WEBVTT

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 I don't know how closely you maybe follow some things that go on in the world of politics.

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! There's some really big things that are very hard to ignore that happen. They affect everybody.

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! It's been another one of these weeks, I think.

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 Last week there was a really interesting exchange in Parliament where a Roman Catholic member

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 of Parliament had voted for the assisted suicide legislation that had gone through, reached

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 its final reading in the Commons. And the following Sunday his parish priest refused to give him

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 mass. And his MP was somewhat outraged by this and took to Twitter to complain about how unfavourable

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 this was. And the thought has been with me for some time now over these last days, how

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 do we assure ourselves that we can have Christian politicians, Christians in public life, Christians

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 in positions of any authority and influence, whether that's in our schools and industry

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 and local authorities, whatever it might be. But how can we be sure that Christians will

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 take a biblical worldview seriously?

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 This MP thought, and said in fact as much on Twitter, that his Christian faith could be

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 put in a box and have nothing to do and no influence on his public fulfilment of the office

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 of a member of parliament. That his faith could be detached from that. And I wonder, you know,

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 when you read these passages where Jesus says, if anyone honours me and my words in this adulterous

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 and sinful generation, him also will the Son of Man honour. But if anyone is ashamed of me,

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 the Son of Man will be ashamed of him. How is it that we can get to the point where Christians

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 can conclude that it's okay to keep your faith in a box? And I have been wondering about that

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 and I don't get it. Clearly, there is a fear element. People are scared of what the masses

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 of the electorate will do to them if their Christian faith is somehow worn to the fore.

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 And what had occurred to me was this comes down really to discipleship. This is about how we as

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 Christians are discipled and encouraged to live and to walk as followers of Jesus every day in our lives.

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 And so this is not just a message for people who are members of parliament. This is a message for all

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 of us who are Christians to hear the words of Jesus. The context here is really important because Peter

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 has made this incredible profession. We didn't quite read as far back as this in Mark 8. But Peter has

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 made this incredible profession of who Jesus is. He is the Christ. And after that, Jesus begins to

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 explain what being the Christ will mean. And for Peter, perhaps he was thinking the Messiah,

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 the Christ was someone who was going to come and deliver Israel from Roman occupation, who was going

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 to free the people from Roman rule. The Messiah would restore the kingdom of David and everything

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 would be wonderful for the Jewish nation once again. And Jesus says, no, no, no, that is not what the

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 Messiah is about. The Son of Man must be put to death. And so we're going to go to Jerusalem and that's

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 what's going to happen. And Peter is outraged. He's just said, you are the Christ, you are the Messiah.

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 But now he's saying to Jesus, but you're not going to go and die. And Jesus says, but I must.

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 And he very strongly rebukes Peter, he says, get behind me, Satan, for you're not set in your mind

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 and your heart on things of God. You're thinking earthly. And Jesus then goes on, and this is an incredibly

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 strange statement for him to make, one which in our ears is lost. He says, if someone will come after me,

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 then he must take up his cross and follow me. And that expression, take up your cross, was a statement

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 really about the cost of following Jesus. Because in his context, taking up your cross did not simply

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 mean doing something that was a little bit uncomfortable. It was really living out a death

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 sentence. The only people who carried a cross were people who were going to be crucified.

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 So Jesus does it at the end when he is beaten by the Roman soldiers and condemned by Pontius Pilate.

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 The soldiers make him carry the cross from the barracks where he has been beaten and abused

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 to Golgotha's hill. And he's not able to, and that's why they have to compel someone

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 to help him carry the cross.

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 That's what carrying your cross entailed.

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 It was a death sentence.

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 And when we think about discipleship in these terms,

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 what we're really seeing is it's a call to come and die.

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 It's the way Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it in his book

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 called The Cost of Discipleship.

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 Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran theologian, lived in the 1930s, and was put to death by the Nazis.

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 But he thought that the church in Germany at the time was compromising, had a shallow faith,

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 a shallow, cheap form of grace that allowed them to compromise with Nazi ideology.

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 And he thought there was no place for this.

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 And he stood against it.

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 And he talked about costly grace.

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 The cost of discipleship, of radically following Jesus,

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 is extreme.

