WEBVTT

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 God, thank you so much for your presence.

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 God, thank you for your word, the Bible.

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 And as you have throughout the history,

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 throughout time, you've spoken to your people.

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 God, I pray that once again you would speak to us,

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 that we might not just hear my words today,

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 but that we would actually hear from you.

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 Those who know you and are so familiar

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 with the Christmas story

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 might have a fresh encounter with you.

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 And that those who are still wrestling or struggling

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 or just not even believing that you're real.

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 God, in your love and mercy,

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 would you do what only you can do

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 and reveal yourself to us,

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 that every one of us in this room

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 would know you personally and intimately

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 in a way that sets us free and brings us to life.

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 In Jesus' name, amen.

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 Please be seated.

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 Have you ever walked into a room

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 in the middle of a story

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 and found that what you're hearing

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 is extremely bizarre?

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 And you kind of like make a face

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 or maybe you say something

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 and they're like,

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 oh no, you don't understand.

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 And you realize that

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 coming into the middle of a story,

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 you've misunderstood what you're hearing.

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 Or have you ever thought that

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 you found that you really thought

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 you totally understood what was happening,

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 but then once you find out that,

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 again, you walked in the middle of a story,

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 that there's actually so much more depth

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 and vibrancy to a story

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 than you thought you knew.

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 Well, that has definitely been

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 a real experience for me.

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 And I believe it's actually an experience

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 that every one of us experiences

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 every year at Christmastime,

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 though many of us don't even know it.

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 And that's because if you were to ask someone,

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 what's the beginning of the Christmas story?

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 They might start with the angel

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 appearing to Mary

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 and telling her about

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 how she is soon to conceive

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 a miraculous child, God's own son.

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 Or maybe those who really know their Bibles

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 will start with the scene

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 where Mary's cousin-in-law was in the temple.

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 He's a priest.

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 An angel comes to him

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 and tells him about his wife

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 coming pregnant with John the Baptist

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 as the child.

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 So there might be various ways

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 that you start the Christmas story,

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 but we always start with the New Testament,

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 with the Gospels accounts.

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 However, if that's how we tell the Christmas story,

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 we're actually starting

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 in the middle of the story.

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 And as a result,

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 either we're misunderstanding

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 what the Christmas is all about,

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 or though we might get it,

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 it is so much smaller

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 than the real vibrant story of Christmas

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 if we were only to start at the beginning.

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 And so today I'm going to be preaching

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 a Christmas message

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 from a page of the Bible

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 that I've never heard

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 a Christmas message from.

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 So if you have your Bibles,

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 turn to Nehemiah 13.

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 You might have trouble finding it.

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 No shade thrown your way.

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 Nehemiah is found

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 in the first half of the Bible,

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 a bit before Psalms.

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 It's before Job.

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 It's before Esther.

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 Right before Esther.

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 You can find it.

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 Or you can just go to the index

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 at the start of your Bible.

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 It's a rare book.

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 What you might not be familiar

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 with the fact that Nehemiah,

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 though it's in the middle

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 of the Old Testament,

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 it's actually the final pages

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 of the Old Testament.

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 The Old Testament has historical books,

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 and it has poetry,

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 it has prophecy,

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 but Nehemiah is the final,

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 it takes place as the final moments

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 in the history of the Old Testament.

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 So the final words of Nehemiah

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 are the final moments

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 of the Old Testament.

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 And so I'm going to be preaching

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 from the final moments

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 of the book of Nehemiah,

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 which is the final moments

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 of the Old Testament,

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 but if we're really going to try

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 to start not at the middle

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 of a story,

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 we really should back up

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 to the very beginning.

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 Many of you will be familiar

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 with the account

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 that the Bible tells us,

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 that at the very beginning

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 of a time,

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 there was a being named God

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 who created the universe.

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 And he created it

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 in perfect harmony,

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 that there was no decay,

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 there was no despair,

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 there was no death.

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 Everything was in harmony.

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 But humankind rebelled

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 against this good and loving God,

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 and in so doing,

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 we broke the universe,

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 and introduced decay,

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 and grudges,

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 and gossip,

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 and lies,

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 and mistrust,

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 and even death.

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 And that not only

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 did we break the universe,

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 but in our rebellion,

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 the good and loving,

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 just judge of the whole earth,

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 God,

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 pronounced judgment

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 and a curse

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 upon all that is.

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 But beautifully

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 and mercifully,

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 in the very moment

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 that he pronounces this curse,

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 judgment upon the universe,

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 he gives a promise.

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 He promises that he will

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 restore harmony

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 to the earth.

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 We get this little glimpse

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 of this promise.

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 And then as the story,

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 the true story

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 of the Bible unfolds,

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 you see that God

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 brings more and more clarity

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 as to how he's going to

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 restore harmony

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 and love to the world.

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 Part of the breaking

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 of the universe

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 was in our rebellion,

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 in our sin against God,

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 because he's pure

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 and we've defiled ourselves,

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 there's this distance

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 between us and God.

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 That before,

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 humankind used to walk with God,

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 but now he's invisible to us,

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 for he's too pure

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 for our broken eyes to see.

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 And so as the story

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 of the Bible unfolds,

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 we see,

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 and this isn't myth

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 or legend,

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 but we see in real history

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 that God called

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 a people to himself,

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 a people group,

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 the people of Israel.

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 And he gave the people

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 of Israel

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 his holy ways

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 of harmony and love.

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 And more than anything,

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 he not only gave them

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 his ways,

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 his good laws,

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 he not only gave them

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 a good country to have,

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 but the most significant

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 and special thing,

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 most magnificent of all,

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 which made them

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 the holy people,

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 is that he gave them

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 his presence.

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 And so in the center

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 of Israel,

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 there was a temple.

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 And in the temple,

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 there was not an idol

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 to remind them of a God,

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 but rather the very presence

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 of God himself

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 in a very thick and real way.

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 And yet the people of God,

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 the people of Israel,

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 as you can read

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 through the Bible,

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 they continue to rebel

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 against them

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 and defile themselves

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 and do horrific things.

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 And they end up

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 offering children

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 burning up the children

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 as a worship to God,

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 which is a horrific,

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 ungodly practice.

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 And they do all manner

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 of evil things.

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 And God is a good God,

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 a just God.

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 And so he continues

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 to call them

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 to turn away from that.

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 And as he does,

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 he warns them,

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 if they are not

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 to walk in God's ways

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 of love and harmony

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 and justice,

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 that he will punish them,

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 that he will remove them

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 from their land,

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 that he will take away

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 his presence from them.

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 And over time,

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 he finally did that.

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 And it's recorded in history

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 that the Babylonian kingdom

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 ripped the people of Israel

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 from the land,

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 took them from Jerusalem,

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 and they destroyed the temple.

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 And it's recorded for us

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 in the Bible

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 that God removed his presence

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 from the temple,

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 from his people.

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 But along the way,

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 even in the warnings

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 of judgment,

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 even before judgment came,

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 God includes in those warnings

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 his tender love

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 toward them

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 and all the earth,

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 saying that even though

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 he would judge them,

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 even though he would punish

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 the people of Israel,

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 he will restore

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 not only the people

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 of Israel to the land,

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 but also that he will bring

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 healing to the whole earth.

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 And most significant of all,

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 that he will restore

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 his presence to his people,

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 that he will bring the people

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 back to Israel,

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 and that he will restore

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 his presence in the temple

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 and throughout all the earth.

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 And so along the way,

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 we finally get to the book

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 of Nehemiah,

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 the final historical book

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 in the Bible,

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 in the Old Testament,

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 and what we see here

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 is that there are

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 three great leaders.

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 First Zerubbabel,

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 then a man named Ezra,

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 and then Nehemiah,

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 of whom this book is named.

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 Zerubbabel was a priest

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 and he helped rebuild

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 a broken temple.

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 And then Ezra was a scribe

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 and he helped call the people

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 back to holiness

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 and to knowing God's ways.

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 And then came Nehemiah.

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 He's the most vibrant of all.

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 And he helped them rebuild

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 the wall of Jerusalem.

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 And he not only helped them

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 rebuild the wall

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 to reestablish the city of God,

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 but he calls the people

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 to holiness.

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 And this book is so upbeat.

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 If you haven't read it,

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 I recommend it.

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 You see that in record time

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 the people come together

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 and rebuild the wall.

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 And then he calls the people

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 back to the holy feasts

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 and they have this incredible,

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 massive celebration

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 of the Passover.

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 And he calls the people

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 to repentance.

00:08:13.719 --> 00:08:14.299
 And the people,

00:08:14.459 --> 00:08:15.319
 with one voice,

00:08:15.620 --> 00:08:16.839
 confess their sin.

00:08:17.179 --> 00:08:17.979
 It's beautiful,

00:08:18.179 --> 00:08:18.779
 it's humble,

00:08:18.919 --> 00:08:19.739
 and it's holy.

00:08:20.040 --> 00:08:21.040
 And then the people

00:08:21.040 --> 00:08:22.360
 not only confess their sin,

00:08:22.420 --> 00:08:23.620
 but they covenant themselves

00:08:23.620 --> 00:08:24.379
 afresh to God

00:08:24.379 --> 00:08:24.780
 and say,

00:08:24.819 --> 00:08:26.019
 God, we will follow you.

