WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.259 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christchurch. 00:00:05.259 --> 00:00:11.580 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other 00:00:11.580 --> 00:00:15.439 ! use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christchurch. 00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:22.640 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at Christchurcheastbay.org. 00:00:25.280 --> 00:00:26.359 Good morning. 00:00:26.359 --> 00:00:31.879 I'm Julie Brown and I'm part of the Tuesday night Berkeley El Cerrito Richmond Kensington 00:00:31.879 --> 00:00:32.280 group. 00:00:34.159 --> 00:00:42.500 Today's scripture reading is from the book of Isaiah chapter 16 verses 1 through 12 as printed 00:00:42.500 --> 00:00:43.460 in your liturgy. 00:00:45.700 --> 00:00:48.159 A reading from the book of Isaiah. 00:00:50.239 --> 00:00:56.340 Oh that you would rend the heavens come down, that the mountains would tremble before the 00:00:56.340 --> 00:00:57.340 earth. 00:00:57.340 --> 00:01:05.500 As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known 00:01:05.500 --> 00:01:09.840 to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you. 00:01:10.800 --> 00:01:18.780 For when you did awesome things we did not expect, you came down and the mountains trembled before 00:01:18.780 --> 00:01:19.780 you. 00:01:19.780 --> 00:01:28.620 Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides 00:01:28.620 --> 00:01:32.960 you who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. 00:01:33.780 --> 00:01:37.799 You come to the help of those who gladly do right. 00:01:38.379 --> 00:01:40.020 You remember your ways. 00:01:40.359 --> 00:01:41.599 Who remember your ways? 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:46.419 But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. 00:01:47.419 --> 00:01:49.879 How then can we be saved? 00:01:50.599 --> 00:01:58.599 All of us have become like one who is unclean and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags. 00:01:58.599 --> 00:02:01.439 We all shrivel up like a leaf. 00:02:02.280 --> 00:02:06.559 And like the wind, our sins sweep us away. 00:02:07.879 --> 00:02:13.039 No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you. 00:02:13.039 --> 00:02:19.139 For you have hidden your face from us and have given us over to our sins. 00:02:20.539 --> 00:02:24.799 Yet you, Lord, are our Father. 00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:27.239 We are the clay. 00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:29.039 You are the potter. 00:02:29.479 --> 00:02:32.079 We are all the work of your hand. 00:02:33.139 --> 00:02:35.500 Do not be angry beyond measure, Lord. 00:02:36.060 --> 00:02:38.199 Do not remember our sins forever. 00:02:38.199 --> 00:02:43.639 Oh, look on us, we pray, for we are all your people. 00:02:44.780 --> 00:02:47.539 Your sacred cities have become a wasteland. 00:02:48.299 --> 00:02:49.959 Even Zion is a wasteland. 00:02:50.679 --> 00:02:52.639 Jerusalem, a desolation. 00:02:53.419 --> 00:02:58.159 Our holy and glorious temple, where our ancestors praised you, 00:02:58.620 --> 00:03:03.799 has been burnt with fire, and all that we treasured lies in ruins. 00:03:03.800 --> 00:03:09.120 After all this, Lord, will you hold yourself back? 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:13.260 Will you keep silent and punish us beyond measure? 00:03:14.680 --> 00:03:18.160 The grass withers and the flowers fade. 00:03:18.680 --> 00:03:19.400 Thanks, Julie. 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:21.340 Good morning. 00:03:21.460 --> 00:03:22.240 Let's pray. 00:03:22.240 --> 00:03:33.700 God, we ask that you would fill us with the desperation of this prayer from Isaiah 64. 00:03:35.060 --> 00:03:41.840 Would you not just let us understand it, but would you let us feel this prayer? 00:03:43.080 --> 00:03:47.500 Would you fill us with desperation and hope at the same time? 00:03:47.500 --> 00:03:53.819 And would that be the cry of our hearts, our one thing that we desire of you? 00:03:54.520 --> 00:04:00.979 That you would rend the heavens and come down and make all things new, just as you promised. 00:04:02.039 --> 00:04:04.920 So fill us with faith in that hope. 00:04:06.039 --> 00:04:10.920 And we ask that you would exalt yourself in the preaching of your word this morning. 00:04:11.400 --> 00:04:13.340 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:04:13.340 --> 00:04:13.420 Amen. 00:04:14.840 --> 00:04:20.759 So starting today and for the next four Sundays of Advent, we're going to be in the prophetic book of Isaiah. 00:04:21.060 --> 00:04:23.759 And I'm calling this four-part series The Homecoming King. 00:04:24.439 --> 00:04:25.720 Because that's what Advent means. 00:04:25.780 --> 00:04:26.360 It means coming. 00:04:26.540 --> 00:04:27.579 It means arrival. 00:04:27.879 --> 00:04:33.160 And for over 1,500 years, Christians have used these four weeks before Christmas, like Jonathan said, 00:04:33.180 --> 00:04:36.740 not just to look back and to remember how Jesus came at Christmas, 00:04:36.740 --> 00:04:40.960 but also to look forward to the final, the consummate coming of King Jesus, 00:04:41.319 --> 00:04:45.819 at which time he will make all things new and right and beautiful forever. 00:04:46.340 --> 00:04:52.540 Advent's a season for Christians to be reminded of how God's story and how our stories end, 00:04:52.780 --> 00:04:54.280 and how they end in Christ. 00:04:54.879 --> 00:04:59.460 And I think this is so important because for many of us, our default this time of year 00:04:59.460 --> 00:05:02.920 is to drift into the hallmark version of the Christmas story, right? 00:05:02.920 --> 00:05:07.780 The sentimental peppermint mocha cozy commercial version of Christmas 00:05:07.780 --> 00:05:13.580 where we're all looking to experience or maybe recreate some of that Christmas magic, right? 00:05:13.600 --> 00:05:18.280 To close out December on a high note and enter into the new year with warmth in our hearts. 00:05:18.780 --> 00:05:20.200 And honestly, I love that stuff. 00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:21.759 I'm totally about that. 00:05:21.819 --> 00:05:23.920 We got our Christmas tree the other day. 00:05:24.080 --> 00:05:28.259 Later this afternoon, I'm going to put out my inflatable dinosaur with a Christmas hat on it. 00:05:28.620 --> 00:05:30.860 Got to add some Christmas cheer to the neighborhood. 00:05:30.860 --> 00:05:36.420 But listen, this is exactly why I need to observe Advent this season. 00:05:36.920 --> 00:05:43.040 Because as happy as my penguin and dinosaur with Santa hats look as they wave and smile to our neighbors, 00:05:44.020 --> 00:05:49.980 the Christmas magic story that my dinosaur belongs to, it's not a substantial story. 00:05:50.680 --> 00:05:54.580 It can't bear the weight of my neighbor's actual real life longings. 00:05:54.620 --> 00:05:57.400 It can bring nostalgia, but not hope. 00:05:57.399 --> 00:06:00.759 It can decorate my community, but it can't heal it. 00:06:00.859 --> 00:06:06.060 The truth is, while many of us put in extra work, right, to beautify our homes in this season, 00:06:06.179 --> 00:06:11.039 we do so but also quietly wondering, is there actually any hope for my home? 00:06:12.259 --> 00:06:17.120 Can this place be as beautiful on the inside as I've tried to make it look on the outside? 00:06:17.319 --> 00:06:23.539 Many of us enter into this season with sadness because we know it'll take a whole lot more 00:06:23.540 --> 00:06:29.900 than commercialized Christmas magic to heal what's broken in our world and in our homes. 00:06:30.660 --> 00:06:35.720 Hallmark's Christmas story can stir a fleeting feeling, but it can't sustain a lasting hope. 00:06:36.120 --> 00:06:38.660 And this is exactly why we need Advent. 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:42.120 This is exactly why we need the story of the homecoming king. 00:06:42.120 --> 00:06:47.699 Not a king who evacuates us from our broken homes, but a king who offers us an even better hope. 00:06:48.160 --> 00:06:53.600 A king who comes to make his home among us, even in our filth and our mess and our brokenness. 