WEBVTT

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 Well, good evening, everyone.

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 My name is Keith Nolton.

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 If we haven't met before, it's a pleasure to be able to bring God's word to you this

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 evening.

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 We're going to be continuing our series that we've been in on Sunday evenings, looking

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 at the mission of God's people.

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 Tonight, we're going to be looking at specifically at a passage from Isaiah 43, verses 8 through

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 13.

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 So as you turn there, look on the screen behind you.

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 I wonder, have you ever received notice that you've been selected for jury duty?

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 Imagine that if you have, you probably weren't thrilled at the prospect of getting that notice

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 in the post.

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 That can mean days off of work.

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 It can mean needing child care for your kids.

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 It may mean several boring days or even possibly weeks in a courtroom.

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 Myself, I've never been called for jury duty, but practicing law, often had to interact with

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 those who had been called for jury duty.

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 And it usually would happen on a Monday morning.

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 You show up for trial and you have a courtroom full of maybe 100 or so potential jurors that

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 are there for maybe a couple of trials that are to begin that week.

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 And needless to say, there's not too many smiling faces.

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 There's not too many people that are happy to be there.

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 Most people recognize that a real trial is not like a TV drama that's suspenseful and nonstop

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 action.

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 They recognize that there's these long statements that are given and open and closed and complicated

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 examinations with facts and issues that most people could probably care less about.

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 And so what we look at and see in our passage today is very much a courtroom scene, much like we saw this morning in our passage from John.

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 But our courtroom scene here is not something that deals with mundane facts that we may have in a typical courtroom.

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 It is a case between God and Israel's enemies.

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 And so we'll see that in this courtroom, God invites the nations to assemble, to serve as the jury, that they may examine the evidence and issue a ruling to see the conclusion of this trial.

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 So in a sense, we are invited into, as we look at this text tonight, it's a challenge that we have to consider the evidence, to serve as jurors, so to speak, to recognize who God is and who we are as his people.

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 And so let's look at our text, Isaiah 43, verses 8 through 13.

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 Let's look at the verse, Isaiah 43, verses 8 through 13.

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 Before me, no other God was formed, nor will there be one after me.

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 I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no Savior.

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 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed, I, and not some foreign God among you.

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 You are my witnesses, declares the Lord, that I am God.

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 Yes, from the ancient days I am he.

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 No one can deliver out of my hands.

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 When I act, who can reverse it?

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 This is the word of God.

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 Will you pray with me?

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 Lord, as we prepare to dig into your word this evening, we ask that your spirit may be among us,

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 that you may soften our hearts and open our ears, that we may receive your word with joy.

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 Where we pray that your truth will go forth from this pulpit and that you will receive all the glory and praise from it.

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 And so now we ask God that the words of my mouth and the meditations of all of our hearts may be pleasing in your sight.

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 Oh Lord, our rock and our salvation.

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 Amen.

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 And so as we dig into this text again, I want us to consider this trial scene.

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 It's important to examine who's in the courtroom as we try to understand what they are examining.

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 So as I mentioned before, it's the nations that God calls and assembles together.

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 It says in verse 9, all the nations gather together and the peoples assemble.

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 And so if there's ever a trial to be a part of, to sit as a juror of, you think that this is the one, right?

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 It's not a little issue that deals with property issues or a little misdemeanor that really doesn't really have any real significance.

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 This is a case with serious implications for all the nations.

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 So if we think about it, this would be one of those cases where those TV satellite trucks are set up out front,

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 where the news reporters are standing by waiting to tell others about how the trial has progressed.

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 And so this is a trial of infinite significance with far-reaching implications.

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 And so what's ultimately being decided in this text, in this trial, is who is God?

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 And so we need to consider then, well, who are the parties that are going to be putting forth an argument toward this issue?

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 On one side, we have the enemies of Israel.

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 These are the nations that have persecuted Israel, that have enslaved Israel,

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 the nations that worship pagan gods and have rejected the God of Israel.

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 And these nations, to put forth their case, to support their case, they are supposed to call their own witnesses.

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 And it's rather open-ended here.

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 It doesn't really say who they're going to call, but somebody, somebody to testify that these pagan gods

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 have been able to predict the future and control the outcome.

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 The other hand, we have the God of Israel, right?

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 He is the God who created the universe, the God who chose initially to bless Abraham and all his descendants.

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 And so we see who he decided to call as his witness.

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 Rather ironically, it says in verse 8,

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 Lead those out who have eyes but are blind, who have ears but are deaf.

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 And so we see this disabled group that's described here is actually the people of Israel.

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 So during the time of the prophet Isaiah, we know that the Israelites have been led away as exiles in Babylon.

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 They're under the rule of the Babylonians.

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 And so we've seen repeated throughout the Old Testament this cycle of sin that Israel falls into.

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 And when they fall into sin, they're handed over to their enemies.

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 And so even though they're suffering in this case as they have before,

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 we see that their stubbornness is persisting.

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 In fact, throughout Israel, God calls, or throughout the book of Isaiah,

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 God repeatedly calls his own people deaf and blind.

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 If we look at chapter 42, just going back one chapter, it says this in verse 18,

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 Hear you deaf, look you blind and see.

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 Who is blind but my servant?

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 And deaf like the messenger I sent.

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 Who is blind like the one in covenant with me?

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 Blind like the servant of the Lord?

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 You have seen many things, but pay no attention.

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 Your ears are open, but you do not listen.

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 If you go down to the end of this chapter, it's actually talking about God pouring out his anger,

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 his wrath on his people for their disobedience.

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 And even then it says, enveloped in the flames of their own wrath,

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 they still don't understand.

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 They're consumed by fire, but they still don't take it to heart.

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 And so this is our cast of character.

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 We have the enemies of Israel and whoever their witnesses may be,

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 the God of Israel and his own witnesses, though they are deaf and blind.

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 And so the two points I want us to consider tonight as we see this trial unfold are very simple.

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 You don't have to write them down.

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 First is God is God and we are his witnesses.

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 God is God and we are his witnesses.

