WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.140 Psalmist wrote, create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 00:00:10.640 --> 00:00:20.219 It's a kind of sad habit of mine that I quite like watching stuff on Netflix and Amazon Prime 00:00:20.219 --> 00:00:26.580 and get involved with these long things that have various seasons. 00:00:26.579 --> 00:00:31.459 And one of the ones that attracted my attention, partly because it had Hugh Laurie in it, 00:00:31.519 --> 00:00:34.939 who I think is one of our best British actors. 00:00:35.179 --> 00:00:36.039 It's called House. 00:00:37.539 --> 00:00:44.280 And it's the story of this brilliant diagnostic doctor, brilliant at diagnostic medicine. 00:00:44.379 --> 00:00:46.560 He can find out what's wrong with people. 00:00:47.659 --> 00:00:50.659 Speaking personally, that's what I want from a doctor. 00:00:50.859 --> 00:00:52.019 You know, I don't want to make it up. 00:00:52.700 --> 00:00:53.659 He's excellent. 00:00:53.659 --> 00:01:00.479 But, unfortunately, he is addicted to prescription painkillers. 00:01:02.159 --> 00:01:08.500 He is a very cantankerous human being, very difficult, very difficult to get on with, 00:01:08.599 --> 00:01:11.900 can't maintain a team, can't do any of that stuff. 00:01:12.340 --> 00:01:17.099 And one of his strap lines is, he repeats it all the time, he teaches it to all his, 00:01:17.319 --> 00:01:20.719 I don't know what they call him in America, but what we would call registrars. 00:01:20.719 --> 00:01:24.439 He says this, remember, everyone lies. 00:01:26.620 --> 00:01:27.780 Everyone lies. 00:01:28.980 --> 00:01:37.980 And before you dismiss that as kind of the addicted comments of a somewhat cynical doctor, 00:01:39.719 --> 00:01:41.900 let's just think about that for a moment. 00:01:41.900 --> 00:01:50.300 In psychology today, I read that champion liars, that's a research category apparently, 00:01:50.820 --> 00:01:54.400 champion liars tell about seven lies per day. 00:01:56.360 --> 00:02:04.360 That is one every, well, kind of three hours, I guess, of waking. 00:02:04.359 --> 00:02:07.340 No, it's more than that, isn't it? 00:02:08.219 --> 00:02:09.960 I need to read maths today. 00:02:11.520 --> 00:02:15.400 We read that most people in marriages tell lies to each other. 00:02:16.379 --> 00:02:21.240 We might judge them as harmless lies, like, you know, my wife says to me, 00:02:21.300 --> 00:02:22.439 are you listening to me? 00:02:24.060 --> 00:02:24.539 Yes. 00:02:24.539 --> 00:02:28.599 Or somebody might say, does my bum look big in this? 00:02:28.699 --> 00:02:30.939 And well, betide the person who says, yes, it does. 00:02:34.139 --> 00:02:39.459 The weight of psychological evidence tells us something really scary. 00:02:40.379 --> 00:02:47.620 And that is, people who lie in small things tend to tell lies in big things as well. 00:02:47.620 --> 00:02:52.539 We also know that extroverts incline to lie more, 00:02:53.099 --> 00:02:59.340 and people who are obsessed with what psychologists call personality management tell lies 00:02:59.340 --> 00:03:01.960 simply to bolster their image. 00:03:04.360 --> 00:03:09.460 I was in somebody's home the other day, and they were talking about their little girl. 00:03:10.540 --> 00:03:14.980 I don't know where the mother comes from, but she's, you know, sounds very Thames Valley. 00:03:14.979 --> 00:03:21.340 And she said that her daughter had gone to school and told the teachers that her mother was Brazilian. 00:03:22.419 --> 00:03:24.039 It's kind of completely random lie. 00:03:24.099 --> 00:03:25.019 She never been to Brazil. 00:03:25.179 --> 00:03:26.039 She's not Brazilian. 00:03:26.959 --> 00:03:30.780 It just kind of, you know, provokes and says, oh, your mom's from Brazil. 00:03:31.239 --> 00:03:32.219 Well, she's not. 00:03:33.560 --> 00:03:38.339 By the way of introduction, I also want to remind you that quite a lot of the way 00:03:38.339 --> 00:03:42.079 that our society works is built on trust. 00:03:43.419 --> 00:03:44.819 Go and see your doctor. 00:03:44.819 --> 00:03:47.780 You have to trust what the doctor says to you. 00:03:47.780 --> 00:03:49.019 You step on an airplane. 00:03:49.319 --> 00:03:52.219 You hope that the guy who's going to fly you to wherever you're going, 00:03:52.639 --> 00:03:54.620 you're hoping it's not his first day at work. 00:03:56.280 --> 00:04:00.459 Or as Brexit reminds us, if we can't trust our politicians, 00:04:01.299 --> 00:04:04.379 then we end up divided and mistrusting. 00:04:06.139 --> 00:04:08.199 Or, of course, closer to home. 00:04:09.939 --> 00:04:11.459 Relationships rely on trust. 00:04:11.460 --> 00:04:14.740 Business relationships rely on trust. 00:04:14.740 --> 00:04:20.900 And what I want to say to you about promises is that one thing all promises have in common 00:04:20.900 --> 00:04:27.939 is that they rely on a level of trust and they rely on a level of commitment. 00:04:27.939 --> 00:04:35.399 The heart of our society, which hopefully is broadly civilized, is a government. 00:04:35.600 --> 00:04:43.720 They pass regulation and laws and society works where that bond of trust between government and people 00:04:43.720 --> 00:04:47.959 is that the people seek to commit to keep the law. 00:04:47.959 --> 00:04:50.139 At least that's the idea. 00:04:51.979 --> 00:04:55.379 Mostly, even though we try and keep the law, 00:04:56.839 --> 00:05:01.500 we probably would admit at points we're not too good at it. 00:05:03.299 --> 00:05:05.019 30 mile an hour limits. 00:05:05.740 --> 00:05:07.620 Somewhat challenging for many of us. 00:05:08.219 --> 00:05:09.599 20 mile an hour limits. 00:05:09.699 --> 00:05:10.219 Impossible. 00:05:11.419 --> 00:05:14.399 Modern cars aren't geared to drive at that speed. 00:05:14.399 --> 00:05:24.120 Psalm 51 introduces to a psalm written by King David. 00:05:24.959 --> 00:05:28.639 A man greatly revered in Jewish history. 00:05:29.959 --> 00:05:34.099 But to understand this psalm, you have to look back in the Bible 00:05:34.099 --> 00:05:41.120 as to why David was going through such a terrible time at this moment in his life. 00:05:41.120 --> 00:05:47.000 And if you turn to 2 Samuel, you don't have to do that, 00:05:47.100 --> 00:05:50.740 but you have to trust me for a moment to tell you what it's about. 00:05:51.660 --> 00:05:55.259 And I'm going to paraphrase this story, A, to make it shorter, 00:05:55.420 --> 00:05:56.899 and B, to get to the point. 00:05:58.959 --> 00:06:03.240 David, one night, is having a quiet evening 00:06:03.240 --> 00:06:06.759 and he steps out on the roof of his condominium. 00:06:06.759 --> 00:06:10.019 And he looks across the street. 00:06:11.399 --> 00:06:15.719 And across the street, there is an open window and the lights on. 00:06:16.899 --> 00:06:19.420 I don't think they did curtains in those days. 00:06:21.019 --> 00:06:24.439 And he sees this beautiful woman, whose name is Bathsheba, 00:06:24.899 --> 00:06:29.240 step into the light, remove her clothes, and start to wash. 00:06:29.240 --> 00:06:33.939 And unlike the man of Christ's church, Clevedon, 00:06:34.220 --> 00:06:35.740 who would look away immediately, 00:06:37.500 --> 00:06:39.579 he stared. 00:06:41.160 --> 00:06:43.680 And lust was kindled in his heart. 00:06:44.960 --> 00:06:47.879 And he wanted that woman with a driving passion 00:06:47.879 --> 00:06:50.340 that meant that he became out of control. 00:06:52.220 --> 00:06:54.439 And so he committed adultery with her. 00:06:54.439 --> 00:06:58.699 She was married to a man called Uriah. 00:06:58.819 --> 00:07:00.860 And then, even worse, 00:07:03.439 --> 00:07:07.819 David arranged that Uriah would be taken to the front of the battlefield 00:07:07.819 --> 00:07:12.699 and isolated so that he would inevitably be killed. 00:07:13.740 --> 00:07:14.819 And he was killed. 00:07:17.399 --> 00:07:20.399 And I don't know how David dealt with his conscience. 00:07:20.540 --> 00:07:22.459 I don't know how you deal with your conscience. 