WEBVTT

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 Well, folks, great to see you this morning.

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 Why don't we just join our hearts together and let's pray as we come to this passage.

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 Paul would write in Romans 12, the call to these Christians who live in Rome,

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 the call to be transformed by the renewing of their minds.

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 And Holy Spirit, we ask that you would come and help us as we seek to do that this morning.

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 What we see not, we ask that you would show us.

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 Lord, where we understand not, we ask that you would help us.

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 And what we are not, we ask that you would make us.

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 All for the glory of our three-in-one brilliant God.

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 In his name we pray. Amen.

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 Well, let me just invite you to have that passage in Genesis 1 in front of you.

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 It's so important that we have God's words in front of us so that you have nothing else.

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 You can see that what I'm saying, hopefully, and this will be my prayer all week, is what this passage is saying.

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 As you're turning to Genesis 1, let me tell you about a pantomime I was watching with my two little girls,

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 not this Christmas, last Christmas.

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 The pantomime was on CBeebies and the pantomime was called Thumbelina.

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 So everyone needs to hold out their thumbs.

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 This is Thumbelina.

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 Thumbelina, the thumb-sized girl.

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 And this whole pantomime was the story of Thumbelina traveling around her little world, bumping into different characters.

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 And she would ask different characters questions about life and about them and about her

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 because she wanted to understand where she had come from.

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 Because she lived her life in her little world.

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 As she flew around, she realized that there was nobody quite like her.

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 So she's asking questions like, how did I get here?

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 Right?

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 Where did I come from?

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 Who is like me?

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 How did I get like this?

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 Where am I going?

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 What should I be doing?

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 Because she figures that if she can get the answers to those kind of questions,

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 then she'll be able to derive from those things some kind of purpose for her life

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 as she continues to exist.

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 And I'm watching this thinking, I don't know if you're an avid CBeebies watcher.

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 Okay, this is my stage of life.

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 Watching this thinking, who knew that CBeebies could be so postmodern?

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 Because the questions that Thumbelina was asking are kind of the questions that we ask about life,

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 don't we, at times?

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 We ask ourselves those kind of questions.

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 Who are we?

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 How did we get here?

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 What are we doing?

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 Except here's the thing for us.

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 We realize that life isn't a CBeebies show.

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 We realize that we don't live in Disneyland.

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 So we kind of step out the CBeebies bubble,

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 and we watch the real world being presented to us

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 as we see it and as we see it on, say, the 6 o'clock news.

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 And we hear about how human beings around the world

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 are doing some of the most wonderful and sacrificial things.

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 And yet, in the same broadcast,

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 we hear about human beings who are committing

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 some of the most horrific atrocities imaginable.

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 Right?

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 Or we're watching David Attenborough.

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 We're watching him document some of nature's most incredible things.

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 As our world ticks, as it does its thing.

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 We're blown away.

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 And yet, at the same time, we turn on the news.

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 And when that program begins to tell us about the world,

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 we hear about the natural disasters which are going on.

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 And we hear about the forest fires in Australia.

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 And we wonder, what is going on?

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 What's this all about?

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 Now, let me ask you, as you sit here today

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 and as you think about all of that,

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 how do you process that?

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 Right?

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 How do you understand that in your mind?

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 As you interact with the world in which we live,

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 however you make sense of that,

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 is what is known as your worldview.

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 Right?

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 How you understand the world.

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 Your answer to those questions.

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 How did I get here?

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 Where am I going?

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 Why did these things happen?

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 What is it ultimately about?

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 That is your worldview.

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 Right?

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 How you understand the world.

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 And it affects how you live your life in the world

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 because you understand this is why I'm here.

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 This is where I've come from.

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 This is why I exist.

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 And you live your life matching up

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 with what you believe that to be.

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 And there are tons of worldviews out there.

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 Right?

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 People often come to you.

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 They say this to me.

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 I wish I had your faith.

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 Right?

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 I wish I had your faith.

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 To which my question is,

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 you've got faith.

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 If we're defining faith as trust based on evidence,

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 what you believe to be true,

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 every single human being has faith,

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 trusting in something.

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 Your question is,

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 you have faith in something different

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 to what I have faith in.

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 Right?

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 We're all basing our lives on something.

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 Tons of worldviews exist around the table.

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 And the thing is,

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 what we're going to look at over the next few weeks

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 is that into this worldview arena,

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 God speaks in the book of Genesis.

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 You see, we're not the first question

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 asking these kind of questions.

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 You've got to do justice to this text

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 that the first readers of Genesis

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 are most likely the generation of God's people

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 who find themselves having come out of Egypt,

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 heading for the promised land,

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 journeying in the desert.

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 What they realize is that they realize

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 they're living in a big world.

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 Right?

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 They look up.

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 They're intelligent human beings.

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 They look up.

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 They can see.

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 And they can realize that it's not all about them.

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 And they're surrounded by people

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 from different nations

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 who are living lives completely differently

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 to how they are living

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 and who are worshiping and living for different things.

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 And the purpose of this book of Genesis

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 that Moses wrote

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 is to help his generation

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 grasp a God-shaped worldview.

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 Grasp a God-shaped worldview.

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 Because here's how this works out for me.

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 Right?

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 I think in my life that I am the sun.

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 And everything revolves around me.

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 Right?

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 I am the center of my universe.

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 That's what I think.

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 And yet here is a book

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 that just smashes into that.

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 And says,

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 you are not the sun.

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 You are not the sun.

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 And it causes us

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 to lift our eyes off of ourselves

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 and throw them into the air

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 and say,

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 actually,

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 this world is about the God who made it.

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 And if we can understand

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 the God who made this world,

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 then we've got a chance of understanding

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 who we are.

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 And so this book is written

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 to help a generation of God's people

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 understand the world in which they live.

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 This book means beginnings.

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 This is what the title means.

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 Answering the questions,

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 who am I?

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 Why am I here?

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 What am I doing?

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 I love this quote.

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 C.S. Lewis, right, said this.

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 I believe in Christianity

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 as I believe that the sun has risen,

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 not only because I see it,

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 but because by it,

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 I see everything else.

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 So as we come to this book,

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 we need to appreciate

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 that those are the questions

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 that it is trying to answer.

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 But primarily the how question,

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 right,

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 how long were the days of creation?

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 It's not trying to answer that.

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 Or the when question,

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 how old is the earth?

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 What about the dinosaurs?

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 Let me just say,

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 if there are the questions in your mind

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 that are only natural questions

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 to ask as we come to this text,

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 and you can come to me afterwards

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 or chat amongst yourselves.

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 We can recommend people

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 who are way smarter than me

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 who've studied this stuff.

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 They can help you understand,

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 wrestle with those questions.

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 But Genesis is interested

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 in addressing the who

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 and the why questions.

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 Right, you ready for this?

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 Will we dive into this text?

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 Yeah, for this,

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 come with me to verse one.

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 And let's allow Genesis

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 to tell us firstly

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 about the God who is there.

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 The God who is there.

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 The God who makes himself known.

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 And come with me

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 to the very first words of the Bible

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 and to the words that

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 maybe you know William Anders

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 read out to the world

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 from Apollo 8

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 as they orbited the moon

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 on Christmas Eve 1968,

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 which I believe,

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 I think I'm right,

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 I'm ad-libbing here,

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 was the most watched television program

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 up to that point.

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 In the beginning,

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 God created.

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 The heavens and the earth.

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 Who is this God?

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 I'm just honing in two things

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 that this passage would tell us

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 for the sake of time.

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 Who is this God?

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 Firstly, he is eternal.

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 Right, meaning that God

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 has always been.

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 There was never a time

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 when he wasn't.

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 In fact, he has always existed

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 as a loving community

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 of Father, Son and Spirit.

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 One God, three persons

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 who have,

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 since before time began,

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 been doing nothing other

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 than mutually delighting

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 in one another.