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 Because it puts you at odds with the world.

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 And that's what Jesus meant when he said,

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 take up your cross and follow me.

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 Being a disciple of Jesus will put you at odds with the world.

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 Because you cannot keep your faith in a little box and somehow think that things can go on.

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 That as a Christian, your faith can be secure.

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 Your conscience somehow can be clean.

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 But actually how you live day by day is compromised.

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 And so it takes, the answer for some might simply be that that takes great boldness.

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 That sometimes we have to just work ourselves up to be obedient enough.

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 Just to really work hard at being good enough disciples.

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 That we can live up to this standard.

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 But I want to tell you today, that is not the way of Jesus.

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 See, Jesus is a teacher.

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 And we are his disciples.

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 We follow him.

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 But a good teacher does not simply tell you the truth.

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 And say, that's it.

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 Go and put it into practice.

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 A good teacher will also show you it.

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 They'll demonstrate it.

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 They'll show you what you need.

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 And give you what you need.

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 To complete the task.

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 This is one of these great rules for you if you're a Christian.

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 To live by.

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 It is that if God calls you to do something.

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 He will also equip you to do that.

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 You know, sometimes when we're young Christians.

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 We look at the world in front of us.

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 And we think, it's really daunting.

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 Perhaps it's a call to the ministry.

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 And you're thinking, there's just no way that I can do that.

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 There's no way that I can put myself forward for that calling.

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 Even if I think God really is calling me.

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 I just don't know how it would be achievable.

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 Well, be assured.

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 God never calls without also equipping.

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 So God, if he calls you.

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 Perhaps it's calling you.

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 Some of you may be scared.

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 You're thinking, I'm getting married soon.

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 I don't know how I'm going to get through that.

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 God calls.

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 He'll equip you.

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 Those of you who maybe recently become parents.

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 And you're thinking, how on earth do I bring up my kids?

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 In this day and age.

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 It's quite daunting.

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 It is.

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 But the wonderful thing is that God who calls will offer to equip you as well.

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 He will help you.

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 Some of you who are older Christians, you're thinking, how can I pass on wisdom and instruction to younger Christians today?

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 I don't speak their language.

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 I don't understand their world.

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 I've no idea how to convey to them the wisdom that God has allowed me to grow into.

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 How do I do it?

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 Remember, God who calls also equips.

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 He will equip you for the calling that he has given you.

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 The same is also true when it comes to salvation.

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 Some of you maybe today are thinking, I would love to be a Christian.

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 I would really love to be a follower of Jesus.

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 But I'm worried that if I take that stand, if I begin on that road, I won't keep it.

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 I won't sustain it.

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 I won't get to where I'm going.

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 I won't be able to keep up the standards.

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 Remember, God who calls also equips.

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 When we come to faith, as I was saying to the kids this morning, it's like a packaging label is put on us.

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 That God will take us to the destination.

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 And we have to stay in step with the Holy Spirit.

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 We have to keep in keeping with God's ways.

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 But the Holy Spirit will help us and enable us and equip us to keep going.

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 And so Jesus, as the teacher who also shows and equips the disciples, tells them that this is about to happen.

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 Because very often when we're talking and listening to sermons that are preached on the take up your cross and follow me part of this passage,

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 we stop and we don't read into the next chapter or the next few verses.

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 And so we would miss what's at the beginning of chapter 9.

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 And we think, well, all we need to hear is take up your cross and follow me.

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 That's not what Jesus said.

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 Similarly, actually, some people will perhaps approach the transfiguration passage and view it in isolation and think it's all about the glory of Jesus, which it is.

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 I mean, Jesus is showing his glory.

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 But it's to an end.

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 It's got a purpose in it.

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 And the context of the discipleship, that the courage and the enduring patience and growing faith of the disciples is what Jesus is seeking to bolster.

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 And these two passages, therefore, they have to go hand in hand.

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 And the reason I say this is because in all of the synoptic gospels, in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, every single one of them has these two passages in direct connection.

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 And the connection between them is chapter 9, verse 1, where Jesus says,

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 Some of you will not taste death until you have seen the kingdom come in power.