00:07:22.459 --> 00:07:25.139 But David seemed to be doing okay 00:07:25.139 --> 00:07:28.819 until, unfortunately, God sent this man called Nathan, 00:07:29.079 --> 00:07:30.000 who was a prophet. 00:07:31.419 --> 00:07:35.759 And Nathan got a really smart tactic here. 00:07:36.259 --> 00:07:37.699 He starts to tell this story. 00:07:37.839 --> 00:07:38.839 He says there was a wealthy man, 00:07:38.899 --> 00:07:43.679 had a load of sheep and camels and very wealthy. 00:07:43.899 --> 00:07:46.079 And then there was this poor man who had a little lamb. 00:07:46.079 --> 00:07:51.060 And he said the poor man had brought this lamb up 00:07:51.060 --> 00:07:52.379 as if it were his own daughter. 00:07:52.519 --> 00:07:54.519 He'd hand-fed it, hand-raared it and everything. 00:07:55.019 --> 00:07:56.399 Came to a feast day. 00:07:57.079 --> 00:08:00.360 And the rich man, instead of taking one of his own sheep, 00:08:00.459 --> 00:08:01.579 one of his many sheep, 00:08:01.979 --> 00:08:04.659 took the lamb off the poor man 00:08:04.659 --> 00:08:06.539 and killed it. 00:08:06.659 --> 00:08:08.139 And he and his friends ate it. 00:08:08.139 --> 00:08:11.959 And David's pumped up with indignation. 00:08:12.060 --> 00:08:14.419 He's like, I could get my hands on that guy. 00:08:16.680 --> 00:08:17.919 And Nathan says, 00:08:18.439 --> 00:08:19.919 you were the man. 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:26.180 And part of what I am to David, 00:08:26.520 --> 00:08:28.560 after that shocking revelation, 00:08:30.259 --> 00:08:32.000 is that he wrote Psalm 51. 00:08:34.519 --> 00:08:36.360 Have mercy on me, O God, 00:08:36.460 --> 00:08:38.360 according to your unfailing love, 00:08:38.460 --> 00:08:40.159 according to your great compassion, 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:42.539 blot out my transgressions. 00:08:45.100 --> 00:08:48.080 David was told by God in 2 Samuel 00:08:48.080 --> 00:08:50.700 that there would be consequences 00:08:50.700 --> 00:08:53.100 as a result of his behavior. 00:08:57.480 --> 00:09:01.700 One of the lessons we learn from Psalm 51 is this. 00:09:02.700 --> 00:09:05.720 That privilege brings responsibility. 00:09:06.040 --> 00:09:09.800 Indeed, it's pretty easy to argue from Scripture 00:09:09.800 --> 00:09:12.600 that one of the central messages 00:09:12.600 --> 00:09:14.320 of the Old Testament prophets 00:09:14.320 --> 00:09:17.780 was that privilege implies responsibility. 00:09:18.820 --> 00:09:20.139 In old covenant terms, 00:09:20.560 --> 00:09:21.680 it would go like this. 00:09:22.020 --> 00:09:24.360 You are one of God's chosen people. 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:27.040 Therefore, you have to keep the law. 00:09:28.600 --> 00:09:30.940 That was the kind of theological 00:09:30.940 --> 00:09:33.180 slash psychological contract 00:09:33.180 --> 00:09:35.120 that God had with his people. 00:09:35.480 --> 00:09:38.000 The one thing that is certain in that contract 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:40.200 is God is faithful. 00:09:41.300 --> 00:09:43.100 That's been the thread that has run through 00:09:43.100 --> 00:09:45.180 this whole teaching series. 00:09:45.179 --> 00:09:47.939 We might be a bit iffy, 00:09:48.859 --> 00:09:51.519 but God is faithful. 00:09:53.399 --> 00:09:55.699 Even David, in the depths of his guilt, 00:09:56.019 --> 00:09:58.099 seems to say it still hold on to that. 00:09:58.459 --> 00:09:59.739 Lord, have mercy on me, 00:09:59.799 --> 00:10:01.819 according to your unfailing love. 00:10:03.179 --> 00:10:06.239 This is not a fair-weather friend called God. 00:10:06.319 --> 00:10:08.000 This is a God who loves us 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:11.439 because essentially God is love. 00:10:11.440 --> 00:10:13.720 He can't not love you. 00:10:16.120 --> 00:10:18.500 In 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, 00:10:18.600 --> 00:10:20.800 we read Paul writing this. 00:10:21.200 --> 00:10:22.500 He says to the Christians that, 00:10:22.740 --> 00:10:24.620 this is how we instructed you to live 00:10:24.620 --> 00:10:26.400 in order to please God. 00:10:27.540 --> 00:10:29.400 In New Testament terms, 00:10:29.800 --> 00:10:31.180 the way that psychological, 00:10:31.520 --> 00:10:33.620 theological contract works is 00:10:33.620 --> 00:10:38.500 that in return for being the adopted children of God, 00:10:39.379 --> 00:10:42.639 God places on us a responsibility 00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:45.039 to live in a different way. 00:10:46.360 --> 00:10:48.899 A way that will bring us the blessing 00:10:48.899 --> 00:10:51.200 that God wants for us. 00:10:52.659 --> 00:10:54.240 But the problem is, 00:10:55.240 --> 00:10:56.720 we let God down. 00:10:58.220 --> 00:10:59.600 As Dr. House would say, 00:11:00.240 --> 00:11:01.360 everybody lies. 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:05.039 You know that thing in the Bible, 00:11:05.139 --> 00:11:07.180 I think it's one of the most punishing 00:11:07.180 --> 00:11:09.120 little phrases in the Bible. 00:11:09.779 --> 00:11:13.100 It's just before Jesus tells the story 00:11:13.100 --> 00:11:15.360 of the Good Samaritan. 00:11:15.480 --> 00:11:17.399 You remember this lawyer comes to Jesus 00:11:17.399 --> 00:11:18.220 and says to him, 00:11:18.240 --> 00:11:20.300 what must I do to inherit eternal life? 00:11:20.800 --> 00:11:22.379 Jesus quotes to him the Shema. 00:11:22.659 --> 00:11:23.940 You must love the Lord your God 00:11:23.940 --> 00:11:24.700 with all your heart, 00:11:24.779 --> 00:11:25.399 with all your mind, 00:11:25.460 --> 00:11:26.200 with all your soul, 00:11:26.440 --> 00:11:27.680 and with all your strength. 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:30.899 And the lawyer, 00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:31.859 it says, 00:11:31.959 --> 00:11:33.019 and these are the words, right? 00:11:33.099 --> 00:11:35.279 I want you to hear these words 00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:37.339 and ask yourself this question, 00:11:37.659 --> 00:11:39.399 how much do these words fit you? 00:11:43.179 --> 00:11:43.919 It said the lawyer, 00:11:44.099 --> 00:11:44.239 it said, 00:11:44.519 --> 00:11:47.959 he wishing to justify himself. 00:11:50.339 --> 00:11:51.539 Let me ask you a question. 00:11:51.799 --> 00:11:52.279 When you do, 00:11:52.279 --> 00:11:53.319 don't shout out the answer. 00:11:53.320 --> 00:11:55.440 When you do something wrong, 00:11:57.280 --> 00:11:58.900 is your first response 00:11:58.900 --> 00:12:00.860 to want to justify what you've done? 00:12:03.580 --> 00:12:04.920 I have heard people 00:12:04.920 --> 00:12:08.180 defend preposterous things. 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:11.140 I've talked to murderers in prison 00:12:11.140 --> 00:12:13.640 who justify what they did to their wives 00:12:13.640 --> 00:12:15.640 or to some innocent guy in the street. 00:12:17.060 --> 00:12:18.580 He was looking at me funny, 00:12:18.660 --> 00:12:19.420 so I killed him. 00:12:19.419 --> 00:12:24.939 Some would say that's a little touchy. 00:12:27.199 --> 00:12:28.879 But bring it closer to home. 00:12:30.360 --> 00:12:31.439 You're having words 00:12:31.439 --> 00:12:33.679 with the person you claim to love the most. 00:12:35.059 --> 00:12:36.240 And you say something 00:12:36.240 --> 00:12:37.519 you should never have said. 00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:38.939 What's your first response? 00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:42.860 I'm going to justify myself here. 00:12:43.799 --> 00:12:45.419 I'm going to justify myself. 00:12:45.419 --> 00:12:51.299 What 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 teaches us is, 00:12:51.620 --> 00:12:52.079 firstly, 00:12:52.199 --> 00:12:53.479 if we're going to live 00:12:53.479 --> 00:12:55.019 in order to please God, 00:12:55.319 --> 00:12:57.519 then we need to be instructed in that. 00:12:57.579 --> 00:12:59.419 It doesn't come naturally to us. 00:13:00.819 --> 00:13:03.019 The life that God wants you to have 00:13:03.019 --> 00:13:04.959 is so difficult for us 00:13:04.959 --> 00:13:06.919 because he asks you to live in a way 00:13:06.919 --> 00:13:09.199 that's not necessarily natural to you. 00:13:10.059 --> 00:13:12.439 That's why the whole discipleship thing 00:13:12.439 --> 00:13:13.819 is such a struggle. 