WEBVTT

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 Father, we give you thanks and praise that you know us perfectly,

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 and knowing us perfectly, still you sent Jesus to die upon the cross.

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 We give you thanks and praise that Jesus knows us perfectly.

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 In fact, he knows us better than ourselves,

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 since he bore every one of our sins in his person when he died upon the cross.

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 So we thank you, Father, that knowing us so perfectly, still you loved us.

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 That we are your precious possession.

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 And Father, you know how often we struggle with things

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 without even realizing what we're really struggling about.

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 But you know, you know, and you desire, Father, to have us be so gripped by the gospel,

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 have the Holy Spirit so powerful in our lives, and have your word so real to us,

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 and know Jesus so closely,

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 that you would help us in the midst of our various troubles and stresses and anxieties,

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 our delights and our tasks.

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 So we ask, Father, that your Holy Spirit would do a quiet but wonderful work in our midst this morning,

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 as we think upon your word,

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 that we might be disciples of Jesus who are gripped by the gospel,

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 learning to live day by day for your glory.

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 And this we ask in the name of Jesus.

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 Amen.

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 Please be seated.

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 Amen.

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 So my wife would tell you, she's a good wife,

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 she doesn't normally go around saying things like this,

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 but she would tell you that it continues to surprise her how clueless I can be.

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 Even after many years of marriage, there are times she just goes,

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 like, what were you thinking?

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 Like, how could you do that?

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 And there's still times like that.

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 When I was in my mid-30s,

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 I was having some real problems in my life,

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 and some things in my life were sort of breaking down.

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 And so at the age of 36, I think I was, maybe I was 37,

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 I went into some counseling for the first time in my life.

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 And after I'd been in counseling for a bit of a while,

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 one day the counselor said to me,

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 George, has it ever struck you that you're a very anxious person?

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 And I was gobsmacked.

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 That's an old Irish expression for just being completely and utterly like this,

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 the deer in the headlights.

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 It had never dawned on me that I struggled with anxiety.

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 36, it never sort of struck me that I had lots of stress in my life

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 and I struggled with anxiety.

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 At 36, I've talked to lots of people

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 who don't recognize stress in their lives

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 and don't recognize their anxiety,

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 so I understand now that it's not exactly just a George cluelessness

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 that, in fact, many of us don't recognize

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 when we're actually feeling a great deal of anxiety.

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 The text that we're going to look at today

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 actually has a profound comfort for those of us

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 who knowingly or unknowingly are living with stress and anxiety.

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 So we're going to look at it.

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 It's from Isaiah chapter 9, verses 1 to 7.

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 Really, we're going to look primarily at verse 6,

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 but it's worth it to look through all of the text

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 to try to get just a bit of a sense

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 about how this text is this profound comfort

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 for those of us who struggle with anxiety.

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 So here's where it is.

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 Actually, just before we look at the text,

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 there's this wonderful thing.

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 Many of you know that I love this phrase from Winston Churchill.

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 Winston Churchill was using it about Russia.

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 I think he said it in 1939,

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 just after the Second World War had begun,

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 and he referred to Russia in this term.

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 And I don't know how true it is of Russia,

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 but I know that there's lots of things in life

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 that this is a very, very helpful expression.

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 And Christmas is the beginning of the answer

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 to a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.

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 And we're going to see that as we start to look at the text,

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 that there's, you know, just like in our own lives,

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 a lot of times in our own lives,

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 to ourselves we're often a riddle.

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 How did I put it?

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 How did he put it?

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 A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.

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 And the text has a riddle wrapped in a,

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 how do I put it,

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 wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.

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 And it's part of the thing which makes the text

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 so interesting once you start to look at it.

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 And here's how the text,

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 but now just in terms of the literary flow of the text, right?

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 Because Isaiah is a book.

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 And so in the book,

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 it's all part of,

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 this text is all part of the same literary unit

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 as the part we looked at last week

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 in Isaiah chapter 7, verse 14.

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 And then in that text,

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 some of you might remember,

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 it's the great text where there's this prophecy

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 that a virgin shall give birth to a child

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 and they'll name this child Emmanuel,

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 God with us.

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 And I didn't mention this last week,

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 but it literally means God with us.

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 If you look at the Hebrew,

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 the word Emmanuel,

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 the last little bit,

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 El,

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 is the word that only refers to God.

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 It's not the generic word for God.

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 It's one of the two Old Testament words,

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 especially in Isaiah,

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 that refers to the God of Israel.

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 And it's so literally,

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 it's saying that this,

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 a virgin will give birth to a child

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 and this child is actually God with us.

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 And so this text that we're looking at today

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 is part of the same literary unit.

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 It does all sorts of things

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 in this whole literary unit.

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 But the part just before this

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 is God talking to Israel

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 or the prophet talking to Israel

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 about how,

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 it's talking about Israel

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 going through a very,

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 very,

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 very dark time.

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 A very,

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 very heavy

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 and dark

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 time.

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 And,

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 you know,

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 sometimes we don't like the image of dark,

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 but it's a good image.

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 Last night,

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 my wife had gone to bed

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 just a few minutes before me

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 and she very appropriately

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 turned the lights out.

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 So I come into the room

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 and I'm turning the lights off

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 as I go

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 and I come into the room

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 and it's dark

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 and it's Christmas on Wednesday

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 in case you didn't know.

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 And so we have a whole pile

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 of Christmas presents

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 in our bedroom

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 unwrapped yet,

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 but still piles

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 of Christmas presents.

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 So I come in

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 from the bright light

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 into the darkness

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 and I go to go to the bathroom

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 and of course I trip

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 over a pile of Christmas presents

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 that aren't usually there

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 but have been placed there

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 and I can't see them.

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 And that's a very

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 powerful image,

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 isn't it?

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 That when we're very,

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 very confused about things

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 and we can't understand things

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 that it's a good word

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 to understand

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 that we're in a time

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 of darkness.

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 And so just before this

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 they're describing

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 a time of darkness

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 in the life of Israel

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 and now the prophet

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 begins to this final

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 sort of bit

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 for the literary unit

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 in the book of Isaiah

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 and here's how it goes.

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 But there will be no gloom

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 for her

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 who was in anguish.

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 In the former time

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 he,

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 that's referring to God,

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 brought into contempt

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 the land of Zebulun

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 and the land of Naphtali.

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 But in the latter time

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 he has made glorious

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 the way of the sea,

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 the land beyond the Jordan,

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 Galilee of the nations.

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 The people who walked

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 in darkness

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 have seen a great light.

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 Those who dwelt

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 in a land of deep darkness

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 on them

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 has light shone.

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 Now just sort of

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 pause about here.

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 Remember I said

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 that there's a whole range

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 like the people,

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 the Jewish people

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 who are reading this

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 at the time,

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 they wouldn't have understood

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 a lot of what was going on.

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 One of the reasons

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 probably that Isaiah

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 was recognized

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 as a prophet

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 by the ancient Jews

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 is that so many

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 of his more immediate prophecies

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 actually came to pass.

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 But for those

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 who are reading this

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 a little bit later

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 and then maybe

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 for those of us,

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 those Jewish people

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 who are reading this

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 in the,

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 in the,

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 in the about 50 years,

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 30 or 40 years

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 after he died,

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 this would have been

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 a very,

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 very puzzling

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 part of the text.

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 Because as we talked

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 about a little bit

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 last week,

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 one of Isaiah's

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 astonishing prophecies

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 in the year 735

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 or 734 BC

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 was that the

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 Assyrian nation

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 was going to invade

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 and destroy Syria

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 and,

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 and the Assyrian nation

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 was going to invade

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 the northern part

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 of the Jewish kingdom

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 because the,

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 there were two

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 Jewish kingdoms,

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 Israel and Judah.

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 And the,

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 the Assyrians

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 were going to come in

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 and they were going

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 to completely

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 and utterly

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 annihilate the nation.

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 And that prophecy

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 came true.

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 In fact,

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 by the year 670,

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 670 BC,

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 there had been,

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 because Assyria

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 was a very,

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 very,

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 very cruel empire.

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 And part of its cruelty

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 was that they would

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 take large parts

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 of the population

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 and they would have them

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 go on forced marches

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 great distances

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 and relocate them

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 very,

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 very far away

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 from their homeland.

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 And they would take

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 another part

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 of their conquered people

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 and put them

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 on a forced march

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 into where,

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 like it was a bit of a,

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 you know,

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 they'd take some

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 from here to go there

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 and they'd take some

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 from here to go there

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 and they'd move them

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 all around.

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 It was a way

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 to break up

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 people's ancient

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 connections

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 with tribes

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 and kings

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 and with the land

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 to create a type

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 of a,

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 of a disconnected

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 humanity

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 that was very easy

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 for them to oppress.

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 And so,

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 what happened

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 is that by the year

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 670 BC,

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 Isaiah's prophecy

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 came to fulfillment

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 that the ten and a half

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 tribes that made up

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 the northern kingdom

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 of Israel,

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 they've been completely

00:09:40.139 --> 00:09:40.899
 and utterly lost

00:09:40.899 --> 00:09:41.519
 from history.

00:09:43.299 --> 00:09:43.799
 Every single,

00:09:43.799 --> 00:09:44.779
 as I shared last week,

00:09:44.860 --> 00:09:45.679
 every single Jewish

00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:46.659
 person you know

00:09:46.659 --> 00:09:48.000
 is descended

00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:48.659
 from one of the

00:09:48.659 --> 00:09:49.879
 two and a half tribes

00:09:49.879 --> 00:09:52.759
 that were in the south

00:09:52.759 --> 00:09:53.740
 in Judah

00:09:53.740 --> 00:09:54.860
 because the northern

00:09:54.860 --> 00:09:55.700
 Jewish people

00:09:55.700 --> 00:09:56.860
 completely and utterly

00:09:56.860 --> 00:09:58.100
 disappear from history.

00:09:59.139 --> 00:09:59.460
 And so,

00:09:59.559 --> 00:10:01.100
 Isaiah in chapter 7

00:10:01.100 --> 00:10:02.179
 makes this prophecy

00:10:02.179 --> 00:10:03.440
 that the northern kingdom

00:10:03.440 --> 00:10:03.960
 is going to be

00:10:03.960 --> 00:10:04.860
 completely and utterly

00:10:04.860 --> 00:10:05.539
 destroyed.

00:10:06.139 --> 00:10:06.500
 And in fact,

00:10:06.559 --> 00:10:07.200
 what happens is

00:10:07.200 --> 00:10:08.200
 when Assyria comes,

00:10:08.200 --> 00:10:09.300
 as often happens,

00:10:09.740 --> 00:10:09.900
 I mean,

00:10:10.040 --> 00:10:11.040
 generally speaking,

00:10:11.140 --> 00:10:12.720
 Israel's enemies

00:10:12.720 --> 00:10:13.340
 have either come

00:10:13.340 --> 00:10:14.060
 from the south,

00:10:14.440 --> 00:10:15.300
 usually Egypt,

00:10:15.500 --> 00:10:16.280
 or they've come

00:10:16.280 --> 00:10:16.960
 from the north.

00:10:17.640 --> 00:10:19.580
 And today,

00:10:19.740 --> 00:10:20.379
 it would be Lebanon

00:10:20.379 --> 00:10:21.140
 and Syria

00:10:21.140 --> 00:10:22.160
 or Jordan.

00:10:22.900 --> 00:10:24.460
 But Israel's enemies

00:10:24.460 --> 00:10:25.420
 came in the land

00:10:25.420 --> 00:10:25.940
 of Zebulun

00:10:25.940 --> 00:10:26.800
 and Naphtali first.

00:10:26.860 --> 00:10:26.940
 So,

00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:27.780
 it's a bit of a puzzle

00:10:27.780 --> 00:10:29.620
 because on one hand,

00:10:30.200 --> 00:10:33.120
 the people reading this,

00:10:33.259 --> 00:10:34.460
 especially after 670,

00:10:34.560 --> 00:10:34.780
 would say,

00:10:34.860 --> 00:10:35.800
 that's so odd.

00:10:35.799 --> 00:10:38.059
 Isaiah's talking

00:10:38.059 --> 00:10:38.620
 as if,

00:10:39.179 --> 00:10:39.979
 and here's another

00:10:39.979 --> 00:10:40.639
 thing about it.

00:10:41.559 --> 00:10:42.279
 One of the things,

00:10:42.339 --> 00:10:43.159
 if you look at the verb

00:10:43.159 --> 00:10:44.079
 tenses all the way

00:10:44.079 --> 00:10:44.699
 through this part

00:10:44.699 --> 00:10:45.299
 that we're going to read,

00:10:45.319 --> 00:10:45.639
 it's very,

00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:46.359
 very interesting,

00:10:46.519 --> 00:10:47.219
 but often it's

00:10:47.219 --> 00:10:48.240
 in the past tense.

00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:49.199
 And it's a very

00:10:49.199 --> 00:10:50.859
 particular literary device

00:10:50.859 --> 00:10:51.479
 used by,

00:10:52.599 --> 00:10:53.299
 in Jewish

00:10:53.299 --> 00:10:54.599
 prophetic literature,

00:10:55.139 --> 00:10:56.240
 that the future

00:10:56.240 --> 00:10:57.439
 is so certain,

00:10:58.399 --> 00:10:59.079
 we're going to talk

00:10:59.079 --> 00:10:59.679
 about it as if

00:10:59.679 --> 00:11:01.059
 it's in the past tense.

00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:03.519
 That's how certain

00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:04.319
 the future is.

00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:05.379
 It's so future,

00:11:05.760 --> 00:11:07.140
 so guaranteed by God,

00:11:07.180 --> 00:11:07.980
 I'm going to talk about it

00:11:07.980 --> 00:11:09.120
 as if it's already happened.

00:11:09.840 --> 00:11:10.080
 And so,

00:11:10.160 --> 00:11:10.820
 for Jewish people,

00:11:10.860 --> 00:11:11.600
 they would have looked at it

00:11:11.600 --> 00:11:11.820
 and say,

00:11:11.900 --> 00:11:12.240
 a moment,

00:11:12.920 --> 00:11:14.280
 like those before 670

00:11:14.280 --> 00:11:15.480
 would have just thought,

00:11:16.200 --> 00:11:17.000
 wouldn't have known,

00:11:17.340 --> 00:11:17.820
 they would have had

00:11:17.820 --> 00:11:18.280
 one meaning,

00:11:18.379 --> 00:11:19.300
 but after 670,

00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:19.700
 they would have said,

00:11:19.760 --> 00:11:20.640
 there's no Jewish people

00:11:20.640 --> 00:11:21.120
 left there.

