WEBVTT

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 So 2 Timothy 3, verse 1 to 4, verse 5.

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 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty, for people

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 will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents,

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 ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal,

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 not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than

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 lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness but denying its power.

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 Avoid such people, for among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women,

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 burdened with sin and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to

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 arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

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 But just as Janus and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also opposed the truth, men corrupted

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 in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.

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 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those

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 two men.

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 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience,

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 my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch,

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 at Iconium and at Lystra, which persecutions I endured.

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 Yet from them all the Lord rescued me.

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 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil

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 people and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

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 But as for you, continue in what you have learnt and have firmly believed, knowing from whom

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 you learnt it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which

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 are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

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 All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and

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 for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

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 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and

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 the dead, and by his appearance and his kingdom, preach the word.

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 Be ready in season and out of season.

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 Reprove, rebuke and exhort with complete patience and teaching.

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 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears,

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 they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and will turn away

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 from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

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 As for you, always be sober-minded.

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 Endure suffering.

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 Do the work of an evangelist.

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 Fulfill your ministry.

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 Well, good morning, everyone.

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 For those who are visiting, I'm one of the pastors here.

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 My name's David.

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 David the Older.

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 David the Ordinary.

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 Yeah.

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 So, you and I live in a huge world.

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 It's a fragile world.

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 And I think, oftentimes, it's just a scary world.

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 We live in this huge, fragile, scary world alongside almost 8 billion other people.

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 And our world is dwarfed.

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 Our planet Earth that we live on here is dwarfed in our solar system, which in turn is dwarfed

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 in our galaxy, the Milky Way, which in turn is immeasurably dwarfed by the universe.

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 We are so small in our universe.

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 And that begs the question that is in everybody's mind at some point in their life is, yes, we're

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 small, but are we insignificant?

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 That huge question of meaning and purpose explains in part why every one of us has what I'm calling

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 this morning a voice in our head, a life voice.

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 Words that are speaking into us all the time.

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 A life script, perhaps you might call it.

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 It's something that comes from outside ourselves and which we need to give ourselves some perspective

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 in our smallness, to give ourselves a sense of meaning and purpose in this giant, humongous universe.

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 We need that voice because it needs to be bigger than ourselves.

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 Now, every person has it and every person listens to it.

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 Not every person is aware they're listening to it, but every person listens to it.

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 That voice actually defines and shapes how they think about themselves, how they think about

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 our world and how they live in the world on a daily basis.

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 It gives perspective to daily life.

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 Now, for young children, I think that voice might well be just the voice of parents.

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 That seems to be the size of their universe as young children.

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 For teenagers, the universe gets a bit bigger, but not necessarily wiser.

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 So that voice might just be the voice of peers.

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 Dare I say the blind leading the blind.

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 Social media.

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 I don't know how you describe that.

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 For adult Australians, the predominant voice is science.

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 Science says, well, yes, I'm a very, very insignificant little cog in a very, very big mechanistic world,

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 a big machine.

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 It's impersonal.

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 And it exists only by chance, by randomness.

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 That doesn't really help with significance, does it?

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 The problem is with that, is that people can't live as an insignificant part of a huge machine.

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 People, by nature, crave relationship.

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 We actually crave a beating heart at the center of our universe.

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 We crave something and long for something and almost need something that's bigger than ourselves, bigger than what we can see.

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 A being, whatever we call it, some form of God.

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 People call it all sorts of different things.

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 But there's a common longing for something bigger than ourselves, something or someone who will understand our universe and, in a sense, understand our part in that universe.

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 And thereby, find significance for ourselves in that universe.

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 And so, given that people can't live, really, with the voice of science, it's constantly in competition with the voice of religion, the voice of spirituality.

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 And there's literally hundreds of thousands of different forms of that in our world.

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 But it's so common.

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 People want and need some form of God.

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 Some one or some being who's there in the background.

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 Someone who knows our world.

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 Someone, in a sense, who sees us.

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 Well, friends, what people long for, I want to tell you this morning, is at the heart of biblical Christianity.

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 The key of Christianity is, at the heart of our universe, is a beating heart.

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 Is a personal God.

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 If we're to know that God and be known by him, he must be personal and speak.

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 Now, at this point, I just want to stop and make a disclaimer here.

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 I really wish that Adam's introduction this morning was my sermon introduction.

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 I said to Alison as he was going through that.

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 That's what I should have had as an introduction to my sermon.

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 So, if you can reflect back to Adam's words, it's a much better introduction than mine.

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 So, it's a really good thing because if we are to know God and be known by him, he must be personal and speak.

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 Words are how we get to know people.

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 Unless God took the initiative to tell us what he's like, to tell us what's in his mind, we would never be able to find out.

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 We might have a vague sense that there's a God out there.

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 But we wouldn't actually know.

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 We couldn't live securely with knowledge of that God out there.

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 What does he want of us?

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 Does he want anything of us?

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 Those sorts of things are beyond human discovery.

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 In a world where science tells us that we can discover everything.

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 Not so.

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 Those things are beyond human discovery because God is outside of all human methods of investigation.

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 And so, in speaking, God reveals things about himself.

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 He reveals things about us.

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 He reveals things about our world that otherwise would be hidden and unknowable.

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 And as Adam said in his introduction, words are relational.

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 So, as I speak to you over a period of time, you get to understand what I'm like.

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 You get to see something of my character.

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 You'll hear something of my aspirations.

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 I'll express my thoughts.

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 As Catherine said this morning, without words, very, very little can be known about someone.

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 We can guess.

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 We can hope.

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 But unless we have words, very little may be known with certainty about another person.

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 In this case, God.

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 And there's a verse in Isaiah 55.

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 I'm just going to turn to it now.

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 You can listen or find it if you're quick at finding these things.

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 In Isaiah 55, verse 8.

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 God tells us this through the words of Isaiah.

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 God's word through Isaiah's words.

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 We'll say more about that in a minute.

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 God says this.

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 For my thoughts are not your thoughts.

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 Neither are your ways.

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 My ways, declared the Lord.

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 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways.

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 And my thoughts than your thoughts.

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 In other words, God's saying there's a great gulf between me and you.

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 You couldn't span that gulf in your own resources.

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 For as the rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth,

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 making it bear fruit and sprout,

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 giving seed to the sower and bread theater,

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 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth.

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 It shall not return to me empty,

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 but it shall accomplish that which I purpose

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 and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

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 God's word bridges the gulf

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 and makes God knowable to us.

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 And more importantly for us,

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 at an experiential level,

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 makes it possible that we will be known by God.

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 Now, first point of application.

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 It's a small point and yet a big point.

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 At a very, very practical level,

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 that means that our knowledge of God

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 is something that we need to see as a gift from God

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 and value it as such.

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 We're so familiar with God's word as Christians, aren't we?

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 That we forget

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 it is a really, really precious gift

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 that God should speak to us

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 and tell us about himself

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 and tell us about ourselves.

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 And as we saw in 2 Timothy 3,

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 tell us about salvation.

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 God's speaking to us,

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 God's word,

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 is a precious gift of grace and mercy

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 from the Lord.

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 Okay, next question.

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 How does God speak?

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 All right, we're saying God needs to speak

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 and as he speaks,

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 then we see his personality.

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 God is personal as he speaks.

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 But how does God speak?

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 Well, you don't need to be rugged science

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 to work this one out.

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 We know that effective communication

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 or relationship requires words.

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 The best communication requires precise words,

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 clearly spoken.

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 In just the same way,

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 God speaks into his world,

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 into the lives of his people,

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 using ordinary words.

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 He uses ordinary words to reveal himself.

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 And so God speaks meaningful statements

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 about himself.

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 He reveals in those meaningful statements,

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 sentences,

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 ordinary functions of language and grammar,

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 he reveals his character.

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 He reveals his physical relationship,

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 his relationship to the physical universe.

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 He reveals how he wants to relate to ourselves

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 as his image bearers in the universe,

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 as we've seen in Genesis 1-3.

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 In speaking personally and precisely,

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 God prescribes how we are to think about him.

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 He says,

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 this is what I'm like

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 and this is how you should think about me

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 and how you should engage with me.

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 This is what you should believe about me,

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 says the Lord.

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 This is how you ought to respond to me

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 when you hear me speak.

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 And in turn,

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 as we hear and get our picture filled out

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 of what God is like,

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 then that tells us something

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 really, really important about ourselves

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 in relation to God.

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 How we're to think about ourselves

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 individually and collectively as humans.

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 Now we see this in Genesis 3,

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 Genesis 1-3.

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 Right through Genesis 1,

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 God spoke and God said words,

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 front and center,

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 powerful words.

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 God's word spoke our universe

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 into existence

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 in all its diversity,

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 in all its differentiated parts

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 and its single whole.

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 God's word.

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 spoken.

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 And as he speaks,

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 and we see that in Genesis 1-2-3,

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 his words and the actions

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 that come

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 hot on the heels of his words,

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 his words always achieve

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 what he says,

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 his words and the resultant actions

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 reveal perfectly

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 his character

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 and his purpose.

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 and God said,

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 and it happened,

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 and God's conclusion,

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 it was good.

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 It was exactly

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 as God said it would be

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 and deemed it would be.

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 And in Genesis 1-2-3,

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 we see what God's words speak of God.

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 So it speaks,

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 first of all,

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 of his existence.

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 God exists.

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 He has to exist

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 to be personal and speaking.

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 And he existed before

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 in the beginning.

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 In the beginning,

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 Genesis 1,

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 but before the beginning,

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 God existed in Trinity.

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 Father,

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 Son,

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 and Spirit.

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 It tells us,

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 God's word tells us

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 about God's creative power.

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 Tells us about his goodness.

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 Tells us about his personal glory

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 reflected in his image bearers.

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 It tells us about his desire

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 to relate to his image bearers,

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 loving and providing for them

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 in abundance.

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 It tells us about his holiness

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 and majesty in Genesis 2,

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 commanding his image bearers

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 to live under his rule.

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 And then in Genesis 3,

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 calling his image bearers

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 to account

00:17:45.979 --> 00:17:47.639
 when they refuse

00:17:47.639 --> 00:17:48.659
 to live under his rule.

00:17:50.839 --> 00:17:51.500
 And then in the end

00:17:51.500 --> 00:17:52.159
 of Genesis 3,

00:17:52.259 --> 00:17:53.959
 it speaks of his steadfast love

00:17:53.959 --> 00:17:55.219
 and commitment

00:17:55.219 --> 00:17:56.559
 to his people

00:17:56.559 --> 00:17:57.139
 and his world,

00:17:57.559 --> 00:17:58.899
 even in the midst of

00:17:58.899 --> 00:17:59.959
 and in the light of

00:17:59.959 --> 00:18:01.019
 their rejection

00:18:01.019 --> 00:18:01.639
 and rebellion.

00:18:05.139 --> 00:18:06.339
 Huge amount we learn

00:18:06.339 --> 00:18:07.279
 about God's character

00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:08.159
 and God's purpose

00:18:08.159 --> 00:18:10.019
 in those first three chapters

00:18:10.019 --> 00:18:10.639
 of our Bible.

00:18:12.719 --> 00:18:13.779
 So God speaks

00:18:13.779 --> 00:18:14.679
 using ordinary words.

00:18:14.680 --> 00:18:15.840
 And those words

00:18:15.840 --> 00:18:17.000
 are recorded

00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:17.720
 and preserved

00:18:17.720 --> 00:18:18.980
 in what we call the Bible.

00:18:19.360 --> 00:18:21.180
 So it's very appropriate

00:18:21.180 --> 00:18:22.340
 to say that the Bible

00:18:22.340 --> 00:18:24.220
 is God's words

00:18:24.220 --> 00:18:25.580
 in men's words.

00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:29.320
 So ask the question,

00:18:29.580 --> 00:18:30.580
 well, how do we know

00:18:30.580 --> 00:18:33.019
 what God's words were

00:18:33.019 --> 00:18:33.759
 in the very beginning

00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:34.340
 of our world?

00:18:35.460 --> 00:18:35.980
 Adam and Eve

00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:36.860
 were the only ones there.

00:18:37.220 --> 00:18:39.019
 Maybe they didn't even hear

00:18:39.019 --> 00:18:39.640
 those words

00:18:39.640 --> 00:18:40.720
 and God said.

00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:41.980
 So how do we know

00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:42.720
 what God said?

00:18:43.600 --> 00:18:44.060
 Answer,

00:18:44.800 --> 00:18:46.220
 because we have the Bible.

00:18:48.060 --> 00:18:48.940
 The Bible,

00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:50.759
 by its own definition,

00:18:50.980 --> 00:18:52.240
 is the written record

00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:54.180
 of what God has said

00:18:54.180 --> 00:18:56.720
 in relation to his world.

00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:57.720
 God's words.

00:18:57.720 --> 00:18:58.000
 God's words

00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:59.860
 and that brings us

00:18:59.860 --> 00:19:01.180
 to 2 Timothy 3, 16.

00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:04.079
 Scripture is God-breathed.