00:13:13.820 --> 00:13:16.320 Our commitment, 00:13:16.600 --> 00:13:17.360 our promise, 00:13:17.680 --> 00:13:20.460 is to live as he would have us live. 00:13:23.280 --> 00:13:25.460 It asks things of us 00:13:25.460 --> 00:13:27.900 that would not fit in 00:13:27.900 --> 00:13:30.420 with the way we naturally behave. 00:13:33.140 --> 00:13:35.920 In 1 Corinthians chapter 6, 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:38.500 I mean, this is really close to home, 00:13:38.600 --> 00:13:39.080 forgive me, 00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:40.260 but it says, 00:13:40.400 --> 00:13:41.400 do you not know 00:13:41.399 --> 00:13:43.539 that your bodies are temples 00:13:43.539 --> 00:13:45.299 of the Holy Spirit 00:13:45.299 --> 00:13:46.879 who is in you, 00:13:47.259 --> 00:13:48.600 whom you have received from God. 00:13:48.679 --> 00:13:49.519 You are not your own. 00:13:49.579 --> 00:13:50.740 You were bought at a price. 00:13:52.059 --> 00:13:53.019 What we read about 00:13:53.019 --> 00:13:54.539 in our newspapers every day 00:13:54.539 --> 00:13:56.259 is that we're not that good 00:13:56.259 --> 00:13:57.679 at temple maintenance. 00:13:59.860 --> 00:14:01.319 Many of us don't exercise. 00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:02.919 Many of us eat too much. 00:14:03.319 --> 00:14:05.000 Many of us abuse alcohol. 00:14:05.460 --> 00:14:06.000 Many of us, 00:14:06.059 --> 00:14:06.919 the list goes on. 00:14:06.919 --> 00:14:12.459 We forget, 00:14:13.139 --> 00:14:14.839 do we not, 00:14:15.899 --> 00:14:17.139 that we were bought 00:14:17.139 --> 00:14:18.579 at a price. 00:14:20.659 --> 00:14:21.979 And that price 00:14:21.979 --> 00:14:23.860 is the shed blood 00:14:23.860 --> 00:14:25.079 of Jesus Christ 00:14:25.079 --> 00:14:27.379 on the cross of Calvary. 00:14:27.379 --> 00:14:32.259 You sit light 00:14:32.259 --> 00:14:33.580 to the 00:14:33.580 --> 00:14:36.059 psychological promise 00:14:36.059 --> 00:14:36.679 you made 00:14:36.679 --> 00:14:38.259 if you're a follower of Christ 00:14:38.259 --> 00:14:40.179 to live as He wants you to live. 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:41.700 You sacrifice two things. 00:14:41.779 --> 00:14:42.419 One blessing. 00:14:45.480 --> 00:14:46.360 And two, 00:14:47.580 --> 00:14:48.539 you sacrifice 00:14:48.539 --> 00:14:49.659 your own well-being 00:14:49.659 --> 00:14:50.820 because you start 00:14:50.820 --> 00:14:51.759 to feel guilty. 00:14:54.500 --> 00:14:55.879 How many of us 00:14:55.879 --> 00:14:58.879 how many of us 00:14:58.879 --> 00:15:00.700 when we're in 00:15:00.700 --> 00:15:03.100 the kind of 00:15:03.100 --> 00:15:05.000 temptation zone 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:08.340 think to ourselves, 00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:08.899 you know what, 00:15:08.899 --> 00:15:10.220 I need to be careful here 00:15:10.220 --> 00:15:12.899 because I've been bought 00:15:12.899 --> 00:15:14.019 at a price. 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:19.259 We're more likely 00:15:19.259 --> 00:15:19.960 to say to someone, 00:15:20.059 --> 00:15:20.820 wow, you know what, 00:15:20.820 --> 00:15:21.960 nobody will find out. 00:15:24.299 --> 00:15:25.500 It doesn't matter. 00:15:26.700 --> 00:15:27.820 And she does. 00:15:29.179 --> 00:15:30.340 Second thing we learn 00:15:30.340 --> 00:15:31.299 from Psalm 51 00:15:31.299 --> 00:15:32.480 is that all of us 00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:33.460 are temptable. 00:15:34.299 --> 00:15:35.899 That part of our human nature 00:15:35.899 --> 00:15:36.740 is frail. 00:15:36.980 --> 00:15:38.080 I don't need to lecture you 00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:38.539 about that. 00:15:38.580 --> 00:15:39.240 I've got a classroom 00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:40.240 full of experts. 00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:42.340 Whatever the temptation 00:15:42.340 --> 00:15:42.980 might be, 00:15:43.220 --> 00:15:44.039 be it pornography, 00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:44.879 alcohol, 00:15:45.179 --> 00:15:45.460 food, 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:46.039 jealousy, 00:15:46.539 --> 00:15:46.960 chocolate, 00:15:47.379 --> 00:15:47.820 whatever, 00:15:48.179 --> 00:15:49.620 there is always something 00:15:49.620 --> 00:15:50.740 that catches us out. 00:15:50.940 --> 00:15:51.700 And the devil 00:15:51.700 --> 00:15:52.940 knows exactly 00:15:52.940 --> 00:15:54.480 where your weak spot is. 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:54.980 weakness. 00:15:54.980 --> 00:15:56.920 And he will maneuver 00:15:56.920 --> 00:15:58.500 any which way he can 00:15:58.500 --> 00:16:00.500 to exploit that weakness. 00:16:00.500 --> 00:16:02.940 And the worst thing 00:16:02.940 --> 00:16:03.620 that you can do 00:16:03.620 --> 00:16:04.799 is to start to think 00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:05.820 that when it comes 00:16:05.820 --> 00:16:06.600 to temptation, 00:16:07.100 --> 00:16:07.879 you are somehow 00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:08.700 bulletproof. 00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:13.279 The way of Christian 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:14.240 discipleship 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:15.159 is littered 00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:16.279 with the corpses 00:16:16.279 --> 00:16:17.360 of men and women. 00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:20.980 Men and women 00:16:20.980 --> 00:16:22.820 who thought 00:16:22.820 --> 00:16:24.519 they could handle it. 00:16:24.519 --> 00:16:28.759 And I remember 00:16:28.759 --> 00:16:29.340 once 00:16:29.340 --> 00:16:31.439 a man came to me 00:16:31.439 --> 00:16:32.939 when I was a vicar 00:16:32.939 --> 00:16:33.980 and he said to me, 00:16:34.679 --> 00:16:35.799 fairly young Christian, 00:16:36.319 --> 00:16:36.740 he said, 00:16:36.899 --> 00:16:39.939 I need to talk to you, 00:16:40.019 --> 00:16:40.259 Mike. 00:16:40.919 --> 00:16:41.120 I said, 00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:41.439 okay. 00:16:42.519 --> 00:16:43.220 He said, 00:16:43.299 --> 00:16:44.220 I'm a commuter, 00:16:44.379 --> 00:16:45.100 I go train 00:16:45.100 --> 00:16:46.159 on the work every day. 00:16:46.259 --> 00:16:47.399 I sit next to the same 00:16:47.399 --> 00:16:48.279 woman every day. 00:16:49.799 --> 00:16:50.439 He said, 00:16:50.579 --> 00:16:51.399 most unusually 00:16:51.399 --> 00:16:52.059 for commuters, 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:53.220 we kind of got talking 00:16:53.220 --> 00:16:54.379 a little bit and 00:16:54.379 --> 00:16:56.160 we've had a couple 00:16:56.160 --> 00:16:57.220 of lunches together. 00:16:58.779 --> 00:16:59.879 And I'm starting 00:16:59.879 --> 00:17:00.440 to feel 00:17:00.440 --> 00:17:01.759 some unworthy 00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:03.160 feelings about her. 00:17:03.420 --> 00:17:04.059 What would your 00:17:04.059 --> 00:17:04.779 advice be? 00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:07.759 My advice 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:08.420 was simple. 00:17:09.259 --> 00:17:10.620 Change trains. 