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 So let's look at that first point.

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 So as we see this trial begin, you may kind of try to think of what this jury is thinking about.

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 If the nations have assembled, they may be having these kind of preconceived notions as how this trial may unfold.

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 Because they look at the enemies of Israel and see that these are the ones,

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 these are the guys who are in control, right?

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 It's the people of Israel that they have enslaved.

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 And then they look on the other side and they see this God who seems unable to bring his own people out of captivity,

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 who can't prevent them from being blind and deaf.

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 But we see that those thoughts are quickly dismissed as this trial plays out.

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 The enemies of Israel are told to put forth their first witness.

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 If we look at the second part of verse 9, God asks,

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 Which of their gods foretold this and proclaim to us the former things?

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 Let them bring in their witnesses to prove that they are right.

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 And so basically God is challenging them.

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 Bring any witness, any evidence that you can to prove that your false gods have been able to predict the future and control the outcome.

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 And we see the response.

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 Well, frankly, there is no response.

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 There is silence.

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 There is no witnesses.

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 There is no evidence.

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 There is nothing at all that is brought by these pagan nations to support their claim that their gods are the true God.

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 And so we see immediate transition here.

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 That God doesn't waste any time.

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 He calls his witness, the people of Israel.

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 But because of their disability, we see that he steps in their place.

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 That he testifies on his own behalf.

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 And it's not this dull examination that can go on in a real courtroom for hours on end and the jurors start to close their eyes.

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 No, this is an impassioned speech that God gives.

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 And the interesting part is of what he emphasizes here.

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 To claim that he is the real God.

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 Oftentimes when we think of God and we want to characterize God in a certain way or describe him,

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 we think about his attributes, right?

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 We say, well, God is loving.

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 God is good.

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 Or God is patient.

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 And while all those things are true, that's not what God himself focuses on here.

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 He focuses on something that's much more foundational to his case.

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 Because it really makes no difference if God is loving or God is patient.

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 If he's not, first of all, God.

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 And so in his speech, he points out his own godness.

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 And he does so by emphasizing three points of which I want us to consider.

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 First of all, he points out that he is unique.

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 If we look in verse 10,

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 Before me no God was formed, nor will there be one after me.

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 It would have been common in those days for these pagan nations to have their gods

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 and to maybe believe that their gods produced other gods

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 or there's maybe a succession of gods

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 or some gods that are stronger than other gods.

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 The God of Israel is making clear here.

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 There is no other God before me.

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 I did not descend from anyone and no one descended from me.

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 I am incomparable.

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 I am unique.

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 I am without rival.

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 If we think about it in our common day,

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 you've maybe heard people say that maybe are outside any sort of religion.

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 Say, well, all religions are the same, right?

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 You all worship the same God.

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 It's as if God is sitting on top of a mountain

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 and each religion is just represented by different people,

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 you know, hiking up the mountain on different trails

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 to try to reach the summit.

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 Or maybe you think about, you know, in our postmodern world

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 where all truth is relative,

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 you have people say, well, you know, all religions have their own value.

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 Everyone's beliefs have equal merit.

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 And so you don't judge me for what I believe or think,

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 and I won't judge you for the way that you think.

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 And that way all religions or all values or all ways of living

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 are equally good and valid.

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 But that's not what God is saying here.

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 He makes clear, no, there are no other gods but me.

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 There is no one who is equal to me.

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 There is no one who is the same.

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 I alone stand.

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 And so we see this emphasized over and over again in the Old Testament.

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 And if we turn to Deuteronomy 435, it says,

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 the Lord is God.

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 There is no other besides him.

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 And so this is really an incredible statement,

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 especially in our day and age with relative truth,

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 to be able to claim with absolute certainty

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 that the God of Israel is the one true God.

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 And so we see that religion, it's not based on preferences.

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 Your opinion does not dictate reality.

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 God is saying that he is Yahweh and that there is none beside him.

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 And so that brings us to our second point then.

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 He emphasizes his uniqueness.

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 He also emphasizes his own sovereignty.

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 If you look in verse 12,

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 you are my witnesses, declares the Lord, that I am God.

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 Yes, and from ancient days I am he.

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 No one can deliver out of my hands.

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 When I act, who can reverse it?

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 So God is asserting here his authority over all things throughout all times.

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 Past, present, and future, God is in control.

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 And that's what really makes him God.

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 When we think about God's sovereignty,

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 that gives him his Godness.

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 If we take away God's sovereignty,

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 he is no longer God.

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 Because if we think about it,

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 if he is not in control,

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 then he is in fact controlled by something or somebody else.

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 If he is not the absolute ruler,

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 then he himself is being ruled by something.

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 And so we see this truth resounding throughout the book of Isaiah

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 about God's sovereignty.

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 If we look at Isaiah 45, verse 7, it says this,

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 I form the light and create darkness.

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 I bring prosperity and create disaster.

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 I, the Lord, do all these things.

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 And so if we think about our own lives,

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 how easy is it for us to trust God and his sovereignty

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 when things are going well?

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 But when things go maybe ways that we didn't plan,

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 or we face hardship,

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 we begin to question God's sovereignty.

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 But we see in this verse,

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 what does it say here?

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 That he brings prosperity and creates disaster.

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 Israel was not under Babylonian captivity

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 because God didn't possess the ability to deliver them.

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 We don't face sickness or hardship in our life

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 because God isn't able to change the circumstances.

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 We don't suffer in certain ways

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 because God has turned his attention elsewhere.

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 No, God is before all things and in him,

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 all things hold together,

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 as Paul says in Colossians.

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 And so the reason for this is because God does all things

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 according to his own will.

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 If we look further in Isaiah,

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 Isaiah 46, verse 10,

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 I make known the end from the beginning,

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 from ancient times what is still to come.

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 I say my purpose will stand

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 and I will do all that I please.

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 And so the reality is that God is God-centered.

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 He does everything that he desires

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 for his own purpose according to his own will.