00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:27.699
 We will observe your holy ways.

00:08:27.780 --> 00:08:28.780
 We will do the Sabbath

00:08:28.780 --> 00:08:30.100
 and we will love you.

00:08:30.120 --> 00:08:30.740
 And they turn away

00:08:30.740 --> 00:08:31.620
 from their defilements.

00:08:31.639 --> 00:08:33.159
 And there's so much hope.

00:08:33.320 --> 00:08:34.259
 And if that's not enough,

00:08:34.320 --> 00:08:35.620
 the people gather together

00:08:35.620 --> 00:08:37.320
 and they sing worship.

00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:39.220
 They declare their love for God

00:08:39.220 --> 00:08:40.019
 through song.

00:08:40.060 --> 00:08:40.919
 And it's so loud.

00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:42.639
 It says that the noise of Jerusalem

00:08:42.639 --> 00:08:44.159
 was heard very far away.

00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:45.440
 That's how loud they sang.

00:08:46.779 --> 00:08:47.419
 Thank you.

00:08:47.419 --> 00:08:48.740
 And so,

00:08:48.919 --> 00:08:50.099
 there's so much hope.

00:08:50.579 --> 00:08:51.299
 And then we come

00:08:51.299 --> 00:08:52.179
 to the final pages

00:08:52.179 --> 00:08:53.579
 of this hope-filled book,

00:08:53.659 --> 00:08:54.959
 the final pages

00:08:54.959 --> 00:08:55.839
 of the Old Testament.

00:08:56.759 --> 00:08:57.099
 And yet,

00:08:57.219 --> 00:08:58.240
 it all just crumbles

00:08:58.240 --> 00:08:59.279
 in Nehemiah's hand.

00:09:00.519 --> 00:09:01.559
 Nehemiah discovers

00:09:01.559 --> 00:09:02.899
 that the priests,

00:09:03.059 --> 00:09:04.299
 that people aren't giving

00:09:04.299 --> 00:09:05.279
 to the priests

00:09:05.279 --> 00:09:05.799
 in the temple

00:09:05.799 --> 00:09:08.299
 the food that they're deserved.

00:09:08.419 --> 00:09:09.079
 And so the priests

00:09:09.079 --> 00:09:09.959
 have gone away

00:09:09.959 --> 00:09:11.319
 and that the temple

00:09:11.319 --> 00:09:12.079
 is forsaken

00:09:12.079 --> 00:09:13.299
 and that the people

00:09:13.299 --> 00:09:14.360
 aren't following God's ways.

00:09:14.399 --> 00:09:15.679
 And he begins to panic.

00:09:16.279 --> 00:09:16.839
 Verse 10,

00:09:16.840 --> 00:09:18.100
 Nehemiah writes,

00:09:18.519 --> 00:09:19.379
 I also found out

00:09:19.379 --> 00:09:20.060
 that the portions

00:09:20.060 --> 00:09:20.720
 of the Levites

00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:21.820
 had not been given to them

00:09:21.820 --> 00:09:22.740
 so that the Levites,

00:09:22.820 --> 00:09:23.300
 the priests,

00:09:23.379 --> 00:09:23.920
 and the singers

00:09:23.920 --> 00:09:25.379
 who did the work of God

00:09:25.379 --> 00:09:26.740
 had fled each to his field.

00:09:27.100 --> 00:09:28.620
 So I confronted the officials

00:09:28.620 --> 00:09:28.940
 and said,

00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:31.660
 why is the house of God forsaken?

00:09:32.680 --> 00:09:33.759
 And I gathered them together

00:09:33.759 --> 00:09:35.000
 and set them in their stations.

00:09:36.040 --> 00:09:37.100
 Go down to verse 14.

00:09:37.480 --> 00:09:38.220
 Remember me,

00:09:38.280 --> 00:09:38.860
 oh my God,

00:09:38.940 --> 00:09:39.800
 concerning this

00:09:39.800 --> 00:09:40.820
 and do not wipe out

00:09:40.820 --> 00:09:41.940
 my good deeds

00:09:41.940 --> 00:09:42.620
 that I have done

00:09:42.620 --> 00:09:43.519
 for the house of my God,

00:09:43.580 --> 00:09:43.980
 the temple,

00:09:44.259 --> 00:09:45.100
 and for his service.

00:09:45.980 --> 00:09:46.740
 In those days,

00:09:46.800 --> 00:09:47.600
 I saw in Judah

00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:49.180
 people treading wine presses

00:09:49.180 --> 00:09:49.879
 on the Sabbath.

00:09:50.040 --> 00:09:51.659
 They're violating the Holy Sabbath.

00:09:53.019 --> 00:09:54.680
 Down to verse 17.

00:09:54.899 --> 00:09:55.779
 Then I confronted

00:09:55.779 --> 00:09:56.840
 the nobles of Judah

00:09:56.840 --> 00:09:57.560
 and said to them,

00:09:57.700 --> 00:09:59.399
 why is this evil thing

00:09:59.399 --> 00:10:00.340
 that you are doing

00:10:00.340 --> 00:10:01.519
 profaning the Sabbath?

00:10:01.639 --> 00:10:02.680
 What is this evil thing

00:10:02.680 --> 00:10:03.159
 that you're doing

00:10:03.159 --> 00:10:03.960
 profaning the Sabbath?

00:10:04.379 --> 00:10:05.360
 Did not your fathers

00:10:05.360 --> 00:10:06.220
 act in this way

00:10:06.220 --> 00:10:07.019
 and did not our God

00:10:07.019 --> 00:10:08.420
 bring all this disaster

00:10:08.420 --> 00:10:09.100
 on us

00:10:09.100 --> 00:10:10.200
 and on this city,

00:10:10.440 --> 00:10:10.779
 Jerusalem?

00:10:10.779 --> 00:10:12.039
 Now you are bringing

00:10:12.039 --> 00:10:12.959
 more wrath,

00:10:13.279 --> 00:10:13.899
 more judgment

00:10:13.899 --> 00:10:14.500
 on Israel

00:10:14.500 --> 00:10:16.120
 by profaning the Sabbath.

00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:17.759
 He continues on

00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:19.199
 writing about

00:10:19.199 --> 00:10:20.039
 the horrific things

00:10:20.039 --> 00:10:20.399
 going on

00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:20.899
 and how he's trying

00:10:20.899 --> 00:10:21.740
 to fight against it.

00:10:22.419 --> 00:10:23.399
 In verse 25,

00:10:23.659 --> 00:10:24.279
 he writes about

00:10:24.279 --> 00:10:25.439
 how the people

00:10:25.439 --> 00:10:27.000
 of God

00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:28.720
 have married foreigners

00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:29.600
 who do not believe

00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:30.019
 in God

00:10:30.019 --> 00:10:31.120
 and this is one

00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:31.720
 of the practices

00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:32.480
 that actually led

00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:33.319
 originally to them

00:10:33.319 --> 00:10:33.959
 being removed

00:10:33.959 --> 00:10:34.559
 from the land

00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:35.480
 and he's panicking

00:10:35.480 --> 00:10:36.399
 over seeing the people

00:10:36.399 --> 00:10:36.939
 turning back

00:10:36.939 --> 00:10:38.059
 to these evil things.

00:10:39.319 --> 00:10:40.079
 In verse 25,

00:10:40.080 --> 00:10:41.120
 and I confronted them

00:10:41.120 --> 00:10:42.259
 and cursed them

00:10:42.259 --> 00:10:43.900
 and beat some of them

00:10:43.900 --> 00:10:44.740
 and pulled out

00:10:44.740 --> 00:10:45.440
 their hair.

00:10:46.120 --> 00:10:46.540
 He didn't just

00:10:46.540 --> 00:10:47.300
 pull on their hair,

00:10:47.460 --> 00:10:48.180
 he pulled out

00:10:48.180 --> 00:10:48.660
 their hair

00:10:48.660 --> 00:10:49.860
 and I made them

00:10:49.860 --> 00:10:50.680
 take an oath

00:10:50.680 --> 00:10:51.980
 in the name of God

00:10:51.980 --> 00:10:52.200
 saying,

00:10:52.460 --> 00:10:53.300
 you shall not give

00:10:53.300 --> 00:10:53.820
 your daughters

00:10:53.820 --> 00:10:54.480
 to their sons

00:10:54.480 --> 00:10:55.500
 or take their daughters

00:10:55.500 --> 00:10:56.020
 for your sons

00:10:56.020 --> 00:10:56.720
 or for yourselves.

00:10:57.360 --> 00:10:58.120
 Did not Solomon,

00:10:58.300 --> 00:10:58.800
 king of Israel,

00:10:58.940 --> 00:10:59.560
 sin on account

00:10:59.560 --> 00:11:00.520
 of such women?

00:11:00.800 --> 00:11:02.000
 Among the many nations,

00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:02.759
 there was no king

00:11:02.759 --> 00:11:03.320
 like him

00:11:03.320 --> 00:11:04.180
 and he was beloved

00:11:04.180 --> 00:11:05.020
 by his God

00:11:05.020 --> 00:11:05.860
 and God made him

00:11:05.860 --> 00:11:06.960
 king over all Israel.

