:27.740
 our sins deserve.

00:18:27.820 --> 00:18:28.039
 You see,

00:18:28.299 --> 00:18:30.380
 in God's utter holiness at the cross,

00:18:30.460 --> 00:18:31.980
 the penalty for sin is paid.

00:18:32.299 --> 00:18:34.759
 But in God's utter mercy at the cross,

00:18:34.840 --> 00:18:36.600
 the penalty for sin is paid

00:18:36.600 --> 00:18:38.460
 by God in our place.

00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:41.620
 Through the cross,

00:18:41.720 --> 00:18:42.860
 our sins can be forgiven

00:18:42.860 --> 00:18:44.660
 and we can enter

00:18:44.660 --> 00:18:46.080
 the city of God

00:18:46.080 --> 00:18:47.779
 as the children of God.

00:18:47.779 --> 00:18:48.779
 God's utter holiness.

00:18:48.779 --> 00:18:51.460
 And so,

00:18:51.460 --> 00:18:54.859
 are you a part of this city,

00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:55.899
 this people?

00:18:56.859 --> 00:18:58.139
 Have you placed your trust

00:18:58.139 --> 00:18:59.059
 in Christ alone

00:18:59.059 --> 00:19:00.059
 as your Savior?

00:19:01.139 --> 00:19:03.200
 What's offered to us in Christ

00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:04.519
 is a river whose streams

00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:05.480
 never run dry,

00:19:05.799 --> 00:19:07.160
 a river of grace,

00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:08.399
 a river of mercy,

00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:10.559
 a river of God's own spirit.

00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:14.819
 A pastor in Italy

00:19:14.819 --> 00:19:16.240
 recently wrote an article

00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:16.779
 called

00:19:16.779 --> 00:19:18.299
 Eight Things the Coronavirus

00:19:18.299 --> 00:19:19.399
 Should Teach Us.

00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:22.240
 The first thing he mentioned

00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:23.500
 was that it should teach us

00:19:23.500 --> 00:19:24.200
 our frailty.

00:19:25.639 --> 00:19:27.000
 As human beings,

00:19:27.220 --> 00:19:29.079
 we are weak and frail

00:19:29.079 --> 00:19:30.839
 and the days that we have

00:19:30.839 --> 00:19:32.099
 on this earth are limited.

00:19:33.159 --> 00:19:34.440
 And so much of our time

00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:35.740
 is spent in pursuits

00:19:35.740 --> 00:19:36.899
 that don't last.

00:19:36.900 --> 00:19:40.540
 So here we are

00:19:40.540 --> 00:19:42.460
 at a moment

00:19:42.460 --> 00:19:45.660
 where we are being

00:19:45.660 --> 00:19:47.720
 prompted to consider

00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:50.460
 what really matters.

00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:54.380
 Where do we stand spiritually?

00:19:56.540 --> 00:19:58.480
 Rather than living in fear,

00:19:59.340 --> 00:20:01.100
 Psalm 46 calls us

00:20:01.100 --> 00:20:02.200
 to saving faith,

00:20:02.680 --> 00:20:04.580
 to enter the city of God

00:20:04.580 --> 00:20:06.160
 through the Son of God

00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:07.380
 that we might enjoy

00:20:07.380 --> 00:20:08.540
 the eternal river

00:20:08.540 --> 00:20:09.980
 of the Spirit of God.

00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:12.880
 And if you haven't yet,

00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:14.259
 now is the time

00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:15.279
 to enter in.

00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:20.040
 But there's one last stanza

00:20:20.040 --> 00:20:21.460
 of Psalm 46.

00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:23.259
 We've seen that God

00:20:23.259 --> 00:20:24.000
 is our refuge

00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:25.259
 and that means

00:20:25.259 --> 00:20:25.840
 that we don't need

00:20:25.840 --> 00:20:26.460
 to live in fear

00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:27.880
 of natural calamities

00:20:27.880 --> 00:20:28.759
 and we don't need

00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:29.300
 to live in fear

00:20:29.300 --> 00:20:30.759
 of societal upheaval.

