WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.020 Good morning, Watermark. My name is Chris. If you don't know me, I oversee community groups here at Watermark. 00:00:07.560 --> 00:00:14.000 If you're new here for the first time, a really warm welcome, and it's great to have you with us. 00:00:15.040 --> 00:00:18.140 Today, we're going to look at the issue of trust. 00:00:19.339 --> 00:00:24.039 And when I first came to Hong Kong, I arrived off the plane with all my suitcases, 00:00:24.039 --> 00:00:32.159 arrived in Central, and I needed to phone my wife, Fiona, because I needed her to help me pick things up 00:00:32.159 --> 00:00:34.879 and show me where to go to find my accommodation. 00:00:35.679 --> 00:00:40.820 And the problem was I didn't have a SIM card, so I walked up and down Central, 00:00:41.219 --> 00:00:45.579 trying to find somebody who would lend me their phone so that I could ring Fiona. 00:00:46.679 --> 00:00:52.719 And I walked up and down for about 45 minutes, and nobody would let me borrow their phone. 00:00:54.039 --> 00:00:58.839 And then, I mean, I thought, I don't look like a criminal. I may be British, but that's okay. 00:01:00.619 --> 00:01:04.920 And I couldn't understand why nobody would lend me their phone. 00:01:05.859 --> 00:01:12.060 And then a few months later, I was watching TV, and I saw an advert on television from the government saying, 00:01:12.060 --> 00:01:18.640 Be careful. Don't lend your phone to anybody, especially British people. 00:01:18.640 --> 00:01:20.560 And then I understood. 00:01:21.680 --> 00:01:29.400 I understood that we live in a culture which actually tells us to mistrust people. 00:01:30.099 --> 00:01:32.200 And sometimes there's a good reason for that. 00:01:33.239 --> 00:01:40.700 But it's also fascinating because I think we also live in a culture which has incredible trust. 00:01:41.760 --> 00:01:43.680 You know, we trust marketing guys. 00:01:43.680 --> 00:01:51.920 You know, they promise you that if you just use their face cream, you will eternally look youthful, even when you're 80. 00:01:52.520 --> 00:01:53.520 We promise... 00:01:53.520 --> 00:02:00.620 They promise us that if you buy their deodorant, the ladies will just fall at your feet in awe of you. 00:02:01.460 --> 00:02:07.680 They promise that your kids will become like Einstein, Mozart, and David Beckham, 00:02:07.800 --> 00:02:11.659 all in one, by the age of three, if you just buy their milk powder. 00:02:11.659 --> 00:02:14.280 And people buy it. 00:02:14.819 --> 00:02:15.759 We trust them. 00:02:17.319 --> 00:02:20.219 You know, we trust experts who tell us about our diets. 00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:26.319 We trust anybody who's got doctor or professor before their name for just about anything. 00:02:27.960 --> 00:02:33.000 In fact, the whole of our lives are actually based on trust. 00:02:33.000 --> 00:02:40.620 Every moment of the day, you are actually making decisions about trust. 00:02:41.080 --> 00:02:44.520 About who you can trust and who you can't. 00:02:45.120 --> 00:02:51.280 And you know, if somebody has a really serious problem with trusting anybody, we label them as paranoid. 00:02:51.920 --> 00:02:52.240 Right? 00:02:52.240 --> 00:03:00.400 But the issue is, for each one of us, where do we place our trust? 00:03:01.800 --> 00:03:05.640 Every day, every moment, even now, you may be wondering, 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:08.500 can I trust this strange British guy who's talking? 00:03:09.219 --> 00:03:10.540 It's an issue of trust. 00:03:11.120 --> 00:03:16.040 We're all the time assessing every business deal you do, every relationship you form. 00:03:16.039 --> 00:03:19.879 You're always weighing up, who can I trust? 00:03:21.199 --> 00:03:23.239 And today, we're looking at a very familiar story. 00:03:23.379 --> 00:03:24.879 It's the Christmas story. 00:03:25.319 --> 00:03:27.959 And the problem with a familiar story is just that. 00:03:28.039 --> 00:03:28.799 It's familiar. 00:03:29.459 --> 00:03:35.319 But I think there's a very deep truth in something that's very, very simple. 00:03:36.039 --> 00:03:38.120 And we're going to just have a little look at this. 00:03:38.219 --> 00:03:40.159 And we're going to look at it in two sections. 00:03:40.319 --> 00:03:42.599 We're going to look at a crazy situation. 00:03:42.599 --> 00:03:45.599 And then we're going to look just at a call to trust. 00:03:46.500 --> 00:03:50.060 So let's dive in and look at the situation. 00:03:50.259 --> 00:03:51.639 So it's about 4 BC. 00:03:52.199 --> 00:03:53.299 It's in Israel. 00:03:53.819 --> 00:03:58.400 The Jewish people have been waiting for 400 years for a word from God. 00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:00.680 400 years is a long time. 00:04:01.560 --> 00:04:03.439 They're waiting for a king to come. 00:04:03.539 --> 00:04:10.939 They're waiting for a savior to deliver them from the foreign armies which have been dominating them for these centuries. 00:04:10.939 --> 00:04:18.819 And they want this king to come because when he comes, they will finally feel secure. 00:04:19.079 --> 00:04:21.800 They will finally have something to be proud of. 00:04:22.060 --> 00:04:25.980 They will finally feel like they are somebody again. 00:04:25.980 --> 00:04:34.360 And instead of constantly being humiliated every time you walk down the street being mocked by the armies, 00:04:34.879 --> 00:04:41.439 having people harassing you, mocking your religion, taxing away your profits, leaving you with barely enough to survive, 00:04:41.780 --> 00:04:50.379 they're looking for a king who's going to put an end to that, who's going to bring in a kingdom where it's going to be safe, prosperous, and peaceful. 00:04:50.379 --> 00:05:00.639 And Luke comes to us and tells us the story of two angel visitations. 00:05:02.659 --> 00:05:06.459 Six months apart, we've read the second one. 00:05:06.779 --> 00:05:16.740 The first one is the 400-year silence ends when an angel comes to two people called Zachariah and Elizabeth. 00:05:16.740 --> 00:05:18.480 And they're old. 00:05:19.259 --> 00:05:23.180 And the angel comes and says, you're going to have a baby. 00:05:24.280 --> 00:05:26.379 Now, they've never had kids before. 00:05:27.079 --> 00:05:31.019 And Zachariah is like, don't you know how old my wife is? 00:05:31.379 --> 00:05:32.759 You know, she's almost dead. 00:05:33.160 --> 00:05:35.060 You know, we're planning the funeral. 00:05:35.259 --> 00:05:36.920 We're not planning the baby shower. 00:05:36.920 --> 00:05:44.220 And the angel says, trust me, you're going to have a baby. 00:05:44.900 --> 00:05:46.000 Now, this is not normal. 00:05:46.180 --> 00:05:49.220 Women after menopause don't normally have children. 00:05:50.140 --> 00:05:52.020 But Elizabeth becomes pregnant. 00:05:53.420 --> 00:05:56.620 And then the angel Gabriel comes a second time. 00:05:56.740 --> 00:06:02.800 Six months later, those of you who do business trips will kind of get the feeling of how Gabriel is. 00:06:02.840 --> 00:06:04.660 He keeps being sent on missions everywhere. 00:06:04.660 --> 00:06:18.780 And this time, he's sent down to a tiny, insignificant village in a despised area of the country to a 13-year-old peasant girl who is engaged to be married. 00:06:19.060 --> 00:06:23.460 And he comes and says, God's grace is upon you. 00:06:23.900 --> 00:06:24.879 God is with you. 00:06:25.200 --> 00:06:30.520 You are part of God's great plan hatched from the beginning of creation. 