WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.279 This is Deuteronomy, chapter 15, verses 1 to 11, and that's on page 194, if you've got one of these red Bibles. 00:00:16.920 --> 00:00:22.500 At the end of every seven years, you must cancel debts. This is how it is to be done. 00:00:23.219 --> 00:00:27.160 Every creditor shall cancel the loan he has made to his fellow Israelites. 00:00:27.160 --> 00:00:34.659 He shall not require payment from his fellow Israelite or brother, because the Lord's time for cancelling debts has been proclaimed. 00:00:35.840 --> 00:00:40.880 You may require payment from a foreigner, but you must cancel any debt your brother owes you. 00:00:41.700 --> 00:00:50.179 However, there should be no poor among you, for in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you. 00:00:50.179 --> 00:00:57.320 If only you fully obey the Lord your God, and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today. 00:00:57.320 --> 00:01:05.659 For the Lord your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations, but will borrow from none. 00:01:06.319 --> 00:01:10.140 You will rule over many nations, but none will rule over you. 00:01:10.140 --> 00:01:18.359 If there is a poor man among you, or among your brothers, in any of the towns in the land that the Lord your God has given you, 00:01:18.859 --> 00:01:22.180 do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted towards your poor brother. 00:01:23.239 --> 00:01:27.219 Rather, be open-handed and freely lend him whatever he needs. 00:01:27.900 --> 00:01:30.140 Be careful not to harbour this wicked thought. 00:01:30.680 --> 00:01:33.319 The seventh year, the year for cancelling debts is near, 00:01:33.319 --> 00:01:38.119 so that you do not show ill-will towards your needy brother and give him nothing. 00:01:39.039 --> 00:01:43.039 He may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. 00:01:44.139 --> 00:01:47.500 Give generously to him, and do so without a grudging heart. 00:01:48.399 --> 00:01:54.299 Then, because of this, the Lord your God will bless you in all your work, and in everything you put your hand to. 00:01:55.459 --> 00:01:57.619 There will always be poor people in the land. 00:01:57.620 --> 00:02:04.420 Therefore, I command you to be open-handed towards your brothers, and towards the poor and needy in your land. 00:02:19.719 --> 00:02:20.980 Thanks very much, Alex. 00:02:20.979 --> 00:02:29.479 Well, we're making our way through Deuteronomy. 00:02:30.579 --> 00:02:33.679 Don't fear, we're not going to go through every single law. 00:02:35.659 --> 00:02:42.939 While I'm away, there'll be others speaking, and they're going to be jumping right the way up to chapter 26 and 27. 00:02:44.139 --> 00:02:49.579 But they're great things to read, and we're going to be looking at one particular law, one particular command. 00:02:49.580 --> 00:02:58.280 And this morning, as the people moved into the land, the promised land, so God gave them laws, which they were to live with. 00:02:59.360 --> 00:03:05.120 Let's ask for God's help to see how this applies to us today. 00:03:06.500 --> 00:03:09.580 Father, we thank you for this amazing book. 00:03:09.580 --> 00:03:16.660 And we come afresh to hear of your amazing grace. 00:03:19.860 --> 00:03:21.500 We are needy people. 00:03:23.200 --> 00:03:25.300 In many ways, we are poor. 00:03:25.300 --> 00:03:34.760 And we need you to fill us with your grace, to enrich us, so that we may know you better. 00:03:37.520 --> 00:03:43.680 And we pray that by your Holy Spirit, you would help us to know you better today. 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:48.060 And we ask this in Jesus' name. 00:03:48.960 --> 00:03:49.360 Amen. 00:03:52.960 --> 00:04:00.560 A pastor, writing in a book, commented on an article that he had been reading. 00:04:01.900 --> 00:04:06.700 The heading on one side of the page read this. 00:04:06.699 --> 00:04:13.099 First Baptist Church celebrates new $23 million building. 00:04:14.439 --> 00:04:22.180 And an article followed underneath, detailing the wonderful interior, the marble, and the stained glass windows. 00:04:23.639 --> 00:04:27.860 Opposite, on the other side of the page, was another heading. 00:04:29.219 --> 00:04:32.620 Baptist relief helps Sudanese refugees. 00:04:32.620 --> 00:04:42.519 And the article described how 350,000 refugees in Western Sudan were dying from malnutrition. 00:04:43.399 --> 00:04:46.300 At the end of that article was this. 00:04:47.379 --> 00:04:54.360 Baptists have raised $5,000 to send to refugees in Western Sudan. 00:04:56.240 --> 00:05:00.220 I hope your reaction is the same as mine. 00:05:00.220 --> 00:05:04.420 But let's not be pointing the finger. 00:05:06.040 --> 00:05:09.620 What is our response to the poor? 00:05:10.440 --> 00:05:22.020 Whether in other lands far away, or increasingly so, the poor in our own country who are facing difficult economic times. 00:05:22.019 --> 00:05:27.779 Well, three things we're going to look at from this section here. 00:05:27.899 --> 00:05:30.439 First, God's love for the poor. 00:05:31.639 --> 00:05:34.299 God's love for the poor is unmistakable. 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:39.639 Chapter 15, verse 4, we're told that there should be no poor among you. 00:05:40.759 --> 00:05:46.439 That meant whether you were local or somebody from outside, there was to be no poor among you. 00:05:46.439 --> 00:05:48.980 But, look down at verse 11. 00:05:50.120 --> 00:05:54.319 It tells us there that there will always be poor people in the land. 00:05:54.740 --> 00:05:55.699 So which is it? 00:05:57.860 --> 00:05:59.660 Well, it's not a contradiction. 00:06:01.019 --> 00:06:07.600 Rather, this is God expressing his heart's desire that poverty be completely removed. 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:12.980 However, the reality is there will always be people who are poor. 00:06:14.520 --> 00:06:17.600 And people become poor through a number of different ways. 00:06:17.740 --> 00:06:25.400 Either through the oppression of others, like greedy multinationals who operate sweatshops to meet the demands of cheap goods. 00:06:26.500 --> 00:06:33.460 It could be the effects of natural disasters like flooding or drought that ruins crops or destroys businesses. 00:06:33.459 --> 00:06:37.060 Or it could be the moral failure of ourselves. 00:06:37.239 --> 00:06:41.139 Just pure laziness, poor choices and selfish living. 00:06:41.579 --> 00:06:45.839 All of these things and any combination of them can cause poverty. 00:06:47.299 --> 00:06:54.319 But God's desire, his response is that poverty is to be eradicated. 00:06:55.199 --> 00:06:57.679 Because this is the kind of God that he is. 00:06:57.680 --> 00:07:04.280 Look at how God describes himself in chapter 10, verse 17. 00:07:04.439 --> 00:07:06.019 Chapter 10, verse 17. 00:07:16.680 --> 00:07:18.540 Chapter 10, verse 17. 00:07:18.540 --> 00:07:28.160 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. 00:07:29.160 --> 00:07:40.340 He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow and loves the alien, the outsider, giving him food and clothing. 00:07:40.339 --> 00:07:45.339 And you are to love those who are outsiders. 00:07:46.179 --> 00:07:50.119 For you yourselves were outsiders in Egypt. 00:07:50.979 --> 00:07:52.620 Look, he's reminding them. 00:07:52.699 --> 00:07:57.639 You were once poor and enslaved in Egypt, in captivity. 00:07:58.219 --> 00:08:00.459 But I released you from poverty. 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:05.899 And I have brought you into a good and a prosperous land full of plenty. 00:08:06.500 --> 00:08:09.839 You've experienced God's generous and gracious love. 00:08:10.339 --> 00:08:17.599 Therefore, you also must display this same gracious and generous love to the poor who are around you. 00:08:18.739 --> 00:08:27.879 And of course, those who are considered the most poor, as it says there in verse 18, they were the orphan, the widow, the refugee. 00:08:28.179 --> 00:08:30.639 These were people who had no land or property. 00:08:31.239 --> 00:08:34.039 Therefore, they had no means of sustaining themselves. 00:08:34.039 --> 00:08:45.620 And if we are in any doubt at all as to God's concern for the poor, listen to this from Deuteronomy 27, verse 19. 00:08:45.759 --> 00:08:46.740 Let me read it to you. 00:08:47.179 --> 00:08:55.679 Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the alien, the fatherless or the widow. 00:08:55.679 --> 00:08:59.339 Then all the people shall say, Amen. 00:09:01.000 --> 00:09:02.919 You see, God loves the poor. 00:09:03.779 --> 00:09:09.099 And his desire is quite clear to eradicate all poverty. 