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 There's one commentator that I read

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 as I was looking into this text

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 and he pointed out that between verse 11 and verse 13,

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 there are 29 words in the original Hebrew

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 and 12 of those words are in the first person.

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 So God is giving evidence.

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 The evidence that he is putting forth is himself,

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 that he is God.

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 He is the totality of all deity.

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 And so you may have heard that in order to win a case,

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 if you're in trial,

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 you have to carry the burden of proof, right?

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 In a civil case,

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 civil cases that I did back in the States,

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 I'm assuming it would be very similar here

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 in the UK as well,

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 that burden of proof would be called

00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:34.460
 the preponderance of the evidence.

00:16:35.460 --> 00:16:37.920
 And so if you consider the scales of justice, right?

00:16:37.980 --> 00:16:40.000
 For me, in order to win my case,

00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:41.360
 all that I had to do

00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:43.720
 was tip the scales ever so much

00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:45.560
 that they were in my favor.

00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:47.120
 Likewise, for the plaintiff,

00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:47.779
 if they're even,

00:16:47.899 --> 00:16:49.680
 if he tips it ever so much in his favor,

00:16:50.680 --> 00:16:51.500
 he's won the case.

00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:55.040
 We see here that the evidence

00:16:55.040 --> 00:16:57.240
 that God is putting forth in trial

00:16:57.240 --> 00:16:58.500
 as himself

00:16:58.500 --> 00:17:01.879
 is certainly enough

00:17:01.879 --> 00:17:04.299
 to meet the burden of proof.

00:17:04.299 --> 00:17:07.019
 He is not simply tipping the scales here.

00:17:07.099 --> 00:17:09.279
 His evidence is overwhelming

00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:12.819
 that he is the sovereign Lord overall.

00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:15.960
 And so what a comfort it is

00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:17.680
 to know that we have

00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:19.759
 the opportunity

00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:22.399
 to serve and live under

00:17:22.399 --> 00:17:24.079
 a sovereign God.

00:17:24.139 --> 00:17:24.619
 But the thing is,

00:17:24.680 --> 00:17:26.019
 it's not just his sovereignty

00:17:26.019 --> 00:17:27.240
 that should bring us comfort.

00:17:27.960 --> 00:17:29.039
 It's the fact that

00:17:29.039 --> 00:17:30.720
 because of his sovereignty,

00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:32.680
 we get to experience

00:17:32.680 --> 00:17:33.720
 the benefit of it.

00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:36.220
 And so that brings us

00:17:36.220 --> 00:17:37.240
 to our third point then.

00:17:37.980 --> 00:17:39.799
 We recognize that God is unique

00:17:39.799 --> 00:17:41.000
 and that God is sovereign.

00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:42.980
 He's also pointing out here

00:17:42.980 --> 00:17:44.000
 that he is a God

00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:45.160
 who saves.

00:17:46.779 --> 00:17:47.660
 Look at verse 11.

00:17:47.660 --> 00:17:49.860
 I, even I,

00:17:49.940 --> 00:17:50.340
 am the Lord

00:17:50.340 --> 00:17:51.180
 and apart from me

00:17:51.180 --> 00:17:52.580
 there is no other,

00:17:52.920 --> 00:17:53.440
 or excuse me,

00:17:53.500 --> 00:17:54.820
 there is no Savior.

00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:56.580
 I made that mistake myself.

00:17:56.680 --> 00:17:57.340
 That's anticipating

00:17:57.340 --> 00:17:58.840
 what I think that text might say.

00:17:58.940 --> 00:17:59.080
 You're like,

00:17:59.320 --> 00:18:01.100
 he's talking about his exclusivity, right?

00:18:01.120 --> 00:18:02.160
 You expect him to say

00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:03.279
 there is no other.

00:18:03.640 --> 00:18:04.180
 No, he says

00:18:04.180 --> 00:18:06.060
 there is no Savior.

00:18:07.259 --> 00:18:08.279
 Verse 12 as well.

00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:09.139
 I have revealed

00:18:09.139 --> 00:18:10.279
 and saved

00:18:10.279 --> 00:18:11.519
 and proclaimed.

00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:15.240
 Ever since I was a kid,

00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:16.899
 I've liked to collect coins.

00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:18.799
 It's not been a huge hobby.

00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:20.899
 One thing I've liked to collect every year

00:18:20.899 --> 00:18:21.420
 is something known

00:18:21.420 --> 00:18:22.500
 as a silver proof set.

00:18:22.619 --> 00:18:23.200
 So each year,

00:18:23.259 --> 00:18:24.119
 the Mint will put out

00:18:24.119 --> 00:18:25.460
 a collection of coins

00:18:25.460 --> 00:18:26.000
 for that year

00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:27.039
 that are made of silver

00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:28.759
 that are double stamped.

00:18:28.879 --> 00:18:30.720
 So it improves the quality

00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:31.299
 of the coin.

00:18:31.379 --> 00:18:32.059
 It's more clarity

00:18:32.059 --> 00:18:33.099
 and it shines better

00:18:33.099 --> 00:18:34.000
 and it's something

00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:35.059
 that I've just collected

00:18:35.059 --> 00:18:36.220
 ever since I was a kid.

00:18:36.220 --> 00:18:39.279
 And those are legal tender, right?

00:18:39.299 --> 00:18:40.600
 I could use those coins

00:18:40.600 --> 00:18:41.600
 to buy something

00:18:41.600 --> 00:18:42.279
 if I wanted to

00:18:42.279 --> 00:18:43.480
 but of course I've never have

00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:44.759
 because I've wanted to collect them.

00:18:44.839 --> 00:18:46.160
 I want to be able to admire them

00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:47.339
 and maybe pass them on

00:18:47.339 --> 00:18:48.299
 to my kids one day.

00:18:49.100 --> 00:18:50.380
 Well, that's certainly not

00:18:50.380 --> 00:18:52.279
 what God is suggesting here.

00:18:52.339 --> 00:18:53.640
 He's not simply maintaining

00:18:53.640 --> 00:18:55.120
 his power and his sovereignty

00:18:55.120 --> 00:18:56.079
 simply for the sake

00:18:56.079 --> 00:18:57.200
 of having it.

