WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.520 I don't know if you've ever owned or had one of those 3D magic eye books. 00:00:05.980 --> 00:00:07.560 Tim's going to throw a picture up for me. 00:00:08.160 --> 00:00:10.519 I don't know if you remember when these first came out. 00:00:10.880 --> 00:00:13.120 Some of you won't because you were probably born afterwards. 00:00:13.419 --> 00:00:16.980 But I remember when these first came out and you get given the book 00:00:16.980 --> 00:00:21.000 and there was just this peer pressure to act like you could see the picture. 00:00:21.600 --> 00:00:24.379 And so everyone's passing around the book at school and you're looking at it going, 00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:26.480 yeah, I can see the boat. 00:00:27.820 --> 00:00:28.920 That's it over here, right? 00:00:28.920 --> 00:00:30.280 Yeah, I mean in the middle. 00:00:30.360 --> 00:00:30.820 That's where it is. 00:00:30.860 --> 00:00:31.560 That's the boat, right? 00:00:31.640 --> 00:00:34.280 And you're looking at it and everyone's going, it's simple. 00:00:34.400 --> 00:00:35.179 Just look. 00:00:35.260 --> 00:00:35.700 Look again. 00:00:35.800 --> 00:00:37.320 Just fuzzy your eyes. 00:00:37.480 --> 00:00:39.480 And I'm like, how do you fuzzy your eyes? 00:00:39.820 --> 00:00:41.140 What kind of an instruction is that? 00:00:41.460 --> 00:00:44.000 And so some people are just glancing at it going, yeah, it's no worries. 00:00:44.160 --> 00:00:46.700 But when you first look at it, it's just this mess. 00:00:47.240 --> 00:00:49.700 It's like, that's not anything, surely. 00:00:49.980 --> 00:00:53.120 It's just a mess and they're making it up to make me look stupid. 00:00:53.280 --> 00:00:54.200 You're waiting for one day. 00:00:54.240 --> 00:00:56.280 Everyone's going to turn around and go, there's no pictures. 00:00:56.280 --> 00:00:58.700 We know that you were pretending when you said you could saw the boat. 00:00:59.500 --> 00:01:00.980 It looks like a mess. 00:01:01.760 --> 00:01:07.219 And to see what's in there, you have to actually train your eyes to look past that first bit. 00:01:07.599 --> 00:01:13.400 To go beyond your first glance, you need to look properly and see what is really there. 00:01:13.400 --> 00:01:21.320 Now, this book of Revelation that we've been studying to the first century church, this letter, it's a pastoral one. 00:01:21.560 --> 00:01:22.840 The bishop reminded us last week. 00:01:22.900 --> 00:01:24.360 It's encouraging in many ways. 00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:25.940 It's challenging in many ways. 00:01:25.939 --> 00:01:28.500 But more than anything else, it's enlightening. 00:01:28.500 --> 00:01:38.900 Because this book of Revelation, what it does is it trains the hearts and eyes of Christians so that they have right perspective. 00:01:38.900 --> 00:01:48.860 It gives them the ability to see beyond their circumstance, to not be overwhelmed by what's happening today or next week or next month, and to see into eternity. 00:01:48.859 --> 00:01:56.180 This book is designed to enable them to understand more fully the significance of Jesus' death and resurrection. 00:01:56.180 --> 00:02:03.360 And tonight, we drop into chapter 12 of Revelation, which is almost like a snapshot of the whole book wrapped up in one chapter. 00:02:03.800 --> 00:02:06.340 Chapters 12, 13 and 14 kind of sit together. 00:02:06.500 --> 00:02:12.560 And they are really a summary of what Revelation is about without all the detail that comes in other bit. 00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:22.500 And even though this snapshot that we get is a little bit creative and maybe a little bit confusing, it is a snapshot of history and eternity. 00:02:22.819 --> 00:02:30.719 And it's showing us that things are not how they seem, that things are not how they look at first glance. 00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:38.879 The pain and the struggle that the churches were facing, the pain and the struggle and the suffering that we face as Christians now is real and even normal. 00:02:38.879 --> 00:02:41.080 But it's not the whole picture. 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:43.840 When we follow Jesus. 00:02:44.800 --> 00:02:51.420 And so to give John this perspective, to give us this perspective, God gives John another vision. 00:02:52.099 --> 00:02:53.719 Have a look with me at verse 1 and 2. 00:02:54.259 --> 00:02:57.240 A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven. 00:02:57.780 --> 00:03:03.120 A woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and the crown of 12 stars on her head. 00:03:03.500 --> 00:03:07.219 She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. 00:03:07.659 --> 00:03:10.259 So first up, we've got this woman wearing the sun. 00:03:10.259 --> 00:03:14.359 This woman is representative of Israel, of God's people. 00:03:14.459 --> 00:03:16.079 That's what the 12 stars is about. 00:03:16.159 --> 00:03:19.259 It's pointing us back to the 12 tribes in the Old Testament. 00:03:19.579 --> 00:03:22.079 And she's in pain and she's about to give birth. 00:03:22.419 --> 00:03:26.319 And there's this sense of expectation that something is going to come out of Israel. 00:03:26.739 --> 00:03:28.579 Something is going to come out of God's people. 00:03:29.259 --> 00:03:30.500 The next bit, verse 3. 00:03:30.500 --> 00:03:56.500 So John sees this dragon, this enormous red dragon with horns and crowns and heads. 00:03:56.500 --> 00:04:00.500 And verse 9 tells us that this dragon is Satan. 00:04:00.900 --> 00:04:01.979 This is the devil. 00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:08.000 His horns and his crowns tell us that Satan wants the power and the influence and the authority of God. 00:04:08.099 --> 00:04:08.919 That's his desire. 00:04:09.379 --> 00:04:17.860 And we know in this vision that Satan is sitting, waiting, wanting to devour the child that will come out of God's people. 00:04:17.980 --> 00:04:21.819 Wanting to devour whatever it is that God's people will produce. 00:04:21.819 --> 00:04:23.719 And we see what that is in verse 5. 00:04:24.219 --> 00:04:29.779 She, the woman, gave birth to a son, a male child who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. 00:04:30.120 --> 00:04:33.159 And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. 00:04:33.599 --> 00:04:41.639 The woman fled into the desert to a place prepared for her by God where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days. 00:04:41.639 --> 00:04:43.399 So a child is born. 00:04:43.939 --> 00:04:44.659 He's male. 00:04:45.039 --> 00:04:46.000 He will rule. 00:04:47.479 --> 00:04:52.159 And we know that he won't just be any male child who will rule. 00:04:52.500 --> 00:04:54.060 This will be the saviour. 00:04:54.719 --> 00:04:59.740 The fact that he will rule the nations with an iron scepter, that points us back to a special kind of king. 00:04:59.979 --> 00:05:02.919 That Israel is waiting for a king in the line of David. 00:05:03.099 --> 00:05:05.939 This baby, this child is Jesus. 00:05:05.939 --> 00:05:12.120 And we're told in the vision that he is snatched up to God before Satan can devour him. 00:05:12.500 --> 00:05:17.279 He is placed on his throne and the woman flees off into the desert to be taken care of by God. 00:05:17.560 --> 00:05:19.720 And then the last bit of this vision in verse 7. 00:05:19.720 --> 00:05:43.160 So Satan pursues the child. 00:05:43.280 --> 00:05:44.540 He's waiting there to devour him. 00:05:44.540 --> 00:05:49.100 But he misses his opportunity because Jesus is snatched up to heaven and onto the throne. 00:05:49.580 --> 00:05:54.460 And instead he is cast out by the angels and hurled down to the earth. 00:05:56.040 --> 00:05:56.960 Okay, deep breath. 00:05:57.220 --> 00:05:58.220 Seems simple enough, right? 00:05:58.580 --> 00:06:00.120 So we've got God's people. 00:06:00.700 --> 00:06:01.759 Jesus is being born. 00:06:02.080 --> 00:06:03.120 Satan is against them. 00:06:03.540 --> 00:06:04.640 Satan misses his opportunity. 00:06:05.020 --> 00:06:06.160 Jesus goes onto his throne. 00:06:06.300 --> 00:06:07.259 Satan gets hurled down. 00:06:07.939 --> 00:06:08.879 You with me so far? 00:06:09.540 --> 00:06:11.100 I know there's a bit of weirdness. 00:06:11.100 --> 00:06:17.939 So we've got to understand when we read things like this in God's word that this is a prophetic vision. 00:06:18.460 --> 00:06:20.640 Which means it's not precise. 00:06:21.320 --> 00:06:26.220 We can't necessarily connect every bit of this vision to specific details in history. 00:06:26.220 --> 00:06:31.460 Even though it's obviously talking about some real things that did actually happen in history. 00:06:31.900 --> 00:06:36.020 There's kind of links and connections we can make in this vision. 00:06:36.300 --> 00:06:40.740 But we need to be careful how hard or how closely we do that. 00:06:41.100 --> 00:06:44.180 I mean, you've got a woman and a dragon or a serpent clashing. 00:06:44.500 --> 00:06:48.980 Which points us back to the Garden of Eden when you had a woman tempted by a serpent. 00:06:49.420 --> 00:06:53.840 And listen to these words when God pronounces judgment on the serpent back in Genesis 3. 