00:20:31.620 --> 00:20:33.160
 Now verses 8 through 11

00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:34.420
 show us that we don't need

00:20:34.420 --> 00:20:35.340
 to live in fear

00:20:35.339 --> 00:20:37.399
 of future uncertainty.

00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:41.919
 Verse 8 invites us

00:20:41.919 --> 00:20:43.199
 to behold the works

00:20:43.199 --> 00:20:43.819
 of the Lord.

00:20:44.959 --> 00:20:46.079
 Desolations they're called.

00:20:46.939 --> 00:20:47.759
 But what are

00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:48.779
 these desolations?

00:20:48.779 --> 00:20:51.240
 And then in verse 9

00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:52.819
 we are shown

00:20:52.819 --> 00:20:53.759
 a battlefield.

00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:56.720
 But the battle

00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:58.339
 is over.

00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:00.740
 The bow

00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:01.279
 is broken.

00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:02.920
 The spear

00:21:02.920 --> 00:21:03.480
 is shattered.

00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:04.599
 The chariots

00:21:04.599 --> 00:21:05.099
 are burned.

00:21:06.900 --> 00:21:07.539
 God

00:21:07.539 --> 00:21:09.299
 has won

00:21:09.299 --> 00:21:10.940
 the great victory

00:21:10.940 --> 00:21:12.680
 and the call

00:21:12.680 --> 00:21:13.359
 goes out

00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:14.259
 be still

00:21:14.259 --> 00:21:14.839
 and know

00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:15.839
 that I

00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:17.019
 am God.

00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:17.900
 God

00:21:17.900 --> 00:21:18.599
 exalted

00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:19.480
 among the nations.

00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:20.160
 God

00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:20.799
 exalted

00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:21.879
 in the earth.

00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:24.220
 What the psalmist

00:21:24.220 --> 00:21:25.139
 is showing us here

00:21:25.139 --> 00:21:26.240
 with this gripping

00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:26.700
 imagery

00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:30.079
 is that we know

00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:32.180
 how the story

00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:32.980
 ultimately

00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:33.779
 ends.

00:21:35.359 --> 00:21:35.619
 God

00:21:35.619 --> 00:21:36.460
 will defeat

00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:37.359
 the foes

00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:37.980
 of sin

00:21:37.980 --> 00:21:38.919
 and death

00:21:38.919 --> 00:21:39.740
 and evil

00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:40.480
 that have corrupted

00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:41.339
 his good world.

00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:42.399
 The warfare

00:21:42.399 --> 00:21:43.460
 of this fallen

00:21:43.460 --> 00:21:44.139
 world

00:21:44.139 --> 00:21:44.879
 will one day

00:21:44.879 --> 00:21:45.419
 cease

00:21:45.419 --> 00:21:46.240
 and God

00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:46.919
 will be all

00:21:46.919 --> 00:21:47.480
 in all.

00:21:47.480 --> 00:21:50.259
 And that

00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:50.860
 means no matter

00:21:50.860 --> 00:21:51.579
 what the

00:21:51.579 --> 00:21:52.200
 uncertainty

00:21:52.200 --> 00:21:52.860
 the future

00:21:52.860 --> 00:21:53.599
 may hold

00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:55.140
 because we

00:21:55.140 --> 00:21:55.559
 know how

00:21:55.559 --> 00:21:56.059
 the story

00:21:56.059 --> 00:21:56.660
 will end

00:21:56.660 --> 00:21:57.079
 we need

00:21:57.079 --> 00:21:57.579
 not be

00:21:57.579 --> 00:21:58.039
 afraid.

00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:00.319
 As Paul

00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:00.640
 says in

00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:01.059
 Romans 8

00:22:01.059 --> 00:22:01.559
 creation

00:22:01.559 --> 00:22:02.500
 will one

00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:02.880
 day be

00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:03.559
 set free

00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:04.019
 from its

00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:04.420
 bondage

00:22:04.420 --> 00:22:05.000
 to corruption.