00:06:53.680 --> 00:06:57.660 The only kind of king who can heal our homes inside and out. 00:06:57.720 --> 00:07:00.620 A king who is God himself, dwelling among us. 00:07:00.680 --> 00:07:03.600 God as our homecoming king, this is the hope of the world. 00:07:04.300 --> 00:07:05.639 And this is the message of Advent. 00:07:05.720 --> 00:07:06.939 That's going to be our focus this morning. 00:07:06.939 --> 00:07:10.800 We're going to look at hope, peace, joy, and love these next four weeks. 00:07:10.860 --> 00:07:12.500 We're going to look this morning, though, at the hope. 00:07:12.620 --> 00:07:13.360 The hope of Advent. 00:07:14.540 --> 00:07:19.500 But listen, for those of us entering into this season and wanting to enter it rightly, 00:07:20.060 --> 00:07:23.360 it's got to be more than us just understanding the hope of Advent. 00:07:23.480 --> 00:07:25.379 Like I prayed, we have to feel this hope. 00:07:26.240 --> 00:07:29.740 Jesus was never content to have us just understand things with our heads. 00:07:29.839 --> 00:07:33.240 No, he always wanted us to feel and believe them with our hearts. 00:07:33.879 --> 00:07:36.240 Hope isn't something you just agree to in your mind. 00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:38.120 It's something that happens inside of you. 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:44.600 It reshapes and reorients you toward God's perfect future instead of the future of your own making. 00:07:45.180 --> 00:07:49.340 And this is why I chose to open up Isaiah 64 for us this morning. 00:07:49.439 --> 00:07:53.540 This bold, almost like unhinged prayer from the people of God. 00:07:54.240 --> 00:07:56.240 I don't want us to just learn about this prayer. 00:07:56.319 --> 00:08:02.720 I want us to feel it and to make it our own and to let it take over our hearts and capture our imaginations. 00:08:02.720 --> 00:08:13.460 I want us to be so filled with the hope of this prayer that we cannot help but desperately beg, deeply tremble, and daringly await the advent of God with us. 00:08:13.520 --> 00:08:14.460 And those are our three points. 00:08:14.520 --> 00:08:15.620 So let's start with the first one. 00:08:15.720 --> 00:08:17.180 Let's open up Isaiah 64. 00:08:17.920 --> 00:08:19.240 Begin with point number one. 00:08:19.760 --> 00:08:23.540 When we really hope, we desperately beg. 00:08:23.540 --> 00:08:27.020 Now, just to give you some context for this prayer, it doesn't come out of nowhere. 00:08:27.580 --> 00:08:29.600 And please just try to stay focused on this. 00:08:29.620 --> 00:08:30.379 This is very important. 00:08:30.580 --> 00:08:36.539 If you want to open your Bibles to page 607 in the pews, we're going to look at Isaiah chapter 61. 00:08:37.399 --> 00:08:40.379 This comes three chapters before our text today. 00:08:40.820 --> 00:08:47.259 And in Isaiah chapter 61, what's happening there is there is this prophetic vision of this one called the Anointed One. 00:08:47.639 --> 00:08:52.679 He's this spirit-filled redeemer who's going to come and make all things right and new. 00:08:52.819 --> 00:08:55.779 This is the same passage that Jesus quotes when he's in the synagogue. 00:08:55.960 --> 00:08:57.059 He opens the scroll and he says, 00:08:57.200 --> 00:09:02.519 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news and bind up the brokenhearted 00:09:02.519 --> 00:09:07.700 and proclaim liberty to captives, comfort all who mourn, and exchange beauty for ashes. 00:09:08.240 --> 00:09:12.460 So you have this anointed one who's about to do amazing things in Isaiah chapter 61. 00:09:12.460 --> 00:09:19.820 But before he comes, this anointed one, he does something super interesting that I never noticed until I studied this passage again this past week. 00:09:20.840 --> 00:09:28.680 If you turn to the next chapter, Isaiah chapter 62, the anointed one in verses 6 and 7, he says something super interesting. 00:09:28.820 --> 00:09:29.980 Listen carefully to what he says. 00:09:30.040 --> 00:09:30.340 He says, 00:09:30.340 --> 00:09:47.440 Now did you hear that? 00:09:48.420 --> 00:09:49.360 Never be silent. 00:09:49.980 --> 00:09:51.280 Give yourselves no rest. 00:09:51.399 --> 00:09:53.440 Give God himself no rest. 00:09:54.440 --> 00:09:56.780 Do you know what the anointed one is basically saying here? 00:09:56.779 --> 00:09:58.559 He's basically saying, 00:09:59.579 --> 00:10:02.000 Do not stop pestering the heavens. 00:10:03.059 --> 00:10:05.799 Do not stop crying out to your Father in heaven, 00:10:06.100 --> 00:10:07.019 Thy kingdom come. 00:10:07.360 --> 00:10:08.220 Thy kingdom come. 00:10:08.439 --> 00:10:09.379 Thy kingdom come. 00:10:09.879 --> 00:10:14.199 It's like he's ordaining his people to a holy ministry of nonstop nagging. 00:10:15.199 --> 00:10:16.759 This is 24-7. 00:10:16.899 --> 00:10:18.519 This is a 24-7 prayer vigil. 00:10:18.980 --> 00:10:20.339 And not just over Jerusalem. 00:10:20.339 --> 00:10:24.720 You have to understand that for them, Jerusalem was the center of the entire cosmos. 00:10:24.720 --> 00:10:30.840 And in the rest of Isaiah, you have this not nationalistic vision, but you have this international cosmic vision. 00:10:31.480 --> 00:10:39.480 So the anointed one here is basically establishing a 24-7 prayer vigil for the people of God as they await his arrival. 00:10:39.820 --> 00:10:40.779 And why would he do that? 00:10:41.620 --> 00:10:43.700 Because the world is too broken. 00:10:44.700 --> 00:10:48.700 And because God's presence is too precious to do anything else. 00:10:48.700 --> 00:10:53.780 But beg the heavens day and night, night and day. 00:10:54.940 --> 00:11:09.259 So what our text this morning is, what Isaiah 64 is, it's the culmination, it's the climax of these hope-filled, longing-soaked prayers of the people of God lifted up to heaven day and night, night and day. 00:11:09.259 --> 00:11:14.819 And this isn't some tidy, polite, you know, pious, precious moment, Charlie Brown kind of prayer. 00:11:15.539 --> 00:11:21.460 It's not that, you know, five-second prayer that you utter when you're half asleep and your head's about to hit the pillow. 00:11:21.620 --> 00:11:21.799 No. 00:11:22.580 --> 00:11:28.000 This is intercessory prayer out of a real hope that's born out of a real desperation. 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:32.879 It's not an upright, kneeling, gentle, hands-folded prayer by the bedside. 00:11:32.940 --> 00:11:42.600 No, it's clothes torn, teary-eyed, snot-filled, snot-running down your nose, full body, face down, begging and pleading to God prayer. 00:11:43.580 --> 00:11:45.179 It's a visceral prayer. 00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:49.120 Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down. 00:11:49.340 --> 00:11:51.159 It almost sounds violent, doesn't it? 00:11:51.659 --> 00:11:56.700 Like, God, rip it open, tear it apart, tear apart the heavens if you have to, and come. 00:11:56.700 --> 00:12:00.420 Come down to us because we desperately need you here. 00:12:01.020 --> 00:12:05.580 It's a prayer that's absolutely clear about what it is hoping in. 00:12:05.660 --> 00:12:10.300 It's a plea that absolutely is convinced about the only possible hope that the world could have. 00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:17.960 It's a picture of what Christian hope does in a person who has the eyes to see the coming of God as the only future worth having. 00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:20.140 The only true hope of the world. 00:12:20.280 --> 00:12:23.360 We desperately beg when this hope gets inside of us. 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:27.940 This is praying from the bottom of the valley, praying with your back against the wall, 00:12:28.039 --> 00:12:33.639 praying when you know that you're completely out of options and that God is your only hope for deliverance. 00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:37.340 This is what happens when real hope takes over our hearts. 