00:11:07.259 --> 00:11:07.620
 Nevertheless,

00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:08.700
 foreign women

00:11:08.700 --> 00:11:10.300
 made even him

00:11:10.300 --> 00:11:10.800
 to sin.

00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:11.720
 Shall we then

00:11:11.720 --> 00:11:12.440
 listen to you

00:11:12.440 --> 00:11:13.259
 and do all this

00:11:13.259 --> 00:11:13.740
 great evil

00:11:13.740 --> 00:11:15.160
 and act treacherously

00:11:15.160 --> 00:11:16.000
 against our God

00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:17.140
 by marrying foreign women?

00:11:18.340 --> 00:11:19.720
 You hear Nehemiah's

00:11:19.720 --> 00:11:21.520
 heart is in his throat.

00:11:22.160 --> 00:11:22.960
 You hear the panic

00:11:22.960 --> 00:11:23.720
 in his voice.

00:11:24.140 --> 00:11:24.740
 He's yelling

00:11:24.740 --> 00:11:25.480
 at the people.

00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:27.180
 He's seeing these people

00:11:27.180 --> 00:11:28.420
 turn from sin

00:11:28.420 --> 00:11:30.000
 and walk in God's ways

00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:31.259
 and rededicate themselves

00:11:31.259 --> 00:11:32.759
 and rededicate the temple.

00:11:33.080 --> 00:11:33.900
 Yet he just sees them

00:11:33.900 --> 00:11:34.580
 turning again

00:11:34.580 --> 00:11:35.560
 to these evil,

00:11:35.680 --> 00:11:36.600
 defiling practices.

00:11:36.600 --> 00:11:37.899
 He's tried so hard

00:11:37.899 --> 00:11:38.980
 and he's yelling at them.

00:11:39.060 --> 00:11:39.740
 He beats them

00:11:39.740 --> 00:11:40.700
 and he pulls up their hair.

00:11:43.620 --> 00:11:44.279
 You'll see

00:11:44.279 --> 00:11:45.060
 if you read through

00:11:45.060 --> 00:11:46.279
 the whole chapter

00:11:46.279 --> 00:11:46.940
 in this whole book

00:11:46.940 --> 00:11:48.220
 that multiple times

00:11:48.220 --> 00:11:49.460
 he forces the people

00:11:49.460 --> 00:11:51.159
 to divorce these people.

00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:51.800
 They weren't supposed

00:11:51.800 --> 00:11:52.320
 to marry.

00:11:53.540 --> 00:11:54.200
 And as you're looking

00:11:54.200 --> 00:11:54.740
 at Nehemiah,

00:11:54.800 --> 00:11:55.360
 you must be asking

00:11:55.360 --> 00:11:55.759
 the question,

00:11:55.860 --> 00:11:56.600
 is this how a man

00:11:56.600 --> 00:11:57.420
 of God acts?

00:11:58.500 --> 00:11:59.659
 And the answer is no.

00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:00.560
 He actually,

00:12:00.680 --> 00:12:01.700
 in his zealousness

00:12:01.700 --> 00:12:02.360
 to try to make

00:12:02.360 --> 00:12:03.100
 the people holy,

00:12:03.100 --> 00:12:04.019
 he actually starts

00:12:04.019 --> 00:12:04.920
 himself sinning.

00:12:04.919 --> 00:12:06.139
 In no place

00:12:06.139 --> 00:12:06.599
 does the Bible

00:12:06.599 --> 00:12:08.240
 commission a man

00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:08.979
 or a woman of God

00:12:08.979 --> 00:12:10.179
 to be pulling out

00:12:10.179 --> 00:12:10.740
 people's hair

00:12:10.740 --> 00:12:12.039
 or to be beating people.

00:12:12.759 --> 00:12:13.279
 In fact,

00:12:13.740 --> 00:12:14.519
 the book of Malachi

00:12:14.519 --> 00:12:15.459
 is the book of prophecy

00:12:15.459 --> 00:12:16.079
 that takes place

00:12:16.079 --> 00:12:16.740
 at the same time

00:12:16.740 --> 00:12:17.279
 as this.

00:12:17.839 --> 00:12:18.659
 And Malachi,

00:12:19.039 --> 00:12:19.599
 God through,

00:12:19.679 --> 00:12:20.179
 the prophet,

00:12:20.519 --> 00:12:21.879
 is actually saying,

00:12:22.139 --> 00:12:22.419
 guys,

00:12:22.579 --> 00:12:24.659
 stop doing divorce.

00:12:24.759 --> 00:12:25.539
 This is unholy.

00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:26.299
 And yet,

00:12:26.500 --> 00:12:27.179
 you see Nehemiah

00:12:27.179 --> 00:12:27.860
 forcing the people

00:12:27.860 --> 00:12:28.339
 to divorce

00:12:28.339 --> 00:12:29.500
 in his zealousness

00:12:29.500 --> 00:12:30.480
 to try to make them holy.

00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:31.740
 See that Nehemiah

00:12:31.740 --> 00:12:32.879
 is going beyond

00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:33.480
 God's ways

00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:34.960
 and actually turning

00:12:34.960 --> 00:12:35.800
 from God's ways

00:12:35.800 --> 00:12:36.580
 and trying to turn

00:12:36.580 --> 00:12:37.340
 the people to God.

00:12:37.399 --> 00:12:37.960
 He's panicking,

00:12:38.220 --> 00:12:38.960
 he's freaking out,

00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:39.639
 and he's doing things

00:12:39.639 --> 00:12:40.120
 he shouldn't.

00:12:40.680 --> 00:12:41.320
 What's happening?

00:12:42.340 --> 00:12:42.519
 Well,

00:12:42.580 --> 00:12:43.320
 I mentioned that so much

00:12:43.320 --> 00:12:43.840
 of this book

00:12:43.840 --> 00:12:44.500
 is hope-filled,

00:12:44.600 --> 00:12:45.080
 but there's actually

00:12:45.080 --> 00:12:45.620
 a moment

00:12:45.620 --> 00:12:46.639
 that if you and I

00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:47.360
 aren't familiar

00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:49.580
 with the true big story

00:12:49.580 --> 00:12:50.080
 of the Bible,

00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:51.139
 we might miss.

00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:52.139
 But the people

00:12:52.139 --> 00:12:53.100
 would not have missed it.

00:12:53.600 --> 00:12:54.019
 You see,

00:12:54.180 --> 00:12:55.360
 among all the hope

00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:55.980
 and the joy

00:12:55.980 --> 00:12:57.120
 that they have rebuilt

00:12:57.120 --> 00:12:57.639
 the city,

00:12:57.920 --> 00:12:58.720
 that they've rebuilt

00:12:58.720 --> 00:12:59.159
 the temple,

00:12:59.300 --> 00:13:00.240
 and that they dedicate it

00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:00.600
 to God

00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:01.300
 and commit themselves

00:13:01.300 --> 00:13:01.759
 to him.

00:13:02.460 --> 00:13:03.080
 And if you're not

00:13:03.080 --> 00:13:04.060
 familiar with the Bible,

00:13:04.160 --> 00:13:04.800
 or even if you are,

00:13:04.860 --> 00:13:05.660
 but whatever,

00:13:05.740 --> 00:13:06.340
 you may have missed

00:13:06.340 --> 00:13:07.820
 the fact that even

00:13:07.820 --> 00:13:08.720
 as it sounds all happy

00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:09.320
 and you keep reading,

00:13:09.420 --> 00:13:09.820
 there's actually

00:13:09.820 --> 00:13:11.700
 this haunting moment

00:13:11.700 --> 00:13:13.040
 that they're still

00:13:13.040 --> 00:13:13.820
 in the midst of

00:13:13.820 --> 00:13:14.879
 when things begin

00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:15.379
 to crumble.

00:13:15.900 --> 00:13:16.860
 But it's a haunting

00:13:16.860 --> 00:13:17.480
 moment that they're

00:13:17.480 --> 00:13:18.480
 even in the midst of,

00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:21.180
 even while they're

00:13:21.180 --> 00:13:22.000
 feasting

00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:24.060
 or while they're singing

00:13:24.060 --> 00:13:25.120
 and making such noise

00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:25.620
 to God.

00:13:26.560 --> 00:13:27.420
 And the people,

00:13:28.759 --> 00:13:29.580
 the Jewish people

00:13:29.580 --> 00:13:30.379
 who were reading this

00:13:30.379 --> 00:13:31.320
 would not have missed it.

00:13:31.320 --> 00:13:32.340
 And that's because

00:13:32.340 --> 00:13:33.440
 centuries before

00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:34.080
 when they built

00:13:34.080 --> 00:13:34.960
 Solomon's temple

00:13:34.960 --> 00:13:35.840
 and Solomon,

00:13:36.680 --> 00:13:37.240
 the leader,

00:13:37.640 --> 00:13:38.220
 like Nehemiah,

00:13:38.300 --> 00:13:38.560
 the leader,

00:13:38.700 --> 00:13:39.800
 Solomon dedicates

00:13:39.800 --> 00:13:40.760
 the temple to God

00:13:40.760 --> 00:13:41.960
 and there's this

00:13:41.960 --> 00:13:43.240
 rush of wind

00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:44.480
 and this thick cloud

00:13:44.480 --> 00:13:45.220
 of God's presence.