00:06:54.300 --> 00:06:54.740 He says, 00:06:54.879 --> 00:06:59.800 I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your offspring and hers. 00:07:00.120 --> 00:07:03.180 He will crush your head and you will strike his heel. 00:07:03.180 --> 00:07:07.379 It's pointing us maybe to something that we are already warned about. 00:07:07.500 --> 00:07:15.040 The woman being taken off into the desert to be protected for the 1,200 days reminds us of God rescuing his people out of Egypt. 00:07:15.460 --> 00:07:16.819 Taking them out into the desert. 00:07:17.420 --> 00:07:22.800 The book of Exodus talks about them being carried on eagle's wings just like the woman is. 00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:31.160 And then at the same time, this vision could almost connect to the situation of the early church when they were reading this book. 00:07:31.920 --> 00:07:37.139 The dragon is the emperor Domitian who is persecuting the Christians fiercely. 00:07:37.319 --> 00:07:39.019 He's killing them left, right and centre. 00:07:40.139 --> 00:07:43.840 And they are at his whim, it seems. 00:07:43.839 --> 00:07:48.560 So there's things that we can connect through history that kind of are part of this vision. 00:07:48.659 --> 00:07:54.919 But the focus is really in a tiny little bit of detail that comes in the middle of it. 00:07:55.239 --> 00:08:02.459 The focus of this encounter between Jesus and the woman and the dragon is Jesus' life itself. 00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:05.579 That's the bit we need to hone in on. 00:08:05.659 --> 00:08:10.120 His temptation in the wilderness, his death at the hands of the Roman authorities. 00:08:10.120 --> 00:08:15.160 In this passage, Jesus' life is summarised in 21 words. 00:08:16.360 --> 00:08:19.980 Basically, he's born and then he goes to heaven and sits on the throne. 00:08:21.459 --> 00:08:28.100 Those words are shorthand for the most significant event in human and created history ever. 00:08:29.480 --> 00:08:33.759 See, what this vision is telling us is that Jesus' life itself, 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:37.840 his life growing up, his obedience to his father, 00:08:38.179 --> 00:08:39.860 his life, his death and resurrection, 00:08:40.419 --> 00:08:44.879 Jesus' life was the battle between Satan and Jesus. 00:08:45.679 --> 00:08:47.120 It's not something in the future. 00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:51.580 It's not something that happens out there in the heavens and we can't see it. 00:08:51.659 --> 00:08:54.860 The battle took place on earth when Jesus came. 00:08:54.960 --> 00:08:58.740 His death and his resurrection were the means by which Satan gets beaten. 00:08:58.740 --> 00:09:01.720 And we see that because Satan gets hurled down. 00:09:02.139 --> 00:09:04.680 Even as the angels are the ones kicking him out of heaven, 00:09:04.779 --> 00:09:08.060 it's actually the blood of the lamb that overcame Satan. 00:09:08.320 --> 00:09:11.820 It's Jesus' life, Jesus' death and Jesus' resurrection 00:09:11.820 --> 00:09:14.899 that actually win the battle against Satan. 00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:19.200 This great and wondrous sign that John gets shown is Jesus. 00:09:20.379 --> 00:09:22.919 In all its weirdness and wonderfulness, 00:09:23.480 --> 00:09:25.620 this chapter is a gospel chapter. 00:09:25.620 --> 00:09:30.860 God is opening John's eyes to look at Jesus and Jesus' victory. 00:09:32.639 --> 00:09:38.820 God is showing John that Jesus is sitting on his throne now. 00:09:39.940 --> 00:09:45.299 And at the same time, Satan is wallowing in defeat now. 00:09:46.440 --> 00:09:50.720 And it gets really clear for us because God gives us a clear interpretation 00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:52.840 with a voice from heaven in verse 10. 00:09:52.840 --> 00:09:55.680 I heard a loud voice in heaven say, 00:09:56.519 --> 00:10:00.360 Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God 00:10:00.360 --> 00:10:04.019 and the authority of his Christ for the accuser of our brothers 00:10:04.019 --> 00:10:08.040 who accuses them before our God day and night has been hurled down. 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:11.000 They overcame him by the blood of the lamb 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:12.460 and by the word of their testimony. 00:10:12.899 --> 00:10:17.180 They did not love their lives so much as to shrink back from death. 00:10:17.179 --> 00:10:22.099 Now salvation has come. 00:10:24.699 --> 00:10:27.899 This vision is pointing to an event that happened a few decades 00:10:27.899 --> 00:10:30.939 before the early church would have heard about in this letter. 00:10:32.059 --> 00:10:35.479 This letter is pointing to an event that happened thousands of years 00:10:35.479 --> 00:10:37.099 before we opened it up tonight. 00:10:37.100 --> 00:10:40.540 This is a past tense verse. 00:10:41.899 --> 00:10:45.220 It says salvation is here now. 00:10:45.960 --> 00:10:47.940 The kingdom is here now. 00:10:48.440 --> 00:10:51.600 Jesus sits on the throne reigning in authority now. 00:10:52.920 --> 00:10:54.100 Satan's been defeated. 00:10:55.240 --> 00:10:58.040 The death and resurrection of Jesus have won the battle. 00:10:58.180 --> 00:10:58.879 Satan has lost. 00:10:59.019 --> 00:10:59.960 Forgiveness is available. 00:10:59.960 --> 00:11:05.900 And yet, is that how it looked and felt for the early church reading this book? 00:11:07.379 --> 00:11:10.019 I mean, we know that the churches were being persecuted. 00:11:10.019 --> 00:11:11.960 When we read the letters in the first chapters, 00:11:12.080 --> 00:11:13.940 we know they were facing opposition. 00:11:14.180 --> 00:11:14.860 They were suffering. 00:11:15.080 --> 00:11:19.280 We know that people are dying daily for calling Jesus their Lord 00:11:19.280 --> 00:11:22.320 and for refusing to bow to the pressure of the Roman emperor. 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:28.140 Does it feel like salvation has come in your life? 00:11:30.220 --> 00:11:34.340 Does it feel like Jesus sits on his throne in your situation? 00:11:37.340 --> 00:11:40.320 I mean, the tension is hinted at in verse 11. 00:11:41.080 --> 00:11:42.160 Did you catch it? 00:11:43.160 --> 00:11:47.240 They overcame him by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony. 00:11:47.240 --> 00:11:52.720 They did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. 00:11:54.060 --> 00:11:57.680 Satan was overcome, but they still died. 00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:02.299 The victory was won, but they still died. 00:12:02.560 --> 00:12:06.360 Even with the victory of Jesus, even having been washed in the blood of the lamb, 00:12:06.440 --> 00:12:09.779 even being forgiven, they still died. 00:12:10.360 --> 00:12:11.899 Many of them violently. 00:12:13.680 --> 00:12:15.480 And yet, we get this verse. 00:12:15.480 --> 00:12:17.960 We get this voice from heaven that says, 00:12:18.539 --> 00:12:22.019 they were victorious in their deaths. 00:12:25.820 --> 00:12:27.539 The kingdom of God, 00:12:28.539 --> 00:12:31.580 the salvation that is talked about in this verse, 00:12:32.220 --> 00:12:35.480 is not what we sometimes think it should be. 00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:37.779 It's better. 00:12:37.779 --> 00:12:43.259 A couple of weeks ago, I had a chance to go on holidays, 00:12:43.519 --> 00:12:46.279 just for a few days, to visit my sister in Dubbo. 00:12:46.839 --> 00:12:50.620 It was a trip with a particular milestone that made me a very proud dad. 00:12:51.759 --> 00:12:55.100 We mapped out when you've got to do five hours driving with a two and a half year old. 00:12:55.159 --> 00:12:57.179 You really have to pick when you're going to stop, 00:12:57.279 --> 00:12:58.679 how you're going to do it, when he's going to sleep, 00:12:58.939 --> 00:13:01.459 what's an appropriate amount of drugs to put it. 00:13:01.500 --> 00:13:02.000 No, I'm just joking. 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:07.720 Just how are you going to get from A to B without losing your mind and smacking your child inappropriately. 00:13:08.480 --> 00:13:11.519 And this, for us, involved McDonald's, 00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:15.039 because McDonald's has good food for me, it has good play equipment for him. 00:13:15.500 --> 00:13:18.480 And the milestone was that our first pit stop, 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:20.840 my son came out with the word Maccas. 00:13:21.639 --> 00:13:24.899 And basically, that is all he says when we're driving in the car now. 00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:27.580 He's just looking for the next Maccas that he can stop at. 00:13:27.580 --> 00:13:32.680 And I'm very proud because those of you who know me will know that McDonald's is a passion of mine. 00:13:33.960 --> 00:13:39.800 But the funny thing is, we went to McDonald's multiple times and he didn't eat food once. 00:13:40.360 --> 00:13:41.020 He's not interested. 00:13:41.280 --> 00:13:42.500 I tried to give him hash brown. 00:13:42.620 --> 00:13:44.820 He's like, no, just give me my mushy Wheat Bix or whatever. 00:13:45.340 --> 00:13:47.940 And so he thinks Maccas is just about Playland. 00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:49.620 And look, Playland is great. 