00:12:38.120 --> 00:12:44.340 When we realize how helpless and hopeless we are without our maker, redeemer, sustainer, and friend, 00:12:44.340 --> 00:12:50.680 we cannot help but call upon his name, begging him to do what only he can do. 00:12:51.320 --> 00:12:56.340 We need so much more than, you know, just a little bit of Holy Spirit pixie dust on top of our circumstances. 00:12:56.740 --> 00:13:01.180 No, we need him to tear the skies open and to come down and to be with us. 00:13:01.440 --> 00:13:05.620 We need him to shake things up seismically, things we thought immovable. 00:13:05.620 --> 00:13:10.179 Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you. 00:13:10.460 --> 00:13:15.840 As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, Lord, shake what we cannot shake. 00:13:16.440 --> 00:13:20.139 Move, melt, burn, boil what we thought impossible. 00:13:21.139 --> 00:13:22.700 That's what this prayer is asking for. 00:13:23.899 --> 00:13:28.379 But now the question is, is that our prayer in this Advent season? 00:13:28.379 --> 00:13:34.039 Are we longing for the coming of the Lord with this kind of desperate urgency? 00:13:34.320 --> 00:13:39.500 Hungry for like a real seismic change, something beyond our wildest imaginations? 00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:42.740 You know, verse 3 has continued to just stick out to me. 00:13:42.840 --> 00:13:47.899 This idea of God doing awesome things that says that we did not expect. 00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:57.740 And it got me thinking, you know, might it be that many of us are living lives where we're refusing to be surprised by God? 00:13:59.340 --> 00:14:04.620 And might that actually be a huge problem and a profound lack of faith? 00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:11.740 One author that I love, Anne Voskamp, she writes that there is no way to discover joy but as surprise. 00:14:12.980 --> 00:14:15.879 There is no way to discover joy but as surprise. 00:14:15.879 --> 00:14:28.600 So like, what if our struggles have less to do with our shattered circumstances and far more to do with our unwillingness to be surprised by God, even in the midst of our shattered circumstances? 00:14:29.559 --> 00:14:31.439 Because we've all got plans, don't we? 00:14:31.980 --> 00:14:36.220 Plans for our children, our careers, our marriages, our finances, our futures. 00:14:36.220 --> 00:14:42.180 But what happens when these plans get shattered like a broken pot of clay? 00:14:43.139 --> 00:14:44.960 Is despair really the only option? 00:14:45.920 --> 00:14:53.019 Or what if instead we look forward with hope to the pleasant surprise our Father in Heaven has in store for us? 00:14:53.080 --> 00:14:56.460 Are we willing to be pleasantly surprised? 00:14:56.540 --> 00:14:57.379 Surprised by joy? 00:14:57.500 --> 00:15:01.019 Surprised by a God who rends the heavens and comes down for our good? 00:15:01.019 --> 00:15:08.159 You know, I think a lot of us, we say that we want salvation for this world, this broken world. 00:15:08.220 --> 00:15:10.699 We say we want better days, a better world. 00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:15.679 But we don't actually long for God's new heaven and new earth. 00:15:16.500 --> 00:15:19.039 We just kind of settle for an amended earth. 00:15:19.179 --> 00:15:23.179 No big surprises, just a couple alterations to suit our personal plans. 00:15:23.179 --> 00:15:25.839 And so we don't expect much from God. 00:15:27.019 --> 00:15:28.679 And we don't care to be surprised by God. 00:15:28.739 --> 00:15:30.599 We don't care to be surprised by joy. 00:15:30.659 --> 00:15:32.599 Because honestly, most of us hate surprises. 00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:38.259 There's this one time, Chelsea, she will tell you that I hate surprises. 00:15:38.500 --> 00:15:44.559 And there's one time, right before we were married, she tried to surprise me with a nice gathering of all my buddies playing basketball together. 00:15:44.679 --> 00:15:45.299 I had no idea. 00:15:45.419 --> 00:15:48.039 Then I showed up and they were all there and I was supposed to play basketball. 00:15:48.039 --> 00:15:52.339 And I found myself, like, completely unable to enjoy that. 00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:54.539 I really hated it, actually. 00:15:55.719 --> 00:15:56.559 And you know why? 00:15:57.319 --> 00:16:01.419 I hated being surprised because I hated not being in control. 00:16:03.199 --> 00:16:06.299 But see, what if that's the point of God wanting to surprise us? 00:16:06.779 --> 00:16:10.179 To show us that it's always better for Him to be in control. 00:16:10.179 --> 00:16:17.799 And maybe, just maybe, that's also why so few of us ever actually pray this Isaiah 64 prayer, right? 00:16:17.859 --> 00:16:21.000 Because it'd mean that we need to let God be God. 00:16:21.939 --> 00:16:27.819 Honestly, I imagine that there are many of you who haven't ever prayed like this in Isaiah 64. 00:16:28.439 --> 00:16:30.559 And I don't say that to condemn you. 00:16:31.179 --> 00:16:34.679 No, I just know that many of you haven't prayed like this because I know my own heart. 00:16:34.679 --> 00:16:40.139 It's often hard for me, the pastor, with all my own comforts and distractions and privileges. 00:16:40.319 --> 00:16:43.539 It's hard for me to feel like I need to pray like this. 00:16:45.139 --> 00:16:51.319 But I wonder, I wonder if the reason many of us haven't prayed like this is not because God doesn't exist, 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:57.339 but because He's been so kind, so generous, so patient toward us. 00:16:57.359 --> 00:17:01.019 Or I wonder if the reason many of us don't pray like this is not because we don't actually need to, 00:17:01.079 --> 00:17:02.579 but because we don't want to. 00:17:02.580 --> 00:17:06.640 Because if we were to pray like this with such desperation, if we were to beg, 00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:10.079 it'd require us to open our eyes to the truth that we are far more vulnerable, 00:17:10.840 --> 00:17:15.519 far more limited, far more helpless apart from God than we care to admit. 00:17:16.900 --> 00:17:20.319 Most of us don't pray like this, or at least not often, myself included, 00:17:20.440 --> 00:17:26.600 because we've spent so many years building a life that helps us avoid feeling this desperate. 00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:33.539 And we've filled our calendars and secured our comforts and managed our images and distracted ourselves just enough 00:17:33.539 --> 00:17:38.319 to avoid facing the truth that when, you know, that fecal matter hits the fan, 00:17:38.980 --> 00:17:40.059 and it always does, 00:17:40.659 --> 00:17:43.399 there's nothing that we can actually do about it. 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:46.500 The truth that we cannot save ourselves. 00:17:47.459 --> 00:17:50.199 Think of all like the biggest problems that you personally face. 00:17:50.200 --> 00:17:53.420 Can anyone but God really save you? 00:17:53.700 --> 00:17:55.279 Honestly, I'm a pastor here. 00:17:55.420 --> 00:17:56.400 I'm the pastor of care. 00:17:56.539 --> 00:17:58.860 I sit down and I listen to many of you. 00:17:59.019 --> 00:18:02.400 And when I listen to your struggles, sometimes I do think to myself, 00:18:03.019 --> 00:18:04.140 man, yeah, that is bad. 00:18:05.180 --> 00:18:06.180 That is hard. 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:09.600 No way the deacon's fund is going to solve that one. 00:18:10.380 --> 00:18:11.620 My sermon's not going to do it. 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:14.080 My best pastoral counsel is not going to do it. 00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:22.619 But, you know, it's precisely in my attempt to shepherd this flock that I'm reminded that, man, 00:18:22.679 --> 00:18:25.539 the Lord, the Lord has to be our shepherd. 00:18:26.279 --> 00:18:28.659 Because then and only then shall we truly not want. 00:18:28.839 --> 00:18:30.879 Like, He alone can restore our souls. 00:18:31.659 --> 00:18:34.379 He alone can lead us through the valley of the shadow of death. 00:18:35.199 --> 00:18:37.220 And, man, that's just on a personal, individual level. 