WEBVTT

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 All right, well, would you take the Word of God with me and go to Isaiah chapter 9?

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 We are going to continue on in our series called His Name Will Be, an Advent series

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 from Isaiah 9-6.

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 By way of review, a couple of weeks ago, when Jared preached, he told us that Jesus is our

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 wonderful counselor.

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 And of course, we read that in the scriptures, and the takeaway is that Jesus is our living

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 hope because in our living, we can turn to our wonderful counselor.

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 And then last Sunday, we talked about how Jesus is our mighty God.

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 And the takeaway is the question, who is the hero of your stories?

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 We see that those words, mighty God, literally mean hero.

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 Jesus is called our hero, so is He the hero of our story, or are we saving that for ourselves?

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 And then today, we're going to be looking at the next item.

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 You've heard about it some in our music.

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 You've heard about it in our children's time with Sarah.

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 And that is that Jesus is the everlasting Father, the everlasting Father.

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 I know you've been up and down a good bit.

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 I'm going to let you keep your seats today.

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 But we're going to read together Isaiah chapter 9 and verse 6.

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 Let's look at it together, Isaiah 9 and verse 6.

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 I've got it on the screens if you don't have it in front of you.

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 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.

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 The government will rest on his shoulders, and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

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 Everlasting Father is the subject matter for today's message.

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 And I pray that you come away having had an encounter with the Father, the Father himself.

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 Now, that's an interesting thought.

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 We're talking about Jesus, aren't we?

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 This whole passage is called a Christological passage.

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 That means it has to do with the Christ, Jesus himself.

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 So if we're talking about Jesus, who is called the what of God?

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 Jesus is the blank of God.

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 What is he?

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 Son.

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 There we go.

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 Somebody said lamb, and that's true.

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 He is also called the Lamb of God.

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 But right now we're looking at son.

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 So if the son of God is Jesus, then how is he called the Everlasting Father?

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 Make it make sense, right?

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 Well, let's dive into it today.

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 Let's look at it and see what we learn from the scriptures.

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 Let's back up a little bit to chapter 9 and verse 3.

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 Chapter 9 and verse 3.

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 We read here,

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 You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy.

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 The people have rejoiced before you as they rejoiced at harvest time,

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 and as they rejoice when dividing spoils.

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 Do you understand what it's talking about there?

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 It says,

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 You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice.

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 Well, that is a prophecy.

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 That is a foretelling of how God would enlarge his people.

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 What did he mean by that?

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 You see, when Isaiah wrote down this prophecy,

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 and it was read throughout synagogues for many generations of Israelites,

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 the Hebrew people would latch on to that,

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 and they would think,

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 Man, our kingdom is going to be the world's greatest someday.

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 The people of Israel, long the oppressed,

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 maybe some of them interpreted that as,

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 We're going to be in charge.

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 We're going to be maybe the oppressors.

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 We're going to be the ones calling the shots,

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 ruling the world for once.

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 Now, I don't know if they all thought that.

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 You can see that some of them could have.

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 But the actual unfolding of how God enlarged his people,

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 his nation of Israel,

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 was by bringing in the Gentiles,

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 bringing in the non-Jews.

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 When Jesus died on the cross,

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 and then we see later in the book of Ephesians,

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 there's now no longer Jew or Gentile,

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 no longer Jew or Greek,

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 no longer male or female.

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 We are all one under the blood of Christ.

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 Now, this nation has been enlarged.

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 So the reality of it is,

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 when he said that he would enlarge the nation of Israel

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 and its people would rejoice,

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 Jesus enlarged the nation of Israel

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 by opening it up,

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 opening up God's kingdom.

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 Now God's people are all of us.

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 And you and I are direct beneficiaries of that.

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 I praise God that he enlarged his people.

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 Warren Wiersbe, one of my favorite Bible teachers,

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 said it this way,

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 instead of protecting a small remnant of just the Jews,

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 God would enlarge the whole nation

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 by grafting in, the Bible teaches us,

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 bringing in those who were before on the outside.

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 He did that through his son, Jesus Christ,

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 and his sacrifice.

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 What an incredible thought.

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 Now, we read about Jesus the king here.

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 We read about it last Sunday.

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 We talked about how he was the mighty king

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 or the mighty hero.

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 Well, contrast this king

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 with the kings of Judah at the time.

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 The king, the series of kings that Judah had had,

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 had been poorly advised by their counselor.

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 But Jesus is called the wonderful counselor.

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 So wise.

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 They had been unsuccessful in battle,

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 but Jesus is now the mighty hero God.

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 Their, Judah's kings,

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 had largely treated their people poorly

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 during their short reigns,

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 but Jesus is called the everlasting father to his people.

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 And then they, Judah's kings,

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 had never been able to achieve peace,

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 lasting peace for their people.

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 But Jesus is called what?

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 The prince of peace.

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 So we've got a stark contrast here

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 between who Judah is used to,

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 who God's people are used to in their leadership,

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 and then this coming king,

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 this coming Jesus,

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 who is called the everlasting father.

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 So let's dive into Jesus,

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 the everlasting father.

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 Truth number one,

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 what does a father do?

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 A father protects and provides.

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 Provides and protects.

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 This father king would provide for

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 and protect his people during his reign.

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 And guess what?

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 His reign would never end.

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 It was eternal.

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 It was everlasting.

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 And Jesus' reign is still going on

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 and will never end.

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 Jesus is the king.

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 He is the father king.

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 Last Sunday,

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 we looked at him as the hero slash God.

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 And now he is the father slash king.

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 The father provides and protects.

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 You see,

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 Old Testament patriarchy,

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 looked very different.

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 There's a buzzword out there in culture today,

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 and it's patriarchy.

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 But the Old Testament patriarchy

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 was something established by God,

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 and it looked very different

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 than the self-serving patriarchy movement

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 that we can find in today's culture.

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 It's not what God set up.

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 Jesus gave us the picture

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 of what the ultimate patriarch would be.

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 Of course,

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 that word patriarch just means

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 the male head figure

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 of a group of people.

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 And Jesus would be that ultimate patriarch.

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 The one who protects and provides.

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 The one full of justice,

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 self-sacrifice,

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 guidance,

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 and unending love.

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 That is Jesus,

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 the everlasting father.

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 That is Jesus,

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 the patriarch.

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 Jesus shows us

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 what a leader should be.

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 I love that Sarah talked with the children

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 just a little bit ago

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 about the male figureheads in their lives.

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 What are some good things they love about them?

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 Well,

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 every one of us,

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 and I got a couple of shout-outs in there.

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 The coffee one,

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 I don't know about,

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 but

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 every one of us,

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 the male figureheads in our lives,

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 myself included,

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 as one in my family,

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 are flawed.

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 Oftentimes,

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 we do our best,

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 we try,

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 and so often,

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 we fail

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 in what we are trying to achieve,

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 what we're trying to live up to,

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 this standard of what a father

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 or a patriarch

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 should be.

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 And as I said before,

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 that word,

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 like so many other words,

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 can be misused,

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 can be bent

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 and put toward a self-serving purpose,

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 and that should never be the case

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 in God's people.

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 Real patriarchs,

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 according to what God established

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 in the Bible,

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 should always be men of justice,

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 should always be men of self-sacrifice,

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 should be men willing

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 to lend a guiding hand or ear

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 and always full

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 of undying love.

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 That's what Jesus

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 portrayed himself.

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 That's who he was

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 and who he still is today.

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 So the father provides

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 and protects.

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 Let's look in Isaiah chapter 40.

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 It's on the screen

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 if you don't have time

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 to turn there,

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 but he protects his flock

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 like a shepherd.

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 He gathers the lambs

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 in his arms

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 and carries them

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 in the fold of his garment.

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 He gently leads

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 those that are nursing.

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 That's what an everlasting father

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 looks like.

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 That's what a good father

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 looks like,

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 and that's who Jesus is.

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 Isaiah 64 and verse 8.

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 Lord,

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 you are our father.

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 We are the clay,

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 and you are our potter.

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 We are all the work

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 of your hands.

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 This is the picture

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 of Jesus,

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 the everlasting father.

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 Psalm 103.

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 As a father has compassion

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 on his children,

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 so the Lord has compassion

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 on those who fear him.

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 And we try to have compassion

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 on our children,

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 don't we?

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 We want to be men

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 of compassion, fathers.

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 Sometimes we have

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 a short fuse,

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 don't we?

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 Sometimes we feel like

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 we've got to bring

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 the hammer down.

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 And sometimes,

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 of course,

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 stern discipline is necessary,

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 but it should always

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 still come from

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 a place of compassion.

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 That's how God treats us.

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 The Lord has compassion

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 on those who fear him.

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 And then in Matthew,

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 going to the Gospels,

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 we see more pictures

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 of Jesus,

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 God as the father.

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 All things have been

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 entrusted to me

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 by my father,

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 Jesus says.

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 No one knows the son

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 except the father,

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 and no one knows

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 the father,

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 watch this,

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 except the son,

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 and anyone to whom

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 the son desires

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 to reveal him.

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 Do you see how the son

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 and the father

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 are inextricably linked?

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 You can't separate them.

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 The son and the father

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 in this picture

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 of the Trinity

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 are absolutely inseparable.

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 And he can reveal

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 the father

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 through himself

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 to us.

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 Jesus is portrayed

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 as our everlasting father

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 because he knows

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 the father so well.

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 And then what does he say?

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 In the very next verses,

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 he says,

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 come to me.

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 I'll show you the father.

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 All of you who are weary

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 and burdened,

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 and I will give you rest.

00:12:02.360 --> 00:12:03.759
 Take my yoke upon you

00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:04.500
 and learn from me

00:12:04.500 --> 00:12:05.700
 because I am lowly

00:12:05.700 --> 00:12:07.500
 and humble in heart.

00:12:09.680 --> 00:12:10.180
 Man,

00:12:10.259 --> 00:12:11.420
 would God give us

00:12:11.420 --> 00:12:12.019
 fathers

00:12:12.019 --> 00:12:13.160
 and men

00:12:13.160 --> 00:12:14.879
 who would be lowly

00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:15.680
 and humble

00:12:15.680 --> 00:12:16.740
 in heart,

00:12:16.960 --> 00:12:17.980
 in spirit.

00:12:18.800 --> 00:12:20.220
 You will find rest

00:12:20.220 --> 00:12:21.200
 for your souls.