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 And that's why we can say

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 for sure that this God is love.

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 Because that's what he's been doing

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 and will be doing

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 for all eternity.

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 That's who this God is.

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 Is your mind blown yet?

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 Right?

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 Word for of the Bible,

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 we're at.

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 There's a lot of words

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 to go after this.

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 This is who this God is.

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 Meaning that what he did next

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 wasn't because there was

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 anything lacking in him.

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 He did out of the overflow

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 of his greatness.

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 What did he do?

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 Come with me.

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 This is the second thing

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 that we see that he created.

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 He is powerful.

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 This God is powerful.

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 Verse two,

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 the earth was without form

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 and void.

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 And you see how this God speaks

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 and things come into being

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 through the power

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 of his words.

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 Now we always say that

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 in our day,

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 don't we?

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 That you can tell

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 who's in charge

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 as you walk into a situation

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 by watching what happens

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 when people speak.

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 Yeah?

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 You know that's been true

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 in some of your workplaces.

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 Yeah?

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 The boss speaks,

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 things get done.

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 Somebody down here speaks,

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 things don't happen.

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 Yeah?

00:09:49.160 --> 00:09:49.960
 Give you a little example

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 of this.

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 Over Christmas,

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 we went back to my parents.

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 My parents have a little

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 parson terrier dog

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 called Charlie.

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 Right?

00:09:58.259 --> 00:09:59.299
 I said I had to go at this.

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 I went,

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 Charlie, sit.

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 Right?

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 And the dog looks at me

00:10:03.080 --> 00:10:03.639
 as if to say,

00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:03.939
 yeah,

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 not a chance, son.

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 But dad walks in the room.

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 He says,

00:10:07.960 --> 00:10:08.639
 Charlie, sit.

00:10:08.779 --> 00:10:09.580
 Quick as a flash,

00:10:09.679 --> 00:10:10.559
 down Charlie goes.

00:10:12.679 --> 00:10:13.860
 This God has authority.

00:10:15.620 --> 00:10:16.000
 You see,

00:10:16.179 --> 00:10:17.320
 this God speaks

00:10:17.320 --> 00:10:18.240
 and things happen.

00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:19.240
 He effortlessly

00:10:19.240 --> 00:10:21.039
 commands

00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:22.879
 and creates.

00:10:25.200 --> 00:10:25.899
 Days one,

00:10:26.019 --> 00:10:26.159
 two,

00:10:26.220 --> 00:10:26.580
 and three,

00:10:26.720 --> 00:10:27.399
 if you like,

00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:28.720
 he forms the world.

00:10:29.720 --> 00:10:30.120
 Right?

00:10:30.180 --> 00:10:30.779
 If you've got it there,

00:10:30.899 --> 00:10:31.560
 day and night,

00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:32.720
 light, land,

00:10:32.759 --> 00:10:33.299
 and waters,

00:10:33.560 --> 00:10:33.879
 land,

00:10:33.980 --> 00:10:34.680
 and plants,

00:10:35.139 --> 00:10:36.259
 he forms it.

00:10:37.580 --> 00:10:38.220
 Or if you like,

00:10:38.279 --> 00:10:40.220
 he creates his stage.

00:10:40.220 --> 00:10:42.700
 And in days four,

00:10:42.820 --> 00:10:43.040
 five,

00:10:43.080 --> 00:10:43.420
 and six,

00:10:43.480 --> 00:10:44.820
 he fills that stage

00:10:44.820 --> 00:10:45.680
 with actors.

00:10:45.879 --> 00:10:46.500
 Do you see how we get

00:10:46.500 --> 00:10:47.180
 the sun,

00:10:47.840 --> 00:10:48.240
 the moon,

00:10:48.279 --> 00:10:48.940
 and the stars,

00:10:49.060 --> 00:10:49.440
 the birds,

00:10:49.500 --> 00:10:49.960
 and the fish,

00:10:50.100 --> 00:10:50.340
 land,

00:10:50.420 --> 00:10:50.759
 animals,

00:10:50.899 --> 00:10:51.399
 and humans.

00:10:52.580 --> 00:10:53.340
 And God,

00:10:53.420 --> 00:10:54.600
 what does he think of this?

00:10:54.660 --> 00:10:55.300
 I love this.

00:10:55.379 --> 00:10:56.000
 What does he think?

00:10:56.080 --> 00:10:57.100
 After each day is complete,

00:10:57.180 --> 00:10:58.519
 do you see the repeated refrain?

00:10:59.920 --> 00:11:00.680
 Verse four,

00:11:00.679 --> 00:11:03.439
 and God saw that it was what?

00:11:04.559 --> 00:11:04.919
 Good.

00:11:06.239 --> 00:11:06.599
 Right?

00:11:06.779 --> 00:11:07.819
 Track with me in the verses.

00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:08.500
 Verse 10,

00:11:08.579 --> 00:11:10.579
 and God saw that it was good.

00:11:12.099 --> 00:11:12.879
 Verse 12,

00:11:13.019 --> 00:11:13.620
 verse 18,

00:11:13.739 --> 00:11:14.379
 verse 21,

00:11:14.579 --> 00:11:15.359
 verse 25,

00:11:15.479 --> 00:11:17.639
 and God saw that it was good.

00:11:19.419 --> 00:11:19.779
 Right?

00:11:19.799 --> 00:11:20.199
 In other words,

00:11:20.279 --> 00:11:21.359
 God is not like us.

00:11:21.399 --> 00:11:22.719
 He's having a shot at DIY.

00:11:23.199 --> 00:11:23.379
 Like,

00:11:23.419 --> 00:11:24.359
 he creates something.

00:11:24.479 --> 00:11:25.019
 He looks at it.

00:11:25.079 --> 00:11:25.339
 He thinks,

00:11:25.399 --> 00:11:26.659
 it wasn't quite what I intended,

00:11:26.779 --> 00:11:27.500
 but it will do.

00:11:28.740 --> 00:11:28.979
 Right?

00:11:28.980 --> 00:11:31.440
 I've got a mirror in our bedroom at home,

00:11:31.560 --> 00:11:32.019
 just above.

00:11:33.180 --> 00:11:34.139
 I've got a fireplace in the room,

00:11:34.200 --> 00:11:35.340
 just above the fire.

00:11:36.019 --> 00:11:37.159
 And my father-in-law,

00:11:37.220 --> 00:11:37.840
 when we put it up,

00:11:37.960 --> 00:11:39.120
 we measured it.

00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:40.139
 We looked at each other.

00:11:40.200 --> 00:11:42.159
 We verified that these measurements were correct.

00:11:42.560 --> 00:11:44.360
 We drilled holes in each side.

00:11:44.440 --> 00:11:44.960
 We looked at each other.

00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:45.740
 Is it still correct?

00:11:45.820 --> 00:11:46.019
 Yes,

00:11:46.060 --> 00:11:46.360
 it is.

00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:47.899
 And it's a centimeter out.

00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:50.980
 And it looks at me every night,

00:11:51.039 --> 00:11:51.600
 as if to say,

00:11:51.659 --> 00:11:52.560
 you were so close.

00:11:54.420 --> 00:11:56.320
 Do you see how this God,

00:11:56.320 --> 00:11:59.460
 creation happens,

00:11:59.560 --> 00:12:00.320
 it exists,

00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:01.120
 it fits,

00:12:01.220 --> 00:12:01.740
 it works,

00:12:01.820 --> 00:12:02.820
 and it does exactly

00:12:02.820 --> 00:12:04.879
 as he intended it to do.

00:12:04.940 --> 00:12:06.400
 That's what the word good means.

00:12:07.820 --> 00:12:08.480
 It's good,

00:12:08.640 --> 00:12:10.100
 but it gets even better.