00:18:37.299 --> 00:18:40.319 But, like, think of all the biggest challenges in the world. 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:44.799 Like, what will truly bring salvation to our suffering world? 00:18:45.079 --> 00:18:49.859 In the fullest sense of the word, eternal, imperishable, incorruptible shalom. 00:18:50.019 --> 00:18:50.799 What's it going to take? 00:18:51.659 --> 00:18:53.519 More diplomacy and politics? 00:18:54.099 --> 00:18:55.539 More therapy and counseling? 00:18:56.019 --> 00:18:57.319 More science and technology? 00:18:57.480 --> 00:18:58.539 More charity and goodwill? 00:18:58.619 --> 00:18:59.679 More hard work and wisdom? 00:18:59.819 --> 00:19:05.139 No, nothing from within this cursed creation can cure our cancerous corruption. 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:06.960 It's got to be something. 00:19:07.119 --> 00:19:09.319 It's got to be someone transcendent, incorruptible. 00:19:09.319 --> 00:19:11.759 Someone coming from the outside in. 00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:13.799 Creation cannot save itself. 00:19:14.139 --> 00:19:15.480 Only its creator can. 00:19:17.659 --> 00:19:22.679 So, see, when Christians hope, when Christian hope takes a hold of us, 00:19:23.399 --> 00:19:27.700 it brings us to the futility of, like, every lesser savior. 00:19:28.359 --> 00:19:31.879 It brings us to the end of ourselves, and it brings us to the beginning of God 00:19:31.879 --> 00:19:34.200 on our knees, desperately begging. 00:19:34.379 --> 00:19:36.059 Begging for God to come down. 00:19:36.059 --> 00:19:41.019 I'm begging for his presence among us as the only possible solution to all our problems. 00:19:42.139 --> 00:19:46.799 But the next question for us to consider is, well, then what happens when he comes down? 00:19:47.879 --> 00:19:52.619 See, Isaiah 64 doesn't just beg for this God to come down and expect him to arrive as a genie 00:19:52.619 --> 00:19:53.919 whose wishes are command. 00:19:54.059 --> 00:19:54.339 No. 00:19:55.059 --> 00:19:57.339 We don't go from begging to bossing. 00:19:57.339 --> 00:19:58.199 Now, point number two. 00:19:58.259 --> 00:20:01.339 When we really hope, we don't just desperately beg. 00:20:01.439 --> 00:20:02.779 We also deeply tremble. 00:20:03.659 --> 00:20:04.480 Remember verse one. 00:20:04.539 --> 00:20:09.000 Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might tremble before you. 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:13.460 When we hope for the presence of God that makes mountains tremble, 00:20:13.539 --> 00:20:17.240 we have to realize that his presence doesn't just make the mountains tremble. 00:20:17.940 --> 00:20:19.319 It makes us tremble as well. 00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:24.759 So, yes, the hope-filled prayer of Isaiah 64, it begs for the presence of God. 00:20:24.859 --> 00:20:26.019 But then look at verse five. 00:20:26.819 --> 00:20:28.039 You come to the help of who? 00:20:28.859 --> 00:20:31.359 Those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. 00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:36.279 But when we continued to sin against your ways, you were angry. 00:20:37.399 --> 00:20:39.319 How, then, can we be saved? 00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:44.179 There's this realization here that, yes, we know we need your presence, Lord. 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:48.119 And, yes, we know you come to save the righteous who remember your ways. 00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:51.719 But what about those of us who aren't righteous? 00:20:52.339 --> 00:20:54.859 Those of us who often forget your ways. 00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:55.439 Oh, no. 00:20:56.279 --> 00:20:59.299 We just asked him to come down and fire against his enemies. 00:20:59.299 --> 00:21:00.259 But wait a minute. 00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:02.640 What if we're actually his enemies? 00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:07.500 Like, yes, we need God to judge and condemn all that is wicked in the world. 00:21:08.279 --> 00:21:10.859 But what about the wickedness in us? 00:21:11.579 --> 00:21:13.779 Yes, we need a God who will fight our enemies. 00:21:14.039 --> 00:21:17.839 But what happens when we are our own worst enemies and even enemies of God? 00:21:18.059 --> 00:21:19.720 How, then, can we be saved? 00:21:19.779 --> 00:21:22.059 It's a scary question to ask, isn't it? 00:21:22.839 --> 00:21:24.379 And if it doesn't make you tremble, 00:21:24.380 --> 00:21:30.500 then I wonder if you've realistically assessed yourself according to the standards of our holy God, 00:21:30.760 --> 00:21:33.760 the God of the Scriptures revealed to us in the Son of God who is crucified, 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:37.440 bearing our curse, the filth of our sins in His body. 00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:42.140 Do we realize that even our most righteous deeds, it says in verse 6, 00:21:42.180 --> 00:21:44.280 are but filthy rags before God? 00:21:44.279 --> 00:21:49.740 It could be translated filthy menstrual rags, our most righteous deeds. 00:21:50.299 --> 00:21:55.000 And basically what this prayer is acknowledging is that everything we do is tainted by sin. 00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:57.899 And in case you're wondering how this could be, 00:21:58.000 --> 00:22:01.059 it might be that you just need a proper definition of sin. 00:22:01.139 --> 00:22:04.319 This week I was sitting with someone who was exploring Christianity, 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:09.000 and she asked me about what sin is, 00:22:09.119 --> 00:22:11.159 and she listed a couple things in her life. 00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:13.759 And it was kind of like asking me, 00:22:13.859 --> 00:22:14.980 are these on the naughty list? 00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:18.700 And, you know, I could have taken out the Ten Commandments 00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:21.879 and compared what she said with what's said there. 00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:22.859 I could have taken out, I don't know, 00:22:22.899 --> 00:22:26.059 a portion of 1 Corinthians chapter 6 or something like that. 00:22:26.339 --> 00:22:28.799 But instead, I pointed her to Jesus, 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:31.539 who when He was asked, 00:22:31.779 --> 00:22:33.500 what is the greatest commandment, what did He say? 00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:37.119 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, 00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:39.460 and love your neighbor as yourself. 00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:42.559 All the law and the prophets hang on these two, He said. 00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:43.799 So I told this woman, 00:22:44.019 --> 00:22:46.679 sin is less about is this action on the naughty list, 00:22:46.859 --> 00:22:50.179 and more about have I loved God and neighbor wholeheartedly. 00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:53.139 And I put it this way because I hope to do two things in her 00:22:53.139 --> 00:22:54.379 that I think Jesus wants to do 00:22:54.379 --> 00:22:56.240 when He tells us what the greatest commandments are. 00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:59.000 One, I hoped it would help her see that the God of Christianity 00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:02.720 is far less interested in rule-following religiosity 00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:06.380 and far more interested in a personal loving relationship with us. 00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:07.680 I wanted her to see that for sure. 00:23:08.460 --> 00:23:11.160 But two, I also wanted her to tremble 00:23:11.160 --> 00:23:15.720 as she considered just how high the bar for righteousness is 00:23:15.720 --> 00:23:17.839 in the eyes of our holy God. 00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:19.440 Like honestly, what's easier to obey? 00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:22.000 Thou shalt not murder, thou shalt not steal, 00:23:22.140 --> 00:23:24.480 or love the Lord your God with all your heart, 00:23:24.680 --> 00:23:26.940 all your soul, all your mind, all your strength, 00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:29.779 and love your annoying neighbors as yourself. 