00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:14.059 See, 00:17:14.420 --> 00:17:16.339 you need to know 00:17:16.339 --> 00:17:17.220 what your 00:17:17.220 --> 00:17:19.100 vulnerable area 00:17:19.100 --> 00:17:20.000 is when it comes 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:20.779 to temptation 00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:21.539 and you need 00:17:21.539 --> 00:17:22.240 to keep away 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:22.720 from it. 00:17:23.220 --> 00:17:25.039 David 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:25.839 had certainly 00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:26.480 discovered 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:27.400 that one 00:17:27.400 --> 00:17:28.180 of his weaknesses, 00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:29.019 actually I think 00:17:29.019 --> 00:17:30.220 generally you would 00:17:30.220 --> 00:17:30.799 say of David, 00:17:30.900 --> 00:17:31.680 he had relationship 00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:32.380 issues. 00:17:32.860 --> 00:17:33.579 But one of his 00:17:33.579 --> 00:17:34.660 issues was 00:17:34.660 --> 00:17:38.339 sexual lust 00:17:38.339 --> 00:17:39.140 that could be 00:17:39.140 --> 00:17:39.860 kindled in his 00:17:39.860 --> 00:17:40.100 heart. 00:17:40.200 --> 00:17:40.860 And a lot of men 00:17:40.860 --> 00:17:41.960 are like that. 00:17:44.480 --> 00:17:45.559 We need to be 00:17:45.559 --> 00:17:46.500 aware of our 00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:47.180 weak area. 00:17:47.660 --> 00:17:47.960 You know, 00:17:48.059 --> 00:17:48.640 if you've been 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:49.339 struggling with 00:17:49.339 --> 00:17:49.860 alcohol, 00:17:50.980 --> 00:17:51.640 probably better 00:17:51.640 --> 00:17:52.480 stay away from 00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:53.220 off licenses 00:17:53.220 --> 00:17:53.940 and pubs, 00:17:53.940 --> 00:17:54.180 right? 00:17:56.560 --> 00:17:57.380 If your 00:17:57.380 --> 00:17:58.259 weakness is 00:17:58.259 --> 00:17:58.780 you could 00:17:58.780 --> 00:17:59.620 easily fall 00:17:59.620 --> 00:18:00.120 in love with 00:18:00.120 --> 00:18:00.800 another man 00:18:00.800 --> 00:18:01.320 or another 00:18:01.320 --> 00:18:01.580 woman, 00:18:01.720 --> 00:18:02.180 don't put 00:18:02.180 --> 00:18:02.780 yourself in 00:18:02.780 --> 00:18:03.700 that situation. 00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:05.280 Immediately 00:18:05.280 --> 00:18:05.840 withdraw. 00:18:09.640 --> 00:18:10.400 The third 00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:10.780 thing we 00:18:10.780 --> 00:18:11.400 learned from 00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:11.980 this story 00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:12.460 is that 00:18:12.460 --> 00:18:13.340 many of us 00:18:13.340 --> 00:18:13.960 fail. 00:18:13.960 --> 00:18:18.100 I read 00:18:18.100 --> 00:18:18.740 in a book 00:18:18.740 --> 00:18:19.480 once that 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:21.059 85% of 00:18:21.059 --> 00:18:21.559 New Year's 00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:22.200 resolutions 00:18:22.200 --> 00:18:22.740 have gone 00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:23.160 by the 00:18:23.160 --> 00:18:23.740 board by 00:18:23.740 --> 00:18:24.079 the middle 00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:24.660 of February. 00:18:26.680 --> 00:18:27.160 85%. 00:18:27.160 --> 00:18:28.680 I read 00:18:28.680 --> 00:18:29.519 that a 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:30.319 third of 00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:30.880 the people, 00:18:31.079 --> 00:18:31.400 which was 00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:32.500 4.2 million 00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:33.299 people this 00:18:33.299 --> 00:18:33.579 year, 00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:34.660 who decided 00:18:34.660 --> 00:18:35.059 they would 00:18:35.059 --> 00:18:35.680 go for dry 00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:36.279 January, 00:18:36.620 --> 00:18:37.120 a third of 00:18:37.120 --> 00:18:37.559 them gave 00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:38.000 up before 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:38.360 the end 00:18:38.360 --> 00:18:38.880 of January. 00:18:42.340 --> 00:18:43.299 We fail. 00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:47.360 I go, 00:18:47.460 --> 00:18:47.960 come clean 00:18:47.960 --> 00:18:48.579 about this. 00:18:48.900 --> 00:18:49.079 You know, 00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:50.279 I have a 00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:50.860 streak in 00:18:50.860 --> 00:18:51.500 my nature, 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:53.240 which is a 00:18:53.240 --> 00:18:53.519 bit, 00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:56.460 you know, 00:18:56.519 --> 00:18:57.360 I have to 00:18:57.360 --> 00:18:57.840 resist it. 00:18:57.860 --> 00:18:58.019 You know, 00:18:58.039 --> 00:18:58.360 it says, 00:18:58.600 --> 00:18:59.380 do not step 00:18:59.380 --> 00:19:00.039 on the grass, 00:19:00.920 --> 00:19:01.160 right? 00:19:01.620 --> 00:19:02.240 There's a bit 00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:02.680 of me that 00:19:02.680 --> 00:19:03.319 has to step 00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:03.960 on the grass, 00:19:04.700 --> 00:19:04.940 right? 00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:06.100 When I was 00:19:06.100 --> 00:19:06.740 at university, 00:19:06.900 --> 00:19:07.160 it said, 00:19:07.259 --> 00:19:07.460 you know, 00:19:07.660 --> 00:19:08.500 the lawns 00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:08.980 are for the 00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:09.519 use of the 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:10.660 dons altogether. 00:19:10.940 --> 00:19:11.480 I used to 00:19:11.480 --> 00:19:11.900 go on the, 00:19:12.620 --> 00:19:13.019 you know, 00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:13.420 people come 00:19:13.420 --> 00:19:13.799 to me and 00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:13.940 say, 00:19:13.960 --> 00:19:14.279 you were 00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:14.519 done. 00:19:15.340 --> 00:19:15.759 I didn't 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:16.360 say yes. 00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:19.019 I think 00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:19.460 we're all 00:19:19.460 --> 00:19:20.019 a bit like 00:19:20.019 --> 00:19:20.180 that. 00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:20.420 You know, 00:19:20.519 --> 00:19:21.360 we're not 00:19:21.360 --> 00:19:21.860 all of us, 00:19:21.940 --> 00:19:22.360 but many 00:19:22.360 --> 00:19:23.200 of us kind 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:23.460 of, 00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:24.360 you know, 00:19:24.360 --> 00:19:25.000 have this 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:25.799 little bit 00:19:25.799 --> 00:19:26.400 of the 00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:27.000 devil in 00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:27.340 us or 00:19:27.340 --> 00:19:28.140 something that 00:19:28.140 --> 00:19:30.299 just can't 00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:30.980 resist. 00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:33.640 But here's 00:19:33.640 --> 00:19:34.059 the thing 00:19:34.059 --> 00:19:35.960 about those 00:19:35.960 --> 00:19:36.420 things we 00:19:36.420 --> 00:19:36.920 get wrong. 00:19:37.019 --> 00:19:37.480 We break 00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:37.960 a promise. 00:19:38.140 --> 00:19:38.539 We seek 00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:38.880 God's 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:39.299 forgiveness. 00:19:40.400 --> 00:19:40.980 And how 00:19:40.980 --> 00:19:41.559 many of us 00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:41.900 are like 00:19:41.900 --> 00:19:42.319 this, 00:19:42.519 --> 00:19:42.779 right? 