00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:22.660
 It should be

00:12:22.660 --> 00:12:24.360
 that when we run

00:12:24.360 --> 00:12:25.220
 to our fathers,

00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:26.759
 we find rest

00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:27.780
 for our souls.

00:12:28.440 --> 00:12:29.480
 That's what we find

00:12:29.480 --> 00:12:30.740
 when we run to Jesus.

00:12:31.300 --> 00:12:32.120
 That's what we find

00:12:32.120 --> 00:12:33.100
 when we run to God.

00:12:33.420 --> 00:12:33.600
 Why?

00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:34.520
 Because his yoke

00:12:34.520 --> 00:12:35.220
 is easy

00:12:35.220 --> 00:12:36.460
 and his burden

00:12:36.460 --> 00:12:37.560
 is light.

00:12:38.840 --> 00:12:39.640
 And as a father,

00:12:39.740 --> 00:12:40.460
 that's my prayer

00:12:40.460 --> 00:12:41.520
 that God would make me

00:12:41.520 --> 00:12:42.720
 more of a man

00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:43.320
 of compassion,

00:12:43.480 --> 00:12:44.440
 that God would make me

00:12:44.440 --> 00:12:44.860
 someone

00:12:44.860 --> 00:12:46.580
 that people can run to

00:12:46.580 --> 00:12:47.600
 for rest

00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:49.060
 for their souls.

00:12:49.059 --> 00:12:51.979
 A little bit later

00:12:51.979 --> 00:12:53.219
 in the Gospel of Matthew,

00:12:53.379 --> 00:12:54.659
 we read in chapter 23,

00:12:55.099 --> 00:12:56.219
 Do not call anyone

00:12:56.219 --> 00:12:57.459
 on earth your father.

00:12:59.039 --> 00:13:00.159
 Boy, that's interesting.

00:13:00.559 --> 00:13:01.319
 Do not call anyone

00:13:01.319 --> 00:13:02.259
 on earth your father

00:13:02.259 --> 00:13:03.500
 because you have

00:13:03.500 --> 00:13:04.379
 one father

00:13:04.379 --> 00:13:05.559
 who is in heaven.

00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:07.839
 Now, of course,

00:13:07.979 --> 00:13:08.719
 we're not going to say

00:13:08.719 --> 00:13:09.679
 that it's wrong

00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:10.939
 to children

00:13:10.939 --> 00:13:12.219
 to call your dads fathers,

00:13:12.979 --> 00:13:14.239
 but we're recognizing

00:13:14.239 --> 00:13:15.299
 that we're not allowing

00:13:15.299 --> 00:13:16.359
 anyone to take

00:13:16.359 --> 00:13:17.219
 that place

00:13:17.219 --> 00:13:18.619
 that God has

00:13:18.620 --> 00:13:19.779
 as our one

00:13:19.779 --> 00:13:20.980
 true father.

00:13:22.220 --> 00:13:23.019
 You are not

00:13:23.019 --> 00:13:23.460
 to be called

00:13:23.460 --> 00:13:24.399
 instructors either

00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:24.980
 because you have

00:13:24.980 --> 00:13:25.720
 one instructor,

00:13:26.220 --> 00:13:26.759
 the Messiah.

00:13:26.899 --> 00:13:27.679
 Who was the Messiah?

00:13:27.820 --> 00:13:28.820
 Quick quiz, everybody.

00:13:29.100 --> 00:13:29.840
 It's Christmas time.

00:13:29.899 --> 00:13:30.639
 Who was the Messiah?

00:13:31.460 --> 00:13:31.940
 Jesus.

00:13:32.259 --> 00:13:32.799
 That's right.

00:13:35.060 --> 00:13:36.060
 So we see

00:13:36.060 --> 00:13:36.720
 that Jesus

00:13:36.720 --> 00:13:38.419
 and the Father

00:13:38.419 --> 00:13:39.840
 are inseparable.

00:13:41.460 --> 00:13:42.580
 And then in Romans

00:13:42.580 --> 00:13:43.620
 chapter 8,

00:13:44.060 --> 00:13:45.060
 you did not receive

00:13:45.060 --> 00:13:45.960
 a spirit of slavery

00:13:45.960 --> 00:13:47.000
 to fall back into fear.

00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:47.720
 Instead,

00:13:48.019 --> 00:13:48.899
 you receive the spirit

00:13:48.899 --> 00:13:50.019
 of, what's that word?

00:13:50.659 --> 00:13:51.379
 Adoption.

00:13:52.100 --> 00:13:53.740
 By whom we cry out,

00:13:54.200 --> 00:13:54.639
 Abba,

00:13:54.980 --> 00:13:55.659
 Father.

00:13:57.379 --> 00:13:59.399
 This is an endearing term,

00:13:59.519 --> 00:14:00.480
 kind of like daddy.

00:14:01.279 --> 00:14:01.919
 Dad.

00:14:02.639 --> 00:14:03.740
 For a father.

00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:05.980
 So this is the relationship

00:14:05.980 --> 00:14:07.360
 that we can have.

00:14:08.179 --> 00:14:09.240
 The Spirit Himself

00:14:09.240 --> 00:14:10.500
 testifies together

00:14:10.500 --> 00:14:11.419
 with our spirit

00:14:11.419 --> 00:14:12.779
 that we are

00:14:12.779 --> 00:14:14.500
 God's children.

00:14:15.959 --> 00:14:17.360
 2 Corinthians chapter 5,

00:14:17.419 --> 00:14:18.079
 our last one

00:14:18.079 --> 00:14:19.399
 in this section here.

00:14:19.500 --> 00:14:20.799
 Everything is from God

00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:23.139
 who has reconciled us

00:14:23.139 --> 00:14:23.819
 to Himself

00:14:23.819 --> 00:14:25.079
 through Christ

00:14:25.079 --> 00:14:26.459
 and has given us

00:14:26.459 --> 00:14:27.179
 the ministry

00:14:27.179 --> 00:14:28.259
 of reconciliation.

00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:29.259
 Do you understand

00:14:29.259 --> 00:14:30.439
 that the Father

00:14:30.439 --> 00:14:31.980
 provides for us?

00:14:32.100 --> 00:14:33.360
 Everything we have

00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:35.039
 is from God.

00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:35.779
 Now, we don't always

00:14:35.779 --> 00:14:36.559
 give Him the credit

00:14:36.559 --> 00:14:36.980
 for it.

00:14:38.579 --> 00:14:39.899
 Sometimes we like to think

00:14:39.899 --> 00:14:41.120
 that we earned it ourselves.

00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:43.480
 Sometimes we like to think

00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:44.759
 that we've gone out

00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:45.639
 and done the hard work

00:14:45.639 --> 00:14:46.539
 and pulled ourselves up

00:14:46.539 --> 00:14:47.519
 by our bootstraps

00:14:47.519 --> 00:14:48.659
 and then sometimes

00:14:48.659 --> 00:14:50.519
 God has to remind us

00:14:50.519 --> 00:14:52.220
 that we are in the palm

00:14:52.220 --> 00:14:52.940
 of His hand.

00:14:53.320 --> 00:14:54.759
 Everything we have

00:14:54.759 --> 00:14:56.480
 comes from Him.

00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:00.960
 So, Jesus

00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:02.960
 is cast

00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:05.399
 as our everlasting Father.

00:15:06.740 --> 00:15:07.100
 Now,

00:15:07.779 --> 00:15:09.139
 let's look for a moment.

00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:14.220
 at these two concepts here.

00:15:14.299 --> 00:15:15.879
 We have the Father of Israel

00:15:15.879 --> 00:15:18.500
 and the Father of us all.

00:15:19.139 --> 00:15:20.720
 The Father of Israel

00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:22.419
 and the Father of us all.

00:15:22.620 --> 00:15:22.759
 Now,

00:15:23.159 --> 00:15:23.940
 Genesis 49

00:15:23.940 --> 00:15:25.560
 is where we're going to go

00:15:25.560 --> 00:15:28.080
 for the Father of Israel.

00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:29.759
 You don't have to turn there

00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:30.159
 right now.

00:15:30.220 --> 00:15:31.060
 If you want to mark it down

00:15:31.060 --> 00:15:31.779
 and look at it later,

00:15:31.899 --> 00:15:32.779
 you absolutely can.

00:15:33.299 --> 00:15:34.440
 But Genesis 49,

00:15:34.519 --> 00:15:35.060
 verse 10,

00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:35.860
 the scepter

00:15:35.860 --> 00:15:37.379
 will not depart

00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:38.680
 from Judah.

00:15:38.679 --> 00:15:41.059
 What are we talking about

00:15:41.059 --> 00:15:41.439
 when we say

00:15:41.439 --> 00:15:42.159
 the scepter

00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:43.219
 will not depart

00:15:43.219 --> 00:15:44.559
 from Judah?

00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:46.199
 It's that Jesus

00:15:46.199 --> 00:15:48.439
 would be seen

00:15:48.439 --> 00:15:49.639
 as the Father

00:15:49.639 --> 00:15:50.939
 of Israel.

00:15:51.779 --> 00:15:52.419
 Why?

00:15:52.959 --> 00:15:54.099
 Because Jesus

00:15:54.099 --> 00:15:55.239
 is called

00:15:55.239 --> 00:15:55.959
 the Lion

00:15:55.959 --> 00:15:57.620
 of the Tribe

00:15:57.620 --> 00:15:59.719
 of Judah.

00:16:00.500 --> 00:16:01.019
 Some of y'all

00:16:01.019 --> 00:16:01.620
 would know that.

00:16:02.039 --> 00:16:03.000
 It's okay if you didn't.

00:16:03.579 --> 00:16:04.279
 But Jesus

00:16:04.279 --> 00:16:05.279
 is the Father

00:16:05.279 --> 00:16:06.079
 of Israel.

00:16:06.359 --> 00:16:07.240
 He comes from

00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:08.259
 the line of Judah.

00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:10.440
 He is cast

00:16:10.440 --> 00:16:11.639
 as the everlasting

00:16:11.639 --> 00:16:12.379
 Father.

00:16:12.820 --> 00:16:13.379
 And we'll get to

00:16:13.379 --> 00:16:14.039
 what that means

00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:15.000
 in just a moment.

00:16:15.259 --> 00:16:16.360
 But I want to let you know

00:16:16.360 --> 00:16:16.919
 that Jesus

00:16:16.919 --> 00:16:18.519
 is the scepter.