00:06:30.519 --> 00:06:39.779 You are going to be a major player in this plan because the king who you and the whole of Israel have been waiting for is coming now. 00:06:39.879 --> 00:06:41.060 And you're going to give birth to him. 00:06:41.060 --> 00:06:52.759 And, you know, if you're not sure if this is true or not, your relative, Elizabeth, you know, the one you always used to mock because she never was able to have any children. 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:53.519 You know what? 00:06:53.720 --> 00:06:55.120 She's going to have children too. 00:06:55.360 --> 00:06:56.819 She's going to have a son. 00:06:58.220 --> 00:07:01.540 And, you know, it shows the kind of God that I am. 00:07:02.279 --> 00:07:05.019 I'm the kind of God who does the impossible. 00:07:05.019 --> 00:07:11.199 I'm the kind of God who does what you would never, ever believe could happen. 00:07:12.159 --> 00:07:15.060 Because I'm the one who's in control of history. 00:07:15.620 --> 00:07:17.500 I'm the one who rules. 00:07:18.879 --> 00:07:26.919 Now, if you think about this for a minute, if you were God, I think it's not a particularly clever marketing strategy. 00:07:26.920 --> 00:07:33.860 Because in a culture where the average Jewish male would every morning wake up and say, 00:07:34.199 --> 00:07:43.259 I thank you, God, that I am not a Gentile nor a woman, God seems not to care about what the rest of culture says. 00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:49.080 And he chooses not just a woman, but someone who is right at the bottom of the pile in society. 00:07:49.079 --> 00:07:54.439 And I don't think God would do very well in HR either. 00:07:54.759 --> 00:08:02.839 Because, you know, he chooses those who, when you look at their CV or their resume, they've got nothing on it. 00:08:03.939 --> 00:08:07.539 He doesn't look for those who've got all the credentials, all the achievements. 00:08:07.819 --> 00:08:10.240 He looks for those who have nothing on their CV. 00:08:10.299 --> 00:08:16.099 And he says, I am going to give you a CV as I use you and I work through you. 00:08:16.100 --> 00:08:20.860 And everyone's going to look at it and say, wow, only God could have done that. 00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:29.939 And I don't know if you also notice, the angel comes and, you know, we live in a big world. 00:08:30.900 --> 00:08:32.460 You know, it's an anonymous world. 00:08:32.659 --> 00:08:40.420 You know when you go to the MTR and it's rush hour and it doesn't matter if you're a multimillionaire or if you're a cardboard collector. 00:08:40.740 --> 00:08:44.960 Nobody cares about you as you're running to get on the seat for the MTR, right? 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:45.620 You're anonymous. 00:08:46.420 --> 00:08:54.580 And if you just imagine that in a global scale, think how anonymous most of us are to everybody else. 00:08:54.860 --> 00:08:57.280 We're nobodies at that point. 00:08:58.180 --> 00:09:07.019 And Mary is just one of those anonymous nobodies that actually even the somebodies would not want to be associated with. 00:09:07.019 --> 00:09:18.480 And yet God comes along, sends the angel, and the angel says, Mary, I know your name. 00:09:19.939 --> 00:09:27.379 When you may be anonymous to everybody else, I know your name. 00:09:27.379 --> 00:09:32.320 And I want to display my grace to you. 00:09:33.700 --> 00:09:36.220 Because that's the kind of God I am. 00:09:38.879 --> 00:09:40.439 He's a God who does the impossible. 00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:44.939 He's a God who knows intimately every single one of us. 00:09:44.940 --> 00:09:49.580 And now if I was Mary, I think this would have been a little bit of a shock. 00:09:50.080 --> 00:09:54.220 I mean, I like the way Luke writes it. 00:09:54.720 --> 00:10:00.520 It says, she was greatly troubled and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 00:10:01.160 --> 00:10:07.200 You know, when a salesperson rings me up and says, congratulations, you've won that special prize. 00:10:07.200 --> 00:10:10.460 I often wonder what kind of greeting this might be. 00:10:10.860 --> 00:10:12.300 And I think, what do you want? 00:10:14.440 --> 00:10:16.080 Because Mary is not naive. 00:10:16.280 --> 00:10:17.220 She's not stupid. 00:10:17.960 --> 00:10:22.140 You know, virgin births don't happen all the time in the ancient world either. 00:10:22.460 --> 00:10:26.820 She wasn't going back to Joseph and saying, hey, Joe, I'm going to do virgin birth. 00:10:26.940 --> 00:10:30.900 And Joseph is like, well, you know, my sister had a couple of those recently. 00:10:31.100 --> 00:10:33.980 And just before she decided to go natural with the third one. 00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:35.320 It wasn't like that. 00:10:37.200 --> 00:10:40.100 This was totally out of their frame of reference. 00:10:40.800 --> 00:10:43.060 She says, how is this going to be? 00:10:43.160 --> 00:10:45.540 How am I going to have a child when I'm a virgin? 00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:46.800 You know, she's done biology. 00:10:47.740 --> 00:10:49.820 She knows the stork doesn't bring babies. 00:10:50.800 --> 00:10:52.820 She's done the sex education classes. 00:10:52.820 --> 00:10:57.420 And she knows that the angel is telling her something that is just out of this world. 00:11:00.620 --> 00:11:06.379 And we might not kind of get the situation going on here. 00:11:06.379 --> 00:11:11.519 But Matthew's account gives us a bit clearer situation. 00:11:11.720 --> 00:11:15.200 Because Mary says, okay, let it be to me according to your word. 00:11:15.379 --> 00:11:16.139 I trust you. 00:11:16.860 --> 00:11:23.240 But the situation that has just happened here, as God is breaking through, as God is up to something, 00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:26.500 is God is doing it in a very inconvenient way. 00:11:26.500 --> 00:11:32.480 Because he's totally shattering the plans that maybe Mary and Joseph would have had. 00:11:33.620 --> 00:11:38.840 Because he could have waited maybe a year later, and Mary and Joseph would have been nicely married. 00:11:39.399 --> 00:11:40.980 And then it wouldn't be another scandal. 00:11:41.980 --> 00:11:42.360 Okay? 00:11:42.740 --> 00:11:44.820 To have a baby at that time. 00:11:44.820 --> 00:11:54.060 But God causes a 13-year-old teenage girl who is not officially married to become pregnant. 00:11:55.100 --> 00:11:58.440 Now, in our culture that might be shocking. 00:11:58.600 --> 00:12:04.060 But in their culture, this would have brought shame on the whole family. 00:12:04.840 --> 00:12:05.700 Shame on Mary. 00:12:06.060 --> 00:12:08.680 Because what kind of a woman are you? 00:12:08.679 --> 00:12:09.120 Pregnant. 00:12:09.779 --> 00:12:10.299 Pregnant. 00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:12.839 And you are not yet married. 00:12:13.339 --> 00:12:17.059 It would have brought shame on the whole of her family, the whole of Joseph's family. 00:12:17.179 --> 00:12:18.279 And imagine if you're Joseph. 00:12:18.519 --> 00:12:23.279 I mean, Mary comes up to you and says, hey, I've just got something to tell you. 00:12:23.779 --> 00:12:24.799 I'm pregnant. 00:12:25.739 --> 00:12:28.759 And Joseph knows it's not with him. 00:12:28.759 --> 00:12:35.019 And imagine the sense of shock that he must have felt at that point. 00:12:35.340 --> 00:12:39.519 You know, he's thinking, and I thought she was a nice 13-year-old girl. 00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:42.960 Little did I know, how could she have betrayed me? 00:12:43.139 --> 00:12:44.840 How could she have done this to me? 00:12:45.779 --> 00:12:47.700 What am I going to tell my parents? 