00:19:42.779 --> 00:19:45.160 you have 00:19:45.160 --> 00:19:46.180 done 00:19:46.180 --> 00:19:46.680 something 00:19:46.680 --> 00:19:47.160 wrong 00:19:47.160 --> 00:19:48.319 that you've 00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:48.720 been doing 00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:49.139 wrong for 00:19:49.139 --> 00:19:49.660 quite a long 00:19:49.660 --> 00:19:49.960 time. 00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:50.200 So you 00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:50.379 think, 00:19:50.460 --> 00:19:50.660 you know 00:19:50.660 --> 00:19:50.920 what, 00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:51.259 I'm going 00:19:51.259 --> 00:19:51.680 to sort 00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:52.119 this out 00:19:52.119 --> 00:19:52.420 now. 00:19:53.619 --> 00:19:54.279 So you 00:19:54.279 --> 00:19:55.180 go and 00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:55.500 you get 00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:55.859 on your 00:19:55.859 --> 00:19:56.420 knees or 00:19:56.420 --> 00:19:56.879 whatever you 00:19:56.879 --> 00:19:57.460 do and 00:19:57.460 --> 00:19:57.940 you say 00:19:57.940 --> 00:19:58.420 you're really 00:19:58.420 --> 00:19:59.079 sorry to 00:19:59.079 --> 00:19:59.799 God and 00:19:59.799 --> 00:20:01.359 you're 00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:01.539 like, 00:20:01.639 --> 00:20:01.899 wow, 00:20:02.259 --> 00:20:03.119 dealt 00:20:03.119 --> 00:20:03.460 with. 00:20:06.879 --> 00:20:07.460 And you 00:20:07.460 --> 00:20:07.740 do it 00:20:07.740 --> 00:20:09.200 again and 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:09.619 you do it 00:20:09.619 --> 00:20:10.419 again and 00:20:10.419 --> 00:20:11.059 you get into 00:20:11.059 --> 00:20:11.859 this repeat 00:20:11.859 --> 00:20:14.559 cycle of 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:15.839 breaking a 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:16.319 promise, 00:20:16.859 --> 00:20:17.599 asking God's 00:20:17.599 --> 00:20:18.059 forgiveness, 00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:19.240 breaking a 00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:19.960 promise and 00:20:19.960 --> 00:20:20.759 asking God's 00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:21.159 forgiveness. 00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:22.019 And you 00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:22.180 say, 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:22.359 oh, 00:20:22.399 --> 00:20:22.919 that's great. 00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:23.159 You know, 00:20:23.220 --> 00:20:23.700 grace will 00:20:23.700 --> 00:20:24.159 cover the 00:20:24.159 --> 00:20:24.460 base. 00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:25.059 In a way 00:20:25.059 --> 00:20:25.500 you're right, 00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:26.059 but in a way 00:20:26.059 --> 00:20:26.539 you're wrong. 00:20:26.539 --> 00:20:27.139 Because if 00:20:27.139 --> 00:20:27.579 you keep 00:20:27.579 --> 00:20:28.259 behaving like 00:20:28.259 --> 00:20:28.539 this, 00:20:28.680 --> 00:20:29.039 it will 00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:30.159 poison your 00:20:30.159 --> 00:20:30.899 soul. 00:20:33.960 --> 00:20:34.200 You know, 00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:34.879 Paul had to 00:20:34.879 --> 00:20:35.700 deal with a 00:20:35.700 --> 00:20:37.940 situation in 00:20:37.940 --> 00:20:38.460 Rome where 00:20:38.460 --> 00:20:39.420 the Christian 00:20:39.420 --> 00:20:40.059 church there 00:20:40.059 --> 00:20:40.960 clearly got the 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:41.440 word about 00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:41.859 grace, 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:43.139 God's love 00:20:43.139 --> 00:20:44.019 shown to us 00:20:44.019 --> 00:20:44.879 even though we 00:20:44.879 --> 00:20:45.639 don't merit that 00:20:45.639 --> 00:20:45.899 love. 00:20:45.980 --> 00:20:46.579 They got that 00:20:46.579 --> 00:20:47.059 message, 00:20:47.399 --> 00:20:47.799 so they're 00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:48.139 thinking, 00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:48.960 we can do 00:20:48.960 --> 00:20:49.579 what we like 00:20:49.579 --> 00:20:49.899 now. 00:20:51.220 --> 00:20:51.759 But Paul had 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:52.339 to say to 00:20:52.339 --> 00:20:52.500 them, 00:20:53.059 --> 00:20:53.319 you know, 00:20:53.500 --> 00:20:54.319 shall we sin 00:20:54.319 --> 00:20:54.920 the more that 00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:56.019 grace may abound? 00:20:56.019 --> 00:20:56.759 Romans chapter 00:20:56.759 --> 00:20:57.639 6 in verse 00:20:57.639 --> 00:20:57.980 1. 00:20:59.779 --> 00:21:00.099 He said, 00:21:00.220 --> 00:21:00.480 no, 00:21:00.980 --> 00:21:01.759 that's not the 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:02.519 way it works. 00:21:03.879 --> 00:21:04.299 I mean, 00:21:04.379 --> 00:21:05.299 we can trust 00:21:05.299 --> 00:21:05.759 grace, 00:21:05.960 --> 00:21:06.779 but we can't 00:21:06.779 --> 00:21:07.379 keep behaving 00:21:07.379 --> 00:21:07.940 badly, 00:21:08.299 --> 00:21:08.879 going back to 00:21:08.879 --> 00:21:09.039 going, 00:21:09.240 --> 00:21:10.019 it will hurt 00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:10.660 your soul, 00:21:10.819 --> 00:21:11.359 believe me. 00:21:12.200 --> 00:21:13.259 We learn also 00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:14.220 that God is a 00:21:14.220 --> 00:21:14.879 faithful God. 00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:15.279 The whole 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:16.180 assumption of 00:21:16.180 --> 00:21:17.319 this psalm in 00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:18.200 David's mind 00:21:18.200 --> 00:21:19.740 is that though 00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:20.559 he has been 00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:21.720 unbelievably 00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:23.359 unfaithful in 00:21:23.359 --> 00:21:24.279 his shenanigans 00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:24.779 with 00:21:24.779 --> 00:21:26.660 Bathsheba, 00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:27.680 is that 00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:28.839 God is 00:21:28.839 --> 00:21:29.379 faithful. 00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:29.799 Indeed, 00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:30.440 the whole 00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:30.720 of the 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:31.119 Bible 00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:32.279 reinforces 00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:33.139 this idea. 00:21:35.500 --> 00:21:35.899 And this, 00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:36.920 you know, 00:21:36.920 --> 00:21:37.220 I want to 00:21:37.220 --> 00:21:37.639 speak to 00:21:37.639 --> 00:21:38.119 one or two 00:21:38.119 --> 00:21:38.420 of you 00:21:38.420 --> 00:21:39.139 here today 00:21:39.139 --> 00:21:40.519 in particular. 