00:16:19.639 --> 00:16:20.720
 What was the scepter?

00:16:20.840 --> 00:16:21.480
 What is a scepter?

00:16:22.580 --> 00:16:23.779
 Something that a

00:16:23.779 --> 00:16:25.740
 king would hold.

00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:26.100
 Right?

00:16:26.460 --> 00:16:27.019
 A scepter

00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:28.000
 is something that

00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:29.480
 the reigning

00:16:29.480 --> 00:16:30.340
 monarch

00:16:30.340 --> 00:16:31.279
 would hold.

00:16:32.779 --> 00:16:34.120
 So the scepter,

00:16:34.740 --> 00:16:36.159
 the royal scepter,

00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:37.379
 would not depart

00:16:37.379 --> 00:16:38.659
 from the tribe

00:16:38.659 --> 00:16:39.159
 of Judah.

00:16:39.159 --> 00:16:40.120
 That was the prophecy

00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:41.419
 all the way back

00:16:41.419 --> 00:16:42.480
 in Genesis 49.

00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:43.500
 And then we get to

00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:44.959
 read throughout.

00:16:45.219 --> 00:16:46.600
 That was smack dab

00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:46.959
 in the middle

00:16:46.959 --> 00:16:47.879
 of the story of Joseph

00:16:47.879 --> 00:16:48.719
 that we just covered

00:16:48.719 --> 00:16:49.399
 a little bit ago.

00:16:51.100 --> 00:16:51.879
 And Judah

00:16:51.879 --> 00:16:52.779
 was one of those

00:16:52.779 --> 00:16:53.759
 brothers of Joseph

00:16:53.759 --> 00:16:54.819
 and the one,

00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:55.959
 the tribe

00:16:55.959 --> 00:16:57.059
 that God chose

00:16:57.059 --> 00:16:58.139
 for the line

00:16:58.139 --> 00:16:58.740
 of Jesus

00:16:58.740 --> 00:16:59.600
 to produce.

00:17:00.139 --> 00:17:01.279
 Jesus came

00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:02.600
 from the line

00:17:02.600 --> 00:17:03.240
 of Judah

00:17:03.240 --> 00:17:04.400
 and the scepter

00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:06.019
 as father

00:17:06.019 --> 00:17:06.960
 of Israel

00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:07.680
 or patriarch

00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:08.640
 of Israel

00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:10.500
 did not depart

00:17:10.500 --> 00:17:12.160
 from the tribe

00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:12.559
 of Judah.

00:17:13.299 --> 00:17:14.359
 But then he is

00:17:14.359 --> 00:17:15.720
 not just the father

00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:16.460
 of Israel.

00:17:17.460 --> 00:17:17.900
 Remember,

00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:19.460
 God expanded

00:17:19.460 --> 00:17:20.120
 his people.

00:17:20.680 --> 00:17:21.400
 He expanded

00:17:21.400 --> 00:17:22.120
 his nation.

00:17:22.700 --> 00:17:23.620
 Now we get

00:17:23.620 --> 00:17:24.180
 to be

00:17:24.180 --> 00:17:25.240
 God's children

00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:25.539
 too.

00:17:26.019 --> 00:17:27.000
 We get to be

00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:27.640
 God's people

00:17:27.640 --> 00:17:28.000
 too.

00:17:28.579 --> 00:17:29.759
 So he is seen

00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:30.480
 as the father

00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:31.400
 of us all.

00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:32.299
 Ephesians chapter

00:17:32.299 --> 00:17:33.360
 four teaches us

00:17:33.360 --> 00:17:34.079
 that there is

00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:35.019
 one God

00:17:35.019 --> 00:17:35.940
 and father

00:17:35.940 --> 00:17:38.200
 of all.

00:17:40.299 --> 00:17:40.819
 So,

00:17:41.620 --> 00:17:42.599
 let's look

00:17:42.599 --> 00:17:43.140
 at what this

00:17:43.140 --> 00:17:44.000
 word father

00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:44.799
 means.

00:17:45.120 --> 00:17:46.120
 Back in Isaiah

00:17:46.120 --> 00:17:46.759
 chapter nine

00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:47.420
 and verse six,

00:17:47.559 --> 00:17:48.440
 we read that

00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:49.079
 he is the

00:17:49.079 --> 00:17:50.019
 everlasting

00:17:50.019 --> 00:17:50.960
 or eternal

00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:51.799
 father.

00:17:52.360 --> 00:17:52.799
 What are we

00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:53.319
 talking about?

00:17:53.860 --> 00:17:54.500
 I swear we're

00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:55.019
 not going to do

00:17:55.019 --> 00:17:56.059
 a language lesson

00:17:56.059 --> 00:17:57.079
 every time I preach

00:17:57.079 --> 00:17:57.539
 from now on,

00:17:57.579 --> 00:17:57.740
 alright?

00:17:58.180 --> 00:17:58.779
 Because we did

00:17:58.779 --> 00:17:59.460
 one last Sunday

00:17:59.460 --> 00:18:00.180
 and I'm just

00:18:00.180 --> 00:18:00.660
 sharing this

00:18:00.660 --> 00:18:01.319
 with you again.

00:18:01.660 --> 00:18:01.940
 Again,

00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:02.420
 I'm not a

00:18:02.420 --> 00:18:03.120
 Hebrew scholar

00:18:03.120 --> 00:18:03.940
 but there are

00:18:03.940 --> 00:18:04.680
 plenty of them

00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:05.059
 out there

00:18:05.059 --> 00:18:05.340
 and I've

00:18:05.340 --> 00:18:05.740
 learned a lot

00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:06.059
 from them.

00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:06.319
 So,

00:18:07.019 --> 00:18:07.779
 this word

00:18:07.779 --> 00:18:09.019
 av-iad,

00:18:10.180 --> 00:18:10.819
 the Hebrew

00:18:10.819 --> 00:18:11.720
 word av

00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:12.680
 means father.

00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:13.220
 What does it

00:18:13.220 --> 00:18:13.460
 mean?

00:18:13.660 --> 00:18:14.480
 We think of

00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:15.440
 father one way

00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:16.559
 in our culture,

00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:17.360
 in our society,

00:18:17.700 --> 00:18:18.720
 but when the

00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:19.360
 Hebrews would

00:18:19.360 --> 00:18:20.039
 have read this

00:18:20.039 --> 00:18:20.319
 word,

00:18:20.420 --> 00:18:20.740
 they would

00:18:20.740 --> 00:18:21.259
 have seen

00:18:21.259 --> 00:18:22.340
 this as the

00:18:22.340 --> 00:18:23.400
 originator and

00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:24.019
 source.

00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:26.980
 So,

00:18:27.220 --> 00:18:27.900
 father meant

00:18:27.900 --> 00:18:28.759
 the originator

00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:29.720
 and source

00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:30.879
 of a group

00:18:30.879 --> 00:18:31.619
 of people.

00:18:33.379 --> 00:18:33.900
 Y'all,

00:18:33.980 --> 00:18:34.759
 this is wild.

00:18:35.539 --> 00:18:35.940
 Jesus,

00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:37.160
 you ready for

00:18:37.160 --> 00:18:37.440
 this,

00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:39.519
 is our originator

00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:40.420
 and source.

00:18:40.920 --> 00:18:41.980
 You could say

00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:42.920
 that Jesus

00:18:42.920 --> 00:18:44.379
 is our founding

00:18:44.379 --> 00:18:45.099
 father.

00:18:45.099 --> 00:18:45.559
 Now,

00:18:45.559 --> 00:18:47.339
 that means

00:18:47.339 --> 00:18:47.859
 something to

00:18:47.859 --> 00:18:48.400
 Americans,

00:18:48.519 --> 00:18:48.920
 doesn't it?

00:18:50.599 --> 00:18:51.160
 Hashtag

00:18:51.160 --> 00:18:51.660
 marka.

00:18:52.619 --> 00:18:53.900
 We love to

00:18:53.900 --> 00:18:54.640
 think back to

00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:55.240
 our founding

00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:55.680
 fathers.

00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:55.759
 fathers.

00:18:55.860 --> 00:18:56.220
 We see

00:18:56.220 --> 00:18:56.820
 God's hand

00:18:56.820 --> 00:18:57.440
 instrumental

00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:58.539
 in how this

00:18:58.539 --> 00:18:59.160
 nation came

00:18:59.160 --> 00:18:59.600
 to be.

00:18:59.900 --> 00:19:00.420
 These great

00:19:00.420 --> 00:19:00.980
 men that he

00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:01.799
 used to see

00:19:01.799 --> 00:19:03.120
 our country

00:19:03.120 --> 00:19:03.640
 founded,

00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:04.000
 were they

00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:04.360
 flawed?

00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:04.960
 Absolutely.

00:19:05.560 --> 00:19:05.759
 But,

00:19:05.840 --> 00:19:06.160
 of course,

00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:06.900
 God used

00:19:06.900 --> 00:19:07.720
 them mightily

00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:08.519
 to see this

00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:09.880
 nation founded

00:19:09.880 --> 00:19:10.480
 where there

00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:10.920
 could be

00:19:10.920 --> 00:19:11.680
 freedom of

00:19:11.680 --> 00:19:12.039
 religion,

00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:12.400
 etc.

00:19:12.560 --> 00:19:12.740
 So,

00:19:12.820 --> 00:19:13.680
 we love to

00:19:13.680 --> 00:19:14.180
 look back

00:19:14.180 --> 00:19:14.680
 and study

00:19:14.680 --> 00:19:15.160
 the lives

00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:15.440
 of our

00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:16.180
 founding fathers,

00:19:16.460 --> 00:19:17.039
 but listen,

00:19:17.160 --> 00:19:17.620
 there is a

00:19:17.620 --> 00:19:18.180
 far,

00:19:18.340 --> 00:19:19.440
 far greater

00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:20.640
 founding father

00:19:20.640 --> 00:19:21.259
 out there.

00:19:21.640 --> 00:19:22.240
 And lest we

00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:22.680
 ever get

00:19:22.680 --> 00:19:23.480
 confused and

00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:24.400
 think that our

00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:25.120
 allegiance is

00:19:25.120 --> 00:19:25.720
 to America

00:19:25.720 --> 00:19:26.180
 first.