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 And so this morning, as we go on, I want to think about what the transfiguration means really for discipleship.

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 What does it mean for us in our walk?

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 I mean, what is Jesus actually showing Peter and James and John?

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 What is he saying to them in showing them his glory and meeting with Moses and Elijah?

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 And the trick of it is really to understand who the people who meet with Jesus are.

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 So there's two men up here talking to Jesus, Moses and Elijah.

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 They're figures from the Old Testament.

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 And in fairness, you would probably have to be coming at the Old Testament completely afresh,

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 not to really grasp who Moses and Elijah are.

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 Moses is the lawgiver.

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 He's the author of the first five books of the Old Testament, the books of the Torah, the books of the law.

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 And so when the Jews think about Moses, they think Moses is up there as the pinnacle of law giving.

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 He's the pinnacle of God's law being given to the people.

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 He's the one who led them out of Egypt, brought them to Mount Sinai.

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 He's the one who interacts between them and God.

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 He's the one who they hear about God's law from because God speaks to them just once.

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 Remember, God only speaks to the people once when he gives them the Ten Commandments.

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 And the people at the end of that, they say,

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 Moses, Moses, look, that is never happening again.

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 It's absolutely terrifying when God speaks to us.

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 So you go up onto the mountain, you speak to God, and when you come down, tell us what God has to say.

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 And we would much rather hear from you what God has to say than ever hear God's voice again.

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 So Moses is the lawgiver.

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 He's up there as the pinnacle of God's word given to the people.

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 And then you've also got Elijah.

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 Elijah, again, is really famous because he's the first and the greatest of the sort of what are called the covenant fidelity prophets.

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 The prophets who are calling Israel back into a relationship, a pure relationship with God once again.

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 And the high point in Elijah's life comes right at the beginning of his ministry where Ahab has come to the throne.

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 He's married Jezebel.

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 Ahab and Jezebel have constructed an entire new priesthood of Baal all across the nation of Israel.

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 There are thousands of priests of Baal.

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 All of the true followers of God have kind of melted into the woods and disappeared.

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 And Elijah walks into Ahab and says, there'll be no rain until you repent.

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 And Ahab's like, who are you, you troubler of Israel?

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 And then a few years pass.

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 There's been no rain.

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 Ahab is beginning to realize this has been a disaster.

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 We can't find the guy.

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 We need to deal with this.

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 And Elijah reappears and says, summon all the prophets of Baal to Mount Carmel.

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 We'll have a showdown.

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 We'll see whose God is the real God.

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 And they have all of their prophets and all of their priests of Baal all gathered together.

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 And they set up an altar.

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 And the rule is there's no fire going on the altar.

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 The God who is real will send fire.

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 And so Elijah is there waiting for the prophets to do their thing.

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 And so they're all dancing and they're cutting themselves and they're rejoicing and all sorts of different things.

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 Huge celebration.

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 No fire from Baal falls from heaven.

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 And at the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah gets up and says, let's build an altar here to God.

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 Gets 12 stones.

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 Slaughters Abul and puts it on the altar.

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 And then drenches the altar with water.

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 And then he simply prays to God.

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 He says to the people, you're halting between two opinions.

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 Who's the real God here?

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 And as Elijah prays, fire falls from heaven and consumes the sacrifice and the water and the stones and everything is just inflamed.

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 And the people realize God is the true God.

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 And so Elijah is up there as the greatest of the prophets.

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 The greatest of the ones who are calling the people back.

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 And so you kind of think of the transfiguration.

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 You've got the law and the prophets which symbolizes the whole of Jewish history and revelation from God.

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 And all of that's talking.

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 You know, they're there as representatives of all of this.

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 And they're talking with Jesus and they're showing, therefore, the glory of Jesus over everything that's in Jewish tradition.

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 And for some people, that's it.

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 That's the transfiguration.

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 That's what's happening.

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 But there's much, much more going on here.

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 Because Moses is an interesting guy.

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 Moses is kind of interesting because the story of Moses is one that begins with failure.

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 Remember, Moses was born of a Hebrew.

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 He was placed in a basket in the river Nile to shield him and hide him from the Egyptian authorities who wanted to kill all of the Hebrew babies.

