WEBVTT

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 And take a practice smile.

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 Come on.

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 Everybody look up here.

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 Give me a practice smile.

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!

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 Psalm 136.

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 Let me read just a couple of the verses and have you follow along.

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 And then we're going to come to the Lord in prayer and ask the enabling of the Spirit of God

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 that I may preach with His enabling and you may hear and apply with His enabling.

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 Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever.

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 Give thanks to the God of gods for His steadfast love endures forever.

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 Give thanks to the Lord of lords for His steadfast love endures forever.

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 Let's pray.

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 Heavenly Father, for us, we are so comforted by the many reminders in Scripture

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 of the glory of Your name and the sufficiency of Your person,

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 of the satisfaction that we have in knowing You as our Father and as our God and our Savior,

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 and for the encouragement of Scripture that we in our frailty may rely upon the Spirit of God to help us,

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 that we can worship You.

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 And so this morning I'm reminded of what the prophet Zechariah spoke when he says,

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 not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit.

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 And this morning we ask, Lord, that as I preach, it may be an evident work of the Spirit of God

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 and that as Your people listen, that the Spirit would enable them.

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 And then we pray for those that are here that do not know Christ,

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 that this would be the day when by Your loving kindness and Your mercy,

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 You draw them out of the pit into everlasting life.

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 We are thankful.

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 We are thankful.

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 We are thankful.

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 That which we cannot do ourselves,

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 You sent the Lord Jesus Christ to do for us.

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 And that which we cannot do for ourselves today,

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 even in the matter of corporate worship,

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 we are thankful that we can rely upon You,

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 that You might be glorified here among us as You are in heaven.

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 And we ask this in Your precious name.

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 Amen.

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 Well, I'm going to tell you that Thanksgiving,

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 as we celebrate it here in America,

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 or as celebrated in many different countries,

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 was not really on the Jewish calendar.

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 If you were looking at the Jewish calendar

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 and trying to make a determination as to what you were going to do

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 to be a good Jew in your corporate worship,

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 you wouldn't find Thanksgiving like we celebrate it.

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 And I'm not going to belabor the point

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 that we could go back in the history of our country

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 and we could get some ideas about how Thanksgiving came into being.

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 It's an appropriate day for us to celebrate.

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 But more important than the history of our culture

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 is an understanding that God cares a great deal

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 about the thankfulness of His people.

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 I, earlier today, was kind of reading and reminding myself

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 of what it says in Romans 8,

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 in which it talks about the fact

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 that all of creation kind of groans in travail,

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 waiting for the adoption of the sons of God.

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 The truth of the matter is,

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 is we live in a world that is filled with frustration

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 and difficulty and disappointment,

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 and there's not a one of us here

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 that on occasion has not found good reason

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 to frown in the present circumstances that we are.

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 And yet we know that one of the characteristics

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 of a Spirit-enabled person,

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 and we know that from Ephesians 5, verse 18 on,

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 is that a characteristic of a believer

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 who knows Christ and is enabled by the Spirit of God

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 is that they live a thankful life.

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 In fact, it's commanded.

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 It's an expectation that the thing

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 that kind of sets us off from the chicken littles in the world

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 is the fact that we know the Lord Jesus Christ,

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 and there's evidence of that in the Spirit

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 and the decorum with which we go through life.

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 We look at this passage,

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 and we are looking at a passage

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 that was richly appreciated and enjoyed

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 by the nation of Israel

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 in the times in which they engaged in giving thanks.

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 Now, if you were a good Jew,

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 you would know that there would at least be,

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 I think, three different days

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 in which you were supposed to gather formally

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 and do big all-church dinner kind of things.

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 Feasts.

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 They would gather in Jerusalem

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 for the Passover and other celebrations,

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 and it was a time when the entire nation

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 would just really enjoy the blessing

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 of all that God had done for them

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 and who He was and their relationship with Him.

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 And no doubt, I shouldn't say in every case,

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 but in many cases,

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 this psalm in particular

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 was one that the nation of Israel would have sung.

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 Psalm 136, we know for a fact,

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 was one that was greatly appreciated.

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 It was sung, for example,

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 in 2 Chronicles 7,

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 when the dedication of the temple took place.

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 It was one of the songs

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 that was sung on that special day.

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 Interestingly enough,

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 we also find that Jehoshaphat

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 instructed the Levites

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 to use this song as a battle strategy.

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 Now, can you imagine that?

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 I mean, battle is generally some,

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 a very gutsy, you know,

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 stick each other with swords and spears

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 and try to clunk each other on the head

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 with heavy objects.

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 Very brutal.

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 And God says,

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 hey, we're going to use

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 a little different strategy here.

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 I want the Levites

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 and the rest of the people

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 just to sing Psalm 136

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 and it's over.

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 And guess what happened?

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 They sang

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 and they gained the victory.

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 And Psalm 136,

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 this one that we're going to look at today,

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 was the one that they sang

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 in that passage.

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 The Jews called it the great Hallel.

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 That means praise.

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 And as we take up this song

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 this morning,

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 this psalm,

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 I want you to remind yourself

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 in essence

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 that it is a reflection

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 of many of the good things

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 that cause us

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 to be a people

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 or remind us

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 of why we should be a people

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 that are thankful.

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 So let's take the text

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 and work our way through it

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 and allow it to become

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 something that is woven

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 into our heart and character

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 so that we are

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 not thankful just today

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 or on Thanksgiving

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 and we have kind of a pattern

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 maybe in our homes

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 where when we're having

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 Thanksgiving dinner

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 and you've got all that food

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 spread out

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 and you've got your family together,

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 you go around the table

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 and say,

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 what are you thankful for?

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 What are you thankful for?

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 What are you thankful for?

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 I want this psalm

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 to be one of those things

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 that just frames

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 and affects

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 what our genuine

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 heart thoughts are

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 regarding the matter

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 of thanks.

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 Well, let's recognize first

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 that we are commanded here.

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 We're commanded

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 to give Thanksgiving

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 or to give thanks.

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 You look there

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 in the passage,

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 it says,

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 give thanks to the Lord

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 for he is good

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 and this psalm begins

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 with three explicit commands,

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 verse 1,

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 verse 2,

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 and verse 3

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 and when you stop

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 and think about a command

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 to be thankful,

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 how many of you

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 on occasion

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 have had somebody say

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 or maybe someone

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 who's leading singing

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 saying,

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 hey,

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 you guys need to brighten up

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 a little bit

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 and you're sitting there

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 in a really moody spirit.

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 How many of you know

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 what I mean by moody?

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 And you're just,

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 who are you talking

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 to me about being thankful?

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 I don't want to be thankful.

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 There are some of you

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 out here specialists at that.

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 It's all right.

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 I understand.

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 I was born with the glass

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 seven-eighths empty.

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 I'm on your side.

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 But here's the truth.

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 The one who is giving

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 this command is not Bubba.

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 It happens to be God.

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 And he who instructs us

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 and has authority over us

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 is the one who says,

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 you be thankful.

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 Now,

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 think about this with me

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 a little bit.

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 Some commands

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 are nothing more

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 than instructions

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 from rather perverse people.

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 As I was studying this week,

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 I thought about

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 some of the individuals

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 that over the years

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 have commanded people

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 to be happy

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 when they're really not.

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 And my favorite place

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 when I'm thinking about that

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 is North Korea.

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 You know,

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 I recognize that Kim,

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 I might get the name right here

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 because I'm going to forget it,

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 Kim Jong-un.

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 He is the third.

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 There was Kim Jong-il.

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 And now we have Kim Jong-un.

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 And if you were in North Korea

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 and Kim Jong-un said

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 that you should be happy,

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 guess what you would be?

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 You'd be happy or dead.

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 I mean,

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 choices are simple.

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 I mean,

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 that's the truth.

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 People,

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 when he walks into a room,

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 guess what everybody's

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 supposed to do?

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 Glad you're here.

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 You know,

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 he is a very,

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 very particular individual

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 when it comes to watching

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 people's emotional display.

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 When his father died,

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 and I think I've told you

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 this before,

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 there were some

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 of the North Korean generals

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 that did not show

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 adequate sorrow

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 at the passing

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 of Kim Jong-un

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 or whatever his name was.

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 And as a result of that,

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 they were tied

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 to 155 millimeter

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 cannon shells.

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 And then someone backed

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 way,

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 way,

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 way,

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 way,

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 way,

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 far away

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 and just pulled the lanyard

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 and guess what happened?

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 So,

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 when

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 he says

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 be happy,

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 it's just to make

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 him feel good.

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 When God

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 tells us to be happy,

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 he is commanding us

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 to do something

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 that is righteous

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 and good

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 and for which

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 he has given us

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 all kinds of reasons

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 to engage in it.

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 Now,

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 why don't you think

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 with me just for a moment

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 about what the word

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 actually means

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 in the text

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 when it says

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 give thanks.