00:18:57.980 --> 00:19:00.200
 He has his own sovereignty

00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:01.799
 and he is using it,

00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:04.000
 using his power to save.

00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:07.180
 There'd be really no reason

00:19:07.180 --> 00:19:08.180
 for us to get excited

00:19:08.180 --> 00:19:09.400
 about the sovereignty of God

00:19:09.400 --> 00:19:11.539
 if it didn't affect us

00:19:11.539 --> 00:19:13.180
 in a positive way

00:19:13.180 --> 00:19:13.940
 because we see

00:19:13.940 --> 00:19:14.720
 throughout Scripture

00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:15.559
 God revealing

00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:16.779
 his sovereign plan

00:19:16.779 --> 00:19:17.660
 of salvation.

00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:18.500
 So you would think

00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:20.099
 to these blind and deaf

00:19:20.099 --> 00:19:21.019
 people of Israel

00:19:21.019 --> 00:19:22.380
 that they would recognize this, right?

00:19:23.099 --> 00:19:24.380
 That even from the beginning

00:19:24.380 --> 00:19:25.839
 of time in Adam and Eve

00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:26.740
 when they were kicked

00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:27.259
 out of the garden

00:19:27.259 --> 00:19:28.720
 even that God promised them

00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:29.240
 a savior.

00:19:29.400 --> 00:19:30.980
 That God made a promise

00:19:30.980 --> 00:19:31.819
 to Abraham

00:19:31.819 --> 00:19:33.039
 that he would bless him

00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:33.839
 and that through him

00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:35.559
 all nations would be blessed.

00:19:35.659 --> 00:19:36.599
 We see that the people

00:19:36.599 --> 00:19:38.240
 of Israel are brought out

00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:39.599
 and delivered out of slavery

00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:40.259
 in Egypt

00:19:40.259 --> 00:19:42.819
 and taken into the promised land.

00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:45.659
 Through judges and kings

00:19:45.659 --> 00:19:48.779
 we see that God's control

00:19:48.779 --> 00:19:49.759
 over his people

00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:51.059
 never changes.

00:19:51.220 --> 00:19:52.200
 And so now even though

00:19:52.200 --> 00:19:53.460
 the people are enslaved

00:19:53.460 --> 00:19:54.319
 in Babylon

00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:55.500
 God promises

00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:56.740
 to deliver them

00:19:56.740 --> 00:19:57.319
 but even more

00:19:57.319 --> 00:19:57.859
 he has promised

00:19:57.859 --> 00:19:58.480
 something greater.

00:19:58.599 --> 00:19:59.079
 He promises

00:19:59.079 --> 00:20:00.480
 to send them a savior

00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:01.700
 whose kingdom

00:20:01.700 --> 00:20:03.099
 will never end.

00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:05.339
 And so that's why

00:20:05.339 --> 00:20:06.500
 we can rejoice too

00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:07.960
 not only in God's sovereignty

00:20:07.960 --> 00:20:08.799
 but to recognize

00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:09.759
 how his sovereignty

00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:10.660
 has affected

00:20:10.660 --> 00:20:12.360
 every single one of us

00:20:12.360 --> 00:20:13.140
 that he has sent

00:20:13.140 --> 00:20:14.519
 his son Jesus

00:20:14.519 --> 00:20:16.940
 and through his blood

00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:19.259
 we are saved.

00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:22.319
 And so that brings us

00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:23.299
 to our second point then

00:20:23.299 --> 00:20:23.839
 to recognize

00:20:23.839 --> 00:20:25.460
 that God is God

00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:27.660
 we also need to recognize

00:20:27.660 --> 00:20:30.019
 that we are his witnesses.

00:20:31.860 --> 00:20:32.680
 If we look again

00:20:32.680 --> 00:20:33.640
 at the people of Israel

00:20:33.640 --> 00:20:34.900
 God calls them blind

00:20:34.900 --> 00:20:36.259
 and F over and over again

00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:38.759
 throughout the book of Isaiah.

00:20:39.980 --> 00:20:40.940
 And so we could think

00:20:40.940 --> 00:20:42.320
 well for this trial

00:20:42.320 --> 00:20:43.040
 he certainly could have

00:20:43.040 --> 00:20:43.620
 just dropped them

00:20:43.620 --> 00:20:44.420
 as witnesses right?

00:20:45.940 --> 00:20:47.279
 I mean when I was trying cases

00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:48.120
 I'd always have to

00:20:48.120 --> 00:20:49.560
 create a list of witnesses

00:20:49.560 --> 00:20:50.860
 that I was required

00:20:50.860 --> 00:20:52.000
 to produce to the judge

00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:52.860
 and opposing counsel

00:20:52.860 --> 00:20:53.880
 so everyone know

00:20:53.880 --> 00:20:55.600
 who you may call to trial.

00:20:55.599 --> 00:20:58.659
 But rarely did I ever use

00:20:58.659 --> 00:20:59.480
 every single witness

00:20:59.480 --> 00:21:00.259
 on that list.

00:21:01.159 --> 00:21:02.279
 Based on how the trial

00:21:02.279 --> 00:21:02.759
 was going

00:21:02.759 --> 00:21:03.759
 based on the strengths

00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:04.439
 of the witness

00:21:04.439 --> 00:21:06.119
 or potentially what I felt

00:21:06.119 --> 00:21:06.699
 the facts

00:21:06.699 --> 00:21:07.579
 or the issues

00:21:07.579 --> 00:21:08.419
 that I still needed

00:21:08.419 --> 00:21:08.939
 to emphasize

00:21:08.939 --> 00:21:11.199
 I may or may not

00:21:11.199 --> 00:21:11.959
 call certain witnesses.

00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:13.839
 And so you may think

00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:14.659
 well God could have done

00:21:14.659 --> 00:21:15.719
 the same thing here right?