00:12:50.700 --> 00:12:54.419 You know, he was thinking, maybe we'll just settle down, have 2.4 children. 00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:56.559 You know, maybe we'll build up the career ladder. 00:12:56.559 --> 00:13:00.479 Well, I'll go to Jerusalem, you know, once we've got a bit more money. 00:13:01.159 --> 00:13:04.319 And he thinks the whole thing is a mess. 00:13:04.459 --> 00:13:05.179 It's confusing. 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:07.639 Everything seems to have gone wrong. 00:13:08.500 --> 00:13:13.019 And yet, God comes to Joseph in a dream and tells him, trust me. 00:13:14.239 --> 00:13:14.959 Trust me. 00:13:15.899 --> 00:13:17.039 Take Mary as your wife. 00:13:17.199 --> 00:13:18.779 Your child's going to be the savior of the world. 00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:20.199 Trust me. 00:13:21.819 --> 00:13:22.719 And he does. 00:13:24.419 --> 00:13:26.039 And he says the same thing to Mary. 00:13:26.039 --> 00:13:27.000 Trust me. 00:13:27.179 --> 00:13:29.659 And Mary says, I trust you. 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:38.199 And what could have been Mary's greatest shame, she actually sees is her greatest honor. 00:13:39.879 --> 00:13:45.719 And Mary, you go down and you look into verse 46 to 55, and Mary breaks into song. 00:13:45.720 --> 00:13:49.540 I mean, she just rocks out this power ballad to God. 00:13:49.860 --> 00:13:56.820 Because she's so full of joy at what the privilege that God would choose her, God would honor her, and that she could be part of God's plan. 00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:57.160 She says, 00:13:57.159 --> 00:13:59.519 My soul magnifies the Lord. 00:13:59.519 --> 00:14:02.480 And my spirit rejoices in God my savior. 00:14:02.919 --> 00:14:06.839 For he has looked on me, my humble estate. 00:14:07.399 --> 00:14:09.500 And now all generations will call me blessed. 00:14:09.500 --> 00:14:16.159 My friend, my mom has a friend from New Zealand who may be 50 years ago. 00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:21.419 The Queen of England was visiting New Zealand, doing a tour around. 00:14:21.419 --> 00:14:34.079 And my mom's friend was chosen to be one of the people who would, she's from a tiny, tiny farming village, that she would be one of the people who would go to meet the Queen and would give her flowers. 00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:41.900 And, you know, she couldn't stop talking to everybody about the honor and privilege that she would be able to meet the Queen. 00:14:44.740 --> 00:14:46.280 But this is far more than that. 00:14:47.540 --> 00:14:48.840 The angel is saying, 00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:52.940 The King is coming, and you're not just going to meet the King, Mary. 00:14:54.220 --> 00:14:55.900 You're going to give birth to the King. 00:14:57.060 --> 00:14:58.000 And she's like, 00:14:58.000 --> 00:15:05.679 Wow, what kind of a God would choose someone like me for such an awesome responsibility? 00:15:08.440 --> 00:15:10.340 But that's the kind of God we have. 00:15:12.019 --> 00:15:14.159 So that's the kind of crazy situation. 00:15:14.899 --> 00:15:20.919 That God is working through what seems to be a mess, but he is working his plan through that. 00:15:20.919 --> 00:15:27.959 But then the second thing really for us to get hold of is this story is a call for all of us to trust. 00:15:29.319 --> 00:15:34.939 You see, when Mary goes off to her relative Elizabeth, Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, says, 00:15:35.579 --> 00:15:41.240 Blessed is she who believed that there will be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord. 00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:42.379 You're blessed. 00:15:42.659 --> 00:15:48.139 You're enjoying the favor of God because you trusted that what God said he'll do, he will do. 00:15:48.139 --> 00:15:55.580 And the more I study about Christianity and theology, the more I just find it's just very, very simple. 00:15:56.779 --> 00:16:02.659 You know, the whole Bible story, you can summarize in two words. 00:16:03.639 --> 00:16:04.059 Do you know that? 00:16:04.939 --> 00:16:05.720 Two words. 00:16:06.840 --> 00:16:07.799 Trust me. 00:16:09.120 --> 00:16:15.759 The whole Bible story, God says, you know, in the Garden of Eden, Genesis, Adam and Eve, God says, 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:16.700 I want to bless you. 00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:18.039 I want to give you everything. 00:16:18.620 --> 00:16:20.819 There's one thing I just want you to trust me with. 00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:21.799 Don't eat that tree. 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:23.240 Trust me. 00:16:23.960 --> 00:16:30.039 You know, you go further on in the story, and God says, I want to take you, the people of Israel, into the promised land. 00:16:30.259 --> 00:16:32.200 I want to give you this amazing blessing. 00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:34.220 There are some big people there, but don't worry. 00:16:34.360 --> 00:16:34.980 Trust me. 00:16:36.200 --> 00:16:38.360 All the way through the Bible, God's saying, trust me. 00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:39.080 Trust me. 00:16:39.319 --> 00:16:39.759 Trust me. 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:47.019 But, you know, there is, the Bible also says something called sin. 00:16:47.819 --> 00:16:53.139 And, you know, you can summarize what the Bible says sin is in four and a half words. 00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:57.340 I don't trust you. 00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:02.360 I don't trust you. 00:17:04.140 --> 00:17:06.500 God and Eden, Adam and Eve. 00:17:06.500 --> 00:17:08.380 God says, trust me. 00:17:09.619 --> 00:17:10.799 What do Adam and Eve do? 00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:12.220 They look at the tree. 00:17:12.339 --> 00:17:14.019 Satan says, oh, can you really trust God? 00:17:14.039 --> 00:17:15.519 And they think, ooh, tree looks good. 00:17:15.859 --> 00:17:18.619 God, we don't trust you. 00:17:19.579 --> 00:17:20.660 We think we know better. 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:25.019 The people going into the promised land, they look at the big people. 00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:26.759 They say, big people, scary. 00:17:27.059 --> 00:17:27.940 God says, trust me. 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:32.019 They say, ooh, we don't trust you. 00:17:32.019 --> 00:17:37.379 And everything starts to go downhill from that point. 00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:39.960 And the whole Bible story is, God says, trust me. 00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:41.660 We say, oh, I'm not sure. 00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:43.420 I think I prefer to do it my way. 00:17:43.660 --> 00:17:44.819 Things start to go downhill. 00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:45.799 We're going, ah. 00:17:45.980 --> 00:17:47.339 And then they run back to God. 00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:48.740 And God says, trust me. 00:17:48.839 --> 00:17:50.079 And then things start to go better. 00:17:50.160 --> 00:17:51.859 And then they say, God, I don't trust you. 00:17:51.940 --> 00:17:53.440 And then things start to go downhill again. 