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 We use the word

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 thank you

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 pretty freely.

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 Thank you

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 for opening the door.

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 Thank you

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 for plugging in my crockpot.

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 Thank you

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 for whatever.

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 You know,

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 there are things we say

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 and we're just expressing

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 an appreciation

00:11:22.620 --> 00:11:23.560
 for what someone

00:11:23.560 --> 00:11:24.019
 has done.

00:11:24.460 --> 00:11:25.320
 The Hebrew word

00:11:25.320 --> 00:11:26.080
 that's used here

00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:27.259
 actually is carrying

00:11:27.259 --> 00:11:27.919
 the idea

00:11:27.919 --> 00:11:29.279
 of acknowledging

00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:30.919
 something about God

00:11:30.919 --> 00:11:31.539
 that's true.

00:11:32.539 --> 00:11:33.360
 Think about that.

00:11:34.159 --> 00:11:34.980
 Give thanks

00:11:34.980 --> 00:11:35.720
 to the Lord.

00:11:36.820 --> 00:11:37.460
 In essence,

00:11:37.639 --> 00:11:38.200
 it's saying

00:11:38.200 --> 00:11:39.159
 that you

00:11:39.159 --> 00:11:40.440
 are to think

00:11:40.440 --> 00:11:41.240
 consciously

00:11:41.240 --> 00:11:42.159
 and deliberately

00:11:42.159 --> 00:11:43.919
 about who he is

00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:45.500
 and what he has

00:11:45.500 --> 00:11:46.340
 done for you.

00:11:47.460 --> 00:11:48.500
 To give thanks

00:11:48.500 --> 00:11:50.480
 than is really

00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:51.659
 to gladly admit

00:11:51.659 --> 00:11:53.059
 what is wonderful

00:11:53.059 --> 00:11:53.559
 and awesome

00:11:53.559 --> 00:11:54.220
 about God.

00:11:54.419 --> 00:11:55.360
 That's what it is.

00:11:56.279 --> 00:11:56.659
 And so,

00:11:56.860 --> 00:11:57.919
 just kind of stop

00:11:57.919 --> 00:11:58.519
 and realize,

00:11:58.639 --> 00:11:59.240
 now think with me

00:11:59.240 --> 00:12:00.000
 here just for a moment,

00:12:00.460 --> 00:12:01.840
 this is God

00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:02.759
 giving instruction

00:12:02.759 --> 00:12:03.379
 to people

00:12:03.379 --> 00:12:04.799
 that he has redeemed

00:12:04.799 --> 00:12:06.019
 from the fiery furnace,

00:12:06.360 --> 00:12:07.240
 he has delivered

00:12:07.240 --> 00:12:07.980
 from the pit,

00:12:08.179 --> 00:12:09.200
 he has granted

00:12:09.200 --> 00:12:10.279
 eternal life,

00:12:10.419 --> 00:12:11.600
 and he says to you,

00:12:11.899 --> 00:12:13.519
 you are to be

00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:14.240
 thankful.

00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:18.340
 Why should we be thankful?

00:12:19.299 --> 00:12:20.500
 Because of who he is.

00:12:21.740 --> 00:12:23.100
 And when he tells us

00:12:23.100 --> 00:12:23.700
 to be thankful,

00:12:23.840 --> 00:12:24.779
 he is asking us

00:12:24.779 --> 00:12:25.779
 to think consciously

00:12:25.779 --> 00:12:26.879
 and deliberately

00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:28.080
 about who he is

00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:29.180
 and what he's done

00:12:29.180 --> 00:12:29.680
 for us.

00:12:30.519 --> 00:12:30.960
 Now,

00:12:31.019 --> 00:12:31.840
 as you work your way

00:12:31.840 --> 00:12:32.639
 through this passage,

00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:33.639
 we're going to break it down

00:12:33.639 --> 00:12:34.779
 that it has

00:12:34.779 --> 00:12:36.100
 this set of commands

00:12:36.100 --> 00:12:36.840
 at the beginning,

00:12:37.539 --> 00:12:39.379
 and then it immediately

00:12:39.379 --> 00:12:40.379
 gives us

00:12:40.379 --> 00:12:41.740
 theological reasons

00:12:41.740 --> 00:12:42.620
 to be thankful

00:12:42.620 --> 00:12:43.519
 that are framed

00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:44.720
 in the character

00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:45.899
 of who God is.

00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:46.639
 So look with me,

00:12:46.679 --> 00:12:47.120
 if you will,

00:12:47.480 --> 00:12:49.019
 in verse 1, 2, and 3,

00:12:49.100 --> 00:12:50.179
 and it's kind of very quickly

00:12:50.179 --> 00:12:51.120
 we're going to touch on this.

00:12:51.439 --> 00:12:51.899
 It says,

00:12:52.100 --> 00:12:53.059
 why should we be thankful?

00:12:53.419 --> 00:12:54.840
 Because he is the Lord

00:12:54.840 --> 00:12:56.199
 and he is good.

00:12:57.319 --> 00:12:58.220
 He is the Lord

00:12:58.220 --> 00:12:58.899
 and he is good.

00:12:58.980 --> 00:12:59.460
 Verse 2,

00:12:59.860 --> 00:13:01.340
 he is the God of gods.

00:13:02.220 --> 00:13:03.419
 It says also,

00:13:03.779 --> 00:13:05.639
 he is the Lord of lords.

00:13:06.779 --> 00:13:07.779
 I'm not going to break

00:13:07.779 --> 00:13:08.980
 these three separate titles

00:13:08.980 --> 00:13:09.799
 down this morning

00:13:09.799 --> 00:13:11.819
 and go into great detail

00:13:11.819 --> 00:13:13.199
 as to what their significance

00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:13.920
 is,

00:13:14.140 --> 00:13:15.120
 though there is value

00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:15.720
 in doing that

00:13:15.720 --> 00:13:16.180
 because we're going to

00:13:16.180 --> 00:13:17.180
 take a larger look

00:13:17.180 --> 00:13:17.980
 at what this passage

00:13:17.980 --> 00:13:19.060
 has to say to us,

00:13:19.340 --> 00:13:20.140
 but recognize

00:13:20.140 --> 00:13:21.259
 that at the beginning

00:13:21.259 --> 00:13:23.960
 what the psalmist

00:13:23.960 --> 00:13:24.960
 wants to understand

00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:26.040
 or have us understand

00:13:26.040 --> 00:13:27.259
 is that the reason

00:13:27.259 --> 00:13:28.460
 for our thankfulness

00:13:28.460 --> 00:13:29.259
 is not rooted

00:13:29.259 --> 00:13:30.360
 in the things

00:13:30.360 --> 00:13:31.379
 we have received

00:13:31.379 --> 00:13:33.100
 but in the relationship

00:13:33.100 --> 00:13:34.020
 we have.

00:13:34.540 --> 00:13:35.820
 And our relationship

00:13:35.820 --> 00:13:36.500
 with God

00:13:36.500 --> 00:13:38.720
 is the first reason

00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:40.259
 for us to be thankful.

00:13:40.360 --> 00:13:41.100
 Let me add to that

00:13:41.100 --> 00:13:42.220
 and have you think with me.

00:13:42.220 --> 00:13:43.500
 When I bump into individuals

00:13:43.500 --> 00:13:44.879
 who are not thankful,

00:13:46.460 --> 00:13:48.019
 who are professing believers,

00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:50.700
 the real problem

00:13:50.700 --> 00:13:51.620
 that they are having

00:13:51.620 --> 00:13:54.120
 is not with their circumstances

00:13:54.120 --> 00:13:55.420
 that they are in

00:13:55.420 --> 00:13:58.000
 but in the attitude

00:13:58.000 --> 00:13:59.000
 and relationship

00:13:59.000 --> 00:13:59.840
 they have

00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:00.720
 with the one

00:14:00.720 --> 00:14:01.899
 who is the Lord of glory

00:14:01.899 --> 00:14:02.720
 and their Savior.

00:14:03.980 --> 00:14:05.220
 So think with me about that.

00:14:05.220 --> 00:14:07.360
 As we look here,

00:14:07.460 --> 00:14:08.019
 we find

00:14:08.019 --> 00:14:09.759
 that really the thing

00:14:09.759 --> 00:14:10.620
 that causes us

00:14:10.620 --> 00:14:12.060
 to be thankful

00:14:12.060 --> 00:14:13.340
 above all other things

00:14:13.340 --> 00:14:14.920
 is our relationship

00:14:14.920 --> 00:14:15.460
 with Him.

00:14:16.259 --> 00:14:17.540
 And above all else,

00:14:18.820 --> 00:14:20.160
 we who are His children

00:14:20.160 --> 00:14:20.940
 have been blessed

00:14:20.940 --> 00:14:21.680
 with salvation

00:14:21.680 --> 00:14:23.279
 and all the forgiveness

00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:23.840
 that we have

00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:24.920
 as a result of that.