00:12:10.280 --> 00:12:11.220
 Do you see how that phrase

00:12:11.220 --> 00:12:12.660
 comes a seventh time,

00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:13.960
 except it's got extra levels

00:12:13.960 --> 00:12:15.000
 of goodness to it.

00:12:15.700 --> 00:12:16.580
 What does God declare

00:12:16.580 --> 00:12:17.320
 about his creation?

00:12:17.440 --> 00:12:18.040
 Verse 31.

00:12:20.540 --> 00:12:21.400
 What is it now?

00:12:21.520 --> 00:12:23.240
 It is very good.

00:12:23.940 --> 00:12:24.300
 Why?

00:12:24.300 --> 00:12:24.380
 Why?

00:12:26.320 --> 00:12:26.720
 Well,

00:12:27.660 --> 00:12:29.200
 let's allow Genesis to tell us

00:12:29.200 --> 00:12:31.420
 about the humans who are here.

00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:33.000
 Okay,

00:12:33.040 --> 00:12:34.140
 look at verse 26.

00:12:34.460 --> 00:12:36.600
 This is incredible stuff.

00:12:36.680 --> 00:12:37.280
 Then God said,

00:12:37.460 --> 00:12:39.560
 let us make mankind in our image,

00:12:39.640 --> 00:12:41.660
 in our likeness,

00:12:42.200 --> 00:12:43.520
 so that they may rule

00:12:43.520 --> 00:12:44.740
 over the fish in the sea

00:12:44.740 --> 00:12:45.720
 and the birds in the sky,

00:12:45.820 --> 00:12:46.520
 over the livestock

00:12:46.520 --> 00:12:48.120
 and all the wild animals,

00:12:48.379 --> 00:12:49.540
 and over all the creatures

00:12:49.540 --> 00:12:51.680
 that move along the ground.

00:12:52.820 --> 00:12:54.660
 So Genesis tells us

00:12:54.659 --> 00:12:56.419
 that human beings are made

00:12:56.419 --> 00:12:58.059
 God's blueprint,

00:12:58.279 --> 00:12:59.259
 male and female,

00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:01.179
 in the image of this

00:13:01.179 --> 00:13:02.959
 three-in-one loving community

00:13:02.959 --> 00:13:03.779
 that is God.

00:13:03.980 --> 00:13:05.240
 And he declares it's very good

00:13:05.240 --> 00:13:06.579
 over no other created thing

00:13:06.579 --> 00:13:07.459
 does God say that.

00:13:07.460 --> 00:13:10.860
 we bear as human beings,

00:13:10.940 --> 00:13:13.200
 we bear his image,

00:13:14.540 --> 00:13:15.860
 meaning that in some way

00:13:15.860 --> 00:13:17.180
 we reflect,

00:13:17.340 --> 00:13:18.780
 we resemble him,

00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:21.379
 which explains,

00:13:21.460 --> 00:13:22.920
 if you want to tease that out,

00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:23.879
 that explains

00:13:23.879 --> 00:13:25.700
 our inbuilt desire

00:13:25.700 --> 00:13:26.400
 for community.

00:13:26.560 --> 00:13:27.480
 Does it know that we're made

00:13:27.480 --> 00:13:28.560
 in the image of the God

00:13:28.560 --> 00:13:29.860
 who is a three-in-one

00:13:29.860 --> 00:13:30.560
 loving community?

00:13:30.740 --> 00:13:31.580
 It explains our desire

00:13:31.580 --> 00:13:32.620
 for other human beings

00:13:32.620 --> 00:13:33.500
 to have that relationship

00:13:33.500 --> 00:13:34.100
 with them.

00:13:35.980 --> 00:13:36.980
 Explains our longing

00:13:36.980 --> 00:13:37.519
 for love,

00:13:37.580 --> 00:13:38.379
 we're made in the image

00:13:38.379 --> 00:13:39.419
 of this God.

00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:42.120
 I'll just follow

00:13:42.120 --> 00:13:43.620
 the ripples

00:13:43.620 --> 00:13:44.799
 of application here.

00:13:44.860 --> 00:13:45.159
 Let me just

00:13:45.159 --> 00:13:47.200
 kind of tease this out

00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:47.519
 a little bit.

00:13:47.539 --> 00:13:48.179
 What does this say

00:13:48.179 --> 00:13:48.940
 about human beings?

00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:49.340
 Firstly,

00:13:49.539 --> 00:13:50.620
 it pronounces

00:13:50.620 --> 00:13:52.500
 the dignity over them.

00:13:53.940 --> 00:13:54.299
 Right?

00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:54.580
 One,

00:13:54.659 --> 00:13:55.519
 and this is so important

00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:56.200
 that we see this,

00:13:56.279 --> 00:13:57.340
 one that is inherent

00:13:57.340 --> 00:14:00.220
 to every single human life

00:14:00.220 --> 00:14:01.740
 without exception,

00:14:01.740 --> 00:14:04.220
 simply because they exist.

00:14:05.680 --> 00:14:05.799
 Right?

00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:06.840
 It's why we can pray,

00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:07.220
 isn't it,

00:14:07.259 --> 00:14:07.379
 for,

00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:08.060
 we're praying for that

00:14:08.060 --> 00:14:09.100
 newborn baby earlier,

00:14:09.180 --> 00:14:10.539
 but those days,

00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:12.259
 every single day

00:14:12.259 --> 00:14:13.060
 of that child's life

00:14:13.060 --> 00:14:14.940
 known by the God

00:14:14.940 --> 00:14:17.180
 who created her

00:14:17.180 --> 00:14:18.720
 in his image.

00:14:18.799 --> 00:14:19.799
 Every human being

00:14:19.799 --> 00:14:20.799
 valued,

00:14:21.320 --> 00:14:21.680
 known,

00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:22.519
 precious,

00:14:23.039 --> 00:14:24.480
 and of worth.

00:14:25.820 --> 00:14:26.320
 Is this not

00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:28.519
 a beautiful description

00:14:28.519 --> 00:14:29.320
 and understanding

00:14:29.320 --> 00:14:30.000
 of human beings?

00:14:30.259 --> 00:14:31.299
 It's why the American

00:14:31.299 --> 00:14:32.620
 Declaration of Independence

00:14:32.620 --> 00:14:33.740
 starts with these words,

00:14:34.079 --> 00:14:34.959
 we hold these truths

00:14:34.959 --> 00:14:36.039
 to be self-evident,

00:14:36.959 --> 00:14:38.219
 that all men

00:14:38.219 --> 00:14:39.120
 are created equal,

00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:39.759
 right,

00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:41.000
 all people are created equal,

00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:41.919
 that they are endowed

00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:42.899
 by their creator

00:14:42.899 --> 00:14:43.759
 with certain

00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:46.539
 unalienable rights.

00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:48.859
 And it's why

00:14:48.859 --> 00:14:50.039
 people like

00:14:50.039 --> 00:14:50.839
 William Wilberforce

00:14:50.839 --> 00:14:51.459
 in the past

00:14:51.459 --> 00:14:52.179
 took the stand

00:14:52.179 --> 00:14:52.879
 they did against

00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:53.859
 racism and slavery

00:14:53.859 --> 00:14:54.439
 because they had

00:14:54.439 --> 00:14:55.319
 this understanding

00:14:55.319 --> 00:14:55.839
 of what it means

00:14:55.839 --> 00:14:56.759
 to be a human being.

00:14:58.459 --> 00:14:59.659
 It's why we should care,

00:14:59.740 --> 00:15:00.579
 if you just follow this again,

00:15:00.580 --> 00:15:01.540
 it's why we should care

00:15:01.540 --> 00:15:02.540
 about child poverty.

00:15:03.020 --> 00:15:04.020
 It's why we should care

00:15:04.020 --> 00:15:04.980
 about domestic abuse.

00:15:05.060 --> 00:15:05.900
 It's why we should care

00:15:05.900 --> 00:15:07.020
 about discrimination.