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:53.960 And they go, ah. 00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:56.480 And that's the way the whole of the Bible story is. 00:17:57.440 --> 00:17:57.839 Simple. 00:17:59.319 --> 00:17:59.900 There you go. 00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:01.119 You can tell your kids that now. 00:18:02.019 --> 00:18:13.779 But if you think about it, I think that's actually the story of pretty much most of our lives. 00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:17.940 You think of all your stress. 00:18:18.940 --> 00:18:22.119 Think of all your angry outbursts, your impatience, your complaining. 00:18:22.119 --> 00:18:33.239 All of those moments, God is saying, when things are going pear-shaped, when everything seems out of control, God's saying, trust me. 00:18:33.539 --> 00:18:37.739 And we say, God, I don't trust you. 00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:40.319 I've got to stress a little bit about this. 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:43.859 And we look at Mary's simple trust. 00:18:43.940 --> 00:18:46.680 And we say, yeah, but, you know, I haven't had an angel come to me recently. 00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:49.500 You know, if I'd had an angel, maybe it would be better. 00:18:50.660 --> 00:18:54.200 Or we say, yeah, but Mary hadn't experienced what I've experienced. 00:18:54.200 --> 00:19:00.380 But the thing is, if you don't trust God, it's not you trust in nothing. 00:19:00.840 --> 00:19:03.080 You always trust in something. 00:19:04.059 --> 00:19:08.299 If you don't trust God's word, it means you're trusting somebody else's word. 00:19:08.299 --> 00:19:11.659 You're trusting in your job to bring you security. 00:19:12.259 --> 00:19:14.619 You're trusting in your family to bring you happiness. 00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:18.099 You're trusting in yourself to handle life's crises. 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:25.319 But there's a fundamental problem that when you trust in anything other than God, it's always going to let you down at some point. 00:19:28.299 --> 00:19:34.579 And if you think, why does Mary trust God in this situation? 00:19:35.859 --> 00:19:37.500 Well, I think there's something very interesting. 00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:42.880 If you look in verse 38, look at Mary's response. 00:19:44.440 --> 00:19:48.180 You know, I mean, this is a crazy thing to trust God with. 00:19:48.700 --> 00:19:56.259 But she says, behold, I am the right-hand woman of God, and I can do this to you, God. 00:19:57.480 --> 00:19:58.319 Does she say that? 00:19:59.859 --> 00:20:05.119 She says, I am the servant of the Lord. 00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:07.500 What she's saying is this. 00:20:07.939 --> 00:20:11.419 I'm not the master of this situation. 00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:14.899 I'm not in control of this situation. 00:20:15.419 --> 00:20:18.879 I don't drive life's car, and I know it. 00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:21.239 But I know the one who does. 00:20:21.639 --> 00:20:26.079 And I know that he is good, that he is gracious, and I can trust him. 00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:29.359 I don't have to be in control of this situation. 00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:33.019 And you know, why do we struggle? 00:20:33.559 --> 00:20:37.379 And if we're honest, I think it's a daily struggle to trust God. 00:20:37.939 --> 00:20:38.419 Why? 00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:44.679 I think the Bible would say the biggest hindrance to me trusting God is pride. 00:20:44.680 --> 00:20:51.840 God, I don't want to admit that I can't handle life's situations. 00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:54.759 Because I think I can do it. 00:20:55.340 --> 00:20:56.820 I think I'm fine. 00:20:57.140 --> 00:20:59.480 I think I can control my world. 00:20:59.779 --> 00:21:03.000 And so I say, God, I don't trust you. 00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:05.539 I think I can do it better. 00:21:05.539 --> 00:21:17.000 And I have friends who are not Christ followers, and they say to me things like, you know, religion is just a crutch for people who can't handle life. 00:21:17.720 --> 00:21:23.659 Or they say things like, I think it's nice that you've got your religion, but, you know, I trust in myself. 00:21:23.660 --> 00:21:39.340 Now, if I'm honest, I mean, I think that's really interesting, because if I'm honest with myself, I really wouldn't trust myself, because I can't even find the TV remote on a regular basis. 00:21:39.820 --> 00:21:43.019 So how can I possibly handle all of life's situations? 00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:50.460 Someone, a professor of psychology at Northeastern University said this. 00:21:50.460 --> 00:21:59.960 He said, at the most basic level, the need to trust, and we all need to trust, implies one fundamental fact. 00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:02.000 You're vulnerable. 00:22:03.400 --> 00:22:12.200 The ability to satisfy your needs or obtain the outcomes you desire is not entirely under your control. 00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:14.279 This guy's not a Christian. 00:22:14.279 --> 00:22:21.980 But he says, the ability to satisfy your desires and needs is not entirely under your control. 00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:27.639 But we, pride says, I don't want to admit that. 00:22:28.220 --> 00:22:29.379 I can handle it. 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:30.720 I'm fine. 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:49.259 But then, you see, we have a whole load of other crutches that we try and hold on to, like our job, like other people's opinions, so that when we feel vulnerable, we go to these other things as our crutch, so that we can still keep saying, I'm fine, because I've still got this. 00:22:49.259 --> 00:23:03.759 But Mary's song, she says, and this is, we don't have time to go into detail in this, but her song, go home and read this song and think about, meditate on this song, because it really is devastating for many of us. 00:23:04.180 --> 00:23:08.599 Because Mary says, verse 48, she says, 00:23:08.599 --> 00:23:32.599 Fascinating. 00:23:32.599 --> 00:23:33.319 Fascinating. 00:23:33.859 --> 00:23:37.519 He scatters the proud, but he fills the hungry. 00:23:38.659 --> 00:23:45.519 You know, when you go into a bookshop, what's the number one book type that you find in bookshops? 00:23:47.859 --> 00:23:49.899 It's self-help books, isn't it? 00:23:50.279 --> 00:24:00.480 Like, how to grow your business, how to grow your confidence, how to earn a million dollars in 24 hours while learning to crochet and bringing up 15 children. 00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:01.200 Okay? 00:24:01.640 --> 00:24:04.059 And we love these books. 00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:06.000 Why do we love them? 00:24:06.059 --> 00:24:09.000 Because that shows us that we're actually quite vulnerable. 00:24:10.700 --> 00:24:19.019 Because we actually can't trust ourselves, so we've got to go to somebody who seems to have the title doctor or professor before their name, and then we'll believe anything they say. 00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:26.740 Because if we're honest, we actually can't trust ourselves. 