00:14:25.460 --> 00:14:26.480
 We have been made

00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:27.920
 to be His own beloved ones

00:14:27.920 --> 00:14:28.960
 and at the center

00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:29.720
 of our joy,

00:14:29.860 --> 00:14:30.560
 at the center

00:14:30.560 --> 00:14:31.399
 of the thing

00:14:31.399 --> 00:14:32.360
 that makes us

00:14:32.360 --> 00:14:33.340
 thankful people

00:14:33.340 --> 00:14:34.639
 is the fact

00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:35.560
 that He is our God

00:14:35.560 --> 00:14:35.960
 and Savior

00:14:35.960 --> 00:14:36.580
 and we are in

00:14:36.580 --> 00:14:37.639
 relationship with Him.

00:14:38.420 --> 00:14:38.940
 And I trust

00:14:38.940 --> 00:14:39.680
 that is characteristic

00:14:39.680 --> 00:14:41.100
 of you this morning

00:14:41.100 --> 00:14:42.200
 as you sit

00:14:42.200 --> 00:14:43.000
 where you are

00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:44.019
 kind of pondering

00:14:44.019 --> 00:14:44.680
 the complexity

00:14:44.680 --> 00:14:45.300
 of the life

00:14:45.300 --> 00:14:45.879
 that you're living.

00:14:46.139 --> 00:14:46.980
 The most important

00:14:46.980 --> 00:14:47.580
 thing is this,

00:14:47.620 --> 00:14:48.200
 is that Christ

00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:48.899
 is your Savior

00:14:48.899 --> 00:14:49.920
 and you have

00:14:49.920 --> 00:14:51.080
 a personal relationship

00:14:51.080 --> 00:14:51.580
 with Him

00:14:51.580 --> 00:14:53.019
 and you know

00:14:53.019 --> 00:14:55.860
 how the story ends.

00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:00.259
 There's something else

00:15:00.259 --> 00:15:00.980
 I want you to notice

00:15:00.980 --> 00:15:01.780
 in this passage.

00:15:01.779 --> 00:15:03.620
 You can't miss it.

00:15:05.779 --> 00:15:06.779
 Twenty-six times.

00:15:07.779 --> 00:15:08.360
 By the way,

00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:09.059
 is that repetitious?

00:15:09.799 --> 00:15:10.639
 How many would you agree?

00:15:10.699 --> 00:15:11.419
 Twenty-six times.

00:15:13.019 --> 00:15:13.879
 Well, we won't go there

00:15:13.879 --> 00:15:14.259
 right now.

00:15:14.539 --> 00:15:14.759
 But anyway,

00:15:14.860 --> 00:15:15.639
 twenty-six times.

00:15:15.699 --> 00:15:16.360
 Here it says it.

00:15:16.439 --> 00:15:16.819
 Look at it.

00:15:17.459 --> 00:15:18.879
 For His steadfast love

00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:19.679
 endures forever.

00:15:19.799 --> 00:15:20.699
 That's verse one, right?

00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:21.459
 Let's try verse two.

00:15:21.539 --> 00:15:22.299
 See if it's a little different.

00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:23.459
 For His steadfast love

00:15:23.459 --> 00:15:24.179
 endures forever.

00:15:24.279 --> 00:15:24.699
 Verse three.

00:15:25.059 --> 00:15:26.079
 For His steadfast love

00:15:26.079 --> 00:15:26.899
 endures forever.

00:15:26.899 --> 00:15:26.980
 Remember,

00:15:29.139 --> 00:15:29.740
 the fact

00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:31.720
 that we see

00:15:31.720 --> 00:15:32.259
 this pattern

00:15:32.259 --> 00:15:32.939
 of repetition

00:15:32.939 --> 00:15:33.679
 of perms

00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:34.639
 that there are times

00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:35.679
 when repeating something

00:15:35.679 --> 00:15:37.360
 is not bad at all.

00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:39.679
 I have heard

00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:40.299
 on occasion

00:15:40.299 --> 00:15:42.480
 some individuals

00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:43.259
 kind of have

00:15:43.259 --> 00:15:45.059
 a negative attitude

00:15:45.059 --> 00:15:45.919
 towards songs

00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:46.459
 that have

00:15:46.459 --> 00:15:47.379
 a certain amount

00:15:47.379 --> 00:15:48.459
 of repetition in them.

00:15:49.139 --> 00:15:49.659
 You ever heard

00:15:49.659 --> 00:15:51.100
 about 7-11 songs?

00:15:51.319 --> 00:15:52.039
 Kind of the overly

00:15:52.039 --> 00:15:52.899
 critical spirit

00:15:52.899 --> 00:15:53.360
 that says,

00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:53.940
 well,

00:15:54.019 --> 00:15:55.320
 you take 7 words

00:15:55.320 --> 00:15:56.580
 and sing it 11 times.

00:15:56.700 --> 00:15:57.200
 And I'm thinking

00:15:57.200 --> 00:15:57.800
 to myself,

00:15:58.200 --> 00:15:58.300
 well,

00:15:58.399 --> 00:15:59.519
 that person

00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:00.220
 probably has

00:16:00.220 --> 00:16:01.279
 Psalm 136

00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:02.320
 taken out of their Bible

00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:05.000
 because it's not 11 times,

00:16:05.100 --> 00:16:06.320
 it's 26 times

00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:07.340
 in which we find

00:16:07.340 --> 00:16:08.720
 that the Spirit of God

00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:10.019
 decided that it was

00:16:10.019 --> 00:16:11.039
 appropriate for us

00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:12.259
 to say the same thing

00:16:12.259 --> 00:16:13.060
 again and again.

00:16:14.919 --> 00:16:15.440
 Now,

00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:16.340
 why is that okay?

00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:19.360
 When Christ

00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:20.320
 spoke about

00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:21.440
 the danger

00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:22.620
 of vain repetition,

00:16:22.620 --> 00:16:23.500
 he was talking

00:16:23.500 --> 00:16:24.799
 about saying things

00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:26.320
 without thought

00:16:26.320 --> 00:16:27.159
 behind them

00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:28.539
 and also believing

00:16:28.539 --> 00:16:30.080
 that saying it more

00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:31.899
 is actually more effective.

00:16:33.139 --> 00:16:33.720
 How many of you

00:16:33.720 --> 00:16:34.240
 ever bumped into

00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:35.019
 people who say,

00:16:35.820 --> 00:16:36.100
 well,

00:16:36.299 --> 00:16:37.480
 I'm really concerned

00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:37.919
 about this

00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:38.580
 so I'm going to get

00:16:38.580 --> 00:16:39.519
 200 people

00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:40.299
 to pray about it?

00:16:41.460 --> 00:16:41.980
 Question.

00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:44.440
 In the economy

00:16:44.440 --> 00:16:44.940
 of God,

00:16:45.060 --> 00:16:46.080
 are 200 people

00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:48.000
 really more significant

00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:49.100
 in praying

00:16:49.100 --> 00:16:51.080
 than one righteous man?

00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:51.740
 What's the answer

00:16:51.740 --> 00:16:52.320
 from the Bible?

00:16:52.620 --> 00:16:54.820
 Don't worry

00:16:54.820 --> 00:16:55.519
 about the numbers.

00:16:57.279 --> 00:16:58.159
 And so the idea

00:16:58.159 --> 00:16:59.299
 that saying it more

00:16:59.299 --> 00:17:00.279
 or having more people

00:17:00.279 --> 00:17:00.799
 involved,

00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:01.879
 that's not the key.

00:17:02.220 --> 00:17:03.220
 The issue is the heart

00:17:03.220 --> 00:17:04.200
 with which you say it.

00:17:05.180 --> 00:17:05.640
 Furthermore,

00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:08.079
 when the heart

00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:08.720
 is right,

00:17:08.980 --> 00:17:09.400
 repetition

00:17:09.400 --> 00:17:10.720
 is a blessing

00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:11.740
 and an encouragement.

00:17:12.880 --> 00:17:13.519
 How many

00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:14.819
 of you as parents

00:17:14.819 --> 00:17:15.500
 have decided

00:17:15.500 --> 00:17:16.480
 that you're not

00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:16.920
 going to tell

00:17:16.920 --> 00:17:17.480
 your children

00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:18.339
 that you love them

00:17:18.339 --> 00:17:19.000
 very often

00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:20.240
 lest repetition

00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:21.000
 kind of dull

00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:21.680
 their affection?

00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:25.400
 Judith and I,

00:17:25.500 --> 00:17:26.000
 when we go

00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:26.799
 to sleep at night,

00:17:27.360 --> 00:17:28.460
 standard protocol,

00:17:28.620 --> 00:17:29.180
 that means what

00:17:29.180 --> 00:17:30.200
 we do all the time,

00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:31.779
 is that I will say

00:17:31.779 --> 00:17:32.100
 to her,

00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:32.720
 I love you.