00:09:11.319 --> 00:09:17.979 But second, God's grace in action or God's grace in our life. 00:09:17.980 --> 00:09:25.240 God's love for the poor is expressed through the commands that he gives to his people. 00:09:25.800 --> 00:09:33.700 In other words, if God's people begin to obey God's law, so God's grace is seen in action. 00:09:34.440 --> 00:09:38.519 So let's look at chapter 15, verse 1 of Deuteronomy. 00:09:38.519 --> 00:09:44.960 At the end of every seven years, you must cancel debts. 00:09:45.860 --> 00:09:50.039 Now, I think Ireland knows all about debt, don't we? 00:09:50.220 --> 00:09:51.819 And most of us have debt. 00:09:52.379 --> 00:09:55.179 We've got a mortgage or some other kind of loan. 00:09:56.240 --> 00:10:03.279 And we all know that if you're not able to pay off your debts, well, it can lead to terrible poverty. 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:07.360 And that's what we see within our own country at the minute. 00:10:08.519 --> 00:10:13.480 Well, through the law that God offered to, or through God's law, 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:18.659 he offered grace to those who found themselves in poverty. 00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:22.100 He provided a way out, as it were. 00:10:22.439 --> 00:10:24.279 Let's read verse 1 again. 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:27.259 At the end of seven years, you must cancel debts. 00:10:27.559 --> 00:10:28.980 This is how it is to be done. 00:10:30.100 --> 00:10:34.379 Every creditor shall cancel the loan he has made to his fellow Israelite. 00:10:34.379 --> 00:10:40.059 He shall not require payment from his fellow Israelite or brother, 00:10:40.299 --> 00:10:46.419 because the Lord's time for cancelling debts has been proclaimed. 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:50.740 You see, when God's people moved into the Promised Land, 00:10:50.860 --> 00:10:59.039 every tribe, every clan, every family was allotted a piece of ground for their provision. 00:10:59.039 --> 00:11:02.899 Everybody had their own little allotment, as it were. 00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:08.579 A place where they could keep their cattle to graze, and they could grow a few veg. 00:11:09.339 --> 00:11:14.860 Now, as the years passed, some did very well, while others, for various reasons, 00:11:15.000 --> 00:11:17.939 maybe they were lazy and they didn't dig their garden very well, 00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:22.240 and they had to take out a loan, which left them in terrible debt. 00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:28.440 And, of course, the idea was that over the years they would try and pay back that loan, 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:29.779 as they were able. 00:11:30.080 --> 00:11:32.560 But if they weren't able to pay back that loan, 00:11:33.899 --> 00:11:39.519 the law said that every seventh year, the loan was to be cancelled. 00:11:39.779 --> 00:11:42.259 The debt was to be written off. 00:11:42.259 --> 00:11:44.980 And the reason? 00:11:46.120 --> 00:11:47.960 Because, at the end of verse 2, 00:11:48.539 --> 00:11:53.259 the Lord's time for cancelling debts has been proclaimed. 00:11:54.340 --> 00:11:58.939 So God is saying, look, I am the God who provides a way for you. 00:11:59.059 --> 00:12:04.860 I am the God who cares for the poor and will release them from poverty. 00:12:04.860 --> 00:12:11.659 You see, this debt, or the cancelling of debts, 00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:18.820 was provided for each family so that they would have a fresh start, 00:12:19.680 --> 00:12:20.800 a new beginning. 00:12:21.560 --> 00:12:26.139 It meant that the slate was completely wiped clean. 00:12:27.460 --> 00:12:31.019 In fact, the law also stated that every 49 years, 00:12:31.340 --> 00:12:33.440 it was the year of the Jubilee. 00:12:33.440 --> 00:12:38.180 And that meant that every piece of land that had been passed on to other people 00:12:38.180 --> 00:12:42.460 because of debts had to be given back to the original landowner. 00:12:43.480 --> 00:12:48.960 So God's law was put in place to give the people a fresh start. 00:12:50.340 --> 00:12:54.320 Now, could you imagine if every seven years 00:12:54.320 --> 00:12:57.800 you had a visit from your bank manager 00:12:57.799 --> 00:13:00.639 coming to your house to tell you that 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:03.459 all debts have been cancelled, 00:13:04.359 --> 00:13:06.699 whether you were at the Ulster Bank or whoever it is, 00:13:07.779 --> 00:13:08.539 could you imagine? 00:13:08.939 --> 00:13:09.759 What a joy! 00:13:09.919 --> 00:13:10.559 What a relief! 00:13:10.639 --> 00:13:11.899 The sense of freedom, 00:13:12.699 --> 00:13:15.899 the weight that had been tying you down for so long, 00:13:16.039 --> 00:13:17.579 has now been lifted, 00:13:17.580 --> 00:13:21.940 and poverty is no longer a burden to carry. 00:13:23.379 --> 00:13:25.820 You see, God's law obeyed 00:13:25.820 --> 00:13:29.500 with God's grace in action. 00:13:29.940 --> 00:13:32.000 It was really quite radical. 00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:36.720 And no other nation had these kinds of laws. 00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:40.399 The other nations that surrounded Israel 00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:41.259 looked to them and said, 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:42.120 Wow! 00:13:42.379 --> 00:13:43.920 What an amazing nation! 00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:47.360 What a God who would provide these kinds of laws! 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:49.379 We don't have anything like this. 00:13:50.340 --> 00:13:51.680 For everybody else, 00:13:51.879 --> 00:13:53.800 it was, well, if you got into poverty, 00:13:54.740 --> 00:13:56.200 well, that was your own fault. 00:13:56.800 --> 00:13:57.740 If you were poor, 00:13:58.180 --> 00:14:00.740 well, the gods must be angry at what you had done, 00:14:00.800 --> 00:14:01.920 and they've cursed you. 00:14:01.919 --> 00:14:04.559 But for God's people, 00:14:04.719 --> 00:14:07.039 he was providing a means for a fresh start. 00:14:07.439 --> 00:14:10.459 God was teaching them this very simple lesson. 00:14:11.479 --> 00:14:14.399 I am the God who cancels debts, 00:14:15.079 --> 00:14:16.639 wipes the slate clean, 00:14:17.139 --> 00:14:19.879 and releases you from poverty. 00:14:23.899 --> 00:14:24.959 Well, you think, 00:14:25.079 --> 00:14:25.339 Wow! 00:14:25.539 --> 00:14:27.399 I'm going to try this out tomorrow. 00:14:27.980 --> 00:14:28.099 Hmm? 00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:29.959 But you know what? 00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:32.879 We're going to end up in all kinds of trouble 00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:35.400 if we try and apply this directly. 00:14:36.280 --> 00:14:38.600 If you went down to your bank manager tomorrow 00:14:38.600 --> 00:14:41.100 and you opened up before him Deuteronomy 15, 00:14:42.460 --> 00:14:44.700 Mr. Manager, or Miss Manager, 00:14:46.019 --> 00:14:47.220 it's the seventh year. 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:48.639 Cancel my debts! 00:14:49.680 --> 00:14:51.100 What would they say to you? 00:14:53.280 --> 00:14:54.940 Well, we must remember, 00:14:55.500 --> 00:14:56.960 these laws were given 00:14:56.960 --> 00:14:59.259 to a particular people 00:14:59.259 --> 00:15:01.879 in a particular place. 00:15:02.920 --> 00:15:04.639 We're not Israelites, are we? 00:15:05.920 --> 00:15:07.240 Anybody here an Israelite? 00:15:08.420 --> 00:15:09.320 Didn't think so. 00:15:10.379 --> 00:15:13.160 They were living under an old covenant. 00:15:13.860 --> 00:15:15.460 We live under a new covenant. 00:15:15.980 --> 00:15:17.540 And I don't think anybody here 00:15:17.540 --> 00:15:20.220 has been allotted a particular piece of land by God, 00:15:20.280 --> 00:15:20.620 have you? 00:15:21.820 --> 00:15:22.580 Your house, 00:15:22.700 --> 00:15:24.259 did God give you that? 00:15:24.360 --> 00:15:24.740 Did he say, 00:15:24.740 --> 00:15:25.879 this is where you must live? 00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:28.840 You see, 00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:29.680 it would be wrong 00:15:29.680 --> 00:15:31.039 to expect these laws 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:34.200 to function in exactly the same way today. 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:35.960 However, 00:15:36.039 --> 00:15:37.100 as we have seen, 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:38.960 these laws are all about 00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:40.919 God's grace in action. 