00:24:27.099 --> 00:24:29.779 We've got to trust somebody else. 00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:39.519 And this I don't trust you syndrome, I think I like to call it superhero syndrome. 00:24:40.940 --> 00:24:45.339 So, just to make the point. 00:24:45.339 --> 00:25:00.639 You see, I am now superhero husband. 00:25:00.640 --> 00:25:06.880 You see, your wife comes to you and says, you know, you need counseling. 00:25:07.040 --> 00:25:08.020 I think we need counseling. 00:25:08.140 --> 00:25:09.420 We've got issues in our marriage. 00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:12.020 You know, we've really got to work through this. 00:25:12.300 --> 00:25:15.380 And superhero husband says, we're fine. 00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:17.960 I can handle this. 00:25:18.920 --> 00:25:22.300 And, you know, because, you know, I'm superhero husband. 00:25:22.299 --> 00:25:27.919 And I even sometimes wear my underpants on the outside of my clothes when I've drunk too much. 00:25:28.440 --> 00:25:30.680 Because that's the kind of superhero I am. 00:25:30.680 --> 00:25:36.279 And the thing is, we say, I'm fine. 00:25:36.340 --> 00:25:40.420 But actually, if your wife's saying something's not fine, then it's not fine. 00:25:41.500 --> 00:25:54.980 But, you know, superhero husband can't see it because he's so intent on saving the world, saving his job, that he can't see that actually he's letting a few other things slide down by the side. 00:25:54.980 --> 00:26:05.339 Because the superhero is trapped in a fantasy world, and he doesn't actually see all of the reality that's going on around him. 00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:08.440 And so many marriages unravel. 00:26:08.819 --> 00:26:16.339 And even today, some of you are being superhero husbands, and you just can't see the mess that's going on around you. 00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:22.900 Or maybe you become superhero planner man or planner woman. 00:26:23.220 --> 00:26:23.700 Okay? 00:26:24.980 --> 00:26:28.059 If you're a Hollywood director, I've copyrighted that, so don't make a movie. 00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:28.920 Okay? 00:26:29.339 --> 00:26:33.420 You know, Christmas is coming, and there's so much to do. 00:26:33.860 --> 00:26:36.799 And you feel, okay, I've got to do all my checklists. 00:26:37.180 --> 00:26:38.980 You know, I've got to write all my schedule out. 00:26:39.120 --> 00:26:43.339 I've got to plan everything down so that this can be something that goes well. 00:26:43.700 --> 00:26:44.000 Okay? 00:26:45.180 --> 00:26:46.900 Now, that's not necessarily a bad thing. 00:26:46.980 --> 00:26:49.480 Some of us probably need to do more planning in our lives. 00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:53.779 But the problem comes when something gets in the way of your plans. 00:26:53.779 --> 00:26:56.119 You know, a child throws up on grandma. 00:26:56.559 --> 00:27:02.420 City super runs out of every known food known to man that you actually wanted at that point. 00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:06.119 Or your boss suddenly says, 00:27:06.119 --> 00:27:12.259 Oh, I'd like to bless you this Christmas and give you 15 extra meetings and a whole load of extra work. 00:27:12.459 --> 00:27:13.199 Merry Christmas. 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:15.959 And all your plans are in tatters. 00:27:16.179 --> 00:27:20.659 All your dreams are shattered of what your nice Christmas was going to be. 00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:24.880 And do you know how superhero planner man responds at this point? 00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:28.019 He starts freaking out. 00:27:28.100 --> 00:27:31.759 He starts cursing the day that his child or her child were born. 00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:35.279 She starts cursing the day that city super was born. 00:27:35.820 --> 00:27:38.160 Starts cursing the day your boss was ever born. 00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:42.820 And we go rushing around trying to hold the world together. 00:27:44.220 --> 00:27:47.500 And we end up in a crumpled heap snapping at everybody else. 00:27:47.740 --> 00:27:48.640 Stressed out. 00:27:48.800 --> 00:27:51.400 About as merry as a turkey at Christmas time. 00:27:52.200 --> 00:27:58.820 Because superhero planner man is maybe not so super after all. 00:27:58.819 --> 00:28:05.819 And when the world gets out of control and situations come in your life which you know you can't control, 00:28:06.759 --> 00:28:10.720 superheroes are desperately trying to keep their underpants from falling down. 00:28:12.099 --> 00:28:15.619 And we become stressed and we lose sight of reality around us. 00:28:15.679 --> 00:28:18.859 The people that God has placed around us to love, to care for. 00:28:19.139 --> 00:28:20.200 Because we're stressed. 00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:21.319 Because we're angry. 00:28:21.619 --> 00:28:22.539 Because we're frustrated. 00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:25.819 Think about this. 00:28:26.019 --> 00:28:26.899 In the last two weeks, 00:28:26.900 --> 00:28:30.759 how many people have you been frustrated at? 00:28:31.860 --> 00:28:32.620 Angry at? 00:28:32.800 --> 00:28:34.500 Because they didn't do what you wanted them to do? 00:28:35.460 --> 00:28:37.920 Whether it's your kids, whether it's your colleagues, clients. 00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:40.880 How many people didn't respond? 00:28:44.900 --> 00:28:49.340 And you ended up seething inside. 00:28:49.540 --> 00:28:51.980 You told everybody else just how bad they are. 00:28:54.120 --> 00:28:56.519 How many of you have been complaining this week 00:28:56.519 --> 00:28:58.240 about just how life is unfair 00:28:58.240 --> 00:29:00.400 because things just haven't worked out your way? 00:29:02.400 --> 00:29:04.000 Maybe you have a superhero syndrome. 00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:06.799 Because you think you're in control 00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:09.559 but actually each one of us are desperately insecure. 00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:12.619 And you know, I mean, 00:29:12.700 --> 00:29:14.119 I could list so many other superheroes. 00:29:14.279 --> 00:29:15.740 Superhero Christian who says, 00:29:16.139 --> 00:29:16.619 I'm fine. 00:29:16.700 --> 00:29:18.339 I don't need to be part of a community group. 00:29:18.500 --> 00:29:19.960 I don't need to be reading my Bible. 00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:21.200 I don't need to be doing these things 00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:22.139 because I'm fine. 00:29:22.140 --> 00:29:24.240 And then they don't see how everything else 00:29:24.240 --> 00:29:25.500 is unraveling around them. 00:29:26.980 --> 00:29:29.380 And when you live in this fantasy world, 00:29:29.740 --> 00:29:31.880 you're blind to the areas 00:29:31.880 --> 00:29:33.240 where you're not doing so well. 00:29:33.640 --> 00:29:35.160 Or you're just trying to run away. 00:29:35.300 --> 00:29:36.020 You try and hide. 00:29:36.080 --> 00:29:37.140 You don't want to think about those 00:29:37.140 --> 00:29:37.920 because actually, 00:29:38.140 --> 00:29:41.300 they make you look not quite so superhero after all. 00:29:41.299 --> 00:29:45.099 This is what the Bible calls pride. 00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:49.359 And it's the root of our distrust of God. 00:29:51.059 --> 00:29:52.639 When I was growing up, 00:29:52.759 --> 00:29:56.139 I used to watch a British comedy series 00:29:56.139 --> 00:29:57.379 called Monty Python. 