00:17:32.779 --> 00:17:33.279
 She will say

00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:33.620
 to me,

00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:34.380
 I love you.

00:17:35.720 --> 00:17:36.299
 Let me tell you,

00:17:36.360 --> 00:17:37.200
 I was thinking about this,

00:17:37.259 --> 00:17:37.900
 whether I should tell you

00:17:37.900 --> 00:17:38.100
 or not,

00:17:38.140 --> 00:17:38.500
 but I will.

00:17:38.940 --> 00:17:39.720
 There are occasions

00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:40.539
 where Mr. Moody,

00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:41.480
 do you know who that is?

00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:44.579
 decides that it would

00:17:44.579 --> 00:17:45.160
 be appropriate

00:17:45.160 --> 00:17:46.200
 just to let her know

00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:46.759
 that I'm a little

00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:47.720
 miffed about something.

00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:48.140
 How many of you

00:17:48.140 --> 00:17:48.779
 have done that before?

00:17:48.880 --> 00:17:49.099
 Anybody?

00:17:49.779 --> 00:17:50.680
 Please raise your hand

00:17:50.680 --> 00:17:51.519
 so I know I'm not

00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:52.259
 the only one here.

00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:52.500
 Okay?

00:17:52.559 --> 00:17:52.860
 It's like,

00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:53.500
 okay.

00:17:54.059 --> 00:17:55.140
 I'm thinking to myself,

00:17:56.299 --> 00:17:57.980
 there she is too.

00:18:03.360 --> 00:18:04.620
 She knows this anyway,

00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:05.440
 so I'll tell her.

00:18:05.779 --> 00:18:06.099
 But you know,

00:18:06.180 --> 00:18:06.740
 I'm sitting there

00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:07.860
 lying in bed thinking,

00:18:07.859 --> 00:18:09.839
 what she said to me

00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:11.159
 really wasn't very nice.

00:18:11.259 --> 00:18:11.899
 I wanted someone

00:18:11.899 --> 00:18:12.899
 to say something nice.

00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:13.159
 You know,

00:18:13.199 --> 00:18:13.479
 it's like,

00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:14.139
 Tim,

00:18:14.259 --> 00:18:15.059
 you're wonderful.

00:18:15.199 --> 00:18:15.659
 And she says,

00:18:16.119 --> 00:18:16.339
 you know,

00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:18.799
 she didn't say that

00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:19.259
 and so I think

00:18:19.259 --> 00:18:20.039
 I'm going to pay her back.

00:18:22.479 --> 00:18:23.359
 I'm going to lie there

00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:23.740
 in bed

00:18:23.740 --> 00:18:24.579
 and I'm not going to say

00:18:24.579 --> 00:18:25.179
 I love you.

00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:27.959
 Oh,

00:18:28.279 --> 00:18:30.279
 I can't go to sleep.

00:18:31.559 --> 00:18:32.240
 Holy Spirit

00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:33.159
 is bearing down on me

00:18:33.159 --> 00:18:33.419
 saying,

00:18:33.579 --> 00:18:34.819
 you petty little guy,

00:18:35.459 --> 00:18:35.679
 you know,

00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:36.719
 suck it up

00:18:36.719 --> 00:18:37.240
 and act like

00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:38.279
 a decent person.

00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:40.099
 I love you.

00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:41.799
 Will you forgive me

00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:42.519
 for being moody

00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:43.799
 and pouty again?

00:18:44.259 --> 00:18:44.480
 You know,

00:18:44.539 --> 00:18:47.160
 you know what?

00:18:47.500 --> 00:18:47.700
 Hey,

00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:48.180
 listen to me.

00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:50.819
 I like her

00:18:50.819 --> 00:18:51.460
 to tell me

00:18:51.460 --> 00:18:52.440
 that she loves me.

00:18:53.099 --> 00:18:53.920
 How many of you there?

00:18:55.799 --> 00:18:56.279
 Regularly.

00:18:57.599 --> 00:18:58.819
 A couple times a day

00:18:58.819 --> 00:18:59.240
 doesn't bother.

00:18:59.559 --> 00:19:00.200
 That's too many.

00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:02.700
 Okay,

00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:02.980
 no.

00:19:03.660 --> 00:19:04.059
 And so,

00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:05.059
 let's get this straight.

00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:08.519
 I have no doubt,

00:19:10.359 --> 00:19:11.900
 particularly when we think

00:19:11.900 --> 00:19:12.839
 about what the scriptures

00:19:12.839 --> 00:19:13.940
 have to say about

00:19:13.940 --> 00:19:16.740
 the steadfast love of Christ,

00:19:17.539 --> 00:19:18.519
 that the repetition

00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:19.599
 of his love

00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:20.460
 is a capstone

00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:21.359
 for our thanksgiving.

00:19:22.359 --> 00:19:23.000
 It's a thing

00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:24.559
 that kind of brings it together

00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:26.140
 and helps us focus in.

00:19:26.380 --> 00:19:27.160
 The fact that

00:19:27.160 --> 00:19:28.220
 this passage

00:19:28.220 --> 00:19:29.059
 is chosen

00:19:29.059 --> 00:19:30.420
 to be communicated

00:19:30.420 --> 00:19:31.440
 again

00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:32.599
 and again

00:19:32.599 --> 00:19:33.740
 and again

00:19:33.740 --> 00:19:34.440
 means

00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:35.120
 that

00:19:35.120 --> 00:19:36.039
 the Father

00:19:36.039 --> 00:19:36.500
 in Heaven

00:19:36.500 --> 00:19:37.339
 wants you

00:19:37.339 --> 00:19:38.640
 to be struck

00:19:38.640 --> 00:19:40.019
 significantly

00:19:40.019 --> 00:19:41.940
 by the unfailing,

00:19:42.180 --> 00:19:43.000
 unchanging,

00:19:43.299 --> 00:19:44.700
 absolutely consistent

00:19:44.700 --> 00:19:45.559
 love

00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:46.400
 of Christ

00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:46.980
 for you.

00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:52.920
 I cannot tell you

00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:53.880
 how many times

00:19:53.880 --> 00:19:55.559
 as a pastor

00:19:55.559 --> 00:19:57.660
 I've had individuals

00:19:57.660 --> 00:19:58.620
 sitting in my office

00:19:58.620 --> 00:19:59.599
 and I've thought

00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:00.160
 to myself,

00:20:00.299 --> 00:20:01.500
 I wish I were a doctor

00:20:01.500 --> 00:20:03.880
 where I could write

00:20:03.880 --> 00:20:04.519
 a prescription

00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:06.660
 and then push

00:20:06.660 --> 00:20:07.539
 a little bottle

00:20:07.539 --> 00:20:08.539
 across the table

00:20:08.539 --> 00:20:09.220
 that says

00:20:09.220 --> 00:20:10.839
 Jesus loves you pills,

00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:11.240
 you know,

00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:12.380
 and have the people

00:20:12.380 --> 00:20:12.980
 take those

00:20:12.980 --> 00:20:13.920
 and have those pills

00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:14.859
 cure their heart.

00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:18.339
 The theme

00:20:18.339 --> 00:20:19.660
 of the unfailing,

00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:20.700
 unchangeable

00:20:20.700 --> 00:20:21.619
 love of God

00:20:21.619 --> 00:20:22.180
 for us

00:20:22.180 --> 00:20:22.960
 is something

00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:23.599
 that runs

00:20:23.599 --> 00:20:24.279
 through the scriptures

00:20:24.279 --> 00:20:25.140
 in relationship

00:20:25.140 --> 00:20:25.779
 to those

00:20:25.779 --> 00:20:27.240
 that are believers.

00:20:28.839 --> 00:20:29.619
 His love

00:20:29.619 --> 00:20:30.619
 will never change.

00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:32.079
 His love

00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:32.779
 is constant.

00:20:33.799 --> 00:20:34.279
 His love

00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:35.259
 is not conditional.

00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:36.839
 His love

00:20:36.839 --> 00:20:37.339
 is that

00:20:37.339 --> 00:20:38.200
 which gives us

00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:38.839
 stability

00:20:38.839 --> 00:20:39.619
 in a very

00:20:39.619 --> 00:20:40.339
 unstable

00:20:40.339 --> 00:20:41.420
 and frail world

00:20:41.420 --> 00:20:42.140
 and when

00:20:42.140 --> 00:20:43.000
 everything else

00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:44.000
 is uncertain

00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:44.960
 and we are

00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:45.819
 struck by the

00:20:45.819 --> 00:20:46.640
 insecurity

00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:48.119
 of the circumstances

00:20:48.119 --> 00:20:48.839
 we are in,

00:20:49.119 --> 00:20:49.980
 here's the truth,

00:20:50.299 --> 00:20:51.480
 He loves us

00:20:51.480 --> 00:20:52.019
 and won't

00:20:52.019 --> 00:20:53.500
 change His mind.