00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:43.680 That God does love the poor 00:15:43.680 --> 00:15:45.940 and it is God's desire 00:15:45.940 --> 00:15:47.680 to eradicate poverty. 00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:49.739 well, 00:15:49.779 --> 00:15:50.799 that's exactly 00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:54.039 what God has done for us 00:15:54.039 --> 00:15:55.819 through his son, 00:15:56.399 --> 00:15:57.319 Jesus Christ. 00:15:59.879 --> 00:16:01.779 We're going to come back to Deuteronomy 00:16:01.779 --> 00:16:03.559 and see how it does apply, 00:16:03.779 --> 00:16:05.039 more so in a minute, 00:16:05.199 --> 00:16:05.919 but for now, 00:16:06.079 --> 00:16:07.120 go forward to 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:08.419 Luke's Gospel, 00:16:08.679 --> 00:16:09.459 chapter 4. 00:16:09.460 --> 00:16:18.120 Luke's Gospel, 00:16:18.300 --> 00:16:19.120 chapter 4. 00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:22.259 And verse 20, 00:16:22.700 --> 00:16:22.820 well, 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:23.019 sorry, 00:16:23.139 --> 00:16:23.840 verse 16. 00:16:24.620 --> 00:16:25.240 Luke's Gospel, 00:16:25.400 --> 00:16:25.980 chapter 4, 00:16:26.060 --> 00:16:26.879 verse 16. 00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:38.980 Let's read Luke 4, 00:16:39.080 --> 00:16:39.740 verse 16. 00:16:41.740 --> 00:16:43.860 Jesus went to Nazareth 00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:45.620 where he had been brought up 00:16:45.620 --> 00:16:46.960 and on the Sabbath day 00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:48.340 he went into the synagogue 00:16:48.340 --> 00:16:50.379 as was his custom. 00:16:52.059 --> 00:16:53.740 And he stood up to read, 00:16:53.740 --> 00:16:57.019 the scroll of the prophet Isaiah 00:16:57.019 --> 00:16:58.220 was handed to him. 00:16:59.279 --> 00:16:59.519 Now, 00:16:59.580 --> 00:17:00.159 the prophets, 00:17:00.460 --> 00:17:01.539 people like Isaiah 00:17:01.539 --> 00:17:02.320 and Jeremiah 00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:03.060 and others, 00:17:04.099 --> 00:17:05.259 everything that they said 00:17:05.259 --> 00:17:06.640 was really a repeat 00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:08.000 or an application 00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:10.099 of what God's law 00:17:10.099 --> 00:17:10.559 had said. 00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:11.559 It was a reminder 00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:12.359 to the people 00:17:12.359 --> 00:17:13.799 of God's law. 00:17:14.019 --> 00:17:14.220 So, 00:17:15.420 --> 00:17:15.880 Jesus, 00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:17.259 the rest of verse 17, 00:17:17.460 --> 00:17:18.559 unrolling the scroll 00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:19.180 of Isaiah, 00:17:19.339 --> 00:17:20.319 he found the place 00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:21.440 where it is written. 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:24.539 The Spirit of the Lord 00:17:24.539 --> 00:17:25.380 is on me 00:17:25.380 --> 00:17:28.240 because he has anointed me 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:30.539 to preach good news 00:17:30.539 --> 00:17:31.620 to the poor. 00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:33.440 He has sent me 00:17:33.440 --> 00:17:34.660 to proclaim freedom 00:17:34.660 --> 00:17:35.640 for the prisoners 00:17:35.640 --> 00:17:37.759 and recovery of sight 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:38.539 for the blind, 00:17:39.019 --> 00:17:40.980 to release the oppressed, 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:44.700 to proclaim the year 00:17:44.700 --> 00:17:47.400 of the Lord's favour. 00:17:47.400 --> 00:17:49.820 Well, 00:17:49.860 --> 00:17:51.120 that's what we've just read 00:17:51.120 --> 00:17:52.140 in Deuteronomy, 00:17:52.259 --> 00:17:52.560 isn't it? 00:17:52.620 --> 00:17:53.620 Verse 19 there, 00:17:54.380 --> 00:17:55.780 the Lord's time 00:17:55.780 --> 00:17:57.480 for cancelling debts 00:17:57.480 --> 00:17:58.920 has been proclaimed. 00:18:01.420 --> 00:18:02.940 Let's read verse 20, 00:18:03.320 --> 00:18:04.780 then Jesus rolled up 00:18:04.780 --> 00:18:05.320 the scroll, 00:18:05.460 --> 00:18:06.320 he gave it back 00:18:06.320 --> 00:18:07.180 to the attendant 00:18:07.180 --> 00:18:08.380 and sat down. 00:18:09.320 --> 00:18:10.620 The eyes of everyone 00:18:10.620 --> 00:18:11.380 in the synagogue 00:18:11.380 --> 00:18:12.980 were fastened on him 00:18:12.980 --> 00:18:14.700 and he began 00:18:14.700 --> 00:18:15.740 by saying to them, 00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:17.220 today, 00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:18.539 this scripture 00:18:18.539 --> 00:18:20.099 is fulfilled 00:18:20.099 --> 00:18:22.099 in your hearing. 00:18:24.680 --> 00:18:25.500 You see, 00:18:25.599 --> 00:18:26.799 as Jesus read 00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:29.220 from the prophet Isaiah, 00:18:30.620 --> 00:18:31.900 proclaiming the year 00:18:31.900 --> 00:18:33.200 of the Lord's favour, 00:18:33.380 --> 00:18:34.720 Jesus is proclaiming 00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:35.359 to the people 00:18:35.359 --> 00:18:36.500 who are listening to them 00:18:36.500 --> 00:18:37.920 and to us today 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:39.160 as we read it, 00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:41.500 Jesus is saying to us, 00:18:41.779 --> 00:18:43.339 you know the seventh year 00:18:43.339 --> 00:18:44.939 that you all long for? 00:18:46.639 --> 00:18:48.079 That seventh year 00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:49.279 is me. 00:18:50.399 --> 00:18:51.480 I am the one 00:18:51.480 --> 00:18:52.099 who has come 00:18:52.099 --> 00:18:54.159 to cancel your debts. 00:18:54.639 --> 00:18:55.559 I am the one 00:18:55.559 --> 00:18:56.159 who has come 00:18:56.159 --> 00:18:57.159 to give you 00:18:57.159 --> 00:18:58.659 and your families 00:18:58.659 --> 00:18:59.959 a fresh start. 00:19:00.779 --> 00:19:02.019 I am the God 00:19:02.019 --> 00:19:03.480 who provides you 00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:04.480 the new beginning 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:05.480 that you all 00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:06.399 so long for 00:19:06.399 --> 00:19:06.980 and desire. 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:08.179 I am the one 00:19:08.179 --> 00:19:08.879 who wipes 00:19:08.879 --> 00:19:10.079 the slate clean. 00:19:10.079 --> 00:19:11.759 It is me 00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:12.559 who is going 00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:13.759 to release you 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:14.899 from poverty. 00:19:15.639 --> 00:19:16.399 The year 00:19:16.399 --> 00:19:17.359 of cancelling 00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:17.960 debts, 00:19:18.779 --> 00:19:19.500 it is me. 00:19:22.500 --> 00:19:23.179 However, 00:19:23.339 --> 00:19:24.059 with Jesus, 00:19:24.279 --> 00:19:25.099 this poverty 00:19:25.099 --> 00:19:27.460 is no longer 00:19:27.460 --> 00:19:28.439 confined to 00:19:28.439 --> 00:19:30.000 material poverty. 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:30.839 It is about 00:19:30.839 --> 00:19:32.240 spiritual poverty. 00:19:32.759 --> 00:19:33.939 He came to preach 00:19:33.939 --> 00:19:35.019 good news 00:19:35.019 --> 00:19:36.359 to the poor. 00:19:36.359 --> 00:19:38.059 Yes, 00:19:38.179 --> 00:19:39.319 Jesus was concerned 00:19:39.319 --> 00:19:40.059 for people's 00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:40.619 material 00:19:40.619 --> 00:19:42.159 and temporary 00:19:42.159 --> 00:19:42.779 needs, 00:19:42.959 --> 00:19:44.219 but his greatest 00:19:44.219 --> 00:19:45.259 concern was 00:19:45.259 --> 00:19:45.899 people's 00:19:45.899 --> 00:19:46.579 spiritual 00:19:46.579 --> 00:19:48.339 and eternal 00:19:48.339 --> 00:19:48.939 needs. 