00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:08.860
 And it's why as Christians,

00:15:09.540 --> 00:15:11.639
 with this understanding

00:15:11.639 --> 00:15:12.379
 of human beings,

00:15:12.440 --> 00:15:13.180
 it should cause us

00:15:13.180 --> 00:15:13.980
 to speak for those

00:15:13.980 --> 00:15:14.639
 who cannot speak

00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:15.160
 for themselves.

00:15:16.560 --> 00:15:16.820
 Right?

00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:18.860
 It's why we care

00:15:18.860 --> 00:15:19.400
 about beginning

00:15:19.400 --> 00:15:20.220
 of life issues.

00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:24.160
 And it's why we care

00:15:24.160 --> 00:15:25.259
 about end of life issues.

00:15:25.259 --> 00:15:27.319
 because all life

00:15:27.319 --> 00:15:28.200
 matters to God.

00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:30.960
 You see,

00:15:31.080 --> 00:15:32.080
 I live in here,

00:15:32.259 --> 00:15:33.179
 it's a desk

00:15:33.179 --> 00:15:33.819
 that said,

00:15:34.460 --> 00:15:34.939
 I think,

00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:35.819
 therefore I am.

00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:37.939
 And this understanding

00:15:37.939 --> 00:15:38.360
 of what it means

00:15:38.360 --> 00:15:38.960
 to be a human being

00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:40.240
 says that cannot be true.

00:15:41.559 --> 00:15:42.480
 Because the definition

00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:42.860
 of what it means

00:15:42.860 --> 00:15:43.419
 to be a person

00:15:43.419 --> 00:15:44.580
 cannot be that you think.

00:15:46.019 --> 00:15:46.179
 Right?

00:15:46.580 --> 00:15:47.419
 I'm trained as a lawyer,

00:15:47.500 --> 00:15:48.519
 I'm trained to ask questions

00:15:48.519 --> 00:15:49.439
 because my question is,

00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:49.960
 what does it mean?

00:15:49.960 --> 00:15:50.879
 What do you mean by think?

00:15:51.720 --> 00:15:52.799
 How do you understand that?

00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:53.439
 And what are you saying

00:15:53.439 --> 00:15:54.039
 about those people

00:15:54.039 --> 00:15:54.979
 who cannot think

00:15:54.979 --> 00:15:55.839
 by your definition?

00:15:55.979 --> 00:15:56.419
 Do you understand

00:15:56.419 --> 00:15:57.279
 that the Christian worldview

00:15:57.279 --> 00:15:57.899
 says?

00:15:58.599 --> 00:15:58.919
 Not,

00:15:59.399 --> 00:15:59.819
 I think,

00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:00.699
 therefore I am.

00:16:01.000 --> 00:16:01.740
 The Christian worldview

00:16:01.740 --> 00:16:02.099
 says,

00:16:02.179 --> 00:16:02.879
 I exist,

00:16:03.299 --> 00:16:04.279
 therefore I am precious

00:16:04.279 --> 00:16:05.019
 in God's sight.

00:16:08.959 --> 00:16:10.159
 So we've come to see

00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:11.799
 the love,

00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:13.039
 the very goodness

00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:14.039
 in God's design.

00:16:14.919 --> 00:16:15.159
 Right?

00:16:15.179 --> 00:16:15.719
 And you understand

00:16:15.719 --> 00:16:16.919
 what Paul was saying

00:16:16.919 --> 00:16:18.639
 in Romans chapter 12.

00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:20.079
 Be transformed

00:16:20.079 --> 00:16:21.859
 by the renewing

00:16:21.860 --> 00:16:22.860
 of your mind.

00:16:23.860 --> 00:16:24.519
 The way that you

00:16:24.519 --> 00:16:25.940
 understand life.

00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:28.720
 I recognize

00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:29.720
 that we've waded in

00:16:29.720 --> 00:16:30.480
 just even there

00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:32.600
 to maybe painful waters

00:16:32.600 --> 00:16:33.419
 for some of us.

00:16:33.820 --> 00:16:33.980
 Friends,

00:16:34.039 --> 00:16:35.060
 let me just encourage you

00:16:35.060 --> 00:16:36.100
 to run to Jesus.

00:16:36.960 --> 00:16:38.039
 The one who forgives

00:16:38.039 --> 00:16:38.980
 all of our sins.

00:16:39.080 --> 00:16:40.039
 The one who knows us.

00:16:40.800 --> 00:16:41.279
 The one who,

00:16:41.340 --> 00:16:42.539
 as we were singing about earlier,

00:16:42.580 --> 00:16:43.419
 we can run to

00:16:43.419 --> 00:16:44.379
 and cast our cares

00:16:44.379 --> 00:16:44.919
 and our burdens

00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:46.039
 upon our Savior.

00:16:47.420 --> 00:16:48.360
 And run to him

00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:49.899
 who knows

00:16:49.899 --> 00:16:51.559
 and who forgives.

00:16:52.939 --> 00:16:54.120
 This pronounces

00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:55.319
 over humanity

00:16:55.319 --> 00:16:56.959
 a dignity.

00:16:58.459 --> 00:16:59.720
 And it pronounces

00:16:59.720 --> 00:17:00.819
 over humanity

00:17:00.819 --> 00:17:02.439
 a responsibility.

00:17:03.899 --> 00:17:04.460
 Right?

00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:05.579
 God created man.

00:17:05.900 --> 00:17:06.480
 Do you see it?

00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:07.639
 And gave

00:17:07.639 --> 00:17:08.740
 them

00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:09.720
 the job

00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:10.400
 of ruling

00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:11.799
 as his vice regents

00:17:11.799 --> 00:17:12.480
 over his

00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:13.539
 creation.

00:17:14.759 --> 00:17:15.319
 Right?

00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:16.220
 He is king.

00:17:16.980 --> 00:17:17.720
 We are subject.

00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:18.519
 We are ruling

00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:19.120
 over this.

00:17:19.220 --> 00:17:20.440
 What a responsibility.

00:17:21.940 --> 00:17:22.940
 And we're charged,

00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:23.339
 you see,

00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:24.039
 given the privilege

00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:25.240
 of cultivating that

00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:26.120
 for his glory.

00:17:26.299 --> 00:17:26.920
 And it's why,

00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:27.440
 again,

00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:28.480
 just follow the ripples

00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:29.220
 of application.

00:17:29.579 --> 00:17:30.940
 It's why we should care

00:17:30.940 --> 00:17:31.660
 about this planet.

00:17:33.660 --> 00:17:34.500
 And we should be

00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:35.660
 looking after it

00:17:35.660 --> 00:17:37.240
 because it displays

00:17:37.240 --> 00:17:39.120
 God's glory.

00:17:39.660 --> 00:17:40.420
 And do you see

00:17:40.420 --> 00:17:41.140
 how God looks

00:17:41.140 --> 00:17:41.960
 on what he has made

00:17:41.960 --> 00:17:42.559
 and he declares

00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:43.100
 that it is

00:17:43.100 --> 00:17:44.319
 very good.

00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:46.059
 and we

00:17:46.059 --> 00:17:47.480
 have come to love

00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:48.839
 and to understand

00:17:48.839 --> 00:17:50.619
 God's very goodness

00:17:50.619 --> 00:17:51.460
 in his creation.

00:17:54.919 --> 00:17:55.899
 And what we've got to see,

00:17:55.939 --> 00:17:56.740
 God rules over this

00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:57.179
 as king.

00:17:59.059 --> 00:17:59.799
 And what we've also

00:17:59.799 --> 00:18:00.519
 got to see is that

00:18:00.519 --> 00:18:01.339
 this text has been

00:18:01.339 --> 00:18:02.039
 so beautifully

00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:02.740
 put together.

00:18:03.879 --> 00:18:04.200
 Right?