00:22:06.539 --> 00:22:07.019
 God's

00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:07.500
 glory will

00:22:07.500 --> 00:22:07.940
 cover the

00:22:07.940 --> 00:22:08.299
 earth like

00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:08.779
 the waters

00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.220
 cover the

00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:09.400
 sea.

00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:09.700
 God

00:22:09.700 --> 00:22:10.339
 will judge

00:22:10.339 --> 00:22:10.880
 his world

00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:11.480
 he will

00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:11.920
 judge

00:22:11.920 --> 00:22:12.299
 sin and

00:22:12.299 --> 00:22:12.539
 death

00:22:12.539 --> 00:22:13.539
 and make

00:22:13.539 --> 00:22:14.019
 all things

00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:14.799
 new and

00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:15.259
 that day

00:22:15.259 --> 00:22:15.980
 will be so

00:22:15.980 --> 00:22:16.559
 good that

00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:17.279
 Paul can

00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:18.079
 say I

00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:18.659
 consider

00:22:18.659 --> 00:22:19.339
 that the

00:22:19.339 --> 00:22:19.859
 sufferings

00:22:19.859 --> 00:22:20.159
 of this

00:22:20.159 --> 00:22:20.500
 present

00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:20.919
 time

00:22:20.919 --> 00:22:21.379
 are not

00:22:21.379 --> 00:22:21.599
 worth

00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:22.200
 comparing

00:22:22.200 --> 00:22:22.899
 with the

00:22:22.899 --> 00:22:23.259
 glory

00:22:23.259 --> 00:22:23.619
 that is

00:22:23.619 --> 00:22:23.879
 to be

00:22:23.879 --> 00:22:24.200
 revealed

00:22:24.200 --> 00:22:24.779
 to us.

00:22:27.099 --> 00:22:27.839
 And if

00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:28.759
 we know

00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:30.240
 as Christians

00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:30.740
 that we

00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:31.619
 can stand

00:22:31.619 --> 00:22:32.419
 confident

00:22:32.419 --> 00:22:33.819
 before God

00:22:33.819 --> 00:22:34.500
 in the

00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:34.879
 judgment

00:22:34.879 --> 00:22:37.500
 if we

00:22:37.500 --> 00:22:37.759
 know that

00:22:37.759 --> 00:22:38.059
 we can

00:22:38.059 --> 00:22:38.319
 stand

00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:38.980
 confident

00:22:38.980 --> 00:22:40.000
 before God

00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:40.399
 when he

00:22:40.399 --> 00:22:40.919
 comes

00:22:40.919 --> 00:22:41.740
 because of

00:22:41.740 --> 00:22:42.240
 the finished

00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:42.720
 work of

00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:43.200
 Christ

00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:43.740
 if that

00:22:43.740 --> 00:22:44.079
 is our

00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:44.839
 confidence

00:22:44.839 --> 00:22:48.099
 then we

00:22:48.099 --> 00:22:48.480
 will be

00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:48.959
 able to

00:22:48.959 --> 00:22:49.319
 stand

00:22:49.319 --> 00:22:50.079
 confidently

00:22:50.079 --> 00:22:51.639
 no matter

00:22:51.639 --> 00:22:52.139
 what

00:22:52.139 --> 00:22:53.500
 the near

00:22:53.500 --> 00:22:53.859
 future

00:22:53.859 --> 00:22:54.439
 might hold.

00:22:55.819 --> 00:22:56.699
 We need

00:22:56.699 --> 00:22:57.099
 not fear

00:22:57.099 --> 00:22:57.619
 sickness

00:22:57.619 --> 00:22:58.619
 pain

00:22:58.619 --> 00:22:59.539
 poverty

00:22:59.539 --> 00:23:00.399
 even death

00:23:00.399 --> 00:23:01.939
 because none

00:23:01.939 --> 00:23:02.339
 of these

00:23:02.339 --> 00:23:02.959
 things can

00:23:02.959 --> 00:23:03.859
 separate us

00:23:03.859 --> 00:23:04.579
 from the

00:23:04.579 --> 00:23:04.919
 love of

00:23:04.919 --> 00:23:05.319
 God

00:23:05.319 --> 00:23:06.279
 in Christ

00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:06.619
 Jesus

00:23:06.619 --> 00:23:07.220
 our Lord.