00:11:22.820 --> 00:11:23.040
 Like,

00:11:23.180 --> 00:11:23.640
 how is,

00:11:24.379 --> 00:11:25.240
 like there's a riddle

00:11:25.240 --> 00:11:25.780
 here.

00:11:27.540 --> 00:11:28.080
 By the way,

00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:28.940
 just as an aside,

00:11:29.080 --> 00:11:30.020
 I don't talk about it

00:11:30.020 --> 00:11:30.500
 very much,

00:11:30.500 --> 00:11:33.820
 but God isn't finished

00:11:33.820 --> 00:11:34.840
 with the Jewish people.

00:11:37.080 --> 00:11:38.259
 A Jewish person

00:11:38.259 --> 00:11:39.299
 doesn't become,

00:11:39.600 --> 00:11:40.879
 doesn't go to heaven,

00:11:41.620 --> 00:11:42.559
 isn't made right with God

00:11:42.559 --> 00:11:43.399
 by being Jewish.

00:11:44.360 --> 00:11:45.139
 They have to know

00:11:45.139 --> 00:11:45.639
 the Messiah.

00:11:46.779 --> 00:11:47.899
 But God isn't finished

00:11:47.899 --> 00:11:48.759
 with the Jewish people.

00:11:50.100 --> 00:11:50.500
 That's what,

00:11:50.500 --> 00:11:51.460
 that's what the New Testament

00:11:51.460 --> 00:11:52.559
 fundamentally teaches.

00:11:53.399 --> 00:11:54.639
 And this is part of it here,

00:11:54.700 --> 00:11:56.320
 this little bit of a mystery here

00:11:56.320 --> 00:11:58.860
 that Jewish people,

00:11:59.700 --> 00:12:00.940
 by the time of the,

00:12:01.020 --> 00:12:02.040
 by the time of Jesus,

00:12:02.300 --> 00:12:03.020
 Jewish people

00:12:03.020 --> 00:12:04.440
 had started to move back in.

00:12:04.660 --> 00:12:06.140
 And part of the reason

00:12:06.140 --> 00:12:07.700
 that Galilee was viewed

00:12:07.700 --> 00:12:08.760
 as a little bit suspect

00:12:08.760 --> 00:12:09.540
 was that they,

00:12:09.560 --> 00:12:10.500
 they often were

00:12:10.500 --> 00:12:11.840
 very close to

00:12:11.840 --> 00:12:13.760
 pagan villages.

00:12:14.080 --> 00:12:14.980
 But the Jewish people

00:12:14.980 --> 00:12:15.540
 had moved in

00:12:15.540 --> 00:12:16.560
 by the time of Jesus.

00:12:16.740 --> 00:12:17.240
 And it's why,

00:12:17.780 --> 00:12:18.560
 amongst other things,

00:12:18.560 --> 00:12:19.360
 is that if you look

00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:20.580
 at Matthew chapter 4,

00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:21.440
 Matthew says,

00:12:21.860 --> 00:12:22.720
 when he describes

00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:23.560
 Jesus beginning

00:12:23.560 --> 00:12:24.660
 his preaching ministry

00:12:24.660 --> 00:12:25.660
 after his baptism

00:12:25.659 --> 00:12:26.659
 by John the Baptist,

00:12:27.279 --> 00:12:28.860
 that Matthew 4,

00:12:29.079 --> 00:12:29.879
 Matthew says that

00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:30.799
 this is a fulfillment

00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:31.980
 of the prophecy

00:12:31.980 --> 00:12:33.699
 in Isaiah chapter 9

00:12:33.699 --> 00:12:34.919
 being fulfilled.

00:12:35.059 --> 00:12:35.539
 It's the beginning

00:12:35.539 --> 00:12:36.139
 of the fulfillment

00:12:36.139 --> 00:12:36.839
 of the prophecy

00:12:36.839 --> 00:12:38.480
 because Jesus begins

00:12:38.480 --> 00:12:39.159
 his preaching

00:12:39.159 --> 00:12:39.939
 in the areas

00:12:39.939 --> 00:12:41.519
 that were depopulated,

00:12:41.659 --> 00:12:42.219
 where Assyria

00:12:42.219 --> 00:12:44.179
 had first come in.

00:12:44.759 --> 00:12:45.319
 And that's where

00:12:45.319 --> 00:12:45.980
 he begins his

00:12:45.980 --> 00:12:46.839
 preaching ministry.

00:12:47.500 --> 00:12:47.980
 And so there's

00:12:47.980 --> 00:12:48.459
 a bit of a,

00:12:48.459 --> 00:12:48.659
 you know,

00:12:48.699 --> 00:12:49.799
 a bit of a riddle here.

00:12:52.100 --> 00:12:53.799
 In 650 BC,

00:12:54.059 --> 00:12:54.699
 they wouldn't have,

00:12:54.700 --> 00:12:56.379
 it would have been

00:12:56.379 --> 00:12:57.740
 beyond their wildest dreams

00:12:57.740 --> 00:12:58.379
 that there would be

00:12:58.379 --> 00:12:59.500
 Jewish people living there.

00:12:59.860 --> 00:13:00.660
 They would have not

00:13:00.660 --> 00:13:01.440
 known entirely

00:13:01.440 --> 00:13:02.100
 what this meant

00:13:02.100 --> 00:13:02.600
 because there's

00:13:02.600 --> 00:13:03.259
 so many riddles

00:13:03.259 --> 00:13:04.180
 within the text.

00:13:05.620 --> 00:13:07.240
 But Jesus begins

00:13:07.240 --> 00:13:09.759
 his ministry

00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:11.820
 in an area

00:13:11.820 --> 00:13:13.860
 amongst Jewish people

00:13:13.860 --> 00:13:14.420
 in an area

00:13:14.420 --> 00:13:15.320
 that earlier on

00:13:15.320 --> 00:13:16.180
 Isaiah said

00:13:16.180 --> 00:13:17.460
 they are wiped out.

00:13:17.580 --> 00:13:18.360
 And we can now see

00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:18.960
 that both of those

00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:20.060
 prophecies came true,

00:13:20.620 --> 00:13:21.120
 actually,

00:13:21.320 --> 00:13:21.720
 can't we?

00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:25.740
 Then he moves

00:13:25.740 --> 00:13:26.480
 to these very,

00:13:26.560 --> 00:13:26.759
 very,

00:13:26.840 --> 00:13:29.399
 very powerful images

00:13:29.399 --> 00:13:31.360
 about what God

00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:31.899
 is going to do

00:13:31.899 --> 00:13:32.700
 in their midst.

00:13:33.480 --> 00:13:34.580
 And it's seen

00:13:34.580 --> 00:13:35.860
 in verses 3 to 5.

00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:37.680
 If you want to

00:13:37.680 --> 00:13:38.759
 follow along with me.

00:13:39.460 --> 00:13:40.460
 You have multiplied

00:13:40.460 --> 00:13:41.120
 the nation,

00:13:41.259 --> 00:13:41.740
 verse 3,

00:13:41.800 --> 00:13:42.440
 you have increased

00:13:42.440 --> 00:13:42.960
 its joy,

00:13:43.040 --> 00:13:44.139
 they rejoice before you

00:13:44.139 --> 00:13:44.720
 as with joy

00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:45.379
 at the harvest,

00:13:45.639 --> 00:13:46.440
 as they are glad

00:13:46.440 --> 00:13:47.019
 when they divide

00:13:47.019 --> 00:13:47.560
 the spoil.

00:13:47.680 --> 00:13:48.139
 For the yoke

00:13:48.139 --> 00:13:48.759
 of his burden

00:13:48.759 --> 00:13:50.080
 and the staffer

00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:51.000
 is a shoulder,

00:13:51.439 --> 00:13:52.659
 the rod of his oppressor,

00:13:52.899 --> 00:13:53.580
 you have broken

00:13:53.580 --> 00:13:54.819
 as on the day of Midian.

00:13:55.500 --> 00:13:56.600
 For every boot

00:13:56.600 --> 00:13:57.939
 of the tramping warrior

00:13:57.939 --> 00:13:59.080
 in the battle tumult

00:13:59.080 --> 00:13:59.980
 and every garment

00:13:59.980 --> 00:14:00.779
 rolled in blood

00:14:00.779 --> 00:14:01.500
 will be burned

00:14:01.500 --> 00:14:02.759
 as fuel for the fire.

00:14:04.340 --> 00:14:04.600
 Now,

00:14:05.299 --> 00:14:06.679
 the heart of these

00:14:06.679 --> 00:14:07.759
 two images is this.

00:14:07.819 --> 00:14:08.879
 There's a harvest image

00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:10.460
 and there's a battle image.

00:14:11.439 --> 00:14:12.460
 And at the heart

00:14:12.460 --> 00:14:13.580
 of both of these images

00:14:13.580 --> 00:14:15.340
 is this fundamental idea

00:14:15.340 --> 00:14:16.220
 that,

00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:18.319
 like in the harvest image,

00:14:18.320 --> 00:14:19.340
 the image is

00:14:19.340 --> 00:14:20.860
 that God

00:14:20.860 --> 00:14:21.860
 is like a farmer

00:14:21.860 --> 00:14:22.660
 but God

00:14:22.660 --> 00:14:23.800
 has tilled the land,

00:14:23.980 --> 00:14:25.400
 God has watered the land,

00:14:25.600 --> 00:14:26.920
 God has planted the seed,

00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:28.620
 God has plucked out

00:14:28.620 --> 00:14:29.300
 the weeds,

00:14:29.840 --> 00:14:31.120
 the harvest has come,

00:14:31.180 --> 00:14:32.080
 it's God's harvest,

00:14:32.280 --> 00:14:33.180
 and then God actually

00:14:33.180 --> 00:14:34.360
 brings in the harvest

00:14:34.360 --> 00:14:35.600
 and then after

00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:37.600
 all the work is done,

00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:38.960
 he invites people

00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:39.660
 to come and enjoy

00:14:39.660 --> 00:14:40.200
 the harvest.

00:14:40.700 --> 00:14:41.640
 But it's all done

00:14:41.640 --> 00:14:42.120
 by him.

00:14:43.460 --> 00:14:44.520
 And in the battle image,

00:14:44.600 --> 00:14:45.660
 and it's emphasized

00:14:45.660 --> 00:14:46.720
 by this image

00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:47.399
 of Midian,

00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:48.800
 in the battle image,

00:14:48.879 --> 00:14:49.720
 the image is that

00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:50.759
 there's a great battle

00:14:50.759 --> 00:14:51.940
 against Israel's enemies,

00:14:52.060 --> 00:14:52.600
 against the people

00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:53.279
 of God's enemies.

00:14:53.420 --> 00:14:54.500
 And God defeats,

00:14:54.860 --> 00:14:55.580
 does everything.

00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:57.540
 He takes on the enemies,

00:14:57.660 --> 00:14:58.600
 he defeats the enemies,

00:14:58.680 --> 00:14:59.279
 they're completely

00:14:59.279 --> 00:15:00.180
 and utterly defeated,

00:15:00.920 --> 00:15:01.879
 and then people

00:15:01.879 --> 00:15:02.600
 get to come in

00:15:02.600 --> 00:15:04.019
 and enjoy the victory

00:15:04.019 --> 00:15:05.379
 that he has accomplished.

00:15:06.019 --> 00:15:07.720
 Those are the two images

00:15:07.720 --> 00:15:09.100
 which are going on here.

00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:10.560
 And if you're wondering

00:15:10.560 --> 00:15:11.220
 a little bit about

00:15:11.220 --> 00:15:12.700
 the weapons

00:15:12.700 --> 00:15:13.800
 and the bloody boots

00:15:13.799 --> 00:15:14.539
 and all of that type

00:15:14.539 --> 00:15:15.479
 and the bloody clothes.

00:15:17.019 --> 00:15:17.759
 Some of you know

00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:18.599
 I was in Israel

00:15:18.599 --> 00:15:20.459
 in the last little bit

00:15:20.459 --> 00:15:21.019
 of October.

00:15:21.639 --> 00:15:22.359
 And we began,

00:15:22.719 --> 00:15:23.859
 I was part of the tour,

00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:26.799
 and we spent

00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:28.779
 the first couple of days

00:15:28.779 --> 00:15:30.219
 around the Sea of Galilee.

00:15:30.979 --> 00:15:32.179
 And one day

00:15:32.179 --> 00:15:33.000
 we were driving

00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:34.359
 from our hotel

00:15:34.359 --> 00:15:35.219
 in Tiberias

00:15:35.219 --> 00:15:36.679
 up to the Golan Heights.

00:15:37.259 --> 00:15:38.240
 It was really interesting.

00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:39.039
 I really,

00:15:39.179 --> 00:15:40.240
 it was really sort of neat.

00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:41.279
 We got to actually go

00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:42.840
 within 500 yards

00:15:42.840 --> 00:15:44.200
 of the Syrian border.

00:15:45.460 --> 00:15:45.919
 And we also,

00:15:46.100 --> 00:15:47.200
 and we were two kilometers

00:15:47.200 --> 00:15:48.720
 away from the Lebanese border.

00:15:49.639 --> 00:15:51.039
 We were able to see

00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:52.639
 in the distance

00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:53.860
 two villages,

00:15:54.120 --> 00:15:55.159
 one controlled by,

00:15:55.220 --> 00:15:56.340
 I think it was Al-Qaeda,

00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:57.639
 one controlled by Hezbollah.

00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:00.580
 And our guide

00:16:00.580 --> 00:16:02.960
 who was a just retired major,

00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:04.299
 we had two guides

00:16:04.299 --> 00:16:05.080
 at that point in time.

00:16:05.159 --> 00:16:05.820
 We had a military,

00:16:06.200 --> 00:16:07.500
 a former military major

00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:08.960
 of the Northern Israeli Command.

00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:10.860
 And he talked about

00:16:10.860 --> 00:16:11.940
 how sometimes

00:16:11.940 --> 00:16:12.800
 you can come up there

00:16:12.800 --> 00:16:13.420
 and you can see

00:16:13.420 --> 00:16:14.780
 the two villages

00:16:14.780 --> 00:16:15.840
 fighting at each other.

00:16:16.019 --> 00:16:17.580
 And he confessed

00:16:17.580 --> 00:16:18.340
 that as an Israeli

00:16:18.340 --> 00:16:18.940
 on one hand,

00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:19.240
 of course,

00:16:19.320 --> 00:16:20.300
 he hates to see

00:16:20.300 --> 00:16:20.879
 any bloodshot.

00:16:20.920 --> 00:16:21.440
 On the other hand,

00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:21.960
 he's glad

00:16:21.960 --> 00:16:22.540
 that they're fighting

00:16:22.540 --> 00:16:23.000
 each other

00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:23.480
 because it means

00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:24.700
 they're not attacking us.