00:13:49.620 --> 00:13:53.460 But because he has this limited understanding, 00:13:53.560 --> 00:13:57.240 he doesn't realise the goodness that he's on offer behind the counter at McDonald's, 00:13:57.240 --> 00:14:01.759 he's sold himself short and settled for less. 00:14:03.940 --> 00:14:11.820 And look, we have this limited understanding when it comes to the glorious future that God is preparing for us. 00:14:11.820 --> 00:14:16.780 And we need to be careful that when we dream about the kingdom of God, 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:18.560 when we hope for our future, 00:14:18.760 --> 00:14:23.200 when we imagine what he will do and what good he will bring in our life, 00:14:23.900 --> 00:14:30.379 that we don't pull the kingdom back in and make it small and less impressive than it actually is. 00:14:31.740 --> 00:14:34.220 The kingdom of God is victorious. 00:14:34.220 --> 00:14:42.139 But we mustn't let our understanding of what that looks like be limited by our own sinful imagination. 00:14:44.500 --> 00:14:49.560 This verse, verse 10, that salvation has come, that the kingdom has come, 00:14:49.860 --> 00:14:53.120 was true for those Christians suffering 2,000 years ago. 00:14:53.940 --> 00:14:59.440 And it's true for Christians around the world today facing persecution in Iraq and Syria. 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:03.620 And it's true for Christians today in Chatswood. 00:15:04.220 --> 00:15:10.460 Facing temptation and depression and failing in their battle with sin. 00:15:11.820 --> 00:15:17.379 We are both citizens of heaven and residents of earth. 00:15:17.920 --> 00:15:21.860 Our names are immovably etched into the book of life. 00:15:22.019 --> 00:15:25.200 God is preparing a place for us in glory. 00:15:25.940 --> 00:15:31.639 And yet right now we live in a fallen and limited and pain-filled world. 00:15:34.220 --> 00:15:37.019 This is the reality of the kingdom now. 00:15:38.360 --> 00:15:40.019 It's there in verse 12. 00:15:40.019 --> 00:15:46.759 Therefore, because salvation has come, because the kingdom has come, 00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:48.559 because Christ sits on the throne, 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:53.460 therefore rejoice you heavens and you who dwell in them. 00:15:53.720 --> 00:15:54.439 That's us. 00:15:56.019 --> 00:15:58.659 But woe to the earth and the sea, 00:15:59.379 --> 00:16:01.759 because the devil has gone down to you. 00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:05.759 He is filled with fury because he knows that his time is short. 00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:08.500 Woe to you who live on the earth. 00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:09.299 That's us. 00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:14.019 When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, 00:16:14.100 --> 00:16:16.740 he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:19.439 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle 00:16:19.439 --> 00:16:22.399 so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, 00:16:22.620 --> 00:16:26.000 where she would be taken care of for a time, times, and half a time, 00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:27.379 out of the serpent's reach. 00:16:27.379 --> 00:16:33.259 The woman is rescued, but there is an ominous warning in verse 17. 00:16:34.379 --> 00:16:36.759 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman 00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:39.919 and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring, 00:16:40.519 --> 00:16:45.019 those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus. 00:16:46.379 --> 00:16:47.240 That's us. 00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:52.240 Because we live in both heaven and earth, 00:16:52.340 --> 00:16:54.860 because we are citizens of heaven, 00:16:54.980 --> 00:16:56.500 because we are guaranteed our place, 00:16:56.580 --> 00:16:59.799 because we belong to that kingdom that is not of this world, 00:17:00.279 --> 00:17:03.860 we experience both the joy that is declared for heaven 00:17:03.860 --> 00:17:07.099 and the woe that is declared for earth. 00:17:08.380 --> 00:17:12.579 Sadness and depression are not alternatives to joy in the Christian life. 00:17:12.579 --> 00:17:15.680 We will experience both. 00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:19.740 I mean, did you catch it there? 00:17:19.940 --> 00:17:24.420 In verse 17, we are at war in our day-to-day life. 00:17:26.039 --> 00:17:27.380 Satan is our enemy. 00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:29.460 He is a wounded enemy, 00:17:29.700 --> 00:17:34.319 but he will do anything to share the pain that he experiences with us. 00:17:35.880 --> 00:17:37.740 There was a football game yesterday. 00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:40.019 I've been very restrained. 00:17:40.120 --> 00:17:42.120 We're 15 minutes in and I haven't mentioned it yet. 00:17:43.059 --> 00:17:44.519 There was a football game yesterday 00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:46.799 and there are some notable absences from church tonight. 00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:48.799 But there was a football game yesterday 00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:52.380 between the Sydney Swans and the Hawthorne Hawks. 00:17:53.319 --> 00:17:55.680 You all know that I support a couple of teams 00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:57.099 and whoever's playing the Swans. 00:17:57.880 --> 00:18:00.279 Now, I could have gotten up to gloat tonight. 00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:03.240 I could have intentionally, you know, 00:18:03.400 --> 00:18:05.599 modelled my wardrobe on brown and gold. 00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:06.539 Would have been tough. 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:09.640 But I could have intentionally dressed that way. 00:18:09.640 --> 00:18:13.140 And you can imagine the pain that that would have caused for certain people. 00:18:13.780 --> 00:18:17.520 Like I said, the Smiths particularly may have had to take a week off to recover afterwards 00:18:17.520 --> 00:18:19.180 because of the damage to the relationship. 00:18:20.259 --> 00:18:22.640 Waving that pain back in their face 00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:26.100 would have been just exacerbating what they were already feeling. 00:18:26.200 --> 00:18:28.200 And what we need to understand is that 00:18:28.200 --> 00:18:30.680 Satan is a defeated enemy. 00:18:30.680 --> 00:18:34.980 And every time he sees somebody who bears the name of Jesus, 00:18:35.380 --> 00:18:39.160 it's like we wave the jersey in front of his face to remind him that he lost. 00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:45.100 He is antagonised by people who love Jesus in their day-to-day life. 00:18:45.860 --> 00:18:49.920 He is enraged every time you make a decision to treasure Jesus 00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:51.640 above the things in the world. 00:18:51.640 --> 00:19:01.900 He desperately wants to cover up that light of salvation that dwells in us. 00:19:02.540 --> 00:19:06.800 He wants to damage our lives with pain and sin and temptation, 00:19:07.280 --> 00:19:10.040 so much so that our love for Jesus will be diluted 00:19:10.040 --> 00:19:12.759 or maybe even extinguished. 00:19:14.080 --> 00:19:16.460 The war with Satan will not go forever. 00:19:17.300 --> 00:19:20.360 Satan is defeated and the times, time and half a time, 00:19:20.359 --> 00:19:23.219 the 1260 days, that's three and a half, 00:19:23.339 --> 00:19:26.519 which in Revelation speak means a limited time. 00:19:27.719 --> 00:19:30.539 Satan has not been sent down here with just open slather. 00:19:30.659 --> 00:19:32.799 He knows that his time is short. 00:19:34.619 --> 00:19:37.579 But until Jesus returns, we are at war. 00:19:38.679 --> 00:19:40.000 And war is not easy. 00:19:41.219 --> 00:19:46.139 If nothing else, reading this should make us ready 00:19:46.139 --> 00:19:48.059 for what we will face in life. 00:19:48.059 --> 00:19:51.059 If you're a follower of Jesus, 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:54.579 you must expect that life will throw things at you 00:19:54.579 --> 00:19:56.460 that make it hard to treasure Jesus, 00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:59.079 that make it hard to put him first. 00:20:00.019 --> 00:20:03.279 One of our core values as a church is humble authenticity. 00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:06.279 It's about being real and being honest with each other. 00:20:06.599 --> 00:20:08.139 It's about not putting on pretense. 00:20:09.119 --> 00:20:11.679 This passage has just reminded us, 00:20:11.799 --> 00:20:12.779 maybe told us, 00:20:12.779 --> 00:20:16.759 that every one of us who loves Jesus is at war with Satan. 00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:20.639 It's told us that Satan is powerful and clever 00:20:20.639 --> 00:20:23.660 and so we should assume that at any given point, 00:20:23.879 --> 00:20:26.240 some of us in this room will not be feeling 00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:28.980 all clappy and cheerful about following Jesus. 