00:13:45.440 --> 00:13:46.400
 It's hard to explain,

00:13:46.540 --> 00:13:47.240
 but it's like there's

00:13:47.240 --> 00:13:48.100
 this thick fog

00:13:48.100 --> 00:13:49.620
 that comes into the temple

00:13:49.620 --> 00:13:50.420
 and it's holy

00:13:50.420 --> 00:13:50.920
 and the people

00:13:50.920 --> 00:13:52.000
 can feel

00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:53.220
 and get this glimpse

00:13:53.220 --> 00:13:54.240
 of the presence of God

00:13:54.240 --> 00:13:55.700
 and King Solomon,

00:13:55.860 --> 00:13:56.500
 the great king

00:13:56.500 --> 00:13:57.180
 and everyone else,

00:13:57.360 --> 00:13:58.320
 falls on their faces

00:13:58.320 --> 00:13:58.780
 in worship.

00:13:59.100 --> 00:14:00.080
 King Solomon acknowledging

00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:01.340
 that there's a king above him,

00:14:01.780 --> 00:14:02.560
 God the king.

00:14:02.920 --> 00:14:03.780
 And it's this holy,

00:14:04.020 --> 00:14:04.240
 sacred,

00:14:04.460 --> 00:14:05.100
 special moment

00:14:05.100 --> 00:14:06.120
 that they record,

00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:06.879
 they write down,

00:14:07.100 --> 00:14:08.320
 eyewitnesses write down.

00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:10.639
 And that's what they expect.

00:14:11.139 --> 00:14:11.940
 And they expect it

00:14:11.940 --> 00:14:12.379
 not just because

00:14:12.379 --> 00:14:13.060
 it happened before,

00:14:13.259 --> 00:14:14.680
 but because in the prophecies

00:14:14.680 --> 00:14:15.920
 and before this,

00:14:16.020 --> 00:14:16.860
 God said that he would

00:14:16.860 --> 00:14:17.720
 restore the people

00:14:17.720 --> 00:14:18.240
 to Israel,

00:14:18.460 --> 00:14:19.320
 that he would rebuild

00:14:19.320 --> 00:14:19.840
 the temple,

00:14:20.060 --> 00:14:21.720
 reestablish Jerusalem,

00:14:22.040 --> 00:14:23.520
 but most important of all,

00:14:23.560 --> 00:14:24.860
 he would return his presence

00:14:24.860 --> 00:14:25.720
 to the temple,

00:14:25.960 --> 00:14:26.500
 to Israel,

00:14:26.620 --> 00:14:27.140
 to the earth.

00:14:27.879 --> 00:14:28.879
 And so they've done everything,

00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:29.419
 they've seen it,

00:14:29.480 --> 00:14:30.740
 the people came back

00:14:30.740 --> 00:14:31.139
 to Israel

00:14:31.139 --> 00:14:32.159
 and they rebuilt the temple

00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:33.340
 and all that stuff,

00:14:33.500 --> 00:14:34.500
 every part of the prophecy

00:14:34.500 --> 00:14:35.220
 has come true

00:14:35.220 --> 00:14:36.919
 except for one,

00:14:38.059 --> 00:14:39.259
 the most important thing,

00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:40.600
 the presence of God.

00:14:40.860 --> 00:14:42.419
 They rededicate the temple,

00:14:43.139 --> 00:14:43.939
 this is the moment

00:14:43.939 --> 00:14:45.220
 that they were waiting for,

00:14:45.259 --> 00:14:45.799
 for God's presence

00:14:45.799 --> 00:14:46.720
 to rush in

00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:47.960
 for that thick cloud

00:14:47.960 --> 00:14:50.399
 that descended in the past.

00:14:51.179 --> 00:14:52.779
 But nothing happens.

00:14:53.299 --> 00:14:54.340
 And they continue on,

00:14:54.700 --> 00:14:55.299
 they sing

00:14:55.299 --> 00:14:56.159
 and it's recorded for us

00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:57.500
 to the beautiful noise

00:14:57.500 --> 00:14:58.059
 of their singing

00:14:58.059 --> 00:14:59.539
 filled Israel,

00:14:59.779 --> 00:15:03.339
 but where's God's presence?

00:15:03.939 --> 00:15:05.679
 This is the most significant thing.

00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:08.179
 Where is God's presence?

00:15:09.819 --> 00:15:10.779
 And so if you go back

00:15:10.779 --> 00:15:11.620
 to verse 11,

00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:14.259
 so he confronted the officials

00:15:14.259 --> 00:15:14.620
 and said,

00:15:14.819 --> 00:15:16.579
 why is the house of God forsaken?

00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:17.939
 You hear panic

00:15:17.939 --> 00:15:18.759
 in Nehemiah's voice.

00:15:18.899 --> 00:15:20.379
 Why is the house of God forsaken?

00:15:21.559 --> 00:15:23.220
 And on first reading,

00:15:23.220 --> 00:15:24.580
 it sounds like he's simply speaking

00:15:24.580 --> 00:15:26.519
 of how they have neglected

00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:27.340
 the house of God.

00:15:28.940 --> 00:15:29.860
 But the people

00:15:29.860 --> 00:15:31.259
 who were first reading this,

00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:32.259
 the Jewish people

00:15:32.259 --> 00:15:33.980
 would hear in this as well,

00:15:35.180 --> 00:15:36.660
 why is the house of God forsaken?

00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:38.200
 Of the presence of God.

00:15:38.800 --> 00:15:39.460
 That's the thing

00:15:39.460 --> 00:15:40.639
 that causes the most panic

00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:41.340
 for Nehemiah.

00:15:41.740 --> 00:15:44.240
 Where is the presence of God?

00:15:45.980 --> 00:15:48.580
 A temple without God's presence

00:15:48.580 --> 00:15:49.800
 is just an empty room.

00:15:51.460 --> 00:15:52.980
 Where is the presence of God?

00:15:53.220 --> 00:15:57.220
 What you see

00:15:57.220 --> 00:15:58.399
 as you read through this book,

00:15:58.480 --> 00:15:58.879
 Nehemiah,

00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:00.460
 the final pages

00:16:00.460 --> 00:16:02.560
 before the New Testament,

00:16:03.180 --> 00:16:04.120
 is that the people

00:16:04.120 --> 00:16:06.080
 have tried so hard.

00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:08.139
 Nehemiah and the people of Israel

00:16:08.139 --> 00:16:09.360
 have tried so hard

00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:10.440
 to be moral.

00:16:11.139 --> 00:16:12.320
 They've tried so hard

00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:13.580
 to obey God,

00:16:13.620 --> 00:16:14.460
 to be good people,

00:16:14.540 --> 00:16:15.899
 to be religious people,

00:16:16.180 --> 00:16:17.340
 and yet you see it crumbling

00:16:17.340 --> 00:16:18.519
 that these people

00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:19.620
 who have promised

00:16:19.620 --> 00:16:22.340
 to not marry the pagans

00:16:22.340 --> 00:16:23.160
 have once again

00:16:23.160 --> 00:16:24.259
 started marrying pagans

00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:25.300
 and having sexual relations

00:16:25.300 --> 00:16:25.680
 with them.

00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:26.300
 And the people

00:16:26.300 --> 00:16:27.060
 who've covenanted

00:16:27.060 --> 00:16:28.080
 to obey the Sabbath

00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:29.860
 are now forsaking the Sabbath

00:16:29.860 --> 00:16:31.600
 and they're neglecting the temple

00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:32.200
 and they're just,

00:16:32.800 --> 00:16:34.280
 despite their best efforts,

00:16:34.740 --> 00:16:36.060
 perhaps you can relate to that.

00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:37.120
 You've promised yourself

00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:37.940
 to do better.

00:16:38.280 --> 00:16:39.060
 You've promised yourself

00:16:39.060 --> 00:16:40.019
 to not turn to

00:16:40.019 --> 00:16:41.200
 whatever dirty habits.

00:16:41.340 --> 00:16:42.100
 You've promised yourself

00:16:42.100 --> 00:16:43.060
 not to gossip

00:16:43.060 --> 00:16:43.860
 or tell lies.

00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:45.040
 You've promised yourself

00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:46.579
 to be more holy

00:16:46.579 --> 00:16:47.860
 and yet you find yourself

00:16:47.860 --> 00:16:50.199
 returning to defiling things.

00:16:52.199 --> 00:16:53.759
 We try so hard.

00:16:56.439 --> 00:16:59.079
 And the pages of Nehemiah,

00:16:59.139 --> 00:17:00.379
 the pages of the Old Testament

00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:02.819
 end with this.

00:17:02.959 --> 00:17:03.899
 Thus I cleanse them

00:17:03.899 --> 00:17:05.019
 from everything foreign

00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:06.940
 and I establish the duties

00:17:06.940 --> 00:17:08.000
 of the priests and Levites,

00:17:08.059 --> 00:17:08.799
 each in his work.

00:17:09.139 --> 00:17:10.700
 I provide for the wood offering

00:17:10.700 --> 00:17:11.460
 at appointed times

00:17:11.460 --> 00:17:12.539
 and for the first fruits.

00:17:12.639 --> 00:17:13.200
 Remember me,

00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:13.940
 oh my God, forget.