00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:05.919
 And let me just,

00:18:06.179 --> 00:18:06.939
 this blew my mind

00:18:06.939 --> 00:18:07.500
 this week, okay?

00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:08.319
 Let's share this with you.

00:18:08.500 --> 00:18:09.259
 I'm sharing it with you.

00:18:09.339 --> 00:18:09.779
 Let's do it.

00:18:09.859 --> 00:18:10.000
 Right?

00:18:11.119 --> 00:18:12.039
 This has been so beautifully

00:18:12.039 --> 00:18:12.879
 put together

00:18:12.879 --> 00:18:13.980
 and done in such a way

00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:15.019
 is to draw our attention

00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:16.079
 to the number seven.

00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:16.480
 Right?

00:18:16.599 --> 00:18:17.279
 Stay with me.

00:18:18.220 --> 00:18:19.579
 The number in the Bible

00:18:19.579 --> 00:18:20.319
 that represents

00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:21.799
 speaks of perfection.

00:18:23.299 --> 00:18:23.740
 Okay?

00:18:23.860 --> 00:18:24.079
 So,

00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:25.279
 in Genesis 1,

00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:25.700
 there are,

00:18:26.420 --> 00:18:27.160
 the number seven

00:18:27.160 --> 00:18:28.140
 or multiples of seven

00:18:28.140 --> 00:18:29.299
 come up all the time.

00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:30.279
 All the time.

00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:30.700
 Just,

00:18:30.920 --> 00:18:32.079
 just casting us

00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:33.480
 to the seventh day.

00:18:33.819 --> 00:18:34.120
 Right?

00:18:34.240 --> 00:18:34.500
 So,

00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:35.779
 the original Hebrew

00:18:35.779 --> 00:18:37.000
 opening sentence,

00:18:37.140 --> 00:18:37.680
 how many words

00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:38.160
 do you think?

00:18:39.059 --> 00:18:39.920
 Seven words.

00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:40.700
 Right?

00:18:40.700 --> 00:18:42.100
 The phrase,

00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:43.440
 God saw that it was good

00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:44.380
 seven times.

00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:45.480
 Heavens comes

00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:46.500
 21 times,

00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:46.700
 right?

00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:47.380
 Seven times three.

00:18:48.180 --> 00:18:48.600
 Elohim,

00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:49.039
 God,

00:18:49.120 --> 00:18:50.559
 comes 35 times.

00:18:50.660 --> 00:18:50.759
 So,

00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:51.319
 this passage

00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:52.240
 is screaming at us

00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:52.519
 seven,

00:18:52.620 --> 00:18:52.840
 seven,

00:18:52.980 --> 00:18:53.200
 seven,

00:18:53.299 --> 00:18:53.500
 seven,

00:18:53.620 --> 00:18:53.900
 seven.

00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:54.880
 Perfect,

00:18:55.059 --> 00:18:55.319
 perfect,

00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:55.920
 perfect,

00:18:56.400 --> 00:18:56.819
 perfect,

00:18:57.279 --> 00:18:57.640
 perfect,

00:18:57.640 --> 00:18:58.759
 which should tell us

00:18:58.759 --> 00:18:59.440
 automatically

00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:00.220
 that the mess

00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:01.100
 that we see today

00:19:01.100 --> 00:19:02.059
 must have come

00:19:02.059 --> 00:19:02.779
 from somewhere else

00:19:02.779 --> 00:19:03.860
 because it didn't exist

00:19:03.860 --> 00:19:05.019
 when God created it.

00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:07.799
 But now,

00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:09.039
 see that this chapter

00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:10.099
 has been put together

00:19:10.099 --> 00:19:10.900
 in such a way

00:19:10.900 --> 00:19:12.240
 that the reader

00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:13.160
 is drawn to look

00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:14.119
 at the mountaintop

00:19:14.119 --> 00:19:15.139
 moment of day seven.

00:19:16.639 --> 00:19:16.779
 Okay,

00:19:16.839 --> 00:19:17.519
 and we get it.

00:19:17.539 --> 00:19:17.940
 Come with me.

00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:19.119
 Verse two of chapter two.

00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:20.559
 By the seventh day,

00:19:20.599 --> 00:19:21.180
 God had finished

00:19:21.180 --> 00:19:21.799
 the work that he had

00:19:21.799 --> 00:19:22.299
 been doing.

00:19:22.599 --> 00:19:22.819
 So,

00:19:22.879 --> 00:19:23.579
 on the seventh day,

00:19:23.619 --> 00:19:24.339
 he rested

00:19:24.339 --> 00:19:26.139
 from all his work.

00:19:27.379 --> 00:19:27.779
 So,

00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:28.259
 what happens?

00:19:28.299 --> 00:19:29.039
 On the seventh day,

00:19:29.139 --> 00:19:30.740
 God finishes.

00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:32.920
 What do we learn

00:19:32.920 --> 00:19:33.559
 about this God?

00:19:33.619 --> 00:19:34.539
 This God is a

00:19:34.539 --> 00:19:35.279
 finisher.

00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:37.119
 Okay,

00:19:37.180 --> 00:19:38.279
 he finishes things.

00:19:38.619 --> 00:19:39.399
 How often do we

00:19:39.399 --> 00:19:40.159
 start out with

00:19:40.159 --> 00:19:40.859
 good intentions

00:19:40.859 --> 00:19:41.740
 about doing jobs

00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:42.240
 and we never

00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:42.960
 see it through,

00:19:43.059 --> 00:19:43.259
 right?

00:19:43.420 --> 00:19:44.019
 I love this.

00:19:44.119 --> 00:19:44.839
 What is it in

00:19:44.839 --> 00:19:45.319
 Carleton Hill

00:19:45.319 --> 00:19:45.839
 that we see?

00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:46.579
 We look at it

00:19:46.579 --> 00:19:47.059
 every day.

00:19:48.119 --> 00:19:49.440
 We see the monument.

00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:51.220
 What is it known as?

00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:51.779
 It's known as

00:19:51.779 --> 00:19:52.539
 Edinburgh Shame

00:19:52.539 --> 00:19:54.039
 because somebody

00:19:54.039 --> 00:19:54.920
 started it

00:19:54.920 --> 00:19:56.399
 and he didn't

00:19:56.399 --> 00:19:56.899
 finish it.

00:19:58.420 --> 00:19:59.299
 This God

00:19:59.299 --> 00:20:01.159
 finishes things.

00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:02.299
 This God speaks

00:20:02.299 --> 00:20:03.720
 and he finishes.

00:20:03.720 --> 00:20:04.680
 This God always

00:20:04.680 --> 00:20:05.299
 gets done

00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:06.500
 what he says

00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:07.480
 he will get done.

00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:08.640
 So important

00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:09.200
 for people

00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:10.539
 in the desert

00:20:10.539 --> 00:20:11.120
 wondering,

00:20:11.339 --> 00:20:12.180
 can our God

00:20:12.180 --> 00:20:12.980
 do what he said

00:20:12.980 --> 00:20:13.360
 he would do

00:20:13.360 --> 00:20:13.860
 and get us

00:20:13.860 --> 00:20:14.700
 to the promised land?

00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:16.900
 This God finishes.

00:20:18.180 --> 00:20:18.559
 And what else

00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:19.039
 did God do?

00:20:19.100 --> 00:20:19.620
 He rested.

00:20:21.339 --> 00:20:22.180
 Which doesn't mean

00:20:22.180 --> 00:20:22.579
 that he was

00:20:22.579 --> 00:20:23.000
 goosed,

00:20:23.299 --> 00:20:23.600
 right?

00:20:24.940 --> 00:20:25.519
 That he was

00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:26.240
 out of resources,

00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:27.240
 that he was spent,

00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:28.259
 that he ran out of puff,

00:20:28.339 --> 00:20:28.860
 that he had nothing

00:20:28.860 --> 00:20:29.779
 left in the tank.