00:19:50.339 --> 00:19:51.179 For God 00:19:51.179 --> 00:19:51.959 loves people 00:19:51.959 --> 00:19:52.459 like you 00:19:52.459 --> 00:19:52.799 and me, 00:19:53.579 --> 00:19:54.219 people who 00:19:54.219 --> 00:19:55.619 are truly 00:19:55.619 --> 00:19:56.299 poor, 00:19:57.419 --> 00:19:57.979 people who 00:19:57.979 --> 00:19:58.740 are weighed 00:19:58.740 --> 00:19:59.759 down by the 00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:00.559 debt of sin, 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:02.359 who are crippled 00:20:02.359 --> 00:20:04.359 by our guilt 00:20:04.359 --> 00:20:05.419 and our shame 00:20:05.419 --> 00:20:06.419 from the past 00:20:06.419 --> 00:20:07.000 and from the 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:07.419 present, 00:20:07.699 --> 00:20:08.659 that we carry 00:20:08.659 --> 00:20:09.379 with us, 00:20:11.159 --> 00:20:11.939 crippling us 00:20:11.939 --> 00:20:12.519 so that we 00:20:12.519 --> 00:20:13.699 cannot live life 00:20:13.699 --> 00:20:14.339 the way it's 00:20:14.339 --> 00:20:14.939 meant to. 00:20:16.740 --> 00:20:17.299 And the 00:20:17.299 --> 00:20:18.399 ultimate expression 00:20:18.399 --> 00:20:19.479 of God's love 00:20:19.479 --> 00:20:20.259 for the poor 00:20:20.259 --> 00:20:21.759 was to come 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:22.419 to people 00:20:22.419 --> 00:20:23.359 who are poor 00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:23.899 like us. 00:20:24.279 --> 00:20:25.079 God was not 00:20:25.079 --> 00:20:25.939 so immune 00:20:25.939 --> 00:20:26.479 from us, 00:20:26.659 --> 00:20:27.359 but he actually 00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:28.219 entered into 00:20:28.219 --> 00:20:28.919 this world 00:20:28.919 --> 00:20:29.459 through his 00:20:29.459 --> 00:20:30.019 son Jesus 00:20:30.019 --> 00:20:30.579 Christ for 00:20:30.579 --> 00:20:31.179 people like 00:20:31.179 --> 00:20:31.740 you and me. 00:20:32.379 --> 00:20:33.359 Jesus came 00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:34.479 to take 00:20:34.479 --> 00:20:35.719 our debt, 00:20:36.619 --> 00:20:37.099 to take 00:20:37.099 --> 00:20:37.759 our sin 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:38.839 from past, 00:20:39.219 --> 00:20:39.839 the present 00:20:39.839 --> 00:20:41.000 and the future, 00:20:41.419 --> 00:20:42.559 to eradicate 00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:43.240 it once 00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:44.399 and for all, 00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:46.479 to wipe 00:20:46.479 --> 00:20:47.000 it away 00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:48.519 so that it 00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:49.039 would never 00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:49.719 be a burden 00:20:49.719 --> 00:20:50.519 to carry 00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:51.579 ever again, 00:20:51.699 --> 00:20:52.399 to wipe 00:20:52.399 --> 00:20:53.019 the slate 00:20:53.019 --> 00:20:53.539 clean 00:20:53.539 --> 00:20:54.879 and to give 00:20:54.879 --> 00:20:55.699 us the fresh 00:20:55.699 --> 00:20:56.240 start 00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:57.699 that every 00:20:57.699 --> 00:20:58.279 one of us 00:20:58.279 --> 00:20:58.759 needs 00:20:58.759 --> 00:21:00.559 every single 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:00.939 day. 00:21:00.940 --> 00:21:02.620 you see, 00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:03.279 as Christ 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:03.840 would hang 00:21:03.840 --> 00:21:04.180 on the 00:21:04.180 --> 00:21:04.660 cross, 00:21:05.360 --> 00:21:07.000 he was 00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:07.920 proclaiming 00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:08.320 to the 00:21:08.320 --> 00:21:08.700 world 00:21:08.700 --> 00:21:09.860 that through 00:21:09.860 --> 00:21:10.559 his death 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:12.059 now is 00:21:12.059 --> 00:21:12.620 the day 00:21:12.620 --> 00:21:13.259 of the 00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:13.740 Lord's 00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:14.140 favour, 00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:16.220 that all 00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:17.019 sin debts, 00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:17.559 past, 00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:18.320 present and 00:21:18.320 --> 00:21:18.779 future, 00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:20.059 are cancelled 00:21:20.059 --> 00:21:21.759 here through 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:22.740 Jesus Christ. 00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:24.580 It's only 00:21:24.580 --> 00:21:25.019 through the 00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:25.440 gospel, 00:21:26.320 --> 00:21:26.820 through the 00:21:26.820 --> 00:21:27.360 good news 00:21:27.359 --> 00:21:27.919 of Jesus, 00:21:28.919 --> 00:21:29.679 that our 00:21:29.679 --> 00:21:30.379 spiritual 00:21:30.379 --> 00:21:31.000 poverty 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:32.899 is completely 00:21:32.899 --> 00:21:33.319 ended 00:21:33.319 --> 00:21:34.759 and we 00:21:34.759 --> 00:21:35.179 have been 00:21:35.179 --> 00:21:36.279 set free 00:21:36.279 --> 00:21:37.639 to live 00:21:37.639 --> 00:21:38.099 a new 00:21:38.099 --> 00:21:38.639 kind of 00:21:38.639 --> 00:21:39.059 life 00:21:39.059 --> 00:21:40.399 with him. 00:21:41.819 --> 00:21:42.419 That's 00:21:42.419 --> 00:21:42.819 where we 00:21:42.819 --> 00:21:43.659 must start 00:21:43.659 --> 00:21:45.359 with Deuteronomy 00:21:45.359 --> 00:21:45.799 15. 00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:46.959 This is 00:21:46.959 --> 00:21:47.419 where it 00:21:47.419 --> 00:21:47.979 is pointing 00:21:47.979 --> 00:21:48.819 to and 00:21:48.819 --> 00:21:49.199 where it 00:21:49.199 --> 00:21:49.740 leads us 00:21:49.740 --> 00:21:50.679 to and 00:21:50.679 --> 00:21:51.139 we must 00:21:51.139 --> 00:21:51.639 come back 00:21:51.639 --> 00:21:51.979 to the 00:21:51.979 --> 00:21:52.319 cross 00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:53.179 every day 00:21:53.179 --> 00:21:55.199 as people 00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:55.620 who are 00:21:55.620 --> 00:21:56.100 poor 00:21:56.100 --> 00:21:57.319 needing 00:21:57.319 --> 00:21:57.779 to know 00:21:57.779 --> 00:21:58.420 that fresh 00:21:58.420 --> 00:21:58.900 start 00:21:58.900 --> 00:21:59.840 and the 00:21:59.840 --> 00:22:00.240 forgiveness 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:00.779 that he 00:22:00.779 --> 00:22:01.059 alone 00:22:01.059 --> 00:22:01.640 can bring. 00:22:04.180 --> 00:22:04.740 Well, 00:22:04.779 --> 00:22:05.080 you say 00:22:05.080 --> 00:22:05.559 that is 00:22:05.559 --> 00:22:06.259 good news 00:22:06.259 --> 00:22:08.120 and in 00:22:08.120 --> 00:22:08.660 some ways 00:22:08.660 --> 00:22:09.100 that should 00:22:09.100 --> 00:22:09.799 be sufficient 00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:10.580 in itself 00:22:10.580 --> 00:22:12.299 but what 00:22:12.299 --> 00:22:12.980 about those 00:22:12.980 --> 00:22:13.680 who are 00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:14.519 in poverty 00:22:14.519 --> 00:22:15.440 materially? 00:22:16.360 --> 00:22:16.840 What about 00:22:16.840 --> 00:22:17.039 them? 00:22:17.100 --> 00:22:17.559 Does God 00:22:17.559 --> 00:22:18.140 not care 00:22:18.140 --> 00:22:18.779 about that? 00:22:19.940 --> 00:22:20.180 Well, 00:22:20.299 --> 00:22:20.779 thirdly, 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:22.019 God's 00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:22.420 command 00:22:22.420 --> 00:22:23.440 to the 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:23.920 church. 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:25.779 You see, 00:22:25.860 --> 00:22:26.200 if we 00:22:26.200 --> 00:22:26.600 have been 00:22:26.600 --> 00:22:27.259 released 00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:28.240 from 00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:29.100 spiritual 00:22:29.100 --> 00:22:29.740 poverty, 00:22:30.660 --> 00:22:31.380 then we 00:22:31.380 --> 00:22:31.860 will want 00:22:31.860 --> 00:22:32.259 to see 00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:32.680 others 00:22:32.680 --> 00:22:33.279 released 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:33.819 from 00:22:33.819 --> 00:22:34.620 material 00:22:34.620 --> 00:22:35.259 poverty. 00:22:36.380 --> 00:22:36.660 Loving 00:22:36.660 --> 00:22:37.259 the poor 00:22:37.259 --> 00:22:38.640 and giving 00:22:38.640 --> 00:22:39.140 to the 00:22:39.140 --> 00:22:39.460 poor 00:22:39.460 --> 00:22:40.299 is a 00:22:40.299 --> 00:22:40.779 crucial 00:22:40.779 --> 00:22:41.299 sign 00:22:41.299 --> 00:22:41.700 that we 00:22:41.700 --> 00:22:42.100 actually 00:22:42.100 --> 00:22:42.640 believe 00:22:42.640 --> 00:22:42.840 the 00:22:42.840 --> 00:22:43.240 gospel. 