00:19:26.320 --> 00:19:26.519
 May I

00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:27.200
 remind you

00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:27.800
 that our

00:19:27.800 --> 00:19:28.500
 allegiance is

00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:29.200
 not of this

00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:29.580
 world.

00:19:29.900 --> 00:19:30.680
 It is to a

00:19:30.680 --> 00:19:32.420
 kingdom that

00:19:32.420 --> 00:19:33.180
 is not of this

00:19:33.180 --> 00:19:33.420
 world.

00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:33.880
 It's to a

00:19:33.880 --> 00:19:34.360
 kingdom that

00:19:34.360 --> 00:19:34.920
 is heavenly.

00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:35.759
 Our

00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:36.420
 allegiance is

00:19:36.420 --> 00:19:36.940
 to God

00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:37.400
 first.

00:19:37.900 --> 00:19:38.019
 We're

00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:38.640
 thankful that

00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:39.019
 he allowed

00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:39.480
 us to be

00:19:39.480 --> 00:19:40.600
 born into

00:19:40.600 --> 00:19:41.200
 this country,

00:19:41.360 --> 00:19:42.000
 many of us,

00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:43.259
 there may be

00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:43.940
 some today who

00:19:43.940 --> 00:19:44.460
 were not born

00:19:44.460 --> 00:19:45.019
 in this country,

00:19:45.360 --> 00:19:45.800
 and we're

00:19:45.800 --> 00:19:46.280
 thankful that

00:19:46.280 --> 00:19:47.000
 this country is

00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:47.620
 here to serve

00:19:47.620 --> 00:19:48.519
 you as much

00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:49.140
 as we can

00:19:49.140 --> 00:19:49.840
 with freedom

00:19:49.840 --> 00:19:50.560
 of religion and

00:19:50.560 --> 00:19:50.940
 freedom of

00:19:50.940 --> 00:19:51.220
 speech,

00:19:51.340 --> 00:19:51.600
 etc.

00:19:51.880 --> 00:19:52.980
 But God

00:19:52.980 --> 00:19:53.820
 has used

00:19:53.820 --> 00:19:54.300
 America,

00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:54.759
 to a

00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:55.160
 point,

00:19:55.400 --> 00:19:55.840
 but there

00:19:55.840 --> 00:19:56.220
 will come

00:19:56.220 --> 00:19:56.680
 a day

00:19:56.680 --> 00:19:57.660
 when America

00:19:57.660 --> 00:19:58.680
 ends.

00:19:59.000 --> 00:19:59.620
 But God's

00:19:59.620 --> 00:20:00.580
 kingdom is

00:20:00.580 --> 00:20:01.320
 everlasting.

00:20:02.040 --> 00:20:02.640
 He is our

00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:03.320
 everlasting

00:20:03.320 --> 00:20:03.920
 father.

00:20:04.180 --> 00:20:04.600
 He is the

00:20:04.600 --> 00:20:05.540
 originator and

00:20:05.540 --> 00:20:08.040
 source of

00:20:08.040 --> 00:20:09.000
 his everlasting

00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:09.920
 kingdom,

00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:11.380
 of which you

00:20:11.380 --> 00:20:12.460
 and I get

00:20:12.460 --> 00:20:13.080
 to be a part.

00:20:13.840 --> 00:20:14.840
 We get to be

00:20:14.840 --> 00:20:15.880
 people in

00:20:15.880 --> 00:20:16.500
 that kingdom.

00:20:16.900 --> 00:20:17.620
 We get to be

00:20:17.620 --> 00:20:18.840
 citizens of

00:20:18.840 --> 00:20:19.540
 that kingdom.

00:20:20.120 --> 00:20:21.120
 Jesus is the

00:20:21.120 --> 00:20:22.180
 founding father

00:20:22.180 --> 00:20:23.540
 of the heavenly

00:20:23.540 --> 00:20:24.019
 kingdom.

00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:24.119
 kingdom.

00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:25.819
 He is our

00:20:25.819 --> 00:20:27.440
 founding father.

00:20:27.619 --> 00:20:28.059
 Ephesians,

00:20:28.339 --> 00:20:28.660
 I'm sorry,

00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:29.079
 Hebrews,

00:20:29.339 --> 00:20:29.759
 the book of

00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:30.139
 Hebrews,

00:20:30.339 --> 00:20:31.160
 chapter 12,

00:20:31.240 --> 00:20:31.599
 the writer

00:20:31.599 --> 00:20:32.039
 says,

00:20:32.420 --> 00:20:33.039
 let us run

00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:33.819
 with endurance

00:20:33.819 --> 00:20:35.019
 the race set

00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:35.599
 before us,

00:20:35.660 --> 00:20:36.379
 looking to

00:20:36.379 --> 00:20:36.879
 Jesus,

00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:38.379
 the founder

00:20:38.379 --> 00:20:40.339
 and protector,

00:20:41.059 --> 00:20:41.740
 perfecter,

00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:42.160
 I'm sorry,

00:20:42.279 --> 00:20:43.740
 of our faith.

00:20:44.059 --> 00:20:45.119
 Jesus is the

00:20:45.119 --> 00:20:46.980
 founder of all

00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:47.599
 of this.

00:20:47.599 --> 00:20:49.459
 He started

00:20:49.459 --> 00:20:52.219
 it way back

00:20:52.219 --> 00:20:53.959
 before any

00:20:53.959 --> 00:20:54.619
 of us

00:20:54.619 --> 00:20:55.719
 ever came

00:20:55.719 --> 00:20:56.079
 around,

00:20:56.599 --> 00:20:57.139
 way back

00:20:57.139 --> 00:20:57.959
 before America,

00:20:58.859 --> 00:20:59.279
 way back

00:20:59.279 --> 00:20:59.819
 before any

00:20:59.819 --> 00:21:00.480
 of this that

00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:01.240
 we know in

00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:01.819
 our world

00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:02.359
 to be,

00:21:02.879 --> 00:21:04.459
 Jesus started

00:21:04.459 --> 00:21:05.179
 it all.

00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:06.939
 It all comes

00:21:06.939 --> 00:21:07.439
 from him.

00:21:08.959 --> 00:21:09.199
 Now,

00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:12.700
 the Jews

00:21:12.700 --> 00:21:13.259
 saw this

00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:13.519
 term

00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:14.000
 father

00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:14.759
 of

00:21:14.759 --> 00:21:15.519
 as

00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:16.100
 originator

00:21:16.100 --> 00:21:16.740
 or source.

00:21:17.240 --> 00:21:18.080
 It was used

00:21:18.080 --> 00:21:18.500
 for the head

00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:19.160
 of a household,

00:21:19.840 --> 00:21:20.200
 the head

00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:20.620
 of a people

00:21:20.620 --> 00:21:20.980
 group,

00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:23.259
 so we can

00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:23.759
 see this

00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:24.420
 word founder

00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:25.480
 as a synonym.

00:21:25.480 --> 00:21:27.079
 You see,

00:21:27.240 --> 00:21:27.799
 Satan is

00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:28.460
 called the

00:21:28.460 --> 00:21:30.059
 father of

00:21:30.059 --> 00:21:30.620
 lies.

00:21:31.460 --> 00:21:32.120
 You could

00:21:32.120 --> 00:21:32.700
 look at him

00:21:32.700 --> 00:21:33.259
 as the

00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:34.079
 founder

00:21:34.079 --> 00:21:35.259
 of lies,

00:21:35.579 --> 00:21:37.079
 but Jesus

00:21:37.079 --> 00:21:38.259
 is the

00:21:38.259 --> 00:21:38.640
 father,

00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:40.120
 the source,

00:21:40.980 --> 00:21:41.880
 the originator

00:21:41.880 --> 00:21:43.259
 or the

00:21:43.259 --> 00:21:43.660
 founder

00:21:43.660 --> 00:21:45.019
 of eternity.

00:21:45.960 --> 00:21:46.660
 He is the

00:21:46.660 --> 00:21:47.579
 founding father

00:21:47.579 --> 00:21:48.640
 of all

00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:49.059
 that is

00:21:49.059 --> 00:21:49.500
 eternal.

00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:50.599
 If you want

00:21:50.599 --> 00:21:51.759
 something that

00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:52.500
 is temporary,

00:21:53.059 --> 00:21:53.680
 look elsewhere,

00:21:54.019 --> 00:21:54.579
 but if you

00:21:54.579 --> 00:21:55.279
 want something

00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:55.639
 that is

00:21:55.639 --> 00:21:56.139
 eternal,

00:21:56.839 --> 00:21:57.299
 look to

00:21:57.299 --> 00:21:57.599
 Jesus.

00:21:58.799 --> 00:21:59.279
 And that's

00:21:59.279 --> 00:21:59.599
 what the

00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:00.599
 writer of

00:22:00.599 --> 00:22:01.240
 Hebrews is

00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:01.960
 encouraging us

00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:02.319
 to do.

00:22:02.700 --> 00:22:03.460
 Run this

00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:04.059
 race set

00:22:04.059 --> 00:22:04.779
 before you

00:22:04.779 --> 00:22:06.379
 looking unto

00:22:06.379 --> 00:22:07.160
 Jesus.

00:22:07.980 --> 00:22:08.399
 He's the

00:22:08.399 --> 00:22:09.680
 founder of

00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:10.220
 our faith.

00:22:11.720 --> 00:22:12.039
 Now,

00:22:12.539 --> 00:22:13.899
 there's another

00:22:13.899 --> 00:22:14.420
 word I'd like

00:22:14.420 --> 00:22:14.899
 to introduce

00:22:14.899 --> 00:22:15.279
 in here.

00:22:16.180 --> 00:22:16.599
 It's the

00:22:16.599 --> 00:22:17.240
 word pioneer.

00:22:19.639 --> 00:22:20.240
 Pioneer

00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:20.779
 means something

00:22:20.779 --> 00:22:21.220
 out here in

00:22:21.220 --> 00:22:21.639
 this neck of

00:22:21.639 --> 00:22:21.920
 the woods,

00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:22.379
 doesn't it?

00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:24.460
 Pioneer is a

00:22:24.460 --> 00:22:25.660
 key part of

00:22:25.660 --> 00:22:26.400
 this society,

00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:27.140
 of this

00:22:27.140 --> 00:22:27.660
 community.

00:22:27.819 --> 00:22:28.360
 Clay County

00:22:28.360 --> 00:22:29.340
 Pioneer Union

00:22:29.340 --> 00:22:29.900
 and Rodeo.