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 And a princess of Egypt finds him in the river.

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 And Moses is raised within the Egyptian royalty.

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 He's given all the privileges of life.

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 And one day when he's 40, he goes out and he's wandering around and he sees some of his own people, some of the Hebrews.

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 And he says, I'm not having any of that.

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 And he thinks to himself, I'm going to intervene and free my people.

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 And he does in his own strength.

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 And he kills the Egyptian.

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 And he buries him.

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 And he thinks he's got away with it.

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 And the next day he sees two Hebrews arguing amongst themselves.

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 And he tries to intervene.

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 And say, come on, sort it out.

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 And they say to him, are you going to kill one of us like you killed the Egyptian?

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 And Moses is terrified.

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 He's been found out.

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 And he flees.

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 And he runs off to the desert.

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 And he's out in the desert for 40 years.

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 Troubled.

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 Guilty conscience.

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 Failure.

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 He wasn't able to redeem his people.

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 He wasn't able to free them.

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 And there out in the desert, he has his first meeting with God in the burning bush.

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 And God says to Moses, put off your sandals for the place where you stand as holy ground.

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 And Moses is in awe and wonder at this.

00:18:03.460 --> 00:18:05.660
 And he says, what am I going to do here?

00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:07.440
 And God says, you're going to go back to Egypt.

00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:08.700
 And you're going to go in to see Pharaoh.

00:18:08.740 --> 00:18:12.120
 And you're going to say to Pharaoh, God says, let my people go.

00:18:12.500 --> 00:18:14.759
 And even then, Moses is saying, I can't do this.

00:18:15.220 --> 00:18:16.019
 I'm not effective.

00:18:16.140 --> 00:18:17.059
 I'm not a good speaker.

00:18:17.059 --> 00:18:17.700
 I stutter.

00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:21.119
 And God says to him, I'll send your brother Aaron with you.

00:18:21.460 --> 00:18:24.299
 But you're going to do this.

00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:29.000
 And Moses, in all of his weakness, says, I can't.

00:18:30.059 --> 00:18:31.159
 I'm not able to.

00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:36.240
 And God takes weak Moses.

00:18:38.259 --> 00:18:43.759
 And God, by his sufficiency and by his grace and by his help,

00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:46.759
 takes Moses back to Pharaoh,

00:18:47.579 --> 00:18:52.879
 takes Moses into the royal throne room and says,

00:18:53.259 --> 00:18:56.259
 the God of Israel says, let my people go.

00:18:58.319 --> 00:19:01.420
 And the rest, you know, is history that Pharaoh refuses.

00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:02.500
 Pharaoh declines.

00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:04.259
 He wants none of it.

00:19:05.079 --> 00:19:06.339
 There's the plagues that follow.

00:19:07.619 --> 00:19:10.579
 And then Moses eventually is, after the last of the plagues,

00:19:10.579 --> 00:19:13.879
 Moses leads the people out of the land of Egypt.

00:19:14.819 --> 00:19:15.859
 They're brought to the Red Sea.

00:19:15.980 --> 00:19:19.039
 God says to Moses, stretch out your rod across the sea and the sea parts.

00:19:20.059 --> 00:19:21.759
 And Moses leads them to Mount Sinai.

00:19:22.199 --> 00:19:25.039
 And Moses goes up onto Mount Sinai and meets with God in his face,

00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:27.679
 shines radiantly and everything else.

00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:34.220
 But the point of all of this is Moses was not great in his own strength.

00:19:34.220 --> 00:19:40.440
 Moses, when he tried to take up his cross and follow God

00:19:40.440 --> 00:19:43.039
 and do what he thought was God's plan,

00:19:43.640 --> 00:19:45.180
 was an abject failure.

00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:50.019
 And it wasn't until he met with God.

00:19:50.360 --> 00:19:55.200
 It wasn't until he received the presence of God in his person.

00:19:55.460 --> 00:19:59.279
 It wasn't until he met God and savored God's goodness

00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:05.059
 and God's holiness and God's marvel and God's grace and God's redemption.

00:20:05.059 --> 00:20:08.819
 It wasn't until Moses discovered God as an atoning God

00:20:08.819 --> 00:20:15.299
 that Moses was effective in doing the work of God.