00:20:57.500 --> 00:20:58.359
 And so above

00:20:58.359 --> 00:20:59.099
 all other things

00:20:59.099 --> 00:20:59.680
 as you kind of

00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:00.759
 think about this passage,

00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:01.319
 I want you to

00:21:01.319 --> 00:21:01.799
 understand

00:21:01.799 --> 00:21:03.779
 that 26 times

00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:04.859
 the psalmist

00:21:04.859 --> 00:21:05.440
 says

00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:06.180
 His

00:21:06.180 --> 00:21:07.379
 steadfast

00:21:07.379 --> 00:21:08.160
 love

00:21:08.160 --> 00:21:09.339
 endures

00:21:09.339 --> 00:21:10.039
 forever.

00:21:13.579 --> 00:21:14.640
 In addition

00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:15.200
 to that

00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:17.160
 we find

00:21:17.160 --> 00:21:18.079
 that the psalmist

00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:18.900
 having made

00:21:18.900 --> 00:21:19.900
 this profound

00:21:19.900 --> 00:21:20.420
 statement

00:21:20.420 --> 00:21:20.960
 about the

00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:21.900
 reality

00:21:21.900 --> 00:21:22.420
 of the

00:21:22.420 --> 00:21:23.500
 person of God

00:21:23.500 --> 00:21:24.879
 at the heart

00:21:24.879 --> 00:21:25.379
 of why

00:21:25.379 --> 00:21:26.400
 we have

00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:27.180
 reason to be

00:21:27.180 --> 00:21:27.539
 thankful,

00:21:28.140 --> 00:21:29.160
 he then adds

00:21:29.160 --> 00:21:29.880
 some reasons.

00:21:30.040 --> 00:21:30.380
 So I want you

00:21:30.380 --> 00:21:30.640
 to look at

00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:31.019
 the added

00:21:31.019 --> 00:21:31.580
 reasons for

00:21:31.580 --> 00:21:31.860
 thanks.

00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:32.380
 For one,

00:21:32.820 --> 00:21:33.440
 the one who

00:21:33.440 --> 00:21:33.880
 loves us

00:21:33.880 --> 00:21:34.160
 is our

00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:34.680
 creator.

00:21:34.820 --> 00:21:35.160
 If you will

00:21:35.160 --> 00:21:35.540
 look at

00:21:35.540 --> 00:21:36.279
 verse 4

00:21:36.279 --> 00:21:37.220
 and kind of

00:21:37.220 --> 00:21:37.920
 carrying down

00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:38.340
 on through

00:21:38.340 --> 00:21:38.900
 verse 9,

00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:39.200
 we're going to

00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:39.540
 press it

00:21:39.540 --> 00:21:40.000
 together here

00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:40.420
 just for a

00:21:40.420 --> 00:21:40.620
 moment,

00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:41.360
 it says,

00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:41.980
 to Him

00:21:41.980 --> 00:21:42.779
 alone who

00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:43.580
 does great

00:21:43.580 --> 00:21:44.080
 wonders,

00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:45.180
 to Him

00:21:45.180 --> 00:21:45.620
 who by

00:21:45.620 --> 00:21:46.800
 understanding

00:21:46.800 --> 00:21:47.880
 made the

00:21:47.880 --> 00:21:48.360
 heavens.

00:21:50.560 --> 00:21:51.279
 As I was

00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:51.900
 studying this

00:21:51.900 --> 00:21:52.120
 week,

00:21:52.180 --> 00:21:52.680
 I was thinking

00:21:52.680 --> 00:21:53.920
 about just

00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:55.960
 how finely

00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:57.600
 tuned creation

00:21:57.600 --> 00:22:00.680
 is and how

00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:01.580
 dependent we

00:22:01.580 --> 00:22:03.400
 are on

00:22:03.400 --> 00:22:04.000
 everything

00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:05.660
 working exactly

00:22:05.660 --> 00:22:06.759
 the way God

00:22:06.759 --> 00:22:08.100
 has ordained

00:22:08.100 --> 00:22:08.820
 it to work.

00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:11.279
 Whether it

00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:11.940
 has to do

00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:13.180
 with anatomy

00:22:13.180 --> 00:22:14.019
 and physiology

00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:15.299
 or it has to

00:22:15.299 --> 00:22:15.820
 do with

00:22:15.820 --> 00:22:16.660
 astronomy,

00:22:16.980 --> 00:22:18.140
 in the details

00:22:18.140 --> 00:22:19.039
 that God has

00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:19.960
 ordained,

00:22:19.960 --> 00:22:22.380
 is our

00:22:22.380 --> 00:22:22.940
 safety and

00:22:22.940 --> 00:22:23.640
 our well-being.

00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:24.240
 And here the

00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:24.620
 psalmist,

00:22:24.700 --> 00:22:24.940
 he says,

00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:25.400
 man,

00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:26.660
 the one who

00:22:26.660 --> 00:22:27.460
 loves us is

00:22:27.460 --> 00:22:27.860
 the one who

00:22:27.860 --> 00:22:28.360
 put it all

00:22:28.360 --> 00:22:28.740
 together.

00:22:29.059 --> 00:22:29.480
 He's our

00:22:29.480 --> 00:22:30.019
 creator.

00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:31.840
 I can't help

00:22:31.840 --> 00:22:32.319
 but think this

00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:32.799
 morning about

00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:33.380
 Psalm 8.

00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:35.340
 Keep your

00:22:35.340 --> 00:22:35.860
 finger there

00:22:35.860 --> 00:22:36.600
 and go back

00:22:36.600 --> 00:22:37.039
 just for a

00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:37.400
 moment to

00:22:37.400 --> 00:22:37.920
 Psalm 8

00:22:37.920 --> 00:22:38.460
 verse 3

00:22:38.460 --> 00:22:38.980
 and 4.

00:22:44.940 --> 00:22:45.660
 And as you

00:22:45.660 --> 00:22:46.100
 look at this

00:22:46.100 --> 00:22:46.460
 passage,

00:22:46.579 --> 00:22:46.880
 you're just

00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:47.579
 overwhelmed by

00:22:47.579 --> 00:22:48.680
 the reminder

00:22:48.680 --> 00:22:49.500
 of God's

00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:50.140
 care for us

00:22:50.140 --> 00:22:50.579
 personally.

00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:51.079
 Verse 3

00:22:51.079 --> 00:22:51.339
 says,

00:22:51.619 --> 00:22:52.079
 when I look

00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:52.319
 at your

00:22:52.319 --> 00:22:52.640
 heavens,

00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:53.220
 the work

00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:53.720
 of your

00:22:53.720 --> 00:22:54.240
 fingers,

00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:55.099
 the moon

00:22:55.099 --> 00:22:55.400
 and the

00:22:55.400 --> 00:22:55.960
 stars which

00:22:55.960 --> 00:22:56.200
 you have

00:22:56.200 --> 00:22:56.680
 set in

00:22:56.680 --> 00:22:56.980
 place,

00:22:57.299 --> 00:22:58.220
 what is

00:22:58.220 --> 00:22:59.559
 man that

00:22:59.559 --> 00:22:59.920
 you are

00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:00.759
 mindful of

00:23:00.759 --> 00:23:01.460
 him and

00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:01.940
 the son

00:23:01.940 --> 00:23:02.579
 of man that

00:23:02.579 --> 00:23:03.619
 you care

00:23:03.619 --> 00:23:04.200
 for him?

00:23:05.579 --> 00:23:06.240
 Does he

00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:06.640
 know when

00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:06.940
 you're having

00:23:06.940 --> 00:23:07.500
 a bad day?

00:23:08.339 --> 00:23:09.279
 He does.

00:23:10.039 --> 00:23:10.680
 Does he

00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:11.079
 know when

00:23:11.079 --> 00:23:11.500
 your heart

00:23:11.500 --> 00:23:12.039
 is broken?

00:23:12.579 --> 00:23:13.400
 He does.

00:23:14.019 --> 00:23:14.680
 Does he

00:23:14.680 --> 00:23:15.119
 know when

00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:15.339
 you're

00:23:15.339 --> 00:23:15.839
 discouraged?

00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:17.220
 He does.

00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:20.579
 And as

00:23:20.579 --> 00:23:20.920
 you think

00:23:20.920 --> 00:23:21.400
 about this

00:23:21.400 --> 00:23:22.000
 this morning,

00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:23.940
 as the

00:23:23.940 --> 00:23:24.720
 psalmist gives

00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:25.940
 us reason to

00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:27.140
 have thankful

00:23:27.140 --> 00:23:28.119
 hearts in the

00:23:28.119 --> 00:23:28.940
 person of our

00:23:28.940 --> 00:23:29.740
 God and Savior,

00:23:30.140 --> 00:23:30.440
 he says,

00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:30.960
 I want you to

00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:32.039
 understand that

00:23:32.039 --> 00:23:32.619
 the one who

00:23:32.619 --> 00:23:33.200
 loves you is

00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:33.799
 your creator.