00:22:30.100 --> 00:22:30.519
 How many

00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:31.460
 Clay County

00:22:31.460 --> 00:22:32.299
 pioneers do

00:22:32.299 --> 00:22:32.600
 we have in

00:22:32.600 --> 00:22:32.819
 the room

00:22:32.819 --> 00:22:33.039
 today?

00:22:33.100 --> 00:22:33.600
 Anybody by

00:22:33.600 --> 00:22:34.100
 lifted hand?

00:22:34.620 --> 00:22:35.120
 We actually

00:22:35.120 --> 00:22:35.960
 have plenty

00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:36.460
 of pioneers

00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:36.819
 in here.

00:22:36.860 --> 00:22:37.140
 I thought

00:22:37.140 --> 00:22:37.579
 we would.

00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:39.759
 Somebody

00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:40.340
 explain to

00:22:40.340 --> 00:22:40.779
 me what it

00:22:40.779 --> 00:22:41.200
 takes to

00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:41.720
 be a pioneer.

00:22:41.860 --> 00:22:42.019
 I know

00:22:42.019 --> 00:22:42.259
 you've got

00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:42.720
 to be born

00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:43.220
 here and

00:22:43.220 --> 00:22:43.640
 lived here

00:22:43.640 --> 00:22:44.120
 for a certain

00:22:44.120 --> 00:22:44.460
 amount of

00:22:44.460 --> 00:22:44.779
 time.

00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:46.360
 So we

00:22:46.360 --> 00:22:47.240
 take pioneers

00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:48.259
 seriously here

00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:48.720
 in Clay

00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:49.200
 County.

00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:50.380
 Can I

00:22:50.380 --> 00:22:51.500
 use that

00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:52.220
 term then

00:22:52.220 --> 00:22:53.759
 and explain

00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:54.360
 to you

00:22:54.360 --> 00:22:55.700
 what Hebrews

00:22:55.700 --> 00:22:56.400
 12.2

00:22:56.400 --> 00:22:57.840
 says in

00:22:57.840 --> 00:22:58.240
 the Christian

00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:58.720
 Standard

00:22:58.720 --> 00:22:59.180
 Bible?

00:22:59.559 --> 00:23:00.519
 It uses

00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:01.100
 this word

00:23:01.100 --> 00:23:01.700
 instead when

00:23:01.700 --> 00:23:02.340
 the translators

00:23:02.340 --> 00:23:02.799
 did their

00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:04.160
 work and

00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:04.660
 they came up

00:23:04.660 --> 00:23:05.000
 with this

00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:05.319
 word,

00:23:05.580 --> 00:23:06.100
 keeping our

00:23:06.100 --> 00:23:06.580
 eyes on

00:23:06.580 --> 00:23:06.920
 Jesus,

00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:08.059
 the pioneer

00:23:08.059 --> 00:23:09.580
 and perfecter

00:23:09.580 --> 00:23:10.299
 of our

00:23:10.299 --> 00:23:10.680
 faith.

00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:11.640
 What does

00:23:11.640 --> 00:23:12.120
 a pioneer

00:23:12.120 --> 00:23:12.559
 do?

00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:15.559
 Am I

00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:16.120
 correct in

00:23:16.120 --> 00:23:16.660
 saying that

00:23:16.660 --> 00:23:17.180
 a pioneer

00:23:17.180 --> 00:23:18.080
 walks the

00:23:18.080 --> 00:23:18.840
 road that

00:23:18.839 --> 00:23:19.439
 others are

00:23:19.439 --> 00:23:19.859
 meant to

00:23:19.859 --> 00:23:20.179
 follow?

00:23:21.139 --> 00:23:21.779
 That he

00:23:21.779 --> 00:23:22.720
 goes first

00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:23.879
 and blazes

00:23:23.879 --> 00:23:24.539
 the trail

00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:25.699
 and a

00:23:25.699 --> 00:23:26.599
 pioneer is

00:23:26.599 --> 00:23:27.099
 the one

00:23:27.099 --> 00:23:27.720
 who sets

00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:28.439
 the standard

00:23:28.439 --> 00:23:29.339
 that others

00:23:29.339 --> 00:23:29.959
 can then

00:23:29.959 --> 00:23:30.480
 follow?

00:23:31.699 --> 00:23:32.859
 Jesus did

00:23:32.859 --> 00:23:33.919
 exactly that

00:23:33.919 --> 00:23:34.439
 for you

00:23:34.439 --> 00:23:35.000
 and for me.

00:23:35.679 --> 00:23:36.439
 So we are

00:23:36.439 --> 00:23:37.099
 challenged to

00:23:37.099 --> 00:23:37.599
 keep our

00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:38.319
 eyes on

00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:39.119
 the pioneer.

00:23:39.919 --> 00:23:40.759
 You can't

00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:41.399
 be a pioneer

00:23:41.399 --> 00:23:41.779
 of the

00:23:41.779 --> 00:23:42.539
 Christian faith.

00:23:42.939 --> 00:23:43.299
 You might

00:23:43.299 --> 00:23:43.899
 be a pioneer

00:23:43.899 --> 00:23:44.339
 of Clay

00:23:44.339 --> 00:23:45.240
 County and

00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:45.679
 I applaud

00:23:45.679 --> 00:23:46.019
 you for

00:23:46.019 --> 00:23:46.299
 that.

00:23:46.699 --> 00:23:47.240
 But you

00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:47.980
 cannot be

00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:48.679
 a pioneer

00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:49.080
 of the

00:23:49.080 --> 00:23:49.400
 Christian

00:23:49.400 --> 00:23:49.720
 faith.

00:23:49.820 --> 00:23:50.080
 There was

00:23:50.080 --> 00:23:50.759
 only one

00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:51.440
 and he

00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:51.779
 is the

00:23:51.779 --> 00:23:52.220
 one we

00:23:52.220 --> 00:23:52.720
 are all

00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:53.240
 meant to

00:23:53.240 --> 00:23:53.580
 follow.

00:23:54.340 --> 00:23:54.680
 Jesus

00:23:54.680 --> 00:23:55.440
 is the

00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:55.799
 founder.

00:23:56.320 --> 00:23:56.820
 He is

00:23:56.820 --> 00:23:57.400
 the pioneer

00:23:57.400 --> 00:23:58.440
 of our

00:23:58.440 --> 00:23:58.960
 faith.

00:23:59.940 --> 00:24:00.180
 Now,

00:24:01.019 --> 00:24:01.940
 let's look

00:24:01.940 --> 00:24:02.940
 just a little

00:24:02.940 --> 00:24:04.960
 bit back

00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:05.440
 in Hebrews.

00:24:05.620 --> 00:24:05.960
 We were in

00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:06.539
 Hebrews 12.

00:24:06.660 --> 00:24:07.039
 Let's go to

00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:07.720
 Hebrews 2.

00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:08.640
 In bringing

00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:09.500
 many sons

00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:10.019
 and daughters

00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:10.600
 to glory,

00:24:11.080 --> 00:24:11.680
 it was fitting

00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:12.400
 that God,

00:24:12.779 --> 00:24:13.320
 for whom

00:24:13.320 --> 00:24:13.860
 and through

00:24:13.860 --> 00:24:14.200
 whom

00:24:14.200 --> 00:24:14.640
 everything

00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:15.220
 exists,

00:24:15.420 --> 00:24:16.000
 just as a

00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:16.299
 reminder,

00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:16.860
 all of it

00:24:16.860 --> 00:24:17.259
 came from

00:24:17.259 --> 00:24:17.559
 God,

00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:17.819
 right?

00:24:17.980 --> 00:24:18.619
 It exists

00:24:18.619 --> 00:24:19.160
 for him,

00:24:19.220 --> 00:24:19.700
 it exists

00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:20.359
 by him,

00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:21.279
 through him.

00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:22.599
 And so,

00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:23.039
 in bringing

00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:24.079
 many sons

00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:25.279
 and daughters

00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:26.000
 to glory,

00:24:26.500 --> 00:24:27.220
 it was fitting

00:24:27.220 --> 00:24:27.940
 that God

00:24:27.940 --> 00:24:28.720
 should make

00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.839
 the pioneer

00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:31.319
 of their

00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:32.039
 salvation

00:24:32.039 --> 00:24:33.039
 perfect

00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:34.339
 through what

00:24:34.339 --> 00:24:35.299
 he suffered.

00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:35.900
 I thought

00:24:35.900 --> 00:24:36.420
 Jesus was

00:24:36.420 --> 00:24:37.099
 already perfect.

00:24:37.559 --> 00:24:37.779
 Yes,

00:24:37.859 --> 00:24:38.400
 but this word

00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:38.779
 perfect,

00:24:38.900 --> 00:24:39.339
 when it's read

00:24:39.339 --> 00:24:39.859
 like this

00:24:39.859 --> 00:24:40.460
 in the

00:24:40.460 --> 00:24:40.759
 scriptures,

00:24:40.940 --> 00:24:41.779
 means complete.

00:24:41.779 --> 00:24:42.539
 that this

00:24:42.539 --> 00:24:43.339
 would complete

00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:44.200
 the story,

00:24:45.059 --> 00:24:45.920
 that it

00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:46.420
 would bring

00:24:46.420 --> 00:24:46.839
 it all

00:24:46.839 --> 00:24:47.700
 to an end.

00:24:48.460 --> 00:24:48.879
 Jesus

00:24:48.879 --> 00:24:49.920
 completed

00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:51.279
 the salvation

00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:51.940
 story.

00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:52.799
 Jesus

00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:53.519
 completed

00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:54.240
 all of it.

00:24:54.519 --> 00:24:54.839
 He was

00:24:54.839 --> 00:24:55.420
 the pioneer,

00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:56.319
 he started

00:24:56.319 --> 00:24:56.519
 it,

00:24:56.599 --> 00:24:56.899
 he said,

00:24:57.019 --> 00:24:57.279
 I am the

00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:57.639
 alpha,

00:24:57.980 --> 00:24:58.519
 the beginning,

00:24:59.079 --> 00:25:00.039
 and he said,

00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:00.680
 I am the

00:25:00.680 --> 00:25:01.059
 omega,

00:25:01.539 --> 00:25:02.019
 the end.