00:16:25.820 --> 00:16:27.160
 But we're right up there

00:16:27.160 --> 00:16:28.060
 at the border.

00:16:28.160 --> 00:16:29.320
 But before we got there,

00:16:29.720 --> 00:16:30.620
 he's talking about

00:16:30.620 --> 00:16:31.280
 different things

00:16:31.280 --> 00:16:31.960
 and our tour guide

00:16:31.960 --> 00:16:32.540
 is talking about

00:16:32.540 --> 00:16:33.139
 different things.

00:16:33.220 --> 00:16:33.920
 And all of a sudden,

00:16:34.019 --> 00:16:35.139
 the tour guide interrupts them

00:16:35.139 --> 00:16:35.700
 and says,

00:16:35.800 --> 00:16:36.280
 oh, oh, oh,

00:16:36.280 --> 00:16:37.500
 we have to make sure

00:16:37.500 --> 00:16:38.060
 they understand

00:16:38.060 --> 00:16:38.620
 what's happening.

00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:40.700
 And he smiles

00:16:40.700 --> 00:16:41.480
 a big smile

00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:41.920
 and he said,

00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:42.120
 okay,

00:16:42.180 --> 00:16:43.240
 just in a few seconds,

00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:43.960
 we're going to go over

00:16:43.960 --> 00:16:44.980
 the mighty Jordan River.

00:16:46.680 --> 00:16:47.600
 And, of course,

00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:48.220
 it's really funny

00:16:48.220 --> 00:16:49.120
 because the Jordan River

00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:50.139
 is about the distance

00:16:50.139 --> 00:16:51.340
 from the end

00:16:51.340 --> 00:16:51.920
 of that chair

00:16:51.920 --> 00:16:52.480
 to the door.

00:16:53.639 --> 00:16:53.800
 Like,

00:16:53.940 --> 00:16:54.480
 the Jordan River,

00:16:55.040 --> 00:16:56.879
 it's not very,

00:16:57.460 --> 00:16:58.860
 the Jordan's not very wide.

00:16:59.340 --> 00:16:59.580
 Like,

00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:00.139
 it's tiny.

00:17:00.139 --> 00:17:01.480
 So,

00:17:01.559 --> 00:17:02.439
 some people say,

00:17:02.620 --> 00:17:02.740
 well,

00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:03.720
 what's the big deal

00:17:03.720 --> 00:17:04.740
 about all the things

00:17:04.740 --> 00:17:05.279
 in the Bible

00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:06.559
 about the Jordan River

00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:07.379
 and crossing it?

00:17:07.420 --> 00:17:09.019
 And the guy said,

00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:09.200
 well,

00:17:09.220 --> 00:17:09.900
 amongst other things,

00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:10.319
 he said,

00:17:10.420 --> 00:17:11.440
 it's deep.

00:17:12.359 --> 00:17:12.539
 I mean,

00:17:12.599 --> 00:17:13.359
 people back then,

00:17:13.460 --> 00:17:14.099
 a tall person

00:17:14.099 --> 00:17:15.039
 was five foot tall.

00:17:16.879 --> 00:17:17.359
 I mean,

00:17:17.400 --> 00:17:17.720
 obviously,

00:17:17.779 --> 00:17:18.200
 there were people

00:17:18.200 --> 00:17:18.819
 higher than tall,

00:17:18.859 --> 00:17:19.339
 but most people

00:17:19.339 --> 00:17:20.319
 were five foot tall.

00:17:21.019 --> 00:17:21.980
 In the time

00:17:21.980 --> 00:17:22.920
 of the Roman Empire,

00:17:23.160 --> 00:17:24.160
 most of the soldiers

00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:24.539
 that were doing

00:17:24.539 --> 00:17:24.859
 the fighting

00:17:24.859 --> 00:17:25.819
 were five foot tall.

00:17:25.819 --> 00:17:27.619
 And so,

00:17:27.679 --> 00:17:28.299
 when they had a shield

00:17:28.299 --> 00:17:29.359
 that was four foot tall,

00:17:29.480 --> 00:17:30.519
 it doesn't take much

00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:31.119
 to get underneath

00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:31.720
 to be protected

00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:32.480
 by a shield

00:17:32.480 --> 00:17:33.359
 that's four foot tall

00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:33.679
 when you're only

00:17:33.679 --> 00:17:34.419
 five foot tall.

00:17:34.859 --> 00:17:35.299
 And he said,

00:17:35.339 --> 00:17:36.359
 so the water's deep

00:17:36.359 --> 00:17:38.319
 and so it's hard to cross.

00:17:38.399 --> 00:17:39.099
 They couldn't swim.

00:17:39.480 --> 00:17:39.659
 So,

00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:40.639
 somebody said to him,

00:17:40.859 --> 00:17:40.980
 well,

00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:41.439
 why didn't they just

00:17:41.439 --> 00:17:42.000
 build a bridge?

00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:43.039
 It's not a very big river.

00:17:43.279 --> 00:17:43.960
 And he said,

00:17:44.059 --> 00:17:44.759
 look around.

00:17:45.099 --> 00:17:45.759
 If you're there,

00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:46.099
 look around.

00:17:46.139 --> 00:17:46.879
 There's no trees.

00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:48.299
 Like,

00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:49.159
 there's no trees.

00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:50.659
 There aren't.

00:17:51.299 --> 00:17:51.960
 No trees.

00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:52.639
 So,

00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:53.639
 how would they build a bridge?

00:17:54.740 --> 00:17:55.500
 It's a big deal.

00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:56.420
 It's a big accomplishment.

00:17:57.339 --> 00:17:58.019
 Even today,

00:17:58.220 --> 00:17:59.759
 if you couldn't swim

00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:01.079
 to get across a river

00:18:01.079 --> 00:18:02.099
 that's higher than you

00:18:02.099 --> 00:18:03.920
 and to bring all your family

00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:04.400
 and your goods

00:18:04.400 --> 00:18:05.160
 and everything like that

00:18:05.160 --> 00:18:05.920
 and there's no trees.

00:18:06.420 --> 00:18:06.619
 So,

00:18:06.680 --> 00:18:07.940
 this part of the text here

00:18:07.940 --> 00:18:09.460
 about the burning

00:18:09.460 --> 00:18:10.099
 of the clothes

00:18:10.099 --> 00:18:10.700
 and the weapons,

00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:12.839
 it's something that,

00:18:13.099 --> 00:18:14.160
 especially Jewish people,

00:18:14.220 --> 00:18:15.180
 they would have instantly understood.

00:18:15.299 --> 00:18:16.359
 They're practical people.

00:18:17.900 --> 00:18:18.519
 And here,

00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:19.140
 God has won

00:18:19.140 --> 00:18:20.059
 a wonderful victory.

00:18:20.599 --> 00:18:21.839
 All the enemies destroyed

00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:23.720
 and God is God.

00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:25.140
 And so,

00:18:25.339 --> 00:18:25.819
 you know what?

00:18:26.140 --> 00:18:27.559
 All these weapons of war,

00:18:27.640 --> 00:18:28.620
 you don't need them anymore

00:18:28.620 --> 00:18:29.819
 because God's won the battle.

00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:30.759
 But you know what?

00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:31.180
 They're really,

00:18:31.299 --> 00:18:32.600
 really handy to heat the house.

00:18:33.700 --> 00:18:34.640
 And they're really handy

00:18:34.640 --> 00:18:35.299
 to cook on.

00:18:35.779 --> 00:18:36.019
 Like,

00:18:36.059 --> 00:18:36.759
 why waste it?

00:18:37.720 --> 00:18:38.860
 You're not going to wear the clothes.

00:18:38.940 --> 00:18:40.000
 It's all filled with blood

00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:41.160
 and yuck.

00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:42.240
 But it dries

00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:43.420
 and you burn it

00:18:43.420 --> 00:18:44.819
 and you use it.

00:18:44.920 --> 00:18:45.259
 It's a very,

00:18:45.360 --> 00:18:45.519
 very,

00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:47.000
 it's part of the spoils

00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:47.740
 of the battle

00:18:47.740 --> 00:18:49.519
 which is being described here.

00:18:50.319 --> 00:18:50.839
 And it's a very,

00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:52.259
 very powerful image.

00:18:52.379 --> 00:18:52.440
 Now,

00:18:52.539 --> 00:18:53.720
 I have to confess

00:18:53.720 --> 00:18:54.859
 that,

00:18:56.059 --> 00:18:56.859
 so,

00:18:56.940 --> 00:18:57.240
 so,

00:18:57.359 --> 00:18:57.940
 some of you,

00:18:58.039 --> 00:18:58.200
 if,

00:18:58.420 --> 00:18:59.039
 some of you have been

00:18:59.039 --> 00:19:00.119
 to our Christmas Eve

00:19:00.119 --> 00:19:01.299
 seven o'clock service

00:19:01.299 --> 00:19:02.700
 or a Christmas morning service

00:19:02.700 --> 00:19:04.119
 and one of the things

00:19:04.119 --> 00:19:05.440
 I do at those services

00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:06.400
 is,

00:19:06.660 --> 00:19:07.700
 you know,

00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:08.240
 even though I had

00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:08.960
 all these kids,

00:19:09.160 --> 00:19:09.379
 God,

00:19:10.460 --> 00:19:12.180
 I didn't get that thing

00:19:12.180 --> 00:19:12.740
 about being able

00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:14.039
 to do good kids stories.

00:19:14.039 --> 00:19:14.339
 Like,

00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:15.379
 that's somehow missing

00:19:15.379 --> 00:19:16.059
 in me.

00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:17.000
 So,

00:19:17.059 --> 00:19:17.799
 a few years ago

00:19:17.799 --> 00:19:18.720
 it was always a struggle.

00:19:18.879 --> 00:19:19.579
 I have to do something

00:19:19.579 --> 00:19:20.259
 at Christmas

00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:21.740
 for the kids,

00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:22.379
 you know.

00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:24.119
 Just like,

00:19:24.179 --> 00:19:24.960
 it's like nothing,

00:19:25.079 --> 00:19:25.240
 right?

00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:25.679
 So,

00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:26.500
 a few years I discovered

00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:27.579
 that there's many movies

00:19:27.579 --> 00:19:28.480
 that you can get

00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:29.679
 for either free

00:19:29.679 --> 00:19:30.559
 or very little price.

00:19:30.659 --> 00:19:30.779
 So,

00:19:30.899 --> 00:19:32.339
 my Christmas Eve sermon

00:19:32.339 --> 00:19:33.839
 and Christmas morning sermon,

00:19:33.960 --> 00:19:34.759
 I interspersed,

00:19:34.819 --> 00:19:35.980
 I talked for like four minutes,

00:19:36.379 --> 00:19:37.000
 people were starting to go,

00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:38.319
 kids are getting restless.

00:19:38.399 --> 00:19:39.099
 I put on a movie.

00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:41.919
 They all perk up

00:19:41.919 --> 00:19:43.700
 and they go back

00:19:43.700 --> 00:19:45.019
 to speaking for four minutes

00:19:45.019 --> 00:19:45.679
 or five minutes.

00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:46.860
 They all start to get restless

00:19:46.860 --> 00:19:47.840
 or fall asleep.

00:19:48.080 --> 00:19:48.799
 I put on a movie.

00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:49.380
 So,

00:19:49.560 --> 00:19:50.500
 here's the thing.

00:19:52.140 --> 00:19:52.779
 For those of you

00:19:52.779 --> 00:19:53.240
 who are parents,

00:19:53.380 --> 00:19:54.259
 I came across

00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:55.299
 this spectacular

00:19:55.299 --> 00:19:56.840
 Christmas mini movie

00:19:56.840 --> 00:19:57.680
 called

00:19:57.680 --> 00:19:59.360
 There's a Dragon

00:19:59.360 --> 00:20:00.539
 at My Nativity.

00:20:01.600 --> 00:20:02.480
 And it shows

00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:04.160
 a dragon swallowing things

00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:05.660
 and there's the stable

00:20:05.660 --> 00:20:06.980
 but beside the stable

00:20:06.980 --> 00:20:08.240
 there's this huge

00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:09.680
 dragon

00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:10.779
 sort of drooling

00:20:10.779 --> 00:20:11.519
 because it wants

00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:12.360
 to eat the baby.

00:20:13.220 --> 00:20:14.140
 And I'm trying to decide

00:20:14.140 --> 00:20:15.080
 if I should show it.

00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:16.019
 So,

00:20:16.140 --> 00:20:16.900
 I think I should.

00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:17.779
 I think I'll just warn

00:20:17.779 --> 00:20:18.340
 the parents

00:20:18.340 --> 00:20:19.140
 that if you have kids

00:20:19.140 --> 00:20:20.180
 it's going to be too scary.

00:20:20.320 --> 00:20:21.039
 Cover their eyes

00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:22.539
 for this next three minute video

00:20:22.539 --> 00:20:23.720
 because it's really cool.

00:20:24.580 --> 00:20:25.940
 I think it's really cool

00:20:25.940 --> 00:20:26.759
 and if you come on

00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:27.360
 Christmas Eve

00:20:27.360 --> 00:20:28.140
 or Christmas morning

00:20:28.140 --> 00:20:28.960
 you'll get to see it.

00:20:29.299 --> 00:20:30.340
 But here's the thing.

00:20:30.700 --> 00:20:31.539
 Here's the riddle.

00:20:32.039 --> 00:20:32.160
 So,

00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:32.840
 you hear about

00:20:32.840 --> 00:20:33.519
 there's this

00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:36.140
 going to be this

00:20:36.140 --> 00:20:36.519
 like

00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:39.140
 the main images

00:20:39.140 --> 00:20:39.860
 are all around

00:20:39.860 --> 00:20:40.940
 this image of battle

00:20:40.940 --> 00:20:42.240
 that all of you

00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:43.480
 who are oppressed

00:20:43.480 --> 00:20:44.360
 and under the yoke

00:20:44.360 --> 00:20:45.100
 of slavery

00:20:45.100 --> 00:20:45.779
 under the yoke

00:20:45.779 --> 00:20:46.480
 of an oppressor

00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:47.059
 that yoke

00:20:47.059 --> 00:20:48.100
 will be broken.