00:23:36.599 --> 00:23:37.799
 We also find

00:23:37.799 --> 00:23:38.619
 that the one

00:23:38.619 --> 00:23:39.359
 who loves us

00:23:39.359 --> 00:23:39.700
 is our

00:23:39.700 --> 00:23:40.380
 deliverer.

00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:41.859
 If you were

00:23:41.859 --> 00:23:42.579
 to read through

00:23:42.579 --> 00:23:43.200
 verse 10

00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:43.859
 through 22

00:23:43.859 --> 00:23:44.839
 later on your

00:23:44.839 --> 00:23:45.740
 own, you would

00:23:45.740 --> 00:23:46.579
 find that in

00:23:46.579 --> 00:23:47.319
 those verses,

00:23:47.819 --> 00:23:48.419
 the psalmist

00:23:48.419 --> 00:23:49.079
 has kind of

00:23:49.079 --> 00:23:50.099
 rolled out for

00:23:50.099 --> 00:23:50.579
 us kind of

00:23:50.579 --> 00:23:51.259
 an overview,

00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:52.199
 a little

00:23:52.199 --> 00:23:53.439
 historical snapshot

00:23:53.439 --> 00:23:54.480
 of God

00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:55.259
 taking care

00:23:55.259 --> 00:23:55.599
 of his

00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:56.579
 people who

00:23:56.579 --> 00:23:57.839
 started out

00:23:57.839 --> 00:23:59.099
 in a

00:23:59.099 --> 00:23:59.879
 position of

00:23:59.879 --> 00:24:01.259
 slavery and

00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:02.079
 in great

00:24:02.079 --> 00:24:02.859
 hardship.

00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:04.039
 Verse 10,

00:24:04.460 --> 00:24:05.059
 to him who

00:24:05.059 --> 00:24:05.759
 struck down

00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:06.439
 the firstborn

00:24:06.439 --> 00:24:06.819
 of Egypt,

00:24:06.859 --> 00:24:07.179
 what's that

00:24:07.179 --> 00:24:07.759
 talking about?

00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:09.119
 The last

00:24:09.119 --> 00:24:09.500
 plague.

00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:11.000
 Who brought

00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:11.619
 Israel out

00:24:11.619 --> 00:24:12.119
 from among

00:24:12.119 --> 00:24:13.019
 them with a

00:24:13.019 --> 00:24:13.839
 strong hand and

00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:14.659
 outstretched arm,

00:24:14.740 --> 00:24:15.799
 who divided the

00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:17.059
 Red Sea in

00:24:17.059 --> 00:24:18.099
 two.

00:24:19.819 --> 00:24:20.440
 The psalmist

00:24:20.440 --> 00:24:21.259
 reminds the

00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:21.799
 nation of

00:24:21.799 --> 00:24:22.599
 Israel and

00:24:22.599 --> 00:24:23.500
 reminds us,

00:24:23.819 --> 00:24:24.440
 the one who

00:24:24.440 --> 00:24:25.319
 loves us is

00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:26.159
 our deliverer,

00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:26.960
 and as we

00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:27.539
 stop and

00:24:27.539 --> 00:24:28.680
 consider how

00:24:28.680 --> 00:24:29.680
 many reasons

00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:30.399
 we have to

00:24:30.399 --> 00:24:30.899
 thank him,

00:24:31.099 --> 00:24:31.819
 in addition to

00:24:31.819 --> 00:24:32.339
 the fact that

00:24:32.339 --> 00:24:33.240
 he is God

00:24:33.240 --> 00:24:33.799
 and supreme,

00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:34.919
 he's also

00:24:34.919 --> 00:24:35.599
 cared for us

00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:36.059
 personally.

00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:37.220
 He has an

00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:37.859
 interest in

00:24:37.859 --> 00:24:38.639
 you, and

00:24:38.639 --> 00:24:39.519
 he has brought

00:24:39.519 --> 00:24:40.139
 you out of

00:24:40.139 --> 00:24:40.759
 the difficulties

00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:41.279
 that you're

00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:41.519
 in.

00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:43.740
 You know,

00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:45.779
 at the end

00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:46.200
 of the day,

00:24:46.859 --> 00:24:48.579
 when our

00:24:48.579 --> 00:24:49.319
 life comes to

00:24:49.319 --> 00:24:49.920
 a conclusion,

00:24:51.059 --> 00:24:52.279
 I think that

00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:53.500
 we will end

00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:55.220
 up, if we're

00:24:55.220 --> 00:24:57.079
 able, to make

00:24:57.079 --> 00:24:57.879
 a very similar

00:24:57.879 --> 00:24:58.639
 statement to

00:24:58.639 --> 00:24:59.440
 what Jacob

00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:00.220
 did when he

00:25:00.220 --> 00:25:00.839
 came to the

00:25:00.839 --> 00:25:01.799
 end and he

00:25:01.799 --> 00:25:02.460
 blessed the

00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:03.059
 two children

00:25:03.059 --> 00:25:03.720
 of Joseph,

00:25:04.099 --> 00:25:04.660
 Ephraim and

00:25:04.660 --> 00:25:05.139
 Manasseh.

00:25:05.180 --> 00:25:05.319
 Do you

00:25:05.319 --> 00:25:05.799
 remember what

00:25:05.799 --> 00:25:06.759
 he said as

00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:07.119
 he brought

00:25:07.119 --> 00:25:07.779
 blessing to

00:25:07.779 --> 00:25:08.220
 those two

00:25:08.220 --> 00:25:08.619
 boys?

00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:10.720
 Listen, this

00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:11.119
 is good.

00:25:11.639 --> 00:25:12.079
 He said,

00:25:12.180 --> 00:25:12.960
 the angel of

00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:13.799
 the Lord who

00:25:13.799 --> 00:25:14.559
 has delivered

00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:15.919
 me from all

00:25:15.919 --> 00:25:16.859
 evils, bless

00:25:16.859 --> 00:25:17.720
 the lads.

00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:18.460
 Do you know

00:25:18.460 --> 00:25:18.679
 what he was

00:25:18.679 --> 00:25:18.940
 saying?

00:25:19.899 --> 00:25:20.519
 He was saying,

00:25:20.599 --> 00:25:20.960
 I'm not the

00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:21.539
 hero of my

00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:22.179
 journey or my

00:25:22.179 --> 00:25:23.019
 story, and

00:25:23.019 --> 00:25:23.579
 the one who

00:25:23.579 --> 00:25:24.259
 has blessed

00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:25.079
 me, the

00:25:25.079 --> 00:25:26.159
 God who

00:25:26.159 --> 00:25:26.899
 has blessed

00:25:26.899 --> 00:25:27.940
 me, I can

00:25:27.940 --> 00:25:28.779
 trust to care

00:25:28.779 --> 00:25:29.399
 for you as

00:25:29.399 --> 00:25:29.619
 well.

00:25:29.899 --> 00:25:30.740
 The angel of

00:25:30.740 --> 00:25:31.279
 the Lord who

00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:31.839
 has delivered

00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:32.619
 me from all

00:25:32.619 --> 00:25:33.099
 evils.

00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:35.059
 You know

00:25:35.059 --> 00:25:35.279
 what?

00:25:35.559 --> 00:25:36.119
 Every one of

00:25:36.119 --> 00:25:36.379
 us here,

00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:36.919
 really, when we

00:25:36.919 --> 00:25:37.579
 tell our story,

00:25:37.659 --> 00:25:38.240
 we're Jacobs.

00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:40.339
 perverse,

00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:41.920
 unsettled,

00:25:42.819 --> 00:25:43.319
 uncertain,

00:25:44.319 --> 00:25:45.460
 troubled, and

00:25:45.460 --> 00:25:46.039
 yet when we

00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:47.160
 look back across

00:25:47.160 --> 00:25:47.900
 our shoulder and

00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:48.559
 we see what's

00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:49.380
 happened, we

00:25:49.380 --> 00:25:49.920
 see that the

00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:50.500
 one who has

00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:51.000
 brought us

00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:51.940
 step by step

00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:52.559
 in the journey

00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:53.700
 of life is the

00:25:53.700 --> 00:25:54.319
 one who is

00:25:54.319 --> 00:25:55.579
 faithful and who

00:25:55.579 --> 00:25:56.559
 is our God and

00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:57.720
 our Savior, and

00:25:57.720 --> 00:25:58.259
 he is the one

00:25:58.259 --> 00:25:58.839
 who has delivered

00:25:58.839 --> 00:25:59.339
 us.

00:26:00.839 --> 00:26:01.720
 One other thing

00:26:01.720 --> 00:26:02.259
 that I want you

00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:03.380
 to notice towards

00:26:03.380 --> 00:26:05.819
 the end, the

00:26:05.819 --> 00:26:06.579
 one who loves

00:26:06.579 --> 00:26:08.159
 us, knows

00:26:08.159 --> 00:26:09.659
 our baggage, and

00:26:09.659 --> 00:26:10.399
 loves us anyway.