00:19:05.400 --> 00:19:07.339
 The word for breathed there

00:19:07.339 --> 00:19:08.059
 is the same word

00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:09.319
 that's used in other places

00:19:09.319 --> 00:19:11.480
 and in Genesis 1, 1,

00:19:11.559 --> 00:19:12.000
 for that matter,

00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:13.360
 for the Holy Spirit.

00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:19.599
 The point here, I think,

00:19:19.679 --> 00:19:21.159
 is that just as

00:19:21.159 --> 00:19:22.119
 the Holy Spirit

00:19:22.119 --> 00:19:23.199
 was involved

00:19:23.199 --> 00:19:25.719
 in the physical creation

00:19:25.719 --> 00:19:26.859
 at the very beginning,

00:19:27.779 --> 00:19:29.019
 so the Holy Spirit

00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:30.419
 is fully involved

00:19:30.419 --> 00:19:32.399
 in creating the Scriptures

00:19:32.399 --> 00:19:34.259
 or what we call the Bible.

00:19:39.399 --> 00:19:40.279
 And we're told,

00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:40.959
 I don't have time

00:19:40.959 --> 00:19:41.699
 to track through it all.

00:19:41.779 --> 00:19:42.859
 You can research this

00:19:42.859 --> 00:19:43.319
 for yourself.

00:19:43.879 --> 00:19:44.619
 We're told that

00:19:44.619 --> 00:19:45.799
 the Holy Spirit

00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:47.939
 oversees supernaturally

00:19:47.939 --> 00:19:51.219
 a range of ordinary people

00:19:51.219 --> 00:19:53.240
 writing in the different centuries

00:19:53.240 --> 00:19:54.159
 at different times

00:19:54.159 --> 00:19:55.339
 and different circumstances

00:19:55.339 --> 00:19:57.359
 and he oversees them

00:19:57.359 --> 00:19:58.019
 supernaturally

00:19:58.019 --> 00:19:59.759
 to record precisely

00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:01.319
 what God wants them to write.

00:20:03.479 --> 00:20:04.639
 And here's the point.

00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:06.500
 It is so precise

00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:07.479
 and so accurate

00:20:07.479 --> 00:20:08.639
 under the Holy Spirit's

00:20:08.639 --> 00:20:09.259
 superintending

00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:10.159
 that we can say

00:20:10.159 --> 00:20:10.819
 with confidence

00:20:10.819 --> 00:20:12.159
 that when we read

00:20:12.159 --> 00:20:12.939
 these words,

00:20:12.940 --> 00:20:14.200
 here in 2023,

00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:14.820
 here in 2023,

00:20:15.380 --> 00:20:16.700
 that they are just

00:20:16.700 --> 00:20:17.580
 as real

00:20:17.580 --> 00:20:18.400
 and living

00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:19.539
 and direct

00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:21.380
 and just as much

00:20:21.380 --> 00:20:22.279
 God speaking

00:20:22.279 --> 00:20:24.779
 as if God himself

00:20:24.779 --> 00:20:25.680
 was standing here

00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:26.279
 in front of us

00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:26.720
 this morning.

00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:28.740
 that's what the scripture

00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:32.579
 itself says of scripture.

00:20:35.360 --> 00:20:36.360
 Now that doesn't mean

00:20:36.360 --> 00:20:37.460
 the writers,

00:20:37.579 --> 00:20:38.120
 the Bible writers

00:20:38.120 --> 00:20:39.160
 were mindless robots.

00:20:39.160 --> 00:20:39.800
 No.

00:20:40.740 --> 00:20:41.600
 The Holy Spirit

00:20:41.600 --> 00:20:42.519
 superintended

00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:44.040
 the normal function

00:20:44.040 --> 00:20:44.860
 and faculties

00:20:44.860 --> 00:20:45.840
 of each of those

00:20:45.840 --> 00:20:46.720
 individual writers

00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:47.900
 so that not only

00:20:47.900 --> 00:20:48.720
 do we have

00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:49.880
 God's word recorded

00:20:49.880 --> 00:20:50.900
 over generations

00:20:50.900 --> 00:20:52.540
 but we see a lot

00:20:52.540 --> 00:20:53.140
 of different

00:20:53.140 --> 00:20:54.720
 personality types.

00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:56.560
 We see a range

00:20:56.560 --> 00:20:57.340
 of styles

00:20:57.340 --> 00:21:02.320
 but all combining

00:21:02.320 --> 00:21:03.660
 to be God's

00:21:03.660 --> 00:21:04.940
 recorded word.

00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:07.060
 God's words

00:21:07.059 --> 00:21:08.159
 in man's words.

00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:11.059
 And the next thing

00:21:11.059 --> 00:21:11.519
 is then

00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:12.740
 we need to understand

00:21:12.740 --> 00:21:13.720
 that that revelation

00:21:13.720 --> 00:21:14.599
 of God in words

00:21:14.599 --> 00:21:15.240
 is progressive.

00:21:16.619 --> 00:21:17.559
 As we move

00:21:17.559 --> 00:21:18.399
 through the Bible

00:21:18.399 --> 00:21:19.039
 from Genesis

00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:19.639
 right through

00:21:19.639 --> 00:21:20.119
 to the end

00:21:20.119 --> 00:21:21.819
 we see the progressiveness

00:21:21.819 --> 00:21:23.000
 as God

00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:23.920
 excuse me

00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:24.680
 as God speaks

00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:27.220
 he unfurls

00:21:27.220 --> 00:21:28.559
 his plan

00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:29.279
 of salvation.

00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:32.180
 Now again

00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:33.559
 as in any relationship

00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:36.140
 the longer it lasts

00:21:36.140 --> 00:21:37.299
 the more deeply

00:21:37.299 --> 00:21:38.140
 we get to know

00:21:38.140 --> 00:21:38.619
 the person

00:21:38.619 --> 00:21:39.480
 we're relating to.

00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:43.460
 And so it's the same.

00:21:44.140 --> 00:21:45.160
 God's revelation

00:21:45.160 --> 00:21:45.880
 of himself

00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:47.839
 gets richer

00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:49.000
 and fuller

00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:50.740
 and clearer

00:21:50.740 --> 00:21:52.319
 as we track

00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:53.120
 through what we

00:21:53.120 --> 00:21:53.779
 call the Bible.

00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:56.640
 As we trace

00:21:56.640 --> 00:21:57.539
 his relationship

00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:58.920
 and see his

00:21:58.920 --> 00:21:59.900
 salvation plan

00:21:59.900 --> 00:22:01.140
 unfurl through history.

00:22:02.140 --> 00:22:02.480
 And again

00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:03.700
 we see that principle

00:22:03.700 --> 00:22:04.839
 in Genesis 1-3.

00:22:05.500 --> 00:22:06.640
 I'll demonstrate it there

00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:07.120
 and then I'll be

00:22:07.120 --> 00:22:07.620
 jumping back

00:22:07.620 --> 00:22:08.819
 to the New Testament

00:22:08.819 --> 00:22:09.099
 again.

00:22:10.420 --> 00:22:11.039
 So when you look

00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:12.019
 at Genesis 1-2

00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:14.920
 then we see

00:22:14.920 --> 00:22:15.880
 a lot about

00:22:15.880 --> 00:22:16.720
 God's character.

00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:20.480
 but in Genesis 3

00:22:20.480 --> 00:22:21.680
 we see

00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:22.460
 aspects of

00:22:22.460 --> 00:22:23.100
 God's character

00:22:23.100 --> 00:22:23.839
 that I believe

00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:24.680
 couldn't possibly

00:22:24.680 --> 00:22:25.480
 have been known

00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:27.380
 in the time frame

00:22:27.380 --> 00:22:28.480
 of Genesis 1-2.

00:22:29.700 --> 00:22:30.579
 So in

00:22:30.579 --> 00:22:31.799
 Genesis 1-2

00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:33.140
 God's a creative God

00:22:33.140 --> 00:22:33.980
 he's a good God

00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:34.920
 he's a personal God

00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:36.240
 but it's not until

00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:37.440
 we get to Genesis 3

00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:38.420
 that we see an aspect

00:22:38.420 --> 00:22:39.539
 of God's character

00:22:39.539 --> 00:22:40.600
 that would have been

00:22:40.600 --> 00:22:41.440
 new to Adam and Eve

00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:41.940
 that is

00:22:41.940 --> 00:22:43.259
 we see that God

00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:44.339
 is a God of wrath

00:22:44.339 --> 00:22:46.000
 a God who takes

00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:46.720
 himself very

00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:47.519
 very seriously

00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:50.380
 and who will act

00:22:50.380 --> 00:22:51.220
 decisively

00:22:51.220 --> 00:22:52.759
 with those

00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:55.079
 who reject him

00:22:55.079 --> 00:22:56.059
 and refuse to live

00:22:56.059 --> 00:22:56.660
 under his rule.

00:22:57.920 --> 00:22:58.359
 And we'll see

00:22:58.359 --> 00:22:59.279
 in Genesis 3

00:22:59.279 --> 00:23:00.279
 he's a God of judgment.

00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:02.859
 There are consequences

00:23:02.859 --> 00:23:04.980
 for stepping out

00:23:04.980 --> 00:23:06.380
 from under the authority

00:23:06.380 --> 00:23:07.559
 of this good

00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:08.559
 creative God

00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:09.019
 that we meet

00:23:09.019 --> 00:23:10.000
 in Genesis 1-2.

00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:13.920
 and in the end

00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:14.720
 of Genesis 3

00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:16.059
 we also see

00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:17.680
 that this is a God

00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:18.299
 of grace

00:23:18.299 --> 00:23:18.960
 and mercy

00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:19.839
 and compassion.

00:23:23.720 --> 00:23:24.339
 You see

00:23:24.339 --> 00:23:25.720
 it's progressive revelation

00:23:25.720 --> 00:23:27.460
 three chapters in

00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:28.420
 and we're already

00:23:28.420 --> 00:23:29.119
 starting to build

00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:30.420
 a much richer picture

00:23:30.420 --> 00:23:33.559
 of God's character

00:23:33.559 --> 00:23:34.740
 and God's purposes.

00:23:34.740 --> 00:23:39.279
 And progressive revelation

00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:40.279
 continues throughout

00:23:40.279 --> 00:23:40.980
 the Old Testament

00:23:40.980 --> 00:23:42.599
 as God speaks

00:23:42.599 --> 00:23:43.440
 to his people

00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:44.680
 in covenant

00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:45.400
 relationship

00:23:45.400 --> 00:23:46.000
 with them.

00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:50.359
 Each book

00:23:50.359 --> 00:23:50.839
 of the Bible

00:23:50.839 --> 00:23:52.180
 each generation

00:23:52.180 --> 00:23:53.460
 each circumstance

00:23:53.460 --> 00:23:54.359
 each event

00:23:54.359 --> 00:23:55.740
 we get another

00:23:55.740 --> 00:23:56.299
 little bit

00:23:56.299 --> 00:23:56.759
 of the picture

00:23:56.759 --> 00:23:57.299
 until

00:23:57.299 --> 00:24:00.759
 the process

00:24:00.759 --> 00:24:01.559
 is completed

00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:03.120
 with Jesus.

00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:06.220
 Why is it

00:24:06.220 --> 00:24:07.039
 completed with Jesus?

00:24:07.740 --> 00:24:08.059
 Well

00:24:08.059 --> 00:24:09.059
 you need to turn

00:24:09.059 --> 00:24:09.759
 with me to Hebrews

00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:10.500
 chapter 1

00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:12.960
 to start putting

00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:13.640
 that point

00:24:13.640 --> 00:24:14.120
 down

00:24:14.120 --> 00:24:16.460
 in concrete terms.

00:24:26.519 --> 00:24:27.579
 So the writer

00:24:27.579 --> 00:24:28.259
 of Hebrews

00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:30.339
 says this

00:24:30.339 --> 00:24:30.720
 in Hebrews

00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:31.319
 chapter 1

00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:33.160
 Long ago

00:24:33.160 --> 00:24:34.700
 at many times

00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:35.759
 and in many places

00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:36.720
 God spoke to

00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:37.220
 our fathers

00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:37.980
 by the prophets

00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:40.840
 but in these

00:24:40.840 --> 00:24:41.740
 last days

00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:42.880
 he has spoken

00:24:42.880 --> 00:24:43.360
 to us

00:24:43.360 --> 00:24:44.300
 by his son

00:24:44.300 --> 00:24:46.340
 whom he appointed

00:24:46.340 --> 00:24:46.860
 the heir

00:24:46.860 --> 00:24:47.519
 of all things

00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:48.640
 through whom

00:24:48.640 --> 00:24:49.600
 also he created

00:24:49.600 --> 00:24:50.060
 the world.