00:25:02.200 --> 00:25:02.500
 Jesus

00:25:02.500 --> 00:25:03.039
 was the

00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:03.420
 beginning

00:25:03.420 --> 00:25:04.000
 and the

00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:04.480
 end

00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:05.299
 of our

00:25:05.299 --> 00:25:05.700
 faith.

00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:06.160
 He is

00:25:06.160 --> 00:25:06.759
 our pioneer,

00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:07.720
 he is the

00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:08.379
 one we have

00:25:08.379 --> 00:25:08.819
 to follow.

00:25:08.819 --> 00:25:10.919
 He is the

00:25:10.919 --> 00:25:11.299
 founder,

00:25:12.019 --> 00:25:12.619
 he is the

00:25:12.619 --> 00:25:13.099
 pioneer,

00:25:13.659 --> 00:25:14.339
 and then let

00:25:14.339 --> 00:25:15.119
 me assure

00:25:15.119 --> 00:25:16.159
 you and

00:25:16.159 --> 00:25:16.659
 give you

00:25:16.659 --> 00:25:17.759
 comfort with

00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:18.339
 this last

00:25:18.339 --> 00:25:18.779
 truth,

00:25:19.399 --> 00:25:19.939
 the father

00:25:19.939 --> 00:25:21.019
 king's reign

00:25:21.019 --> 00:25:22.159
 will never

00:25:22.159 --> 00:25:22.919
 end.

00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:24.599
 He is not

00:25:24.599 --> 00:25:25.099
 just called

00:25:25.099 --> 00:25:25.519
 the father,

00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:26.759
 he is called

00:25:26.759 --> 00:25:27.599
 the everlasting

00:25:27.599 --> 00:25:28.240
 father.

00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:29.519
 It will never

00:25:29.519 --> 00:25:29.960
 end.

00:25:30.179 --> 00:25:30.740
 What does that

00:25:30.740 --> 00:25:31.159
 have to do

00:25:31.159 --> 00:25:31.599
 with us?

00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:32.439
 Revelation

00:25:32.439 --> 00:25:33.019
 22,

00:25:33.159 --> 00:25:34.019
 13 reminds

00:25:34.019 --> 00:25:34.299
 us,

00:25:34.460 --> 00:25:35.159
 Jesus said,

00:25:35.579 --> 00:25:36.740
 I am the

00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:37.359
 alpha and

00:25:37.359 --> 00:25:37.740
 omega,

00:25:38.059 --> 00:25:38.779
 the first

00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:39.180
 and the

00:25:39.180 --> 00:25:39.579
 last,

00:25:39.879 --> 00:25:40.460
 the beginning

00:25:40.460 --> 00:25:41.720
 and the

00:25:41.720 --> 00:25:42.160
 end.

00:25:42.460 --> 00:25:42.740
 Let me

00:25:42.740 --> 00:25:44.299
 explain something

00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:44.759
 to you.

00:25:45.079 --> 00:25:45.539
 God's

00:25:45.539 --> 00:25:46.559
 eternality,

00:25:47.700 --> 00:25:48.359
 God's

00:25:48.359 --> 00:25:49.220
 eternality,

00:25:49.319 --> 00:25:49.599
 what do we

00:25:49.599 --> 00:25:49.779
 mean?

00:25:49.819 --> 00:25:50.240
 The fact

00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:50.559
 that he

00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:51.259
 is eternal,

00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:52.299
 the fact

00:25:52.299 --> 00:25:52.539
 that he

00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:53.059
 has no

00:25:53.059 --> 00:25:53.500
 end,

00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:54.700
 affirms

00:25:54.700 --> 00:25:55.240
 his

00:25:55.240 --> 00:25:56.019
 divinity.

00:25:56.779 --> 00:25:57.279
 That means

00:25:57.279 --> 00:25:57.720
 the fact

00:25:57.720 --> 00:25:58.000
 that he

00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:58.759
 is divine,

00:25:59.160 --> 00:25:59.519
 the fact

00:25:59.519 --> 00:25:59.779
 that he

00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:00.500
 is God.

00:26:00.700 --> 00:26:01.119
 So the

00:26:01.119 --> 00:26:01.539
 fact that

00:26:01.539 --> 00:26:01.819
 he is

00:26:01.819 --> 00:26:02.379
 eternal

00:26:02.379 --> 00:26:03.899
 brings us

00:26:03.899 --> 00:26:04.240
 to the

00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:04.660
 fact that

00:26:04.660 --> 00:26:04.960
 he is

00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:05.420
 God.

00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:05.480
 God,

00:26:06.360 --> 00:26:08.980
 so we

00:26:08.980 --> 00:26:09.360
 can get

00:26:09.360 --> 00:26:09.759
 behind

00:26:09.759 --> 00:26:10.160
 somebody

00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:10.759
 like that.

00:26:11.560 --> 00:26:12.240
 We can

00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:12.660
 trust

00:26:12.660 --> 00:26:13.060
 somebody

00:26:13.060 --> 00:26:13.660
 like that.

00:26:14.360 --> 00:26:14.960
 We can

00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:15.240
 put our

00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:15.820
 faith in

00:26:15.820 --> 00:26:16.120
 somebody

00:26:16.120 --> 00:26:16.800
 like that

00:26:16.800 --> 00:26:18.140
 because he's

00:26:18.140 --> 00:26:18.640
 the founder

00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:19.000
 of it.

00:26:19.360 --> 00:26:19.740
 He's the

00:26:19.740 --> 00:26:20.080
 pioneer

00:26:20.080 --> 00:26:20.480
 of it

00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:21.420
 in Philippians

00:26:21.420 --> 00:26:22.220
 1 and

00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:22.740
 verse 6

00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:23.180
 tells us

00:26:23.180 --> 00:26:23.560
 this.

00:26:23.940 --> 00:26:24.240
 Before we

00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:24.580
 get to the

00:26:24.580 --> 00:26:24.860
 takeaway,

00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:25.200
 here we

00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:25.380
 go.

00:26:25.840 --> 00:26:26.019
 Are we

00:26:26.019 --> 00:26:26.200
 there?

00:26:26.519 --> 00:26:26.840
 There we

00:26:26.840 --> 00:26:27.000
 are.

00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:27.740
 I am

00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:28.160
 certain

00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:28.740
 that God,

00:26:28.779 --> 00:26:29.019
 here we

00:26:29.019 --> 00:26:29.220
 go,

00:26:29.220 --> 00:26:30.160
 who began

00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:30.600
 the good

00:26:30.600 --> 00:26:31.339
 work within

00:26:31.339 --> 00:26:31.700
 you,

00:26:32.620 --> 00:26:33.779
 will continue

00:26:33.779 --> 00:26:34.539
 his work

00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:35.660
 until it

00:26:35.660 --> 00:26:36.259
 is finally

00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:37.339
 finished on

00:26:37.339 --> 00:26:37.720
 the day

00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:38.259
 when Christ

00:26:38.259 --> 00:26:39.019
 Jesus returns.

00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:40.259
 He's still

00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:40.799
 working on

00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:41.019
 me.

00:26:41.960 --> 00:26:42.940
 He started

00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:43.220
 it.

00:26:44.059 --> 00:26:44.839
 He started

00:26:44.839 --> 00:26:45.079
 it.

00:26:45.640 --> 00:26:46.140
 He's going

00:26:46.140 --> 00:26:46.620
 to finish

00:26:46.620 --> 00:26:46.819
 it.

00:26:47.640 --> 00:26:48.059
 He's going

00:26:48.059 --> 00:26:48.460
 to finish

00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:48.640
 it.

00:26:49.880 --> 00:26:50.600
 He's the

00:26:50.600 --> 00:26:50.900
 founder.

00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:53.279
 He's the

00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:53.660
 pioneer.

00:26:55.079 --> 00:26:55.839
 And he's

00:26:55.839 --> 00:26:56.339
 everlasting.

00:26:57.420 --> 00:26:57.700
 He's

00:26:57.700 --> 00:26:58.100
 eternal.

00:26:59.220 --> 00:27:00.380
 This is

00:27:00.380 --> 00:27:00.880
 our

00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:01.700
 everlasting

00:27:01.700 --> 00:27:02.460
 father,

00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:03.460
 our

00:27:03.460 --> 00:27:03.900
 protector,

00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:05.000
 our

00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:05.519
 provider,

00:27:06.740 --> 00:27:06.920
 the

00:27:06.920 --> 00:27:07.180
 founder,

00:27:07.360 --> 00:27:07.460
 the

00:27:07.460 --> 00:27:07.819
 pioneer

00:27:07.819 --> 00:27:08.920
 of our

00:27:08.920 --> 00:27:09.220
 faith.

00:27:09.319 --> 00:27:09.579
 So our

00:27:09.579 --> 00:27:10.160
 takeaway this

00:27:10.160 --> 00:27:10.600
 morning is

00:27:10.600 --> 00:27:10.980
 this.

00:27:14.860 --> 00:27:15.779
 Until his

00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:16.420
 work in us

00:27:16.420 --> 00:27:16.980
 is complete,

00:27:17.400 --> 00:27:18.319
 until his

00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:19.180
 work in us

00:27:19.180 --> 00:27:19.900
 is complete,

00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:21.279
 do we

00:27:21.279 --> 00:27:22.079
 find ourselves

00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:22.700
 in obedience

00:27:22.700 --> 00:27:23.900
 to the

00:27:23.900 --> 00:27:24.160
 founding

00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:24.559
 father

00:27:24.559 --> 00:27:25.819
 of our

00:27:25.819 --> 00:27:26.100
 faith?

00:27:28.100 --> 00:27:28.799
 What do

00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:29.099
 mean by

00:27:29.099 --> 00:27:29.399
 this?

00:27:34.339 --> 00:27:35.099
 It means

00:27:35.099 --> 00:27:35.480
 making

00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:36.299
 Jesus the

00:27:36.299 --> 00:27:36.759
 hero of

00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:37.259
 our story.

00:27:39.079 --> 00:27:39.859
 It means

00:27:39.859 --> 00:27:40.859
 submitting to

00:27:40.859 --> 00:27:41.779
 his role

00:27:41.779 --> 00:27:43.299
 and his

00:27:43.299 --> 00:27:43.740
 authority.

00:27:45.259 --> 00:27:46.039
 It means

00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:46.399
 saying,

00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:47.839
 God, I

00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:48.220
 know I've

00:27:48.220 --> 00:27:48.659
 got a lot

00:27:48.659 --> 00:27:49.379
 of preconceived

00:27:49.379 --> 00:27:50.639
 notions on

00:27:50.639 --> 00:27:51.220
 how I ought to

00:27:51.220 --> 00:27:51.599
 live this

00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:51.899
 life.