00:21:15.859 --> 00:21:16.419
 I mean he's

00:21:16.419 --> 00:21:17.719
 he's certainly capable

00:21:17.719 --> 00:21:18.759
 of testifying

00:21:18.759 --> 00:21:20.199
 for himself.

00:21:20.339 --> 00:21:21.259
 He could have just dropped

00:21:21.259 --> 00:21:22.379
 the people of Israel

00:21:22.379 --> 00:21:22.899
 altogether.

00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:23.539
 They're the ones

00:21:23.539 --> 00:21:24.480
 that are blind and deaf.

00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:25.259
 It doesn't seem like

00:21:25.259 --> 00:21:26.940
 a positive trial strategy

00:21:26.940 --> 00:21:27.779
 to keep them

00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:28.960
 as witnesses.

00:21:30.360 --> 00:21:31.640
 But we see that God

00:21:31.640 --> 00:21:33.120
 continues to use

00:21:33.120 --> 00:21:33.980
 his people

00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:36.559
 even though they can't

00:21:36.559 --> 00:21:37.620
 communicate effectively

00:21:37.620 --> 00:21:39.339
 because their own presence

00:21:39.339 --> 00:21:41.240
 is sufficient

00:21:41.240 --> 00:21:43.079
 in communicating

00:21:43.079 --> 00:21:45.920
 as being valuable evidence

00:21:45.920 --> 00:21:46.579
 communicating

00:21:46.579 --> 00:21:47.940
 his own sovereignty.

00:21:48.099 --> 00:21:48.759
 So look again

00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:49.759
 in verse 10

00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:50.079
 it says

00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:50.900
 you are my witnesses

00:21:50.900 --> 00:21:51.839
 declares the Lord

00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:53.500
 and my servant

00:21:53.500 --> 00:21:54.460
 whom I have chosen.

00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:58.599
 So God chose Israel

00:21:58.599 --> 00:22:00.579
 even though they had

00:22:00.579 --> 00:22:01.579
 sinned against him

00:22:01.579 --> 00:22:02.200
 even though they had

00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:03.180
 turned from him

00:22:03.180 --> 00:22:05.160
 he still desires

00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:07.559
 to be their God.

00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:09.900
 And so this fact alone

00:22:09.900 --> 00:22:11.240
 shows his sovereignty

00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:12.259
 it's not that Israel

00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:13.480
 came to God

00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:14.059
 and asked

00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:15.079
 to be a part

00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:16.099
 of his family

00:22:16.099 --> 00:22:16.900
 no God

00:22:16.900 --> 00:22:18.039
 chose Israel

00:22:18.039 --> 00:22:19.319
 that shows his sovereignty

00:22:19.319 --> 00:22:19.880
 and the fact that

00:22:19.880 --> 00:22:20.640
 he continues

00:22:20.640 --> 00:22:22.240
 to serve them

00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:23.160
 and continues

00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:24.319
 to be their God

00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:25.420
 shows that

00:22:25.420 --> 00:22:26.180
 his sovereignty

00:22:26.180 --> 00:22:27.900
 continues.

00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:29.559
 And so there's

00:22:29.559 --> 00:22:30.519
 really two reasons

00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:31.660
 that we see in this text

00:22:31.660 --> 00:22:32.920
 for why in the world

00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:34.420
 God would use

00:22:34.420 --> 00:22:35.220
 these deaf

00:22:35.220 --> 00:22:36.279
 and blind people

00:22:36.279 --> 00:22:37.680
 to be his witnesses.

00:22:39.120 --> 00:22:40.079
 I want to look at them.

00:22:40.140 --> 00:22:40.940
 First it's because

00:22:40.940 --> 00:22:42.759
 it's for their own benefit

00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:44.259
 and it's also

00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:44.839
 for the benefit

00:22:44.839 --> 00:22:45.319
 of others.

00:22:46.140 --> 00:22:47.299
 So look at verse 10 again.

00:22:47.380 --> 00:22:48.079
 You are my witnesses

00:22:48.079 --> 00:22:49.000
 declares the Lord

00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:49.700
 and my servant

00:22:49.700 --> 00:22:50.440
 whom I have chosen

00:22:50.440 --> 00:22:53.160
 so that you may know

00:22:53.160 --> 00:22:54.480
 and believe me

00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:55.660
 and understand

00:22:55.660 --> 00:22:56.440
 that I am he.

00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:59.600
 God first chose Israel

00:22:59.600 --> 00:23:00.700
 to be his witnesses

00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:02.680
 for their own benefit.

00:23:04.360 --> 00:23:05.460
 And this makes sense

00:23:05.460 --> 00:23:06.799
 because we can't share

00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:07.660
 the good news

00:23:07.660 --> 00:23:08.759
 of the gospel

00:23:08.759 --> 00:23:10.019
 if it doesn't first

00:23:10.019 --> 00:23:11.420
 affect us.

00:23:12.539 --> 00:23:12.980
 Right?

00:23:13.019 --> 00:23:13.720
 This uniqueness

00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:14.720
 and the sovereignty

00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:15.220
 of God

00:23:15.220 --> 00:23:15.920
 and his ability

00:23:15.920 --> 00:23:16.279
 to save

00:23:16.279 --> 00:23:17.059
 these aren't just

00:23:17.059 --> 00:23:17.900
 intellectual facts

00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:18.480
 that we can just

00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:20.160
 pass down the line

00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:21.040
 to somebody else.

00:23:22.700 --> 00:23:23.660
 And so I think

00:23:23.660 --> 00:23:24.440
 this is something

00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:25.620
 that we often

00:23:25.620 --> 00:23:26.420
 can struggle with

00:23:26.420 --> 00:23:27.380
 because we get so

00:23:27.380 --> 00:23:27.960
 wrapped up

00:23:27.960 --> 00:23:28.820
 in our own busyness

00:23:28.820 --> 00:23:29.320
 with work

00:23:29.320 --> 00:23:30.160
 and with school

00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:31.540
 or even good things

00:23:31.540 --> 00:23:32.440
 like family

00:23:32.440 --> 00:23:34.440
 or ministry

00:23:34.440 --> 00:23:36.980
 that we can so

00:23:36.980 --> 00:23:38.420
 often overlook

00:23:38.420 --> 00:23:39.240
 the fact

00:23:39.240 --> 00:23:40.100
 that God

00:23:40.100 --> 00:23:41.960
 is God.