00:24:51.100 --> 00:24:52.360
 He is the radiance

00:24:52.360 --> 00:24:53.120
 of the glory

00:24:53.120 --> 00:24:53.600
 of God

00:24:53.600 --> 00:24:54.720
 and the exact

00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:55.420
 imprint

00:24:55.420 --> 00:24:56.380
 of his nature

00:24:56.380 --> 00:24:59.160
 and he upholds

00:24:59.160 --> 00:24:59.580
 the universe

00:24:59.580 --> 00:25:00.300
 by his word

00:25:00.300 --> 00:25:01.779
 and by his word

00:25:01.779 --> 00:25:02.480
 of his power

00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:03.799
 and after

00:25:03.799 --> 00:25:04.920
 making purifications

00:25:04.920 --> 00:25:05.720
 for sins

00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:06.599
 he sat down

00:25:06.599 --> 00:25:07.400
 at the right hand

00:25:07.400 --> 00:25:08.019
 of the majesty

00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:08.539
 on high.

00:25:13.700 --> 00:25:14.220
 Progressive

00:25:14.220 --> 00:25:14.779
 revelation

00:25:14.779 --> 00:25:15.860
 we get

00:25:15.860 --> 00:25:17.480
 an increasingly

00:25:17.480 --> 00:25:18.380
 clear picture

00:25:18.380 --> 00:25:18.860
 of God

00:25:18.860 --> 00:25:19.599
 and his purposes

00:25:19.599 --> 00:25:20.299
 and salvation

00:25:20.299 --> 00:25:20.960
 until we get

00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:21.500
 to Jesus

00:25:21.500 --> 00:25:22.980
 and when we get

00:25:22.980 --> 00:25:23.460
 to Jesus

00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:24.599
 we've got the

00:25:24.599 --> 00:25:25.819
 final piece

00:25:25.819 --> 00:25:27.779
 of the puzzle.

00:25:28.360 --> 00:25:29.259
 The one piece

00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:29.640
 of the puzzle

00:25:29.640 --> 00:25:30.180
 in a sense

00:25:30.180 --> 00:25:31.279
 makes sense

00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:31.740
 of all the

00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:32.279
 other pieces

00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:32.660
 that come

00:25:32.660 --> 00:25:33.200
 before it.

00:25:35.500 --> 00:25:36.140
 If you want

00:25:36.140 --> 00:25:36.360
 to know

00:25:36.360 --> 00:25:36.920
 what God

00:25:36.920 --> 00:25:37.380
 says

00:25:37.380 --> 00:25:39.340
 look at Jesus

00:25:39.340 --> 00:25:40.320
 he's the exact

00:25:40.320 --> 00:25:41.140
 imprint.

00:25:44.140 --> 00:25:44.720
 If you want

00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:45.180
 to see the

00:25:45.180 --> 00:25:46.259
 creative power

00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:46.759
 of God

00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:48.060
 look at Jesus

00:25:48.060 --> 00:25:49.759
 he's the radiance

00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:50.560
 of God's glory.

00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:54.440
 Do you want

00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:54.580
 to know

00:25:54.580 --> 00:25:54.920
 what God

00:25:54.920 --> 00:25:55.320
 is like?

00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:56.400
 Look at Jesus

00:25:56.400 --> 00:25:58.480
 he's been

00:25:58.480 --> 00:25:59.120
 with Jesus

00:25:59.120 --> 00:25:59.980
 since before

00:25:59.980 --> 00:26:00.519
 the creation

00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:01.080
 of the world.

00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:01.920
 He's been

00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:02.360
 with God

00:26:02.360 --> 00:26:02.759
 since before

00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:03.380
 the creation

00:26:03.380 --> 00:26:03.700
 of the world.

00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:04.340
 He is God

00:26:04.340 --> 00:26:05.420
 before the creation

00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:05.900
 of the world.

00:26:09.060 --> 00:26:10.060
 God has spoken

00:26:10.060 --> 00:26:11.120
 most plainly

00:26:11.120 --> 00:26:11.880
 God has spoken

00:26:11.880 --> 00:26:12.480
 lots

00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:13.140
 throughout the

00:26:13.140 --> 00:26:13.580
 Old Testament

00:26:13.580 --> 00:26:14.540
 but he's spoken

00:26:14.540 --> 00:26:15.680
 most plainly

00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:16.780
 and finally

00:26:16.780 --> 00:26:17.920
 in Jesus.

00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:19.680
 In other words

00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:21.180
 God has nothing

00:26:21.180 --> 00:26:22.240
 more to say

00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:23.360
 in terms

00:26:23.360 --> 00:26:24.240
 of his salvation

00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:24.660
 plan.

00:26:24.660 --> 00:26:26.900
 is fully

00:26:26.900 --> 00:26:27.420
 embodied

00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:28.620
 and fulfilled

00:26:28.620 --> 00:26:29.140
 in Jesus.

00:26:29.940 --> 00:26:30.759
 We see the same

00:26:30.759 --> 00:26:31.259
 thing in John

00:26:31.259 --> 00:26:31.779
 chapter 1

00:26:31.779 --> 00:26:32.600
 verse 1

00:26:32.600 --> 00:26:33.000
 to 18

00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:34.980
 where that

00:26:34.980 --> 00:26:35.860
 famous passage

00:26:35.860 --> 00:26:37.100
 of the word

00:26:37.100 --> 00:26:37.860
 the word

00:26:37.860 --> 00:26:38.779
 becomes flesh

00:26:38.779 --> 00:26:39.900
 and again

00:26:39.900 --> 00:26:40.400
 I don't have time

00:26:40.400 --> 00:26:41.080
 to read it all

00:26:41.080 --> 00:26:42.480
 but the highlight

00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:43.340
 of that introduction

00:26:43.340 --> 00:26:43.860
 is

00:26:43.860 --> 00:26:45.840
 that the word

00:26:45.840 --> 00:26:46.540
 you can't get

00:26:46.540 --> 00:26:47.400
 any more personal

00:26:47.400 --> 00:26:47.880
 than that

00:26:47.880 --> 00:26:48.300
 than saying

00:26:48.300 --> 00:26:48.980
 the word

00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:50.100
 actually becomes

00:26:50.100 --> 00:26:50.700
 flesh.

00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:54.259
 God's

00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:54.740
 creative

00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:55.940
 saving

00:26:55.940 --> 00:26:56.600
 word

00:26:56.600 --> 00:26:57.620
 actually

00:26:57.620 --> 00:26:58.140
 becomes

00:26:58.140 --> 00:26:58.640
 flesh

00:26:58.640 --> 00:26:59.299
 in the person

00:26:59.299 --> 00:26:59.779
 of Jesus

00:26:59.779 --> 00:27:01.140
 and dwells

00:27:01.140 --> 00:27:01.799
 among us.

00:27:06.299 --> 00:27:07.080
 Why?

00:27:08.900 --> 00:27:10.019
 That we might

00:27:10.019 --> 00:27:10.740
 have new life.

00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:15.019
 Now again

00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:15.440
 just to

00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:16.299
 pause on the

00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:16.680
 way through

00:27:16.680 --> 00:27:16.900
 here

00:27:16.900 --> 00:27:17.539
 and just

00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:18.539
 score a point

00:27:18.539 --> 00:27:19.039
 by way of

00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:19.579
 something to

00:27:19.579 --> 00:27:19.980
 think about

00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:21.019
 application wise.

00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:23.599
 What that

00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:24.480
 means I

00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:25.200
 believe

00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:25.680
 and I think

00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:26.240
 we've lost

00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:27.059
 that in

00:27:27.059 --> 00:27:27.680
 so many

00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:28.960
 places in

00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:29.559
 the Christian

00:27:29.559 --> 00:27:30.019
 church

00:27:30.019 --> 00:27:31.039
 what it

00:27:31.039 --> 00:27:31.759
 means is

00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:33.140
 that all

00:27:33.140 --> 00:27:33.720
 religious

00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:34.500
 experience

00:27:34.500 --> 00:27:35.640
 all religious

00:27:35.640 --> 00:27:36.279
 authority

00:27:36.279 --> 00:27:38.480
 must be

00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:39.000
 evaluated

00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:39.880
 against the

00:27:39.880 --> 00:27:40.220
 words of

00:27:40.220 --> 00:27:40.539
 Jesus.

00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:43.860
 If he

00:27:43.860 --> 00:27:44.660
 is the

00:27:44.660 --> 00:27:45.940
 complete

00:27:45.940 --> 00:27:46.220
 the

00:27:46.220 --> 00:27:46.700
 fulfillment

00:27:46.700 --> 00:27:47.319
 of God's

00:27:47.319 --> 00:27:47.480
 word

00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:48.100
 the final

00:27:48.100 --> 00:27:48.539
 God's

00:27:48.539 --> 00:27:48.740
 word

00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:49.259
 then

00:27:49.259 --> 00:27:49.700
 whatever

00:27:49.700 --> 00:27:50.180
 Jesus

00:27:50.180 --> 00:27:50.700
 says

00:27:50.700 --> 00:27:51.579
 has to

00:27:51.579 --> 00:27:51.900
 be the

00:27:51.900 --> 00:27:52.240
 measure

00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:52.640
 of what

00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:53.100
 God's

00:27:53.100 --> 00:27:53.339
 will

00:27:53.339 --> 00:27:53.559
 and

00:27:53.559 --> 00:27:53.940
 purpose

00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:54.259
 in our

00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:54.539
 world

00:27:54.539 --> 00:27:54.779
 is

00:27:54.779 --> 00:27:55.660
 and in

00:27:55.660 --> 00:27:55.799
 the

00:27:55.799 --> 00:27:56.200
 church.

00:28:01.160 --> 00:28:01.839
 How do

00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:02.079
 we fit

00:28:02.079 --> 00:28:02.360
 the New

00:28:02.360 --> 00:28:02.600
 Testament

00:28:02.600 --> 00:28:03.079
 into that?

00:28:03.660 --> 00:28:03.960
 Well

00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:04.539
 the New

00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:04.880
 Testament

00:28:04.880 --> 00:28:05.420
 was written

00:28:05.420 --> 00:28:06.200
 by divinely

00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:06.640
 appointed

00:28:06.640 --> 00:28:07.100
 apostles

00:28:07.100 --> 00:28:08.279
 who took

00:28:08.279 --> 00:28:08.759
 the words

00:28:08.759 --> 00:28:09.279
 of Jesus

00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:10.059
 and applied

00:28:10.059 --> 00:28:10.440
 them

00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:11.899
 under the

00:28:11.899 --> 00:28:12.960
 supernatural

00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:14.579
 superintending

00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:14.819
 of the

00:28:14.819 --> 00:28:15.379
 Holy Spirit

00:28:15.379 --> 00:28:16.819
 applied them

00:28:16.819 --> 00:28:17.139
 in the

00:28:17.139 --> 00:28:17.419
 building

00:28:17.419 --> 00:28:17.639
 of the

00:28:17.639 --> 00:28:18.019
 church

00:28:18.019 --> 00:28:19.579
 and so

00:28:19.579 --> 00:28:20.000
 the record

00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:20.259
 of the

00:28:20.259 --> 00:28:20.899
 New Testament

00:28:20.899 --> 00:28:21.980
 is the

00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:22.319
 record

00:28:22.319 --> 00:28:23.419
 of the

00:28:23.419 --> 00:28:23.740
 word

00:28:23.740 --> 00:28:24.639
 God's

00:28:24.639 --> 00:28:24.960
 words

00:28:24.960 --> 00:28:25.220
 through

00:28:25.220 --> 00:28:25.639
 Jesus

00:28:25.639 --> 00:28:26.220
 as the

00:28:26.220 --> 00:28:26.460
 Old

00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:26.859
 Testament

00:28:26.859 --> 00:28:27.419
 is the

00:28:27.419 --> 00:28:27.720
 record

00:28:27.720 --> 00:28:28.379
 of God's

00:28:28.379 --> 00:28:29.000
 spoken word

00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:30.039
 into his

00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:30.359
 world.

00:28:34.799 --> 00:28:35.419
 Well

00:28:35.419 --> 00:28:36.019
 that's how

00:28:36.019 --> 00:28:36.659
 God speaks.

00:28:37.099 --> 00:28:37.579
 Why does

00:28:37.579 --> 00:28:38.139
 God speak?

00:28:40.740 --> 00:28:41.139
 Well

00:28:41.139 --> 00:28:41.379
 the first

00:28:41.379 --> 00:28:41.639
 thing I want

00:28:41.639 --> 00:28:41.859
 to say

00:28:41.859 --> 00:28:42.199
 here is

00:28:42.199 --> 00:28:42.500
 that God

00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:42.779
 doesn't

00:28:42.779 --> 00:28:43.139
 need to

00:28:43.139 --> 00:28:43.399
 speak

00:28:43.399 --> 00:28:43.759
 really.

00:28:45.139 --> 00:28:45.539
 Sometimes

00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:46.639
 we speak

00:28:46.639 --> 00:28:47.439
 or you

00:28:47.439 --> 00:28:47.599
 know

00:28:47.599 --> 00:28:48.019
 sometimes

00:28:48.019 --> 00:28:48.359
 you have

00:28:48.359 --> 00:28:48.740
 the person

00:28:48.740 --> 00:28:49.240
 who speaks

00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:49.980
 would never

00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:50.319
 be me

00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:50.659
 but they

00:28:50.659 --> 00:28:50.980
 speak because

00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:51.460
 they're lonely

00:28:51.460 --> 00:28:52.079
 or because

00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:52.379
 there's a

00:28:52.379 --> 00:28:52.899
 space and

00:28:52.899 --> 00:28:53.199
 they have to

00:28:53.199 --> 00:28:53.539
 fill it

00:28:53.539 --> 00:28:54.059
 with words.