00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:49.320
 All the people

00:20:49.320 --> 00:20:50.320
 who have staves

00:20:50.320 --> 00:20:50.920
 and rods

00:20:50.920 --> 00:20:51.600
 that beat you

00:20:51.600 --> 00:20:52.299
 on the shoulder

00:20:52.299 --> 00:20:53.019
 and beat you

00:20:53.019 --> 00:20:53.660
 on the back

00:20:53.660 --> 00:20:54.900
 this mighty warrior

00:20:54.900 --> 00:20:55.480
 is going to come

00:20:55.480 --> 00:20:55.880
 and he's going to

00:20:55.880 --> 00:20:56.500
 take them all

00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:57.120
 out of people's hands

00:20:57.120 --> 00:20:58.180
 he's going to break them

00:20:58.180 --> 00:21:00.240
 and all of the enemies

00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:01.440
 are all going to be defeated.

00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:01.860
 So,

00:21:02.080 --> 00:21:03.019
 what is the image?

00:21:03.100 --> 00:21:03.700
 What's this all

00:21:03.700 --> 00:21:04.400
 leading us to?

00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:04.900
 Is it going to be

00:21:04.900 --> 00:21:05.940
 something like Godzilla?

00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:06.880
 Is it going to be

00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:07.460
 something like

00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:08.460
 a mighty giant

00:21:08.460 --> 00:21:09.640
 way, way, way taller

00:21:09.640 --> 00:21:10.759
 with unbelievably

00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:11.539
 big muscles?

00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:12.380
 Is it going to be

00:21:12.380 --> 00:21:13.360
 something like

00:21:13.360 --> 00:21:14.039
 a superhero

00:21:14.039 --> 00:21:15.640
 who can fire

00:21:15.640 --> 00:21:16.960
 things with his hands?

00:21:17.019 --> 00:21:17.680
 Is it going to be

00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:18.580
 something like

00:21:18.580 --> 00:21:19.160
 a volcano?

00:21:19.320 --> 00:21:20.039
 They would have seen

00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:21.420
 massive storms.

00:21:21.580 --> 00:21:21.980
 Is it going to be

00:21:21.980 --> 00:21:23.559
 like a lightning storm

00:21:23.559 --> 00:21:25.860
 that somehow

00:21:25.860 --> 00:21:27.299
 is like a person

00:21:27.299 --> 00:21:28.200
 but can do things?

00:21:28.340 --> 00:21:28.400
 Like,

00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:29.740
 what's it going to be?

00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:31.799
 And so,

00:21:31.860 --> 00:21:32.799
 it comes to the whole

00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:33.960
 climax

00:21:33.960 --> 00:21:36.920
 and it's a baby.

00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:39.059
 That's the whole thing

00:21:39.059 --> 00:21:39.920
 about the dragon

00:21:39.920 --> 00:21:41.259
 in my nativity thing.

00:21:41.360 --> 00:21:42.039
 That's why I think

00:21:42.039 --> 00:21:42.680
 it could be a really

00:21:42.680 --> 00:21:43.319
 cool thing.

00:21:43.840 --> 00:21:44.519
 It's a baby.

00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:45.819
 Like, it's a baby?

00:21:47.819 --> 00:21:48.740
 Like, it's a baby.

00:21:51.100 --> 00:21:51.960
 All the enemies

00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:52.480
 defeated,

00:21:53.720 --> 00:21:54.400
 it's a baby.

00:21:55.980 --> 00:21:56.720
 For to us

00:21:56.720 --> 00:21:57.600
 a child is born,

00:21:57.799 --> 00:21:58.799
 to us a son is given,

00:21:58.799 --> 00:22:00.200
 and the government

00:22:00.200 --> 00:22:02.600
 shall be upon his shoulder

00:22:02.600 --> 00:22:03.160
 and his name

00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:03.819
 shall be called

00:22:03.819 --> 00:22:05.000
 Wonderful Counselor,

00:22:05.399 --> 00:22:06.000
 Mighty God,

00:22:06.439 --> 00:22:07.419
 Everlasting Father,

00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:08.319
 Prince of Peace.

00:22:08.899 --> 00:22:09.579
 Of the increase

00:22:09.579 --> 00:22:10.259
 of his government

00:22:10.259 --> 00:22:11.460
 and peace,

00:22:11.619 --> 00:22:12.579
 there will be no end.

00:22:12.679 --> 00:22:13.839
 On the throne of David

00:22:13.839 --> 00:22:14.799
 and over his kingdom

00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:15.759
 to establish it

00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:16.500
 and to uphold it

00:22:16.500 --> 00:22:17.399
 with justice

00:22:17.399 --> 00:22:18.240
 and with righteousness

00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:19.679
 from this time forth

00:22:19.679 --> 00:22:20.460
 and forevermore.

00:22:20.859 --> 00:22:21.099
 Remember,

00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:22.500
 this future is so certain

00:22:22.500 --> 00:22:23.500
 they use the past.

00:22:24.220 --> 00:22:24.899
 For the zeal

00:22:24.899 --> 00:22:25.720
 of the Lord of hosts

00:22:25.720 --> 00:22:26.279
 will do this.

00:22:26.279 --> 00:22:27.019
 That's the part

00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:27.819
 that I missed earlier

00:22:27.819 --> 00:22:29.919
 about the Midian image.

00:22:30.399 --> 00:22:30.960
 We're going to be doing

00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:31.679
 a series of,

00:22:31.859 --> 00:22:32.460
 we're going to go through

00:22:32.460 --> 00:22:33.500
 all the book of Judges

00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:34.640
 in the new year

00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:36.620
 and the Midian reference,

00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:37.360
 some of you

00:22:37.360 --> 00:22:38.440
 will remember the story

00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:40.299
 once I start to tell it to you

00:22:40.299 --> 00:22:42.500
 in the previous text

00:22:42.500 --> 00:22:45.140
 because the emphasis

00:22:45.140 --> 00:22:45.759
 on the text

00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:46.579
 is that God's going

00:22:46.579 --> 00:22:47.200
 to do all of this.

00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:47.880
 It's not going to be

00:22:47.880 --> 00:22:49.240
 any way that any human being

00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:50.000
 can think that they

00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:50.799
 were responsible.

00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:52.500
 And one of the wonderful stories

00:22:52.500 --> 00:22:53.299
 in the book of Judges

00:22:53.299 --> 00:22:54.319
 is the story of Gideon,

00:22:54.400 --> 00:22:54.559
 right?

00:22:54.840 --> 00:22:56.259
 So God raises up Gideon

00:22:56.259 --> 00:22:57.240
 to deliver the people

00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:57.720
 of Israel

00:22:57.720 --> 00:22:59.279
 from this terrible oppressor.

00:22:59.279 --> 00:23:00.539
 So Gideon gathers

00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:01.559
 a huge army,

00:23:01.799 --> 00:23:02.200
 thousands,

00:23:02.399 --> 00:23:03.119
 tens of thousands

00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:03.579
 of people

00:23:03.579 --> 00:23:04.619
 and God says to Gideon,

00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:05.740
 the army's too big.

00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:08.379
 You can just imagine,

00:23:08.500 --> 00:23:08.940
 I don't know if there's

00:23:08.940 --> 00:23:10.160
 any military people here

00:23:10.160 --> 00:23:10.740
 but generally,

00:23:11.139 --> 00:23:12.599
 the army's too big

00:23:12.599 --> 00:23:13.420
 is not normally

00:23:13.420 --> 00:23:14.039
 what a general

00:23:14.039 --> 00:23:14.839
 wants to hear.

00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:16.139
 Normally they say,

00:23:16.220 --> 00:23:17.180
 give me a bigger army.

00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:20.460
 Send me 30,000

00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:21.180
 extra troops.

00:23:21.460 --> 00:23:22.579
 But God says to Gideon,

00:23:22.619 --> 00:23:23.660
 the army's too big.

00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:26.519
 And so he tells Gideon

00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:26.980
 what to say,

00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:28.139
 almost everybody leaves.

00:23:28.140 --> 00:23:29.000
 And then God looks

00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:29.460
 at the army

00:23:29.460 --> 00:23:30.420
 and he says to Gideon,

00:23:30.540 --> 00:23:31.820
 the army's still too big.

00:23:32.620 --> 00:23:33.240
 And he gives them

00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:33.880
 some other tests

00:23:33.880 --> 00:23:34.660
 so that more people

00:23:34.660 --> 00:23:35.060
 will leave.

00:23:35.140 --> 00:23:35.960
 And when it's all over,

00:23:36.060 --> 00:23:37.400
 he's left with 300 people

00:23:37.400 --> 00:23:38.660
 against tens and tens

00:23:38.660 --> 00:23:39.600
 and tens of thousands

00:23:39.600 --> 00:23:41.020
 of Midianites.

00:23:41.700 --> 00:23:42.540
 And what's the point

00:23:42.540 --> 00:23:43.080
 of the story

00:23:43.080 --> 00:23:44.020
 is that God wants

00:23:44.020 --> 00:23:44.940
 to show Gideon

00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:46.759
 that he won the battle.

00:23:47.220 --> 00:23:47.880
 There's no way

00:23:47.880 --> 00:23:48.960
 that Gideon can say

00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:50.220
 it's because of my cleverness,

00:23:50.300 --> 00:23:51.360
 because I'm such a good general,

00:23:51.480 --> 00:23:52.720
 because we fought so hard,

00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:54.259
 because our muscles are big

00:23:54.259 --> 00:23:55.240
 or anything like that.

00:23:55.620 --> 00:23:56.640
 It's one of these

00:23:56.640 --> 00:23:57.740
 powerful lessons

00:23:57.740 --> 00:23:59.079
 that God wins the battle.

00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:01.359
 And yet when it comes down

00:24:01.359 --> 00:24:03.200
 to the culmination of it all,

00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:04.759
 it's this very,

00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:05.940
 very simple mystery

00:24:05.940 --> 00:24:10.059
 that it's all about

00:24:10.059 --> 00:24:12.319
 a baby being born.

00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:14.359
 Actually,

00:24:14.420 --> 00:24:15.000
 why don't you just all

00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:16.140
 read this text with me?

00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:16.960
 Some of you have to

00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:17.539
 fight yourself

00:24:17.539 --> 00:24:18.599
 from bursting into song,

00:24:18.660 --> 00:24:19.099
 I know.

00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:20.700
 But let's just read it.

00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:21.700
 For to us,

00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:23.140
 a child is born,

00:24:23.559 --> 00:24:25.240
 to us a son is given,

00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:26.420
 and the government

00:24:26.420 --> 00:24:28.160
 shall be upon his shoulder,

00:24:28.620 --> 00:24:30.279
 and his name shall be called,

00:24:30.580 --> 00:24:31.740
 Wonderful Counselor,

00:24:32.100 --> 00:24:32.840
 Mighty God,

00:24:33.380 --> 00:24:34.559
 Everlasting Father,

00:24:35.059 --> 00:24:35.920
 Prince of Peace.

00:24:36.779 --> 00:24:37.120
 Remember,

00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:38.220
 at the beginning of the sermon,

00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:39.460
 I said that one of the things

00:24:39.460 --> 00:24:40.400
 that was a shock to me

00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:40.880
 at 36

00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:42.340
 was to discover

00:24:42.340 --> 00:24:43.319
 that I was actually

00:24:43.319 --> 00:24:44.580
 an anxious person

00:24:44.580 --> 00:24:46.039
 without realizing it,

00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:48.139
 that I didn't experience

00:24:48.139 --> 00:24:49.740
 my anxiety directly,

00:24:50.680 --> 00:24:52.119
 but because I found

00:24:52.119 --> 00:24:53.879
 anxiety so unpleasant,

00:24:54.579 --> 00:24:55.500
 and I found the stress

00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:56.259
 so unpleasant,

00:24:57.079 --> 00:24:58.639
 I either didn't recognize it

00:24:58.639 --> 00:25:00.059
 or I did other types of things

00:25:00.059 --> 00:25:01.519
 to mask my anxiety,

00:25:01.879 --> 00:25:04.519
 to dull my anxiety,

00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:05.839
 to dull my stress,

00:25:05.879 --> 00:25:07.240
 and it ends up leading to me

00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:08.319
 acting out in ways

00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:10.279
 that were further unhealthy,

00:25:10.460 --> 00:25:11.000
 which of course

00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:12.180
 create more anxiety,

00:25:12.399 --> 00:25:13.200
 which create more

00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:14.740
 covering it up

00:25:14.740 --> 00:25:15.639
 and masking it

00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:16.980
 and not experience it directly,

00:25:17.140 --> 00:25:18.300
 which means more acting up,

00:25:18.420 --> 00:25:19.280
 which makes you feel more,

00:25:19.460 --> 00:25:19.660
 you know,

00:25:19.660 --> 00:25:20.620
 it's a very, very terrible

00:25:20.620 --> 00:25:21.240
 way to live.

00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:23.360
 It's a very, very, very,

00:25:23.420 --> 00:25:24.580
 very terrible way to live.

00:25:25.320 --> 00:25:26.220
 And it's even harder

00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:27.640
 if you watch somebody else

00:25:27.640 --> 00:25:28.580
 struggling with that

00:25:28.580 --> 00:25:29.259
 and you realize

00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:30.160
 that they're caught

00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:30.880
 in this cycle

00:25:30.880 --> 00:25:31.740
 of not really dealing

00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:32.340
 with the stress

00:25:32.340 --> 00:25:33.500
 and anxiety in their lives.

00:25:34.940 --> 00:25:35.340
 And so,

00:25:36.100 --> 00:25:36.440
 I mean,

00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:37.340
 I still have times

00:25:37.340 --> 00:25:38.640
 when I struggle with anxiety.

00:25:40.220 --> 00:25:41.000
 And, you know,

00:25:41.040 --> 00:25:41.440
 one of the things

00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:42.560
 I'm just so thankful for,

00:25:42.680 --> 00:25:43.740
 and I think in heaven

00:25:43.740 --> 00:25:44.400
 I'll discover

00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:45.880
 that it's not

00:25:45.880 --> 00:25:46.680
 because of anything to me.

00:25:46.820 --> 00:25:47.740
 I'll probably discover

00:25:47.740 --> 00:25:48.180
 in heaven

00:25:48.180 --> 00:25:49.300
 that somebody was praying

00:25:49.300 --> 00:25:50.500
 for me at that instant.

00:25:51.800 --> 00:25:52.860
 And it's as if God

00:25:52.860 --> 00:25:54.000
 will speak to me

00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:54.440
 and say,

00:25:55.340 --> 00:25:56.759
 because I'll be really worried

00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:57.680
 about something going on

00:25:57.680 --> 00:25:58.340
 in the church.

00:25:58.780 --> 00:25:59.440
 I'll be worried

00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:00.360
 about the money

00:26:00.360 --> 00:26:01.220
 or I'll be worried

00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:02.560
 about some type of decision

00:26:02.560 --> 00:26:03.700
 or I'll be worried

00:26:03.700 --> 00:26:04.240
 about something

00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:05.120
 in my family

00:26:05.120 --> 00:26:06.240
 or I'll just be worried

00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:06.820
 about something

00:26:06.820 --> 00:26:07.780
 in my marriage.