00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:44.440
 There is no one

00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:45.540
 like him.

00:23:45.880 --> 00:23:46.519
 The God

00:23:46.519 --> 00:23:47.420
 of the universe

00:23:47.420 --> 00:23:48.800
 has saved

00:23:48.800 --> 00:23:49.560
 us.

00:23:50.200 --> 00:23:50.960
 And so often

00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:51.580
 we can take that

00:23:51.580 --> 00:23:52.019
 for granted,

00:23:52.120 --> 00:23:52.259
 right?

00:23:52.300 --> 00:23:53.100
 It just becomes

00:23:53.100 --> 00:23:53.680
 kind of our

00:23:53.680 --> 00:23:55.700
 Christian vocabulary

00:23:55.700 --> 00:23:56.400
 and it becomes

00:23:56.400 --> 00:23:57.160
 so cliche.

00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:57.700
 Yes,

00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:58.500
 God is sovereign

00:23:58.500 --> 00:23:59.460
 and Jesus saves.

00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:01.180
 Think about that fact.

00:24:02.800 --> 00:24:04.000
 Let that soak in.

00:24:04.080 --> 00:24:04.680
 It should affect

00:24:04.680 --> 00:24:06.240
 every single fiber

00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:07.580
 of our being.

00:24:08.360 --> 00:24:09.560
 It should be the source

00:24:09.560 --> 00:24:10.420
 of all hope

00:24:10.420 --> 00:24:11.120
 and security

00:24:11.120 --> 00:24:12.600
 that we have.

00:24:12.599 --> 00:24:15.339
 And so that leads

00:24:15.339 --> 00:24:16.059
 us to that second

00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:16.359
 reason.

00:24:16.500 --> 00:24:16.819
 Yes,

00:24:17.000 --> 00:24:17.779
 we are witnesses

00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:19.099
 for our own benefit

00:24:19.099 --> 00:24:20.019
 but we are also

00:24:20.019 --> 00:24:21.099
 witnesses for the

00:24:21.099 --> 00:24:21.839
 benefit of others.

00:24:23.199 --> 00:24:23.819
 In verse 10,

00:24:25.199 --> 00:24:26.719
 God calls his people

00:24:26.719 --> 00:24:28.379
 to be witnesses

00:24:28.379 --> 00:24:30.279
 and servants.

00:24:31.399 --> 00:24:32.379
 And it's interesting

00:24:32.379 --> 00:24:32.980
 that he doesn't,

00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:33.659
 it's not a command.

00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:34.240
 He doesn't say

00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:35.119
 be my witnesses

00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:36.240
 and you need

00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:37.159
 to be my servants.

00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:38.199
 He says they are.

00:24:38.679 --> 00:24:39.699
 They are my witnesses

00:24:39.699 --> 00:24:40.359
 and my servants

00:24:40.359 --> 00:24:41.379
 because I have

00:24:41.379 --> 00:24:42.179
 chosen you

00:24:42.179 --> 00:24:43.439
 to be my people

00:24:43.439 --> 00:24:44.599
 this is your role.

00:24:44.679 --> 00:24:45.339
 This is your mission.

00:24:47.199 --> 00:24:47.959
 And so we see

00:24:47.959 --> 00:24:48.759
 that these two words

00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:49.619
 witness and servant

00:24:49.619 --> 00:24:50.240
 they really go

00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:50.939
 well together.

00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:51.839
 I mean they communicate

00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:52.619
 the same thing.

00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:53.859
 In order to be

00:24:53.859 --> 00:24:54.479
 God's servant

00:24:54.479 --> 00:24:55.759
 as we serve God

00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:56.859
 we are to be

00:24:56.859 --> 00:24:57.740
 his witness.

00:24:59.359 --> 00:25:00.219
 And so it's funny

00:25:00.219 --> 00:25:00.899
 even though God

00:25:00.899 --> 00:25:01.399
 is addressing

00:25:01.399 --> 00:25:02.159
 the nations here

00:25:02.159 --> 00:25:02.819
 he's putting forth

00:25:02.819 --> 00:25:03.779
 his case to the nations

00:25:03.779 --> 00:25:05.359
 he's really also

00:25:05.359 --> 00:25:06.839
 directing this communication

00:25:06.839 --> 00:25:07.699
 to his own people.

00:25:08.979 --> 00:25:10.159
 Because he wants

00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:10.880
 this reminder

00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:11.500
 the reality

00:25:11.500 --> 00:25:13.100
 of who he is

00:25:13.100 --> 00:25:15.000
 to transform

00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:15.779
 his own people.

00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:18.000
 That their eyes

00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:18.620
 may be open

00:25:18.620 --> 00:25:19.300
 that their ears

00:25:19.300 --> 00:25:20.019
 may be able to hear

00:25:20.019 --> 00:25:21.240
 that they can recognize

00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:22.600
 that God

00:25:22.600 --> 00:25:23.720
 is sovereign

00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:25.580
 and to recognize

00:25:25.580 --> 00:25:26.740
 then their own role

00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:28.560
 in his mission.

00:25:29.779 --> 00:25:30.820
 Their task

00:25:30.820 --> 00:25:31.720
 is to be

00:25:31.720 --> 00:25:32.660
 witnesses.

00:25:34.740 --> 00:25:35.519
 And so we see

00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:36.519
 this language used

00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:37.460
 over and over again

00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:37.860
 in the New Testament.

00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:38.779
 We read this passage

00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:39.519
 Roddy read it for us

00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:40.259
 from Acts 1

00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:40.519
 right?

00:25:40.940 --> 00:25:41.980
 When this passage

00:25:41.980 --> 00:25:42.599
 where Jesus

00:25:42.599 --> 00:25:43.599
 before he ascends

00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:44.200
 into heaven

00:25:44.200 --> 00:25:45.319
 he communicates

00:25:45.319 --> 00:25:46.099
 with his disciples

00:25:46.099 --> 00:25:46.879
 and what does he say?