00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:32.319 We should assume that in this room, 00:20:32.500 --> 00:20:34.940 sometimes all of us will not be particularly excited 00:20:34.940 --> 00:20:35.879 about following Jesus 00:20:35.879 --> 00:20:39.480 because Satan is pressing on pressure points in our lives. 00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:43.039 We might be struggling with doubt, 00:20:44.339 --> 00:20:46.220 maybe even anger towards God, 00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:48.740 maybe a sense of failure 00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:50.720 as we continue to fall into sin. 00:20:52.660 --> 00:20:55.000 Humble authenticity is being honest 00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:56.620 about the fact that that's how we're feeling. 00:20:57.700 --> 00:21:00.200 It means we don't have to turn up to church 00:21:00.200 --> 00:21:02.220 and put on a show and say everything's great 00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:04.980 and yeah, I had a fantastic quiet time this week. 00:21:05.700 --> 00:21:07.299 It's okay to say I really struggled 00:21:07.299 --> 00:21:08.639 to open my Bible this week 00:21:08.639 --> 00:21:12.220 because the reality is 00:21:12.220 --> 00:21:14.180 that will be all of us at some point 00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:17.019 and all we do when we put on a show 00:21:17.019 --> 00:21:18.159 and say everything's fine 00:21:18.159 --> 00:21:20.639 is we project that expectation 00:21:20.639 --> 00:21:22.119 and that pressure onto other people 00:21:22.119 --> 00:21:23.579 and suddenly this isn't a safe place 00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:25.319 to just be how I'm going anymore. 00:21:25.879 --> 00:21:27.180 It's the place where everything 00:21:27.180 --> 00:21:28.539 has to be fine all the time. 00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:33.339 I've got to be honest with you, 00:21:33.399 --> 00:21:34.379 for me personally, 00:21:34.380 --> 00:21:37.840 I'm feeling weary as a Christian. 00:21:40.540 --> 00:21:42.020 I'm finding it difficult 00:21:42.020 --> 00:21:43.280 to open the Bible 00:21:43.280 --> 00:21:44.700 and be refreshed at the moment. 00:21:45.280 --> 00:21:45.920 I'm trying, 00:21:46.840 --> 00:21:48.620 sometimes more than others, 00:21:49.620 --> 00:21:51.040 but I'm feeling weary. 00:21:52.420 --> 00:21:54.280 My Sundays are fairly epic. 00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:56.100 I get to three, 00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:57.580 three and a half services 00:21:57.579 --> 00:22:00.359 and I have to pray sometimes 00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:01.119 to ask God, 00:22:01.299 --> 00:22:03.579 don't make me switch off in this. 00:22:04.139 --> 00:22:06.199 Don't let me be cynical in this 00:22:06.199 --> 00:22:08.659 because when I'm tired, 00:22:08.759 --> 00:22:09.460 that's where I go. 00:22:10.299 --> 00:22:11.139 When I'm tired, 00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:12.740 I start looking down at other people. 00:22:12.879 --> 00:22:14.220 I start judging other people. 00:22:14.359 --> 00:22:15.000 I start thinking 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:16.139 they're not really as holy 00:22:16.139 --> 00:22:17.639 as they're pretending to be right now. 00:22:17.640 --> 00:22:18.280 Now, 00:22:20.280 --> 00:22:22.380 Satan is powerful 00:22:22.380 --> 00:22:23.940 and he's clever 00:22:23.940 --> 00:22:26.720 and he will press your life 00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:28.460 in whatever way he knows 00:22:28.460 --> 00:22:29.140 you are vulnerable. 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:32.200 It might not be pride. 00:22:34.060 --> 00:22:35.380 It's right for us 00:22:35.380 --> 00:22:36.220 to recognise 00:22:36.220 --> 00:22:37.400 that Satan is behind 00:22:37.400 --> 00:22:38.140 the persecution 00:22:38.140 --> 00:22:38.880 that our brothers 00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:40.080 and sisters face 00:22:40.080 --> 00:22:41.720 in Iraq and Syria 00:22:41.720 --> 00:22:43.020 when there is a gun 00:22:43.020 --> 00:22:43.759 pointed at them 00:22:43.759 --> 00:22:44.780 saying follow Jesus 00:22:44.780 --> 00:22:45.660 or give up on Jesus 00:22:45.660 --> 00:22:46.200 or die. 00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:48.559 But we need to also recognise 00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:50.200 that Satan has more weapons 00:22:50.200 --> 00:22:51.200 than just guns. 00:22:53.059 --> 00:22:53.819 Satan's goal 00:22:53.819 --> 00:22:54.779 isn't to kill you. 00:22:55.380 --> 00:22:56.120 It's to make you 00:22:56.120 --> 00:22:57.000 stop loving Jesus. 00:22:59.080 --> 00:23:00.340 It's to make you doubt 00:23:00.340 --> 00:23:01.259 that God loves you 00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:03.319 and he doesn't necessarily 00:23:03.319 --> 00:23:04.539 need a gun to do it. 00:23:06.080 --> 00:23:07.100 He can drag you down 00:23:07.100 --> 00:23:07.819 with temptation 00:23:07.819 --> 00:23:09.940 by maybe giving you 00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:10.600 the opportunity 00:23:10.600 --> 00:23:11.580 to get something 00:23:11.580 --> 00:23:12.799 that you really desire 00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:13.680 that you know God 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.680 doesn't want for you. 00:23:14.680 --> 00:23:16.779 He can distract you 00:23:16.779 --> 00:23:17.759 from treasuring Jesus 00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:19.039 with the lure of comfort 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:20.980 by giving you something 00:23:20.980 --> 00:23:22.259 that's not bad in itself 00:23:22.259 --> 00:23:23.039 but that will be 00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:23.620 a distraction. 00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:25.940 He might attack you 00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:26.519 with envy. 00:23:27.580 --> 00:23:28.560 He might give things 00:23:28.560 --> 00:23:29.180 that you want 00:23:29.180 --> 00:23:30.259 to the people around you 00:23:30.259 --> 00:23:31.160 just so that you start 00:23:31.160 --> 00:23:31.940 wondering whether or not 00:23:31.940 --> 00:23:32.680 God loves you. 00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:34.680 God loves you. 00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:35.680 God loves you. 00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:36.180 God loves you. 00:23:36.180 --> 00:23:36.680 God loves you. 00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:37.120 God loves you. 00:23:37.120 --> 00:23:37.680 God loves you. 00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:38.259 God loves you. 00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:39.100 This is why 00:23:39.100 --> 00:23:40.539 knowing our hope 00:23:40.539 --> 00:23:41.400 is so important. 00:23:42.180 --> 00:23:42.820 This is why 00:23:42.820 --> 00:23:44.140 perspective matters. 00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:44.980 This is why 00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:45.740 we need to train 00:23:45.740 --> 00:23:46.279 our eyes 00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:47.240 to not just see 00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:48.100 what's right in front 00:23:48.100 --> 00:23:48.640 of us today 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:49.259 and tomorrow 00:23:49.259 --> 00:23:49.960 and next week 00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:50.580 and next year 00:23:50.580 --> 00:23:52.080 and for the next 50 years. 00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:55.539 God's kingdom 00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:56.240 is not 00:23:56.240 --> 00:23:56.900 about 00:23:56.900 --> 00:23:57.840 this life. 00:23:57.839 --> 00:24:00.579 and if you think 00:24:00.579 --> 00:24:01.139 it is 00:24:01.139 --> 00:24:02.799 if your hope 00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:04.159 is for a good life 00:24:04.159 --> 00:24:04.939 as a Christian 00:24:04.939 --> 00:24:07.699 then you'll probably 00:24:07.699 --> 00:24:08.539 be disappointed. 00:24:10.859 --> 00:24:11.819 If your hope 00:24:11.819 --> 00:24:12.759 in dark times 00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:13.179 is that 00:24:13.179 --> 00:24:13.759 it's going to get 00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:14.379 better soon 00:24:14.379 --> 00:24:15.240 and by soon 00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:16.059 you mean in a week 00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:16.980 or a month 00:24:16.980 --> 00:24:17.759 or a year 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:21.699 that's not the hope 00:24:21.699 --> 00:24:22.799 of the kingdom of God. 00:24:24.699 --> 00:24:26.220 It's an understandable hope 00:24:26.220 --> 00:24:28.360 it's not a wrong 00:24:28.360 --> 00:24:29.259 thing to desire 00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:31.120 but it's not the hope 00:24:31.120 --> 00:24:32.200 of the kingdom of God. 00:24:32.620 --> 00:24:33.460 It's not the hope 00:24:33.460 --> 00:24:34.000 of scripture 00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:34.980 it's not the victory 00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:35.620 that is won 00:24:35.620 --> 00:24:36.460 in Jesus' death 00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:37.120 and resurrection. 