00:27:53.079 --> 00:27:53.839
 I know I

00:27:53.839 --> 00:27:54.240
 was brought

00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:54.759
 up a certain

00:27:54.759 --> 00:27:55.099
 way.

00:27:55.859 --> 00:27:56.579
 I've heard a

00:27:56.579 --> 00:27:57.159
 lot of things

00:27:57.159 --> 00:27:57.839
 taught to me

00:27:57.839 --> 00:27:58.199
 and I've

00:27:58.199 --> 00:27:58.659
 learned a lot

00:27:58.659 --> 00:27:59.000
 of things

00:27:59.000 --> 00:27:59.359
 in this

00:27:59.359 --> 00:27:59.720
 life.

00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:01.139
 But I'm

00:28:01.139 --> 00:28:01.480
 not going

00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:01.839
 to lean

00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:02.259
 on my

00:28:02.259 --> 00:28:02.619
 own

00:28:02.619 --> 00:28:03.439
 understanding,

00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:04.859
 Proverbs

00:28:04.859 --> 00:28:05.459
 3, 5,

00:28:05.500 --> 00:28:05.919
 and 6.

00:28:06.019 --> 00:28:06.699
 Instead, I'm

00:28:06.699 --> 00:28:07.119
 going to

00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:08.519
 trust in

00:28:08.519 --> 00:28:09.079
 the founder.

00:28:09.720 --> 00:28:10.220
 I'm going

00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:11.039
 to trust in

00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:11.559
 the pioneer.

00:28:12.059 --> 00:28:12.459
 I'm going

00:28:12.459 --> 00:28:13.240
 to trust in

00:28:13.240 --> 00:28:14.059
 my father.

00:28:15.439 --> 00:28:15.659
 I'm going

00:28:15.659 --> 00:28:16.859
 to trust in

00:28:16.859 --> 00:28:17.439
 the Lord

00:28:17.439 --> 00:28:19.439
 to direct

00:28:19.439 --> 00:28:20.539
 my steps,

00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:22.619
 to direct

00:28:22.619 --> 00:28:23.339
 my decision

00:28:23.339 --> 00:28:23.659
 making,

00:28:24.139 --> 00:28:26.179
 to tell me

00:28:26.180 --> 00:28:26.660
 how I

00:28:26.660 --> 00:28:27.000
 ought to

00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:27.340
 think,

00:28:27.620 --> 00:28:28.440
 to tell

00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:28.900
 me what

00:28:28.900 --> 00:28:29.240
 I ought

00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:29.660
 to do.

00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:32.160
 I'm going

00:28:32.160 --> 00:28:32.420
 to give

00:28:32.420 --> 00:28:32.980
 up control.

00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:34.380
 Boy, that's

00:28:34.380 --> 00:28:34.720
 a scary

00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:35.220
 thing, isn't

00:28:35.220 --> 00:28:35.360
 it?

00:28:35.860 --> 00:28:36.240
 We don't

00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:36.680
 like giving

00:28:36.680 --> 00:28:37.200
 up control.

00:28:38.940 --> 00:28:39.580
 But we've

00:28:39.580 --> 00:28:40.060
 got to

00:28:40.060 --> 00:28:41.140
 recognize that

00:28:41.140 --> 00:28:41.620
 our father

00:28:41.620 --> 00:28:42.060
 knows what

00:28:42.060 --> 00:28:42.460
 he's talking

00:28:42.460 --> 00:28:42.759
 about.

00:28:43.440 --> 00:28:44.100
 Our father

00:28:44.100 --> 00:28:44.580
 is the one

00:28:44.580 --> 00:28:44.940
 to whom

00:28:44.940 --> 00:28:45.480
 all this

00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:45.980
 belongs.

00:28:46.360 --> 00:28:46.840
 Our father

00:28:46.840 --> 00:28:47.380
 is the one

00:28:47.380 --> 00:28:47.820
 who's in

00:28:47.820 --> 00:28:48.460
 control of

00:28:48.460 --> 00:28:48.779
 it all.

00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:49.279
 And say,

00:28:49.400 --> 00:28:49.940
 okay, God,

00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:50.700
 it's yours.

00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:51.880
 Maybe this

00:28:51.880 --> 00:28:52.500
 story is not

00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:53.000
 playing out

00:28:53.000 --> 00:28:53.519
 how I thought

00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:53.860
 it would.

00:28:53.859 --> 00:28:56.679
 Maybe things

00:28:56.679 --> 00:28:57.399
 aren't necessarily

00:28:57.399 --> 00:28:58.219
 going how I

00:28:58.219 --> 00:28:58.559
 thought it

00:28:58.559 --> 00:28:58.819
 would.

00:29:00.779 --> 00:29:01.479
 But God,

00:29:02.159 --> 00:29:03.199
 you're my

00:29:03.199 --> 00:29:03.539
 father.

00:29:04.419 --> 00:29:04.919
 So I'm

00:29:04.919 --> 00:29:04.979
 going to

00:29:04.979 --> 00:29:05.519
 obey you.

00:29:07.059 --> 00:29:07.679
 Whatever you

00:29:07.679 --> 00:29:08.079
 tell me to

00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:09.199
 do, that's

00:29:09.199 --> 00:29:09.479
 what I'll

00:29:09.479 --> 00:29:09.659
 do.

00:29:10.439 --> 00:29:11.139
 Whatever door

00:29:11.139 --> 00:29:11.839
 you open, I'll

00:29:11.839 --> 00:29:12.199
 walk through

00:29:12.199 --> 00:29:12.299
 it.

00:29:12.359 --> 00:29:12.859
 Whatever door

00:29:12.859 --> 00:29:14.679
 you close, I'm

00:29:14.679 --> 00:29:15.000
 not going to

00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:15.500
 try to force

00:29:15.500 --> 00:29:15.839
 it open.

00:29:19.079 --> 00:29:19.899
 Whatever hard

00:29:19.899 --> 00:29:21.079
 truth you

00:29:21.079 --> 00:29:21.539
 want me to

00:29:21.539 --> 00:29:21.979
 accept,

00:29:21.980 --> 00:29:24.420
 God, teach

00:29:24.420 --> 00:29:24.660
 me.

00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:26.319
 Teach me

00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:26.680
 as a

00:29:26.680 --> 00:29:26.960
 father.

00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:28.019
 You'll

00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:28.460
 always do

00:29:28.460 --> 00:29:28.860
 it gently.

00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:29.120
 You'll

00:29:29.120 --> 00:29:29.460
 always do

00:29:29.460 --> 00:29:30.200
 it compassionately.

00:29:30.319 --> 00:29:30.480
 You'll

00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:30.920
 always do

00:29:30.920 --> 00:29:31.299
 it full

00:29:31.299 --> 00:29:31.799
 of love.

00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:33.599
 In spite

00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:34.200
 of all

00:29:34.200 --> 00:29:34.759
 those things

00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:35.640
 lacking so

00:29:35.640 --> 00:29:36.099
 much in

00:29:36.099 --> 00:29:36.500
 this world

00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:37.099
 around us,

00:29:37.799 --> 00:29:38.940
 we have a

00:29:38.940 --> 00:29:40.339
 father who

00:29:40.339 --> 00:29:40.819
 will always

00:29:40.819 --> 00:29:41.480
 be a good,

00:29:42.480 --> 00:29:43.039
 perfect,

00:29:43.980 --> 00:29:44.460
 everlasting

00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:45.120
 father to

00:29:45.120 --> 00:29:45.360
 us.

00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:46.200
 Would you

00:29:46.200 --> 00:29:46.480
 bow your

00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:46.740
 heads and

00:29:46.740 --> 00:29:47.039
 pray with

00:29:47.039 --> 00:29:47.180
 me?

00:29:48.099 --> 00:29:48.620
 God, I

00:29:48.620 --> 00:29:49.120
 pray right

00:29:49.120 --> 00:29:49.640
 now for

00:29:49.640 --> 00:29:50.079
 our church.

00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:50.680
 I pray for

00:29:50.680 --> 00:29:51.099
 our people.

00:29:51.099 --> 00:29:51.719
 I pray for

00:29:51.719 --> 00:29:52.459
 your children.

00:29:53.159 --> 00:29:53.519
 I'm not

00:29:53.519 --> 00:29:53.719
 going to

00:29:53.719 --> 00:29:54.159
 assume that

00:29:54.159 --> 00:29:54.699
 every person

00:29:54.699 --> 00:29:55.079
 in this

00:29:55.079 --> 00:29:55.480
 room is

00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:56.019
 your child.

00:29:57.339 --> 00:29:57.859
 Showing up

00:29:57.859 --> 00:29:58.279
 to church

00:29:58.279 --> 00:29:58.639
 doesn't

00:29:58.639 --> 00:29:59.399
 guarantee us

00:29:59.399 --> 00:29:59.959
 a place in

00:29:59.959 --> 00:30:00.579
 your family,

00:30:01.579 --> 00:30:02.839
 but repenting

00:30:02.839 --> 00:30:03.480
 of our sin,

00:30:04.819 --> 00:30:05.399
 turning to

00:30:05.399 --> 00:30:05.899
 Jesus,

00:30:07.919 --> 00:30:08.639
 letting go

00:30:08.639 --> 00:30:09.279
 of control

00:30:09.279 --> 00:30:09.959
 and placing

00:30:09.959 --> 00:30:10.599
 all of our

00:30:10.599 --> 00:30:11.219
 faith in

00:30:11.219 --> 00:30:14.059
 you is

00:30:14.059 --> 00:30:14.659
 what grants

00:30:14.659 --> 00:30:16.259
 us the

00:30:16.259 --> 00:30:16.839
 privilege of

00:30:16.839 --> 00:30:17.279
 being your

00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:17.579
 children.

00:30:17.579 --> 00:30:17.639
 children.