00:17:14.840 --> 00:17:15.500
 And it ends.

00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:18.340
 It doesn't end with

00:17:18.340 --> 00:17:20.500
 the people walking in holiness.

00:17:20.680 --> 00:17:22.319
 It ends with Nehemiah's effort.

00:17:22.700 --> 00:17:24.080
 I did this and I did that.

00:17:24.180 --> 00:17:24.960
 Remember me, God.

00:17:26.980 --> 00:17:28.000
 As it ends,

00:17:28.580 --> 00:17:29.940
 there's this hauntedness,

00:17:30.660 --> 00:17:31.400
 this question

00:17:31.400 --> 00:17:32.420
 that remains unanswered.

00:17:32.420 --> 00:17:34.819
 Where is God's presence?

00:17:37.180 --> 00:17:38.299
 That is a question

00:17:38.299 --> 00:17:39.100
 they would have been asking

00:17:39.100 --> 00:17:40.220
 those days following

00:17:40.220 --> 00:17:41.779
 the dedication of the temple.

00:17:41.779 --> 00:17:43.200
 And a question

00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:44.859
 that continues to be asked,

00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:45.639
 unanswered,

00:17:45.940 --> 00:17:47.599
 as those days turned into months,

00:17:47.720 --> 00:17:48.359
 turned into years,

00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:49.259
 turned into decades.

00:17:49.660 --> 00:17:50.279
 And finally,

00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:52.259
 four centuries go by.

00:17:52.859 --> 00:17:53.720
 The people of Israel

00:17:53.720 --> 00:17:54.700
 had been used to

00:17:54.700 --> 00:17:55.940
 the voice of God

00:17:55.940 --> 00:17:57.359
 through the prophets

00:17:57.359 --> 00:17:58.220
 and the poets

00:17:58.220 --> 00:17:59.720
 and through the

00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:01.740
 anointed kings sometimes.

00:18:02.700 --> 00:18:03.859
 Always God had found a way

00:18:03.859 --> 00:18:04.680
 to break through

00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:06.000
 their defilement

00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:06.720
 and break through

00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:08.660
 their busyness

00:18:08.660 --> 00:18:09.899
 and to speak into their lives.

00:18:09.900 --> 00:18:11.900
 And yet here,

00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:13.160
 as they're waiting

00:18:13.160 --> 00:18:13.900
 for God's presence

00:18:13.900 --> 00:18:14.560
 to return,

00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:17.480
 there's no cloud,

00:18:18.360 --> 00:18:19.940
 there's nothing,

00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:21.860
 nor is there a voice,

00:18:22.580 --> 00:18:23.700
 nor is there a prophet

00:18:23.700 --> 00:18:24.420
 or a seer

00:18:24.420 --> 00:18:25.160
 or anything,

00:18:25.420 --> 00:18:26.060
 and they wait.

00:18:27.720 --> 00:18:29.000
 It was in that context

00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:31.120
 of brokenness,

00:18:31.380 --> 00:18:32.140
 in that context

00:18:32.140 --> 00:18:33.620
 of the people's best efforts

00:18:33.620 --> 00:18:34.540
 that are still

00:18:34.540 --> 00:18:35.340
 not good enough,

00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:36.720
 trying to be holy

00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:37.840
 but defiling themselves,

00:18:38.019 --> 00:18:38.880
 trying to be moral

00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:39.740
 but still failing

00:18:39.740 --> 00:18:41.140
 themselves and God.

00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:42.360
 Silent,

00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:43.340
 panic,

00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:43.780
 waiting,

00:18:43.900 --> 00:18:44.540
 where is God?

00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:48.280
 That the Christmas story

00:18:48.280 --> 00:18:50.160
 bursts open.

00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:51.940
 That there is a priest

00:18:51.940 --> 00:18:52.560
 who's in the,

00:18:52.840 --> 00:18:53.340
 in a sense,

00:18:53.380 --> 00:18:54.300
 in the empty temple

00:18:54.300 --> 00:18:54.800
 in a temple

00:18:54.800 --> 00:18:56.100
 without the thick presence

00:18:56.100 --> 00:18:56.540
 of God

00:18:56.540 --> 00:18:57.720
 and he's just doing his job

00:18:57.720 --> 00:18:58.700
 as they've done for years

00:18:58.700 --> 00:18:59.180
 in silence,

00:18:59.260 --> 00:19:00.200
 not expecting God

00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:00.860
 to ever speak

00:19:00.860 --> 00:19:01.500
 and all of a sudden

00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:03.000
 this angel shows up.

00:19:03.420 --> 00:19:04.320
 They haven't seen angels

00:19:04.320 --> 00:19:04.920
 in centuries.

00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:06.260
 This angel shows up

00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:07.619
 and speaks of this

00:19:07.619 --> 00:19:08.740
 miracle son

00:19:08.740 --> 00:19:09.579
 named John the Baptist

00:19:09.579 --> 00:19:10.379
 who's going to prepare

00:19:10.379 --> 00:19:11.759
 the way for the Lord.

00:19:12.440 --> 00:19:13.480
 And then months later

00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:14.379
 an angel shows up

00:19:14.379 --> 00:19:14.920
 to Mary

00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:16.400
 and says that she will

00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:17.119
 have a son

00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:18.180
 to name him Jesus

00:19:18.180 --> 00:19:19.039
 because he will save

00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:20.140
 the people from their sin.

00:19:20.680 --> 00:19:21.220
 And then an angel

00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:22.299
 shows up to Joseph

00:19:22.299 --> 00:19:23.700
 and says

00:19:23.700 --> 00:19:24.859
 that this son,

00:19:24.940 --> 00:19:25.740
 one of his names

00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:26.480
 he will be called

00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:27.519
 is Emmanuel,

00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:29.660
 God with us.

00:19:29.660 --> 00:19:32.540
 that is the name

00:19:32.540 --> 00:19:34.700
 that is the answer

00:19:34.700 --> 00:19:35.500
 to the question

00:19:35.500 --> 00:19:37.080
 where is God's presence?

00:19:37.880 --> 00:19:39.120
 We find there

00:19:39.120 --> 00:19:40.740
 that this baby Jesus

00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:42.740
 is not simply a prophet

00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:43.620
 nor will he be

00:19:43.620 --> 00:19:44.640
 some moral teacher

00:19:44.640 --> 00:19:45.500
 but that he is

00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:46.580
 the son of God,

00:19:46.660 --> 00:19:47.680
 God himself.

00:19:48.340 --> 00:19:48.860
 That as,

00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:50.640
 that Jesus the baby

00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:51.600
 is brought into the temple

00:19:51.600 --> 00:19:52.340
 for dedication

00:19:52.340 --> 00:19:54.500
 that that is the moment

00:19:54.500 --> 00:19:56.540
 long foretold

00:19:56.539 --> 00:19:59.220
 where God comes back

00:19:59.220 --> 00:20:00.279
 into the temple.

00:20:00.819 --> 00:20:01.940
 And you can see it

00:20:01.940 --> 00:20:02.659
 where there's Anna

00:20:02.659 --> 00:20:03.619
 the prophetess

00:20:03.619 --> 00:20:05.039
 and,

00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:05.819
 and Simeon,

00:20:06.680 --> 00:20:07.059
 Simon

00:20:07.059 --> 00:20:07.960
 as they wait.

00:20:08.859 --> 00:20:09.720
 They've been waiting

00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:10.500
 for years,

00:20:10.639 --> 00:20:11.000
 praying,

00:20:11.180 --> 00:20:11.500
 praying,

00:20:11.639 --> 00:20:12.659
 waiting for God's presence,

00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:13.759
 waiting for God's presence.

00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:16.019
 And you can read about it

00:20:16.019 --> 00:20:16.899
 in the Christmas story

00:20:16.899 --> 00:20:18.279
 where they rejoice.

00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:19.720
 They hold the baby

00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:20.440
 and rejoice

00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:22.619
 that God has come back

00:20:22.619 --> 00:20:23.259
 to the temple.

00:20:24.119 --> 00:20:25.180
 That it's not a cloud

00:20:25.180 --> 00:20:26.440
 or some kind of

00:20:26.440 --> 00:20:28.460
 inanimate matter

00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:29.259
 like that

00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:30.279
 but it's actually

00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:31.519
 God himself.

00:20:32.700 --> 00:20:33.180
 Jesus,

00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:33.940
 Emmanuel,

00:20:34.140 --> 00:20:35.220
 God is with us.

00:20:35.880 --> 00:20:36.820
 That's the context

00:20:36.820 --> 00:20:37.320
 of Jesus.

00:20:37.620 --> 00:20:38.340
 That's the context

00:20:38.340 --> 00:20:39.220
 of the Christmas story.

00:20:39.460 --> 00:20:40.259
 That's the miracle

00:20:40.259 --> 00:20:40.740
 for all of you

00:20:40.740 --> 00:20:41.519
 with nativity scenes

00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:42.120
 in your homes

00:20:42.120 --> 00:20:43.240
 of the little baby

00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:43.820
 in the manger

00:20:43.820 --> 00:20:44.960
 that it's God

00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:45.519
 has come

00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:46.620
 not just to Israel

00:20:46.620 --> 00:20:48.000
 but to the earth.