00:26:11.259 --> 00:26:12.019
 Where do I get

00:26:12.019 --> 00:26:12.259
 that?

00:26:12.819 --> 00:26:13.439
 Look at verse

00:26:13.439 --> 00:26:14.259
 23.

00:26:15.339 --> 00:26:16.419
 He who

00:26:16.419 --> 00:26:17.939
 remembered us

00:26:17.939 --> 00:26:19.000
 in our low

00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:21.379
 estate and

00:26:21.379 --> 00:26:22.419
 rescued us

00:26:22.419 --> 00:26:23.779
 from our foes.

00:26:23.859 --> 00:26:24.359
 Now look at

00:26:24.359 --> 00:26:26.139
 verse 1 of

00:26:26.139 --> 00:26:27.679
 chapter 136.

00:26:28.599 --> 00:26:29.259
 By the waters

00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:30.099
 of Babylon, there

00:26:30.099 --> 00:26:30.819
 we sat and

00:26:30.819 --> 00:26:31.039
 wept.

00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:31.359
 When we

00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:32.199
 remembered Zion,

00:26:32.319 --> 00:26:32.899
 on the willows

00:26:32.899 --> 00:26:33.519
 there we hung

00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:34.579
 our liars, for

00:26:34.579 --> 00:26:35.799
 there our captors

00:26:35.799 --> 00:26:36.559
 required a

00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:37.759
 song, and

00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:38.720
 our tormentors

00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:39.319
 mirth.

00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:40.779
 What was going

00:26:40.779 --> 00:26:41.679
 on in Psalm

00:26:41.679 --> 00:26:42.319
 137?

00:26:43.940 --> 00:26:45.039
 The Babylonian

00:26:45.039 --> 00:26:45.980
 captivity was in

00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:46.659
 full cry.

00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:47.079
 They were

00:26:47.079 --> 00:26:48.000
 suffering because

00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:48.639
 of their, what,

00:26:48.859 --> 00:26:49.679
 disobedience to

00:26:49.679 --> 00:26:50.519
 God, right?

00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:52.339
 And in that

00:26:52.339 --> 00:26:53.679
 particular affliction,

00:26:54.319 --> 00:26:55.139
 the Babylonians

00:26:55.139 --> 00:26:55.879
 came along and

00:26:55.879 --> 00:26:56.579
 kind of with a

00:26:56.579 --> 00:26:57.279
 spear point would

00:26:57.279 --> 00:26:58.399
 say, hey, why

00:26:58.399 --> 00:26:59.099
 don't you smile

00:26:59.099 --> 00:26:59.460
 today?

00:26:59.679 --> 00:27:00.299
 How do you like

00:27:00.299 --> 00:27:00.940
 being in Babylon?

00:27:01.259 --> 00:27:01.960
 Go ahead and sing

00:27:01.960 --> 00:27:02.759
 a happy song.

00:27:03.399 --> 00:27:03.779
 You know, it's

00:27:03.779 --> 00:27:04.919
 like, can you

00:27:04.919 --> 00:27:05.379
 do that?

00:27:05.380 --> 00:27:07.160
 How many of

00:27:07.160 --> 00:27:07.780
 you can sing

00:27:07.780 --> 00:27:08.080
 when you're

00:27:08.080 --> 00:27:08.460
 unhappy?

00:27:10.940 --> 00:27:12.660
 And Psalm

00:27:12.660 --> 00:27:14.600
 136 is an

00:27:14.600 --> 00:27:15.120
 overarching

00:27:15.120 --> 00:27:16.080
 statement about

00:27:16.080 --> 00:27:17.740
 you cared for

00:27:17.740 --> 00:27:18.760
 us even when

00:27:18.760 --> 00:27:19.120
 we were

00:27:19.120 --> 00:27:19.640
 suffering.

00:27:20.060 --> 00:27:20.660
 And why were

00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:21.120
 we suffering?

00:27:21.280 --> 00:27:21.800
 Look at verse

00:27:21.800 --> 00:27:22.620
 23.

00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:23.420
 You remembered

00:27:23.420 --> 00:27:23.880
 us in our

00:27:23.880 --> 00:27:24.540
 lowest state.

00:27:25.020 --> 00:27:25.560
 You rescued

00:27:25.560 --> 00:27:26.280
 us from our

00:27:26.280 --> 00:27:26.720
 foes.

00:27:26.840 --> 00:27:27.740
 And why were

00:27:27.740 --> 00:27:28.320
 we enduring

00:27:28.320 --> 00:27:28.960
 all of that?

00:27:29.080 --> 00:27:29.800
 It was because

00:27:29.800 --> 00:27:30.340
 of our own

00:27:30.340 --> 00:27:30.840
 sin and our

00:27:30.840 --> 00:27:31.660
 own disobedience.

00:27:31.660 --> 00:27:33.640
 Let me say

00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:33.940
 it again

00:27:33.940 --> 00:27:34.300
 slowly.

00:27:36.940 --> 00:27:37.700
 The one who

00:27:37.700 --> 00:27:38.380
 loves us knows

00:27:38.380 --> 00:27:38.960
 our baggage.

00:27:40.140 --> 00:27:40.900
 And he loves

00:27:40.900 --> 00:27:41.380
 us anyway.

00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:43.460
 And beloved,

00:27:43.580 --> 00:27:44.019
 when you think

00:27:44.019 --> 00:27:44.700
 about that this

00:27:44.700 --> 00:27:45.240
 morning, that

00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:46.100
 gives you great

00:27:46.100 --> 00:27:46.880
 comfort, doesn't

00:27:46.880 --> 00:27:47.060
 it?

00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:48.779
 Stop and think

00:27:48.779 --> 00:27:49.300
 about what it

00:27:49.300 --> 00:27:49.759
 says here.

00:27:49.940 --> 00:27:51.200
 Verse 136 or

00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:52.920
 chapter 136, it

00:27:52.920 --> 00:27:53.480
 says, for his

00:27:53.480 --> 00:27:55.279
 steadfast love

00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:57.300
 endures forever.

00:27:57.299 --> 00:28:00.220
 Above all, the

00:28:00.220 --> 00:28:00.839
 reason that I

00:28:00.839 --> 00:28:01.619
 am happy this

00:28:01.619 --> 00:28:02.339
 morning is that

00:28:02.339 --> 00:28:03.139
 I know for

00:28:03.139 --> 00:28:04.440
 certain that the

00:28:04.440 --> 00:28:05.339
 lover of my

00:28:05.339 --> 00:28:06.680
 soul who has

00:28:06.680 --> 00:28:07.339
 given me

00:28:07.339 --> 00:28:08.619
 everlasting life

00:28:08.619 --> 00:28:09.379
 in the finished

00:28:09.379 --> 00:28:10.220
 work of Christ

00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:10.960
 on the cross

00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:12.720
 will not change

00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:14.000
 his mind about

00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:14.319
 me.

00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:16.200
 Is that a

00:28:16.200 --> 00:28:16.480
 comfort?

00:28:16.779 --> 00:28:17.259
 Is that a

00:28:17.259 --> 00:28:17.919
 consolation?

00:28:18.159 --> 00:28:18.639
 Is that an

00:28:18.639 --> 00:28:19.159
 encouragement?

00:28:19.559 --> 00:28:20.460
 It is.

00:28:21.379 --> 00:28:21.779
 And the

00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:22.460
 psalmist says,

00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:23.339
 here's the reason

00:28:23.339 --> 00:28:24.019
 for you to give

00:28:24.019 --> 00:28:25.019
 thanks, because

00:28:25.019 --> 00:28:25.819
 the God of this

00:28:25.819 --> 00:28:26.399
 universe, the

00:28:26.399 --> 00:28:26.819
 one who's

00:28:26.819 --> 00:28:29.119
 created all, the

00:28:29.119 --> 00:28:29.619
 God of this

00:28:29.619 --> 00:28:30.220
 universe who

00:28:30.220 --> 00:28:31.039
 has rescued you

00:28:31.039 --> 00:28:32.720
 from the pit, the

00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:33.259
 God of this

00:28:33.259 --> 00:28:34.019
 universe who has

00:28:34.019 --> 00:28:35.119
 not changed his

00:28:35.119 --> 00:28:36.519
 mind about your

00:28:36.519 --> 00:28:37.899
 recurring failures,

00:28:38.200 --> 00:28:39.099
 that's the God

00:28:39.099 --> 00:28:40.279
 that loves you, and

00:28:40.279 --> 00:28:41.220
 that's the God that

00:28:41.220 --> 00:28:41.919
 has made this

00:28:41.919 --> 00:28:43.099
 abiding commitment

00:28:43.099 --> 00:28:44.339
 to never change

00:28:44.339 --> 00:28:45.379
 his mind and

00:28:45.379 --> 00:28:46.179
 never turn his

00:28:46.179 --> 00:28:46.899
 back on you.