00:30:19.199 --> 00:30:19.659
 So if

00:30:19.659 --> 00:30:19.839
 there's

00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:20.299
 anybody in

00:30:20.299 --> 00:30:20.579
 the room

00:30:20.579 --> 00:30:21.119
 today that

00:30:21.119 --> 00:30:21.419
 says, I

00:30:21.419 --> 00:30:21.679
 need to

00:30:21.679 --> 00:30:22.079
 do that,

00:30:22.119 --> 00:30:22.419
 I need to

00:30:22.419 --> 00:30:22.799
 make that

00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:23.740
 decision, I

00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:23.960
 need to

00:30:23.960 --> 00:30:24.379
 place my

00:30:24.379 --> 00:30:24.779
 faith in

00:30:24.779 --> 00:30:25.399
 Jesus right

00:30:25.399 --> 00:30:25.819
 now before

00:30:25.819 --> 00:30:26.159
 I leave

00:30:26.159 --> 00:30:26.579
 this room,

00:30:26.759 --> 00:30:27.119
 would you

00:30:27.119 --> 00:30:27.419
 slip your

00:30:27.419 --> 00:30:27.839
 hand up and

00:30:27.839 --> 00:30:28.099
 I'll pray

00:30:28.099 --> 00:30:28.439
 for you?

00:30:29.220 --> 00:30:29.740
 Pray for

00:30:29.740 --> 00:30:30.220
 you first.

00:30:32.460 --> 00:30:33.059
 Thank you.

00:30:34.419 --> 00:30:34.919
 Thank you.

00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:35.179
 You can put

00:30:35.179 --> 00:30:35.699
 your hand down.

00:30:36.939 --> 00:30:37.519
 God, I pray

00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:38.079
 for the one

00:30:38.079 --> 00:30:38.879
 who's thinking

00:30:38.879 --> 00:30:39.659
 right now that

00:30:39.659 --> 00:30:41.500
 they need to

00:30:41.500 --> 00:30:42.000
 put their faith

00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:42.699
 in Jesus and

00:30:42.699 --> 00:30:43.159
 become your

00:30:43.159 --> 00:30:43.480
 child.

00:30:43.480 --> 00:30:43.980
 I pray that

00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:44.259
 you would

00:30:44.259 --> 00:30:44.799
 give them

00:30:44.799 --> 00:30:47.099
 the understanding,

00:30:47.960 --> 00:30:48.519
 give them the

00:30:48.519 --> 00:30:49.000
 grace to be

00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:49.440
 able to say,

00:30:49.579 --> 00:30:51.079
 yes, I know

00:30:51.079 --> 00:30:51.579
 I'm a sinner.

00:30:51.779 --> 00:30:52.420
 I repent of

00:30:52.420 --> 00:30:52.880
 my sin.

00:30:53.360 --> 00:30:54.059
 I know Jesus

00:30:54.059 --> 00:30:55.019
 died for that

00:30:55.019 --> 00:30:55.279
 sin.

00:30:55.380 --> 00:30:56.000
 He rose from

00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:56.360
 the dead.

00:30:56.579 --> 00:30:57.140
 He can hear

00:30:57.140 --> 00:30:57.299
 me.

00:30:57.380 --> 00:30:57.920
 He's alive.

00:30:58.019 --> 00:30:58.480
 He hears me

00:30:58.480 --> 00:30:59.039
 when I pray.

00:31:00.039 --> 00:31:00.680
 And right now

00:31:00.680 --> 00:31:00.940
 I'm going to

00:31:00.940 --> 00:31:01.460
 ask him to

00:31:01.460 --> 00:31:02.180
 cleanse me from

00:31:02.180 --> 00:31:02.620
 my sin,

00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:03.200
 wash him

00:31:03.200 --> 00:31:05.200
 clean forever.

00:31:06.019 --> 00:31:06.400
 Make me

00:31:06.400 --> 00:31:06.980
 your child.

00:31:08.099 --> 00:31:08.779
 And then be

00:31:08.779 --> 00:31:09.380
 that good

00:31:09.380 --> 00:31:10.200
 father to us.

00:31:11.839 --> 00:31:12.660
 The son of

00:31:12.660 --> 00:31:13.079
 God and

00:31:13.079 --> 00:31:13.480
 God the

00:31:13.480 --> 00:31:14.759
 father cannot

00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:15.639
 be separated.

00:31:16.379 --> 00:31:16.799
 And Jesus

00:31:16.799 --> 00:31:18.720
 knows how to

00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:19.339
 be the father

00:31:19.339 --> 00:31:20.099
 to his people.

00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:22.240
 We get to

00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:22.899
 be his people.

00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:24.619
 God, I thank

00:31:24.619 --> 00:31:24.980
 you for that

00:31:24.980 --> 00:31:25.319
 privilege.

00:31:25.839 --> 00:31:26.299
 Thank you for

00:31:26.299 --> 00:31:28.039
 that truth that

00:31:28.039 --> 00:31:28.539
 we can take

00:31:28.539 --> 00:31:28.819
 through the

00:31:28.819 --> 00:31:29.439
 Christmas time

00:31:29.439 --> 00:31:29.779
 and say,

00:31:29.839 --> 00:31:30.379
 God, I give

00:31:30.379 --> 00:31:30.559
 up.

00:31:30.619 --> 00:31:31.199
 I surrender.

00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:32.619
 I let go.

00:31:33.460 --> 00:31:34.039
 You be my

00:31:34.039 --> 00:31:34.299
 father.

00:31:34.399 --> 00:31:34.859
 You make the

00:31:34.859 --> 00:31:35.259
 decisions.

00:31:38.079 --> 00:31:38.619
 Church, how

00:31:38.619 --> 00:31:38.899
 many of you

00:31:38.899 --> 00:31:39.460
 would by lifted

00:31:39.460 --> 00:31:39.919
 hands say,

00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:40.319
 would you pray

00:31:40.319 --> 00:31:40.619
 for me?

00:31:40.679 --> 00:31:41.199
 I've got something

00:31:41.199 --> 00:31:41.659
 on my heart

00:31:41.659 --> 00:31:42.199
 this morning I

00:31:42.199 --> 00:31:42.759
 need prayer for.

00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:43.960
 You slip your

00:31:43.960 --> 00:31:44.379
 hand up right

00:31:44.379 --> 00:31:44.740
 now and pray

00:31:44.740 --> 00:31:45.059
 for you.

00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:45.699
 Thank you.

00:31:46.079 --> 00:31:46.460
 Thank you.

00:31:47.179 --> 00:31:47.619
 Thank you.

00:31:48.559 --> 00:31:49.099
 Thank you.

00:31:51.419 --> 00:31:52.079
 God, I pray

00:31:52.079 --> 00:31:52.720
 for those that

00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:53.079
 raised their

00:31:53.079 --> 00:31:53.599
 hand and many

00:31:53.599 --> 00:31:54.399
 others who are

00:31:54.399 --> 00:31:55.519
 in the midst

00:31:55.519 --> 00:31:56.079
 of prayer right

00:31:56.079 --> 00:31:56.319
 now.

00:31:56.439 --> 00:31:57.679
 And I just

00:31:57.679 --> 00:31:58.139
 ask that you

00:31:58.139 --> 00:31:58.879
 would step in,

00:31:59.059 --> 00:31:59.399
 that you would

00:31:59.399 --> 00:32:00.259
 reveal your truth

00:32:00.259 --> 00:32:00.899
 in our minds.

00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:02.059
 Our minds are

00:32:02.059 --> 00:32:02.599
 so weak.

00:32:02.980 --> 00:32:03.419
 We think

00:32:03.419 --> 00:32:04.039
 sometimes we've

00:32:04.039 --> 00:32:04.439
 got it all

00:32:04.439 --> 00:32:05.019
 figured out and

00:32:05.019 --> 00:32:05.379
 we don't.

00:32:05.380 --> 00:32:07.720
 help us to

00:32:07.720 --> 00:32:08.200
 remember that

00:32:08.200 --> 00:32:08.640
 we are the

00:32:08.640 --> 00:32:09.260
 children, you

00:32:09.260 --> 00:32:09.560
 are the

00:32:09.560 --> 00:32:09.900
 father.

00:32:11.160 --> 00:32:11.680
 Help us to

00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:12.720
 submit to

00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:13.320
 your authority,

00:32:13.740 --> 00:32:14.500
 your leadership

00:32:14.500 --> 00:32:15.160
 in our lives.

00:32:16.920 --> 00:32:17.620
 It's in Jesus'

00:32:17.820 --> 00:32:18.180
 name we pray.

00:32:18.980 --> 00:32:19.260
 Amen.

00:32:19.900 --> 00:32:20.400
 Church, would

00:32:20.400 --> 00:32:20.980
 you join us in

00:32:20.980 --> 00:32:21.500
 standing if you're

00:32:21.500 --> 00:32:21.820
 able to?

00:32:21.880 --> 00:32:22.360
 If you'd like to

00:32:22.360 --> 00:32:22.980
 keep your seats

00:32:22.980 --> 00:32:23.760
 and be in

00:32:23.760 --> 00:32:24.520
 prayer, that's

00:32:24.520 --> 00:32:25.300
 absolutely fine.

00:32:25.500 --> 00:32:26.060
 If you'd like to

00:32:26.060 --> 00:32:26.720
 come down here and

00:32:26.720 --> 00:32:27.720
 use these steps to

00:32:27.720 --> 00:32:28.880
 kneel and just do

00:32:28.880 --> 00:32:29.740
 some private prayer,

00:32:29.880 --> 00:32:30.560
 that's absolutely

00:32:30.560 --> 00:32:30.880
 fine.

00:32:30.940 --> 00:32:31.360
 If you'd like to

00:32:31.360 --> 00:32:31.960
 come talk to me

00:32:31.960 --> 00:32:32.900
 down front, I'm

00:32:32.900 --> 00:32:33.640
 available for that.

00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:34.120
 If you'd like to

00:32:34.120 --> 00:32:34.960
 think about joining

00:32:34.960 --> 00:32:36.100
 this church or

00:32:36.100 --> 00:32:36.760
 placing your faith

00:32:36.760 --> 00:32:37.580
 in Jesus, being

00:32:37.580 --> 00:32:38.360
 baptized, whatever

00:32:38.360 --> 00:32:39.060
 God's put on your

00:32:39.060 --> 00:32:40.060
 heart, let's just

00:32:40.060 --> 00:32:40.740
 spend a couple of

00:32:40.740 --> 00:32:41.360
 minutes before we

00:32:41.360 --> 00:32:42.140
 dismiss this morning

00:32:42.140 --> 00:32:43.460
 doing business with

00:32:43.460 --> 00:32:43.720
 God.