00:23:31.400 --> 00:23:34.420 So you see, sin is anything that falls short 00:23:34.420 --> 00:23:36.840 of that high, high standard. 00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:38.580 And let's not kid ourselves. 00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:40.880 We all fall short of this standard. 00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:43.180 And this is how verse six can say 00:23:43.180 --> 00:23:44.640 that even our righteous deeds, 00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:45.960 our most righteous deeds, 00:23:46.460 --> 00:23:48.620 are filthy rags before God. 00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:50.960 Everything we do, even our most righteous deeds, 00:23:51.059 --> 00:23:52.940 they're tainted by the uncleanness 00:23:52.940 --> 00:23:55.080 and impurity of our hearts. 00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:56.600 And thus, they are worthy, 00:23:56.900 --> 00:23:58.799 we are worthy of condemnation. 00:23:59.860 --> 00:24:02.580 So truthfully, we don't just need to repent 00:24:02.580 --> 00:24:03.340 of our sinfulness. 00:24:04.180 --> 00:24:06.640 We actually also need to repent of our righteousness. 00:24:07.620 --> 00:24:09.140 For all the righteous things we've done 00:24:09.140 --> 00:24:10.759 for less than pure reasons, 00:24:10.840 --> 00:24:12.539 for all the times I've given to the poor, 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:15.180 but less out of love and more to comfort myself, 00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:16.200 that I'm a good person. 00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:20.059 For all the times I've come to Sunday morning worship, 00:24:20.059 --> 00:24:24.379 but begrudgingly and with my heart far from God. 00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:27.519 The teaching of Jesus in all the scriptures 00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:29.079 is that we all fall short. 00:24:29.179 --> 00:24:32.039 There is no one who does good, no, not one. 00:24:32.119 --> 00:24:35.359 And even 99.9% purity isn't good enough 00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:37.079 before our holy God. 00:24:37.819 --> 00:24:39.339 And that's if we live up to that. 00:24:39.460 --> 00:24:41.500 Anyone, 99, anyone at that level yet? 00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:42.379 Come talk to me. 00:24:43.619 --> 00:24:46.759 None of us has reached 99.9%. 00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:49.359 And even if we did, 00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:54.379 do you realize that if 99.9% of planes landed in SFO 00:24:54.379 --> 00:24:56.220 and that like 0.1% didn't, 00:24:56.279 --> 00:24:59.279 we'd have three to four crashes at SFO every week. 00:24:59.879 --> 00:25:03.059 If only 99.9% of newborns were delivered safely 00:25:03.059 --> 00:25:04.680 into the hands of doctors and midwives, 00:25:04.980 --> 00:25:08.180 there would be almost 400 dropped babies every day. 00:25:09.140 --> 00:25:13.000 See, when we realize that even 99.9% purity 00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:14.180 is not enough, 00:25:14.180 --> 00:25:16.560 it really drives home the question, 00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:19.380 how then can we be saved, right? 00:25:20.500 --> 00:25:22.640 And perhaps that is a question 00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:24.279 that you're wrestling with today. 00:25:24.519 --> 00:25:26.320 How then can I be saved? 00:25:26.700 --> 00:25:28.420 You feel the weight of your sin, 00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:30.039 the guilt and shame. 00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:31.900 You're haunted by that long list of things 00:25:31.900 --> 00:25:33.720 you ought to have done but failed to do 00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:35.640 and that equally long list of things 00:25:35.640 --> 00:25:37.060 that you ought not to have done 00:25:37.060 --> 00:25:38.039 but that you still did. 00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:40.160 You think of all the hurt 00:25:40.160 --> 00:25:41.840 and the damage that you've caused 00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:43.619 both to yourself and to others. 00:25:44.459 --> 00:25:45.599 And you totally identify 00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:46.879 with this conundrum here. 00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:47.359 Verse six, 00:25:47.459 --> 00:25:49.740 all of us have become like one who is unclean 00:25:49.740 --> 00:25:52.299 and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags. 00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:53.779 This is like the complete opposite 00:25:53.779 --> 00:25:55.019 of the Psalm 1 tree, right? 00:25:55.399 --> 00:25:57.459 The tree that's planted by streams of water 00:25:57.459 --> 00:25:58.619 that delights in God's law. 00:25:58.679 --> 00:26:00.379 We all shrivel up like a leaf instead. 00:26:01.039 --> 00:26:01.319 And it says, 00:26:01.319 --> 00:26:01.939 like the wind, 00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:03.279 our sins sweep us away. 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:05.240 No one calls on your name 00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:06.519 or strives to lay hold of you 00:26:06.519 --> 00:26:08.339 for you have hidden your face from us 00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:10.539 and have given us over to our sins. 00:26:11.259 --> 00:26:12.000 And you read this 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:12.399 and you're like, 00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:12.980 this is me. 00:26:14.339 --> 00:26:15.599 And you know what you deserve. 00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:16.159 You deserve, 00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:16.919 we all deserve, 00:26:17.099 --> 00:26:18.839 not for God to come down to deliver us 00:26:18.839 --> 00:26:21.299 but for God to come down to damn us. 00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:24.279 So how then can we be saved? 00:26:25.919 --> 00:26:27.579 Well, the beautiful irony of the gospel 00:26:27.579 --> 00:26:30.379 is that it's good news for those who tremble. 00:26:30.380 --> 00:26:32.300 The good news of Christianity 00:26:32.300 --> 00:26:33.960 is that salvation is possible 00:26:33.960 --> 00:26:35.280 precisely for those who feel 00:26:35.280 --> 00:26:38.060 the impossibility of their salvation. 00:26:38.940 --> 00:26:40.140 The good news of Jesus says 00:26:40.140 --> 00:26:41.340 that there is help for the helpless 00:26:41.340 --> 00:26:42.520 and hope for the hopeless 00:26:42.520 --> 00:26:44.320 and that blessed are those who mourn 00:26:44.320 --> 00:26:45.380 for they shall be comforted. 00:26:45.860 --> 00:26:47.040 And blessed are those who hunger 00:26:47.040 --> 00:26:48.060 and thirst for righteousness 00:26:48.060 --> 00:26:49.760 for they shall be filled. 00:26:49.880 --> 00:26:50.200 So you see, 00:26:50.340 --> 00:26:51.500 real Christian hope 00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:52.560 doesn't just stick to a, 00:26:52.800 --> 00:26:55.000 doesn't just stick like a Hallmark sticker 00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:56.200 on our lives. 00:26:56.320 --> 00:26:56.540 No. 00:26:57.220 --> 00:26:58.640 It isn't a religious version 00:26:58.640 --> 00:27:00.300 of positive psychology 00:27:00.299 --> 00:27:01.919 and feel good vibes. 