00:29:58.960 --> 00:30:00.519 Some of you know it. 00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:02.379 From the 1960s or 70s. 00:30:02.460 --> 00:30:05.659 And there's one movie that they made 00:30:05.659 --> 00:30:07.559 and it's a little bit of black humor really. 00:30:07.559 --> 00:30:10.940 But there's a scene in one of their films 00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:16.819 where King Arthur is trying to pass through a certain land. 00:30:17.079 --> 00:30:19.379 And in front of him is the Black Knight. 00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:21.359 And the Black Knight tells him, 00:30:21.619 --> 00:30:23.319 you cannot pass this way. 00:30:24.059 --> 00:30:25.879 And so they end up having a fight. 00:30:26.619 --> 00:30:28.079 And as they fight together, 00:30:28.379 --> 00:30:31.639 King Arthur chops off one of the arms of the Black Knight. 00:30:31.640 --> 00:30:34.200 And King Arthur says, 00:30:34.740 --> 00:30:37.840 okay, stand aside now, worthy adversary. 00:30:38.100 --> 00:30:38.640 I've won. 00:30:39.220 --> 00:30:40.320 And the Black Knight says, 00:30:40.500 --> 00:30:42.080 oh, it's just a scratch. 00:30:42.860 --> 00:30:43.880 And so they keep fighting. 00:30:44.240 --> 00:30:46.680 And then Arthur cuts off the other arm of the Black Knight. 00:30:48.220 --> 00:30:50.160 And Arthur falls on the floor, 00:30:50.300 --> 00:30:52.100 thanking God for the victory he's had. 00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:53.960 And the Black Knight's still there saying, 00:30:54.160 --> 00:30:55.840 it's just a flesh wound. 00:30:56.659 --> 00:30:59.559 And then Arthur, very confused at this behavior, 00:30:59.899 --> 00:31:00.579 gets up again, 00:31:00.839 --> 00:31:02.000 chops off one of his legs. 00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:03.639 At this point, 00:31:04.139 --> 00:31:04.980 the Black Knight says, 00:31:05.119 --> 00:31:05.980 I'm invincible. 00:31:06.419 --> 00:31:08.500 The Black Knight always triumphs. 00:31:08.679 --> 00:31:09.720 Come on, let's go again. 00:31:11.019 --> 00:31:12.740 Arthur chops off his last leg. 00:31:13.000 --> 00:31:14.099 He's got no legs left. 00:31:14.159 --> 00:31:15.159 He's got no arms left. 00:31:15.220 --> 00:31:16.279 He's lying on the ground. 00:31:17.019 --> 00:31:18.599 And in this pitiful state, 00:31:18.599 --> 00:31:19.199 he says, 00:31:19.659 --> 00:31:22.619 well, let's call it a draw, shall we? 00:31:25.839 --> 00:31:27.480 And the thing is, 00:31:27.879 --> 00:31:31.819 I wonder whether many of us, 00:31:32.619 --> 00:31:35.740 we look at how ridiculous the scene is, 00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:40.179 but I think most of us live our lives under the delusion 00:31:40.179 --> 00:31:42.199 that we're invincible. 00:31:43.539 --> 00:31:45.220 That we can actually, 00:31:45.579 --> 00:31:47.159 okay, it's not going well now, 00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:48.599 but if I just get enough knowledge, 00:31:48.659 --> 00:31:50.980 if I just get enough self-help books, 00:31:51.119 --> 00:31:52.480 if I just get enough advice, 00:31:52.480 --> 00:31:55.000 if I just manage to work a bit harder, 00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:56.539 if I just manage to do this, 00:31:56.779 --> 00:31:58.960 then my superhero underpants will go back on 00:31:58.960 --> 00:32:01.000 and I can be superhero man again. 00:32:03.700 --> 00:32:09.119 But the call of Mary and this story 00:32:09.119 --> 00:32:13.000 is a call that, 00:32:13.779 --> 00:32:15.720 to stop trusting in yourself, 00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:20.880 wake up to see that actually none of us are invincible, 00:32:20.880 --> 00:32:26.480 and that when life sometimes goes out of control, 00:32:26.600 --> 00:32:27.500 and some point it will, 00:32:30.500 --> 00:32:35.380 will you be like that knight who just keeps pushing on saying, 00:32:35.500 --> 00:32:36.600 I can do it, I'm fine, 00:32:36.920 --> 00:32:39.580 or will you say, 00:32:39.840 --> 00:32:42.380 God, I need you. 00:32:44.240 --> 00:32:45.540 I trust you. 00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:49.779 Because the first point of learning to trust 00:32:49.779 --> 00:32:51.480 is learning to surrender. 00:32:52.599 --> 00:32:54.680 To say, God, I'm not in control. 00:32:56.240 --> 00:32:57.839 Whatever's going on this Christmas time, 00:32:57.920 --> 00:33:00.519 whatever situations you're in at the moment, 00:33:01.319 --> 00:33:05.639 I need to say, 00:33:06.059 --> 00:33:07.079 I'm not a superhero. 00:33:08.819 --> 00:33:10.039 I need you, God. 00:33:10.039 --> 00:33:11.859 I cannot be the husband, 00:33:11.980 --> 00:33:14.059 I cannot be the wife without you. 00:33:15.159 --> 00:33:18.579 I lay down my plans to you. 00:33:20.079 --> 00:33:24.279 I cannot do the things that I know you want me to 00:33:24.279 --> 00:33:25.920 without you, God. 00:33:27.139 --> 00:33:28.319 Here I am, 00:33:28.899 --> 00:33:29.639 use me, 00:33:30.319 --> 00:33:31.859 but you're going to have to work 00:33:31.859 --> 00:33:33.420 because I need your grace. 00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:35.779 The thing is, 00:33:35.839 --> 00:33:36.819 if you think you're competent, 00:33:36.819 --> 00:33:38.599 if you think you're rich, 00:33:39.599 --> 00:33:41.039 the text here says, 00:33:41.099 --> 00:33:42.980 he sends the rich away empty. 00:33:44.279 --> 00:33:45.519 And the problem is, 00:33:46.039 --> 00:33:47.259 when things are going well, 00:33:47.339 --> 00:33:47.819 when you're successful, 00:33:48.659 --> 00:33:50.700 that's one of the most dangerous places to be 00:33:50.700 --> 00:33:53.279 because you actually become blind 00:33:53.279 --> 00:33:55.259 to all the areas where you're not successful. 00:33:56.779 --> 00:33:58.799 And you think you are really the superhero 00:33:58.799 --> 00:34:00.099 who can control the world. 00:34:02.539 --> 00:34:03.899 And he's saying here, 00:34:03.899 --> 00:34:05.980 if you think you're fine, 00:34:06.819 --> 00:34:08.860 maybe you need to think again 00:34:08.860 --> 00:34:11.319 because none of us 00:34:11.319 --> 00:34:12.940 in all of our lives 00:34:12.940 --> 00:34:14.059 are really fine. 00:34:15.380 --> 00:34:16.219 But it says, 00:34:16.659 --> 00:34:19.079 God fills the hungry 00:34:19.079 --> 00:34:20.440 with good things. 00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:22.219 If you are hungry 00:34:22.219 --> 00:34:22.920 knowing, 00:34:23.099 --> 00:34:23.279 God, 00:34:23.420 --> 00:34:25.319 I can't fix this situation. 00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:27.119 I can't make my kids 00:34:27.119 --> 00:34:28.880 do everything I want them to. 00:34:29.019 --> 00:34:31.239 I can't turn them into the perfect people 00:34:31.239 --> 00:34:31.900 I want them to. 00:34:31.900 --> 00:34:33.239 I can't control 00:34:33.239 --> 00:34:34.900 all my career path. 00:34:34.900 --> 00:34:36.099 I can't control 00:34:36.099 --> 00:34:37.539 everything that is happening 00:34:37.539 --> 00:34:38.260 into my life. 00:34:38.599 --> 00:34:40.559 I lay this at your feet 00:34:40.559 --> 00:34:41.300 and I know 00:34:41.300 --> 00:34:42.180 you're a God 00:34:42.180 --> 00:34:43.139 who is good, 00:34:43.400 --> 00:34:44.579 who can do the impossible, 00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:45.780 who is gracious, 00:34:46.220 --> 00:34:47.940 who I can trust 00:34:47.940 --> 00:34:50.119 because you know me 00:34:50.119 --> 00:34:52.400 and you know my name. 00:34:54.139 --> 00:34:55.420 And I know 00:34:55.420 --> 00:34:56.300 that you 00:34:56.300 --> 00:34:57.539 will see me through. 