00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:39.559 For many of the Christians 00:24:39.559 --> 00:24:40.440 reading this letter 00:24:40.440 --> 00:24:41.339 in the first century 00:24:41.339 --> 00:24:41.960 reading about 00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:43.160 the victory of Christ 00:24:43.160 --> 00:24:44.579 they would either 00:24:44.579 --> 00:24:45.460 lose loved ones 00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:46.279 or die themselves 00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:47.279 under persecution. 00:24:48.339 --> 00:24:49.259 For many of them 00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:50.600 life didn't get better. 00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:53.220 They suffered every day 00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:53.960 until their life 00:24:53.960 --> 00:24:54.900 was taken from them. 00:24:56.220 --> 00:24:57.240 But ultimately 00:24:57.240 --> 00:24:58.200 it did get better 00:24:58.200 --> 00:25:00.120 because for them 00:25:00.120 --> 00:25:01.240 death was not the end 00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:02.200 it was the transition 00:25:02.200 --> 00:25:03.680 into the better place 00:25:03.680 --> 00:25:04.680 that God had prepared 00:25:04.680 --> 00:25:05.100 for them. 00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:06.980 It was the transition 00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:08.100 into the fuller 00:25:08.100 --> 00:25:09.660 version of God's kingdom 00:25:09.660 --> 00:25:10.900 free from Satan's 00:25:10.900 --> 00:25:11.339 opposition. 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:13.500 If our hope 00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:14.259 in this life 00:25:14.259 --> 00:25:14.860 if our hope 00:25:14.860 --> 00:25:15.500 as Christians 00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:16.839 is just about 00:25:16.839 --> 00:25:17.720 being a bit more 00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:18.220 comfortable 00:25:18.220 --> 00:25:20.019 a bit less sick 00:25:20.019 --> 00:25:21.460 a bit less poor 00:25:21.460 --> 00:25:23.539 then we make 00:25:23.539 --> 00:25:24.220 Satan's job 00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:25.059 really easy. 00:25:25.059 --> 00:25:30.779 God never 00:25:30.779 --> 00:25:31.720 promises 00:25:31.720 --> 00:25:32.519 comfort 00:25:32.519 --> 00:25:34.460 never. 00:25:36.019 --> 00:25:37.099 It is nowhere 00:25:37.099 --> 00:25:37.879 in scripture 00:25:37.879 --> 00:25:39.159 he never promises 00:25:39.159 --> 00:25:40.399 comfort in this life 00:25:40.399 --> 00:25:41.559 and yet somehow 00:25:41.559 --> 00:25:43.119 it just has 00:25:43.119 --> 00:25:44.019 crept in 00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:44.839 and become part 00:25:44.839 --> 00:25:45.779 of our subconscious 00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:46.480 expectation 00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:47.339 of what it means 00:25:47.339 --> 00:25:48.119 to follow Jesus. 00:25:48.119 --> 00:25:50.319 we're happy 00:25:50.319 --> 00:25:50.979 to concede 00:25:50.979 --> 00:25:51.859 we will suffer 00:25:51.859 --> 00:25:52.539 as Christians 00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:53.559 but what we mean 00:25:53.559 --> 00:25:54.039 by that is 00:25:54.039 --> 00:25:54.939 most of our life 00:25:54.939 --> 00:25:55.539 will be okay 00:25:55.539 --> 00:25:56.139 and there'll be 00:25:56.139 --> 00:25:56.899 the odd struggle 00:25:56.899 --> 00:25:57.579 to teach me 00:25:57.579 --> 00:25:57.919 something. 00:25:57.920 --> 00:26:01.759 and so when 00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:02.400 that struggle 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:03.140 stretches out 00:26:03.140 --> 00:26:03.820 for a year 00:26:03.820 --> 00:26:06.180 or for five 00:26:06.180 --> 00:26:06.620 years 00:26:06.620 --> 00:26:07.940 or for 50 00:26:07.940 --> 00:26:08.400 years 00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:09.600 we don't know 00:26:09.600 --> 00:26:10.039 what to do 00:26:10.039 --> 00:26:10.400 with it 00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:11.840 because we 00:26:11.840 --> 00:26:12.900 have convinced 00:26:12.900 --> 00:26:13.560 ourselves 00:26:13.560 --> 00:26:14.460 that the kingdom 00:26:14.460 --> 00:26:15.019 of God 00:26:15.019 --> 00:26:15.580 is about 00:26:15.580 --> 00:26:16.700 having a happy 00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:17.259 retirement. 00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:21.400 last week 00:26:21.400 --> 00:26:21.900 we prayed 00:26:21.900 --> 00:26:22.319 for our 00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:23.079 sister Janine 00:26:23.079 --> 00:26:23.519 and her 00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:23.960 family 00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:25.180 as she 00:26:25.180 --> 00:26:25.839 began a round 00:26:25.839 --> 00:26:26.559 of intensive 00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:27.619 cancer treatment 00:26:27.619 --> 00:26:29.240 and we 00:26:29.240 --> 00:26:29.900 continue to 00:26:29.900 --> 00:26:30.480 pray for her 00:26:30.480 --> 00:26:31.079 and we 00:26:31.079 --> 00:26:31.680 cry out 00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:32.059 that God 00:26:32.059 --> 00:26:32.619 would intervene 00:26:32.619 --> 00:26:33.279 and that he 00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:33.740 would heal 00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:33.980 her 00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:34.420 and that he 00:26:34.420 --> 00:26:34.980 would restore 00:26:34.980 --> 00:26:35.339 her 00:26:35.339 --> 00:26:38.359 but what 00:26:38.359 --> 00:26:38.959 we have 00:26:38.959 --> 00:26:39.619 to grasp 00:26:39.619 --> 00:26:42.279 is that 00:26:42.279 --> 00:26:43.159 even if 00:26:43.159 --> 00:26:43.980 she dies 00:26:43.980 --> 00:26:46.199 even if 00:26:46.199 --> 00:26:46.959 God calls 00:26:46.959 --> 00:26:47.579 her home 00:26:47.579 --> 00:26:49.959 because she 00:26:49.959 --> 00:26:50.639 knows Jesus 00:26:50.639 --> 00:26:51.399 she still 00:26:51.399 --> 00:26:52.159 wins. 00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:55.839 That's the 00:26:55.839 --> 00:26:56.399 hope of the 00:26:56.399 --> 00:26:56.720 kingdom. 00:26:57.379 --> 00:26:57.919 The victory 00:26:57.919 --> 00:26:58.399 of God 00:26:58.399 --> 00:26:58.939 might not 00:26:58.939 --> 00:26:59.500 look like 00:26:59.500 --> 00:27:00.199 victory to 00:27:00.199 --> 00:27:00.579 us 00:27:00.579 --> 00:27:01.159 but that 00:27:01.159 --> 00:27:01.699 just means 00:27:01.699 --> 00:27:02.199 we need 00:27:02.199 --> 00:27:02.599 victory 00:27:02.599 --> 00:27:03.459 redefined. 00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:07.279 We are 00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:08.000 so focused 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:08.359 on the 00:27:08.359 --> 00:27:08.779 here and 00:27:08.779 --> 00:27:09.119 now 00:27:09.119 --> 00:27:09.799 and God 00:27:09.799 --> 00:27:10.139 has a 00:27:10.139 --> 00:27:10.699 bigger vision 00:27:10.699 --> 00:27:11.399 for us. 00:27:11.819 --> 00:27:12.139 He has a 00:27:12.139 --> 00:27:12.720 bigger hope 00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:13.240 than just 00:27:13.240 --> 00:27:13.879 your 60, 00:27:14.019 --> 00:27:14.299 70, 00:27:14.419 --> 00:27:14.599 80, 00:27:14.699 --> 00:27:15.079 90 or 00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:15.859 100 years 00:27:15.859 --> 00:27:16.359 on this 00:27:16.359 --> 00:27:16.740 earth. 00:27:17.399 --> 00:27:18.139 The hope 00:27:18.139 --> 00:27:18.419 that he 00:27:18.419 --> 00:27:18.819 has for 00:27:18.819 --> 00:27:19.179 you is 00:27:19.179 --> 00:27:19.619 eternal. 00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:21.459 The 3D 00:27:21.459 --> 00:27:21.959 images that 00:27:21.959 --> 00:27:22.399 I was talking 00:27:22.399 --> 00:27:23.019 about before 00:27:23.019 --> 00:27:24.039 are blurry 00:27:24.039 --> 00:27:24.679 at best. 00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:25.699 Even when 00:27:25.699 --> 00:27:26.119 you train 00:27:26.119 --> 00:27:26.619 your eyes 00:27:26.619 --> 00:27:27.059 to see 00:27:27.059 --> 00:27:27.480 whatever 00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:28.480 sailboat 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:29.079 is supposed 00:27:29.079 --> 00:27:29.480 to be in 00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:29.899 the picture 00:27:29.899 --> 00:27:30.859 it's still 00:27:30.859 --> 00:27:31.559 hidden in 00:27:31.559 --> 00:27:31.939 a mess 00:27:31.939 --> 00:27:32.559 of colour 00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:33.159 or pattern 00:27:33.159 --> 00:27:34.039 and it's 00:27:34.039 --> 00:27:34.579 blurry 00:27:34.579 --> 00:27:35.319 at best. 00:27:35.339 --> 00:27:38.379 Now that 00:27:38.379 --> 00:27:38.559 you've 00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:38.899 trained 00:27:38.899 --> 00:27:39.459 your eyes 00:27:39.459 --> 00:27:40.539 there's 00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:40.819 just a 00:27:40.819 --> 00:27:41.099 picture 00:27:41.099 --> 00:27:41.740 in that 00:27:41.740 --> 00:27:42.220 blurriness. 