00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:09.200
 Not that I have stuff

00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:09.740
 to worry about

00:26:09.740 --> 00:26:10.280
 all the time

00:26:10.280 --> 00:26:10.780
 in my marriage,

00:26:10.860 --> 00:26:11.320
 but, you know,

00:26:11.400 --> 00:26:12.140
 you've married for a while,

00:26:12.140 --> 00:26:12.560
 there's things

00:26:12.560 --> 00:26:13.160
 that are worrisome

00:26:13.160 --> 00:26:13.680
 in marriages.

00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:16.120
 If I didn't say that,

00:26:16.200 --> 00:26:17.300
 I'd be lying to you.

00:26:17.980 --> 00:26:18.780
 People who've been married

00:26:18.780 --> 00:26:19.520
 for very long

00:26:19.520 --> 00:26:20.320
 who say that they've

00:26:20.320 --> 00:26:20.880
 never had anything

00:26:20.880 --> 00:26:22.060
 worrisome in their marriage

00:26:22.060 --> 00:26:22.780
 is probably not

00:26:22.780 --> 00:26:23.740
 telling you the truth.

00:26:24.420 --> 00:26:24.820
 Sorry.

00:26:26.100 --> 00:26:26.840
 That's life.

00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:28.700
 And it can be really,

00:26:28.820 --> 00:26:28.980
 really,

00:26:29.020 --> 00:26:29.920
 you can get, you know,

00:26:29.980 --> 00:26:31.200
 weighed down by things

00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:32.120
 and I can be really

00:26:32.120 --> 00:26:33.660
 get down on myself

00:26:33.660 --> 00:26:34.440
 and just feel

00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:35.880
 a type of darkness

00:26:35.880 --> 00:26:37.280
 and coming on me.

00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:37.940
 And it's as if

00:26:37.940 --> 00:26:38.820
 many, many, many,

00:26:38.880 --> 00:26:39.560
 many times

00:26:39.559 --> 00:26:41.200
 a phrase from this

00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:42.980
 and other similar passages

00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:44.319
 will just really

00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:45.419
 be brought home to me

00:26:45.419 --> 00:26:46.460
 by the Holy Spirit.

00:26:47.700 --> 00:26:48.440
 Look at it again.

00:26:48.599 --> 00:26:49.759
 For to us a child is born,

00:26:49.859 --> 00:26:50.740
 to us a son is given,

00:26:50.819 --> 00:26:51.460
 and the government

00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:53.639
 shall be upon his shoulder.

00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:55.700
 And I have this,

00:26:56.480 --> 00:26:58.179
 it's as if God reminds me,

00:26:58.259 --> 00:26:58.720
 George,

00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:00.919
 if you try to carry

00:27:00.919 --> 00:27:02.039
 Church of the Messiah,

00:27:02.700 --> 00:27:04.039
 it will crush you.

00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:07.119
 George,

00:27:07.180 --> 00:27:08.240
 if you try to carry

00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:09.720
 your life

00:27:09.720 --> 00:27:10.440
 and your health

00:27:10.440 --> 00:27:11.399
 and your finances,

00:27:11.859 --> 00:27:12.920
 it will crush you.

00:27:13.619 --> 00:27:14.980
 If you try to carry

00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:15.799
 your marriage,

00:27:16.460 --> 00:27:17.519
 it will crush you.

00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:19.159
 If you try to carry

00:27:19.159 --> 00:27:20.079
 this problem,

00:27:20.659 --> 00:27:22.220
 it will crush you.

00:27:24.279 --> 00:27:24.940
 You see,

00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:26.420
 the wonderful truth is

00:27:26.420 --> 00:27:29.619
 that Jesus carries me

00:27:29.619 --> 00:27:33.039
 and he carries the church.

00:27:34.039 --> 00:27:35.839
 And he carries my marriage.

00:27:37.899 --> 00:27:39.720
 He carries those problems

00:27:39.720 --> 00:27:40.480
 and anxieties

00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:41.720
 that I have in my life.

00:27:41.960 --> 00:27:43.039
 He carries them.

00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:45.259
 Just as he carries me.

00:27:49.379 --> 00:27:50.420
 And, you know,

00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:51.579
 here's the wonderful thing.

00:27:54.819 --> 00:27:56.379
 I've only had a couple of times

00:27:56.379 --> 00:27:57.619
 I've tried to describe this

00:27:57.619 --> 00:27:58.539
 to non-Christians.

00:27:58.639 --> 00:27:59.539
 You can pray that I have

00:27:59.539 --> 00:28:00.799
 more time to try to

00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:02.799
 explain this to a non-Christian

00:28:02.799 --> 00:28:05.240
 because, you know,

00:28:05.299 --> 00:28:06.079
 for many people,

00:28:06.159 --> 00:28:06.799
 you'd think that

00:28:06.799 --> 00:28:07.919
 if you have this image

00:28:07.919 --> 00:28:10.019
 that Jesus is carrying you

00:28:10.019 --> 00:28:11.559
 and he's carrying the problem,

00:28:12.259 --> 00:28:13.319
 you'd think that this means

00:28:13.319 --> 00:28:13.779
 you can go,

00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:15.019
 whoa, okay,

00:28:15.480 --> 00:28:17.000
 if that's the case,

00:28:17.319 --> 00:28:18.259
 I'm going to go home.

00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:19.599
 On the way home,

00:28:19.659 --> 00:28:21.039
 I'm going to get a big bag of chips.

00:28:21.240 --> 00:28:22.659
 I'm going to get a six-pack of beer.

00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:24.700
 I'm going to binge watch Netflix

00:28:24.700 --> 00:28:26.899
 and just drink the beer

00:28:26.899 --> 00:28:28.379
 and eat the potato chips

00:28:28.379 --> 00:28:29.440
 because God's going to handle

00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:30.140
 the whole thing.

00:28:31.840 --> 00:28:33.480
 But here's the amazing thing

00:28:33.480 --> 00:28:34.420
 about the gospel.

00:28:35.940 --> 00:28:36.279
 You see,

00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:37.720
 amongst other,

00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:39.120
 remember I said that this text

00:28:39.120 --> 00:28:40.700
 is that there's all these mysteries

00:28:40.700 --> 00:28:43.000
 and riddles and enigmas

00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:43.700
 in the text.

00:28:44.500 --> 00:28:44.920
 Like,

00:28:45.240 --> 00:28:46.640
 how is it that a baby

00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:47.799
 is going to do this?

00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:49.840
 How is it that a baby

00:28:49.840 --> 00:28:50.900
 is God?

00:28:51.039 --> 00:28:51.720
 Because that's what

00:28:51.720 --> 00:28:52.680
 mighty God means.

00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:54.039
 Mighty God means God.

00:28:54.180 --> 00:28:55.340
 How is it that God

00:28:55.340 --> 00:28:56.880
 is going to take on flesh

00:28:56.880 --> 00:28:59.420
 and actually be born as a baby?

00:28:59.840 --> 00:29:01.580
 How is it that this is going to be

00:29:01.580 --> 00:29:03.440
 somehow a descendant of David,

00:29:04.380 --> 00:29:05.240
 his son,

00:29:05.740 --> 00:29:07.540
 yet it's also going to be God?

00:29:07.640 --> 00:29:09.260
 Because that's what the text is saying.

00:29:10.400 --> 00:29:11.440
 Many Jewish people

00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:14.000
 try to evade this text,

00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:16.760
 but it's a fundamental mystery

00:29:16.760 --> 00:29:17.560
 of the text.

00:29:18.540 --> 00:29:20.460
 The Hebrew,

00:29:20.640 --> 00:29:21.160
 all of it,

00:29:21.160 --> 00:29:22.340
 it points to this

00:29:22.340 --> 00:29:23.660
 fundamental mystery

00:29:23.660 --> 00:29:24.540
 and riddle.

00:29:24.539 --> 00:29:27.659
 And the fact of the matter is,

00:29:27.700 --> 00:29:28.819
 is that the wonder

00:29:28.819 --> 00:29:29.759
 of the gospel

00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:31.659
 is that God himself

00:29:31.659 --> 00:29:33.180
 takes on human flesh.

00:29:34.539 --> 00:29:36.659
 And he is God with us,

00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:39.399
 as Isaiah prophesied

00:29:39.399 --> 00:29:41.180
 just a few verses earlier.

00:29:41.740 --> 00:29:43.740
 And he really was with us.

00:29:44.339 --> 00:29:45.779
 And he's with me

00:29:45.779 --> 00:29:47.039
 even to the point of my

00:29:47.039 --> 00:29:49.420
 future death upon the cross.

00:29:49.500 --> 00:29:50.440
 And on the cross,

00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:52.240
 he is so deeply with me.

00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:55.180
 And he is so deeply concerned

00:29:55.180 --> 00:29:57.720
 that his order of shalom

00:29:57.720 --> 00:30:00.420
 would be what characterizes

00:30:00.420 --> 00:30:02.380
 the fundamental eternal order

00:30:02.380 --> 00:30:03.299
 of my life.

00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:05.579
 That he himself

00:30:05.579 --> 00:30:06.900
 takes upon himself

00:30:06.900 --> 00:30:08.359
 all my disorder,

00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:11.220
 all my sickness,

00:30:11.940 --> 00:30:13.460
 all my wounds,

00:30:13.980 --> 00:30:15.420
 all my shame,

00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:17.359
 all my sin.

00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:19.599
 And on the cross,

00:30:20.059 --> 00:30:21.859
 he bears it all.

00:30:26.039 --> 00:30:28.679
 He bears it all.

00:30:32.299 --> 00:30:34.939
 And when that gospel truth,

00:30:35.439 --> 00:30:35.639
 I mean,

00:30:35.919 --> 00:30:36.939
 part of the growth

00:30:36.939 --> 00:30:37.699
 in a Christian life

00:30:37.699 --> 00:30:38.740
 is receiving that

00:30:38.740 --> 00:30:39.740
 for the first time.

00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:41.159
 But the other part

00:30:41.159 --> 00:30:42.359
 of the Christian faith

00:30:42.359 --> 00:30:43.859
 is that that truth

00:30:43.859 --> 00:30:44.879
 becomes more and more

00:30:44.879 --> 00:30:45.579
 and more real

00:30:45.579 --> 00:30:47.059
 and precious to us

00:30:47.059 --> 00:30:48.339
 at a very, very deep level

00:30:48.339 --> 00:30:48.980
 of who we are,

00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:50.159
 at the level of our identity,

00:30:50.379 --> 00:30:51.079
 at the level of our

00:30:51.079 --> 00:30:53.839
 emotions,

00:30:54.519 --> 00:30:55.539
 at the level of our

00:30:55.539 --> 00:30:57.039
 basic thinking

00:30:57.039 --> 00:30:58.039
 and worldview,

00:30:58.179 --> 00:30:58.960
 that that truth

00:30:58.960 --> 00:31:00.059
 grips us

00:31:00.059 --> 00:31:01.139
 more and more

00:31:01.139 --> 00:31:02.179
 and more and more.

00:31:03.139 --> 00:31:04.279
 And the funny thing

00:31:04.279 --> 00:31:05.079
 about it is

00:31:05.079 --> 00:31:07.079
 that because it's

00:31:07.079 --> 00:31:08.259
 so freely given,

00:31:08.939 --> 00:31:10.359
 all in grace,

00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:11.599
 that God,

00:31:11.859 --> 00:31:12.799
 in his zeal

00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:14.279
 for me and for you,

00:31:14.399 --> 00:31:16.139
 does all of this,

00:31:17.700 --> 00:31:21.359
 when that truth

00:31:21.359 --> 00:31:21.879
 grips us,

00:31:21.940 --> 00:31:22.980
 the result is never

00:31:22.980 --> 00:31:24.359
 laziness and fate,

00:31:25.099 --> 00:31:26.859
 but a freedom to act.

00:31:29.079 --> 00:31:30.139
 And so it is

00:31:30.139 --> 00:31:31.059
 that when I have

00:31:31.059 --> 00:31:32.099
 these times in my life

00:31:32.099 --> 00:31:33.059
 where I'm weighed down

00:31:33.059 --> 00:31:33.700
 by thinking about

00:31:33.700 --> 00:31:34.379
 these decisions

00:31:34.379 --> 00:31:35.139
 I have to make

00:31:35.139 --> 00:31:36.000
 or different times

00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:37.059
 in the church's history

00:31:37.059 --> 00:31:38.480
 or my other churches

00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:39.399
 that I've served in

00:31:39.399 --> 00:31:40.460
 where there's been,

00:31:40.519 --> 00:31:40.659
 you know,

00:31:40.680 --> 00:31:41.700
 a financial issue

00:31:41.700 --> 00:31:42.539
 or some other type

00:31:42.539 --> 00:31:43.840
 of strategic issue

00:31:43.840 --> 00:31:45.559
 or conflict in the church

00:31:45.559 --> 00:31:47.080
 or conflict amongst staff

00:31:47.080 --> 00:31:48.400
 or conflict amongst leaders

00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:49.220
 or anything like that

00:31:49.220 --> 00:31:49.880
 that's going on

00:31:49.880 --> 00:31:51.500
 or problems in my family

00:31:51.500 --> 00:31:52.600
 or in my personal life

00:31:52.600 --> 00:31:53.900
 or whatever it is

00:31:53.900 --> 00:31:54.620
 and I start to get

00:31:54.620 --> 00:31:55.440
 weighed down on it.

00:31:55.519 --> 00:31:55.860
 And I just,

00:31:56.299 --> 00:31:58.480
 this text comes to me again

00:31:58.480 --> 00:31:59.720
 where a similar text

00:31:59.720 --> 00:32:00.940
 for to us a child is born,

00:32:01.039 --> 00:32:01.880
 to us a son is given,

00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:02.620
 and the government

00:32:02.620 --> 00:32:03.440
 shall be upon

00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:04.660
 the authority,

00:32:04.860 --> 00:32:05.539
 the rule

00:32:05.539 --> 00:32:07.340
 is upon his shoulder.

00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:11.279
 His shoulder.

00:32:12.700 --> 00:32:14.120
 I'm on his shoulders.

00:32:15.900 --> 00:32:16.660
 That's partially

00:32:16.660 --> 00:32:17.160
 what it means

00:32:17.160 --> 00:32:17.900
 to be a Christian,

00:32:18.400 --> 00:32:19.840
 that Jesus has redeemed me

00:32:19.840 --> 00:32:20.620
 and I am now

00:32:20.620 --> 00:32:21.740
 carried by him

00:32:21.740 --> 00:32:23.299
 and he carries

00:32:23.299 --> 00:32:24.259
 this other problem.