00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:17.720
 Don't you see?

00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:20.279
 He had to see God.

00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:25.779
 And Elijah's kind of interesting because his story is almost the opposite.

00:20:25.779 --> 00:20:29.700
 Elijah's story starts on a high, Mount Carmel.

00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:34.539
 And you'd think after experiencing such a marvelous moment

00:20:34.539 --> 00:20:38.160
 of God's transformative work in an entire nation,

00:20:38.399 --> 00:20:42.119
 the nation, it would seem on the face of it, is about to be revived.

00:20:43.460 --> 00:20:46.819
 He's hugely, you almost think he's riding the wave of popularity,

00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:49.539
 having overthrown the prophets of Baal.

00:20:50.379 --> 00:20:55.180
 And yet a few days later, he is terrified of the wrath of Ahab and Jezebel.

00:20:55.180 --> 00:20:57.360
 And he goes off to hide.

00:20:58.920 --> 00:21:01.480
 And when he goes off to hide, he actually says to God,

00:21:02.279 --> 00:21:04.380
 I just want to die.

00:21:05.560 --> 00:21:07.080
 Things are so hard.

00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:09.620
 There's no true followers left.

00:21:10.600 --> 00:21:12.960
 He's seen the amazing work of God.

00:21:13.100 --> 00:21:15.380
 Fire fallen from heaven and consumed the sacrifice.

00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:17.920
 And a few days later, I want to die.

00:21:18.080 --> 00:21:18.980
 Things are so hard.

00:21:18.980 --> 00:21:23.740
 I mean, Elijah, when you actually look at his life,

00:21:24.180 --> 00:21:29.380
 in his own strength, in his own ability, in his own reliance,

00:21:29.620 --> 00:21:30.380
 he's nothing.

00:21:30.779 --> 00:21:31.579
 He's useless.

00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:37.299
 And yet God comes to him and nourishes him and feeds him.

00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:38.640
 And he says to him, take and eat this food.

00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:40.200
 And Elijah eats.

00:21:40.200 --> 00:21:45.299
 And God gives him the strength to go to Mohoreb, to Mount Sinai, down in the desert.

00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:50.960
 And when he goes down there, he experiences amazing things.

00:21:51.019 --> 00:21:51.880
 What you think is God.

00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:52.539
 There's an earthquake.

00:21:53.140 --> 00:21:54.600
 There's a mighty rushing wind.

00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:56.200
 There's a flaming tempest.

00:21:56.200 --> 00:22:00.299
 But then there's just a still, small voice.

00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:05.720
 And Elijah hears the still, small voice of God.

00:22:07.100 --> 00:22:09.500
 And it's that that transforms his experience.

00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:13.039
 He meets with God.

00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:17.200
 He's transformed by a meeting with God.

00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:26.559
 And so in Moses, you've got, I think, perhaps a model there for the Christian who's feeling weak.

00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:29.779
 You think, I'm a weak disciple.

00:22:29.940 --> 00:22:32.440
 How can I possibly take up my cross and follow Jesus?

00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:35.519
 And there's Moses.

00:22:38.680 --> 00:22:40.680
 A failure for two-thirds of his life.

00:22:43.960 --> 00:22:45.779
 And God uses him to deliver the people.

00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:48.200
 And give the law.

00:22:50.340 --> 00:22:52.039
 Or maybe you're like Elijah today.

00:22:53.100 --> 00:22:54.000
 Maybe you have.

00:22:54.100 --> 00:23:00.299
 Maybe in your past, in your youth, perhaps, you had amazing experiences of God's miraculous work.

00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:02.039
 You were seeing God do great things.

00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:04.559
 And since then, maybe things have been a bit quieter.

00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:06.000
 Maybe a bit distressing.

00:23:06.539 --> 00:23:10.819
 Maybe you've actually watched culture in Scotland abandon its Christian heritage and roots.

00:23:11.100 --> 00:23:12.259
 And you feel a bit displaced.

00:23:12.340 --> 00:23:14.279
 And you think, how on earth do I fit in this world?

00:23:14.279 --> 00:23:17.879
 Maybe, God, it's just time you took me home.