00:28:55.339 --> 00:28:55.899
 God's not

00:28:55.899 --> 00:28:56.419
 like that.

00:28:56.879 --> 00:28:57.139
 He's not

00:28:57.139 --> 00:28:57.439
 lonely.

00:28:57.579 --> 00:28:57.759
 He's not

00:28:57.759 --> 00:28:58.240
 filling up

00:28:58.240 --> 00:28:59.299
 some longing

00:28:59.299 --> 00:29:00.639
 or deficiency

00:29:00.639 --> 00:29:01.240
 in himself.

00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:03.159
 His purpose

00:29:03.160 --> 00:29:03.660
 in speaking

00:29:03.660 --> 00:29:04.420
 is very

00:29:04.420 --> 00:29:05.220
 very purposeful

00:29:05.220 --> 00:29:07.240
 and that

00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:07.640
 is to

00:29:07.640 --> 00:29:08.340
 deliver us

00:29:08.340 --> 00:29:08.640
 into

00:29:08.640 --> 00:29:09.360
 unending

00:29:09.360 --> 00:29:09.920
 pleasure

00:29:09.920 --> 00:29:10.519
 with him.

00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:13.560
 In other

00:29:13.560 --> 00:29:13.820
 words

00:29:13.820 --> 00:29:15.259
 God

00:29:15.259 --> 00:29:15.820
 speaks

00:29:15.820 --> 00:29:17.660
 in order

00:29:17.660 --> 00:29:17.960
 that we

00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:18.360
 might be

00:29:18.360 --> 00:29:18.900
 friends

00:29:18.900 --> 00:29:19.480
 with him

00:29:19.480 --> 00:29:20.140
 that we

00:29:20.140 --> 00:29:20.460
 might be

00:29:20.460 --> 00:29:21.040
 in relationship

00:29:21.040 --> 00:29:21.640
 with him.

00:29:26.920 --> 00:29:27.360
 Again

00:29:27.360 --> 00:29:28.140
 we've seen

00:29:28.140 --> 00:29:28.800
 in the past

00:29:28.800 --> 00:29:29.200
 few weeks

00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:29.779
 Genesis 1

00:29:29.779 --> 00:29:30.200
 to 3

00:29:30.200 --> 00:29:32.299
 that we

00:29:32.299 --> 00:29:32.960
 learn that

00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:33.819
 people there

00:29:33.819 --> 00:29:34.720
 people were

00:29:34.720 --> 00:29:35.360
 created

00:29:35.360 --> 00:29:36.740
 people are

00:29:36.740 --> 00:29:37.220
 made

00:29:37.220 --> 00:29:39.440
 to know

00:29:39.440 --> 00:29:39.880
 God.

00:29:41.960 --> 00:29:43.039
 Our purpose

00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:43.799
 in life

00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:45.600
 is to know

00:29:45.600 --> 00:29:46.200
 God and

00:29:46.200 --> 00:29:46.779
 enjoy him.

00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:48.160
 The good

00:29:48.160 --> 00:29:48.680
 life, the

00:29:48.680 --> 00:29:49.340
 best life

00:29:49.340 --> 00:29:49.580
 that we

00:29:49.580 --> 00:29:49.980
 were created

00:29:49.980 --> 00:29:50.920
 for is

00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:51.400
 the life

00:29:51.400 --> 00:29:52.440
 lived under

00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:52.980
 God and

00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:53.559
 with God.

00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:55.400
 Those are

00:29:55.400 --> 00:29:55.860
 all themes

00:29:55.860 --> 00:29:56.319
 from Genesis

00:29:56.319 --> 00:29:56.900
 1 to 3.

00:29:58.580 --> 00:29:59.140
 Jesus

00:29:59.140 --> 00:29:59.840
 reinforces

00:29:59.839 --> 00:30:00.419
 that truth

00:30:00.419 --> 00:30:01.099
 and makes

00:30:01.099 --> 00:30:01.379
 it more

00:30:01.379 --> 00:30:02.000
 precise in

00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:02.799
 John 17

00:30:02.799 --> 00:30:03.720
 that famous

00:30:03.720 --> 00:30:05.099
 prayer on

00:30:05.099 --> 00:30:05.899
 the eve of

00:30:05.899 --> 00:30:07.079
 his crucifixion.

00:30:08.299 --> 00:30:08.659
 He says

00:30:08.659 --> 00:30:09.019
 this is

00:30:09.019 --> 00:30:09.459
 life.

00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:11.959
 They might

00:30:11.959 --> 00:30:12.559
 know him

00:30:12.559 --> 00:30:12.879
 who sent

00:30:12.879 --> 00:30:13.480
 me and

00:30:13.480 --> 00:30:13.919
 know me.

00:30:14.099 --> 00:30:14.339
 In other

00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:15.659
 words God

00:30:15.659 --> 00:30:16.379
 speaks.

00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:17.619
 The reason

00:30:17.619 --> 00:30:18.079
 I'm here

00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:18.500
 as the

00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:19.899
 word living

00:30:19.899 --> 00:30:20.519
 and dwelling

00:30:20.519 --> 00:30:21.039
 among you

00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:22.159
 is that

00:30:22.159 --> 00:30:22.779
 you might

00:30:22.779 --> 00:30:23.839
 have true

00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:24.199
 life,

00:30:24.299 --> 00:30:24.659
 eternal

00:30:24.659 --> 00:30:25.179
 life.

00:30:25.180 --> 00:30:28.360
 that you

00:30:28.360 --> 00:30:28.700
 might be

00:30:28.700 --> 00:30:28.820
 in

00:30:28.820 --> 00:30:29.400
 relationship

00:30:29.400 --> 00:30:30.340
 with God

00:30:30.340 --> 00:30:30.779
 forever.

00:30:32.740 --> 00:30:33.279
 Friends,

00:30:33.360 --> 00:30:33.660
 why does

00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:34.259
 God speak?

00:30:35.580 --> 00:30:35.799
 Well,

00:30:35.900 --> 00:30:36.420
 ultimately

00:30:36.420 --> 00:30:37.240
 he speaks

00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:38.920
 that we

00:30:38.920 --> 00:30:39.799
 might receive

00:30:39.799 --> 00:30:40.600
 salvation

00:30:40.600 --> 00:30:42.500
 and fellowship

00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:43.340
 with him

00:30:43.340 --> 00:30:43.980
 forever.

00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:47.779
 Now,

00:30:47.820 --> 00:30:48.019
 again,

00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:49.259
 see the

00:30:49.259 --> 00:30:50.340
 potential

00:30:50.340 --> 00:30:50.880
 disconnect

00:30:50.880 --> 00:30:51.299
 there.

00:30:51.299 --> 00:30:52.299
 That means,

00:30:52.419 --> 00:30:52.599
 again,

00:30:52.680 --> 00:30:53.079
 if God

00:30:53.079 --> 00:30:53.579
 hadn't

00:30:53.579 --> 00:30:53.980
 spoken,

00:30:55.839 --> 00:30:56.879
 there

00:30:56.879 --> 00:30:57.379
 wouldn't be

00:30:57.379 --> 00:30:57.879
 salvation,

00:30:58.000 --> 00:30:58.079
 there

00:30:58.079 --> 00:30:58.480
 wouldn't be

00:30:58.480 --> 00:30:58.919
 fellowship.

00:31:06.779 --> 00:31:07.399
 Flip the

00:31:07.399 --> 00:31:07.899
 coin again.

00:31:08.419 --> 00:31:08.839
 That means

00:31:08.839 --> 00:31:09.319
 we're made

00:31:09.319 --> 00:31:09.960
 as rational

00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:10.440
 beings,

00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:10.779
 and we

00:31:10.779 --> 00:31:11.339
 are rational

00:31:11.339 --> 00:31:11.740
 beings,

00:31:12.500 --> 00:31:12.720
 well,

00:31:12.859 --> 00:31:13.039
 at least

00:31:13.039 --> 00:31:13.299
 some of

00:31:13.299 --> 00:31:13.659
 the time.

00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:14.180
 We're

00:31:14.180 --> 00:31:14.460
 supposed to

00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.859
 be rational

00:31:14.859 --> 00:31:15.200
 beings.

00:31:15.899 --> 00:31:16.480
 We're able

00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:16.980
 to think,

00:31:17.899 --> 00:31:18.220
 we're able

00:31:18.220 --> 00:31:18.720
 to act

00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:19.059
 on our

00:31:19.059 --> 00:31:19.599
 environment,

00:31:20.399 --> 00:31:20.980
 we're able

00:31:20.980 --> 00:31:21.599
 to love,

00:31:22.420 --> 00:31:22.740
 listen,

00:31:23.019 --> 00:31:23.420
 speak.

00:31:25.299 --> 00:31:27.079
 Why do

00:31:27.079 --> 00:31:27.400
 we do

00:31:27.400 --> 00:31:27.779
 all those

00:31:27.779 --> 00:31:28.039
 things?

00:31:28.140 --> 00:31:28.559
 Ultimately,

00:31:28.860 --> 00:31:29.360
 for us as

00:31:29.360 --> 00:31:29.660
 people,

00:31:30.839 --> 00:31:31.700
 we do

00:31:31.700 --> 00:31:31.980
 all those

00:31:31.980 --> 00:31:33.099
 things because

00:31:33.099 --> 00:31:33.799
 they're elements

00:31:33.799 --> 00:31:34.720
 of creating

00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:35.940
 relationship and

00:31:35.940 --> 00:31:36.279
 building

00:31:36.279 --> 00:31:36.940
 relationship.

00:31:37.940 --> 00:31:38.660
 They're elements

00:31:38.660 --> 00:31:39.360
 of affection

00:31:39.360 --> 00:31:42.299
 and commitment.

00:31:43.420 --> 00:31:43.680
 And God

00:31:43.680 --> 00:31:44.420
 has made us

00:31:44.420 --> 00:31:45.200
 as we are,

00:31:45.480 --> 00:31:46.099
 his image

00:31:46.099 --> 00:31:46.599
 bearers,

00:31:47.160 --> 00:31:47.819
 that we

00:31:47.819 --> 00:31:48.539
 might be

00:31:48.539 --> 00:31:48.920
 able to

00:31:48.920 --> 00:31:50.299
 engage in

00:31:50.299 --> 00:31:51.019
 meaningful,

00:31:51.539 --> 00:31:52.159
 reciprocal

00:31:52.159 --> 00:31:53.279
 relationship

00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:54.059
 with him.

00:31:59.680 --> 00:32:00.200
 So,

00:32:00.419 --> 00:32:01.259
 God doesn't

00:32:01.259 --> 00:32:02.259
 want to

00:32:02.259 --> 00:32:02.779
 relate to

00:32:02.779 --> 00:32:03.599
 us like

00:32:03.599 --> 00:32:04.599
 a farmer

00:32:04.599 --> 00:32:05.680
 relates to

00:32:05.680 --> 00:32:06.000
 a sheep

00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:06.319
 dog.

00:32:07.659 --> 00:32:08.079
 Get behind.

00:32:09.839 --> 00:32:10.359
 No,

00:32:11.359 --> 00:32:11.619
 he wants

00:32:11.619 --> 00:32:12.059
 to relate

00:32:12.059 --> 00:32:12.500
 to us

00:32:12.500 --> 00:32:14.419
 more like

00:32:14.419 --> 00:32:14.779
 the picture

00:32:14.779 --> 00:32:15.019
 of a

00:32:15.019 --> 00:32:15.440
 husband and

00:32:15.440 --> 00:32:15.759
 wife,

00:32:16.359 --> 00:32:16.799
 a father

00:32:16.799 --> 00:32:17.339
 and son,

00:32:17.339 --> 00:32:18.399
 or two

00:32:18.399 --> 00:32:18.939
 besties,

00:32:19.059 --> 00:32:19.559
 whatever

00:32:19.559 --> 00:32:20.059
 picture it

00:32:20.059 --> 00:32:20.159
 is.

00:32:20.399 --> 00:32:20.699
 It's that

00:32:20.699 --> 00:32:21.480
 picture of

00:32:21.480 --> 00:32:22.000
 intimacy,

00:32:22.599 --> 00:32:22.879
 a picture

00:32:22.879 --> 00:32:23.599
 of affection,

00:32:24.159 --> 00:32:25.480
 reciprocal

00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:26.159
 nature.

00:32:31.639 --> 00:32:32.199
 So,

00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:32.879
 God speaks.