00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:09.679
 And

00:23:09.679 --> 00:23:09.879
 throughout

00:23:09.879 --> 00:23:10.259
 history

00:23:10.259 --> 00:23:10.720
 this is

00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:11.139
 what has

00:23:11.139 --> 00:23:11.819
 always made

00:23:11.819 --> 00:23:12.299
 the church

00:23:12.299 --> 00:23:13.220
 stand apart

00:23:13.220 --> 00:23:13.859
 in times

00:23:13.859 --> 00:23:14.500
 of crisis.

00:23:14.839 --> 00:23:15.759
 our hope

00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:16.439
 in Christ

00:23:16.439 --> 00:23:18.699
 that sickness

00:23:18.699 --> 00:23:19.159
 and death

00:23:19.159 --> 00:23:19.500
 is not

00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:19.899
 the last

00:23:19.899 --> 00:23:20.159
 word

00:23:20.159 --> 00:23:20.659
 that what

00:23:20.659 --> 00:23:21.059
 God has

00:23:21.059 --> 00:23:21.439
 in store

00:23:21.439 --> 00:23:21.779
 for his

00:23:21.779 --> 00:23:22.059
 children

00:23:22.059 --> 00:23:22.779
 is resurrection

00:23:22.779 --> 00:23:23.159
 life.

00:23:23.299 --> 00:23:23.480
 This is

00:23:23.480 --> 00:23:24.159
 always given

00:23:24.159 --> 00:23:24.539
 the church

00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:25.039
 wisdom

00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:25.980
 and courage

00:23:25.980 --> 00:23:26.519
 in the face

00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:27.039
 of fear

00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:27.679
 whether in

00:23:27.679 --> 00:23:28.059
 the second

00:23:28.059 --> 00:23:28.559
 century

00:23:28.559 --> 00:23:29.179
 or in

00:23:29.179 --> 00:23:29.919
 the 16th

00:23:29.919 --> 00:23:30.279
 century

00:23:30.279 --> 00:23:30.939
 or today

00:23:30.939 --> 00:23:31.179
 in the

00:23:31.179 --> 00:23:31.740
 21st

00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:32.199
 century.

00:23:35.579 --> 00:23:36.359
 And that

00:23:36.359 --> 00:23:36.779
 means we

00:23:36.779 --> 00:23:37.519
 are called

00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:38.259
 not just

00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:38.879
 to love

00:23:38.879 --> 00:23:39.839
 not just

00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:40.419
 to faith

00:23:40.419 --> 00:23:41.480
 but finally

00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:42.339
 to testify

00:23:42.339 --> 00:23:43.319
 to our

00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:43.839
 hope.

00:23:44.839 --> 00:23:46.359
 to tell

00:23:46.359 --> 00:23:46.639
 others

00:23:46.639 --> 00:23:47.039
 that we

00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:47.399
 have a

00:23:47.399 --> 00:23:47.679
 hope

00:23:47.679 --> 00:23:48.439
 that reaches

00:23:48.439 --> 00:23:49.139
 beyond the

00:23:49.139 --> 00:23:49.579
 grave

00:23:49.579 --> 00:23:50.659
 beyond death

00:23:50.659 --> 00:23:51.299
 and ends

00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:52.039
 in newness

00:23:52.039 --> 00:23:52.679
 of life.

00:23:53.759 --> 00:23:54.759
 What gives

00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:55.119
 us that

00:23:55.119 --> 00:23:55.439
 hope?