00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:20.960
 Maybe you're not suicidal.

00:23:21.059 --> 00:23:21.680
 I'm not saying that.

00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:23.500
 But I'm saying, maybe you just feel your time's up.

00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:25.099
 Your work is finished.

00:23:25.180 --> 00:23:26.039
 There's nothing more to do.

00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:31.779
 And today, God is saying to you as well, take up your cross and follow me.

00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:37.079
 Take up your cross.

00:23:38.920 --> 00:23:39.799
 And follow me.

00:23:41.740 --> 00:23:45.059
 And the reason you're able to do that is because you hear the still, small voice.

00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:49.200
 Because you hear the redeeming word of God.

00:23:49.539 --> 00:23:50.680
 The words of Jesus.

00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:54.200
 And say, I'm going to die for you.

00:23:54.680 --> 00:23:55.720
 I have died for you.

00:23:57.160 --> 00:23:58.539
 And I've been risen for you.

00:23:59.320 --> 00:24:01.580
 And I hold out to you the promise of everlasting life.

00:24:02.380 --> 00:24:03.200
 And glory.

00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:05.560
 My glory shared.

00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:09.580
 Because you will reign with me in the new heavens and the new earth.

00:24:09.579 --> 00:24:16.299
 And the context here is everything.

00:24:18.659 --> 00:24:22.119
 Jesus is saying to his disciples, take up your cross and follow me.

00:24:23.079 --> 00:24:28.119
 But he's giving them examples of people who were enabled to do that.

00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:32.019
 And he's saying to us today the same thing.

00:24:34.339 --> 00:24:38.279
 You can be bold if you see me.

00:24:39.579 --> 00:24:41.859
 That's what we need.

00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:45.399
 That's why these two passages have to go together.

00:24:47.480 --> 00:24:50.699
 We have to know who has saved us.

00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:51.879
 Who has redeemed us.

00:24:52.439 --> 00:24:54.679
 Who has brought us to salvation.

00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:58.379
 So that we can serve him with that confidence and boldness.

00:24:58.919 --> 00:24:59.299
 And go on.

00:24:59.359 --> 00:25:01.779
 And the transfiguration, it shows us that.

00:25:02.659 --> 00:25:05.559
 It shows us just how wonderful Jesus is.

00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:10.779
 But equally, sometimes you get Christians who are just a bit top heavy.

00:25:11.339 --> 00:25:13.899
 They see the wonder of Jesus and they do nothing with it.

00:25:14.200 --> 00:25:20.819
 Because they forget the marvel of Jesus is an inspiration to us to serve.

00:25:21.859 --> 00:25:24.500
 To go into this world with his gospel.

00:25:25.899 --> 00:25:26.859
 And to make him known.

00:25:26.859 --> 00:25:34.719
 And so today, we simply need to see Jesus.

00:25:37.679 --> 00:25:39.099
 And we can ask the question, where?

00:25:39.139 --> 00:25:39.919
 Where do I see him?

00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:45.140
 There's an obvious answer, I think, in the word.

00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:49.779
 Because John tells us,

00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:53.539
 The person of Jesus reveals the glory of God.

00:25:53.640 --> 00:25:56.160
 He is the word made flesh who has come and dwelt among us.

00:25:56.660 --> 00:25:57.860
 And we have seen his glory.

00:25:57.980 --> 00:25:59.580
 Glory is of the only son from the father.

00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:01.820
 Full of grace and truth.

00:26:01.819 --> 00:26:06.500
 And John is telling us, actually, the reason that he writes his gospel.

00:26:06.639 --> 00:26:08.500
 And it's true for the synoptic gospels as well.

00:26:08.700 --> 00:26:12.700
 The reason we have the gospels is so that we will see Jesus.

00:26:14.099 --> 00:26:19.419
 And the rest of the Bible fits around that and shows us how that matters.

00:26:19.559 --> 00:26:20.259
 Why it matters.

00:26:20.419 --> 00:26:23.500
 Why Jesus has the authority to command our allegiance.

00:26:24.500 --> 00:26:25.919
 What Jesus calls us to.

00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:30.259
 How his pattern for human flourishing and thriving all fits together.