00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:44.600 If we 00:22:44.600 --> 00:22:45.000 say we 00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:45.620 believe it 00:22:45.620 --> 00:22:45.980 and we 00:22:45.980 --> 00:22:46.500 say I'm 00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:46.660 a 00:22:46.660 --> 00:22:47.080 Christian, 00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:49.580 then the 00:22:49.580 --> 00:22:50.240 sign that 00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:50.539 you are 00:22:50.539 --> 00:22:51.019 a Christian 00:22:51.019 --> 00:22:51.600 is your 00:22:51.600 --> 00:22:52.080 love for 00:22:52.080 --> 00:22:52.519 the poor 00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:53.180 and giving 00:22:53.180 --> 00:22:53.559 to the 00:22:53.559 --> 00:22:53.840 poor. 00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:55.319 two 00:22:55.319 --> 00:22:55.799 things. 00:22:56.419 --> 00:22:56.839 First, 00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:57.699 open-handed, 00:22:58.099 --> 00:22:58.859 not 00:22:58.859 --> 00:23:00.119 hard-hearted. 00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:00.679 Go back 00:23:00.679 --> 00:23:00.899 to 00:23:00.899 --> 00:23:01.519 Deuteronomy 00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:02.659 15. 00:23:04.359 --> 00:23:04.939 Deuteronomy 00:23:04.939 --> 00:23:05.480 15, 00:23:05.559 --> 00:23:06.179 verse 7. 00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:08.619 If there 00:23:08.619 --> 00:23:08.980 is a 00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:09.559 poor man 00:23:09.559 --> 00:23:09.819 among 00:23:09.819 --> 00:23:10.039 your 00:23:10.039 --> 00:23:10.419 brothers 00:23:10.419 --> 00:23:10.879 in any 00:23:10.879 --> 00:23:11.199 of the 00:23:11.199 --> 00:23:11.579 towns 00:23:11.579 --> 00:23:11.899 of the 00:23:11.899 --> 00:23:12.119 land 00:23:12.119 --> 00:23:12.459 that the 00:23:12.459 --> 00:23:12.679 Lord 00:23:12.679 --> 00:23:12.839 your 00:23:12.839 --> 00:23:13.079 God 00:23:13.079 --> 00:23:13.240 is 00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:13.500 giving 00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:13.759 you, 00:23:14.139 --> 00:23:14.279 do 00:23:14.279 --> 00:23:14.539 not 00:23:14.539 --> 00:23:14.799 be 00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:15.879 hard-hearted 00:23:15.879 --> 00:23:16.379 or 00:23:16.379 --> 00:23:17.679 tight-fisted 00:23:17.679 --> 00:23:19.019 towards 00:23:19.019 --> 00:23:19.480 your 00:23:19.480 --> 00:23:19.799 poor 00:23:19.799 --> 00:23:20.179 brother. 00:23:20.180 --> 00:23:21.320 rather be 00:23:21.320 --> 00:23:22.820 open-handed 00:23:22.820 --> 00:23:24.180 and freely 00:23:24.180 --> 00:23:24.860 lend him 00:23:24.860 --> 00:23:26.160 whatever he 00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:26.620 needs. 00:23:28.340 --> 00:23:28.799 You see, 00:23:28.920 --> 00:23:29.920 a closed 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:30.680 hand 00:23:30.680 --> 00:23:33.480 is a sign 00:23:33.480 --> 00:23:33.880 of a 00:23:33.880 --> 00:23:34.960 hard heart. 00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:38.220 If you 00:23:38.220 --> 00:23:38.940 know someone 00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:40.140 who is in 00:23:40.140 --> 00:23:40.519 need, 00:23:41.620 --> 00:23:42.299 perhaps they're 00:23:42.299 --> 00:23:42.960 struggling to 00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:43.340 pay their 00:23:43.340 --> 00:23:43.799 bills. 00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:46.100 Maybe they 00:23:46.100 --> 00:23:47.060 cannot provide 00:23:47.060 --> 00:23:47.620 for their 00:23:47.619 --> 00:23:48.099 family 00:23:48.099 --> 00:23:48.919 adequately. 00:23:50.719 --> 00:23:51.139 And you 00:23:51.139 --> 00:23:51.579 know what 00:23:51.579 --> 00:23:52.039 that need 00:23:52.039 --> 00:23:52.699 is and 00:23:52.699 --> 00:23:53.399 you do 00:23:53.399 --> 00:23:53.899 nothing 00:23:53.899 --> 00:23:54.619 about it. 00:23:55.739 --> 00:23:56.659 It's just 00:23:56.659 --> 00:23:57.439 a reflection 00:23:57.439 --> 00:23:58.639 of your 00:23:58.639 --> 00:23:59.379 own heart. 00:24:00.439 --> 00:24:01.159 It's a 00:24:01.159 --> 00:24:02.819 sign that 00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:03.239 you are 00:24:03.239 --> 00:24:04.399 still in 00:24:04.399 --> 00:24:05.279 spiritual 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:05.859 poverty 00:24:05.859 --> 00:24:07.659 and have 00:24:07.659 --> 00:24:08.059 never 00:24:08.059 --> 00:24:08.939 experienced 00:24:08.939 --> 00:24:09.579 the fresh 00:24:09.579 --> 00:24:10.639 start that 00:24:10.639 --> 00:24:11.539 Jesus gives. 00:24:14.239 --> 00:24:15.000 Alternatively, 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:16.500 if you 00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:17.459 respond to 00:24:17.460 --> 00:24:18.220 the material 00:24:18.220 --> 00:24:18.940 needs of 00:24:18.940 --> 00:24:19.240 others, 00:24:19.620 --> 00:24:20.259 then that 00:24:20.259 --> 00:24:20.740 is a 00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:21.120 sign. 00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:21.620 It's an 00:24:21.620 --> 00:24:22.519 outworking 00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:23.100 of your 00:24:23.100 --> 00:24:23.640 genuine 00:24:23.640 --> 00:24:24.920 belief in 00:24:24.920 --> 00:24:25.440 the gospel. 00:24:25.640 --> 00:24:26.120 It's a 00:24:26.120 --> 00:24:26.759 sign that 00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:27.000 yes, 00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:27.480 you have 00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:27.920 been to 00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:28.500 the cross 00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:29.299 and you 00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:29.620 have 00:24:29.620 --> 00:24:30.360 experienced 00:24:30.360 --> 00:24:30.840 God's 00:24:30.840 --> 00:24:31.819 grace in 00:24:31.819 --> 00:24:32.360 your life. 00:24:34.340 --> 00:24:35.220 Listen to 00:24:35.220 --> 00:24:35.740 how the 00:24:35.740 --> 00:24:36.720 early church 00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:38.200 obeyed 00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:39.259 God's law 00:24:39.259 --> 00:24:39.539 from 00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:40.259 Deuteronomy 00:24:40.259 --> 00:24:41.519 15 and 00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:42.620 demonstrated 00:24:42.620 --> 00:24:44.019 their 00:24:44.019 --> 00:24:45.559 open-handedness 00:24:45.559 --> 00:24:46.759 to one 00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:47.119 another. 00:24:47.740 --> 00:24:48.140 These are 00:24:48.140 --> 00:24:48.500 familiar 00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:48.839 words. 00:24:48.940 --> 00:24:49.259 I read 00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:49.599 them from 00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:50.359 Acts 4 00:24:50.359 --> 00:24:51.859 verse 34. 00:24:52.859 --> 00:24:53.359 This is 00:24:53.359 --> 00:24:53.680 what it 00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:54.099 says of 00:24:54.099 --> 00:24:54.640 the believers 00:24:54.640 --> 00:24:55.920 there and 00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:56.319 this is 00:24:56.319 --> 00:24:57.039 paralleled 00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:57.200 from 00:24:57.200 --> 00:24:57.879 Deuteronomy 00:24:57.879 --> 00:24:58.460 15. 