00:27:02.019 --> 00:27:02.119 No. 00:27:02.180 --> 00:27:04.019 When hope gets deep inside of us, 00:27:04.539 --> 00:27:06.359 it makes us desperately beg 00:27:06.359 --> 00:27:07.379 for God to come down. 00:27:07.619 --> 00:27:08.899 It makes us deeply tremble 00:27:08.899 --> 00:27:09.619 at His coming. 00:27:10.059 --> 00:27:10.419 And yet, 00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:11.099 point number three, 00:27:11.159 --> 00:27:12.159 it still invites us 00:27:12.159 --> 00:27:13.839 in the middle of our begging, 00:27:14.359 --> 00:27:15.879 in the middle of our trembling, 00:27:16.019 --> 00:27:17.000 it still invites us 00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:18.200 to daringly wait 00:27:18.200 --> 00:27:19.039 for this God 00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:20.079 to come down 00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:21.159 and be with us 00:27:21.159 --> 00:27:22.119 at the same time. 00:27:22.899 --> 00:27:23.879 When we really, 00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:24.759 really hope in Christ, 00:27:24.859 --> 00:27:26.259 we dare to wait for Him. 00:27:26.299 --> 00:27:27.159 Look back at what it says 00:27:27.160 --> 00:27:28.000 in verse four with me 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:28.540 for a second. 00:27:28.540 --> 00:27:30.960 Since ancient times, 00:27:31.400 --> 00:27:32.100 no one has heard, 00:27:32.580 --> 00:27:33.740 no ear has perceived, 00:27:33.900 --> 00:27:34.860 no eye has seen 00:27:34.860 --> 00:27:36.840 any God besides you 00:27:36.840 --> 00:27:38.200 who acts on those, 00:27:38.440 --> 00:27:39.680 who acts on behalf 00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:40.860 of those who wait for Him. 00:27:41.540 --> 00:27:42.800 And you have to understand 00:27:42.800 --> 00:27:44.240 how wild this is. 00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:44.840 Because this, 00:27:44.920 --> 00:27:45.779 this is the gospel. 00:27:46.680 --> 00:27:47.540 In this prayer, 00:27:47.700 --> 00:27:48.460 the people of God 00:27:48.460 --> 00:27:48.840 are saying, 00:27:49.060 --> 00:27:49.920 there is no God 00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:50.759 like Yahweh. 00:27:51.040 --> 00:27:52.060 No God who cares 00:27:52.060 --> 00:27:53.100 and who acts 00:27:53.100 --> 00:27:54.300 on behalf of those who wait. 00:27:54.299 --> 00:27:54.619 Because see, 00:27:54.680 --> 00:27:55.460 in ancient times, 00:27:55.559 --> 00:27:56.980 every other would-be God 00:27:56.980 --> 00:28:02.000 waited on human servants 00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:03.299 to act on behalf of it. 00:28:04.200 --> 00:28:05.159 But here it's reversed. 00:28:05.859 --> 00:28:06.460 Here it's reversed. 00:28:06.740 --> 00:28:07.759 And this is what makes Yahweh, 00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:08.559 the God of Christianity, 00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:09.779 a one-of-a-kind God. 00:28:10.259 --> 00:28:11.180 No one has ever seen 00:28:11.180 --> 00:28:12.619 a God who so graciously 00:28:12.619 --> 00:28:13.460 acts for 00:28:13.460 --> 00:28:14.839 and on behalf of those 00:28:14.839 --> 00:28:15.799 who simply wait. 00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:16.539 We're the ones 00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:17.259 who get to wait 00:28:17.259 --> 00:28:18.659 for Him to act for us. 00:28:19.119 --> 00:28:19.659 It doesn't say 00:28:19.659 --> 00:28:20.940 those who try hard, 00:28:21.059 --> 00:28:21.639 those who impress, 00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:22.339 those who perform, 00:28:22.480 --> 00:28:23.259 those who build cities 00:28:23.259 --> 00:28:24.259 and towers where there are 00:28:24.259 --> 00:28:24.960 tops in the heavens. 00:28:25.079 --> 00:28:25.299 No. 00:28:25.960 --> 00:28:27.180 Just those who wait 00:28:27.180 --> 00:28:28.480 for Him to come down. 00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:30.119 We saw this in 00:28:30.119 --> 00:28:30.940 the book of Genesis, right? 00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:31.799 In Genesis chapter 4, 00:28:31.839 --> 00:28:32.460 after the fall, 00:28:32.839 --> 00:28:34.039 when Cain's people 00:28:34.039 --> 00:28:35.519 built cities and civilizations, 00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:36.539 what were the people 00:28:36.539 --> 00:28:37.379 of God known for? 00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:39.039 Simply for calling 00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:40.599 upon the name of the Lord. 00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:41.740 That's the posture of Advent. 00:28:41.879 --> 00:28:42.900 Not climbing up, 00:28:42.960 --> 00:28:43.799 but calling up. 00:28:44.660 --> 00:28:45.879 And then in Genesis chapter 11 00:28:45.879 --> 00:28:46.480 at Babel, 00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:47.559 when they said, 00:28:47.740 --> 00:28:48.640 let us build ourselves 00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:49.660 a tower with its top 00:28:49.660 --> 00:28:50.420 in the heavens. 00:28:51.039 --> 00:28:51.700 It was God 00:28:51.700 --> 00:28:52.559 who actually came down 00:28:52.559 --> 00:28:53.240 to them to see 00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:54.279 their puny little tower. 00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:55.500 Even their greatest, 00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:56.379 highest achievement, 00:28:56.559 --> 00:28:57.639 God still had to come down 00:28:57.639 --> 00:28:58.460 to even see it. 00:28:59.339 --> 00:29:00.059 Instead of praying, 00:29:00.200 --> 00:29:00.779 come Lord, 00:29:00.879 --> 00:29:01.740 the people of Babel said, 00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:03.299 come let us go up to Him. 00:29:03.539 --> 00:29:04.159 But see here, 00:29:04.259 --> 00:29:05.440 this prayer in Isaiah 64, 00:29:05.980 --> 00:29:07.799 this is the anti-Babel prayer. 00:29:08.639 --> 00:29:09.659 It's the people of God 00:29:09.659 --> 00:29:10.460 calling upon the name 00:29:10.460 --> 00:29:10.779 of the Lord. 00:29:10.980 --> 00:29:11.940 We can't build our way 00:29:11.940 --> 00:29:12.480 up to you. 00:29:12.940 --> 00:29:13.819 We need you to rend 00:29:13.819 --> 00:29:14.179 the heavens 00:29:14.179 --> 00:29:15.339 and come down to us. 00:29:15.879 --> 00:29:17.279 We are done pretending 00:29:17.279 --> 00:29:18.779 that we can save ourselves. 00:29:18.980 --> 00:29:19.879 So we will wait 00:29:19.879 --> 00:29:21.200 for you to act. 00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:23.240 And it's not because, 00:29:23.420 --> 00:29:23.660 you know, 00:29:23.740 --> 00:29:24.960 they're patient all of a sudden. 00:29:25.080 --> 00:29:26.019 No, waiting is hard. 00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:26.940 Waiting is scary. 00:29:27.120 --> 00:29:27.960 Waiting is vulnerable. 00:29:28.880 --> 00:29:29.759 But they wait. 00:29:30.200 --> 00:29:31.080 They wait because 00:29:31.080 --> 00:29:31.819 these people know 00:29:31.819 --> 00:29:32.980 that it's their only hope. 00:29:33.620 --> 00:29:34.440 It's their only hope 00:29:34.440 --> 00:29:35.120 and therefore, 00:29:35.259 --> 00:29:36.220 they dare to wait. 00:29:36.299 --> 00:29:37.080 They dare to beg 00:29:37.080 --> 00:29:37.860 for the presence of God 00:29:37.860 --> 00:29:38.380 among them 00:29:38.380 --> 00:29:40.100 even if it makes them tremble 00:29:40.100 --> 00:29:41.180 and they dare to wait. 00:29:41.940 --> 00:29:43.539 I love how verse 8 says, 00:29:43.880 --> 00:29:44.000 you know, 00:29:44.039 --> 00:29:45.400 after they've gotten real, 00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:46.240 they've gotten real 00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:46.840 about their sin 00:29:46.840 --> 00:29:47.500 before God, 00:29:47.500 --> 00:29:49.460 they still dare 00:29:49.460 --> 00:29:50.460 to call upon Him 00:29:50.460 --> 00:29:51.960 as their only hope. 00:29:52.299 --> 00:29:52.799 Like, yes, 00:29:52.900 --> 00:29:53.640 even our righteousness 00:29:53.640 --> 00:29:55.039 is like filthy rags, 00:29:55.460 --> 00:29:56.140 yet you, 00:29:56.339 --> 00:29:57.160 it says in verse 8. 