00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:32.420
 But it's all found in the Bible.

00:26:32.599 --> 00:26:33.879
 So read the Bible.

00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:35.640
 Major on the gospels.

00:26:36.200 --> 00:26:38.319
 And you will discover Jesus.

00:26:40.140 --> 00:26:42.559
 Do so prayerfully.

00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:46.839
 I mean, do so prayerfully.

00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:52.819
 Pray that you will see the kingdom of God come in with its power.

00:26:55.879 --> 00:26:57.640
 And that will come off the pages to you.

00:26:57.640 --> 00:27:02.020
 Because the Bible presents to us the majesty of Jesus.

00:27:03.020 --> 00:27:05.560
 That's what the book of Revelation is finally about.

00:27:06.020 --> 00:27:08.820
 It's about the authority of Jesus over all of human history.

00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:11.320
 Even the really difficult things that have happened.

00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:13.580
 The difficult things that are happening in our day.

00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:20.580
 The way our country has really turned away from biblical worldviews and thinking.

00:27:20.579 --> 00:27:23.199
 Jesus is still sovereign.

00:27:23.339 --> 00:27:24.159
 He's still in control.

00:27:26.419 --> 00:27:28.519
 And he's still working out his plan and his purposes.

00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:30.839
 Do it in fellowship.

00:27:32.419 --> 00:27:33.019
 It's interesting.

00:27:33.099 --> 00:27:35.399
 When Jesus takes the disciples up onto the mountain of transfiguration.

00:27:35.619 --> 00:27:36.779
 He doesn't just take one of them.

00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:38.740
 He doesn't just say, right, Peter, you come up with me.

00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.859
 And then you can tell everyone else.

00:27:40.899 --> 00:27:42.399
 He takes Peter and James and John.

00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:44.579
 And when they're coming back down the mountain.

00:27:44.779 --> 00:27:45.720
 They're talking to each other.

00:27:45.939 --> 00:27:46.740
 Jesus has charged them.

00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:47.899
 Don't tell anyone about this.

00:27:47.900 --> 00:27:49.759
 Until the Son of Man rises from the dead.

00:27:50.060 --> 00:27:51.680
 And Peter and James and John are coming down the mountain saying.

00:27:52.080 --> 00:27:53.700
 The Son of Man is going to rise from the dead.

00:27:54.360 --> 00:27:55.759
 And they're questioning each other.

00:27:55.840 --> 00:27:56.620
 What is this?

00:27:57.259 --> 00:27:58.960
 How is the Son of Man going to rise from the dead?

00:27:58.980 --> 00:27:59.820
 What is he talking about?

00:28:00.460 --> 00:28:02.960
 And it's not until afterwards that they begin to make the connections.

00:28:03.100 --> 00:28:04.040
 And everything flows together.

00:28:04.140 --> 00:28:06.620
 And they realize that actually the victory of Jesus.

00:28:07.300 --> 00:28:08.280
 Is over death.

00:28:08.519 --> 00:28:09.360
 And over sin.

00:28:09.800 --> 00:28:11.200
 And over everything in fact.

00:28:11.280 --> 00:28:12.040
 Because he is Lord.

00:28:14.519 --> 00:28:16.019
 And their fellowship grows.

00:28:16.019 --> 00:28:17.759
 Because they've spent the time together.

00:28:17.900 --> 00:28:19.600
 Reflecting on this and learning.

00:28:21.600 --> 00:28:22.440
 And so be in fellowship.

00:28:24.340 --> 00:28:26.280
 Talk to one another about the gospel.

00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:30.560
 And you will see Jesus.

00:28:32.460 --> 00:28:33.759
 Be encouraged today.

00:28:34.800 --> 00:28:37.140
 Because the God who calls you to discipleship.

00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:40.420
 Is earnestly seeking to equip you.

00:28:40.860 --> 00:28:41.960
 For his service.

00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:43.580
 And he will.

00:28:44.580 --> 00:28:45.259
 Let's pray.

00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:45.340
 Amen.

00:28:45.339 --> 00:28:51.919
 Heavenly Father.

00:28:52.179 --> 00:28:56.439
 We desperately need to see the glory and oppression of Jesus.