00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:47.579
 You will receive

00:25:47.579 --> 00:25:48.339
 the Holy Spirit

00:25:48.339 --> 00:25:49.460
 and you will be

00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:50.200
 my witnesses

00:25:50.200 --> 00:25:51.480
 in Jerusalem

00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:52.400
 and all Judea

00:25:52.400 --> 00:25:52.859
 and Samaria

00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:53.359
 and to the ends

00:25:53.359 --> 00:25:53.819
 of the earth.

00:25:55.579 --> 00:25:56.359
 When Paul

00:25:56.359 --> 00:25:57.359
 is recounting

00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:58.079
 his own conversion

00:25:58.079 --> 00:25:59.319
 experience in Acts 26

00:25:59.319 --> 00:26:00.619
 he says that

00:26:00.619 --> 00:26:01.700
 God said to him

00:26:01.700 --> 00:26:03.259
 now get up

00:26:03.259 --> 00:26:04.220
 and stand on your feet

00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:05.559
 I have appeared

00:26:05.559 --> 00:26:05.860
 to you

00:26:05.860 --> 00:26:06.759
 to appoint you

00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:08.140
 as a servant

00:26:08.140 --> 00:26:09.880
 and as a witness

00:26:09.880 --> 00:26:11.700
 of what you have seen

00:26:11.700 --> 00:26:12.620
 and will see

00:26:12.620 --> 00:26:13.079
 of me.

00:26:14.680 --> 00:26:15.420
 And so we see

00:26:15.420 --> 00:26:16.640
 the role of God's people

00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:17.559
 has not changed.

00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:18.360
 It's the same role

00:26:18.360 --> 00:26:18.980
 that was

00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:20.360
 to the people of Israel

00:26:20.360 --> 00:26:20.980
 in the Old Testament.

00:26:21.100 --> 00:26:22.019
 It's the same role

00:26:22.019 --> 00:26:22.799
 that he gave

00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:23.660
 the New Testament church.

00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:24.660
 It's the same role

00:26:24.660 --> 00:26:25.600
 that he has given us

00:26:25.600 --> 00:26:26.180
 to be

00:26:26.180 --> 00:26:27.079
 servant

00:26:27.079 --> 00:26:27.980
 witnesses.

00:26:27.980 --> 00:26:30.980
 And so it's

00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:31.839
 important to be clear

00:26:31.839 --> 00:26:32.640
 well what are we

00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:33.519
 witnessing about?

00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:34.900
 This passage is about

00:26:34.900 --> 00:26:36.099
 God being God.

00:26:36.220 --> 00:26:37.019
 We don't just walk around

00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:38.140
 saying well God is sovereign

00:26:38.140 --> 00:26:39.980
 and expect it to make

00:26:39.980 --> 00:26:40.700
 a whole lot of change

00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:41.440
 in people's life.

00:26:41.579 --> 00:26:41.660
 Right?

00:26:42.200 --> 00:26:43.079
 I mean it's true

00:26:43.079 --> 00:26:45.500
 but it's only the foundation

00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:46.360
 upon which

00:26:46.360 --> 00:26:47.180
 our message

00:26:47.180 --> 00:26:48.500
 is built.

00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:50.519
 Our message

00:26:50.519 --> 00:26:51.960
 is the gospel.

00:26:52.120 --> 00:26:52.779
 We bear witness

00:26:52.779 --> 00:26:53.700
 to the good news

00:26:53.700 --> 00:26:54.220
 of Jesus.

00:26:54.599 --> 00:26:55.279
 A friend

00:26:55.279 --> 00:26:56.259
 to sinners

00:26:56.259 --> 00:26:56.920
 the savior

00:26:56.920 --> 00:26:58.240
 of the world.

00:26:59.580 --> 00:27:00.240
 And so just like

00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:01.200
 that courtroom scene

00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:01.980
 that we see in the passage

00:27:01.980 --> 00:27:02.800
 where the nations

00:27:02.800 --> 00:27:03.800
 have been assembled

00:27:03.800 --> 00:27:05.660
 to be able to listen

00:27:05.660 --> 00:27:06.600
 to the evidence

00:27:06.600 --> 00:27:07.700
 and render a verdict

00:27:07.700 --> 00:27:10.539
 we here

00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:11.220
 at Bucleu

00:27:11.220 --> 00:27:12.160
 are in a very similar

00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:12.779
 situation.

00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:14.240
 We have the nations

00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:15.840
 in this city

00:27:15.840 --> 00:27:17.680
 and they desperately

00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:18.279
 need to hear

00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:18.720
 the good news

00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:19.259
 of the gospel.

00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:23.220
 And so it should be

00:27:23.220 --> 00:27:24.420
 our charge

00:27:24.420 --> 00:27:24.800
 our

00:27:24.800 --> 00:27:25.820
 we should question

00:27:25.819 --> 00:27:27.700
 how are we

00:27:27.700 --> 00:27:28.299
 to be witnesses

00:27:28.299 --> 00:27:29.099
 how can we be

00:27:29.099 --> 00:27:29.939
 effective in

00:27:29.939 --> 00:27:30.339
 the spread

00:27:30.339 --> 00:27:30.919
 of the gospel

00:27:30.919 --> 00:27:31.439
 here

00:27:31.439 --> 00:27:33.359
 in this neighborhood

00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:34.480
 in our own neighborhoods

00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:35.460
 around our city

00:27:35.460 --> 00:27:36.799
 and to the ends

00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:37.139
 of the earth.