00:34:57.539 --> 00:35:02.019 because trusting God 00:35:02.019 --> 00:35:03.139 starts with surrender. 00:35:04.239 --> 00:35:05.380 It continues 00:35:05.380 --> 00:35:07.179 as you marinate 00:35:07.179 --> 00:35:09.000 in the promises of God. 00:35:10.059 --> 00:35:10.960 It continues 00:35:10.960 --> 00:35:13.099 as you rehearse 00:35:13.099 --> 00:35:13.739 to yourself. 00:35:13.920 --> 00:35:14.539 You meditate 00:35:14.539 --> 00:35:16.360 on what kind of God 00:35:16.360 --> 00:35:17.639 it is that we serve. 00:35:19.279 --> 00:35:19.579 You see, 00:35:19.900 --> 00:35:21.960 if you don't read 00:35:21.960 --> 00:35:23.380 your Bible regularly, 00:35:23.380 --> 00:35:26.019 if you don't 00:35:26.019 --> 00:35:26.860 rehearse 00:35:26.860 --> 00:35:27.559 the truths 00:35:27.559 --> 00:35:28.440 of God's Word 00:35:28.440 --> 00:35:29.180 regularly, 00:35:29.500 --> 00:35:30.200 do you know what? 00:35:31.800 --> 00:35:32.539 You have 00:35:32.539 --> 00:35:33.539 superhero syndrome 00:35:33.539 --> 00:35:35.059 because you think 00:35:35.059 --> 00:35:36.000 you're fine 00:35:36.000 --> 00:35:37.539 and you don't need it. 00:35:38.579 --> 00:35:39.500 But the thing is, 00:35:39.539 --> 00:35:40.460 when you do that, 00:35:40.619 --> 00:35:41.519 you're going to end up 00:35:41.519 --> 00:35:42.780 not trusting God. 00:35:42.940 --> 00:35:43.680 You're going to end up 00:35:43.680 --> 00:35:45.079 trusting anybody else 00:35:45.079 --> 00:35:45.920 who's maybe got 00:35:45.920 --> 00:35:46.860 doctor or professor 00:35:46.860 --> 00:35:47.800 in front of their name. 00:35:48.000 --> 00:35:49.380 And you have no idea 00:35:49.380 --> 00:35:50.180 what the fruit 00:35:50.180 --> 00:35:51.180 of their lives is. 00:35:51.179 --> 00:35:56.779 we need to 00:35:56.779 --> 00:35:58.440 see we're not 00:35:58.440 --> 00:35:59.159 the superhero. 00:35:59.639 --> 00:36:00.440 When your plans 00:36:00.440 --> 00:36:01.299 are thrown aside 00:36:01.299 --> 00:36:02.519 this Christmas time, 00:36:02.799 --> 00:36:03.679 things are not working 00:36:03.679 --> 00:36:04.159 out the way 00:36:04.159 --> 00:36:05.079 you wanted to, 00:36:05.539 --> 00:36:06.359 and you're one 00:36:06.359 --> 00:36:07.940 stressed superhero 00:36:07.940 --> 00:36:09.519 and your underpants 00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:10.399 are falling down, 00:36:11.639 --> 00:36:13.579 you need to turn 00:36:13.579 --> 00:36:13.899 and say, 00:36:13.960 --> 00:36:14.239 God, 00:36:14.940 --> 00:36:16.759 I trust you. 00:36:17.480 --> 00:36:18.379 Why should I 00:36:18.379 --> 00:36:19.039 trust you? 00:36:19.759 --> 00:36:20.579 Because you know 00:36:20.579 --> 00:36:21.759 we're always weighing up 00:36:21.759 --> 00:36:22.900 who is trustworthy. 00:36:24.279 --> 00:36:24.920 Well, here's why 00:36:24.920 --> 00:36:25.860 you should trust him. 00:36:26.940 --> 00:36:27.980 Because this is 00:36:27.980 --> 00:36:28.819 the kind of God 00:36:28.819 --> 00:36:30.059 who comes down 00:36:30.059 --> 00:36:31.239 from his glory 00:36:31.239 --> 00:36:32.239 to the most 00:36:32.239 --> 00:36:33.779 insignificant place, 00:36:34.319 --> 00:36:35.619 who comes down 00:36:35.619 --> 00:36:37.340 to save people 00:36:37.340 --> 00:36:38.440 who are anonymous 00:36:38.440 --> 00:36:39.699 to everybody else, 00:36:39.900 --> 00:36:40.880 who comes down 00:36:40.880 --> 00:36:42.659 to die on a cross 00:36:42.659 --> 00:36:43.880 so that you 00:36:43.880 --> 00:36:45.119 might be saved 00:36:45.119 --> 00:36:46.079 from you, 00:36:46.239 --> 00:36:47.099 from your own 00:36:47.099 --> 00:36:48.779 sense of pride 00:36:48.780 --> 00:36:49.500 and arrogance 00:36:49.500 --> 00:36:50.380 which actually 00:36:50.380 --> 00:36:51.240 leads us 00:36:51.240 --> 00:36:52.280 to hurt 00:36:52.280 --> 00:36:53.340 and destroy 00:36:53.340 --> 00:36:54.560 both ourselves 00:36:54.560 --> 00:36:55.400 and other people. 00:36:58.180 --> 00:36:59.560 He didn't come 00:36:59.560 --> 00:37:00.780 that he could just 00:37:00.780 --> 00:37:02.220 boost up your superpowers 00:37:02.220 --> 00:37:02.800 a little bit. 00:37:03.820 --> 00:37:04.860 He came 00:37:04.860 --> 00:37:06.120 that when 00:37:06.120 --> 00:37:07.320 your plans 00:37:07.320 --> 00:37:07.760 are thrown 00:37:07.760 --> 00:37:08.440 right out 00:37:08.440 --> 00:37:09.460 of the window 00:37:09.460 --> 00:37:10.220 and everything 00:37:10.220 --> 00:37:11.500 seems to be going wrong, 00:37:11.560 --> 00:37:12.160 like with Mary 00:37:12.160 --> 00:37:12.720 and Joseph, 00:37:13.320 --> 00:37:14.180 you know 00:37:14.180 --> 00:37:15.400 that you can have 00:37:15.400 --> 00:37:16.079 a joy 00:37:16.079 --> 00:37:16.740 in the midst 00:37:16.740 --> 00:37:17.099 of that 00:37:17.099 --> 00:37:18.380 because your God 00:37:18.380 --> 00:37:19.780 is working out 00:37:19.780 --> 00:37:21.119 something so much 00:37:21.119 --> 00:37:21.579 greater 00:37:21.579 --> 00:37:22.740 than what you 00:37:22.740 --> 00:37:23.639 can imagine 00:37:23.639 --> 00:37:24.680 and you can 00:37:24.680 --> 00:37:25.559 trust him. 00:37:28.440 --> 00:37:29.220 That's how 00:37:29.220 --> 00:37:30.360 you get joy. 00:37:31.440 --> 00:37:32.220 He doesn't promise 00:37:32.220 --> 00:37:33.019 you life is going 00:37:33.019 --> 00:37:35.200 to be a joy ride 00:37:35.200 --> 00:37:35.920 in the sense 00:37:35.920 --> 00:37:36.280 of it's going 00:37:36.280 --> 00:37:37.059 to be perfectly 00:37:37.059 --> 00:37:37.619 wonderful. 00:37:38.539 --> 00:37:39.220 Everything's going 00:37:39.220 --> 00:37:39.920 to go smoothly 00:37:39.920 --> 00:37:40.660 but he says 00:37:40.660 --> 00:37:41.559 you can have joy 00:37:41.559 --> 00:37:42.460 in any 00:37:42.460 --> 00:37:43.800 and every situation 00:37:43.800 --> 00:37:44.640 when you realize 00:37:44.640 --> 00:37:45.620 you're not the one 00:37:45.620 --> 00:37:46.380 who has to control 00:37:46.380 --> 00:37:46.960 the world. 00:37:47.280 --> 00:37:48.340 He's in control. 00:37:48.700 --> 00:37:49.460 He's loving me 00:37:49.460 --> 00:37:50.000 in control. 00:37:50.340 --> 00:37:51.240 He loves you. 00:37:51.519 --> 00:37:52.500 He knows you. 00:37:52.700 --> 00:37:53.940 He died for you 00:37:53.940 --> 00:37:54.860 and he 00:37:54.860 --> 00:37:55.720 is the one 00:37:55.720 --> 00:37:56.460 who says 00:37:56.460 --> 00:37:57.900 now with what's 00:37:57.900 --> 00:37:59.060 going on in your life 00:37:59.060 --> 00:38:01.120 trust me. 00:38:03.080 --> 00:38:04.000 If he died 00:38:04.000 --> 00:38:04.500 for you 00:38:04.500 --> 00:38:05.720 do you not think 00:38:05.720 --> 00:38:06.660 he's capable 00:38:06.660 --> 00:38:08.120 of handling 00:38:08.120 --> 00:38:08.780 your kids? 00:38:10.440 --> 00:38:11.440 Do you not think 00:38:11.440 --> 00:38:12.000 he's capable 00:38:12.000 --> 00:38:12.539 of handling 00:38:12.539 --> 00:38:13.640 your work situation? 00:38:13.800 --> 00:38:14.960 your exams? 00:38:15.900 --> 00:38:16.460 Do you not think 00:38:16.460 --> 00:38:17.019 he's capable 00:38:17.019 --> 00:38:17.580 of handling 00:38:17.580 --> 00:38:19.000 your Christmas 00:38:19.000 --> 00:38:19.539 crises? 