00:32:35.419 --> 00:32:36.359
 And because

00:32:36.359 --> 00:32:36.799
 God is

00:32:36.799 --> 00:32:37.240
 committed to

00:32:37.240 --> 00:32:37.919
 this friendship,

00:32:39.099 --> 00:32:39.919
 being living

00:32:39.919 --> 00:32:40.799
 and active,

00:32:41.799 --> 00:32:42.699
 then it's

00:32:42.699 --> 00:32:43.039
 not a

00:32:43.039 --> 00:32:43.740
 surprise that

00:32:43.740 --> 00:32:44.279
 his word

00:32:44.279 --> 00:32:45.379
 is described

00:32:45.380 --> 00:32:46.000
 as living

00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:47.160
 and dynamic

00:32:47.160 --> 00:32:47.900
 and active,

00:32:48.200 --> 00:32:49.000
 as a guide

00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:50.420
 throughout life.

00:32:52.520 --> 00:32:53.080
 Again,

00:32:53.340 --> 00:32:53.880
 the only way

00:32:53.880 --> 00:32:54.200
 to make

00:32:54.200 --> 00:32:55.300
 friends is

00:32:55.300 --> 00:32:55.860
 to speak

00:32:55.860 --> 00:32:57.080
 and keep

00:32:57.080 --> 00:32:57.740
 on speaking.

00:32:58.280 --> 00:32:58.720
 If a friendship

00:32:58.720 --> 00:32:59.120
 is going to

00:32:59.120 --> 00:32:59.560
 survive,

00:32:59.980 --> 00:33:00.760
 it needs to be

00:33:00.760 --> 00:33:01.280
 fed with

00:33:01.280 --> 00:33:02.860
 words and

00:33:02.860 --> 00:33:03.620
 affections.

00:33:05.940 --> 00:33:06.960
 God speaks

00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:07.520
 to his image

00:33:07.520 --> 00:33:07.960
 bearers.

00:33:09.340 --> 00:33:10.240
 He finds

00:33:10.240 --> 00:33:11.440
 joy in

00:33:11.440 --> 00:33:12.040
 giving us

00:33:12.039 --> 00:33:12.500
 gifts.

00:33:14.119 --> 00:33:14.559
 And we

00:33:14.559 --> 00:33:15.200
 find our

00:33:15.200 --> 00:33:16.079
 joy in

00:33:16.079 --> 00:33:16.579
 giving him

00:33:16.579 --> 00:33:17.119
 thanks.

00:33:22.299 --> 00:33:22.819
 Again,

00:33:22.920 --> 00:33:23.220
 back in

00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:23.619
 2 Timothy

00:33:23.619 --> 00:33:24.220
 chapter 3

00:33:24.220 --> 00:33:25.279
 verse 16

00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:25.599
 again.

00:33:26.680 --> 00:33:27.059
 God's

00:33:27.059 --> 00:33:27.839
 greatest gift

00:33:27.839 --> 00:33:28.579
 is new

00:33:28.579 --> 00:33:29.039
 life in

00:33:29.039 --> 00:33:29.440
 Christ.

00:33:31.940 --> 00:33:32.339
 And his

00:33:32.339 --> 00:33:32.819
 word,

00:33:33.139 --> 00:33:33.740
 we're told

00:33:33.740 --> 00:33:34.059
 there,

00:33:34.559 --> 00:33:34.980
 and notice

00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:35.740
 the tense,

00:33:35.859 --> 00:33:36.180
 his word,

00:33:36.279 --> 00:33:36.740
 though written

00:33:36.740 --> 00:33:37.480
 in the past,

00:33:37.740 --> 00:33:38.539
 present tense,

00:33:38.940 --> 00:33:39.559
 is able.

00:33:42.039 --> 00:33:43.059
 It's

00:33:43.059 --> 00:33:43.399
 living,

00:33:43.579 --> 00:33:44.139
 it's dynamic,

00:33:44.279 --> 00:33:44.799
 it's active,

00:33:44.920 --> 00:33:45.899
 is able to

00:33:45.899 --> 00:33:46.460
 bring us to

00:33:46.460 --> 00:33:46.980
 salvation.

00:33:51.619 --> 00:33:52.359
 But much

00:33:52.359 --> 00:33:52.720
 more,

00:33:53.059 --> 00:33:53.559
 it's able,

00:33:54.019 --> 00:33:54.399
 and again,

00:33:54.559 --> 00:33:55.220
 notice the

00:33:55.220 --> 00:33:55.799
 present tense

00:33:55.799 --> 00:33:56.299
 written in the

00:33:56.299 --> 00:33:56.539
 past,

00:33:56.819 --> 00:33:57.519
 but is able

00:33:57.519 --> 00:33:58.740
 to guide us

00:33:58.740 --> 00:33:59.539
 and nurture us

00:33:59.539 --> 00:34:00.119
 into the life

00:34:00.119 --> 00:34:00.819
 of righteousness,

00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:02.420
 the life of

00:34:02.420 --> 00:34:03.299
 Christ-likeness,

00:34:03.799 --> 00:34:04.519
 or in the

00:34:04.519 --> 00:34:04.980
 words there,

00:34:05.279 --> 00:34:05.700
 to make us

00:34:05.700 --> 00:34:06.500
 true men and

00:34:06.500 --> 00:34:07.019
 true women

00:34:07.019 --> 00:34:07.440
 as we were

00:34:07.440 --> 00:34:08.199
 created to be.

00:34:12.039 --> 00:34:13.599
 And since

00:34:13.599 --> 00:34:14.279
 God hasn't

00:34:14.279 --> 00:34:14.800
 changed,

00:34:15.699 --> 00:34:16.759
 his voice to

00:34:16.759 --> 00:34:17.099
 the world

00:34:17.099 --> 00:34:17.860
 hasn't changed.

00:34:20.380 --> 00:34:21.000
 So the

00:34:21.000 --> 00:34:21.719
 Bible you have

00:34:21.719 --> 00:34:22.199
 in your hands

00:34:22.199 --> 00:34:22.639
 this morning

00:34:22.639 --> 00:34:23.000
 or on your

00:34:23.000 --> 00:34:23.420
 device,

00:34:23.920 --> 00:34:24.639
 the Bible you

00:34:24.639 --> 00:34:25.079
 have this

00:34:25.079 --> 00:34:25.820
 morning is

00:34:25.820 --> 00:34:27.059
 God's current

00:34:27.059 --> 00:34:27.800
 living,

00:34:28.079 --> 00:34:28.480
 active,

00:34:28.659 --> 00:34:29.519
 dynamic word

00:34:29.519 --> 00:34:30.420
 to you today

00:34:30.420 --> 00:34:32.079
 in 2023

00:34:32.079 --> 00:34:33.099
 as it was

00:34:33.099 --> 00:34:33.719
 when it was

00:34:33.719 --> 00:34:34.460
 first spoken.

00:34:34.460 --> 00:34:40.820
 The Bible

00:34:40.820 --> 00:34:41.480
 is God's

00:34:41.480 --> 00:34:42.579
 complete message

00:34:42.579 --> 00:34:43.539
 to his world.

00:34:44.280 --> 00:34:44.440
 Now,

00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:45.559
 it never

00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:46.159
 claims to

00:34:46.159 --> 00:34:46.840
 say everything

00:34:46.840 --> 00:34:47.380
 there is to

00:34:47.380 --> 00:34:47.900
 know about

00:34:47.900 --> 00:34:48.099
 God.

00:34:48.159 --> 00:34:48.420
 That's an

00:34:48.420 --> 00:34:48.940
 important thing.

00:34:49.039 --> 00:34:49.460
 Sometimes we

00:34:49.460 --> 00:34:49.820
 want the

00:34:49.820 --> 00:34:50.179
 Bible to

00:34:50.179 --> 00:34:50.619
 say more

00:34:50.619 --> 00:34:51.059
 than it's

00:34:51.059 --> 00:34:51.579
 ever promised

00:34:51.579 --> 00:34:51.920
 to say.

00:34:52.019 --> 00:34:52.340
 It never

00:34:52.340 --> 00:34:52.920
 claims to

00:34:52.920 --> 00:34:53.440
 say everything

00:34:53.440 --> 00:34:53.900
 there is to

00:34:53.900 --> 00:34:54.280
 know about

00:34:54.280 --> 00:34:54.599
 God,

00:34:55.119 --> 00:34:55.639
 but it

00:34:55.639 --> 00:34:56.400
 does claim

00:34:56.400 --> 00:34:57.220
 that it

00:34:57.220 --> 00:34:57.900
 says everything

00:34:57.900 --> 00:34:58.500
 we need

00:34:58.500 --> 00:34:58.940
 to know

00:34:58.940 --> 00:34:59.460
 to live

00:34:59.460 --> 00:35:00.400
 well in

00:35:00.400 --> 00:35:00.740
 God's

00:35:00.740 --> 00:35:01.179
 world as

00:35:01.179 --> 00:35:01.480
 God's

00:35:01.480 --> 00:35:01.720
 people.

00:35:01.719 --> 00:35:06.199
 So,

00:35:06.399 --> 00:35:07.079
 final question.

00:35:08.359 --> 00:35:08.799
 What should

00:35:08.799 --> 00:35:09.179
 be our

00:35:09.179 --> 00:35:09.859
 response to

00:35:09.859 --> 00:35:10.199
 God's

00:35:10.199 --> 00:35:10.639
 personal

00:35:10.639 --> 00:35:11.279
 words and

00:35:11.279 --> 00:35:11.639
 promises?

00:35:13.519 --> 00:35:14.159
 Well,

00:35:14.519 --> 00:35:15.980
 I think it's

00:35:15.980 --> 00:35:16.619
 a very simple

00:35:16.619 --> 00:35:17.059
 equation.

00:35:17.219 --> 00:35:17.619
 The shape

00:35:17.619 --> 00:35:18.199
 of God's

00:35:18.199 --> 00:35:18.779
 revelation

00:35:18.779 --> 00:35:20.919
 determines

00:35:20.919 --> 00:35:21.439
 the shape

00:35:21.439 --> 00:35:21.839
 of our

00:35:21.839 --> 00:35:22.359
 response.

00:35:24.239 --> 00:35:24.799
 God's

00:35:24.799 --> 00:35:25.279
 revelation

00:35:25.279 --> 00:35:25.919
 comes to

00:35:25.919 --> 00:35:26.179
 us in

00:35:26.179 --> 00:35:26.759
 words and

00:35:26.759 --> 00:35:27.379
 statements

00:35:27.379 --> 00:35:28.659
 and commands

00:35:28.659 --> 00:35:29.379
 and promises

00:35:29.379 --> 00:35:31.119
 our response.

00:35:31.719 --> 00:35:32.359
 ought to

00:35:32.359 --> 00:35:32.779
 be in

00:35:32.779 --> 00:35:33.259
 terms of

00:35:33.259 --> 00:35:33.719
 listening,

00:35:34.279 --> 00:35:34.559
 hating,

00:35:35.659 --> 00:35:36.339
 and obeying,

00:35:37.119 --> 00:35:37.559
 believing,

00:35:37.839 --> 00:35:38.199
 trusting.

00:35:40.399 --> 00:35:41.119
 It's that

00:35:41.119 --> 00:35:41.439
 simple.

00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:45.359
 In other

00:35:45.359 --> 00:35:45.619
 words,

00:35:46.619 --> 00:35:47.099
 we ought to

00:35:47.099 --> 00:35:47.419
 be,

00:35:47.819 --> 00:35:48.359
 our first

00:35:48.359 --> 00:35:49.019
 response ought

00:35:49.019 --> 00:35:49.799
 to be active

00:35:49.799 --> 00:35:51.759
 listening to

00:35:51.759 --> 00:35:52.299
 God's word.

00:35:53.639 --> 00:35:53.799
 Now,

00:35:54.559 --> 00:35:57.039
 the danger

00:35:57.039 --> 00:35:57.599
 of not

00:35:57.599 --> 00:35:59.119
 listening is

00:35:59.119 --> 00:35:59.719
 so real

00:35:59.719 --> 00:36:01.199
 for us and

00:36:01.199 --> 00:36:02.059
 so dangerous.

00:36:04.819 --> 00:36:05.460
 Genesis 3,

00:36:05.759 --> 00:36:06.079
 the very

00:36:06.079 --> 00:36:06.799
 first instance

00:36:06.799 --> 00:36:07.559
 of God's

00:36:07.559 --> 00:36:09.179
 people when

00:36:09.179 --> 00:36:09.739
 they stopped

00:36:09.739 --> 00:36:10.480
 listening to

00:36:10.480 --> 00:36:10.819
 God,

00:36:14.059 --> 00:36:15.059
 choosing not

00:36:15.059 --> 00:36:15.960
 to hear

00:36:15.960 --> 00:36:16.779
 God's word,

00:36:16.980 --> 00:36:17.899
 choosing not

00:36:17.899 --> 00:36:18.480
 to heed

00:36:18.480 --> 00:36:19.379
 God's word.

00:36:20.980 --> 00:36:21.379
 And Genesis

00:36:21.379 --> 00:36:22.319
 3 describes

00:36:22.319 --> 00:36:22.899
 that as an

00:36:22.899 --> 00:36:23.319
 act of

00:36:23.319 --> 00:36:24.099
 arrogant

00:36:24.099 --> 00:36:25.399
 rebellion.