00:24:58.579 --> 00:24:58.900 There were 00:24:58.900 --> 00:24:59.920 no needy 00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:00.640 persons 00:25:00.640 --> 00:25:01.920 among them 00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:03.559 for from 00:25:03.559 --> 00:25:04.240 time to 00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:04.940 time those 00:25:04.940 --> 00:25:05.660 who owned 00:25:05.660 --> 00:25:06.379 lands or 00:25:06.379 --> 00:25:07.420 houses sold 00:25:07.420 --> 00:25:07.700 them, 00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:09.039 brought the 00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:09.680 money from 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:10.500 the sales, 00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:11.700 put it at 00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:12.339 the apostles' 00:25:12.339 --> 00:25:13.779 feet and 00:25:13.779 --> 00:25:14.160 it was 00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:14.920 distributed 00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:16.059 to anyone 00:25:16.059 --> 00:25:17.339 as he 00:25:17.339 --> 00:25:18.000 had need. 00:25:18.980 --> 00:25:19.740 What a 00:25:19.740 --> 00:25:20.379 radical way 00:25:20.379 --> 00:25:20.899 to live. 00:25:23.619 --> 00:25:24.299 Nobody 00:25:24.299 --> 00:25:25.339 was in 00:25:25.339 --> 00:25:25.740 need 00:25:25.740 --> 00:25:26.940 among them. 00:25:28.639 --> 00:25:29.139 Well, we 00:25:29.139 --> 00:25:29.759 as a church 00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:30.240 have sought 00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:30.680 to do 00:25:30.680 --> 00:25:31.440 something about 00:25:31.440 --> 00:25:31.799 that. 00:25:32.359 --> 00:25:33.240 We have 00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:33.619 what we 00:25:33.619 --> 00:25:34.500 call a 00:25:34.500 --> 00:25:35.299 ministry of 00:25:35.299 --> 00:25:35.680 mercy, 00:25:36.259 --> 00:25:36.940 something that 00:25:36.940 --> 00:25:37.460 we're seeking 00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:38.099 to develop. 00:25:38.460 --> 00:25:38.879 There is 00:25:38.879 --> 00:25:39.920 some funds 00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:41.139 available and 00:25:41.139 --> 00:25:41.619 it would be 00:25:41.619 --> 00:25:42.379 great if that 00:25:42.380 --> 00:25:43.340 were increased 00:25:43.340 --> 00:25:44.040 to be able 00:25:44.040 --> 00:25:44.660 to give 00:25:44.660 --> 00:25:45.280 to those 00:25:45.280 --> 00:25:45.820 who are 00:25:45.820 --> 00:25:46.960 in need. 00:25:47.820 --> 00:25:48.580 So if you 00:25:48.580 --> 00:25:49.180 know people 00:25:49.180 --> 00:25:49.660 within the 00:25:49.660 --> 00:25:50.220 family of 00:25:50.220 --> 00:25:50.720 this church 00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:51.100 who are 00:25:51.100 --> 00:25:51.720 in need, 00:25:52.020 --> 00:25:52.640 maybe there's 00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:53.100 people who 00:25:53.100 --> 00:25:53.740 you work 00:25:53.740 --> 00:25:54.480 with or 00:25:54.480 --> 00:25:54.960 within your 00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:55.360 neighbourhood 00:25:55.360 --> 00:25:56.080 or friends 00:25:56.080 --> 00:25:56.960 who are 00:25:56.960 --> 00:25:57.920 in need. 00:26:00.100 --> 00:26:00.940 What better 00:26:00.940 --> 00:26:01.560 way to 00:26:01.560 --> 00:26:02.740 express and 00:26:02.740 --> 00:26:03.340 to show 00:26:03.340 --> 00:26:04.340 the grace 00:26:04.340 --> 00:26:04.820 of God 00:26:04.820 --> 00:26:06.040 by giving 00:26:06.040 --> 00:26:06.460 them 00:26:06.460 --> 00:26:07.900 something that 00:26:07.900 --> 00:26:08.540 would help? 00:26:09.140 --> 00:26:09.720 It may be 00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:10.160 small, 00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:11.779 but it 00:26:11.779 --> 00:26:12.460 is a sign 00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:12.860 of the 00:26:12.860 --> 00:26:13.940 grace of 00:26:13.940 --> 00:26:14.300 God. 00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:15.240 And if 00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:15.680 you want 00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:16.040 to think 00:26:16.040 --> 00:26:16.440 through that 00:26:16.440 --> 00:26:16.640 more, 00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:16.960 you can 00:26:16.960 --> 00:26:17.420 speak to 00:26:17.420 --> 00:26:18.060 Alex or 00:26:18.060 --> 00:26:18.580 to Jan 00:26:18.580 --> 00:26:19.340 who are 00:26:19.340 --> 00:26:20.180 looking after 00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:20.660 that on 00:26:20.660 --> 00:26:21.900 behalf of 00:26:21.900 --> 00:26:22.320 the whole 00:26:22.320 --> 00:26:22.860 church. 00:26:23.980 --> 00:26:24.779 Open-handed, 00:26:25.980 --> 00:26:27.140 not hard-hearted, 00:26:28.220 --> 00:26:30.120 a sign that 00:26:30.120 --> 00:26:30.440 we have 00:26:30.440 --> 00:26:31.160 experienced 00:26:31.160 --> 00:26:32.440 God's grace 00:26:32.440 --> 00:26:33.000 in our own 00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:33.500 lives. 00:26:33.500 --> 00:26:36.019 second, 00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:38.720 generously 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:40.079 and not 00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:40.880 grudgingly 00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:42.259 in terms 00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:42.680 of our 00:26:42.680 --> 00:26:43.359 giving. 00:26:44.140 --> 00:26:44.740 We need 00:26:44.740 --> 00:26:44.980 to be 00:26:44.980 --> 00:26:45.539 careful that 00:26:45.539 --> 00:26:45.980 we don't 00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:46.279 have a 00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:46.759 sinful 00:26:46.759 --> 00:26:47.319 attitude 00:26:47.319 --> 00:26:48.079 towards 00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:49.079 the poor. 00:26:49.640 --> 00:26:50.079 Look at 00:26:50.079 --> 00:26:50.680 verse 9 00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:51.980 of Deuteronomy 00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:52.579 15. 00:26:54.660 --> 00:26:55.740 Be careful 00:26:55.740 --> 00:26:56.279 not to 00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:56.660 harbour 00:26:56.660 --> 00:26:57.420 this wicked 00:26:57.420 --> 00:26:57.880 thought. 00:26:58.839 --> 00:26:59.200 The 00:26:59.200 --> 00:26:59.539 seventh 00:26:59.539 --> 00:26:59.839 year, 00:26:59.940 --> 00:27:00.319 the year 00:27:00.319 --> 00:27:00.519 for 00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:01.160 cancelling 00:27:01.160 --> 00:27:01.500 debts 00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:02.019 is near. 00:27:02.019 --> 00:27:03.859 so that 00:27:03.859 --> 00:27:04.220 you do 00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:04.720 not show 00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:05.299 ill will 00:27:05.299 --> 00:27:05.819 towards 00:27:05.819 --> 00:27:06.139 your 00:27:06.139 --> 00:27:06.639 needy 00:27:06.639 --> 00:27:06.920 brother 00:27:06.920 --> 00:27:07.200 and 00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:07.420 give 00:27:07.420 --> 00:27:07.599 him 00:27:07.599 --> 00:27:07.960 nothing. 00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:09.900 You see, 00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:10.240 the law 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:10.779 was something 00:27:10.779 --> 00:27:11.279 like this. 00:27:11.359 --> 00:27:12.619 If somebody 00:27:12.619 --> 00:27:13.319 came looking 00:27:13.319 --> 00:27:14.359 for financial 00:27:14.359 --> 00:27:14.879 help 00:27:14.879 --> 00:27:16.799 in year 00:27:16.799 --> 00:27:17.379 six, 00:27:18.339 --> 00:27:19.160 the reality 00:27:19.160 --> 00:27:19.639 is they 00:27:19.639 --> 00:27:20.119 would have 00:27:20.119 --> 00:27:20.799 very little 00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:21.700 paid back 00:27:21.700 --> 00:27:22.619 by year 00:27:22.619 --> 00:27:23.059 seven. 00:27:24.400 --> 00:27:25.139 One year 00:27:25.139 --> 00:27:25.660 is not a 00:27:25.660 --> 00:27:26.180 long time 00:27:26.180 --> 00:27:26.740 to be paying 00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:27.279 back your 00:27:27.279 --> 00:27:27.579 loan. 00:27:28.859 --> 00:27:29.359 So the 00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:29.839 temptation 00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:30.319 would be 00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:30.700 that if 00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:30.940 you were 00:27:30.940 --> 00:27:31.279 somebody 00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:31.859 who had 00:27:31.859 --> 00:27:32.339 plenty 00:27:32.339 --> 00:27:32.859 and somebody 00:27:32.859 --> 00:27:33.399 came along 00:27:33.399 --> 00:27:33.719 in year 00:27:33.719 --> 00:27:34.119 six and 00:27:34.119 --> 00:27:34.279 said, 00:27:34.699 --> 00:27:34.939 you know, 00:27:34.979 --> 00:27:35.240 I wonder 00:27:35.240 --> 00:27:35.599 if I could 00:27:35.599 --> 00:27:35.919 just have 00:27:35.919 --> 00:27:36.319 a loan 00:27:36.319 --> 00:27:36.699 here. 00:27:37.959 --> 00:27:38.339 Well, 00:27:38.359 --> 00:27:38.979 the temptation 00:27:38.979 --> 00:27:39.439 would be 00:27:39.439 --> 00:27:39.879 to say, 00:27:40.299 --> 00:27:41.419 well, 00:27:41.479 --> 00:27:42.000 year seven 