00:32:24.840 --> 00:32:25.880
 And every time,

00:32:25.960 --> 00:32:27.200
 as that truth grips me,

00:32:27.259 --> 00:32:28.059
 the result isn't

00:32:28.059 --> 00:32:29.340
 that I want to go home,

00:32:29.779 --> 00:32:30.759
 pick up the six pack

00:32:30.759 --> 00:32:31.779
 and buy a bag of chips

00:32:31.779 --> 00:32:32.980
 and just binge on Netflix.

00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:34.519
 The result is

00:32:34.519 --> 00:32:36.059
 a lightning of the load

00:32:36.059 --> 00:32:36.680
 and you look around

00:32:36.680 --> 00:32:36.900
 and say,

00:32:36.960 --> 00:32:37.039
 okay,

00:32:37.039 --> 00:32:38.059
 what steps can I take?

00:32:38.940 --> 00:32:39.160
 Like,

00:32:39.220 --> 00:32:40.819
 that's how it actually works.

00:32:40.819 --> 00:32:42.700
 What steps can I take?

00:32:43.559 --> 00:32:43.799
 Like,

00:32:43.819 --> 00:32:44.460
 what can I do?

00:32:45.899 --> 00:32:46.159
 You know,

00:32:46.200 --> 00:32:46.399
 Lord,

00:32:46.519 --> 00:32:46.859
 guide me.

00:32:47.039 --> 00:32:47.399
 You know what?

00:32:47.480 --> 00:32:47.720
 And then,

00:32:47.779 --> 00:32:47.899
 you know,

00:32:47.939 --> 00:32:48.700
 maybe a phone call

00:32:48.700 --> 00:32:49.059
 or whatever.

00:32:49.480 --> 00:32:50.159
 It doesn't mean

00:32:50.159 --> 00:32:50.700
 that there's still

00:32:50.700 --> 00:32:51.339
 not a series

00:32:51.339 --> 00:32:52.319
 where it's still difficult.

00:32:53.460 --> 00:32:54.179
 I'm not saying

00:32:54.179 --> 00:32:54.700
 it's just,

00:32:54.779 --> 00:32:55.559
 it's not magic.

00:32:56.599 --> 00:32:58.039
 But the reminder

00:32:58.039 --> 00:32:58.980
 of the truth

00:32:58.980 --> 00:33:00.159
 that I am on

00:33:00.159 --> 00:33:00.879
 his shoulders

00:33:00.879 --> 00:33:02.220
 and he is

00:33:02.220 --> 00:33:02.799
 shouldering

00:33:02.799 --> 00:33:03.659
 this burden

00:33:03.660 --> 00:33:08.000
 brings light

00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:09.560
 and brings freedom

00:33:09.560 --> 00:33:11.700
 to try to deal with it.

00:33:12.480 --> 00:33:13.540
 That's how it works.

00:33:22.880 --> 00:33:23.320
 See,

00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:26.700
 and that's what's so wonderful

00:33:26.700 --> 00:33:27.800
 about these other phrases

00:33:27.800 --> 00:33:28.360
 as well

00:33:28.360 --> 00:33:29.920
 that we can just pray

00:33:29.920 --> 00:33:30.500
 and I'm just going to

00:33:30.500 --> 00:33:31.420
 sort of close with these.

00:33:31.500 --> 00:33:32.279
 Look at these phrases.

00:33:32.279 --> 00:33:33.799
 For to us a child is born,

00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:35.379
 to us a son is given,

00:33:35.980 --> 00:33:36.680
 and the government

00:33:36.680 --> 00:33:38.059
 shall be upon his shoulder

00:33:38.059 --> 00:33:38.599
 and his name

00:33:38.599 --> 00:33:39.220
 shall be called

00:33:39.220 --> 00:33:40.299
 Wonderful Counselor,

00:33:40.379 --> 00:33:40.960
 Mighty God,

00:33:41.099 --> 00:33:42.079
 Everlasting Father,

00:33:42.619 --> 00:33:43.379
 Prince of Peace.

00:33:45.019 --> 00:33:46.139
 Wonderful Counselor

00:33:46.139 --> 00:33:46.519
 means,

00:33:46.920 --> 00:33:47.399
 in a sense,

00:33:47.920 --> 00:33:48.920
 not just a counselor,

00:33:49.180 --> 00:33:50.420
 basically it's an idea

00:33:50.420 --> 00:33:51.960
 of supernatural counsel.

00:33:55.480 --> 00:33:56.480
 Many of us,

00:33:56.720 --> 00:33:56.839
 I mean,

00:33:56.899 --> 00:33:58.000
 every single one of us

00:33:58.000 --> 00:33:58.799
 needs counsel.

00:33:58.980 --> 00:34:00.079
 We need advice.

00:34:00.079 --> 00:34:02.539
 And it means that

00:34:02.539 --> 00:34:03.119
 of the very,

00:34:03.240 --> 00:34:04.419
 very nature of Jesus

00:34:04.419 --> 00:34:05.980
 is that he is wise.

00:34:06.659 --> 00:34:07.639
 And he is both

00:34:07.639 --> 00:34:09.239
 from outside of this world,

00:34:09.340 --> 00:34:10.000
 he's eternal,

00:34:10.159 --> 00:34:11.059
 he's transcendent,

00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:11.900
 he's omnipotent.

00:34:11.960 --> 00:34:12.860
 But at the same time,

00:34:13.119 --> 00:34:14.199
 he was one who came

00:34:14.199 --> 00:34:15.199
 and dwelt among us,

00:34:15.279 --> 00:34:16.679
 who there is no trial

00:34:16.679 --> 00:34:17.440
 or temptation

00:34:17.440 --> 00:34:18.440
 that we have undergone

00:34:18.440 --> 00:34:19.099
 that he has not

00:34:19.099 --> 00:34:20.079
 undergone as well.

00:34:20.340 --> 00:34:21.340
 And he knows

00:34:21.340 --> 00:34:23.019
 the problems in our life

00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:24.119
 far better

00:34:24.119 --> 00:34:24.699
 than we know

00:34:24.699 --> 00:34:25.739
 the problems of our life

00:34:25.739 --> 00:34:26.900
 because he died

00:34:26.900 --> 00:34:27.460
 for things

00:34:27.460 --> 00:34:28.679
 that we're not even aware of

00:34:28.679 --> 00:34:29.619
 that we were sinning

00:34:29.619 --> 00:34:30.440
 when we did them.

00:34:33.079 --> 00:34:33.639
 I mean,

00:34:33.759 --> 00:34:33.940
 you know,

00:34:33.980 --> 00:34:34.539
 for those of us

00:34:34.539 --> 00:34:35.480
 who get a little bit older,

00:34:35.599 --> 00:34:36.839
 I've shared with it before,

00:34:37.019 --> 00:34:38.139
 you don't maybe realize

00:34:38.139 --> 00:34:38.719
 some of the ways

00:34:38.719 --> 00:34:39.239
 you've sinned

00:34:39.239 --> 00:34:40.119
 with your kids

00:34:40.119 --> 00:34:42.239
 until they call you

00:34:42.239 --> 00:34:42.779
 later on

00:34:42.779 --> 00:34:43.079
 and say,

00:34:43.159 --> 00:34:43.359
 you know what,

00:34:43.379 --> 00:34:44.419
 you did that was wrong.

00:34:45.879 --> 00:34:47.139
 Or maybe a co-worker

00:34:47.139 --> 00:34:48.599
 or maybe one of your employees

00:34:48.599 --> 00:34:49.960
 or something like that

00:34:49.960 --> 00:34:51.079
 and they tell you later on

00:34:51.079 --> 00:34:51.899
 and you didn't at the time

00:34:51.899 --> 00:34:52.539
 think it was wrong

00:34:52.539 --> 00:34:53.440
 and you realize it was wrong.

00:34:54.639 --> 00:34:55.440
 Even the things

00:34:55.440 --> 00:34:56.119
 that we don't know of,

00:34:56.239 --> 00:34:57.579
 Jesus knows those things

00:34:57.579 --> 00:34:58.219
 about us

00:34:58.219 --> 00:34:59.859
 and so we can call out

00:34:59.859 --> 00:35:00.459
 to him

00:35:00.459 --> 00:35:02.259
 for counsel.

00:35:04.959 --> 00:35:05.219
 I mean,

00:35:05.359 --> 00:35:06.639
 I actually

00:35:06.639 --> 00:35:09.179
 don't really

00:35:09.179 --> 00:35:10.279
 always know

00:35:10.279 --> 00:35:11.399
 how it is

00:35:11.399 --> 00:35:12.059
 that a person

00:35:12.059 --> 00:35:12.679
 who doesn't,

00:35:12.839 --> 00:35:13.719
 can't call out

00:35:13.719 --> 00:35:14.299
 on Jesus

00:35:14.299 --> 00:35:15.699
 for prayer

00:35:15.699 --> 00:35:16.239
 and wisdom

00:35:16.239 --> 00:35:17.019
 and advice,

00:35:18.239 --> 00:35:18.500
 like,

00:35:18.879 --> 00:35:20.559
 how hard it must be

00:35:20.559 --> 00:35:22.099
 to live

00:35:22.099 --> 00:35:24.519
 without knowing

00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:25.359
 that you can call

00:35:25.360 --> 00:35:26.079
 on God,

00:35:26.740 --> 00:35:27.400
 on Jesus

00:35:27.400 --> 00:35:28.500
 who died for you

00:35:28.500 --> 00:35:30.320
 and ask for his wisdom.

00:35:32.500 --> 00:35:33.440
 I know in heaven

00:35:33.440 --> 00:35:34.000
 there'll be many,

00:35:34.099 --> 00:35:34.220
 many,

00:35:34.360 --> 00:35:35.099
 God will show me

00:35:35.099 --> 00:35:35.840
 all the times

00:35:35.840 --> 00:35:36.440
 I didn't listen

00:35:36.440 --> 00:35:37.280
 to his advice.

00:35:38.539 --> 00:35:38.740
 You know,

00:35:38.740 --> 00:35:39.340
 pray for me.

00:35:43.079 --> 00:35:43.700
 But he is

00:35:43.700 --> 00:35:44.599
 wonderful counselor

00:35:44.599 --> 00:35:45.700
 and he's mighty God.

00:35:45.699 --> 00:35:48.219
 and this is something

00:35:48.219 --> 00:35:48.859
 which has become

00:35:48.859 --> 00:35:49.659
 an important part

00:35:49.659 --> 00:35:50.480
 of my prayer life

00:35:50.480 --> 00:35:51.739
 over the last 10 years

00:35:51.739 --> 00:35:52.500
 in particular

00:35:52.500 --> 00:35:54.559
 because one of the things

00:35:54.559 --> 00:35:55.759
 that would cause me anxiety

00:35:55.759 --> 00:35:56.579
 is I would think

00:35:56.579 --> 00:35:57.480
 that these problems

00:35:57.480 --> 00:35:58.619
 are really big,

00:35:58.719 --> 00:36:00.159
 like bigger than this building,

00:36:00.339 --> 00:36:02.059
 like bigger than the Rockies

00:36:02.059 --> 00:36:03.039
 and how on earth

00:36:03.039 --> 00:36:04.159
 could I ever deal with them

00:36:04.159 --> 00:36:05.539
 and it was really hard

00:36:05.539 --> 00:36:07.099
 for me to get my mind around.

00:36:07.399 --> 00:36:07.960
 It was one of those

00:36:07.960 --> 00:36:10.960
 until the scriptures

00:36:10.960 --> 00:36:11.539
 started to come

00:36:11.539 --> 00:36:12.500
 really home to me

00:36:12.500 --> 00:36:13.940
 that however big

00:36:13.940 --> 00:36:14.879
 my problem is,

00:36:15.039 --> 00:36:15.879
 God is bigger

00:36:15.879 --> 00:36:16.819
 than my problem.

00:36:18.299 --> 00:36:18.579
 I mean,

00:36:18.619 --> 00:36:19.159
 one of the things

00:36:19.159 --> 00:36:19.739
 that's so easy

00:36:19.739 --> 00:36:20.339
 for us to get

00:36:20.339 --> 00:36:21.239
 despairing about

00:36:21.239 --> 00:36:22.000
 our country,

00:36:22.920 --> 00:36:23.759
 it's very easy

00:36:23.759 --> 00:36:25.000
 to get despairing

00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:25.739
 about the world,

00:36:26.099 --> 00:36:27.839
 I just want to remind you

00:36:27.839 --> 00:36:30.000
 no matter how big

00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:31.279
 Trudeau is

00:36:31.279 --> 00:36:33.839
 or the government is

00:36:33.840 --> 00:36:35.860
 or the opposition is,

00:36:36.360 --> 00:36:37.220
 Jesus is bigger.

00:36:37.940 --> 00:36:38.920
 No matter how big

00:36:38.920 --> 00:36:40.200
 Brexit seems to be,

00:36:40.320 --> 00:36:41.140
 no matter how big

00:36:41.140 --> 00:36:42.240
 Trump or Pelosi

00:36:42.240 --> 00:36:43.120
 seem to be,

00:36:43.940 --> 00:36:44.800
 Jesus is bigger.

00:36:46.240 --> 00:36:47.320
 He is bigger.

00:36:49.720 --> 00:36:50.840
 He is bigger

00:36:50.840 --> 00:36:52.079
 than every problem

00:36:52.079 --> 00:36:52.780
 I face

00:36:52.780 --> 00:36:54.380
 and he is the mighty God.

00:36:55.100 --> 00:36:56.680
 It's a warrior image.

00:36:57.640 --> 00:36:58.680
 It portrays Jesus

00:36:58.680 --> 00:36:59.820
 as the ruler

00:36:59.820 --> 00:37:01.200
 who is both

00:37:01.200 --> 00:37:02.780
 supernaturally

00:37:02.780 --> 00:37:03.740
 and eternally

00:37:03.739 --> 00:37:04.859
 transcendently

00:37:04.859 --> 00:37:06.259
 yet imminently wise

00:37:06.259 --> 00:37:08.399
 and he is the one

00:37:08.399 --> 00:37:09.079
 who is bigger

00:37:09.079 --> 00:37:10.159
 than any obstacle.

00:37:10.339 --> 00:37:10.699
 He is bigger

00:37:10.699 --> 00:37:11.319
 than Satan.