00:20:49.059 --> 00:20:49.460
 That people,

00:20:49.620 --> 00:20:50.600
 as people walk

00:20:50.600 --> 00:20:51.080
 with Jesus

00:20:51.080 --> 00:20:51.740
 through Israel

00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:53.059
 that they are once again

00:20:53.059 --> 00:20:54.180
 walking with God

00:20:54.180 --> 00:20:55.660
 as we used to do

00:20:55.660 --> 00:20:56.180
 in the garden.

00:20:57.440 --> 00:20:59.200
 And you can read

00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:00.720
 through the gospel stories

00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:02.960
 the teachings of Jesus

00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:04.539
 as he once again

00:21:04.539 --> 00:21:05.620
 declares and reveals

00:21:05.620 --> 00:21:07.059
 God's holy ways

00:21:07.059 --> 00:21:08.019
 and moral laws

00:21:08.019 --> 00:21:09.400
 and the ways of harmony

00:21:09.400 --> 00:21:10.500
 and love and justice.

00:21:11.180 --> 00:21:12.460
 But if you simply

00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:13.920
 were to end the story there

00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:14.500
 then just as you

00:21:14.500 --> 00:21:15.720
 started the Christmas story

00:21:15.720 --> 00:21:16.059
 in the middle

00:21:16.059 --> 00:21:17.180
 so we end the story

00:21:17.180 --> 00:21:18.080
 before it ends.

00:21:18.640 --> 00:21:19.799
 Because the reason

00:21:19.799 --> 00:21:20.680
 for Jesus

00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:21.700
 to enter into the earth

00:21:21.700 --> 00:21:23.180
 not just like a cloud

00:21:23.180 --> 00:21:24.840
 but as a human

00:21:24.840 --> 00:21:27.080
 is because God himself

00:21:27.080 --> 00:21:27.779
 had decided

00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:29.000
 just as it was prophesied

00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:29.740
 at the beginning

00:21:29.740 --> 00:21:30.560
 of time

00:21:30.560 --> 00:21:32.240
 that he would crush

00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:33.620
 our enemies.

00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:34.660
 That he would

00:21:34.660 --> 00:21:35.799
 defeat death

00:21:35.799 --> 00:21:37.140
 through his own death

00:21:37.140 --> 00:21:37.880
 on the cross.

00:21:38.140 --> 00:21:38.940
 That he had come

00:21:38.940 --> 00:21:39.880
 not simply to teach us

00:21:39.880 --> 00:21:40.620
 moral laws

00:21:40.620 --> 00:21:42.220
 but to bring

00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:43.080
 our forgiveness

00:21:43.080 --> 00:21:44.360
 our reconciliation

00:21:44.360 --> 00:21:45.160
 to God.

00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:46.779
 Peace on earth.

00:21:46.779 --> 00:21:49.399
 that God had come

00:21:49.399 --> 00:21:50.339
 to die on the cross

00:21:50.339 --> 00:21:51.639
 and then

00:21:51.639 --> 00:21:53.240
 because he is

00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:54.359
 the very author of life

00:21:54.359 --> 00:21:55.839
 he could not stay dead

00:21:55.839 --> 00:21:57.200
 but he came back

00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:57.799
 to life

00:21:57.799 --> 00:21:59.279
 and he lives today.

00:22:00.279 --> 00:22:01.359
 That's the context

00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:02.399
 of the Christmas story.

00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:05.859
 There are some of us

00:22:05.859 --> 00:22:06.920
 perhaps many of us

00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:07.379
 in the room

00:22:07.379 --> 00:22:09.220
 that are living life

00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:11.559
 like in Nehemiah chapter 13

00:22:11.559 --> 00:22:13.379
 where we are trying

00:22:13.379 --> 00:22:14.200
 so hard

00:22:14.200 --> 00:22:15.139
 to be good people

00:22:15.140 --> 00:22:16.400
 we're trying to

00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:17.640
 even be holy people

00:22:17.640 --> 00:22:18.980
 we promised ourselves

00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:19.640
 to do better

00:22:19.640 --> 00:22:20.680
 some of you are making

00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:21.560
 New Year's resolutions

00:22:21.560 --> 00:22:22.620
 where you're promising

00:22:22.620 --> 00:22:23.580
 yourself to do better

00:22:23.580 --> 00:22:24.560
 this year

00:22:24.560 --> 00:22:25.160
 you'll finally

00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:26.440
 hit the gym

00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:28.280
 this year

00:22:28.280 --> 00:22:28.780
 you'll finally

00:22:28.780 --> 00:22:29.720
 stop this bad habit

00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:30.620
 whatever it may be

00:22:30.620 --> 00:22:32.580
 we're trying so hard

00:22:32.580 --> 00:22:33.980
 but you must

00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:34.660
 I must

00:22:34.660 --> 00:22:35.380
 we must

00:22:35.380 --> 00:22:36.080
 hear

00:22:36.080 --> 00:22:38.020
 the beauty

00:22:38.020 --> 00:22:39.860
 of the Christmas story

00:22:39.860 --> 00:22:40.759
 that God

00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:41.960
 himself is with us

00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:45.120
 every religion

00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:46.579
 every religion

00:22:46.579 --> 00:22:47.539
 whether it's Islam

00:22:47.539 --> 00:22:48.759
 with it's five pillars

00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:49.879
 Judaism with it's

00:22:49.879 --> 00:22:51.219
 613 laws

00:22:51.219 --> 00:22:52.459
 is about

00:22:52.459 --> 00:22:54.119
 doing enough good

00:22:54.119 --> 00:22:54.919
 to climb our way

00:22:54.919 --> 00:22:55.619
 up into heaven

00:22:55.619 --> 00:22:57.579
 in Islam

00:22:57.579 --> 00:22:58.199
 you must follow

00:22:58.199 --> 00:22:58.919
 the five pillars

00:22:58.919 --> 00:23:00.239
 they're all good things

00:23:00.239 --> 00:23:01.379
 do these five pillars

00:23:01.379 --> 00:23:03.000
 and if you do these things

00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:04.500
 you can earn your way

00:23:04.500 --> 00:23:05.039
 up to heaven

00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:05.959
 it's like every good thing

00:23:05.959 --> 00:23:06.599
 you do is like

00:23:06.599 --> 00:23:07.519
 a rung on a ladder

00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:08.379
 you're trying to climb

00:23:08.379 --> 00:23:09.739
 or Judaism

00:23:09.739 --> 00:23:10.699
 the 613 laws

00:23:10.699 --> 00:23:11.599
 you do these things

00:23:11.599 --> 00:23:12.659
 and if you do them

00:23:12.659 --> 00:23:13.239
 well enough

00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:13.660
 it's like you're

00:23:13.660 --> 00:23:14.480
 climbing a ladder

00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:17.000
 or the eastern philosophies

00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:17.599
 they're not so much

00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:18.240
 about what you do

00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:19.599
 but learning to think

00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:20.579
 in an enlightened way

00:23:20.579 --> 00:23:21.579
 it's not so much

00:23:21.579 --> 00:23:22.579
 about your moral deeds

00:23:22.579 --> 00:23:23.200
 as much as your

00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:24.620
 your enlightened thoughts

00:23:24.620 --> 00:23:25.559
 your enlightened thinking

00:23:25.559 --> 00:23:26.059
 and if you can

00:23:26.059 --> 00:23:26.920
 if you can learn

00:23:26.920 --> 00:23:27.799
 to think right

00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:29.200
 it's like every right

00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:30.380
 way of enlightenment

00:23:30.380 --> 00:23:31.259
 is like another rung

00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:31.660
 on the ladder

00:23:31.660 --> 00:23:32.799
 you can climb your way

00:23:32.799 --> 00:23:34.240
 up into nirvana

00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:34.880
 to heaven

00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:35.519
 in a sense

00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:37.460
 even in those of

00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:38.279
 us in the room

00:23:38.279 --> 00:23:38.779
 who might be

00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:40.079
 secular atheists

00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:40.880
 you're not

00:23:40.880 --> 00:23:41.960
 it's not heaven

00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:42.760
 you're climbing to

00:23:42.760 --> 00:23:43.960
 but success

00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:46.560
 and everything you do

00:23:46.560 --> 00:23:47.620
 all your achievements

00:23:47.620 --> 00:23:48.600
 and your degrees

00:23:48.600 --> 00:23:50.120
 and your philanthropy

00:23:50.120 --> 00:23:51.140
 and all the good stuff

00:23:51.140 --> 00:23:51.840
 it's like you're trying

00:23:51.840 --> 00:23:53.160
 to climb your way

00:23:53.160 --> 00:23:54.420
 out of meaninglessness

00:23:54.420 --> 00:23:55.440
 into significance

00:23:55.440 --> 00:23:56.980
 but if you and I

00:23:56.980 --> 00:23:57.620
 are honest

00:23:57.620 --> 00:23:58.800
 and the Bible

00:23:58.800 --> 00:23:59.680
 is very honest

00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:01.720
 our best efforts

00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:03.560
 all every step

00:24:03.560 --> 00:24:04.020
 on the ladder

00:24:04.020 --> 00:24:04.700
 it's like the

00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:05.500
 rungs and ladders