00:27:42.879 --> 00:27:43.119 There's 00:27:43.119 --> 00:27:43.299 a little 00:27:43.299 --> 00:27:43.519 bit of 00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:43.879 clarity 00:27:43.879 --> 00:27:44.379 but there's 00:27:44.379 --> 00:27:44.720 still 00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:45.379 mess. 00:27:46.699 --> 00:27:47.220 The 00:27:47.220 --> 00:27:47.539 kingdom 00:27:47.539 --> 00:27:48.459 of God 00:27:48.459 --> 00:27:49.240 is real 00:27:49.240 --> 00:27:50.319 and has 00:27:50.319 --> 00:27:50.839 begun 00:27:50.839 --> 00:27:53.939 but in 00:27:53.939 --> 00:27:54.619 this life 00:27:54.619 --> 00:27:56.720 we see 00:27:56.720 --> 00:27:57.099 it through 00:27:57.099 --> 00:27:57.559 a mess. 00:27:58.879 --> 00:27:59.759 We see 00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:00.459 it amidst 00:28:00.459 --> 00:28:01.179 suffering 00:28:01.179 --> 00:28:04.240 being followers 00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:04.779 of Jesus 00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:05.279 and being 00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:05.839 forgiven 00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:06.899 being part 00:28:06.899 --> 00:28:07.279 of God's 00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:07.500 kingdom 00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:08.099 now brings 00:28:08.099 --> 00:28:08.740 clarity 00:28:08.740 --> 00:28:09.500 and hope 00:28:09.500 --> 00:28:10.000 in the 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:10.319 mess 00:28:10.319 --> 00:28:10.960 but it 00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:11.240 doesn't 00:28:11.240 --> 00:28:11.559 remove 00:28:11.559 --> 00:28:11.980 the mess 00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:12.500 altogether. 00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:14.039 It will 00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:15.920 when Jesus 00:28:15.920 --> 00:28:16.759 comes back 00:28:16.759 --> 00:28:18.379 but right 00:28:18.379 --> 00:28:18.779 now the 00:28:18.779 --> 00:28:19.339 hope of the 00:28:19.339 --> 00:28:20.000 kingdom is 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:20.359 not the 00:28:20.359 --> 00:28:20.980 removal of 00:28:20.980 --> 00:28:21.460 mess but 00:28:21.460 --> 00:28:21.680 it's 00:28:21.680 --> 00:28:22.139 clarity 00:28:22.139 --> 00:28:23.019 in the 00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:23.379 mess. 00:28:23.380 --> 00:28:24.380 victory. 00:28:24.380 --> 00:28:26.060 The 00:28:26.060 --> 00:28:26.740 centerpiece 00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:27.300 of God's 00:28:27.300 --> 00:28:27.740 victory 00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:28.520 the 00:28:28.520 --> 00:28:29.220 centerpiece 00:28:29.220 --> 00:28:30.040 of God's 00:28:30.040 --> 00:28:30.420 saving 00:28:30.420 --> 00:28:30.980 work in 00:28:30.980 --> 00:28:31.460 history 00:28:31.460 --> 00:28:32.360 is the 00:28:32.360 --> 00:28:32.800 cross. 00:28:34.280 --> 00:28:34.520 It's the 00:28:34.520 --> 00:28:35.280 humiliation 00:28:35.280 --> 00:28:36.220 and mockery 00:28:36.220 --> 00:28:36.800 of Jesus 00:28:36.800 --> 00:28:37.580 as he is 00:28:37.580 --> 00:28:38.380 murdered as 00:28:38.380 --> 00:28:38.840 an innocent 00:28:38.840 --> 00:28:40.600 man and 00:28:40.600 --> 00:28:41.420 through that 00:28:41.420 --> 00:28:43.420 event he 00:28:43.420 --> 00:28:44.020 is crowned 00:28:44.020 --> 00:28:44.280 the Lord 00:28:44.280 --> 00:28:44.640 of all. 00:28:47.140 --> 00:28:48.140 Victory in 00:28:48.140 --> 00:28:48.520 the kingdom 00:28:48.520 --> 00:28:49.440 of God is 00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:50.200 very different 00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:51.060 to the way 00:28:51.060 --> 00:28:51.420 the world 00:28:51.420 --> 00:28:51.920 around us 00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:52.320 defines 00:28:52.320 --> 00:28:52.800 victory. 00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:54.820 What God 00:28:54.820 --> 00:28:55.480 has for us 00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:55.960 is good 00:28:55.960 --> 00:28:56.320 and is 00:28:56.320 --> 00:28:58.340 better but 00:28:58.340 --> 00:28:58.720 we must 00:28:58.720 --> 00:29:00.180 understand that 00:29:00.180 --> 00:29:00.700 to a lot of 00:29:00.700 --> 00:29:01.160 people it 00:29:01.160 --> 00:29:01.620 won't look 00:29:01.620 --> 00:29:02.880 good and 00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:03.180 it won't 00:29:03.180 --> 00:29:03.840 look better. 00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:06.440 It will 00:29:06.440 --> 00:29:07.160 involve pain 00:29:07.160 --> 00:29:07.860 and suffering 00:29:07.860 --> 00:29:08.720 and possibly 00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:09.600 even death. 00:29:09.900 --> 00:29:10.460 We need to 00:29:10.460 --> 00:29:10.900 take this 00:29:10.900 --> 00:29:11.500 idea of 00:29:11.500 --> 00:29:12.180 comfort in 00:29:12.180 --> 00:29:12.620 the Christian 00:29:12.620 --> 00:29:13.460 life and 00:29:13.460 --> 00:29:13.920 throw it 00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:14.180 away. 00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:15.519 We need 00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:15.840 to get 00:29:15.840 --> 00:29:16.440 rid of it 00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:19.039 because it 00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:19.660 is damaging 00:29:19.660 --> 00:29:20.380 our ability 00:29:20.380 --> 00:29:21.160 to see 00:29:21.160 --> 00:29:21.779 our eternal 00:29:21.779 --> 00:29:22.160 hope. 00:29:23.560 --> 00:29:24.259 Because we're 00:29:24.259 --> 00:29:24.860 so focused 00:29:24.860 --> 00:29:25.300 on what's 00:29:25.300 --> 00:29:25.820 here we're 00:29:25.820 --> 00:29:26.800 missing what 00:29:26.800 --> 00:29:27.259 is further 00:29:27.259 --> 00:29:27.620 out. 00:29:27.960 --> 00:29:28.580 We're missing 00:29:28.580 --> 00:29:29.140 what is more 00:29:29.140 --> 00:29:29.560 exciting. 00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:30.200 We're missing 00:29:30.200 --> 00:29:30.940 what is hiding 00:29:30.940 --> 00:29:31.880 in the mess. 00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:34.380 So long as 00:29:34.380 --> 00:29:34.700 we allow 00:29:34.700 --> 00:29:35.480 comfort to 00:29:35.480 --> 00:29:36.000 shape our 00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:37.720 hope then 00:29:37.720 --> 00:29:38.000 we'll be 00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:38.620 setting ourselves 00:29:38.620 --> 00:29:39.000 up for 00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:39.380 pain. 00:29:41.279 --> 00:29:42.140 Because God 00:29:42.140 --> 00:29:42.980 just doesn't 00:29:42.980 --> 00:29:43.580 promise you 00:29:43.580 --> 00:29:44.160 comfort in 00:29:44.160 --> 00:29:44.740 this life. 00:29:45.160 --> 00:29:45.540 He does 00:29:45.540 --> 00:29:46.420 promise comfort 00:29:46.420 --> 00:29:47.460 beyond your 00:29:47.460 --> 00:29:48.460 wildest imagination 00:29:48.460 --> 00:29:49.420 but he promises 00:29:49.420 --> 00:29:50.519 it when he 00:29:50.519 --> 00:29:50.940 returns. 00:29:51.160 --> 00:29:52.660 And if you 00:29:52.660 --> 00:29:53.340 are expecting 00:29:53.340 --> 00:29:54.560 him to 00:29:54.560 --> 00:29:54.920 give you 00:29:54.920 --> 00:29:55.680 comfort now 00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:56.660 you will 00:29:56.660 --> 00:29:57.420 be disappointed. 00:29:59.540 --> 00:30:00.259 Now don't 00:30:00.259 --> 00:30:00.860 mishear me. 00:30:01.440 --> 00:30:01.900 There's nothing 00:30:01.900 --> 00:30:02.519 wrong with 00:30:02.519 --> 00:30:03.160 comfort in 00:30:03.160 --> 00:30:03.620 itself. 00:30:04.600 --> 00:30:05.279 There's nothing 00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:05.800 wrong with the 00:30:05.800 --> 00:30:06.580 fact that you 00:30:06.580 --> 00:30:07.100 live in a 00:30:07.100 --> 00:30:07.680 house and that 00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:08.200 you can feed 00:30:08.200 --> 00:30:08.740 yourself and 00:30:08.740 --> 00:30:09.200 those sort of 00:30:09.200 --> 00:30:09.800 things but you 00:30:09.800 --> 00:30:10.400 must understand 00:30:10.400 --> 00:30:11.240 it's less than 00:30:11.240 --> 00:30:11.900 what God wants 00:30:11.900 --> 00:30:12.200 for you. 00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:12.960 So if that is 00:30:12.960 --> 00:30:13.540 your ambition 00:30:13.540 --> 00:30:14.140 if that is your 00:30:14.140 --> 00:30:14.840 hope in dark 00:30:14.840 --> 00:30:15.420 times that you 00:30:15.420 --> 00:30:16.140 can get back to 00:30:16.140 --> 00:30:16.600 that sort of 00:30:16.600 --> 00:30:17.680 life it's not 00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:18.060 the kingdom. 