00:20:29.900 --> 00:20:30.559
 Love how creative

00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:31.339
 we get when we're

00:20:31.339 --> 00:20:32.000
 trying to express

00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:32.500
 to people

00:20:32.500 --> 00:20:33.679
 that we're done.

00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:36.539
 But God's not like us.

00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:37.079
 He is

00:20:37.079 --> 00:20:38.779
 omnipotent,

00:20:39.419 --> 00:20:39.639
 right?

00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:41.919
 Omni-potent.

00:20:42.179 --> 00:20:44.299
 Omni-all-potent-powerful.

00:20:44.379 --> 00:20:44.919
 This God is

00:20:44.919 --> 00:20:46.399
 all-powerful.

00:20:49.819 --> 00:20:50.819
 So what does that mean?

00:20:50.879 --> 00:20:51.619
 It means that God,

00:20:51.720 --> 00:20:53.179
 like a master artist,

00:20:54.179 --> 00:20:55.839
 finished his masterpiece

00:20:55.839 --> 00:20:58.259
 and he stood back

00:20:58.259 --> 00:20:59.159
 and he looked at it

00:20:59.159 --> 00:21:01.079
 and he loved it.

00:21:02.439 --> 00:21:03.500
 He loved it

00:21:03.500 --> 00:21:05.139
 and he basks

00:21:05.139 --> 00:21:06.199
 in his goodness

00:21:06.199 --> 00:21:08.299
 as creator.

00:21:08.419 --> 00:21:08.899
 And what a picture

00:21:08.899 --> 00:21:09.659
 we have here

00:21:09.659 --> 00:21:10.879
 of the world

00:21:10.879 --> 00:21:11.399
 that God made

00:21:11.399 --> 00:21:12.519
 as creator

00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:13.659
 and creation

00:21:13.659 --> 00:21:14.339
 exist

00:21:14.339 --> 00:21:15.500
 in glorious

00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:16.419
 and perfect harmony.

00:21:18.579 --> 00:21:19.599
 And where there exists

00:21:19.599 --> 00:21:20.720
 nothing that would ever

00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:22.439
 impede

00:21:22.439 --> 00:21:24.539
 that rest

00:21:24.539 --> 00:21:26.480
 because it's very good.

00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:29.139
 It's 77777.

00:21:29.460 --> 00:21:30.099
 It's perfect.

00:21:32.059 --> 00:21:32.639
 And yet you're probably

00:21:32.639 --> 00:21:33.480
 thinking to yourself,

00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:34.379
 I'd imagine

00:21:34.379 --> 00:21:34.859
 what the people

00:21:34.859 --> 00:21:35.539
 first reading this

00:21:35.539 --> 00:21:36.440
 were thinking to themselves

00:21:36.440 --> 00:21:37.940
 that this isn't the world

00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:38.579
 that we live in.

00:21:40.740 --> 00:21:41.420
 And you're right

00:21:41.420 --> 00:21:41.980
 and we'll see this

00:21:41.980 --> 00:21:42.680
 in the weeks to come

00:21:42.680 --> 00:21:44.799
 as we try and explore

00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:45.599
 these opening chapters

00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:46.099
 of Genesis

00:21:46.099 --> 00:21:46.899
 and understand

00:21:46.899 --> 00:21:48.000
 what it's telling us

00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:48.639
 about the world.

00:21:50.119 --> 00:21:51.460
 The story goes on.

00:21:52.799 --> 00:21:53.519
 Adam and Eve

00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:54.319
 as God creatures,

00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:55.240
 they rebel

00:21:55.240 --> 00:21:57.319
 against the very goodness

00:21:57.319 --> 00:21:58.480
 of their creator.

00:21:59.900 --> 00:22:02.039
 The creatures

00:22:02.039 --> 00:22:04.299
 rebel against the creator.

00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:06.139
 They reject his kingly rule.

00:22:06.619 --> 00:22:08.059
 And every single human being

00:22:08.059 --> 00:22:08.519
 ever since

00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:09.400
 has followed suit

00:22:09.400 --> 00:22:10.279
 in that rebellion

00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:11.639
 and rejection.

00:22:11.900 --> 00:22:12.920
 We don't want

00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:14.279
 our creator.

00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:15.339
 We don't want anything

00:22:15.339 --> 00:22:16.259
 to do with him.

00:22:16.359 --> 00:22:17.660
 And that's the very essence

00:22:17.660 --> 00:22:18.980
 of sin.

00:22:19.400 --> 00:22:20.139
 And what that means,

00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:21.420
 and you can follow

00:22:21.420 --> 00:22:22.420
 the logic of that

00:22:22.420 --> 00:22:23.000
 is that we have

00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:24.660
 incurred our creator's

00:22:24.660 --> 00:22:26.860
 anger of our sin

00:22:26.860 --> 00:22:27.820
 and we have forfeited

00:22:27.820 --> 00:22:29.000
 our right to enter

00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:30.259
 God's rest.

00:22:30.900 --> 00:22:31.740
 And that should have

00:22:31.740 --> 00:22:32.160
 been the end

00:22:32.160 --> 00:22:32.920
 of the story.

00:22:34.180 --> 00:22:35.180
 If it were not

00:22:35.180 --> 00:22:35.920
 for the fact

00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:36.900
 that God is

00:22:36.900 --> 00:22:38.660
 this kind of God,

00:22:40.259 --> 00:22:41.519
 that he is gracious

00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:42.660
 and he is good

00:22:42.660 --> 00:22:43.600
 and he's determined

00:22:43.600 --> 00:22:44.560
 to make a way

00:22:44.560 --> 00:22:45.920
 for his people

00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:46.660
 to enter

00:22:46.660 --> 00:22:47.960
 and enjoy

00:22:47.960 --> 00:22:48.279
 and know

00:22:48.279 --> 00:22:48.980
 that rest.

00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:52.299
 And in the fullness

00:22:52.299 --> 00:22:52.759
 of time,

00:22:52.840 --> 00:22:53.740
 God would send forth

00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:55.480
 his son

00:22:55.480 --> 00:22:57.759
 into this world

00:22:57.759 --> 00:22:58.640
 to do what?

00:22:58.720 --> 00:22:59.480
 To save,

00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:01.259
 to seek

00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:01.940
 and to save

00:23:01.940 --> 00:23:03.480
 and to make a way

00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:04.740
 for his people

00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:06.600
 to enter

00:23:06.600 --> 00:23:07.340
 that rest.

00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:09.059
 Right?

00:23:09.120 --> 00:23:09.740
 As Jesus dies

00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:10.380
 on the cross

00:23:10.380 --> 00:23:11.620
 bearing the judgment

00:23:11.620 --> 00:23:13.220
 of this holy God,

00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:13.920
 the one that creatures

00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:14.579
 like you and I

00:23:14.579 --> 00:23:15.140
 deserve

00:23:15.140 --> 00:23:16.860
 on himself

00:23:16.860 --> 00:23:18.540
 and winning

00:23:18.540 --> 00:23:19.740
 them for himself

00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:20.500
 so that we can be

00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:21.259
 declared righteous

00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:21.960
 in him.

00:23:23.140 --> 00:23:23.920
 What did we say

00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:24.460
 about this God?

00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:24.980
 He promises

00:23:24.980 --> 00:23:25.620
 and he does

00:23:25.620 --> 00:23:26.440
 and he finishes

00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:27.040
 things.

00:23:27.540 --> 00:23:28.040
 And what was

00:23:28.040 --> 00:23:28.940
 the last phrase

00:23:28.940 --> 00:23:29.440
 of Jesus

00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:30.040
 as he hung

00:23:30.040 --> 00:23:30.720
 on the cross?

00:23:33.060 --> 00:23:33.540
 Tetelestai.

00:23:34.320 --> 00:23:35.160
 It is

00:23:35.160 --> 00:23:36.540
 finished.