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:42.479 is next 00:27:42.479 --> 00:27:42.839 year. 00:27:43.199 --> 00:27:43.559 I mean, 00:27:43.619 --> 00:27:43.959 how am I 00:27:43.959 --> 00:27:44.279 ever going 00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:44.459 to get 00:27:44.459 --> 00:27:44.759 the money 00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:45.179 back in 00:27:45.179 --> 00:27:45.599 a year's 00:27:45.599 --> 00:27:45.879 time? 00:27:47.439 --> 00:27:48.319 The temptation 00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:48.719 would be 00:27:48.719 --> 00:27:49.099 to think, 00:27:49.199 --> 00:27:49.319 well, 00:27:49.379 --> 00:27:49.519 no, 00:27:49.599 --> 00:27:50.000 you've got 00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:50.459 yourself 00:27:50.459 --> 00:27:50.719 in a 00:27:50.719 --> 00:27:50.919 mess. 00:27:51.059 --> 00:27:51.240 You 00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:51.619 sort 00:27:51.619 --> 00:27:52.059 yourself 00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:52.479 out. 00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:53.639 Why 00:27:53.639 --> 00:27:54.119 should I 00:27:54.119 --> 00:27:54.659 take the 00:27:54.659 --> 00:27:55.579 hit for 00:27:55.579 --> 00:27:55.879 your 00:27:55.879 --> 00:27:56.519 mistakes? 00:27:59.319 --> 00:27:59.759 Well, 00:27:59.799 --> 00:28:00.219 that kind 00:28:00.219 --> 00:28:00.699 of attitude 00:28:00.700 --> 00:28:01.420 is a sign 00:28:01.420 --> 00:28:01.779 that we 00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:02.279 don't 00:28:02.279 --> 00:28:02.960 believe 00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:03.960 the gospel. 00:28:05.620 --> 00:28:06.140 Deuteronomy 00:28:06.140 --> 00:28:06.600 15, 00:28:06.680 --> 00:28:06.980 look at the 00:28:06.980 --> 00:28:07.340 rest of 00:28:07.340 --> 00:28:07.880 verse 9. 00:28:09.180 --> 00:28:09.640 He may 00:28:09.640 --> 00:28:10.440 then appeal 00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:10.840 to the 00:28:10.840 --> 00:28:11.559 Lord against 00:28:11.559 --> 00:28:12.180 you and 00:28:12.180 --> 00:28:12.580 you will 00:28:12.580 --> 00:28:13.080 be found 00:28:13.080 --> 00:28:13.819 guilty of 00:28:13.819 --> 00:28:14.100 sin. 00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:15.759 Give 00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:16.900 generously to 00:28:16.900 --> 00:28:17.840 him and 00:28:17.840 --> 00:28:18.500 do so 00:28:18.500 --> 00:28:19.140 without a 00:28:19.140 --> 00:28:19.680 grudging 00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:20.259 heart. 00:28:20.259 --> 00:28:20.319 debt. 00:28:25.319 --> 00:28:26.079 I think 00:28:26.079 --> 00:28:26.420 we can 00:28:26.420 --> 00:28:26.900 have that 00:28:26.900 --> 00:28:27.220 very 00:28:27.220 --> 00:28:27.619 attitude 00:28:27.619 --> 00:28:28.200 towards 00:28:28.200 --> 00:28:28.440 the 00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:28.720 poor. 00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:30.039 I know 00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:30.579 I can. 00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:32.400 Somebody 00:28:32.400 --> 00:28:32.819 who is 00:28:32.819 --> 00:28:33.339 in need 00:28:33.339 --> 00:28:34.900 and you 00:28:34.900 --> 00:28:35.160 think, 00:28:35.299 --> 00:28:35.519 well, 00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:36.420 you know 00:28:36.420 --> 00:28:36.599 what, 00:28:36.640 --> 00:28:36.900 they were 00:28:36.900 --> 00:28:37.480 just very 00:28:37.480 --> 00:28:38.579 unwise with 00:28:38.579 --> 00:28:39.039 their money. 00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:40.000 Why should 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:40.420 I help 00:28:40.420 --> 00:28:40.740 them? 00:28:41.359 --> 00:28:41.879 After all, 00:28:41.900 --> 00:28:42.240 they've just 00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:42.680 been on 00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:43.700 holiday and 00:28:43.700 --> 00:28:43.980 now they 00:28:43.980 --> 00:28:44.259 want a 00:28:44.259 --> 00:28:44.579 handout. 00:28:45.019 --> 00:28:45.220 Huh? 00:28:45.720 --> 00:28:46.059 You've 00:28:46.059 --> 00:28:46.339 got to be 00:28:46.339 --> 00:28:46.700 joking. 00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:48.480 If they're 00:28:48.480 --> 00:28:48.819 in debt, 00:28:49.100 --> 00:28:49.340 well, 00:28:49.380 --> 00:28:49.779 it's because 00:28:49.779 --> 00:28:50.140 they were 00:28:50.140 --> 00:28:51.340 foolish and 00:28:51.340 --> 00:28:51.819 silly. 00:28:52.140 --> 00:28:52.620 I was 00:28:52.620 --> 00:28:53.400 careful with 00:28:53.400 --> 00:28:53.880 my money. 00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:54.740 I saved 00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:54.860 it. 00:28:54.920 --> 00:28:55.400 I put it 00:28:55.400 --> 00:28:55.660 in a 00:28:55.660 --> 00:28:56.400 pension fund 00:28:56.400 --> 00:28:56.600 and, 00:28:56.940 --> 00:28:57.019 well, 00:28:57.059 --> 00:28:57.360 I've been 00:28:57.360 --> 00:28:57.799 very good 00:28:57.799 --> 00:28:58.200 and they've 00:28:58.200 --> 00:28:59.180 just wasted 00:28:59.180 --> 00:28:59.819 theirs. 00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:03.279 Well, 00:29:03.299 --> 00:29:03.799 let me ask 00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:04.180 us this 00:29:04.180 --> 00:29:04.660 question. 00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:06.340 What if 00:29:06.340 --> 00:29:06.860 God had 00:29:06.860 --> 00:29:07.420 that attitude 00:29:07.420 --> 00:29:08.140 with us? 00:29:10.680 --> 00:29:11.340 What if 00:29:11.340 --> 00:29:11.880 God looked 00:29:11.880 --> 00:29:12.680 at my 00:29:12.680 --> 00:29:13.799 sin debt 00:29:13.799 --> 00:29:14.600 and said, 00:29:15.240 --> 00:29:15.559 you know 00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:15.799 what, 00:29:15.860 --> 00:29:16.080 Johnny? 00:29:16.700 --> 00:29:17.580 That's 00:29:17.580 --> 00:29:18.960 your mistake. 00:29:19.600 --> 00:29:19.940 You 00:29:19.940 --> 00:29:20.420 sorted 00:29:20.420 --> 00:29:20.860 out. 00:29:22.860 --> 00:29:23.460 What if 00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:23.980 God were 00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:24.519 to show 00:29:24.519 --> 00:29:25.460 me and 00:29:25.460 --> 00:29:26.200 to throw 00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:27.000 before me 00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:27.559 my 00:29:27.559 --> 00:29:28.420 continued 00:29:28.420 --> 00:29:30.640 sin and 00:29:30.640 --> 00:29:31.000 said, 00:29:31.440 --> 00:29:32.640 you never 00:29:32.640 --> 00:29:33.080 learn. 00:29:34.640 --> 00:29:34.980 I've 00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:35.559 forgiven you 00:29:35.559 --> 00:29:36.220 time after 00:29:36.220 --> 00:29:36.920 time after 00:29:36.920 --> 00:29:37.279 time, 00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:37.940 but this 00:29:37.940 --> 00:29:38.860 time deal 00:29:38.860 --> 00:29:39.200 with it 00:29:39.200 --> 00:29:39.620 yourself. 00:29:43.180 --> 00:29:44.180 The reality 00:29:44.180 --> 00:29:44.660 is we 00:29:44.660 --> 00:29:45.000 would be 00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:45.480 left in 00:29:45.480 --> 00:29:45.700 our 00:29:45.700 --> 00:29:46.279 spiritual 00:29:46.279 --> 00:29:46.839 poverty. 