00:29:57.220 --> 00:29:58.619 And this yet is like everything. 00:29:58.740 --> 00:29:59.380 It's the gospel. 00:30:00.380 --> 00:30:00.779 Like, yes, 00:30:00.819 --> 00:30:01.359 we're filthy. 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:02.200 Yes, 00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:02.940 we don't deserve 00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:04.160 a single thing from you, 00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:05.220 yet you, Lord, 00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:06.579 are our Father 00:30:06.579 --> 00:30:07.720 and our Potter. 00:30:08.559 --> 00:30:09.480 It doesn't say, 00:30:09.680 --> 00:30:09.859 yes, 00:30:09.940 --> 00:30:10.900 we're unworthy, 00:30:11.059 --> 00:30:12.039 yet we will try harder. 00:30:12.180 --> 00:30:13.599 We will try to clean ourselves up, 00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:14.519 do better next time. 00:30:14.579 --> 00:30:15.059 No, it says, 00:30:15.380 --> 00:30:16.319 yet you. 00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:17.700 See, 00:30:17.779 --> 00:30:18.619 the hope of the gospel 00:30:18.619 --> 00:30:20.119 emboldens the people of God 00:30:20.119 --> 00:30:21.939 to beg for the presence of God, 00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:22.659 not on the basis 00:30:22.659 --> 00:30:24.220 of our own character, 00:30:25.099 --> 00:30:25.579 but on the basis 00:30:25.579 --> 00:30:26.539 of God's character, 00:30:27.419 --> 00:30:28.220 and particularly 00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:29.460 in Him 00:30:29.460 --> 00:30:30.259 as our Father 00:30:30.259 --> 00:30:31.519 and as our Potter. 00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:32.980 This is how we can be saved. 00:30:33.439 --> 00:30:33.980 It's the same way 00:30:33.980 --> 00:30:34.799 the prodigal son 00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:35.500 was saved 00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:36.439 by the benevolence 00:30:36.439 --> 00:30:37.179 and the forgiveness 00:30:37.179 --> 00:30:39.159 of His loving Father. 00:30:39.279 --> 00:30:40.000 The hope of the world 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:40.639 is the love 00:30:40.639 --> 00:30:41.419 of the Father. 00:30:42.659 --> 00:30:43.299 Verse 9 says, 00:30:43.379 --> 00:30:44.139 do not be angry 00:30:44.139 --> 00:30:45.220 beyond measure, Lord. 00:30:45.220 --> 00:30:46.460 Do not remember 00:30:46.460 --> 00:30:47.299 our sins forever. 00:30:47.420 --> 00:30:48.079 Oh, look on us, 00:30:48.140 --> 00:30:48.559 we pray, 00:30:49.160 --> 00:30:49.980 for we are all 00:30:49.980 --> 00:30:50.819 Your people. 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:52.839 Our great hope 00:30:52.839 --> 00:30:53.819 is a Father 00:30:53.819 --> 00:30:54.519 who calls us 00:30:54.519 --> 00:30:55.480 His own children. 00:30:56.620 --> 00:30:57.140 That's why I love 00:30:57.140 --> 00:30:57.700 Psalm 103. 00:30:57.839 --> 00:30:58.620 The Lord is merciful 00:30:58.620 --> 00:30:59.160 and gracious, 00:30:59.339 --> 00:30:59.980 slow to anger 00:30:59.980 --> 00:31:00.640 and abounding 00:31:00.640 --> 00:31:02.039 in steadfast love. 00:31:02.779 --> 00:31:04.039 He will not always chide, 00:31:04.120 --> 00:31:04.740 nor will He keep 00:31:04.740 --> 00:31:05.500 His anger forever. 00:31:05.579 --> 00:31:06.680 He does not deal with us 00:31:06.680 --> 00:31:08.059 according to our sins, 00:31:08.140 --> 00:31:08.740 nor repay us 00:31:08.740 --> 00:31:09.940 according to our iniquities. 00:31:10.100 --> 00:31:11.319 For as high as the heavens 00:31:11.319 --> 00:31:12.299 are above the earth, 00:31:12.360 --> 00:31:13.319 so great is His love 00:31:13.319 --> 00:31:14.099 for those who fear Him. 00:31:14.299 --> 00:31:15.319 And as far as the east 00:31:15.319 --> 00:31:15.980 is from the west, 00:31:16.019 --> 00:31:17.059 so far has He removed 00:31:17.059 --> 00:31:18.259 our transgressions from us. 00:31:18.399 --> 00:31:19.879 As a Father shows compassion 00:31:19.879 --> 00:31:20.599 to His children, 00:31:21.319 --> 00:31:23.039 so the Lord shows compassion 00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:24.240 to us. 00:31:24.619 --> 00:31:25.799 There is no other love 00:31:25.799 --> 00:31:26.419 like the love 00:31:26.419 --> 00:31:28.019 of our Father in heaven. 00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:29.480 A love so strong 00:31:29.480 --> 00:31:30.419 that He can put a ring 00:31:30.419 --> 00:31:31.259 on our fingers 00:31:31.259 --> 00:31:32.359 and just like that, 00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:33.919 our status is changed 00:31:33.919 --> 00:31:34.919 from estranged 00:31:34.919 --> 00:31:35.659 to heirs. 00:31:35.779 --> 00:31:36.500 Just like that. 00:31:36.879 --> 00:31:37.759 A love so strong, 00:31:37.819 --> 00:31:38.939 He can completely cover 00:31:38.939 --> 00:31:40.019 our uncleanness 00:31:40.019 --> 00:31:40.839 with the robe 00:31:40.839 --> 00:31:41.859 of His righteousness 00:31:41.859 --> 00:31:43.940 and completely for free. 00:31:44.619 --> 00:31:45.599 Completely for free. 00:31:46.720 --> 00:31:47.500 Because, get this, 00:31:47.559 --> 00:31:48.639 if God is our Father, 00:31:49.480 --> 00:31:50.359 then God's Son 00:31:50.359 --> 00:31:51.440 is also our brother. 00:31:52.639 --> 00:31:53.220 And remember, 00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:54.079 who do you think 00:31:54.079 --> 00:31:55.119 that ring belonged to? 00:31:55.480 --> 00:31:56.740 The ring and the robe 00:31:56.740 --> 00:31:57.279 that the Father 00:31:57.279 --> 00:31:58.799 put on His prodigal son. 00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:00.359 Who do you think 00:32:00.359 --> 00:32:01.220 that robe belonged to? 00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:02.259 Who do you think 00:32:02.259 --> 00:32:03.819 the fattened calf belonged to? 00:32:04.440 --> 00:32:05.519 We've all squandered 00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:06.200 our inheritance. 00:32:06.420 --> 00:32:07.160 The rest belong 00:32:07.160 --> 00:32:08.079 to our older brother. 00:32:08.079 --> 00:32:09.119 But the good news 00:32:09.119 --> 00:32:11.259 of this benevolent family of God, 00:32:11.359 --> 00:32:12.399 Father, Son, and Spirit, 00:32:12.980 --> 00:32:13.960 is that by God's 00:32:13.960 --> 00:32:14.919 gracious initiative, 00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:16.480 we can be co-heirs 00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:18.220 with Christ by faith. 00:32:18.639 --> 00:32:20.220 Not at our own expense, 00:32:20.359 --> 00:32:21.019 but at Christ. 00:32:21.179 --> 00:32:22.039 Co-heirs with Him 00:32:22.039 --> 00:32:22.500 in glory. 00:32:22.579 --> 00:32:23.240 Isn't that crazy? 00:32:23.299 --> 00:32:24.259 From filthy rags 00:32:24.259 --> 00:32:26.259 to fine, fancy robes. 00:32:26.919 --> 00:32:28.319 This is the craftsmanship 00:32:28.319 --> 00:32:29.720 of God, the potter. 00:32:30.619 --> 00:32:31.960 See, if God is our potter, 00:32:32.460 --> 00:32:33.079 then we aren't just 00:32:33.079 --> 00:32:33.519 His children, 00:32:33.599 --> 00:32:34.819 nor even just His clay. 00:32:34.899 --> 00:32:35.759 We're His artwork. 00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:37.279 His masterpiece. 00:32:37.279 --> 00:32:38.839 Peace, to use Paul's language, 00:32:38.960 --> 00:32:39.759 we're His poema, 00:32:40.200 --> 00:32:41.039 His workmanship. 00:32:41.799 --> 00:32:42.819 And maybe you're here today 00:32:42.819 --> 00:32:43.500 and you feel like 00:32:43.500 --> 00:32:44.279 the prodigal son. 00:32:44.759 --> 00:32:46.099 Like you will never be worthy 00:32:46.099 --> 00:32:47.059 of your father's love. 00:32:47.460 --> 00:32:48.279 Like He could never 00:32:48.279 --> 00:32:49.359 call you His child again, 00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:50.559 never accept you back 00:32:50.559 --> 00:32:51.139 into His household. 