00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:06.580
 break before us

00:24:06.580 --> 00:24:07.280
 and we slip down

00:24:07.280 --> 00:24:08.080
 and we climb

00:24:08.080 --> 00:24:08.780
 and we try

00:24:08.780 --> 00:24:09.880
 and it breaks before us

00:24:09.880 --> 00:24:10.620
 and the ladder

00:24:10.620 --> 00:24:11.700
 we cannot climb

00:24:11.700 --> 00:24:12.100
 that ladder

00:24:12.100 --> 00:24:12.640
 up to heaven

00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:14.380
 that our greatest

00:24:14.380 --> 00:24:14.880
 achievements

00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:15.460
 still leave us

00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:16.100
 feeling empty

00:24:16.100 --> 00:24:17.440
 and that our best

00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:17.960
 habits

00:24:17.960 --> 00:24:18.820
 and our best

00:24:18.820 --> 00:24:19.780
 success

00:24:19.780 --> 00:24:21.580
 it still crumbles

00:24:21.580 --> 00:24:22.300
 in our hands

00:24:22.300 --> 00:24:23.740
 our lives are like

00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.620
 the book of Nehemiah

00:24:24.620 --> 00:24:26.460
 where we try so much

00:24:26.460 --> 00:24:27.740
 and we do some things

00:24:27.740 --> 00:24:28.500
 that we still find

00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:29.000
 ourselves with

00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:30.060
 an emptiness inside

00:24:30.060 --> 00:24:31.360
 and so many of us

00:24:31.360 --> 00:24:31.740
 in this room

00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:32.460
 are exhausted

00:24:32.460 --> 00:24:34.280
 from trying so hard

00:24:34.280 --> 00:24:35.080
 to climb to heaven

00:24:35.080 --> 00:24:36.700
 and this is where

00:24:36.700 --> 00:24:37.700
 you and I need to hear

00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:38.680
 the Christmas story

00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:39.480
 the true story

00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:39.900
 of Jesus

00:24:39.900 --> 00:24:41.779
 that what separates

00:24:41.779 --> 00:24:42.560
 Christianity

00:24:42.560 --> 00:24:43.440
 from all other

00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:44.820
 religions and philosophies

00:24:44.820 --> 00:24:46.480
 is that it's the only one

00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:47.060
 that says

00:24:47.060 --> 00:24:48.700
 you don't climb to heaven

00:24:48.700 --> 00:24:50.539
 but that heaven

00:24:50.539 --> 00:24:51.340
 has climbed down

00:24:51.340 --> 00:24:51.960
 to us

00:24:51.960 --> 00:24:54.519
 that the gospel

00:24:54.519 --> 00:24:55.100
 that Jesus

00:24:55.100 --> 00:24:56.840
 turns the ladder

00:24:56.840 --> 00:24:57.759
 on its head

00:24:57.759 --> 00:24:58.519
 instead of us

00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.080
 climbing up

00:24:59.080 --> 00:24:59.960
 heaven climbs to us

00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:00.700
 that Jesus

00:25:00.700 --> 00:25:01.519
 the Christmas story

00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:01.960
 is about God

00:25:01.960 --> 00:25:03.060
 climbing down

00:25:03.060 --> 00:25:04.320
 into the brokenness

00:25:04.320 --> 00:25:04.980
 and decay

00:25:04.980 --> 00:25:05.740
 despair

00:25:05.740 --> 00:25:06.779
 and even death

00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:07.740
 of the human condition

00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:09.559
 that it's not about

00:25:09.559 --> 00:25:10.299
 what we try

00:25:10.299 --> 00:25:11.140
 to do

00:25:11.140 --> 00:25:12.140
 but it's what

00:25:12.140 --> 00:25:12.900
 he has done

00:25:12.900 --> 00:25:14.640
 and that's where

00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:15.779
 Christianity is not

00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:16.279
 about

00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:17.680
 a new way of thinking

00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:18.839
 even if it changes

00:25:18.839 --> 00:25:19.640
 our way of thinking

00:25:19.640 --> 00:25:20.259
 and it's not about

00:25:20.259 --> 00:25:21.700
 a moral code

00:25:21.700 --> 00:25:22.500
 although there's

00:25:22.500 --> 00:25:23.900
 moral things in it

00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:25.160
 but at the heart

00:25:25.160 --> 00:25:25.740
 of Christianity

00:25:25.740 --> 00:25:26.140
 at the heart

00:25:26.140 --> 00:25:27.279
 of the Christmas story

00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:28.960
 is not a philosophy

00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:30.539
 but rather

00:25:30.539 --> 00:25:31.059
 an event

00:25:31.059 --> 00:25:33.700
 it's news

00:25:33.700 --> 00:25:35.380
 something has happened

00:25:35.380 --> 00:25:36.140
 and the thing about

00:25:36.140 --> 00:25:36.600
 news

00:25:36.600 --> 00:25:37.140
 an event

00:25:37.140 --> 00:25:38.360
 is that it's true

00:25:38.360 --> 00:25:39.360
 regardless of how much

00:25:39.360 --> 00:25:40.800
 you believe it

00:25:40.800 --> 00:25:41.940
 or how you feel about it

00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:43.040
 the reality is that

00:25:43.040 --> 00:25:44.060
 Christianity isn't about

00:25:44.060 --> 00:25:44.840
 getting you to think

00:25:44.840 --> 00:25:45.140
 differently

00:25:45.140 --> 00:25:45.700
 but rather

00:25:45.700 --> 00:25:47.120
 the fact that

00:25:47.120 --> 00:25:47.960
 God himself

00:25:47.960 --> 00:25:49.700
 has come into the earth

00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:51.680
 in the story of Christmas

00:25:51.680 --> 00:25:52.300
 that it's true

00:25:52.300 --> 00:25:53.220
 he's come into the earth

00:25:53.220 --> 00:25:54.280
 and that there's

00:25:54.280 --> 00:25:55.020
 eyewitness accounts

00:25:55.020 --> 00:25:56.420
 there's good historical evidence

00:25:56.420 --> 00:25:57.500
 that God himself

00:25:57.500 --> 00:25:57.980
 that Jesus

00:25:57.980 --> 00:25:59.100
 died on a cross

00:25:59.100 --> 00:25:59.980
 and came back

00:25:59.980 --> 00:26:00.600
 from the dead

00:26:00.599 --> 00:26:02.059
 and so all that's

00:26:02.059 --> 00:26:03.439
 left for us to do

00:26:03.439 --> 00:26:04.859
 is nothing

00:26:04.859 --> 00:26:06.959
 but receive

00:26:06.959 --> 00:26:07.839
 his presence

00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:08.500
 nothing

00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:09.699
 but to receive

00:26:09.699 --> 00:26:10.379
 his forgiveness

00:26:10.379 --> 00:26:13.059
 and so in a few minutes

00:26:13.059 --> 00:26:13.859
 we're going to have

00:26:13.859 --> 00:26:14.519
 communion

00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:15.599
 where we're going to be

00:26:15.599 --> 00:26:16.779
 remembering Jesus'

00:26:16.939 --> 00:26:17.679
 death and resurrection

00:26:17.679 --> 00:26:20.119
 and I want to invite you

00:26:20.119 --> 00:26:20.279
 to

00:26:20.279 --> 00:26:21.579
 as you come up here

00:26:21.579 --> 00:26:22.259
 to take communion

00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:23.939
 to forsake that

00:26:23.939 --> 00:26:25.419
 effort

00:26:25.419 --> 00:26:27.099
 that trying to

00:26:27.099 --> 00:26:27.879
 do enough

00:26:27.879 --> 00:26:28.359
 to get God

00:26:28.359 --> 00:26:28.959
 to like you

00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:30.500
 and to receive

00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:31.120
 his love

00:26:31.120 --> 00:26:32.539
 to receive

00:26:32.539 --> 00:26:33.140
 his forgiveness

00:26:33.140 --> 00:26:36.059
 some of us

00:26:36.059 --> 00:26:38.440
 you're not out of place yet

00:26:38.440 --> 00:26:39.440
 you're not a Christian

00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:41.900
 you're wrestling

00:26:41.900 --> 00:26:42.559
 with these things

00:26:42.559 --> 00:26:43.680
 I want to invite you

00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:46.500
 I want to challenge you

00:26:46.500 --> 00:26:47.660
 that there's a better way

00:26:47.660 --> 00:26:49.019
 than just trying

00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:49.440
 really hard

00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:50.259
 to live a good life

00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:52.279
 that the only way

00:26:52.279 --> 00:26:53.079
 to live a life

00:26:53.079 --> 00:26:54.240
 that's so fully alive

00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:55.440
 the only way

00:26:55.440 --> 00:26:56.120
 to live a life

00:26:56.120 --> 00:26:56.559
 where you're

00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:57.120
 at peace

00:26:57.120 --> 00:26:57.600
 with others

00:26:57.600 --> 00:26:58.160
 and yourself

00:26:58.160 --> 00:26:59.660
 is to

00:26:59.660 --> 00:27:00.700
 have peace

00:27:00.700 --> 00:27:01.220
 with God

00:27:01.220 --> 00:27:02.700
 and the only way

00:27:02.700 --> 00:27:03.120
 to peace

00:27:03.120 --> 00:27:03.640
 with God

00:27:03.640 --> 00:27:05.080
 is to receive

00:27:05.080 --> 00:27:06.120
 his forgiveness

00:27:06.120 --> 00:27:07.340
 by asking him

00:27:07.340 --> 00:27:07.759
 for it

00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.960
 he's already

00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:09.600
 provided

00:27:09.600 --> 00:27:10.480
 forgiveness

00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:11.080
 we just need

00:27:11.080 --> 00:27:11.640
 to ask

00:27:11.640 --> 00:27:13.580
 and finally

00:27:13.580 --> 00:27:18.960
 it should

00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:21.519
 break our hearts

00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:22.960
 those of you

00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:23.980
 who have received