00:36:25.400 --> 00:36:28.539
 how significant

00:36:28.539 --> 00:36:29.039
 was it?

00:36:29.599 --> 00:36:29.820
 Well,

00:36:29.820 --> 00:36:30.019
 it was

00:36:30.019 --> 00:36:30.559
 whole of

00:36:30.559 --> 00:36:31.000
 life

00:36:31.000 --> 00:36:32.380
 changing.

00:36:32.780 --> 00:36:33.360
 It was

00:36:33.360 --> 00:36:34.680
 generationally

00:36:34.680 --> 00:36:35.480
 changing.

00:36:36.480 --> 00:36:36.940
 It was a

00:36:36.940 --> 00:36:37.680
 catastrophe.

00:36:40.360 --> 00:36:40.980
 One

00:36:40.980 --> 00:36:41.760
 simple act

00:36:41.760 --> 00:36:43.240
 of stopping

00:36:43.240 --> 00:36:43.960
 listening to

00:36:43.960 --> 00:36:44.599
 God's word,

00:36:45.099 --> 00:36:47.360
 and here's the

00:36:47.360 --> 00:36:47.820
 consequences.

00:36:48.260 --> 00:36:48.480
 But it

00:36:48.480 --> 00:36:48.920
 wasn't just

00:36:48.920 --> 00:36:49.480
 that simple

00:36:49.480 --> 00:36:49.860
 act of

00:36:49.860 --> 00:36:50.180
 stopping

00:36:50.180 --> 00:36:50.820
 listening to

00:36:50.820 --> 00:36:51.180
 God's word,

00:36:51.180 --> 00:36:51.900
 because as they

00:36:51.900 --> 00:36:52.539
 stopped listening

00:36:52.539 --> 00:36:53.179
 to God's

00:36:53.179 --> 00:36:53.480
 voice,

00:36:53.579 --> 00:36:54.159
 God's word,

00:36:54.500 --> 00:36:54.880
 then they

00:36:54.880 --> 00:36:55.500
 actually started

00:36:55.500 --> 00:36:56.000
 listening to

00:36:56.000 --> 00:36:56.400
 their own

00:36:56.400 --> 00:36:56.699
 voice,

00:36:56.800 --> 00:36:57.159
 their own

00:36:57.159 --> 00:36:57.519
 words.

00:36:58.679 --> 00:36:58.960
 Well,

00:36:59.519 --> 00:37:01.059
 I'm not going

00:37:01.059 --> 00:37:01.519
 to be limited

00:37:01.519 --> 00:37:02.380
 by God's

00:37:02.380 --> 00:37:02.739
 command.

00:37:04.360 --> 00:37:05.779
 I'm very

00:37:05.779 --> 00:37:06.480
 capable of

00:37:06.480 --> 00:37:07.119
 deciding what's

00:37:07.119 --> 00:37:07.719
 good and bad.

00:37:08.059 --> 00:37:08.519
 I don't need

00:37:08.519 --> 00:37:09.000
 God to do

00:37:09.000 --> 00:37:09.519
 that for me.

00:37:11.759 --> 00:37:12.460
 They listened

00:37:12.460 --> 00:37:13.219
 to Satan's

00:37:13.219 --> 00:37:13.659
 lies.

00:37:15.420 --> 00:37:15.860
 Well,

00:37:16.119 --> 00:37:16.480
 come on,

00:37:16.880 --> 00:37:17.320
 it's not that

00:37:17.320 --> 00:37:17.720
 big a deal.

00:37:21.500 --> 00:37:21.900
 So,

00:37:22.180 --> 00:37:22.880
 it's not just

00:37:22.880 --> 00:37:23.600
 that we stop

00:37:23.600 --> 00:37:24.140
 listening to

00:37:24.140 --> 00:37:24.700
 God and then

00:37:24.700 --> 00:37:25.000
 there's a

00:37:25.000 --> 00:37:25.460
 vacuum.

00:37:26.200 --> 00:37:27.140
 As we stop

00:37:27.140 --> 00:37:27.700
 listening to

00:37:27.700 --> 00:37:28.300
 God's word,

00:37:28.580 --> 00:37:29.300
 then we start

00:37:29.300 --> 00:37:29.840
 listening to

00:37:29.840 --> 00:37:30.460
 other words,

00:37:30.519 --> 00:37:31.140
 the voices that

00:37:31.140 --> 00:37:31.640
 come to us

00:37:31.640 --> 00:37:31.960
 from our

00:37:31.960 --> 00:37:32.380
 society,

00:37:32.500 --> 00:37:32.760
 from our

00:37:32.760 --> 00:37:33.200
 culture.

00:37:37.720 --> 00:37:38.320
 After they

00:37:38.320 --> 00:37:38.620
 sinned,

00:37:38.760 --> 00:37:39.200
 we see the

00:37:39.200 --> 00:37:39.519
 same thing

00:37:39.519 --> 00:37:40.039
 happening again.

00:37:40.940 --> 00:37:41.320
 They were

00:37:41.320 --> 00:37:41.920
 hiding from

00:37:41.920 --> 00:37:42.519
 God's word.

00:37:43.720 --> 00:37:44.080
 They didn't

00:37:44.080 --> 00:37:44.760
 want to engage

00:37:44.760 --> 00:37:45.320
 with God's

00:37:45.320 --> 00:37:45.519
 word.

00:37:47.320 --> 00:37:52.480
 Genesis

00:37:52.480 --> 00:37:53.200
 chapter 4.

00:37:54.940 --> 00:37:55.760
 Cain kills

00:37:55.760 --> 00:37:56.180
 Abel.

00:37:57.480 --> 00:37:58.380
 How can we

00:37:58.380 --> 00:37:59.160
 pitch that?

00:37:59.280 --> 00:37:59.760
 Well, I'm

00:37:59.760 --> 00:38:00.160
 going to pitch

00:38:00.160 --> 00:38:00.500
 it in these

00:38:00.500 --> 00:38:00.840
 terms.

00:38:01.580 --> 00:38:01.920
 Why did

00:38:01.920 --> 00:38:02.559
 Cain kill

00:38:02.559 --> 00:38:02.860
 Abel?

00:38:03.860 --> 00:38:04.860
 Well, I

00:38:04.860 --> 00:38:05.500
 think Cain

00:38:05.500 --> 00:38:06.400
 killed Abel

00:38:06.400 --> 00:38:07.460
 to silence

00:38:07.460 --> 00:38:08.760
 the voice of

00:38:08.760 --> 00:38:09.420
 righteousness

00:38:09.420 --> 00:38:10.760
 that Abel

00:38:10.760 --> 00:38:11.780
 had expressed

00:38:11.780 --> 00:38:13.039
 to Cain,

00:38:13.240 --> 00:38:14.280
 which exposed

00:38:14.280 --> 00:38:15.440
 Cain's shabby

00:38:15.440 --> 00:38:16.160
 attitude to

00:38:16.160 --> 00:38:16.539
 the Lord.

00:38:17.320 --> 00:38:19.320
 Cain's

00:38:19.320 --> 00:38:20.320
 mind.

00:38:20.320 --> 00:38:21.300
 And so we

00:38:21.300 --> 00:38:21.720
 have the

00:38:21.720 --> 00:38:22.440
 voice of

00:38:22.440 --> 00:38:23.519
 self-protection

00:38:23.519 --> 00:38:25.180
 in Cain's

00:38:25.180 --> 00:38:26.200
 mind, the

00:38:26.200 --> 00:38:27.420
 voice of

00:38:27.420 --> 00:38:28.300
 self-defense

00:38:28.300 --> 00:38:30.480
 showing itself

00:38:30.480 --> 00:38:31.180
 to be so

00:38:31.180 --> 00:38:33.740
 ruthless that

00:38:33.740 --> 00:38:34.120
 it would try

00:38:34.120 --> 00:38:34.760
 and silence

00:38:34.760 --> 00:38:35.440
 the voice of

00:38:35.440 --> 00:38:35.900
 righteousness

00:38:35.900 --> 00:38:38.760
 rather than

00:38:38.760 --> 00:38:40.880
 repent and

00:38:40.880 --> 00:38:41.340
 say sorry

00:38:41.340 --> 00:38:41.800
 to God.

00:38:41.800 --> 00:38:41.900
 God.

00:38:45.580 --> 00:38:46.100
 It's

00:38:46.100 --> 00:38:46.920
 dangerous to

00:38:46.920 --> 00:38:47.480
 stop listening

00:38:47.480 --> 00:38:47.980
 to God's

00:38:47.980 --> 00:38:48.340
 voice.

00:38:49.300 --> 00:38:49.600
 Hebrews

00:38:49.600 --> 00:38:50.360
 chapter 3.

00:38:50.700 --> 00:38:51.320
 I'll just

00:38:51.320 --> 00:38:51.860
 reference it.

00:38:52.019 --> 00:38:52.480
 I don't have

00:38:52.480 --> 00:38:52.980
 time to even

00:38:52.980 --> 00:38:53.420
 go to it.

00:38:53.880 --> 00:38:54.140
 Hebrews

00:38:54.140 --> 00:38:54.840
 chapter 3

00:38:54.840 --> 00:38:55.880
 notes how

00:38:55.880 --> 00:38:56.519
 God's people

00:38:56.519 --> 00:38:57.280
 spent 40

00:38:57.280 --> 00:38:57.960
 years in the

00:38:57.960 --> 00:38:58.260
 wilderness.

00:38:59.300 --> 00:38:59.640
 Now, there's

00:38:59.640 --> 00:39:00.140
 many reasons

00:39:00.140 --> 00:39:00.980
 why they spent

00:39:00.980 --> 00:39:01.680
 40 years in

00:39:01.680 --> 00:39:02.000
 the wilderness.

00:39:02.200 --> 00:39:02.800
 What was the

00:39:02.800 --> 00:39:03.180
 summary in

00:39:03.180 --> 00:39:03.660
 Hebrews chapter

00:39:03.660 --> 00:39:03.940
 3?

00:39:05.140 --> 00:39:05.980
 They stopped

00:39:05.980 --> 00:39:07.140
 listening to

00:39:07.140 --> 00:39:08.100
 God's voice

00:39:08.099 --> 00:39:09.519
 voice and

00:39:09.519 --> 00:39:10.159
 paid the

00:39:10.159 --> 00:39:10.739
 consequences

00:39:10.739 --> 00:39:11.199
 for it.

00:39:12.039 --> 00:39:12.639
 What were

00:39:12.639 --> 00:39:13.019
 they listening

00:39:13.019 --> 00:39:13.440
 to instead

00:39:13.440 --> 00:39:13.839
 of God's

00:39:13.839 --> 00:39:14.019
 voice?

00:39:14.380 --> 00:39:15.019
 Well, they

00:39:15.019 --> 00:39:15.420
 were listening

00:39:15.420 --> 00:39:15.839
 to a

00:39:15.839 --> 00:39:16.679
 romanticized

00:39:16.679 --> 00:39:17.799
 version of

00:39:17.799 --> 00:39:19.039
 their life

00:39:19.039 --> 00:39:20.019
 in Egypt.

00:39:20.719 --> 00:39:21.259
 At least we

00:39:21.259 --> 00:39:21.679
 had onions

00:39:21.679 --> 00:39:22.159
 to eat back

00:39:22.159 --> 00:39:22.380
 there.

00:39:24.460 --> 00:39:25.159
 It was a

00:39:25.159 --> 00:39:25.940
 crazy voice,

00:39:26.199 --> 00:39:26.639
 but they were

00:39:26.639 --> 00:39:27.159
 listening to

00:39:27.159 --> 00:39:27.719
 that rather

00:39:27.719 --> 00:39:28.099
 than listening

00:39:28.099 --> 00:39:28.599
 to God's

00:39:28.599 --> 00:39:28.960
 voice.

00:39:33.799 --> 00:39:34.519
 And friends,

00:39:34.819 --> 00:39:35.679
 we're not

00:39:35.679 --> 00:39:36.159
 any different.

00:39:36.159 --> 00:39:39.739
 I think it's

00:39:39.739 --> 00:39:40.759
 incredibly sad.

00:39:41.899 --> 00:39:42.759
 Even stronger.

00:39:43.519 --> 00:39:44.480
 It's just so

00:39:44.480 --> 00:39:46.420
 wrong to

00:39:46.420 --> 00:39:46.899
 observe

00:39:46.899 --> 00:39:47.759
 believers.

00:39:48.980 --> 00:39:49.299
 Remember,

00:39:49.440 --> 00:39:49.879
 believers are

00:39:49.879 --> 00:39:50.219
 those who

00:39:50.219 --> 00:39:51.319
 claim to

00:39:51.319 --> 00:39:52.500
 value relationship

00:39:52.500 --> 00:39:53.059
 with God,

00:39:53.199 --> 00:39:54.279
 who claim to

00:39:54.279 --> 00:39:55.000
 value God's

00:39:55.000 --> 00:39:55.279
 word.