00:30:18.059 --> 00:30:20.480 And it's a 00:30:20.480 --> 00:30:22.240 distraction from 00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:22.819 what God is 00:30:22.819 --> 00:30:23.119 doing. 00:30:24.339 --> 00:30:25.200 The Christian 00:30:25.200 --> 00:30:26.539 life now, the 00:30:26.539 --> 00:30:27.240 kingdom of God 00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:28.659 now is both 00:30:28.659 --> 00:30:30.379 joy and woe. 00:30:31.079 --> 00:30:32.019 It's not one or 00:30:32.019 --> 00:30:32.399 the other. 00:30:32.619 --> 00:30:33.500 We're at war with 00:30:33.500 --> 00:30:34.980 Satan and yet 00:30:34.980 --> 00:30:36.259 Christ is on the 00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:36.519 throne. 00:30:37.099 --> 00:30:38.200 It's done, he's 00:30:38.200 --> 00:30:39.000 won the victory, 00:30:39.480 --> 00:30:40.679 eternity is sure 00:30:40.679 --> 00:30:42.019 and we have heaven 00:30:42.019 --> 00:30:42.899 to look forward to. 00:30:42.900 --> 00:30:47.160 But the key to 00:30:47.160 --> 00:30:49.300 having joy and 00:30:49.300 --> 00:30:51.280 woe rather than 00:30:51.280 --> 00:30:53.519 just woe is 00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:54.120 perspective. 00:30:55.080 --> 00:30:55.980 The key is 00:30:55.980 --> 00:30:57.080 training our eyes 00:30:57.080 --> 00:30:58.180 to look past the 00:30:58.180 --> 00:30:58.920 fuzziness of our 00:30:58.920 --> 00:30:59.960 situation and our 00:30:59.960 --> 00:31:01.240 circumstance and to 00:31:01.240 --> 00:31:01.940 see what is 00:31:01.940 --> 00:31:03.180 eternally true. 00:31:03.780 --> 00:31:04.880 To see more than 00:31:04.880 --> 00:31:06.080 what first appears. 00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:07.280 The whole book of 00:31:07.280 --> 00:31:08.360 Revelation is about 00:31:08.360 --> 00:31:09.040 perspective. 00:31:10.040 --> 00:31:10.759 We talked about 00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:11.240 this when we're 00:31:11.240 --> 00:31:11.620 looking at 00:31:11.620 --> 00:31:12.400 Revelation 1. 00:31:12.400 --> 00:31:13.140 It's like God 00:31:13.140 --> 00:31:14.240 tears the curtains 00:31:14.240 --> 00:31:15.680 of time back so 00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:16.660 that John can see 00:31:16.660 --> 00:31:17.480 into eternity. 00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:18.620 He can see that 00:31:18.620 --> 00:31:19.620 God is still winning, 00:31:19.740 --> 00:31:20.360 that he is still 00:31:20.360 --> 00:31:21.519 in control and 00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:22.120 this book is 00:31:22.120 --> 00:31:23.140 designed to lift 00:31:23.140 --> 00:31:24.759 struggling Christians, 00:31:25.240 --> 00:31:26.040 those struggling 00:31:26.040 --> 00:31:27.440 with opposition and 00:31:27.440 --> 00:31:28.100 those struggling 00:31:28.100 --> 00:31:29.740 with apathy and 00:31:29.740 --> 00:31:31.120 laziness, to lift 00:31:31.120 --> 00:31:32.200 struggling Christians 00:31:32.200 --> 00:31:33.160 above their 00:31:33.160 --> 00:31:34.160 circumstance so 00:31:34.160 --> 00:31:35.060 that they can see 00:31:35.060 --> 00:31:36.680 a glorious and 00:31:36.680 --> 00:31:37.660 better hope. 00:31:40.200 --> 00:31:41.340 So that they can 00:31:41.340 --> 00:31:42.280 see the victory 00:31:42.279 --> 00:31:43.160 of the cross 00:31:43.160 --> 00:31:44.559 already achieved 00:31:44.559 --> 00:31:46.639 and so that they 00:31:46.639 --> 00:31:47.779 can begin to run 00:31:47.779 --> 00:31:48.619 with excitement 00:31:48.619 --> 00:31:50.379 to the future 00:31:50.379 --> 00:31:51.240 heaven that awaits 00:31:51.240 --> 00:31:51.519 them. 00:31:52.579 --> 00:31:53.920 It will still hurt 00:31:53.920 --> 00:31:55.440 to follow Jesus. 00:31:56.440 --> 00:31:57.339 There will still be 00:31:57.339 --> 00:31:59.079 sorrow but when 00:31:59.079 --> 00:32:00.200 our eyes are fixed 00:32:00.200 --> 00:32:00.899 on heaven, 00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:03.019 fixed on eternity, 00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:05.539 we can endure any 00:32:05.539 --> 00:32:07.480 suffering with joy. 00:32:07.480 --> 00:32:09.339 It doesn't mean we 00:32:09.339 --> 00:32:10.220 won't cry, it 00:32:10.220 --> 00:32:10.759 doesn't mean it 00:32:10.759 --> 00:32:11.539 won't be painful 00:32:11.539 --> 00:32:13.220 but in our pain, 00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:14.420 in our woe, 00:32:14.700 --> 00:32:15.519 there will be joy. 00:32:17.500 --> 00:32:19.680 I read a devotional 00:32:19.680 --> 00:32:20.880 book called Taste 00:32:20.880 --> 00:32:21.539 and See a couple 00:32:21.539 --> 00:32:22.000 of years ago, 00:32:22.039 --> 00:32:23.079 it's just a daily 00:32:23.079 --> 00:32:24.920 little bit and one 00:32:24.920 --> 00:32:25.940 thing that stuck with 00:32:25.940 --> 00:32:27.819 me and has really 00:32:27.819 --> 00:32:29.539 haunted me ever 00:32:29.539 --> 00:32:30.500 since was the story 00:32:30.500 --> 00:32:31.779 of a family of 00:32:31.779 --> 00:32:32.240 missionaries. 00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:33.120 I can't remember 00:32:33.120 --> 00:32:33.620 exactly what 00:32:33.620 --> 00:32:34.180 country they're 00:32:34.180 --> 00:32:35.779 from and that 00:32:35.779 --> 00:32:36.859 family was basically 00:32:36.859 --> 00:32:38.960 rounded up and 00:32:38.960 --> 00:32:40.160 forced to dig their 00:32:40.160 --> 00:32:41.779 own grave before 00:32:41.779 --> 00:32:42.180 they were going to 00:32:42.180 --> 00:32:43.279 be executed for 00:32:43.279 --> 00:32:44.180 doing Christian 00:32:44.180 --> 00:32:44.900 ministry in this 00:32:44.900 --> 00:32:45.279 country. 00:32:46.059 --> 00:32:47.200 It was a father 00:32:47.200 --> 00:32:48.299 and a mother and 00:32:48.299 --> 00:32:48.940 three children. 00:32:49.980 --> 00:32:51.059 So they dug their 00:32:51.059 --> 00:32:52.519 own grave with the 00:32:52.519 --> 00:32:53.299 soldiers standing 00:32:53.299 --> 00:32:54.579 around, guns ready. 00:32:55.700 --> 00:32:56.759 Just before they're 00:32:56.759 --> 00:32:57.640 about to be killed, 00:32:57.859 --> 00:32:59.240 the dad asked if 00:32:59.240 --> 00:33:00.120 they could kneel and 00:33:00.120 --> 00:33:01.099 pray first before 00:33:01.099 --> 00:33:03.099 they were shot and 00:33:03.099 --> 00:33:05.119 the soldiers allowed 00:33:05.119 --> 00:33:06.039 them to kneel down 00:33:06.039 --> 00:33:06.899 and pray and as 00:33:06.899 --> 00:33:07.939 they began to pray, 00:33:08.459 --> 00:33:09.859 the eldest son ran. 00:33:10.759 --> 00:33:11.599 He jumped up and 00:33:11.599 --> 00:33:12.480 just bolted off into 00:33:12.480 --> 00:33:13.199 the bush and the 00:33:13.199 --> 00:33:13.919 soldiers got very 00:33:13.919 --> 00:33:14.679 aggressive and were 00:33:14.679 --> 00:33:15.339 ready to go after 00:33:15.339 --> 00:33:16.339 him and the dad 00:33:16.339 --> 00:33:18.099 asked them not to 00:33:18.099 --> 00:33:18.799 chase the son. 00:33:19.059 --> 00:33:19.379 He said, 00:33:19.519 --> 00:33:21.439 please allow me to 00:33:21.439 --> 00:33:22.240 call him back. 00:33:24.159 --> 00:33:25.279 And the dad said 00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:25.899 to his son, 00:33:26.059 --> 00:33:27.679 please come back. 00:33:28.859 --> 00:33:30.019 It is better for 00:33:30.019 --> 00:33:30.799 us to enter, 00:33:30.799 --> 00:33:32.000 eternity together 00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:34.279 today than for 00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:35.419 you to live with 00:33:35.419 --> 00:33:37.539 a regret of 00:33:37.539 --> 00:33:38.579 fleeing from 00:33:38.579 --> 00:33:39.339 faithfulness. 00:33:42.099 --> 00:33:43.119 The question I 00:33:43.119 --> 00:33:44.240 find myself asking 00:33:44.240 --> 00:33:44.919 when I hear a 00:33:44.919 --> 00:33:45.779 story like that is 00:33:45.779 --> 00:33:46.680 how did he do 00:33:46.680 --> 00:33:46.919 that? 00:33:48.859 --> 00:33:49.819 If I was in the 00:33:49.819 --> 00:33:50.740 situation with my 00:33:50.740 --> 00:33:51.539 son, would I call 00:33:51.539 --> 00:33:52.319 him back or would I 00:33:52.319 --> 00:33:53.519 cheer and try and 00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:54.039 slow down the 00:33:54.039 --> 00:33:54.680 soldiers so that he 00:33:54.680 --> 00:33:55.220 could get away? 00:33:57.220 --> 00:33:58.859 How did he do 00:33:58.859 --> 00:33:59.139 that? 00:34:01.199 --> 00:34:02.459 And the answer is 00:34:02.459 --> 00:34:03.179 perspective. 00:34:04.719 --> 00:34:06.259 The answer is he 00:34:06.259 --> 00:34:07.199 had trained his 00:34:07.199 --> 00:34:08.380 eyes and his heart 00:34:08.380 --> 00:34:09.920 to see more than 00:34:09.920 --> 00:34:10.819 what was in front of 00:34:10.819 --> 00:34:11.000 him. 00:34:12.380 --> 00:34:13.839 He wasn't consumed 00:34:13.839 --> 00:34:15.480 by the soldiers and 00:34:15.480 --> 00:34:16.639 the guns and the 00:34:16.639 --> 00:34:18.019 grave and the death 00:34:18.019 --> 00:34:18.739 that he knew was 00:34:18.739 --> 00:34:19.079 coming. 