00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:57.240
 Nothing

00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:57.879
 about

00:23:57.879 --> 00:23:58.559
 ourselves

00:23:58.559 --> 00:24:00.079
 everything

00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:00.679
 about

00:24:00.679 --> 00:24:01.179
 Jesus

00:24:01.179 --> 00:24:02.139
 Jesus

00:24:02.139 --> 00:24:02.579
 who said

00:24:02.579 --> 00:24:03.599
 I am

00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:04.240
 the resurrection

00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:04.799
 and the life

00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:05.519
 and then

00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:06.980
 who died

00:24:06.980 --> 00:24:07.399
 and rose

00:24:07.399 --> 00:24:07.980
 again to

00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:08.519
 prove that

00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:09.019
 his words

00:24:09.019 --> 00:24:09.599
 were true.

00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:13.119
 in the

00:24:13.119 --> 00:24:13.519
 days and

00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:13.919
 weeks to

00:24:13.919 --> 00:24:14.219
 come

00:24:14.219 --> 00:24:14.819
 brothers and

00:24:14.819 --> 00:24:15.099
 sisters

00:24:15.099 --> 00:24:15.659
 may God

00:24:15.659 --> 00:24:16.339
 give us

00:24:16.339 --> 00:24:16.899
 the wisdom

00:24:16.899 --> 00:24:17.779
 and the

00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:18.319
 courage

00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:19.319
 to bear

00:24:19.319 --> 00:24:20.039
 witness to

00:24:20.039 --> 00:24:20.659
 this great

00:24:20.659 --> 00:24:21.319
 hope that

00:24:21.319 --> 00:24:21.959
 we have

00:24:21.959 --> 00:24:22.579
 in Jesus

00:24:22.579 --> 00:24:25.099
 to our

00:24:25.099 --> 00:24:25.579
 family

00:24:25.579 --> 00:24:26.500
 to our

00:24:26.500 --> 00:24:27.000
 neighbors

00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:27.939
 to our

00:24:27.939 --> 00:24:28.519
 co-workers

00:24:28.519 --> 00:24:30.819
 may we

00:24:30.819 --> 00:24:31.659
 pray for

00:24:31.659 --> 00:24:32.299
 opportunities

00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:32.939
 to speak

00:24:32.939 --> 00:24:33.419
 about this

00:24:33.419 --> 00:24:33.799
 hope with

00:24:33.799 --> 00:24:34.299
 confidence

00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:34.679
 and with

00:24:34.679 --> 00:24:35.139
 love

00:24:35.140 --> 00:24:39.140
 and may

00:24:39.140 --> 00:24:39.320
 our

00:24:39.320 --> 00:24:39.620
 neighbors

00:24:39.620 --> 00:24:40.080
 see in

00:24:40.080 --> 00:24:40.880
 us a

00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:41.160
 living

00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:41.759
 example

00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:42.540
 of what

00:24:42.540 --> 00:24:43.240
 Psalm 46

00:24:43.240 --> 00:24:43.759
 is all

00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:44.100
 about

00:24:44.100 --> 00:24:44.960
 that because

00:24:44.960 --> 00:24:45.380
 God is

00:24:45.380 --> 00:24:46.080
 our refuge

00:24:46.080 --> 00:24:47.040
 we need

00:24:47.040 --> 00:24:47.580
 not fear

00:24:47.580 --> 00:24:49.640
 because God

00:24:49.640 --> 00:24:49.920
 is our

00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:50.500
 refuge we

00:24:50.500 --> 00:24:51.040
 can live

00:24:51.040 --> 00:24:51.740
 with love

00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:52.800
 and faith

00:24:52.800 --> 00:24:53.680
 and hope

00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:54.320
 even in

00:24:54.320 --> 00:24:54.720
 the midst

00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:55.500
 of tumultuous

00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:56.040