00:21:41.980 --> 00:21:42.599 And that's 00:21:42.599 --> 00:21:43.399 those of you 00:21:43.399 --> 00:21:44.019 who've been 00:21:44.019 --> 00:21:44.519 brought up 00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:45.079 to believe 00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:45.539 that God 00:21:45.539 --> 00:21:46.160 is faithful, 00:21:46.299 --> 00:21:46.899 but actually 00:21:46.899 --> 00:21:49.480 something's 00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:50.279 gone wrong 00:21:50.279 --> 00:21:51.259 in your life 00:21:51.259 --> 00:21:52.879 and you 00:21:52.879 --> 00:21:53.440 feel that 00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:54.119 God has 00:21:54.119 --> 00:21:54.700 badly 00:21:54.700 --> 00:21:55.339 let you 00:21:55.339 --> 00:21:55.700 down. 00:21:59.180 --> 00:21:59.680 You know, 00:22:00.339 --> 00:22:01.980 I don't 00:22:01.980 --> 00:22:02.339 know if 00:22:02.339 --> 00:22:02.720 this is 00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:02.980 you, 00:22:03.180 --> 00:22:04.460 but again, 00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:04.920 all the 00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:05.740 research I've 00:22:05.740 --> 00:22:06.279 read about 00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:06.859 people in 00:22:06.859 --> 00:22:07.519 the twilight 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:08.039 years of 00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:08.500 their life, 00:22:08.599 --> 00:22:09.079 people like 00:22:09.079 --> 00:22:09.379 me, 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:12.819 is that 00:22:12.819 --> 00:22:13.559 many of 00:22:13.559 --> 00:22:13.879 them get 00:22:13.879 --> 00:22:14.319 to old 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:14.839 age with 00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:15.440 a deep 00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:17.039 and uneradicable 00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:18.220 sense of 00:22:18.220 --> 00:22:18.480 guilt, 00:22:20.279 --> 00:22:20.859 sense of 00:22:20.859 --> 00:22:21.279 regret. 00:22:23.779 --> 00:22:24.200 And if 00:22:24.200 --> 00:22:24.859 you're that 00:22:24.859 --> 00:22:25.339 person, 00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:25.859 you can 00:22:25.859 --> 00:22:27.119 stop being 00:22:27.119 --> 00:22:28.180 that person 00:22:28.180 --> 00:22:28.700 today, 00:22:29.099 --> 00:22:30.460 because God 00:22:30.460 --> 00:22:31.220 is faithful. 00:22:33.339 --> 00:22:33.960 But many 00:22:33.960 --> 00:22:34.599 of us know 00:22:34.599 --> 00:22:35.339 that in our 00:22:35.339 --> 00:22:35.819 heads, 00:22:36.119 --> 00:22:36.500 but then 00:22:36.500 --> 00:22:36.799 there's 00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:37.379 something called 00:22:37.379 --> 00:22:38.039 my life, 00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:40.159 my dead 00:22:40.159 --> 00:22:40.619 husband, 00:22:40.759 --> 00:22:41.379 my child, 00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:42.920 my hopeless 00:22:42.920 --> 00:22:43.420 marriage, 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:44.059 my secret 00:22:44.059 --> 00:22:44.599 addiction. 00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:46.139 The list 00:22:46.139 --> 00:22:46.680 goes on, 00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:47.220 and I'm 00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:48.240 actually left 00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:48.799 wondering 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:51.420 whether God 00:22:51.420 --> 00:22:52.420 is trustable, 00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:53.580 because 00:22:53.580 --> 00:22:54.320 something's 00:22:54.320 --> 00:22:54.980 gone wrong. 00:22:57.180 --> 00:22:57.480 Well, 00:22:57.519 --> 00:22:57.860 you know 00:22:57.860 --> 00:22:58.279 this, 00:22:58.680 --> 00:22:58.900 you know, 00:22:58.940 --> 00:22:59.259 it's an easy 00:22:59.259 --> 00:22:59.680 thing to 00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:00.200 trot out, 00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:00.640 it's not 00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:01.340 what happens, 00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:02.100 but it's 00:23:02.100 --> 00:23:02.519 how you 00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:02.940 deal with 00:23:02.940 --> 00:23:03.220 it in 00:23:03.220 --> 00:23:03.560 life. 00:23:04.019 --> 00:23:04.200 God 00:23:04.200 --> 00:23:04.660 asks us 00:23:04.660 --> 00:23:05.279 to trust 00:23:05.279 --> 00:23:05.880 even 00:23:05.880 --> 00:23:06.740 though we 00:23:06.740 --> 00:23:07.320 don't feel 00:23:07.320 --> 00:23:07.920 like it. 00:23:09.600 --> 00:23:10.360 And also, 00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:11.560 scripture 00:23:11.560 --> 00:23:12.200 tells us 00:23:12.200 --> 00:23:12.539 that what 00:23:12.539 --> 00:23:13.259 we can't 00:23:13.259 --> 00:23:13.700 understand 00:23:13.700 --> 00:23:14.279 now, 00:23:15.640 --> 00:23:16.019 there will 00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:16.599 one day 00:23:16.599 --> 00:23:17.079 be a 00:23:17.079 --> 00:23:17.319 day 00:23:17.319 --> 00:23:17.859 when we 00:23:17.859 --> 00:23:18.359 can 00:23:18.359 --> 00:23:19.139 understand 00:23:19.139 --> 00:23:19.579 it. 00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:21.279 But the 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:21.920 deal breaker 00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:22.480 is we 00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:22.940 need to 00:23:22.940 --> 00:23:23.559 trust, 00:23:24.099 --> 00:23:24.680 even when 00:23:24.680 --> 00:23:25.139 there seems 00:23:25.139 --> 00:23:25.579 to be 00:23:25.579 --> 00:23:26.240 no good 00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:26.940 reason for 00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:27.379 trusting. 00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.779 In a way, 00:23:30.299 --> 00:23:30.839 that's what 00:23:30.839 --> 00:23:31.680 faith is. 00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:34.240 God is 00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:35.039 indeed 00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:35.619 faithful. 00:23:36.639 --> 00:23:37.039 Life's 00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:37.599 adversity 00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:38.160 and our 00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:38.619 suffering 00:23:38.619 --> 00:23:39.500 can either 00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:40.000 make us 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:40.500 stronger 00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:41.480 or make 00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:41.640 us 00:23:41.640 --> 00:23:42.000 bitter. 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:43.420 And when 00:23:43.420 --> 00:23:43.720 you give 00:23:43.720 --> 00:23:45.200 most people 00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:45.900 that choice, 00:23:46.339 --> 00:23:46.900 they don't 00:23:46.900 --> 00:23:47.319 want to live 00:23:47.319 --> 00:23:47.980 a life of 00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:48.740 unrelenting 00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:49.299 bitterness. 00:23:52.200 --> 00:23:52.960 Let's come 00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:53.900 again to 00:23:53.900 --> 00:23:54.279 the God 00:23:54.279 --> 00:23:54.660 who is 00:23:54.660 --> 00:23:55.140 faithful. 00:23:56.440 --> 00:23:56.819 Asking 00:23:56.819 --> 00:23:57.200 God's 00:23:57.200 --> 00:23:57.599 forgiveness 00:23:57.599 --> 00:23:58.440 is important 00:23:58.440 --> 00:23:58.960 for two 00:23:58.960 --> 00:23:59.400 reasons. 00:24:00.220 --> 00:24:00.700 I've heard 00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:01.259 people say 00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:01.700 this to 00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:01.960 me, 00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:03.980 if God 00:24:03.980 --> 00:24:04.240 knows 00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:04.740 everything, 00:24:04.940 --> 00:24:05.240 why do 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:05.579 I have to 00:24:05.579 --> 00:24:06.200 confess my 00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:06.640 sin to 00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:06.859 him? 