00:39:56.039 --> 00:39:56.980
 It's just so

00:39:56.980 --> 00:39:57.799
 sad and so

00:39:57.799 --> 00:39:59.519
 wrong to

00:39:59.519 --> 00:40:01.019
 see believers

00:40:01.019 --> 00:40:02.480
 form conclusions

00:40:02.480 --> 00:40:03.980
 about issues

00:40:03.980 --> 00:40:05.519
 and make life

00:40:05.519 --> 00:40:06.139
 decisions.

00:40:06.159 --> 00:40:09.339
 without reference

00:40:09.339 --> 00:40:09.819
 to God's

00:40:09.819 --> 00:40:10.039
 word.

00:40:11.319 --> 00:40:12.019
 How does

00:40:12.019 --> 00:40:12.559
 that happen?

00:40:19.839 --> 00:40:20.379
 We're

00:40:20.379 --> 00:40:20.839
 actually under

00:40:20.839 --> 00:40:21.319
 increasing

00:40:21.319 --> 00:40:21.980
 pressure to

00:40:21.980 --> 00:40:22.699
 shut down

00:40:22.699 --> 00:40:23.500
 God's voice,

00:40:23.899 --> 00:40:24.539
 God's words

00:40:24.539 --> 00:40:25.259
 in our mind

00:40:25.259 --> 00:40:26.940
 and go with

00:40:26.940 --> 00:40:28.339
 the voice of

00:40:28.339 --> 00:40:29.379
 popular belief.

00:40:29.380 --> 00:40:29.440
 belief.

00:40:31.320 --> 00:40:31.880
 Haven't been

00:40:31.880 --> 00:40:32.280
 able to turn

00:40:32.280 --> 00:40:32.800
 on the TV

00:40:32.800 --> 00:40:33.280
 to watch the

00:40:33.280 --> 00:40:33.760
 news for the

00:40:33.760 --> 00:40:34.099
 last two

00:40:34.099 --> 00:40:34.300
 weeks.

00:40:34.420 --> 00:40:34.780
 All against

00:40:34.780 --> 00:40:35.680
 gay pride,

00:40:35.840 --> 00:40:36.320
 gay Mardi

00:40:36.320 --> 00:40:36.579
 Gras.

00:40:38.119 --> 00:40:39.240
 The voice of

00:40:39.240 --> 00:40:40.720
 popular pressure,

00:40:41.460 --> 00:40:42.579
 popular belief.

00:40:42.579 --> 00:40:42.679
 belief.

00:40:50.099 --> 00:40:50.960
 It's even more

00:40:50.960 --> 00:40:51.659
 sad, I think,

00:40:52.219 --> 00:40:52.900
 and I observe

00:40:52.900 --> 00:40:54.699
 this all too

00:40:54.699 --> 00:40:55.559
 often to see

00:40:55.559 --> 00:40:56.219
 believers,

00:40:56.739 --> 00:40:57.219
 those who've

00:40:57.219 --> 00:40:57.719
 been Christians

00:40:57.719 --> 00:40:58.159
 for many,

00:40:58.279 --> 00:40:58.779
 many years,

00:40:59.639 --> 00:41:00.319
 find themselves

00:41:00.319 --> 00:41:00.880
 in a position

00:41:00.880 --> 00:41:01.259
 where they're

00:41:01.259 --> 00:41:02.360
 almost illiterate

00:41:02.360 --> 00:41:03.960
 in terms of

00:41:03.960 --> 00:41:04.659
 what God's

00:41:04.659 --> 00:41:05.199
 voice would

00:41:05.199 --> 00:41:06.679
 be on this

00:41:06.679 --> 00:41:07.480
 particular issue

00:41:07.480 --> 00:41:07.900
 or that

00:41:07.900 --> 00:41:08.679
 particular issue.

00:41:08.679 --> 00:41:12.059
 How does

00:41:12.059 --> 00:41:12.559
 that be?

00:41:18.619 --> 00:41:19.419
 We're tooled

00:41:19.419 --> 00:41:20.079
 up with

00:41:20.079 --> 00:41:21.039
 information at

00:41:21.039 --> 00:41:21.919
 so many other

00:41:21.919 --> 00:41:22.419
 points of

00:41:22.419 --> 00:41:22.799
 reference.

00:41:23.819 --> 00:41:24.519
 Why aren't

00:41:24.519 --> 00:41:25.219
 we so tooled

00:41:25.219 --> 00:41:25.619
 up when it

00:41:25.619 --> 00:41:25.980
 comes to

00:41:25.980 --> 00:41:26.500
 God's word?

00:41:32.019 --> 00:41:32.500
 Friends,

00:41:32.659 --> 00:41:33.219
 it's as simple

00:41:33.219 --> 00:41:33.539
 as this.

00:41:33.619 --> 00:41:34.239
 Our view of

00:41:34.239 --> 00:41:34.679
 God,

00:41:35.980 --> 00:41:36.440
 Father,

00:41:36.759 --> 00:41:37.000
 Son,

00:41:37.139 --> 00:41:37.500
 and Holy

00:41:37.500 --> 00:41:37.899
 Spirit,

00:41:37.900 --> 00:41:39.559
 is inseparably

00:41:39.559 --> 00:41:40.639
 tied to

00:41:40.639 --> 00:41:41.000
 our view

00:41:41.000 --> 00:41:41.440
 of God's

00:41:41.440 --> 00:41:41.660
 word.

00:41:43.220 --> 00:41:43.860
 It just

00:41:43.860 --> 00:41:44.480
 goes together.

00:41:46.780 --> 00:41:47.200
 Careless

00:41:47.200 --> 00:41:47.980
 in respect

00:41:47.980 --> 00:41:48.380
 to God's

00:41:48.380 --> 00:41:48.579
 word,

00:41:49.900 --> 00:41:50.420
 careless in

00:41:50.420 --> 00:41:50.860
 respect to

00:41:50.860 --> 00:41:51.099
 God.

00:41:55.920 --> 00:41:56.660
 The proper

00:41:56.660 --> 00:41:57.119
 hearing of

00:41:57.119 --> 00:41:57.619
 God's word

00:41:57.619 --> 00:41:58.420
 will overflow

00:41:58.420 --> 00:41:59.119
 in determined

00:41:59.119 --> 00:41:59.820
 action,

00:42:01.139 --> 00:42:01.639
 a life of

00:42:01.639 --> 00:42:02.039
 belief,

00:42:02.380 --> 00:42:02.680
 faith,

00:42:02.780 --> 00:42:03.300
 or trust.

00:42:03.300 --> 00:42:04.680
 God's word

00:42:04.680 --> 00:42:06.760
 God's word

00:42:06.760 --> 00:42:07.560
 is

00:42:07.560 --> 00:42:07.880
 God's word

00:42:07.880 --> 00:42:08.440
 speaks

00:42:08.440 --> 00:42:09.340
 primarily

00:42:09.340 --> 00:42:10.240
 because he

00:42:10.240 --> 00:42:10.780
 wants to be

00:42:10.780 --> 00:42:11.539
 in relationship

00:42:11.539 --> 00:42:12.019
 with his

00:42:12.019 --> 00:42:12.740
 image bearers,

00:42:13.100 --> 00:42:13.440
 since he

00:42:13.440 --> 00:42:14.620
 promises salvation,

00:42:15.160 --> 00:42:15.500
 since he

00:42:15.500 --> 00:42:16.180
 promises the

00:42:16.180 --> 00:42:16.720
 good life,

00:42:16.840 --> 00:42:17.060
 since he

00:42:17.060 --> 00:42:17.620
 promises the

00:42:17.620 --> 00:42:17.960
 life of

00:42:17.960 --> 00:42:18.580
 abundance,

00:42:20.039 --> 00:42:20.960
 and says,

00:42:21.120 --> 00:42:21.519
 this is how

00:42:21.519 --> 00:42:22.360
 you get it,

00:42:24.420 --> 00:42:24.820
 then

00:42:24.820 --> 00:42:27.380
 our

00:42:27.380 --> 00:42:27.720
 determined

00:42:27.720 --> 00:42:28.519
 action ought

00:42:28.519 --> 00:42:28.960
 to be

00:42:28.960 --> 00:42:30.460
 a life of

00:42:30.460 --> 00:42:30.880
 faith,

00:42:31.640 --> 00:42:32.300
 a life of

00:42:32.300 --> 00:42:32.760
 belief.

00:42:33.720 --> 00:42:34.100
 God has

00:42:34.100 --> 00:42:34.500
 said it,

00:42:35.160 --> 00:42:35.720
 will accept

00:42:35.720 --> 00:42:35.940
 it.

00:42:37.100 --> 00:42:37.720
 God has

00:42:37.720 --> 00:42:38.300
 promised it.

00:42:39.360 --> 00:42:40.220
 I'll live my

00:42:40.220 --> 00:42:41.039
 life trusting

00:42:41.039 --> 00:42:41.380
 in it.

00:42:43.460 --> 00:42:44.080
 God has

00:42:44.080 --> 00:42:44.660
 declared it.

00:42:45.300 --> 00:42:45.940
 I dare not

00:42:45.940 --> 00:42:46.680
 look for an

00:42:46.680 --> 00:42:47.539
 alternative source

00:42:47.539 --> 00:42:48.200
 of truth on

00:42:48.200 --> 00:42:48.360
 it.

00:43:00.980 --> 00:43:01.680
 So I'm just

00:43:01.680 --> 00:43:02.060
 going to finish

00:43:02.059 --> 00:43:02.420
 by asking

00:43:02.420 --> 00:43:02.860
 a question.

00:43:04.639 --> 00:43:05.779
 Whose voice

00:43:05.779 --> 00:43:07.259
 has captured

00:43:07.259 --> 00:43:08.699
 your head,

00:43:08.980 --> 00:43:09.420
 your mind,

00:43:09.539 --> 00:43:09.960
 your heart?

00:43:14.599 --> 00:43:15.559
 Whose voice,

00:43:15.719 --> 00:43:16.019
 therefore,

00:43:16.400 --> 00:43:17.199
 I'm asking you,

00:43:17.279 --> 00:43:17.900
 is shaping

00:43:17.900 --> 00:43:19.039
 your life daily,

00:43:20.179 --> 00:43:21.019
 informing your

00:43:21.019 --> 00:43:21.579
 decisions,

00:43:22.579 --> 00:43:23.840
 determining the

00:43:23.840 --> 00:43:24.480
 point at which

00:43:24.480 --> 00:43:25.199
 you will pivot

00:43:25.199 --> 00:43:26.480
 and resist

00:43:26.480 --> 00:43:28.400
 our society?

00:43:28.400 --> 00:43:28.799
 I'm just

00:43:28.799 --> 00:43:29.400
 going to

00:43:29.400 --> 00:43:35.260
 I'm seeing

00:43:35.260 --> 00:43:36.700
 increasingly in

00:43:36.700 --> 00:43:37.700
 evangelical circles

00:43:37.700 --> 00:43:37.980
 even,

00:43:38.920 --> 00:43:40.059
 that churches

00:43:40.059 --> 00:43:40.900
 are trying to

00:43:40.900 --> 00:43:41.539
 use something

00:43:41.539 --> 00:43:42.119
 other than

00:43:42.119 --> 00:43:42.840
 God's word

00:43:42.840 --> 00:43:45.039
 to build

00:43:45.039 --> 00:43:45.579
 churches,

00:43:45.980 --> 00:43:46.400
 to build

00:43:46.400 --> 00:43:47.340
 communities of

00:43:47.340 --> 00:43:48.039
 Christ's people,

00:43:48.039 --> 00:43:49.860
 to build

00:43:49.860 --> 00:43:50.440
 maturity.

00:43:50.440 --> 00:43:50.579
 humanity.

00:43:57.119 --> 00:43:57.700
 That's got to

00:43:57.700 --> 00:43:58.119
 be hopeless,

00:43:58.240 --> 00:43:58.539
 hasn't it?

00:44:00.019 --> 00:44:00.679
 At the very

00:44:00.679 --> 00:44:01.559
 least in

00:44:01.559 --> 00:44:02.200
 Congress,

00:44:03.119 --> 00:44:03.780
 that we who

00:44:03.780 --> 00:44:04.420
 say we

00:44:04.420 --> 00:44:04.960
 delight in

00:44:04.960 --> 00:44:05.440
 the Lord

00:44:05.440 --> 00:44:07.320
 would be

00:44:07.320 --> 00:44:07.820
 listening to

00:44:07.820 --> 00:44:08.220
 some other

00:44:08.220 --> 00:44:09.800
 voice to

00:44:09.800 --> 00:44:10.440
 grow ourselves

00:44:10.440 --> 00:44:11.139
 into maturity.

00:44:12.480 --> 00:44:13.119
 It doesn't

00:44:13.119 --> 00:44:13.639
 make sense.

00:44:14.679 --> 00:44:15.300
 And yet I think

00:44:15.300 --> 00:44:16.079
 all too often

00:44:16.079 --> 00:44:16.779
 is true.