00:28:56.779 --> 00:28:58.799
 And so we ask today that you would help us in this.

00:28:59.919 --> 00:29:02.119
 Help us to see Jesus in the word.

00:29:03.159 --> 00:29:03.980
 As we read it.

00:29:04.099 --> 00:29:05.659
 As we listen to it being preached.

00:29:05.779 --> 00:29:07.419
 As we share it with it.

00:29:07.459 --> 00:29:08.399
 One another in our lives.

00:29:08.459 --> 00:29:09.059
 In our fellowship.

00:29:09.259 --> 00:29:11.220
 Help us Lord to approach the Bible prayerfully.

00:29:11.220 --> 00:29:13.940
 Help us to remember that what we're reading in the Bible.

00:29:14.140 --> 00:29:16.160
 Is not detached from real life.

00:29:16.299 --> 00:29:18.880
 But is full of your blessing.

00:29:19.579 --> 00:29:21.140
 Conveyed to us by the Holy Spirit.

00:29:22.539 --> 00:29:23.680
 And so help us in this today.

00:29:24.519 --> 00:29:25.579
 And may you have the glory.

00:29:26.259 --> 00:29:27.460
 In all things in our lives.

00:29:27.940 --> 00:29:29.140
 We pray this in Jesus name.

00:29:29.600 --> 00:29:29.880
 Amen.

00:29:29.880 --> 00:29:33.600
 And we're going to sing in conclusion in Psalm 72.

00:29:35.560 --> 00:29:37.060
 And this is in the Scottish Psalter.

00:29:40.280 --> 00:29:41.860
 Second half of the psalm book.

00:29:42.580 --> 00:29:43.480
 Page 314.

00:29:47.480 --> 00:29:48.980
 And we're going to sing from verse 17.

00:29:49.100 --> 00:29:50.520
 His name forever shall endure.

00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:52.080
 Last like the sun it shall.

00:29:52.820 --> 00:29:54.340
 Men shall be blessed in him.

00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:56.860
 And blessed all nations shall him call.

00:29:56.859 --> 00:30:02.319
 This is again one of these psalms that looks to the revelation of the glory of the King of Jesus.

00:30:02.859 --> 00:30:04.000
 Jesus in his majesty.

00:30:04.659 --> 00:30:07.879
 And it is in him that all blessing flows.

00:30:08.099 --> 00:30:10.539
 So let's stand and sing the concluding verses of the psalm.

00:30:10.639 --> 00:30:12.199
 His name forever shall endure.

00:30:12.199 --> 00:30:24.199
 His name forever shall endure.

00:30:24.200 --> 00:30:30.200
 Last like the sun it shall.

00:30:30.200 --> 00:30:38.700
 And shall be blessed in him.

00:30:38.700 --> 00:30:48.200
 And blessed all nations shall him call.

00:30:48.200 --> 00:30:58.200
 Now blessed be the Lord our God.

00:30:58.200 --> 00:31:04.200
 The God of Israel.

00:31:04.200 --> 00:31:16.440
 For he alone the wondrous works.

00:31:16.440 --> 00:31:22.200
 In glory our God.

00:31:22.200 --> 00:31:24.779
 Now blessed be the Lord our God.

00:31:24.779 --> 00:31:24.779


00:31:24.779 --> 00:31:24.779


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00:31:24.779 --> 00:31:41.420
 Unblessed be his glorious name to all eternity.

00:31:41.420 --> 00:32:00.940
 The whole earth let his glory fill. Amen. So let it be.

00:32:04.160 --> 00:32:11.340
 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of God the Holy Spirit be with each one of you now and always. Amen.

00:32:11.420 --> 00:32:13.420
 Amen.

00:32:41.420 --> 00:32:43.420
 Amen.

00:32:43.420 --> 00:32:43.420


00:32:43.420 --> 00:32:43.420


00:32:43.420 --> 00:32:43.420


00:32:43.420 --> 00:32:43.420


00:33:11.420 --> 00:33:13.420
 Amen.

00:33:13.420 --> 00:33:14.000
 Amen.

00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:14.000


00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:14.000


00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:14.000


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