00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:39.419
 James talked about

00:27:39.419 --> 00:27:40.059
 this morning

00:27:40.059 --> 00:27:41.339
 the need

00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:41.919
 to pray

00:27:41.919 --> 00:27:43.079
 how we're going

00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:43.839
 to start praying

00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:44.579
 specifically

00:27:44.579 --> 00:27:45.519
 for neighbors

00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:46.019
 and

00:27:46.019 --> 00:27:47.779
 co-workers

00:27:47.779 --> 00:27:48.740
 family members

00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:49.240
 who don't know

00:27:49.240 --> 00:27:49.579
 the Lord

00:27:49.579 --> 00:27:51.960
 for opportunities

00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:53.099
 that we can interact

00:27:53.099 --> 00:27:54.859
 with these non-believers

00:27:54.859 --> 00:27:56.179
 that we may have

00:27:56.179 --> 00:27:57.119
 boldness

00:27:57.119 --> 00:27:58.779
 in our witness

00:27:58.779 --> 00:28:01.980
 and so let that be

00:28:01.980 --> 00:28:03.379
 our charge

00:28:03.379 --> 00:28:03.879
 tonight

00:28:03.879 --> 00:28:05.699
 that we may

00:28:05.699 --> 00:28:06.399
 recognize

00:28:06.399 --> 00:28:07.339
 that God

00:28:07.339 --> 00:28:08.059
 is sovereign

00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:08.899
 and that God

00:28:08.899 --> 00:28:09.299
 saves

00:28:09.299 --> 00:28:10.519
 and this is good news

00:28:10.519 --> 00:28:12.219
 that all need to hear

00:28:12.219 --> 00:28:13.000
 so may we have

00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:13.959
 the boldness

00:28:13.959 --> 00:28:15.119
 and the joy

00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:16.519
 of being witnesses

00:28:16.519 --> 00:28:17.500
 for our

00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:18.119
 sovereignty

00:28:18.119 --> 00:28:20.199
 let's pray

00:28:20.199 --> 00:28:26.259
 Lord we thank you

00:28:26.259 --> 00:28:26.859
 that you

00:28:26.859 --> 00:28:27.699
 are God

00:28:27.699 --> 00:28:30.099
 and there is

00:28:30.099 --> 00:28:31.039
 none like you

00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:33.679
 that you are

00:28:33.679 --> 00:28:34.139
 sovereign

00:28:34.139 --> 00:28:34.939
 over all things

00:28:34.939 --> 00:28:35.539
 there is nothing

00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:36.099
 that happens

00:28:36.099 --> 00:28:37.099
 in our lives

00:28:37.099 --> 00:28:37.819
 that is outside

00:28:37.819 --> 00:28:38.939
 of your knowledge

00:28:38.939 --> 00:28:39.699
 and control

00:28:39.699 --> 00:28:42.979
 and Lord we thank you

00:28:42.979 --> 00:28:43.579
 specifically

00:28:43.579 --> 00:28:44.479
 that your

00:28:44.479 --> 00:28:46.279
 sovereignty

00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:47.460
 affects us

00:28:47.460 --> 00:28:48.160
 in such

00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:49.619
 a beneficial

00:28:49.619 --> 00:28:49.980
 way

00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:50.299
 that you

00:28:50.299 --> 00:28:50.819
 have sent

00:28:50.819 --> 00:28:51.660
 your son

00:28:51.660 --> 00:28:53.039
 to die

00:28:53.039 --> 00:28:53.740
 for our sins

00:28:53.740 --> 00:28:54.740
 may that reality

00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:56.399
 never cease

00:28:56.399 --> 00:28:57.119
 to be amazing

00:28:57.119 --> 00:29:00.200
 may it truly

00:29:00.200 --> 00:29:00.879
 transform

00:29:00.879 --> 00:29:01.859
 who we are

00:29:01.859 --> 00:29:02.720
 and what we

00:29:02.720 --> 00:29:03.680
 desire to be

00:29:03.680 --> 00:29:04.519
 in this world

00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:07.299
 so God

00:29:07.299 --> 00:29:07.819
 we ask

00:29:07.819 --> 00:29:08.279
 to be your

00:29:08.279 --> 00:29:08.660
 witnesses

00:29:08.660 --> 00:29:10.500
 that we may

00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:11.059
 be your humble

00:29:11.059 --> 00:29:11.519
 servants

00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:12.079
 in the spread

00:29:12.079 --> 00:29:12.839
 of your gospel

00:29:12.839 --> 00:29:14.940
 in our own

00:29:14.940 --> 00:29:15.339
 neighborhoods

00:29:15.339 --> 00:29:15.940
 among our

00:29:15.940 --> 00:29:16.779
 own families

00:29:16.779 --> 00:29:19.120
 in and around

00:29:19.120 --> 00:29:19.799
 this church

00:29:19.799 --> 00:29:20.519
 and university

00:29:20.519 --> 00:29:23.559
 that we may

00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:24.279
 see lives

00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:25.059
 transformed

00:29:25.059 --> 00:29:25.700
 by the truth

00:29:25.700 --> 00:29:26.240
 of the gospel

00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:28.580
 may that be

00:29:28.580 --> 00:29:29.059
 our heart's

00:29:29.059 --> 00:29:29.640
 desire God

00:29:29.640 --> 00:29:30.380
 to see your

00:29:30.380 --> 00:29:31.100
 kingdom come

00:29:31.100 --> 00:29:33.200
 we pray this

00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:33.980
 in Jesus name

00:29:33.980 --> 00:29:34.779
 amen

00:29:34.779 --> 00:29:37.980
 now we're

00:29:37.980 --> 00:29:38.480
 going to stand

00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:39.140
 for our last

00:29:39.140 --> 00:29:39.779
 hymn of the

00:29:39.779 --> 00:29:40.080
 evening

00:29:40.080 --> 00:29:40.720
 the Lord

00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:41.200
 is my

00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:41.740
 salvation

00:29:41.740 --> 00:29:43.359
 our

00:29:43.359 --> 00:29:46.859
 martyrdom

00:29:46.859 --> 00:29:47.799
 and

00:29:47.799 --> 00:29:48.079
 làm

00:29:48.079 --> 00:29:50.859
 down

00:29:50.859 --> 00:29:50.880
 and

00:29:50.880 --> 00:29:51.500
 our

00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:51.720
 h