00:23:37.820 --> 00:23:38.259
 This God

00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:39.080
 is a finisher.

00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:42.180
 And Jesus

00:23:42.180 --> 00:23:43.000
 rises again.

00:23:43.120 --> 00:23:43.940
 He defeats death

00:23:43.940 --> 00:23:44.660
 meaning that death

00:23:44.660 --> 00:23:45.080
 will not have

00:23:45.080 --> 00:23:45.779
 the lost word

00:23:45.779 --> 00:23:46.660
 over his people.

00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:47.540
 He will.

00:23:48.060 --> 00:23:48.340
 Do you see

00:23:48.340 --> 00:23:49.140
 how he deals

00:23:49.140 --> 00:23:49.980
 with my sin

00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:51.380
 and he defeats

00:23:51.380 --> 00:23:51.980
 death?

00:23:52.060 --> 00:23:53.019
 The two enemies

00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:54.200
 that had barred me

00:23:54.200 --> 00:23:54.660
 and you

00:23:54.660 --> 00:23:55.180
 from entering

00:23:55.180 --> 00:23:56.160
 God's rest.

00:23:57.900 --> 00:23:58.400
 And so we hear

00:23:58.400 --> 00:23:58.960
 him declaring

00:23:58.960 --> 00:23:59.680
 Matthew 11

00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:00.320
 to a world

00:24:00.320 --> 00:24:01.380
 full of broken

00:24:01.380 --> 00:24:02.320
 burdens,

00:24:02.519 --> 00:24:03.000
 struggling,

00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:04.300
 confused and rebellious

00:24:04.300 --> 00:24:04.880
 human beings.

00:24:05.019 --> 00:24:05.660
 Come to me

00:24:05.660 --> 00:24:07.060
 all you who are

00:24:07.060 --> 00:24:08.279
 weary and burdened

00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:10.660
 and I will give you

00:24:10.660 --> 00:24:11.140
 rest.

00:24:11.140 --> 00:24:11.200
 rest.

00:24:14.040 --> 00:24:14.980
 Jesus came

00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:17.060
 to make a way

00:24:17.060 --> 00:24:17.960
 for you and I

00:24:17.960 --> 00:24:19.840
 to know the rest

00:24:19.840 --> 00:24:21.900
 of our creator.

00:24:23.560 --> 00:24:23.740
 Right?

00:24:23.900 --> 00:24:25.460
 That shalom,

00:24:25.600 --> 00:24:26.840
 that rightness

00:24:26.840 --> 00:24:27.440
 with him.

00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:30.580
 Rest that we can

00:24:30.580 --> 00:24:31.100
 know now

00:24:31.100 --> 00:24:32.440
 and the rest

00:24:32.440 --> 00:24:33.120
 that we will one day

00:24:33.120 --> 00:24:34.060
 gloriously know

00:24:34.060 --> 00:24:34.820
 in God's new

00:24:34.820 --> 00:24:35.759
 heavenly city.

00:24:35.860 --> 00:24:36.360
 The one that we read

00:24:36.360 --> 00:24:37.620
 about in Revelation 21

00:24:37.620 --> 00:24:38.600
 where everything again

00:24:38.599 --> 00:24:40.000
 is perfect.

00:24:42.259 --> 00:24:43.259
 So Jesus says

00:24:43.259 --> 00:24:44.000
 come to me.

00:24:45.619 --> 00:24:46.399
 Maybe for some

00:24:46.399 --> 00:24:47.419
 of us today,

00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:49.339
 maybe for the first

00:24:49.339 --> 00:24:49.859
 time you need to

00:24:49.859 --> 00:24:50.359
 go to him.

00:24:50.459 --> 00:24:51.039
 You need to run

00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:51.659
 to him for the

00:24:51.659 --> 00:24:52.419
 forgiveness of your

00:24:52.419 --> 00:24:52.659
 sins.

00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:53.399
 You need to run

00:24:53.399 --> 00:24:54.899
 to him for

00:24:54.899 --> 00:24:55.639
 wholeness and

00:24:55.639 --> 00:24:56.619
 newness of life

00:24:56.619 --> 00:24:58.259
 and to run to

00:24:58.259 --> 00:24:59.119
 him who knows

00:24:59.119 --> 00:25:00.519
 and who came

00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:01.219
 to seek and to

00:25:01.219 --> 00:25:01.659
 save.

00:25:04.039 --> 00:25:04.639
 And just as we

00:25:04.639 --> 00:25:05.000
 finish,

00:25:06.879 --> 00:25:07.299
 let me take it

00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:07.599
 back to

00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:08.059
 Thumbelina,

00:25:08.059 --> 00:25:09.879
 watching this

00:25:09.879 --> 00:25:10.240
 program.

00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:11.700
 She's on this

00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:12.099
 journey of

00:25:12.099 --> 00:25:12.859
 self-discovery

00:25:12.859 --> 00:25:14.460
 and she's

00:25:14.460 --> 00:25:14.980
 meeting different

00:25:14.980 --> 00:25:15.480
 characters.

00:25:15.619 --> 00:25:15.899
 One of the

00:25:15.899 --> 00:25:16.419
 characters she

00:25:16.419 --> 00:25:17.099
 bumps into is

00:25:17.099 --> 00:25:17.559
 called Mrs.

00:25:17.659 --> 00:25:18.339
 Blue Swallow.

00:25:19.799 --> 00:25:20.240
 And Mrs.

00:25:20.339 --> 00:25:20.799
 Blue Swallow

00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:21.460
 didn't just speak

00:25:21.460 --> 00:25:22.019
 to Thumbelina,

00:25:22.119 --> 00:25:22.519
 this was a

00:25:22.519 --> 00:25:22.919
 pantomime,

00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:23.759
 she sang to

00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.240
 Thumbelina.

00:25:26.099 --> 00:25:26.779
 So I had to

00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:27.720
 go on iPlayer

00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:28.460
 and scroll the

00:25:28.460 --> 00:25:29.200
 thing and rewind

00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:29.679
 and write down

00:25:29.679 --> 00:25:30.039
 the words of

00:25:30.039 --> 00:25:30.500
 what she said

00:25:30.500 --> 00:25:30.899
 so I could

00:25:30.899 --> 00:25:31.639
 bring them to

00:25:31.639 --> 00:25:31.799
 you.

00:25:31.899 --> 00:25:32.299
 So I

00:25:32.299 --> 00:25:32.960
 appreciate this.

00:25:34.179 --> 00:25:34.899
 This is what

00:25:34.899 --> 00:25:35.440
 she said.

00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:35.899
 She said,

00:25:36.099 --> 00:25:36.740
 go where you

00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:37.099
 will,

00:25:37.099 --> 00:25:38.579
 free as a

00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:38.959
 bird,

00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:40.179
 just follow

00:25:40.179 --> 00:25:40.719
 your heart

00:25:40.719 --> 00:25:41.299
 to find your

00:25:41.299 --> 00:25:41.719
 way in the

00:25:41.719 --> 00:25:42.119
 world.

00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:43.359
 Just close

00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:43.839
 your eyes

00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:44.359
 and dream

00:25:44.359 --> 00:25:44.980
 of places

00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:46.619
 perhaps your

00:25:46.619 --> 00:25:47.159
 home is on

00:25:47.159 --> 00:25:47.539
 the way.

00:25:47.859 --> 00:25:48.019
 Right?

00:25:48.099 --> 00:25:48.659
 Two thoughts

00:25:48.659 --> 00:25:49.139
 as I heard

00:25:49.139 --> 00:25:49.419
 that.

00:25:49.559 --> 00:25:49.859
 Firstly,

00:25:50.019 --> 00:25:50.240
 what a

00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:50.839
 lovely song.