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:08.319 There's a 00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:08.680 kind of 00:24:08.680 --> 00:24:09.400 logic about 00:24:09.400 --> 00:24:09.640 that, 00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:09.859 isn't 00:24:09.859 --> 00:24:10.039 there? 00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:11.539 Here's the 00:24:11.539 --> 00:24:11.700 thing, 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:11.940 there are 00:24:11.940 --> 00:24:12.559 two reasons 00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:13.359 why you 00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:13.680 need to 00:24:13.680 --> 00:24:14.259 confess your 00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:14.440 sin. 00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:14.759 One, 00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:15.640 it signals 00:24:15.640 --> 00:24:16.099 to God 00:24:16.099 --> 00:24:16.519 that you're 00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:17.380 serious about 00:24:17.380 --> 00:24:18.099 your wrongdoing 00:24:18.099 --> 00:24:18.680 and two, 00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:19.720 it opens 00:24:19.720 --> 00:24:20.299 the door for 00:24:20.299 --> 00:24:20.839 you to seek 00:24:20.839 --> 00:24:21.339 his help 00:24:21.339 --> 00:24:22.420 in overcoming 00:24:22.420 --> 00:24:23.279 the wrongdoing. 00:24:24.619 --> 00:24:25.579 If we claim 00:24:25.579 --> 00:24:26.339 to be without 00:24:26.339 --> 00:24:26.720 sin, 00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:27.420 we deceive 00:24:27.420 --> 00:24:28.700 ourselves and 00:24:28.700 --> 00:24:29.359 the truth is 00:24:29.359 --> 00:24:29.980 not in us. 00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:30.660 But if we 00:24:30.660 --> 00:24:31.480 confess our 00:24:31.480 --> 00:24:31.779 sins, 00:24:32.259 --> 00:24:32.700 God is 00:24:32.700 --> 00:24:33.420 faithful and 00:24:33.420 --> 00:24:33.839 just to 00:24:33.839 --> 00:24:34.339 forgive us 00:24:34.339 --> 00:24:34.980 our sins 00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:36.099 and cleanse 00:24:36.099 --> 00:24:36.960 us from 00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:38.420 all unrighteousness. 00:24:38.420 --> 00:24:40.539 you hear the 00:24:40.539 --> 00:24:41.440 significance of 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:41.620 that. 00:24:42.100 --> 00:24:42.720 God doesn't 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:43.279 want to just 00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:43.840 forgive you, 00:24:43.900 --> 00:24:44.360 he wants to 00:24:44.360 --> 00:24:45.060 cleanse you 00:24:45.060 --> 00:24:45.580 of the 00:24:45.580 --> 00:24:46.200 temptation 00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:47.500 that's 00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:48.120 tripping you 00:24:48.120 --> 00:24:48.460 up. 00:24:50.259 --> 00:24:50.779 And my 00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:51.660 final point is 00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:51.940 this, 00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:53.080 help is 00:24:53.080 --> 00:24:53.620 available. 00:24:54.900 --> 00:24:55.380 And it's 00:24:55.380 --> 00:24:56.100 called the 00:24:56.100 --> 00:24:56.860 Holy Spirit. 00:24:58.320 --> 00:24:58.860 John says 00:24:58.860 --> 00:24:59.620 when he comes 00:24:59.620 --> 00:25:00.279 he will prove 00:25:00.279 --> 00:25:00.860 the world to 00:25:00.860 --> 00:25:01.820 be in the 00:25:01.820 --> 00:25:02.440 wrong about 00:25:02.440 --> 00:25:03.039 sin and 00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:03.560 righteousness 00:25:03.559 --> 00:25:04.339 and judgment. 00:25:05.940 --> 00:25:06.519 It says the 00:25:06.519 --> 00:25:07.079 Holy Spirit 00:25:07.079 --> 00:25:07.879 will convict 00:25:07.879 --> 00:25:08.220 us. 00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:10.500 But it says 00:25:10.500 --> 00:25:10.819 that the 00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:11.319 Holy Spirit 00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:11.899 will give us 00:25:11.899 --> 00:25:12.379 the inner 00:25:12.379 --> 00:25:13.220 strength to 00:25:13.220 --> 00:25:13.839 deal with 00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:14.480 temptation 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:15.700 when it 00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:16.200 comes our 00:25:16.200 --> 00:25:16.539 way. 00:25:18.899 --> 00:25:19.819 I prayed 00:25:19.819 --> 00:25:20.619 at the 00:25:20.619 --> 00:25:21.200 beginning of 00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:21.940 this message 00:25:21.940 --> 00:25:23.019 that God 00:25:23.019 --> 00:25:23.720 would send 00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:24.279 down his 00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:24.740 fire. 00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:26.819 And you 00:25:26.819 --> 00:25:27.240 need to 00:25:27.240 --> 00:25:27.659 know that 00:25:27.659 --> 00:25:27.960 when it 00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:28.559 comes to 00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:28.940 breaking 00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:29.539 promises, 00:25:29.899 --> 00:25:30.220 you're 00:25:30.220 --> 00:25:30.559 probably 00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:31.059 guilty. 00:25:31.059 --> 00:25:33.500 And the 00:25:33.500 --> 00:25:34.059 bottom line 00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:35.299 is you 00:25:35.299 --> 00:25:36.039 can seek 00:25:36.039 --> 00:25:36.559 God's 00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:36.960 forgiveness, 00:25:37.159 --> 00:25:37.619 but don't 00:25:37.619 --> 00:25:38.179 just seek 00:25:38.179 --> 00:25:38.819 his forgiveness. 00:25:40.299 --> 00:25:40.919 Seek his 00:25:40.919 --> 00:25:41.460 cleansing. 00:25:44.619 --> 00:25:44.879 Is there 00:25:44.879 --> 00:25:46.359 anybody in 00:25:46.359 --> 00:25:47.000 the house 00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:47.839 who would 00:25:47.839 --> 00:25:48.440 love to be 00:25:48.440 --> 00:25:49.220 cleansed by 00:25:49.220 --> 00:25:49.659 the Holy 00:25:49.659 --> 00:25:50.139 Spirit? 00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:52.139 Would love 00:25:52.139 --> 00:25:53.319 to push to 00:25:53.319 --> 00:25:54.200 one side a 00:25:54.200 --> 00:25:55.139 habit that's 00:25:55.139 --> 00:25:55.859 been tripping 00:25:55.859 --> 00:25:56.720 them up for 00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:57.359 a very long 00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:57.779 time? 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:00.759 Is there 00:26:00.759 --> 00:26:01.680 anybody in 00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:02.220 the house 00:26:02.220 --> 00:26:03.019 who needs 00:26:03.019 --> 00:26:03.400 to know 00:26:03.400 --> 00:26:04.000 maybe for 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:04.480 the first 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:05.039 time in 00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:05.700 their heart, 00:26:05.779 --> 00:26:06.259 they get it 00:26:06.259 --> 00:26:06.579 in their 00:26:06.579 --> 00:26:06.819 head, 00:26:07.059 --> 00:26:07.400 but in 00:26:07.400 --> 00:26:08.079 their heart, 00:26:08.779 --> 00:26:09.299 that the 00:26:09.299 --> 00:26:09.900 spilled blood 00:26:09.900 --> 00:26:10.359 of Jesus 00:26:10.359 --> 00:26:11.119 Christ on 00:26:11.119 --> 00:26:11.940 the cross 00:26:11.940 --> 00:26:12.700 of Calvary 00:26:12.700 --> 00:26:13.640 will cover 00:26:13.640 --> 00:26:14.920 everything you 00:26:14.920 --> 00:26:15.359 have ever 00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:15.740 done. 00:26:17.140 --> 00:26:17.839 And you 00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:18.500 can access 00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:19.019 God's 00:26:19.019 --> 00:26:19.460 forgiveness. 