00:28:47.919 --> 00:28:48.939
 And so what is

00:28:48.939 --> 00:28:49.480
 to be the

00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:50.720
 characteristic of

00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:51.899
 the believer who

00:28:51.899 --> 00:28:53.960
 has confidence in

00:28:53.960 --> 00:28:55.379
 his salvation and

00:28:55.379 --> 00:28:56.179
 a certainty of

00:28:56.179 --> 00:28:56.500
 where his

00:28:56.500 --> 00:28:57.519
 eternal destiny is?

00:28:57.579 --> 00:28:58.019
 What is it to

00:28:58.019 --> 00:28:58.259
 be?

00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:00.900
 Give thanks unto

00:29:00.900 --> 00:29:02.220
 the Lord for he

00:29:02.220 --> 00:29:02.619
 is good.

00:29:04.299 --> 00:29:05.440
 The normal

00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:07.240
 characteristic for

00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:08.160
 the believer who

00:29:08.160 --> 00:29:09.000
 is thinking

00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:11.180
 intelligently and

00:29:11.180 --> 00:29:12.779
 biblically is to

00:29:12.779 --> 00:29:13.240
 be a thankful

00:29:13.240 --> 00:29:13.660
 person.

00:29:15.039 --> 00:29:16.119
 Let me close up

00:29:16.119 --> 00:29:16.599
 this way.

00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:18.160
 If you are here

00:29:18.160 --> 00:29:20.039
 this morning and

00:29:20.039 --> 00:29:20.559
 the truth of the

00:29:20.559 --> 00:29:21.299
 matter is, is

00:29:21.299 --> 00:29:22.240
 that you have no

00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:23.119
 confidence of where

00:29:23.119 --> 00:29:24.019
 your eternal destiny

00:29:24.019 --> 00:29:24.480
 is.

00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:26.319
 It is not an

00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:27.139
 accident that you

00:29:27.139 --> 00:29:28.000
 sit here this

00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:29.139
 morning under the

00:29:29.139 --> 00:29:29.879
 preaching of the

00:29:29.879 --> 00:29:30.680
 word of God

00:29:30.680 --> 00:29:33.240
 because the God

00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:35.160
 who loves his

00:29:35.160 --> 00:29:37.119
 children this

00:29:37.119 --> 00:29:38.379
 morning says to

00:29:38.379 --> 00:29:39.319
 you, you

00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:40.920
 desperately need the

00:29:40.920 --> 00:29:41.920
 complete forgiveness

00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:42.859
 of the Lord Jesus

00:29:42.859 --> 00:29:44.460
 Christ for all of

00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:45.500
 your sins.

00:29:45.500 --> 00:29:48.359
 God seeing your

00:29:48.359 --> 00:29:49.799
 absolute inability to

00:29:49.799 --> 00:29:51.039
 save yourself sent

00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:52.240
 Christ into the

00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:53.740
 world to die in

00:29:53.740 --> 00:29:55.279
 your place and to

00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:56.700
 satisfy the debt of

00:29:56.700 --> 00:29:58.180
 your sin and he

00:29:58.180 --> 00:29:59.059
 stands ready to

00:29:59.059 --> 00:30:00.299
 forgive you and to

00:30:00.299 --> 00:30:01.299
 make you his child

00:30:01.299 --> 00:30:01.960
 and you know what it

00:30:01.960 --> 00:30:02.319
 takes?

00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:05.559
 It takes a broken

00:30:05.559 --> 00:30:06.579
 heart that is humble

00:30:06.579 --> 00:30:07.619
 enough to say I'm a

00:30:07.619 --> 00:30:07.980
 mess.

00:30:08.759 --> 00:30:09.879
 I cannot save

00:30:09.879 --> 00:30:11.399
 myself and I've had

00:30:11.399 --> 00:30:13.279
 enough of the pit

00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:13.960
 that I'm in.

00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:15.539
 I need Jesus as my

00:30:15.539 --> 00:30:15.879
 savior.

00:30:17.559 --> 00:30:18.599
 It's not hard.

00:30:19.779 --> 00:30:20.819
 It's just humbling.

00:30:21.899 --> 00:30:24.679
 It's not hard but it

00:30:24.679 --> 00:30:25.460
 makes the world a

00:30:25.460 --> 00:30:27.279
 difference and it

00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:28.319
 would be a sad thing

00:30:28.319 --> 00:30:29.539
 that on this day when

00:30:29.539 --> 00:30:30.339
 we celebrate

00:30:30.339 --> 00:30:31.500
 Thanksgiving together

00:30:31.500 --> 00:30:32.700
 that those of you

00:30:32.700 --> 00:30:33.480
 who are here that

00:30:33.480 --> 00:30:34.420
 do not know Christ

00:30:34.420 --> 00:30:35.619
 would wander out

00:30:35.619 --> 00:30:37.579
 saying no to the

00:30:37.579 --> 00:30:38.539
 God of this universe

00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:39.660
 who willingly sent

00:30:39.660 --> 00:30:41.079
 his son to be the

00:30:41.079 --> 00:30:42.279
 sacrifice to pay the

00:30:42.279 --> 00:30:43.480
 price for your sin

00:30:43.480 --> 00:30:44.779
 and you have a sense

00:30:44.779 --> 00:30:45.640
 of the darkness of

00:30:45.640 --> 00:30:46.099
 your heart.

00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:48.980
 He sent Jesus to

00:30:48.980 --> 00:30:49.859
 die in your place

00:30:49.859 --> 00:30:52.200
 and I plead with you

00:30:52.200 --> 00:30:52.880
 this morning in

00:30:52.880 --> 00:30:54.519
 Christ's stead don't

00:30:54.519 --> 00:30:55.059
 say no.

00:30:56.180 --> 00:30:57.619
 Humble yourself and

00:30:57.619 --> 00:30:58.099
 trust him.

00:30:59.119 --> 00:31:00.200
 Let's close in prayer

00:31:00.200 --> 00:31:01.160
 as John comes to

00:31:01.160 --> 00:31:02.040
 lead us as we sing.

00:31:04.580 --> 00:31:05.480
 Our Father God

00:31:05.480 --> 00:31:06.360
 this morning as we

00:31:06.360 --> 00:31:07.040
 think about the

00:31:07.040 --> 00:31:08.140
 issue of why we as

00:31:08.140 --> 00:31:09.120
 believers are thankful

00:31:09.120 --> 00:31:10.160
 and we have so many

00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:11.480
 reasons let us be a

00:31:11.480 --> 00:31:12.480
 people that are

00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:13.440
 genuine in our

00:31:13.440 --> 00:31:14.080
 thanksgiving.

00:31:16.080 --> 00:31:17.740
 Draw us to delight in

00:31:17.740 --> 00:31:18.779
 the Lord Jesus Christ

00:31:18.779 --> 00:31:19.700
 and to do so by the

00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:20.580
 power of the spirit of

00:31:20.580 --> 00:31:20.860
 God.

00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:23.460
 I pray for those that

00:31:23.460 --> 00:31:24.680
 sit here this morning

00:31:24.680 --> 00:31:25.640
 under the teaching and

00:31:25.640 --> 00:31:26.380
 the preaching of the

00:31:26.380 --> 00:31:27.740
 word of God that your

00:31:27.740 --> 00:31:29.019
 spirit would convict

00:31:29.019 --> 00:31:30.240
 those that do not

00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:30.940
 know Christ.

00:31:32.799 --> 00:31:33.980
 That the misery of

00:31:33.980 --> 00:31:35.839
 their soul, the

00:31:35.839 --> 00:31:36.759
 fearfulness of their

00:31:36.759 --> 00:31:38.339
 eternal destiny would

00:31:38.339 --> 00:31:39.139
 bring them to the

00:31:39.139 --> 00:31:40.139
 place where they would

00:31:40.139 --> 00:31:41.579
 willingly choose in all

00:31:41.579 --> 00:31:43.059
 humility to trust in

00:31:43.059 --> 00:31:44.440
 what Christ has done for

00:31:44.440 --> 00:31:44.759
 them.

00:31:45.859 --> 00:31:46.799
 They would stop saying

00:31:46.799 --> 00:31:48.619
 no and they would

00:31:48.619 --> 00:31:49.119
 trust you.

00:31:50.059 --> 00:31:51.019
 And even as we sing

00:31:51.019 --> 00:31:51.960
 this song in closing

00:31:51.960 --> 00:31:53.039
 Father you work in their

00:31:53.039 --> 00:31:54.139
 heart to draw them to the

00:31:54.139 --> 00:31:54.579
 cross.

00:31:54.900 --> 00:31:55.900
 We ask this in your

00:31:55.900 --> 00:31:56.660
 precious name.

00:31:56.780 --> 00:31:57.019
 Amen.

00:31:57.019 --> 00:31:57.180
 Amen.