00:25:51.939 --> 00:25:52.099
 Okay,

00:25:52.139 --> 00:25:52.500
 and as the

00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:53.279
 camera panned

00:25:53.279 --> 00:25:53.639
 around you

00:25:53.639 --> 00:25:54.039
 could see that

00:25:54.039 --> 00:25:54.419
 there was not

00:25:54.419 --> 00:25:55.259
 a dry eye

00:25:55.259 --> 00:25:56.539
 in the house.

00:25:57.919 --> 00:25:58.779
 Second thought,

00:25:59.119 --> 00:25:59.719
 what terrible

00:25:59.719 --> 00:26:00.240
 advice.

00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:04.140
 the call of

00:26:04.140 --> 00:26:05.120
 God in

00:26:05.120 --> 00:26:05.559
 Genesis

00:26:05.559 --> 00:26:07.539
 to a world

00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:08.039
 trying to

00:26:08.039 --> 00:26:08.740
 understand

00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:09.059
 itself,

00:26:09.059 --> 00:26:09.720
 full of

00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:10.279
 people trying

00:26:10.279 --> 00:26:11.059
 to understand

00:26:11.059 --> 00:26:11.880
 themselves,

00:26:12.660 --> 00:26:14.019
 is not to

00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:14.460
 look in,

00:26:15.579 --> 00:26:16.880
 not to look

00:26:16.880 --> 00:26:17.140
 in,

00:26:17.700 --> 00:26:18.500
 but to fall

00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:19.160
 on your knees

00:26:19.160 --> 00:26:20.019
 and look up

00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:21.980
 to the God

00:26:21.980 --> 00:26:23.200
 who loves us

00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:23.920
 and to the

00:26:23.920 --> 00:26:24.720
 God who made

00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:26.120
 us and to

00:26:26.120 --> 00:26:26.880
 the God who

00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:27.539
 sent his

00:26:27.539 --> 00:26:28.400
 son to save

00:26:28.400 --> 00:26:28.700
 us.

00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:30.680
 Friends,

00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:31.000
 run to

00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:31.400
 Jesus.

00:26:32.259 --> 00:26:32.680
 Run to

00:26:32.680 --> 00:26:32.900
 him.

00:26:34.140 --> 00:26:34.640
 Maybe just

00:26:34.640 --> 00:26:35.200
 in the silence

00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:35.640
 now as we

00:26:35.640 --> 00:26:36.039
 close,

00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:37.340
 let me just

00:26:37.340 --> 00:26:37.880
 invite you to

00:26:37.880 --> 00:26:38.279
 offer your

00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:39.059
 prayers to

00:26:39.059 --> 00:26:39.480
 this God

00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:39.980
 who hears

00:26:39.980 --> 00:26:40.539
 and knows.

00:26:41.180 --> 00:26:41.580
 And then I'll

00:26:41.580 --> 00:26:42.240
 close in prayer

00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:43.000
 and we'll stand

00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:43.500
 to sing our

00:26:43.500 --> 00:26:44.080
 final song.

00:26:44.180 --> 00:26:44.480
 But friends,

00:26:44.519 --> 00:26:44.980
 don't rush

00:26:44.980 --> 00:26:45.660
 this moment.

00:26:46.580 --> 00:26:47.120
 I trust that

00:26:47.120 --> 00:26:47.840
 God's word has

00:26:47.840 --> 00:26:48.400
 gone forth.

00:26:48.519 --> 00:26:49.100
 God's spirit

00:26:49.100 --> 00:26:49.880
 has been putting

00:26:49.880 --> 00:26:50.640
 his finger on

00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:51.940
 people's lives

00:26:51.940 --> 00:26:52.600
 and hearts.

00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:54.539
 And I encourage

00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:55.140
 you just to go

00:26:55.140 --> 00:26:55.559
 with that.

00:26:56.340 --> 00:26:57.500
 So let's just

00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:58.299
 have a few

00:26:58.299 --> 00:26:58.680
 moments of

00:26:58.680 --> 00:26:59.259
 silence and

00:26:59.259 --> 00:26:59.500
 then I'll

00:26:59.500 --> 00:26:59.799
 pray.

00:27:03.799 --> 00:27:04.299
 The

00:27:04.299 --> 00:27:04.600
 psalmist

00:27:04.600 --> 00:27:05.140
 would write,

00:27:05.860 --> 00:27:06.620
 as I consider

00:27:06.620 --> 00:27:07.519
 the works of

00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:08.200
 your hands,

00:27:09.820 --> 00:27:10.220
 the things

00:27:10.220 --> 00:27:10.640
 that you have

00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:10.940
 made,

00:27:11.060 --> 00:27:11.980
 who am I

00:27:11.980 --> 00:27:13.360
 that you are

00:27:13.360 --> 00:27:14.000
 mindful of

00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:14.259
 me?

00:27:17.080 --> 00:27:17.480
 And so

00:27:17.480 --> 00:27:18.519
 gracious and

00:27:18.519 --> 00:27:19.259
 loving heavenly

00:27:19.259 --> 00:27:19.799
 Father, we

00:27:19.799 --> 00:27:20.500
 ask Lord that

00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:20.940
 as we

00:27:20.940 --> 00:27:24.299
 finish this

00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:24.640
 morning,

00:27:25.940 --> 00:27:26.220
 that you

00:27:26.220 --> 00:27:26.700
 would help

00:27:26.700 --> 00:27:27.100
 us

00:27:27.100 --> 00:27:29.819
 by your

00:27:29.819 --> 00:27:31.480
 spirit to

00:27:31.480 --> 00:27:32.380
 be transformed

00:27:32.380 --> 00:27:32.940
 by the

00:27:32.940 --> 00:27:33.420
 renewing of

00:27:33.420 --> 00:27:33.920
 our minds.

00:27:35.019 --> 00:27:35.420
 That as we

00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:36.660
 look at this

00:27:36.660 --> 00:27:37.480
 book together

00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:38.340
 over the next

00:27:38.340 --> 00:27:40.340
 weeks, that

00:27:40.340 --> 00:27:40.960
 you would help

00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:42.460
 us to love

00:27:42.460 --> 00:27:44.160
 you more and

00:27:44.160 --> 00:27:44.960
 to delight in

00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:45.559
 you more.

00:27:45.740 --> 00:27:46.519
 As we see

00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:47.539
 ourselves, as we

00:27:47.539 --> 00:27:48.340
 see the beauty

00:27:48.340 --> 00:27:48.759
 and yet the

00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:49.480
 brokenness, and

00:27:49.480 --> 00:27:50.059
 as we see our

00:27:50.059 --> 00:27:50.720
 world that is

00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:52.120
 also beauty and

00:27:52.120 --> 00:27:52.860
 full of brokenness,

00:27:52.920 --> 00:27:53.240
 that you would

00:27:53.240 --> 00:27:53.940
 help us to run

00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:54.380
 to you.

00:27:55.220 --> 00:27:55.820
 Father, thank

00:27:55.820 --> 00:27:56.140
 you that you

00:27:56.140 --> 00:27:56.580
 love us.

00:27:56.640 --> 00:27:57.100
 We don't need to

00:27:57.100 --> 00:27:57.660
 doubt that, we

00:27:57.660 --> 00:27:58.039
 don't need to

00:27:58.039 --> 00:27:58.640
 question that, we

00:27:58.640 --> 00:27:59.019
 just need to

00:27:59.019 --> 00:27:59.440
 look at the

00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:01.400
 cross and

00:28:01.400 --> 00:28:01.799
 know that you

00:28:01.799 --> 00:28:02.259
 love us.

00:28:03.320 --> 00:28:04.080
 So Father, thank

00:28:04.080 --> 00:28:04.920
 you for today.

00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:05.880
 We just commit

00:28:05.880 --> 00:28:06.539
 it to you, Lord,

00:28:06.580 --> 00:28:06.940
 in Jesus'

00:28:07.140 --> 00:28:07.759
 precious name.

00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:08.360
 Amen.