00:29:47.980 --> 00:29:48.559 We 00:29:48.559 --> 00:29:48.899 would be 00:29:48.899 --> 00:29:49.899 left with 00:29:49.899 --> 00:29:50.279 hell. 00:29:52.839 --> 00:29:53.500 You see, 00:29:53.579 --> 00:29:53.839 if we 00:29:53.839 --> 00:29:54.420 have known 00:29:54.420 --> 00:29:54.720 the 00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:55.240 cancellation 00:29:55.240 --> 00:29:57.139 of all 00:29:57.139 --> 00:29:57.500 of our 00:29:57.500 --> 00:29:58.039 sin 00:29:58.039 --> 00:29:58.579 debts, 00:29:59.000 --> 00:29:59.440 past, 00:29:59.680 --> 00:30:00.079 present, 00:30:00.399 --> 00:30:01.339 and future, 00:30:01.579 --> 00:30:02.200 if we 00:30:02.200 --> 00:30:02.779 have known 00:30:02.779 --> 00:30:03.660 the generosity 00:30:03.660 --> 00:30:04.500 and grace 00:30:04.500 --> 00:30:04.960 of God 00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:05.559 who has 00:30:05.559 --> 00:30:06.379 provided us 00:30:06.379 --> 00:30:06.740 with an 00:30:06.740 --> 00:30:07.339 eternal 00:30:07.339 --> 00:30:07.859 kingdom, 00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:08.980 the ultimate 00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:10.019 promised land 00:30:10.019 --> 00:30:10.660 where we 00:30:10.660 --> 00:30:11.220 will never 00:30:11.220 --> 00:30:11.660 be in 00:30:11.660 --> 00:30:12.259 want and 00:30:12.259 --> 00:30:12.779 never be 00:30:12.779 --> 00:30:13.399 in need, 00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:15.139 if we 00:30:15.139 --> 00:30:15.299 have 00:30:15.299 --> 00:30:16.200 experienced 00:30:16.200 --> 00:30:16.819 the fresh 00:30:16.819 --> 00:30:17.500 start that 00:30:17.500 --> 00:30:18.339 only God 00:30:18.339 --> 00:30:18.940 can give 00:30:18.940 --> 00:30:19.680 to our 00:30:19.680 --> 00:30:20.279 lives, 00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:22.879 then we 00:30:22.879 --> 00:30:23.680 will want 00:30:23.680 --> 00:30:24.559 to follow 00:30:24.559 --> 00:30:25.740 his command 00:30:25.740 --> 00:30:26.440 to love 00:30:26.440 --> 00:30:26.899 the poor. 00:30:27.059 --> 00:30:27.440 It will 00:30:27.440 --> 00:30:28.160 not be a 00:30:28.160 --> 00:30:29.259 duty or 00:30:29.259 --> 00:30:30.220 a grudge 00:30:30.220 --> 00:30:30.819 to do it, 00:30:30.980 --> 00:30:31.420 but we 00:30:31.420 --> 00:30:31.899 will just 00:30:31.899 --> 00:30:32.639 love the 00:30:32.639 --> 00:30:33.220 opportunity 00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:34.039 to do it. 00:30:34.039 --> 00:30:36.940 look at 00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:37.539 verse 11 00:30:37.539 --> 00:30:38.039 of chapter 00:30:38.039 --> 00:30:38.599 15. 00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:43.119 There will 00:30:43.119 --> 00:30:43.980 always be 00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:44.639 poor people 00:30:44.639 --> 00:30:45.440 in the 00:30:45.440 --> 00:30:45.819 land, 00:30:47.319 --> 00:30:48.659 therefore I 00:30:48.659 --> 00:30:49.359 command you 00:30:49.359 --> 00:30:49.920 to be 00:30:49.920 --> 00:30:51.559 open-handed 00:30:51.559 --> 00:30:53.700 towards your 00:30:53.700 --> 00:30:54.420 brothers 00:30:54.420 --> 00:30:56.319 and 00:30:56.319 --> 00:30:57.460 towards the 00:30:57.460 --> 00:30:57.859 poor 00:30:57.859 --> 00:30:59.139 and needy 00:30:59.139 --> 00:31:00.500 in your 00:31:00.500 --> 00:31:00.980 land. 00:31:00.980 --> 00:31:04.720 may God 00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:05.220 give us 00:31:05.220 --> 00:31:05.759 grace 00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:07.720 that we 00:31:07.720 --> 00:31:08.200 would always 00:31:08.200 --> 00:31:08.839 see how 00:31:08.839 --> 00:31:10.220 rich we 00:31:10.220 --> 00:31:11.200 truly are, 00:31:12.120 --> 00:31:13.200 that we 00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:13.759 would be a 00:31:13.759 --> 00:31:14.440 church that 00:31:14.440 --> 00:31:15.920 is open-handed, 00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:17.940 demonstrating 00:31:17.940 --> 00:31:18.819 the amazing 00:31:18.819 --> 00:31:19.380 grace of 00:31:19.380 --> 00:31:19.720 God, 00:31:20.519 --> 00:31:21.259 building those 00:31:21.259 --> 00:31:23.140 bridges to 00:31:23.140 --> 00:31:24.079 welcome people 00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:25.660 in so that 00:31:25.660 --> 00:31:26.400 they may have 00:31:26.400 --> 00:31:27.519 their spiritual 00:31:27.519 --> 00:31:28.160 poverty, 00:31:29.160 --> 00:31:29.940 their sin 00:31:29.940 --> 00:31:30.960 debt cancelled, 00:31:30.980 --> 00:31:32.279 once and 00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:32.759 for all. 00:31:33.660 --> 00:31:34.180 Let's 00:31:34.180 --> 00:31:34.480 pray. 00:31:52.660 --> 00:31:53.380 Just 00:31:53.380 --> 00:31:54.500 reflect for a 00:31:54.500 --> 00:31:54.920 moment 00:31:54.920 --> 00:31:59.519 on the 00:31:59.519 --> 00:32:00.360 amazing work 00:32:00.359 --> 00:32:01.019 of Christ, 00:32:01.979 --> 00:32:04.539 who has 00:32:04.539 --> 00:32:07.079 taken our 00:32:07.079 --> 00:32:07.819 sin debt 00:32:07.819 --> 00:32:09.079 on himself, 00:32:10.159 --> 00:32:12.299 took our 00:32:12.299 --> 00:32:12.779 poverty. 00:32:17.419 --> 00:32:18.219 Thank you, 00:32:18.299 --> 00:32:18.559 Jesus, 00:32:18.699 --> 00:32:19.299 that you have 00:32:19.299 --> 00:32:20.159 cancelled it, 00:32:21.439 --> 00:32:21.919 wiped the 00:32:21.919 --> 00:32:22.599 slate clean, 00:32:23.059 --> 00:32:24.819 and given 00:32:24.819 --> 00:32:25.559 us a fresh 00:32:25.559 --> 00:32:26.000 start. 00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:26.059 heart. 00:32:27.940 --> 00:32:28.759 Thank you 00:32:28.759 --> 00:32:29.400 that every 00:32:29.400 --> 00:32:31.160 day we 00:32:31.160 --> 00:32:31.740 can come, 00:32:31.819 --> 00:32:32.019 as it 00:32:32.019 --> 00:32:32.240 were, 00:32:32.339 --> 00:32:32.940 to the 00:32:32.940 --> 00:32:34.759 cross and 00:32:34.759 --> 00:32:35.400 find that 00:32:35.400 --> 00:32:36.140 fresh start 00:32:36.140 --> 00:32:38.720 because our 00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:39.359 sin debt has 00:32:39.359 --> 00:32:39.980 been cancelled. 00:32:40.880 --> 00:32:41.559 Thank you 00:32:41.559 --> 00:32:42.440 that we live 00:32:42.440 --> 00:32:44.079 today in the 00:32:44.079 --> 00:32:44.640 knowledge that 00:32:44.640 --> 00:32:45.200 we are your 00:32:45.200 --> 00:32:45.819 children, 00:32:47.180 --> 00:32:48.000 treasured and 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:48.400 loved. 00:32:48.400 --> 00:32:48.480 Lord. 00:32:49.200 --> 00:32:51.900 Thank you for 00:32:51.900 --> 00:32:52.840 your rich, 00:32:53.840 --> 00:32:54.700 generous grace 00:32:54.700 --> 00:32:55.340 to us. 00:32:57.800 --> 00:32:58.960 And thank you 00:32:58.960 --> 00:32:59.620 too for 00:32:59.620 --> 00:33:00.640 blessing us. 00:33:01.640 --> 00:33:02.759 Thank you that we 00:33:02.759 --> 00:33:03.800 live in a country 00:33:03.800 --> 00:33:06.019 despite all of our 00:33:06.019 --> 00:33:07.700 economic struggles. 00:33:07.700 --> 00:33:10.120 thank you for 00:33:10.120 --> 00:33:11.019 our homes, 00:33:11.860 --> 00:33:12.900 for running 00:33:12.900 --> 00:33:13.380 water, 00:33:14.539 --> 00:33:15.500 for food to 00:33:15.500 --> 00:33:15.819 eat, 00:33:17.259 --> 00:33:19.279 for the 00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:20.000 blessings that 00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:20.759 we have every 00:33:20.759 --> 00:33:21.660 single day. 00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:25.299 Thank you for 00:33:25.299 --> 00:33:25.960 your amazing 00:33:25.960 --> 00:33:26.440 grace. 00:33:28.160 --> 00:33:29.220 And please 00:33:29.220 --> 00:33:29.680 would you 00:33:29.680 --> 00:33:30.680 work your 00:33:30.680 --> 00:33:31.740 grace in our 00:33:31.740 --> 00:33:32.220 hearts 00:33:32.220 --> 00:33:35.400 so that we 00:33:35.400 --> 00:33:35.740 are not 00:33:35.740 --> 00:33:36.420 hard-hearted 00:33:36.420 --> 00:33:37.820 but open-handed. 00:33:39.360 --> 00:33:39.980 Please 00:33:39.980 --> 00:33:41.180 provide for 00:33:41.180 --> 00:33:42.500 us in our 00:33:42.500 --> 00:33:44.400 lives so 00:33:44.400 --> 00:33:44.940 that we are 00:33:44.940 --> 00:33:45.560 generous. 00:33:48.500 --> 00:33:49.779 I thank you, 00:33:49.980 --> 00:33:50.400 Father God, 00:33:50.500 --> 00:33:51.400 for this 00:33:51.400 --> 00:33:52.279 church family, 00:33:53.380 --> 00:33:54.019 for the many 00:33:54.019 --> 00:33:55.960 expressions of 00:33:55.960 --> 00:33:56.640 generosity. 00:33:59.259 --> 00:34:00.440 I pray that 00:34:00.440 --> 00:34:00.720 you will 00:34:00.720 --> 00:34:01.420 continue to 00:34:01.420 --> 00:34:02.060 meet all of 00:34:02.060 --> 00:34:02.620 our needs 00:34:02.620 --> 00:34:04.800 so that we 00:34:04.800 --> 00:34:05.220 are a 00:34:05.220 --> 00:34:06.039 generous people 00:34:06.039 --> 00:34:08.619 first to 00:34:08.619 --> 00:34:09.199 one another 00:34:09.199 --> 00:34:11.179 and to 00:34:11.179 --> 00:34:11.659 our wider 00:34:11.659 --> 00:34:12.279 community 00:34:12.279 --> 00:34:13.860 that they 00:34:13.860 --> 00:34:14.460 may see 00:34:14.460 --> 00:34:15.099 something of 00:34:15.099 --> 00:34:15.500 God's 00:34:15.500 --> 00:34:15.880 grace, 00:34:16.800 --> 00:34:17.360 that they 00:34:17.360 --> 00:34:17.759 may be 00:34:17.759 --> 00:34:18.480 drawn in, 00:34:19.860 --> 00:34:20.239 that they 00:34:20.239 --> 00:34:21.380 may experience 00:34:21.380 --> 00:34:23.619 what it is 00:34:23.619 --> 00:34:24.099 to have 00:34:24.099 --> 00:34:24.699 their sin 00:34:24.699 --> 00:34:24.960 debt 00:34:24.960 --> 00:34:25.420 cancelled. 00:34:30.420 --> 00:34:31.159 We ask 00:34:31.159 --> 00:34:31.579 this in 00:34:31.579 --> 00:34:31.900 Jesus' 00:34:32.119 --> 00:34:32.300 name. 00:34:32.300 --> 00:34:34.120 Amen. 00:34:34.120 --> 00:34:34.220 Amen.