 times

00:24:56.040 --> 00:24:57.560
 and through

00:24:57.560 --> 00:24:58.180
 it all

00:24:58.180 --> 00:25:00.500
 may God

00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:01.100
 be exalted

00:25:01.100 --> 00:25:02.320
 as verse 10

00:25:02.320 --> 00:25:02.740
 says

00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:04.220
 may God

00:25:04.220 --> 00:25:04.900
 be exalted

00:25:04.900 --> 00:25:05.580
 through his

00:25:05.580 --> 00:25:06.380
 church among

00:25:06.380 --> 00:25:07.300
 all nations

00:25:07.300 --> 00:25:08.340
 exalted in

00:25:08.340 --> 00:25:08.860
 all the

00:25:08.860 --> 00:25:09.220
 earth

00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:11.120
 may God's

00:25:11.120 --> 00:25:11.820
 name be

00:25:11.820 --> 00:25:12.940
 known as

00:25:12.940 --> 00:25:14.060
 good and

00:25:14.060 --> 00:25:14.460
 great

00:25:14.460 --> 00:25:16.580
 let's pray

00:25:16.580 --> 00:25:16.980
 together

00:25:16.980 --> 00:25:25.660
 oh God

00:25:25.660 --> 00:25:26.200
 we pray

00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:28.680
 that you

00:25:28.680 --> 00:25:29.100
 would continue

00:25:29.100 --> 00:25:29.480
 to grant

00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:30.080
 your church

00:25:30.080 --> 00:25:30.940
 not just

00:25:30.940 --> 00:25:31.200
 here in

00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:31.620
 New Haven

00:25:31.620 --> 00:25:32.200
 not just

00:25:32.200 --> 00:25:32.460
 here in

00:25:32.460 --> 00:25:32.820
 the United

00:25:32.820 --> 00:25:33.420
 States

00:25:33.420 --> 00:25:34.460
 but all

00:25:34.460 --> 00:25:35.100
 across this

00:25:35.100 --> 00:25:35.380
 world

00:25:35.380 --> 00:25:35.660
 that you

00:25:35.660 --> 00:25:36.100
 have made

00:25:36.100 --> 00:25:36.400
 would you

00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:37.100
 continue to

00:25:37.100 --> 00:25:37.620
 grant your

00:25:37.620 --> 00:25:38.120
 church

00:25:38.120 --> 00:25:39.920
 a deep

00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:40.440
 sense

00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:41.799
 of confidence

00:25:41.799 --> 00:25:43.620
 and faith

00:25:43.620 --> 00:25:44.779
 in the

00:25:44.779 --> 00:25:45.120
 midst

00:25:45.120 --> 00:25:46.380
 of tumultuous

00:25:46.380 --> 00:25:46.940
 times

00:25:46.940 --> 00:25:48.880
 Lord help

00:25:48.880 --> 00:25:49.579
 us to be

00:25:49.579 --> 00:25:50.299
 a people

00:25:50.299 --> 00:25:52.620
 of faith

00:25:52.620 --> 00:25:53.240
 and hope

00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:54.100
 and love

00:25:54.099 --> 00:26:00.079
 father

00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:00.279
 father we

00:26:00.279 --> 00:26:00.719
 ask all

00:26:00.719 --> 00:26:01.039
 this

00:26:01.039 --> 00:26:01.719
 in the

00:26:01.719 --> 00:26:02.099
 strong

00:26:02.099 --> 00:26:02.319
 name

00:26:02.319 --> 00:26:02.480
 of

00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:02.799
 Jesus

00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:03.500
 and in

00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:03.639
 the

00:26:03.639 --> 00:26:03.939
 power

00:26:03.939 --> 00:26:04.179
 of your

00:26:04.179 --> 00:26:04.419
 Holy

00:26:04.419 --> 00:26:04.859
 Spirit

00:26:04.859 --> 00:26:05.679
 amen

00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:14.660
 and

00:26:14.660 --> 00:26:15.019
 love

00:26:15.060 --> 00:26:15.560
 and

00:26:15.560 --> 00:26:15.660
 love

00:26:15.660 --> 00:26:16.519
 for

00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:17.560
 and

00:26:17.560 --> 00:26:18.840
 how

00:26:18.840 --> 00:26:19.160
 they

00:26:19.160 --> 00:26:20.039
 can

00:26:20.039 --> 00:26:20.299
 for

00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:20.820
 so