00:27:23.980 --> 00:27:24.600
 the forgiveness

00:27:24.600 --> 00:27:25.279
 of God

00:27:25.279 --> 00:27:25.960
 those of you

00:27:25.960 --> 00:27:26.620
 who are Christians

00:27:26.619 --> 00:27:28.099
 it should break

00:27:28.099 --> 00:27:29.059
 our hearts

00:27:29.059 --> 00:27:29.959
 that there are

00:27:29.959 --> 00:27:30.939
 so many people

00:27:30.939 --> 00:27:32.419
 who are living life

00:27:32.419 --> 00:27:33.679
 as if it's still

00:27:33.679 --> 00:27:35.000
 the time of Nehemiah 13

00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:36.419
 who are living life

00:27:36.419 --> 00:27:37.719
 as if God hasn't

00:27:37.719 --> 00:27:38.619
 broken into the earth

00:27:38.619 --> 00:27:40.119
 who are exhausted

00:27:40.119 --> 00:27:40.839
 there's still so many

00:27:40.839 --> 00:27:41.399
 who are exhausted

00:27:41.399 --> 00:27:42.359
 by trying so hard

00:27:42.359 --> 00:27:44.639
 I want to especially

00:27:44.639 --> 00:27:45.319
 highlight the fact

00:27:45.319 --> 00:27:46.579
 that the majority

00:27:46.579 --> 00:27:47.339
 of Jewish people

00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:48.179
 around the globe today

00:27:48.179 --> 00:27:49.539
 are like

00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:50.979
 Nehemiah 13

00:27:50.979 --> 00:27:52.019
 and the years following

00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:53.119
 where they're still

00:27:53.119 --> 00:27:53.619
 waiting

00:27:53.619 --> 00:27:53.739
 waiting

00:27:53.739 --> 00:27:55.159
 with panic

00:27:55.159 --> 00:27:55.899
 and exhaustion

00:27:55.899 --> 00:27:56.479
 waiting

00:27:56.479 --> 00:27:57.719
 for God

00:27:57.719 --> 00:27:58.419
 to come back

00:27:58.419 --> 00:27:59.019
 to the earth

00:27:59.019 --> 00:28:00.419
 waiting for the presence

00:28:00.419 --> 00:28:00.739
 of God

00:28:00.739 --> 00:28:01.439
 to come back

00:28:01.439 --> 00:28:03.439
 they've missed

00:28:03.439 --> 00:28:04.039
 the fact

00:28:04.039 --> 00:28:05.419
 that he already has

00:28:05.419 --> 00:28:07.039
 that the Christmas story

00:28:07.039 --> 00:28:08.219
 is the climax

00:28:08.219 --> 00:28:10.119
 of all that there is

00:28:10.119 --> 00:28:10.399
 about

00:28:10.399 --> 00:28:11.199
 for the Jewish

00:28:11.199 --> 00:28:12.099
 it's the climax

00:28:12.099 --> 00:28:12.859
 of creation

00:28:12.859 --> 00:28:13.379
 it's the climax

00:28:13.379 --> 00:28:13.839
 of what it means

00:28:13.839 --> 00:28:14.399
 to be Jewish

00:28:14.399 --> 00:28:16.359
 that God has come

00:28:16.359 --> 00:28:18.459
 and so I want to

00:28:18.459 --> 00:28:19.159
 invite the

00:28:19.159 --> 00:28:20.299
 musicians

00:28:20.299 --> 00:28:20.899
 to come back

00:28:20.900 --> 00:28:21.540
 to the stage

00:28:21.540 --> 00:28:22.700
 and we're going

00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:23.560
 to sing a Christmas

00:28:23.560 --> 00:28:24.320
 song many of you

00:28:24.320 --> 00:28:24.660
 know well

00:28:24.660 --> 00:28:25.700
 O Come O Come

00:28:25.700 --> 00:28:26.160
 Emmanuel

00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:27.160
 and ransom

00:28:27.160 --> 00:28:28.180
 captive Israel

00:28:28.180 --> 00:28:29.820
 I want to invite

00:28:29.820 --> 00:28:30.460
 you to sing

00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:31.000
 this song

00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:31.540
 as a prayer

00:28:31.540 --> 00:28:32.580
 of intercession

00:28:32.580 --> 00:28:34.240
 both for Jewish

00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:35.100
 people who don't

00:28:35.100 --> 00:28:36.360
 know the promised

00:28:36.360 --> 00:28:36.820
 Messiah

00:28:36.820 --> 00:28:38.500
 as well as for

00:28:38.500 --> 00:28:39.180
 any of your friends

00:28:39.180 --> 00:28:39.680
 or family

00:28:39.680 --> 00:28:41.540
 who just don't

00:28:41.540 --> 00:28:42.360
 know that God

00:28:42.360 --> 00:28:43.080
 has come back

00:28:43.080 --> 00:28:43.580
 to earth

00:28:43.580 --> 00:28:45.120
 in the body

00:28:45.120 --> 00:28:45.620
 of Jesus

00:28:45.620 --> 00:28:48.380
 and so I want

00:28:48.380 --> 00:28:48.640
 to invite you

00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:49.220
 to stand

00:28:49.220 --> 00:28:50.400
 I'll say a prayer

00:28:50.400 --> 00:28:51.000
 and then we'll sing

00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:53.360
 God thank you

00:28:53.360 --> 00:28:55.000
 that you love us

00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:56.059
 way too much

00:28:56.059 --> 00:28:57.160
 to be content

00:28:57.160 --> 00:28:58.100
 to just watch us

00:28:58.100 --> 00:28:58.720
 from a distance

00:28:58.720 --> 00:29:00.279
 but that you have

00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:01.220
 broken into

00:29:01.220 --> 00:29:02.740
 human history

00:29:02.740 --> 00:29:03.720
 in real time

00:29:03.720 --> 00:29:04.880
 in real space

00:29:04.880 --> 00:29:08.500
 2,000 years ago

00:29:08.500 --> 00:29:10.200
 that you came

00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:10.779
 to earth

00:29:10.779 --> 00:29:14.160
 as Jesus

00:29:14.160 --> 00:29:16.180
 that you did

00:29:16.180 --> 00:29:17.100
 what we couldn't do

00:29:17.100 --> 00:29:18.940
 living a perfect life

00:29:18.940 --> 00:29:20.559
 and that you

00:29:20.559 --> 00:29:21.320
 gave your life

00:29:21.320 --> 00:29:21.759
 for us

00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:22.400
 on the cross

00:29:22.400 --> 00:29:23.860
 and have come

00:29:23.860 --> 00:29:24.660
 back to life

00:29:24.660 --> 00:29:26.820
 and that today

00:29:26.820 --> 00:29:27.660
 we're not here

00:29:27.660 --> 00:29:28.740
 to simply remember

00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:29.720
 a great teacher

00:29:29.720 --> 00:29:30.600
 of the past

00:29:30.600 --> 00:29:33.140
 but to be

00:29:33.140 --> 00:29:33.900
 in your very

00:29:33.900 --> 00:29:34.519
 presence

00:29:34.519 --> 00:29:37.519
 and so

00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:38.600
 God I pray

00:29:38.600 --> 00:29:39.779
 that in your love

00:29:39.779 --> 00:29:41.200
 and tender mercy

00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:43.180
 that you would

00:29:43.180 --> 00:29:44.039
 lead us

00:29:44.039 --> 00:29:44.680
 in the fullness

00:29:44.680 --> 00:29:46.880
 of what Christmas

00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:47.680
 is all about

00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:49.380
 you bringing

00:29:49.380 --> 00:29:50.240
 us

00:29:50.240 --> 00:29:52.299
 peace with God

00:29:52.299 --> 00:29:54.880
 your very presence

00:29:54.880 --> 00:29:56.220
 may we treasure that

00:29:56.220 --> 00:29:57.320
 more than anything else

00:29:57.320 --> 00:29:58.500
 and may we live

00:29:58.500 --> 00:29:59.880
 in the rest

00:29:59.880 --> 00:30:00.600
 that that brings

00:30:00.600 --> 00:30:02.000
 in the name

00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:02.700
 of your son

00:30:02.700 --> 00:30:04.120
 Jesus we pray

00:30:04.120 --> 00:30:04.700
 amen

00:30:04.700 --> 00:30:06.019
 all love

00:30:06.019 --> 00:30:06.620
 so

00:30:07.299 --> 00:30:10.480
 to be

00:30:10.480 --> 00:30:11.120
 and

00:30:11.120 --> 00:30:13.799
 listen

00:30:13.799 --> 00:30:14.220
 to