00:44:19.360 --> 00:44:20.179
 So we need

00:44:20.179 --> 00:44:20.639
 to be asking

00:44:20.639 --> 00:44:21.000
 ourselves

00:44:21.000 --> 00:44:21.699
 individually,

00:44:22.500 --> 00:44:22.920
 and we need

00:44:22.920 --> 00:44:23.659
 to ask it

00:44:23.659 --> 00:44:24.799
 analytically of

00:44:24.799 --> 00:44:25.539
 our whole church

00:44:25.539 --> 00:44:26.099
 family here.

00:44:26.679 --> 00:44:27.239
 Are we

00:44:27.239 --> 00:44:28.299
 listening to

00:44:28.299 --> 00:44:29.099
 God's voice?

00:44:29.219 --> 00:44:29.539
 Are we

00:44:29.539 --> 00:44:30.500
 hating God's

00:44:30.500 --> 00:44:30.759
 voice?

00:44:31.279 --> 00:44:31.799
 Are we

00:44:31.799 --> 00:44:32.719
 determined to

00:44:32.719 --> 00:44:33.679
 act in the

00:44:33.679 --> 00:44:34.440
 light of God's

00:44:34.440 --> 00:44:34.779
 voice?

00:44:35.619 --> 00:44:36.500
 At every

00:44:36.500 --> 00:44:37.759
 point in

00:44:37.759 --> 00:44:38.159
 how we

00:44:38.159 --> 00:44:39.079
 relate to

00:44:39.079 --> 00:44:39.500
 one another,

00:44:40.039 --> 00:44:40.719
 in how we

00:44:40.719 --> 00:44:41.199
 deal with

00:44:41.199 --> 00:44:42.259
 difficulties with

00:44:42.259 --> 00:44:42.719
 one another,

00:44:43.759 --> 00:44:44.799
 in what we

00:44:44.799 --> 00:44:45.559
 teach people

00:44:45.559 --> 00:44:46.039
 as the

00:44:46.039 --> 00:44:46.699
 hope and

00:44:46.699 --> 00:44:47.380
 certainties of

00:44:47.380 --> 00:44:47.960
 life looking

00:44:47.960 --> 00:44:48.440
 forward into

00:44:48.440 --> 00:44:48.900
 the future?

00:44:54.840 --> 00:44:55.480
 We've got to

00:44:55.480 --> 00:44:56.019
 ask ourselves,

00:44:56.420 --> 00:44:56.920
 well, if we

00:44:56.920 --> 00:44:57.299
 say we're

00:44:57.299 --> 00:44:57.820
 listening to

00:44:57.820 --> 00:44:58.460
 God's word,

00:44:58.920 --> 00:44:59.599
 then what

00:44:59.599 --> 00:45:00.659
 difference is

00:45:00.659 --> 00:45:01.340
 it making in

00:45:01.340 --> 00:45:01.860
 your life?

00:45:03.279 --> 00:45:03.739
 Is it

00:45:03.739 --> 00:45:04.199
 something you

00:45:04.199 --> 00:45:04.779
 delight in?

00:45:04.920 --> 00:45:05.119
 Is it

00:45:05.119 --> 00:45:05.500
 something you

00:45:05.500 --> 00:45:06.079
 crave to

00:45:06.079 --> 00:45:07.340
 understand and

00:45:07.340 --> 00:45:07.900
 apply more?

00:45:07.980 --> 00:45:08.699
 That is God's

00:45:08.699 --> 00:45:09.639
 word as a

00:45:09.639 --> 00:45:10.639
 written record.

00:45:12.639 --> 00:45:13.500
 Do you see

00:45:13.500 --> 00:45:14.480
 and appreciate

00:45:14.480 --> 00:45:15.400
 and savour the

00:45:15.400 --> 00:45:16.660
 perfection of

00:45:16.660 --> 00:45:17.980
 God's word for

00:45:17.980 --> 00:45:19.160
 every aspect of

00:45:19.160 --> 00:45:19.639
 your life?

00:45:20.519 --> 00:45:21.480
 To grow you,

00:45:21.579 --> 00:45:22.200
 to lead you,

00:45:22.539 --> 00:45:23.220
 to keep you in

00:45:23.220 --> 00:45:23.980
 every circumstance

00:45:23.980 --> 00:45:24.920
 of life, to

00:45:24.920 --> 00:45:26.320
 deliver you safely

00:45:26.320 --> 00:45:26.920
 into the next

00:45:26.920 --> 00:45:27.320
 life?

00:45:29.800 --> 00:45:30.920
 Do you pray

00:45:30.920 --> 00:45:33.039
 that God's

00:45:33.039 --> 00:45:34.000
 living act of

00:45:34.000 --> 00:45:34.559
 word will

00:45:34.559 --> 00:45:35.420
 crash through

00:45:35.420 --> 00:45:36.440
 your defensiveness

00:45:36.440 --> 00:45:37.500
 and expose

00:45:37.500 --> 00:45:37.980
 your sin?

00:45:37.980 --> 00:45:42.000
 or you still

00:45:42.000 --> 00:45:42.780
 want to hide

00:45:42.780 --> 00:45:43.360
 from God's

00:45:43.360 --> 00:45:45.260
 word in

00:45:45.260 --> 00:45:45.860
 those key

00:45:45.860 --> 00:45:46.340
 areas of

00:45:46.340 --> 00:45:46.780
 sin that you

00:45:46.780 --> 00:45:47.340
 find yourself

00:45:47.340 --> 00:45:48.000
 loving all

00:45:48.000 --> 00:45:48.500
 too much?

00:45:49.059 --> 00:45:49.599
 That's what I

00:45:49.599 --> 00:45:50.039
 know.

00:45:50.179 --> 00:45:50.659
 I do that

00:45:50.659 --> 00:45:51.500
 myself, so I'm

00:45:51.500 --> 00:45:52.559
 not asking you

00:45:52.559 --> 00:45:52.880
 something I

00:45:52.880 --> 00:45:53.360
 haven't asked

00:45:53.360 --> 00:45:53.760
 myself.

00:45:54.780 --> 00:45:55.079
 It's

00:45:55.079 --> 00:45:55.440
 shameful.

00:45:55.440 --> 00:45:59.519
 we need to

00:45:59.519 --> 00:46:00.119
 ask the Lord

00:46:00.119 --> 00:46:00.700
 to crash

00:46:00.700 --> 00:46:02.200
 through our

00:46:02.200 --> 00:46:02.679
 defense and

00:46:02.679 --> 00:46:03.380
 to expose

00:46:03.380 --> 00:46:04.940
 our sin so

00:46:04.940 --> 00:46:05.320
 that we might

00:46:05.320 --> 00:46:06.200
 repent and

00:46:06.200 --> 00:46:06.740
 become all the

00:46:06.740 --> 00:46:07.659
 more appreciative

00:46:07.659 --> 00:46:08.579
 of the grace we

00:46:08.579 --> 00:46:09.220
 have in Christ.

00:46:11.200 --> 00:46:12.320
 The only option I

00:46:12.320 --> 00:46:13.079
 can think is that

00:46:13.079 --> 00:46:14.519
 God's voice is just

00:46:14.519 --> 00:46:16.000
 annoying white noise

00:46:16.000 --> 00:46:16.700
 in the background

00:46:16.700 --> 00:46:20.000
 while you're busy

00:46:20.000 --> 00:46:20.800
 trying to listen to

00:46:20.800 --> 00:46:21.420
 another voice.

00:46:21.420 --> 00:46:23.700
 it's sometimes

00:46:23.700 --> 00:46:25.180
 infuriating in a

00:46:25.180 --> 00:46:26.360
 shopping center or

00:46:26.360 --> 00:46:27.019
 a party or

00:46:27.019 --> 00:46:27.360
 something where

00:46:27.360 --> 00:46:28.700
 there's too many

00:46:28.700 --> 00:46:29.500
 competing voices

00:46:29.500 --> 00:46:31.340
 and you know you

00:46:31.340 --> 00:46:31.880
 should be listening

00:46:31.880 --> 00:46:32.900
 to this particular

00:46:32.900 --> 00:46:33.460
 voice but it's

00:46:33.460 --> 00:46:33.920
 just a bit of

00:46:33.920 --> 00:46:34.680
 white noise in the

00:46:34.680 --> 00:46:35.300
 background because

00:46:35.300 --> 00:46:35.639
 you're actually

00:46:35.639 --> 00:46:36.159
 trying to listen

00:46:36.159 --> 00:46:36.840
 to somebody else's

00:46:36.840 --> 00:46:37.619
 conversation over

00:46:37.619 --> 00:46:37.880
 there.

00:46:39.760 --> 00:46:40.240
 Well,

00:46:42.079 --> 00:46:45.840
 are you listening

00:46:45.840 --> 00:46:47.000
 to another voice

00:46:47.000 --> 00:46:48.280
 that's promising

00:46:48.280 --> 00:46:49.599
 you a better

00:46:49.599 --> 00:46:50.340
 life down a

00:46:50.340 --> 00:46:51.119
 different pathway?

00:46:51.960 --> 00:46:52.840
 Even as you're

00:46:52.840 --> 00:46:53.599
 sitting here this

00:46:53.599 --> 00:46:53.960
 morning,

00:46:54.880 --> 00:46:59.639
 I would mean you

00:46:59.639 --> 00:46:59.980
 to say,

00:47:00.059 --> 00:47:00.480
 and I might get

00:47:00.480 --> 00:47:01.099
 myself in trouble

00:47:01.099 --> 00:47:01.460
 for this,

00:47:01.519 --> 00:47:02.599
 but sadly I think

00:47:02.599 --> 00:47:03.200
 there's way too

00:47:03.200 --> 00:47:04.760
 many like this

00:47:04.760 --> 00:47:05.420
 in our church

00:47:05.420 --> 00:47:08.119
 for whom God's

00:47:08.119 --> 00:47:09.440
 voice is just

00:47:09.440 --> 00:47:10.260
 white noise in

00:47:10.260 --> 00:47:10.700
 the background

00:47:10.700 --> 00:47:11.280
 while they're busy

00:47:11.280 --> 00:47:11.860
 trying to listen

00:47:11.860 --> 00:47:12.579
 to another voice.

00:47:13.940 --> 00:47:14.720
 I just want you

00:47:14.720 --> 00:47:15.320
 to consider this

00:47:15.320 --> 00:47:16.840
 morning if that's

00:47:16.840 --> 00:47:17.380
 actually you.

00:47:20.260 --> 00:47:20.639
 Well,

00:47:20.700 --> 00:47:21.240
 pray with me.

00:47:21.420 --> 00:47:33.480
 Lord, we thank you

00:47:33.480 --> 00:47:34.780
 that you've chosen

00:47:34.780 --> 00:47:35.740
 to speak to us,

00:47:36.400 --> 00:47:38.539
 that you revealed

00:47:38.539 --> 00:47:39.760
 yourself to be a

00:47:39.760 --> 00:47:40.599
 personal God who

00:47:40.599 --> 00:47:42.400
 loves to be in

00:47:42.400 --> 00:47:43.240
 relationship with us,

00:47:43.280 --> 00:47:44.019
 who wants to be in

00:47:44.019 --> 00:47:44.940
 relationship with us,

00:47:45.599 --> 00:47:47.019
 who's actually defined

00:47:47.019 --> 00:47:50.099
 relationship and provided

00:47:50.099 --> 00:47:52.259
 everything needed for

00:47:52.259 --> 00:47:53.559
 that relationship to be

00:47:53.559 --> 00:47:55.099
 loving and secure and

00:47:55.099 --> 00:47:56.519
 affectionate and forever.

00:47:58.519 --> 00:48:00.380
 Lord, forgive us for not

00:48:00.380 --> 00:48:01.139
 listening to you,

00:48:02.039 --> 00:48:02.960
 for not hating you,

00:48:03.059 --> 00:48:04.500
 for not being determined

00:48:04.500 --> 00:48:06.280
 in our actions of faith

00:48:06.280 --> 00:48:08.460
 and trust and belief in

00:48:08.460 --> 00:48:08.960
 response.

00:48:08.960 --> 00:48:11.440
 forgiveness and more

00:48:11.440 --> 00:48:11.960
 specifically,

00:48:12.159 --> 00:48:14.599
 Lord, forgive us when we

00:48:14.599 --> 00:48:18.280
 silence your voice and

00:48:18.280 --> 00:48:19.960
 listen to other voices,

00:48:20.280 --> 00:48:21.079
 whether it's the voice of

00:48:21.079 --> 00:48:23.220
 society or the voice of

00:48:23.220 --> 00:48:27.079
 temptation or the voice of

00:48:27.079 --> 00:48:29.920
 self-indulgence.

00:48:29.920 --> 00:48:31.920
 forgiveness and more

00:48:31.920 --> 00:48:32.599
 forgiveness and more

00:48:32.599 --> 00:48:33.240
 forgive us, we pray,

00:48:33.340 --> 00:48:35.880
 Lord, and make us delight in

00:48:35.880 --> 00:48:36.840
 your word once again.

00:48:37.480 --> 00:48:38.539
 In Jesus' name I pray.

00:48:38.880 --> 00:48:39.139
 Amen.

00:48:39.139 --> 00:48:39.239
 Amen.