00:32:51.379 --> 00:32:52.259 Maybe you're here today 00:32:52.259 --> 00:32:52.839 and you feel like 00:32:52.839 --> 00:32:53.619 there's nothing good 00:32:53.619 --> 00:32:54.379 He could make out of 00:32:54.379 --> 00:32:55.740 the dry and broken clay 00:32:55.740 --> 00:32:56.660 of your life. 00:32:56.920 --> 00:32:57.839 Like you just are 00:32:57.839 --> 00:32:58.980 just too cracked, 00:32:59.259 --> 00:32:59.899 too broken, 00:33:00.299 --> 00:33:01.319 bound to just be tossed 00:33:01.319 --> 00:33:02.119 and of no use 00:33:02.119 --> 00:33:04.139 or value to any potter. 00:33:04.140 --> 00:33:06.220 The true story 00:33:06.220 --> 00:33:07.100 that we celebrate 00:33:07.100 --> 00:33:08.040 at Advent 00:33:08.040 --> 00:33:09.460 is that when God 00:33:09.460 --> 00:33:10.259 rends the heavens, 00:33:11.100 --> 00:33:12.520 He makes beautiful things 00:33:12.520 --> 00:33:13.240 out of what the world 00:33:13.240 --> 00:33:13.960 despises 00:33:13.960 --> 00:33:15.600 as ugly and worthless. 00:33:16.660 --> 00:33:17.640 When the Father 00:33:17.640 --> 00:33:18.460 sent His Son, 00:33:19.100 --> 00:33:19.740 when the potter 00:33:19.740 --> 00:33:20.920 became like the clay, 00:33:21.700 --> 00:33:22.259 and though He had 00:33:22.259 --> 00:33:22.820 no beauty 00:33:22.820 --> 00:33:23.380 that anyone 00:33:23.380 --> 00:33:24.440 should desire Him, 00:33:24.620 --> 00:33:25.460 at His baptism, 00:33:25.620 --> 00:33:26.140 the heavens 00:33:26.140 --> 00:33:27.259 tore open 00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:28.519 and the Spirit 00:33:28.519 --> 00:33:29.480 descended upon 00:33:29.480 --> 00:33:30.240 the Son of God 00:33:30.240 --> 00:33:30.759 and God said, 00:33:30.960 --> 00:33:31.660 I desire Him, 00:33:32.019 --> 00:33:32.920 I love Him 00:33:32.920 --> 00:33:33.759 and God could not 00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:34.339 keep silent 00:33:34.339 --> 00:33:35.299 about His love 00:33:35.299 --> 00:33:36.079 for His Son. 00:33:36.140 --> 00:33:37.079 His love burst 00:33:37.079 --> 00:33:37.700 through the heavens 00:33:37.700 --> 00:33:39.259 to declare His love 00:33:39.259 --> 00:33:39.980 for His child 00:33:39.980 --> 00:33:40.440 and the beauty 00:33:40.440 --> 00:33:40.980 of Christianity 00:33:40.980 --> 00:33:42.039 is that if we are 00:33:42.039 --> 00:33:43.160 united with this Son 00:33:43.160 --> 00:33:43.980 by faith, 00:33:44.039 --> 00:33:44.799 if we place all 00:33:44.799 --> 00:33:45.799 our hope in Him, 00:33:46.640 --> 00:33:47.900 this fatherly love 00:33:47.900 --> 00:33:49.000 bursting from the heavens 00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:50.799 is just as much ours 00:33:50.799 --> 00:33:51.839 as it is His. 00:33:52.059 --> 00:33:52.940 By His sacrifice, 00:33:53.240 --> 00:33:54.220 He has cleansed us 00:33:54.220 --> 00:33:55.440 of our filthy rags. 00:33:56.099 --> 00:33:57.059 When Christ's body 00:33:57.059 --> 00:33:57.879 bore our sins 00:33:57.879 --> 00:33:58.539 on the cross 00:33:58.539 --> 00:33:59.759 and broke to pieces 00:33:59.759 --> 00:34:01.200 like a fragile piece 00:34:01.200 --> 00:34:02.379 of disposable clay, 00:34:02.460 --> 00:34:03.200 the veil in the temple 00:34:03.200 --> 00:34:04.000 was torn. 00:34:04.700 --> 00:34:05.720 The veil that blocked 00:34:05.720 --> 00:34:06.980 access to the Holy of Holies, 00:34:07.059 --> 00:34:07.700 it was torn. 00:34:08.480 --> 00:34:08.840 And then, 00:34:08.920 --> 00:34:09.699 picking up the pieces 00:34:09.699 --> 00:34:10.960 of His Son's broken body, 00:34:11.219 --> 00:34:12.179 the master potter 00:34:12.179 --> 00:34:13.380 surprised the world 00:34:13.380 --> 00:34:14.199 with joy, 00:34:14.799 --> 00:34:15.639 the most beautiful 00:34:15.639 --> 00:34:16.259 masterpiece 00:34:16.259 --> 00:34:17.840 of all time. 00:34:19.059 --> 00:34:19.820 Christ is risen, 00:34:20.980 --> 00:34:21.739 the firstfruits 00:34:21.739 --> 00:34:22.400 of new creation 00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:22.920 to come. 00:34:24.279 --> 00:34:25.139 The earth 00:34:25.139 --> 00:34:26.759 will one day receive 00:34:26.760 --> 00:34:27.560 her king. 00:34:28.860 --> 00:34:29.240 So you see, 00:34:29.400 --> 00:34:30.460 in the person of Jesus, 00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:32.280 we have the answer 00:34:32.280 --> 00:34:33.460 to the cliffhanger question 00:34:33.460 --> 00:34:34.460 at the end of this passage 00:34:34.460 --> 00:34:35.240 in verse 12. 00:34:36.500 --> 00:34:37.340 After all this, 00:34:37.520 --> 00:34:37.680 Lord, 00:34:38.620 --> 00:34:40.200 will you hold yourself back? 00:34:41.000 --> 00:34:42.160 Will you keep silent 00:34:42.160 --> 00:34:43.260 and punish us 00:34:43.260 --> 00:34:44.240 beyond measure? 00:34:45.340 --> 00:34:46.060 In Christ, 00:34:46.180 --> 00:34:47.160 we know the answer 00:34:47.160 --> 00:34:48.100 is no. 00:34:48.740 --> 00:34:49.960 The Lord does not 00:34:49.960 --> 00:34:51.040 hold Himself back, 00:34:51.400 --> 00:34:52.640 nor does He keep silent 00:34:52.640 --> 00:34:53.340 and punish 00:34:53.340 --> 00:34:54.220 beyond measure. 00:34:54.219 --> 00:34:54.399 no, 00:34:54.439 --> 00:34:54.719 actually, 00:34:54.799 --> 00:34:55.879 He burst into the world 00:34:55.879 --> 00:34:57.699 and the eternal Word 00:34:57.699 --> 00:34:59.079 became flesh. 00:34:59.859 --> 00:35:00.759 For even the heavens 00:35:00.759 --> 00:35:01.659 themselves could not 00:35:01.659 --> 00:35:02.799 contain His love for us. 00:35:02.839 --> 00:35:03.199 And this, 00:35:03.539 --> 00:35:04.439 this is the gospel, 00:35:05.139 --> 00:35:06.239 the surprising salvation 00:35:06.239 --> 00:35:07.219 we never deserved, 00:35:07.719 --> 00:35:08.759 but always desired. 00:35:09.500 --> 00:35:10.799 So let's be desperate. 00:35:11.459 --> 00:35:12.039 Let's beg 00:35:12.039 --> 00:35:12.839 for the heavens 00:35:12.839 --> 00:35:13.399 to come down, 00:35:13.480 --> 00:35:14.239 that we might experience 00:35:14.239 --> 00:35:15.099 that once again 00:35:15.099 --> 00:35:16.179 and see the world 00:35:16.179 --> 00:35:16.659 made new. 00:35:17.279 --> 00:35:17.739 Let's pray. 00:35:17.739 --> 00:35:24.339 Lord, 00:35:24.439 --> 00:35:25.519 do not let us 00:35:25.519 --> 00:35:27.179 be satisfied 00:35:27.179 --> 00:35:29.399 with these 00:35:29.399 --> 00:35:30.519 immovable mountains 00:35:30.519 --> 00:35:31.619 in our lives 00:35:31.619 --> 00:35:32.819 that we've just 00:35:32.819 --> 00:35:34.899 gotten comfortable with. 00:35:35.459 --> 00:35:35.639 Lord, 00:35:36.379 --> 00:35:36.879 would you give us 00:35:36.879 --> 00:35:37.359 a faith 00:35:37.359 --> 00:35:38.959 that 00:35:38.959 --> 00:35:41.059 excites us 00:35:41.059 --> 00:35:41.639 about the way 00:35:41.639 --> 00:35:42.359 that you can 00:35:42.359 --> 00:35:43.799 shake up the mountains, 00:35:44.519 --> 00:35:44.959 these things 00:35:44.960 --> 00:35:46.380 that seem so 00:35:46.380 --> 00:35:48.699 immovable 00:35:48.699 --> 00:35:49.559 in our lives, 00:35:50.380 --> 00:35:51.659 these broken things, 00:35:51.800 --> 00:35:52.260 Lord God. 00:35:53.280 --> 00:35:54.340 Give us a desperation 00:35:54.340 --> 00:35:55.500 for you to come down 00:35:55.500 --> 00:35:56.960 and make a difference 00:35:56.960 --> 00:35:58.940 and make us a people 00:35:58.940 --> 00:35:59.440 who are willing 00:35:59.440 --> 00:36:00.280 to be surprised 00:36:00.280 --> 00:36:02.240 by how good you are, 00:36:03.119 --> 00:36:03.900 by how wonderful 00:36:03.900 --> 00:36:04.820 of a story writer 00:36:04.820 --> 00:36:05.360 you are. 00:36:06.679 --> 00:36:07.240 And help us 00:36:07.240 --> 00:36:08.039 to see that you've 00:36:08.039 --> 00:36:08.880 already given us 00:36:08.880 --> 00:36:09.599 a glimpse of this 00:36:09.599 --> 00:36:10.179 in your Son, 00:36:10.179 --> 00:36:10.659 Christ, 00:36:11.279 --> 00:36:12.219 who has come down 00:36:12.219 --> 00:36:12.739 and who's coming 00:36:12.739 --> 00:36:13.259 down again. 00:36:14.319 --> 00:36:15.139 Let us set our hopes 00:36:15.139 --> 00:36:15.759 on Him, Lord. 00:36:16.500 --> 00:36:17.619 In Jesus' name. 00:36:18.579 --> 00:36:18.879 Amen.