00:37:11.979 --> 00:37:12.479
 He is bigger

00:37:12.479 --> 00:37:13.099
 than anything

00:37:13.099 --> 00:37:14.079
 that we will face

00:37:14.079 --> 00:37:15.279
 and he is bigger

00:37:15.279 --> 00:37:16.019
 and he is able

00:37:16.019 --> 00:37:16.679
 and present

00:37:16.679 --> 00:37:17.399
 and powerful

00:37:17.399 --> 00:37:18.119
 and active

00:37:18.119 --> 00:37:18.699
 and able

00:37:18.699 --> 00:37:19.579
 to deal with it.

00:37:21.779 --> 00:37:22.799
 And he is also

00:37:22.799 --> 00:37:24.099
 the everlasting father,

00:37:24.219 --> 00:37:24.979
 the prince of peace.

00:37:25.099 --> 00:37:26.139
 Everlasting father here,

00:37:26.219 --> 00:37:26.899
 it's not confusing

00:37:26.899 --> 00:37:27.339
 the Trinity,

00:37:27.479 --> 00:37:28.779
 it's an Old Testament word

00:37:28.779 --> 00:37:29.899
 to describe the king,

00:37:30.339 --> 00:37:31.619
 the perfect king,

00:37:31.619 --> 00:37:33.099
 the father

00:37:33.099 --> 00:37:33.799
 that we wish

00:37:33.799 --> 00:37:34.500
 we had.

00:37:34.920 --> 00:37:35.859
 Maybe some of us

00:37:35.859 --> 00:37:36.420
 have had such

00:37:36.420 --> 00:37:37.279
 a perfect father,

00:37:37.839 --> 00:37:38.480
 but the father

00:37:38.480 --> 00:37:39.079
 that we wish

00:37:39.079 --> 00:37:39.819
 that we had

00:37:39.819 --> 00:37:40.779
 who sees

00:37:40.779 --> 00:37:41.579
 that it is

00:37:41.579 --> 00:37:42.519
 his obligation

00:37:42.519 --> 00:37:43.239
 to care

00:37:43.239 --> 00:37:44.039
 and protect

00:37:44.039 --> 00:37:45.539
 for his family.

00:37:47.819 --> 00:37:48.940
 And God

00:37:48.940 --> 00:37:49.679
 has described

00:37:49.679 --> 00:37:50.779
 that the perfect king

00:37:50.779 --> 00:37:51.239
 is one

00:37:51.239 --> 00:37:52.000
 who described

00:37:52.000 --> 00:37:52.859
 that he sees

00:37:52.859 --> 00:37:53.519
 his people

00:37:53.519 --> 00:37:54.859
 as his children

00:37:54.859 --> 00:37:56.539
 and that he will do

00:37:56.539 --> 00:37:57.739
 what he should do

00:37:57.739 --> 00:37:59.139
 not for his own glory,

00:37:59.139 --> 00:38:00.359
 not for the furtherance

00:38:00.359 --> 00:38:01.239
 of his empire,

00:38:01.440 --> 00:38:02.279
 but to protect

00:38:02.279 --> 00:38:03.279
 and care

00:38:03.279 --> 00:38:04.259
 and nurture,

00:38:04.940 --> 00:38:07.019
 provide for his people.

00:38:08.440 --> 00:38:09.759
 And then this final thing

00:38:09.759 --> 00:38:10.639
 which I'll end on,

00:38:10.719 --> 00:38:12.179
 that he is the prince of peace.

00:38:13.819 --> 00:38:14.900
 This is a very,

00:38:15.000 --> 00:38:15.239
 very,

00:38:15.379 --> 00:38:15.759
 very,

00:38:15.759 --> 00:38:16.940
 very important

00:38:16.940 --> 00:38:18.059
 analogy

00:38:18.059 --> 00:38:19.519
 in my life

00:38:19.519 --> 00:38:20.579
 and hopefully

00:38:20.579 --> 00:38:21.299
 after I share

00:38:21.299 --> 00:38:21.679
 with it

00:38:21.679 --> 00:38:22.659
 with you as well.

00:38:23.819 --> 00:38:24.099
 You know,

00:38:24.159 --> 00:38:25.579
 almost every single time

00:38:25.579 --> 00:38:26.500
 in the Old Testament

00:38:26.500 --> 00:38:27.199
 and the New Testament

00:38:27.199 --> 00:38:28.119
 when the Bible talks

00:38:28.119 --> 00:38:29.099
 about the word peace,

00:38:29.119 --> 00:38:29.759
 it doesn't mean

00:38:29.759 --> 00:38:30.339
 an emotion.

00:38:32.059 --> 00:38:32.779
 It means

00:38:32.779 --> 00:38:33.819
 a type of order.

00:38:35.059 --> 00:38:35.279
 See,

00:38:35.359 --> 00:38:35.819
 what we need

00:38:35.819 --> 00:38:36.579
 to pray about

00:38:36.579 --> 00:38:37.419
 isn't that God

00:38:37.419 --> 00:38:38.539
 would give me peace,

00:38:39.099 --> 00:38:40.419
 but that God's

00:38:40.419 --> 00:38:41.619
 peaceful order

00:38:41.619 --> 00:38:43.539
 would order me.

00:38:45.219 --> 00:38:45.619
 See,

00:38:45.679 --> 00:38:46.579
 the word is shalom

00:38:46.579 --> 00:38:50.019
 and the basic idea

00:38:50.019 --> 00:38:50.559
 of shalom,

00:38:50.879 --> 00:38:51.480
 some of you have heard

00:38:51.480 --> 00:38:52.480
 me share this before,

00:38:52.719 --> 00:38:54.539
 is it used to be,

00:38:54.579 --> 00:38:54.819
 I don't know

00:38:54.819 --> 00:38:55.719
 if they still do it anymore,

00:38:55.799 --> 00:38:56.539
 they probably don't,

00:38:56.539 --> 00:38:57.159
 but it used to be

00:38:57.159 --> 00:38:58.360
 that you'd see mobiles,

00:38:59.039 --> 00:38:59.279
 right,

00:38:59.340 --> 00:38:59.779
 and a mobile

00:38:59.779 --> 00:39:00.460
 is something

00:39:00.460 --> 00:39:01.460
 with little sticks

00:39:01.460 --> 00:39:03.539
 and pieces of string

00:39:03.539 --> 00:39:04.920
 or,

00:39:04.920 --> 00:39:06.360
 you know,

00:39:06.599 --> 00:39:07.239
 fishing,

00:39:07.579 --> 00:39:08.500
 you know,

00:39:08.519 --> 00:39:08.880
 whatever that,

00:39:08.960 --> 00:39:09.619
 fishing line

00:39:09.619 --> 00:39:10.539
 and at the end

00:39:10.539 --> 00:39:10.980
 of the fish,

00:39:11.079 --> 00:39:11.500
 the sticks,

00:39:11.579 --> 00:39:11.800
 at the end

00:39:11.800 --> 00:39:12.460
 of the fishing line

00:39:12.460 --> 00:39:12.800
 there would be

00:39:12.800 --> 00:39:13.559
 some little object,

00:39:13.699 --> 00:39:14.739
 a plane or an animal

00:39:14.739 --> 00:39:15.960
 or something

00:39:15.960 --> 00:39:17.360
 and you could

00:39:17.360 --> 00:39:17.900
 occasionally

00:39:17.900 --> 00:39:18.719
 back in the day

00:39:18.719 --> 00:39:19.480
 see these very,

00:39:19.619 --> 00:39:20.880
 very elaborate mobiles

00:39:20.880 --> 00:39:22.500
 which had lots

00:39:22.500 --> 00:39:23.500
 of different sticks

00:39:23.500 --> 00:39:24.099
 all going out

00:39:24.099 --> 00:39:25.000
 in different directions

00:39:25.000 --> 00:39:26.239
 and the sticks

00:39:26.239 --> 00:39:27.260
 and all the whole mobile

00:39:27.260 --> 00:39:28.579
 if it's done really well

00:39:28.579 --> 00:39:29.420
 it can have different

00:39:29.420 --> 00:39:30.480
 heavy things

00:39:30.480 --> 00:39:31.920
 and small things

00:39:31.920 --> 00:39:32.460
 and if you have

00:39:32.460 --> 00:39:33.179
 a small thing

00:39:33.179 --> 00:39:33.820
 and a heavy thing

00:39:33.820 --> 00:39:34.400
 then the stick

00:39:34.400 --> 00:39:35.320
 has to be balanced

00:39:35.320 --> 00:39:36.300
 in a particular way

00:39:36.300 --> 00:39:37.059
 and then this balance

00:39:37.059 --> 00:39:37.719
 has to be balanced

00:39:37.719 --> 00:39:38.139
 with this

00:39:38.139 --> 00:39:38.940
 which has to be

00:39:38.940 --> 00:39:39.719
 balanced with this

00:39:39.719 --> 00:39:40.659
 and if it's very,

00:39:40.780 --> 00:39:41.280
 very well done

00:39:41.280 --> 00:39:41.900
 you can have a very,

00:39:42.000 --> 00:39:43.159
 very complicated mobile

00:39:43.159 --> 00:39:44.280
 so that the least

00:39:44.280 --> 00:39:45.019
 little bit of breathe

00:39:45.019 --> 00:39:46.039
 and it just moves

00:39:46.039 --> 00:39:46.280
 very,

00:39:46.420 --> 00:39:46.559
 very,

00:39:46.679 --> 00:39:47.300
 it just moves

00:39:47.300 --> 00:39:47.880
 a tiny bit

00:39:47.880 --> 00:39:48.760
 from the tiny breezes

00:39:48.760 --> 00:39:49.300
 in the house

00:39:49.300 --> 00:39:50.500
 and if you just think

00:39:50.500 --> 00:39:51.539
 of that type of mobile

00:39:51.539 --> 00:39:52.340
 with some sticks

00:39:52.340 --> 00:39:52.820
 this long

00:39:52.820 --> 00:39:53.480
 and some sticks

00:39:53.480 --> 00:39:54.059
 that long

00:39:54.059 --> 00:39:55.360
 and some sticks

00:39:55.360 --> 00:39:56.100
 with the cord

00:39:56.100 --> 00:39:56.559
 right in the middle

00:39:56.559 --> 00:39:57.100
 and some words

00:39:57.100 --> 00:39:57.880
 right here at the end

00:39:57.880 --> 00:39:58.240
 because you have

00:39:58.240 --> 00:39:58.620
 a tiny,

00:39:58.800 --> 00:39:59.539
 a big heavy thing

00:39:59.539 --> 00:40:00.280
 and a tiny thing

00:40:00.280 --> 00:40:01.700
 and if you see that,

00:40:01.860 --> 00:40:02.680
 you think that type

00:40:02.680 --> 00:40:03.059
 of order

00:40:03.059 --> 00:40:04.180
 that's what shalom is.

00:40:06.480 --> 00:40:07.760
 That's what shalom is.

00:40:08.960 --> 00:40:09.320
 Shalom

00:40:09.320 --> 00:40:11.000
 is when God

00:40:11.000 --> 00:40:12.240
 has ordered things

00:40:12.240 --> 00:40:13.660
 so that there's

00:40:13.660 --> 00:40:14.539
 a proper order

00:40:14.539 --> 00:40:15.820
 of me towards creation.

00:40:16.000 --> 00:40:17.039
 There is a proper order

00:40:17.039 --> 00:40:17.740
 towards me,

00:40:17.860 --> 00:40:18.600
 towards the plants

00:40:18.600 --> 00:40:19.200
 in my house,

00:40:19.320 --> 00:40:19.980
 towards the animals

00:40:19.980 --> 00:40:20.620
 in my house,

00:40:20.900 --> 00:40:21.740
 a proper order

00:40:21.739 --> 00:40:22.279
 towards me

00:40:22.279 --> 00:40:22.919
 and the children,

00:40:23.579 --> 00:40:24.439
 a proper order

00:40:24.439 --> 00:40:25.059
 towards me

00:40:25.059 --> 00:40:25.659
 and my neighbor,

00:40:25.819 --> 00:40:26.539
 a proper order

00:40:26.539 --> 00:40:27.099
 towards me

00:40:27.099 --> 00:40:27.539
 and my brothers

00:40:27.539 --> 00:40:28.119
 and sisters,

00:40:28.279 --> 00:40:29.139
 a proper order

00:40:29.139 --> 00:40:30.179
 towards me

00:40:30.179 --> 00:40:30.619
 and the government,

00:40:30.739 --> 00:40:31.299
 a proper order

00:40:31.299 --> 00:40:31.759
 towards me

00:40:31.759 --> 00:40:32.399
 and my God,

00:40:33.039 --> 00:40:34.019
 a proper order,

00:40:34.500 --> 00:40:35.819
 an order of peace,

00:40:36.539 --> 00:40:37.259
 of balance,

00:40:37.379 --> 00:40:37.899
 of harmony,

00:40:37.899 --> 00:40:38.379
 of beauty.

00:40:39.500 --> 00:40:40.759
 That's what shalom is.

00:40:42.500 --> 00:40:43.479
 And so Jesus

00:40:43.479 --> 00:40:44.399
 is the prince

00:40:44.399 --> 00:40:45.779
 of this order.

00:40:46.759 --> 00:40:47.699
 So what I need

00:40:47.699 --> 00:40:48.259
 in my life

00:40:48.259 --> 00:40:48.979
 isn't the feeling

00:40:48.979 --> 00:40:49.619
 of peace.

00:40:50.679 --> 00:40:50.919
 I mean,

00:40:50.920 --> 00:40:51.720
 for those of us

00:40:51.720 --> 00:40:52.619
 who struggle

00:40:52.619 --> 00:40:53.340
 with addictions,

00:40:54.800 --> 00:40:56.139
 you use the Jack Daniels

00:40:56.139 --> 00:40:57.059
 to give you peace

00:40:57.059 --> 00:40:57.980
 and your life

00:40:57.980 --> 00:40:58.760
 is in chaos.

00:40:59.900 --> 00:41:00.840
 Use the drug

00:41:00.840 --> 00:41:01.740
 to give you peace

00:41:01.740 --> 00:41:02.539
 but your life

00:41:02.539 --> 00:41:03.340
 is in chaos.

00:41:04.619 --> 00:41:06.200
 You use shopping

00:41:06.200 --> 00:41:08.000
 and debt

00:41:08.000 --> 00:41:08.980
 to give you

00:41:08.980 --> 00:41:09.840
 a sense of peace

00:41:09.840 --> 00:41:10.519
 but your life

00:41:10.519 --> 00:41:11.119
 is in chaos.

00:41:11.960 --> 00:41:12.619
 We don't need

00:41:12.619 --> 00:41:13.760
 a feeling of peace

00:41:13.760 --> 00:41:14.840
 while our life

00:41:14.840 --> 00:41:15.440
 is in chaos.