00:26:23.140 --> 00:26:23.700 See, 00:26:24.700 --> 00:26:26.019 if the 00:26:26.019 --> 00:26:26.480 answer to 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:27.359 those questions 00:26:27.359 --> 00:26:28.720 is no, 00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:31.380 then your 00:26:31.380 --> 00:26:32.380 life will 00:26:32.380 --> 00:26:32.900 be robbed 00:26:32.900 --> 00:26:33.519 of hope 00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:35.539 and robbed 00:26:35.539 --> 00:26:36.519 of confidence. 00:26:40.640 --> 00:26:41.299 You know, 00:26:41.380 --> 00:26:41.900 the Bible 00:26:41.900 --> 00:26:42.920 makes the 00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:43.420 assumption 00:26:43.420 --> 00:26:44.039 that, 00:26:44.440 --> 00:26:45.539 you know, 00:26:45.600 --> 00:26:46.660 the word 00:26:46.660 --> 00:26:47.559 we translate 00:26:47.559 --> 00:26:49.620 into priest 00:26:49.620 --> 00:26:50.360 in English 00:26:50.360 --> 00:26:52.240 is a word 00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:52.799 that really 00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:53.720 means elder. 00:26:54.680 --> 00:26:55.400 And one of 00:26:55.400 --> 00:26:56.140 the assumptions 00:26:56.140 --> 00:26:56.759 of the New 00:26:56.759 --> 00:26:57.200 Testament 00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:57.759 was, 00:26:58.560 --> 00:26:59.460 the people 00:26:59.460 --> 00:26:59.860 who lead 00:26:59.860 --> 00:27:00.340 the church 00:27:00.340 --> 00:27:00.900 will be 00:27:00.900 --> 00:27:01.360 older 00:27:01.360 --> 00:27:01.900 because 00:27:01.900 --> 00:27:02.980 they have 00:27:02.980 --> 00:27:03.380 wisdom. 00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:05.300 That's why 00:27:05.300 --> 00:27:05.800 when Paul 00:27:05.800 --> 00:27:06.259 wrote to 00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:06.700 Timothy, 00:27:07.040 --> 00:27:07.580 Timothy was 00:27:07.580 --> 00:27:08.140 clearly an 00:27:08.140 --> 00:27:08.620 exception 00:27:08.620 --> 00:27:09.140 because he 00:27:09.140 --> 00:27:09.420 was a 00:27:09.420 --> 00:27:09.680 young 00:27:09.680 --> 00:27:10.060 church 00:27:10.060 --> 00:27:10.400 leader. 00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:15.200 Let me 00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:15.580 tell you 00:27:15.580 --> 00:27:15.920 this. 00:27:17.220 --> 00:27:17.720 Some of 00:27:17.720 --> 00:27:18.040 the most 00:27:18.040 --> 00:27:18.560 childish 00:27:18.560 --> 00:27:19.240 people I 00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:19.680 know are 00:27:19.680 --> 00:27:20.080 elderly. 00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:24.359 some of 00:27:24.359 --> 00:27:24.939 the most 00:27:24.939 --> 00:27:25.859 bitter 00:27:25.859 --> 00:27:26.579 people I 00:27:26.579 --> 00:27:26.899 know 00:27:26.899 --> 00:27:27.720 are 00:27:27.720 --> 00:27:28.159 elderly. 00:27:30.579 --> 00:27:30.720 And 00:27:30.720 --> 00:27:31.139 friends, 00:27:31.899 --> 00:27:32.240 you know, 00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:32.879 I'm not going 00:27:32.879 --> 00:27:33.299 to say you're 00:27:33.299 --> 00:27:33.779 in the waiting 00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:34.299 room for 00:27:34.299 --> 00:27:34.619 heaven, 00:27:36.079 --> 00:27:36.720 but I am 00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:37.259 going to say 00:27:37.259 --> 00:27:38.039 you need to 00:27:38.039 --> 00:27:38.639 start to 00:27:38.639 --> 00:27:39.099 deal with 00:27:39.099 --> 00:27:39.619 this stuff 00:27:39.619 --> 00:27:39.939 now. 00:27:41.059 --> 00:27:41.579 I used 00:27:41.579 --> 00:27:41.919 to feel 00:27:41.919 --> 00:27:42.259 when I 00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:42.599 was in 00:27:42.599 --> 00:27:42.859 church 00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:43.379 ministry 00:27:43.379 --> 00:27:44.859 that the 00:27:44.859 --> 00:27:45.179 elderly 00:27:45.179 --> 00:27:45.819 people got 00:27:45.819 --> 00:27:46.119 a bit 00:27:46.119 --> 00:27:46.559 ignored 00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:47.460 only because 00:27:47.460 --> 00:27:48.319 they were 00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:49.019 faithful in 00:27:49.019 --> 00:27:49.220 their 00:27:49.220 --> 00:27:49.659 attendance, 00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:50.060 they were 00:27:50.060 --> 00:27:50.620 there every 00:27:50.620 --> 00:27:50.860 week. 00:27:50.940 --> 00:27:51.380 So most 00:27:51.380 --> 00:27:52.019 clergy made 00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:52.600 the assumption 00:27:52.600 --> 00:27:53.360 they're 00:27:53.360 --> 00:27:53.880 all right. 00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:55.720 They're 00:27:55.720 --> 00:27:56.300 really not. 00:27:58.420 --> 00:27:59.100 Like the 00:27:59.100 --> 00:27:59.759 rest of us, 00:28:00.740 --> 00:28:01.380 they need 00:28:01.380 --> 00:28:02.200 heart help. 00:28:03.340 --> 00:28:03.880 They need 00:28:03.880 --> 00:28:04.560 the empowerment 00:28:04.560 --> 00:28:05.120 of the Holy 00:28:05.120 --> 00:28:05.900 Spirit as we 00:28:05.900 --> 00:28:06.480 all do. 00:28:07.420 --> 00:28:08.259 That we may 00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:08.800 know the 00:28:08.800 --> 00:28:09.540 forgiveness of 00:28:09.540 --> 00:28:10.300 God in our 00:28:10.300 --> 00:28:10.740 hearts. 00:28:11.240 --> 00:28:11.779 Broken 00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:13.040 promises will 00:28:13.040 --> 00:28:13.840 become less 00:28:13.840 --> 00:28:15.100 and less a 00:28:15.100 --> 00:28:15.680 part of our 00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:16.160 lives. 00:28:17.420 --> 00:28:18.140 And we 00:28:18.140 --> 00:28:18.600 shall have 00:28:18.600 --> 00:28:19.600 sweet fellowship 00:28:19.599 --> 00:28:20.259 with God 00:28:20.259 --> 00:28:21.000 in the 00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:21.319 light. 00:28:22.919 --> 00:28:23.839 And that 00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:24.259 will have 00:28:24.259 --> 00:28:25.079 consequences 00:28:25.079 --> 00:28:26.399 in our 00:28:26.399 --> 00:28:26.959 lives that 00:28:26.959 --> 00:28:27.740 are positive. 00:28:28.559 --> 00:28:29.419 Just as 00:28:29.419 --> 00:28:30.059 breaking 00:28:30.059 --> 00:28:30.659 promises 00:28:30.659 --> 00:28:33.139 has consequences 00:28:33.139 --> 00:28:33.779 in our 00:28:33.779 --> 00:28:34.199 life. 00:28:35.679 --> 00:28:36.480 Because it 00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:36.939 will hurt 00:28:36.939 --> 00:28:37.579 your soul. 00:28:38.939 --> 00:28:39.619 And I 00:28:39.619 --> 00:28:40.319 have to tell 00:28:40.319 --> 00:28:40.799 you that 00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:43.000 because your 00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:43.740 soul matters 00:28:43.740 --> 00:28:44.199 to me. 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:45.759 God's 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:46.200 love 00:28:46.200 --> 00:28:46.500 and I 00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:46.840 want you 00:28:46.840 --> 00:28:47.559 to feel 00:28:47.559 --> 00:28:49.200 the freedom 00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:50.360 of the 00:28:50.360 --> 00:28:51.100 grace and 00:28:51.100 --> 00:28:51.819 the forgiveness 00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:52.539 and the 00:28:52.539 --> 00:28:53.340 power of God 00:28:53.340 --> 00:28:54.100 in your 00:28:54.100 --> 00:28:54.480 life.