00:38:20.760 --> 00:38:21.980 He says to you 00:38:21.980 --> 00:38:23.640 and to me 00:38:23.640 --> 00:38:27.260 remember the kind 00:38:27.260 --> 00:38:27.539 of God 00:38:27.539 --> 00:38:28.180 that I am 00:38:28.180 --> 00:38:30.380 and trust me. 00:38:32.080 --> 00:38:32.940 Let's pray. 00:38:32.940 --> 00:38:33.019 Amen. 00:38:37.019 --> 00:38:37.539 Amen. 00:38:37.539 --> 00:38:38.940 Amen. 00:38:38.940 --> 00:38:39.560 Amen. 00:38:39.560 --> 00:38:39.620 Amen. 00:38:39.620 --> 00:38:39.660 Amen. 00:38:39.660 --> 00:38:39.700 Amen. 00:38:39.700 --> 00:38:39.760 Amen. 00:38:39.760 --> 00:38:39.800 Amen. 00:38:43.800 --> 00:38:44.760 Father I just 00:38:44.760 --> 00:38:45.140 admit 00:38:45.140 --> 00:38:48.240 that 00:38:48.240 --> 00:38:50.380 even though 00:38:50.380 --> 00:38:50.900 I know 00:38:50.900 --> 00:38:53.539 in my head 00:38:53.539 --> 00:38:54.000 that you're 00:38:54.000 --> 00:38:54.600 in control 00:38:54.600 --> 00:38:56.039 so much 00:38:56.039 --> 00:38:56.720 of my life 00:38:56.720 --> 00:38:58.860 I end up 00:38:58.860 --> 00:38:59.200 trying to 00:38:59.200 --> 00:38:59.740 take back 00:38:59.740 --> 00:39:00.380 that control 00:39:00.380 --> 00:39:01.000 trying to 00:39:01.000 --> 00:39:02.480 fix the world 00:39:02.480 --> 00:39:03.300 by myself. 00:39:03.920 --> 00:39:04.800 I say I'm 00:39:04.800 --> 00:39:05.280 fine. 00:39:05.640 --> 00:39:06.760 I can handle it 00:39:06.760 --> 00:39:08.100 and then you 00:39:08.100 --> 00:39:08.800 bring me to my 00:39:08.800 --> 00:39:09.480 knees again 00:39:09.480 --> 00:39:11.920 and I realize 00:39:11.920 --> 00:39:12.320 it again 00:39:12.320 --> 00:39:12.960 and then things 00:39:12.960 --> 00:39:13.539 are just starting 00:39:13.539 --> 00:39:14.139 to go well 00:39:14.139 --> 00:39:14.420 again 00:39:14.420 --> 00:39:15.639 and I begin 00:39:15.639 --> 00:39:16.260 to get back 00:39:16.260 --> 00:39:16.900 into that 00:39:16.900 --> 00:39:18.280 superhero syndrome 00:39:18.280 --> 00:39:18.659 of thinking 00:39:18.659 --> 00:39:19.340 I can handle 00:39:19.340 --> 00:39:19.860 life. 00:39:20.079 --> 00:39:20.860 Lord forgive me. 00:39:23.260 --> 00:39:24.300 I pray for people 00:39:24.300 --> 00:39:25.019 here who 00:39:25.019 --> 00:39:27.159 in their marriages 00:39:27.159 --> 00:39:27.900 they think 00:39:27.900 --> 00:39:28.480 they're 00:39:28.480 --> 00:39:30.079 fine 00:39:30.079 --> 00:39:30.800 but actually 00:39:30.800 --> 00:39:31.800 things are 00:39:31.800 --> 00:39:32.219 crumbling 00:39:32.219 --> 00:39:33.159 beneath the surface. 00:39:33.440 --> 00:39:33.960 Lord I pray 00:39:33.960 --> 00:39:34.480 that you would 00:39:34.480 --> 00:39:34.980 open their 00:39:34.980 --> 00:39:35.880 eyes to see 00:39:35.880 --> 00:39:40.179 that they 00:39:40.179 --> 00:39:40.840 need you 00:39:40.840 --> 00:39:42.760 that they 00:39:42.760 --> 00:39:43.059 need to 00:39:43.059 --> 00:39:43.820 turn to you 00:39:43.820 --> 00:39:45.780 and that you 00:39:45.780 --> 00:39:46.420 can work 00:39:46.420 --> 00:39:47.059 through even 00:39:47.059 --> 00:39:47.579 the mess 00:39:47.579 --> 00:39:48.179 you can work 00:39:48.179 --> 00:39:48.679 through even 00:39:48.679 --> 00:39:49.539 the trials 00:39:49.539 --> 00:39:50.159 and difficulties 00:39:50.159 --> 00:39:51.300 for good. 00:39:52.179 --> 00:39:52.820 I pray for 00:39:52.820 --> 00:39:53.539 those who 00:39:53.539 --> 00:39:54.780 think they're 00:39:54.780 --> 00:39:55.079 fine 00:39:55.079 --> 00:39:56.059 who think 00:39:56.059 --> 00:39:56.579 life's doing 00:39:56.579 --> 00:39:56.800 well 00:39:56.800 --> 00:39:57.559 they're successful 00:39:57.559 --> 00:39:58.400 they think 00:39:58.400 --> 00:39:58.740 they're doing 00:39:58.740 --> 00:39:58.880 well 00:39:58.880 --> 00:39:59.380 Lord I pray 00:39:59.380 --> 00:39:59.720 that you'd 00:39:59.720 --> 00:40:00.199 show them 00:40:00.199 --> 00:40:02.619 the areas 00:40:02.619 --> 00:40:03.139 where 00:40:03.139 --> 00:40:04.299 actually 00:40:04.299 --> 00:40:04.519 they're 00:40:04.519 --> 00:40:04.699 letting 00:40:04.699 --> 00:40:05.279 slide 00:40:05.279 --> 00:40:06.559 that 00:40:06.559 --> 00:40:06.819 actually 00:40:06.819 --> 00:40:07.019 they're 00:40:07.019 --> 00:40:07.179 not 00:40:07.179 --> 00:40:07.679 invincible 00:40:07.679 --> 00:40:09.639 but that 00:40:09.639 --> 00:40:09.900 you're 00:40:09.900 --> 00:40:10.199 a God 00:40:10.199 --> 00:40:10.699 who comes 00:40:10.699 --> 00:40:11.099 to them 00:40:11.099 --> 00:40:11.639 and calls 00:40:11.639 --> 00:40:12.000 them 00:40:12.000 --> 00:40:12.960 to trust 00:40:12.960 --> 00:40:13.279 you. 00:40:15.359 --> 00:40:15.779 Please 00:40:15.779 --> 00:40:16.239 help us 00:40:16.239 --> 00:40:16.719 Lord in 00:40:16.719 --> 00:40:16.900 our 00:40:16.900 --> 00:40:17.519 communities 00:40:17.519 --> 00:40:18.759 because 00:40:18.759 --> 00:40:19.179 Lord we're 00:40:19.179 --> 00:40:19.440 all going 00:40:19.440 --> 00:40:19.799 to forget 00:40:19.799 --> 00:40:20.219 this. 00:40:21.519 --> 00:40:22.079 We can 00:40:22.079 --> 00:40:22.379 go out 00:40:22.379 --> 00:40:22.819 of here 00:40:22.819 --> 00:40:23.139 and then 00:40:23.139 --> 00:40:24.259 in 5-10 00:40:24.259 --> 00:40:24.500 minutes 00:40:24.500 --> 00:40:24.719 we're 00:40:24.719 --> 00:40:25.059 stressed 00:40:25.059 --> 00:40:25.420 again 00:40:25.420 --> 00:40:25.699 because 00:40:25.699 --> 00:40:25.879 we've 00:40:25.879 --> 00:40:26.159 got so 00:40:26.159 --> 00:40:26.339 many 00:40:26.339 --> 00:40:26.579 things 00:40:26.579 --> 00:40:26.779 we've 00:40:26.779 --> 00:40:26.940 got to 00:40:26.940 --> 00:40:27.440 work 00:40:27.440 --> 00:40:27.739 on 00:40:27.739 --> 00:40:28.779 whether 00:40:28.779 --> 00:40:28.980 it's 00:40:28.980 --> 00:40:29.139 the 00:40:29.139 --> 00:40:29.519 bel-air 00:40:29.519 --> 00:40:29.839 fair 00:40:29.839 --> 00:40:30.099 we've 00:40:30.099 --> 00:40:30.299 got to 00:40:30.299 --> 00:40:30.440 do 00:40:30.440 --> 00:40:30.639 whether 00:40:30.639 --> 00:40:30.819 it's 00:40:30.819 --> 00:40:31.199 planning 00:40:31.199 --> 00:40:31.519 for 00:40:31.519 --> 00:40:32.379 all the 00:40:32.380 --> 00:40:32.740 Christmas 00:40:32.740 --> 00:40:33.180 meals 00:40:33.180 --> 00:40:33.420 whether 00:40:33.420 --> 00:40:33.559 it's 00:40:33.559 --> 00:40:33.680 the 00:40:33.680 --> 00:40:34.200 vacation 00:40:34.200 --> 00:40:34.519 we've 00:40:34.519 --> 00:40:34.720 got to 00:40:34.720 --> 00:40:35.019 go on 00:40:35.019 --> 00:40:35.280 Lord we 00:40:35.280 --> 00:40:35.619 can just 00:40:35.619 --> 00:40:36.340 suddenly lose 00:40:36.340 --> 00:40:36.700 sight of 00:40:36.700 --> 00:40:36.960 it all 00:40:36.960 --> 00:40:37.340 again and 00:40:37.340 --> 00:40:37.700 I pray 00:40:37.700 --> 00:40:38.059 that you'd 00:40:38.059 --> 00:40:38.740 remind us 00:40:38.740 --> 00:40:39.500 help us 00:40:39.500 --> 00:40:39.900 to get 00:40:39.900 --> 00:40:40.320 into your 00:40:40.320 --> 00:40:40.740 word 00:40:40.740 --> 00:40:41.320 help us 00:40:41.320 --> 00:40:42.019 to marinate 00:40:42.019 --> 00:40:42.380 on your 00:40:42.380 --> 00:40:42.840 promises 00:40:42.840 --> 00:40:44.000 to remember 00:40:44.000 --> 00:40:44.900 to infuse 00:40:44.900 --> 00:40:45.420 ourselves 00:40:45.420 --> 00:40:46.280 with knowing 00:40:46.280 --> 00:40:46.760 the kind 00:40:46.760 --> 00:40:47.160 of God 00:40:47.160 --> 00:40:47.599 that you 00:40:47.599 --> 00:40:47.960 are 00:40:47.960 --> 00:40:49.660 so that 00:40:49.660 --> 00:40:50.000 in the 00:40:50.000 --> 00:40:50.360 midst of 00:40:50.360 --> 00:40:50.660 it all 00:40:50.660 --> 00:40:51.079 we can 00:40:51.079 --> 00:40:51.440 say 00:40:51.440 --> 00:40:52.079 we trust 00:40:52.079 --> 00:40:52.400 you 00:40:52.400 --> 00:40:55.240 thank you 00:40:55.240 --> 00:40:55.760 that you 00:40:55.760 --> 00:40:56.079 are 00:40:56.079 --> 00:40:56.760 trustworthy 00:40:56.760 --> 00:40:59.560 amen