00:41:15.440 --> 00:41:15.740
 us,

00:41:16.240 --> 00:41:17.519
 we need

00:41:17.519 --> 00:41:18.400
 shalom.

00:41:20.659 --> 00:41:21.320
 We need

00:41:21.320 --> 00:41:21.920
 the prince

00:41:21.920 --> 00:41:22.800
 of shalom

00:41:22.800 --> 00:41:24.159
 to bring his

00:41:24.159 --> 00:41:24.900
 shalom

00:41:24.900 --> 00:41:26.340
 to order our lives.

00:41:28.019 --> 00:41:28.740
 And that's what

00:41:28.740 --> 00:41:29.200
 this text

00:41:29.200 --> 00:41:29.820
 is inviting us

00:41:29.820 --> 00:41:30.440
 to pray into.

00:41:32.059 --> 00:41:32.460
 Jesus,

00:41:32.659 --> 00:41:33.440
 you carry me

00:41:33.440 --> 00:41:35.220
 and you carry

00:41:35.220 --> 00:41:35.920
 my problems.

00:41:36.039 --> 00:41:36.440
 You are bigger

00:41:36.440 --> 00:41:37.360
 than my problems.

00:41:37.780 --> 00:41:38.880
 You are the mighty God.

00:41:40.119 --> 00:41:41.119
 You are the wonderful

00:41:41.119 --> 00:41:41.700
 counselor.

00:41:41.820 --> 00:41:42.720
 I need your counsel.

00:41:42.719 --> 00:41:44.459
 You are the one

00:41:44.459 --> 00:41:45.379
 who cares for me

00:41:45.379 --> 00:41:46.219
 and will protect me.

00:41:46.519 --> 00:41:46.939
 I need you

00:41:46.939 --> 00:41:47.879
 to be my fortress.

00:41:48.259 --> 00:41:49.119
 And most of all,

00:41:49.559 --> 00:41:50.339
 I need your order

00:41:50.339 --> 00:41:51.000
 in my life.

00:41:51.239 --> 00:41:52.159
 I need your peaceful

00:41:52.159 --> 00:41:53.480
 order in my life.

00:41:53.559 --> 00:41:54.219
 I need your peaceful

00:41:54.219 --> 00:41:55.219
 order in my church.

00:41:55.359 --> 00:41:56.000
 I need your peaceful

00:41:56.000 --> 00:41:56.899
 order in my family.

00:41:57.359 --> 00:41:58.099
 Lord Jesus,

00:41:58.319 --> 00:41:58.579
 come.

00:41:59.259 --> 00:42:00.379
 Babe of Bethlehem,

00:42:00.519 --> 00:42:00.799
 come.

00:42:01.739 --> 00:42:02.639
 Crucified Jesus,

00:42:02.879 --> 00:42:03.119
 come.

00:42:03.639 --> 00:42:04.339
 Risen Jesus,

00:42:04.579 --> 00:42:04.839
 come.

00:42:05.359 --> 00:42:06.139
 Returning Jesus,

00:42:06.379 --> 00:42:06.619
 come.

00:42:07.439 --> 00:42:08.259
 And bring your peaceful

00:42:08.259 --> 00:42:09.659
 order into my life.

00:42:10.659 --> 00:42:11.399
 I invite you to stand.

00:42:12.719 --> 00:42:19.019
 Let's bow our heads

00:42:19.019 --> 00:42:19.459
 in prayer.

00:42:23.179 --> 00:42:23.659
 Father,

00:42:24.039 --> 00:42:25.000
 you know those

00:42:25.000 --> 00:42:25.579
 amongst us

00:42:25.579 --> 00:42:26.259
 who struggle

00:42:26.259 --> 00:42:27.480
 with addiction issues.

00:42:27.719 --> 00:42:28.959
 You know those

00:42:28.959 --> 00:42:29.719
 of us who struggle

00:42:29.719 --> 00:42:30.199
 with them.

00:42:32.379 --> 00:42:33.259
 And we ask,

00:42:33.579 --> 00:42:33.659
 Father,

00:42:33.899 --> 00:42:36.000
 that for each person

00:42:36.000 --> 00:42:36.859
 here who struggles

00:42:36.859 --> 00:42:37.419
 with that,

00:42:37.539 --> 00:42:38.679
 that you would grip

00:42:38.679 --> 00:42:39.559
 them with the gospel.

00:42:39.559 --> 00:42:42.279
 and we ask,

00:42:42.599 --> 00:42:42.679
 Father,

00:42:42.980 --> 00:42:44.360
 that you would

00:42:44.360 --> 00:42:45.360
 grip them

00:42:45.360 --> 00:42:45.960
 with the truth

00:42:45.960 --> 00:42:46.860
 of this text.

00:42:49.179 --> 00:42:50.079
 That they

00:42:50.079 --> 00:42:52.039
 would not

00:42:52.039 --> 00:42:53.119
 turn to that

00:42:53.119 --> 00:42:54.079
 which addicts them

00:42:54.079 --> 00:42:55.920
 to give them peace.

00:42:56.440 --> 00:42:57.360
 But they would

00:42:57.360 --> 00:42:58.199
 turn to you

00:42:58.199 --> 00:42:59.759
 and know

00:42:59.759 --> 00:43:00.719
 that you carry them

00:43:00.719 --> 00:43:01.860
 and carry that problem.

00:43:02.799 --> 00:43:03.619
 That you would

00:43:03.619 --> 00:43:04.079
 help them,

00:43:04.400 --> 00:43:04.460
 Father,

00:43:04.559 --> 00:43:05.659
 to experience

00:43:05.659 --> 00:43:07.539
 their anxieties

00:43:07.539 --> 00:43:08.340
 and their stress

00:43:08.340 --> 00:43:10.400
 knowing that

00:43:10.400 --> 00:43:10.920
 it will not

00:43:10.920 --> 00:43:11.539
 unmake them

00:43:11.539 --> 00:43:12.219
 because you have

00:43:12.219 --> 00:43:12.800
 made them new

00:43:12.800 --> 00:43:13.279
 in Jesus.

00:43:14.980 --> 00:43:15.199
 And,

00:43:15.279 --> 00:43:15.380
 Father,

00:43:15.460 --> 00:43:15.980
 you know those

00:43:15.980 --> 00:43:16.320
 of us

00:43:16.320 --> 00:43:17.019
 who are carrying

00:43:17.019 --> 00:43:17.639
 big loads

00:43:17.639 --> 00:43:18.199
 of stress

00:43:18.199 --> 00:43:18.759
 right now.

00:43:19.480 --> 00:43:20.219
 It's Christmas.

00:43:22.119 --> 00:43:22.880
 Many of us

00:43:22.880 --> 00:43:23.519
 have spent more

00:43:23.519 --> 00:43:24.360
 than we can afford

00:43:24.360 --> 00:43:24.900
 on gifts.

00:43:27.960 --> 00:43:28.980
 And many of us

00:43:28.980 --> 00:43:29.599
 have stressful

00:43:29.599 --> 00:43:30.659
 times with families

00:43:30.659 --> 00:43:31.940
 and travel

00:43:31.940 --> 00:43:33.920
 and just life.

00:43:34.019 --> 00:43:34.119
 And,

00:43:34.199 --> 00:43:34.340
 Father,

00:43:34.420 --> 00:43:34.900
 you know those

00:43:34.900 --> 00:43:35.679
 of us who struggle

00:43:35.679 --> 00:43:36.440
 with anxiety.

00:43:36.440 --> 00:43:37.039
 And we ask,

00:43:37.320 --> 00:43:37.400
 Father,

00:43:37.480 --> 00:43:37.960
 that you would

00:43:37.960 --> 00:43:38.740
 turn our hearts

00:43:38.740 --> 00:43:39.360
 to Jesus

00:43:39.360 --> 00:43:40.220
 at this time.

00:43:40.320 --> 00:43:41.300
 That you would

00:43:41.300 --> 00:43:41.980
 turn our hearts

00:43:41.980 --> 00:43:42.599
 to be gripped

00:43:42.599 --> 00:43:43.360
 by the gospel

00:43:43.360 --> 00:43:43.900
 and know that

00:43:43.900 --> 00:43:44.880
 Jesus carries

00:43:44.880 --> 00:43:46.320
 each one here

00:43:46.320 --> 00:43:47.380
 who carries

00:43:47.380 --> 00:43:48.159
 these problems.

00:43:48.940 --> 00:43:49.380
 And,

00:43:49.480 --> 00:43:49.659
 Father,

00:43:49.800 --> 00:43:50.960
 so bring this

00:43:50.960 --> 00:43:51.260
 truth,

00:43:51.360 --> 00:43:51.559
 hope,

00:43:52.420 --> 00:43:53.519
 deep to them

00:43:53.519 --> 00:43:54.740
 that they might

00:43:54.740 --> 00:43:55.360
 walk towards

00:43:55.360 --> 00:43:56.079
 their problems

00:43:56.079 --> 00:43:57.260
 seeking your

00:43:57.260 --> 00:43:58.179
 counsel and wisdom

00:43:58.179 --> 00:43:59.019
 to deal with them

00:43:59.019 --> 00:43:59.920
 in a wise way.

00:44:00.440 --> 00:44:01.300
 Good for them

00:44:01.300 --> 00:44:02.159
 and good for others.

00:44:02.880 --> 00:44:03.480
 That you might

00:44:03.480 --> 00:44:04.000
 bring their

00:44:04.000 --> 00:44:05.019
 shalom order,

00:44:05.340 --> 00:44:06.360
 your shalom order,

00:44:06.440 --> 00:44:07.700
 into their lives.

00:44:09.840 --> 00:44:10.280
 And,

00:44:10.400 --> 00:44:10.539
 Father,

00:44:10.639 --> 00:44:11.360
 there are some

00:44:11.360 --> 00:44:11.920
 of us here

00:44:11.920 --> 00:44:12.860
 who aren't

00:44:12.860 --> 00:44:13.460
 struggling with

00:44:13.460 --> 00:44:14.820
 anxiety or

00:44:14.820 --> 00:44:16.420
 with addictions.

00:44:16.599 --> 00:44:17.139
 And we ask,

00:44:17.320 --> 00:44:17.559
 Father,

00:44:17.700 --> 00:44:18.320
 that you would

00:44:18.320 --> 00:44:18.980
 help us to be

00:44:18.980 --> 00:44:19.800
 people of prayer,

00:44:20.220 --> 00:44:20.579
 that you would

00:44:20.579 --> 00:44:21.200
 help us to be

00:44:21.200 --> 00:44:21.760
 men and women

00:44:21.760 --> 00:44:22.300
 of prayer,

00:44:23.500 --> 00:44:24.099
 that we might

00:44:24.099 --> 00:44:24.500
 pray,

00:44:24.840 --> 00:44:25.039
 Lord,

00:44:25.159 --> 00:44:25.860
 for those who

00:44:25.860 --> 00:44:27.059
 are burdened

00:44:27.059 --> 00:44:27.720
 with stress

00:44:27.720 --> 00:44:28.460
 and anxiety,

00:44:29.099 --> 00:44:29.679
 burdened with

00:44:29.679 --> 00:44:30.700
 cares of life,

00:44:31.559 --> 00:44:32.079
 burdened with

00:44:32.079 --> 00:44:32.800
 problems of

00:44:32.800 --> 00:44:33.360
 addiction or

00:44:33.360 --> 00:44:34.099
 alcoholism.

00:44:34.099 --> 00:44:35.900
 Father,

00:44:36.019 --> 00:44:36.420
 that if you

00:44:36.420 --> 00:44:36.920
 have put us

00:44:36.920 --> 00:44:37.559
 in a season

00:44:37.559 --> 00:44:38.500
 where that is

00:44:38.500 --> 00:44:39.500
 not what is

00:44:39.500 --> 00:44:41.079
 going on in us,

00:44:41.139 --> 00:44:41.639
 that you might

00:44:41.639 --> 00:44:42.319
 grant us the

00:44:42.319 --> 00:44:43.039
 great gift of

00:44:43.039 --> 00:44:44.219
 prayer for our

00:44:44.219 --> 00:44:44.759
 brothers and

00:44:44.759 --> 00:44:45.099
 sisters,

00:44:45.279 --> 00:44:45.579
 for our

00:44:45.579 --> 00:44:45.940
 neighbors,

00:44:46.599 --> 00:44:47.619
 for our

00:44:47.619 --> 00:44:48.219
 loved ones,

00:44:48.739 --> 00:44:49.239
 that we might

00:44:49.239 --> 00:44:49.779
 be a people

00:44:49.779 --> 00:44:50.239
 of prayer.

00:44:51.679 --> 00:44:52.319
 And in all

00:44:52.319 --> 00:44:52.619
 things,

00:44:52.779 --> 00:44:52.920
 Father,

00:44:53.000 --> 00:44:53.579
 we ask that

00:44:53.579 --> 00:44:53.860
 you would

00:44:53.860 --> 00:44:54.400
 grip us with

00:44:54.400 --> 00:44:54.940
 the truth of

00:44:54.940 --> 00:44:55.559
 the gospel,

00:44:56.559 --> 00:44:57.799
 that you would

00:44:57.799 --> 00:44:58.440
 grip us with

00:44:58.440 --> 00:44:59.219
 the truth that

00:44:59.219 --> 00:45:00.440
 you came

00:45:00.440 --> 00:45:01.339
 humbly as a

00:45:01.339 --> 00:45:02.719
 baby and

00:45:02.719 --> 00:45:03.500
 died humbly

00:45:03.500 --> 00:45:03.859
 on the

00:45:03.859 --> 00:45:04.299
 cross,

00:45:04.919 --> 00:45:05.239
 that we

00:45:05.239 --> 00:45:05.619
 might be

00:45:05.619 --> 00:45:06.099
 your children

00:45:06.099 --> 00:45:06.759
 by adoption

00:45:06.759 --> 00:45:07.319
 and grace,

00:45:08.539 --> 00:45:09.339
 that we

00:45:09.339 --> 00:45:10.459
 might give

00:45:10.459 --> 00:45:11.480
 ourselves to

00:45:11.480 --> 00:45:11.819
 you,

00:45:13.839 --> 00:45:14.339
 knowing you

00:45:14.339 --> 00:45:16.039
 do not turn

00:45:16.039 --> 00:45:16.519
 us away,

00:45:17.859 --> 00:45:18.500
 and that you

00:45:18.500 --> 00:45:19.259
 will save us.

00:45:20.619 --> 00:45:21.519
 And all God's

00:45:21.519 --> 00:45:22.239
 people said,

00:45:23.039 --> 00:45:23.279
 Amen.