00:34:20.239 --> 00:34:21.480 He had trained his 00:34:21.480 --> 00:34:22.920 eyes and his heart to 00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:24.299 see the cross first 00:34:24.300 --> 00:34:26.019 and the victory 00:34:26.019 --> 00:34:27.140 that was won on the 00:34:27.140 --> 00:34:30.560 cross and the 00:34:30.560 --> 00:34:31.640 sure hope he had 00:34:31.640 --> 00:34:32.120 for heaven. 00:34:34.320 --> 00:34:35.240 And so even in the 00:34:35.240 --> 00:34:38.080 pain of anticipating 00:34:38.080 --> 00:34:39.160 the death of his 00:34:39.160 --> 00:34:40.019 children and his 00:34:40.019 --> 00:34:42.580 wife, there was the 00:34:42.580 --> 00:34:43.620 joy of knowing that 00:34:43.620 --> 00:34:44.480 soon they would all 00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:46.640 enjoy perfect eternity 00:34:46.640 --> 00:34:47.280 with God. 00:34:47.280 --> 00:34:50.720 the key to not 00:34:50.720 --> 00:34:51.680 loving our lives 00:34:51.680 --> 00:34:52.960 too much, to not 00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:54.019 loving the things in 00:34:54.019 --> 00:34:55.100 our lives too much, 00:34:55.440 --> 00:34:57.460 is training our 00:34:57.460 --> 00:34:58.980 eyes on the two 00:34:58.980 --> 00:35:00.460 key moments in 00:35:00.460 --> 00:35:00.940 eternity. 00:35:01.640 --> 00:35:02.780 The two key moments 00:35:02.780 --> 00:35:03.920 that stand either side 00:35:03.920 --> 00:35:04.380 of us. 00:35:04.640 --> 00:35:05.720 The first is the 00:35:05.720 --> 00:35:06.800 victory of the cross, 00:35:06.920 --> 00:35:08.220 the complete and 00:35:08.220 --> 00:35:09.800 irreversible victory of 00:35:09.800 --> 00:35:10.460 the cross which 00:35:10.460 --> 00:35:11.300 enables you to be 00:35:11.300 --> 00:35:12.760 forgiven and loved 00:35:12.760 --> 00:35:14.960 and adopted and 00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:16.120 which enabled Jesus 00:35:16.119 --> 00:35:17.599 to ascend to his 00:35:17.599 --> 00:35:18.440 throne where he 00:35:18.440 --> 00:35:19.779 reigns forever. 00:35:21.000 --> 00:35:21.940 And that first 00:35:21.940 --> 00:35:23.500 point points toward 00:35:23.500 --> 00:35:24.799 and guarantees the 00:35:24.799 --> 00:35:25.420 second point. 00:35:25.539 --> 00:35:26.299 We live here in the 00:35:26.299 --> 00:35:26.440 middle. 00:35:26.539 --> 00:35:27.319 You've got the cross 00:35:27.319 --> 00:35:28.579 and the second point 00:35:28.579 --> 00:35:30.179 is Jesus coming back. 00:35:30.880 --> 00:35:31.559 It's the guarantee 00:35:31.559 --> 00:35:32.599 that the king on the 00:35:32.599 --> 00:35:33.920 throne will come and 00:35:33.920 --> 00:35:34.839 gather up his 00:35:34.839 --> 00:35:35.420 subjects. 00:35:36.139 --> 00:35:36.900 He will bring the 00:35:36.900 --> 00:35:37.859 comfort and the 00:35:37.859 --> 00:35:38.859 joy and the 00:35:38.859 --> 00:35:39.339 satisfaction. 00:35:39.839 --> 00:35:40.739 He will remove the 00:35:40.739 --> 00:35:41.460 pain and the 00:35:41.460 --> 00:35:42.199 suffering and the 00:35:42.199 --> 00:35:42.920 sickness and the 00:35:42.920 --> 00:35:43.179 death. 00:35:43.500 --> 00:35:44.559 He will fill us with 00:35:44.559 --> 00:35:45.839 pleasure beyond our 00:35:45.840 --> 00:35:46.820 wildest imagination 00:35:46.820 --> 00:35:47.800 as we spend 00:35:47.800 --> 00:35:49.420 eternity in the 00:35:49.420 --> 00:35:50.840 presence of the 00:35:50.840 --> 00:35:52.420 good and loving 00:35:52.420 --> 00:35:53.559 and gracious 00:35:53.559 --> 00:35:54.760 God. 00:35:58.720 --> 00:36:01.519 The key is to 00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:03.539 train your eyes to 00:36:03.539 --> 00:36:05.039 see past today, 00:36:05.980 --> 00:36:07.280 to see past this 00:36:07.280 --> 00:36:08.820 week, this year, 00:36:09.059 --> 00:36:10.260 to see the cross 00:36:10.260 --> 00:36:12.000 and heaven. 00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:15.360 those two things 00:36:15.360 --> 00:36:17.239 bring joy into the 00:36:17.239 --> 00:36:18.500 war that is raging. 00:36:19.760 --> 00:36:21.340 John saw a great 00:36:21.340 --> 00:36:23.300 and wondrous sign in 00:36:23.300 --> 00:36:23.559 heaven. 00:36:24.699 --> 00:36:26.500 He saw war and 00:36:26.500 --> 00:36:28.079 pain and suffering 00:36:28.079 --> 00:36:29.659 in this life, 00:36:30.199 --> 00:36:32.719 but he saw his 00:36:32.719 --> 00:36:34.039 risen Savior Jesus 00:36:34.039 --> 00:36:36.460 on the throne and 00:36:36.460 --> 00:36:38.880 he saw hope for the 00:36:38.880 --> 00:36:39.780 day when it would 00:36:39.780 --> 00:36:40.760 all be made right. 00:36:42.140 --> 00:36:43.320 As you look at the 00:36:43.320 --> 00:36:44.880 mess in your own 00:36:44.880 --> 00:36:47.080 life now, as you 00:36:47.080 --> 00:36:47.740 look at the world 00:36:47.740 --> 00:36:50.900 around us, train 00:36:50.900 --> 00:36:53.200 your eyes to see 00:36:53.200 --> 00:36:53.940 the hope and 00:36:53.940 --> 00:36:54.840 victory of Jesus. 00:36:56.240 --> 00:36:58.820 Train your heart to 00:36:58.820 --> 00:37:02.019 see Jesus because 00:37:02.019 --> 00:37:04.160 in him and in his 00:37:04.160 --> 00:37:06.380 kingdom there is joy 00:37:06.380 --> 00:37:07.880 even in woe. 00:37:08.980 --> 00:37:10.519 There is peace even 00:37:10.519 --> 00:37:12.579 in uncertainty and 00:37:12.579 --> 00:37:14.599 there is hope even 00:37:14.599 --> 00:37:15.180 in death. 00:37:17.039 --> 00:37:18.320 Train your eyes, 00:37:19.599 --> 00:37:20.519 train your heart 00:37:20.519 --> 00:37:23.579 and fix them on 00:37:23.579 --> 00:37:23.880 Jesus. 00:37:26.740 --> 00:37:27.519 Let's pray. 00:37:27.519 --> 00:37:36.079 Father God, we 00:37:36.079 --> 00:37:37.920 want to confess 00:37:37.920 --> 00:37:39.059 that we are so 00:37:39.059 --> 00:37:41.159 quick to desire 00:37:41.159 --> 00:37:42.059 and settle for 00:37:42.059 --> 00:37:43.159 less than you have 00:37:43.159 --> 00:37:44.219 designed for us. 00:37:45.559 --> 00:37:46.380 We want to 00:37:46.380 --> 00:37:47.259 acknowledge that we 00:37:47.259 --> 00:37:48.539 get overwhelmed by 00:37:48.539 --> 00:37:49.599 our situation and 00:37:49.599 --> 00:37:50.360 our circumstance. 00:37:52.099 --> 00:37:52.920 Father, there are 00:37:52.920 --> 00:37:53.860 many of us in this 00:37:53.860 --> 00:37:54.940 room who right now 00:37:54.940 --> 00:37:55.619 are dealing with 00:37:55.619 --> 00:37:57.159 pain and doubt 00:37:57.159 --> 00:37:58.119 and frustration 00:37:58.119 --> 00:37:59.139 when it comes to 00:37:59.139 --> 00:38:00.500 our lives following 00:38:00.500 --> 00:38:00.799 you. 00:38:02.940 --> 00:38:05.039 God, please lift 00:38:05.039 --> 00:38:06.239 our eyes, train 00:38:06.239 --> 00:38:07.199 our eyes, train 00:38:07.199 --> 00:38:08.420 our hearts to 00:38:08.420 --> 00:38:09.239 focus on the 00:38:09.239 --> 00:38:10.759 cross, to focus 00:38:10.759 --> 00:38:11.500 on the victory 00:38:11.500 --> 00:38:12.559 that you won in 00:38:12.559 --> 00:38:12.920 Jesus. 00:38:15.519 --> 00:38:16.960 Open our eyes to 00:38:16.960 --> 00:38:18.339 see the hope that 00:38:18.339 --> 00:38:20.199 awaits us, to 00:38:20.199 --> 00:38:21.000 look forward with 00:38:21.000 --> 00:38:22.079 anticipation, to 00:38:22.079 --> 00:38:23.239 not love our lives 00:38:23.239 --> 00:38:24.159 or things in our 00:38:24.159 --> 00:38:24.900 lives because we 00:38:24.900 --> 00:38:25.500 know that there 00:38:25.500 --> 00:38:25.960 is something 00:38:25.960 --> 00:38:26.740 better that you 00:38:26.740 --> 00:38:27.539 have prepared for 00:38:27.539 --> 00:38:27.900 us. 00:38:29.400 --> 00:38:30.639 Give us the joy 00:38:30.639 --> 00:38:31.539 and the peace and 00:38:31.539 --> 00:38:32.300 the hope that you 00:38:32.300 --> 00:38:33.079 promised that is 00:38:33.079 --> 00:38:35.000 bigger than any 00:38:35.000 --> 00:38:36.300 circumstance in our 00:38:36.300 --> 00:38:36.680 life. 00:38:38.480 --> 00:38:39.260 Give us the 00:38:39.260 --> 00:38:40.220 humility and the 00:38:40.220 --> 00:38:41.400 honesty to admit 00:38:41.400 --> 00:38:42.639 when we're 00:38:42.639 --> 00:38:43.039 struggling. 00:38:46.180 --> 00:38:46.920 Give us the 00:38:46.920 --> 00:38:47.519 love for one 00:38:47.519 --> 00:38:48.119 another to 00:38:48.119 --> 00:38:51.320 rejoice as we 00:38:51.320 --> 00:38:54.099 overcome, as we 00:38:54.099 --> 00:38:54.839 find joy. 00:38:56.159 --> 00:38:57.079 Give us the love 00:38:57.079 --> 00:38:57.679 for one another 00:38:57.679 --> 00:38:58.299 that we might 00:38:58.299 --> 00:38:59.259 struggle together, 00:38:59.839 --> 00:39:02.179 that we might 00:39:02.179 --> 00:39:02.880 bear with one 00:39:02.880 --> 00:39:03.199 another. 00:39:06.940 --> 00:39:07.860 Father God, 00:39:07.940 --> 00:39:09.119 please imprint 00:39:09.119 --> 00:39:11.659 Jesus on our 00:39:11.659 --> 00:39:13.039 hearts and minds 00:39:13.039 --> 00:39:15.920 so that we may 00:39:15.920 --> 00:39:17.059 love you more 00:39:17.059 --> 00:39:17.519 than anything 00:39:17.519 --> 00:39:20.699 else, so that 00:39:20.699 --> 00:39:21.339 we may live 00:39:21.340 --> 00:39:21.980 wanting more 00:39:21.980 --> 00:39:22.519 than anything 00:39:22.519 --> 00:39:24.120 else to get 00:39:24.120 --> 00:39:25.300 to that future 00:39:25.300 --> 00:39:25.960 kingdom that 00:39:25.960 --> 00:39:26.760 awaits us. 00:39:28.280 --> 00:39:29.519 And we pray, 00:39:29.820 --> 00:39:30.640 please come 00:39:30.640 --> 00:39:31.100 soon. 00:39:33.440 --> 00:39:34.079 Amen. 00:39:34.079 --> 00:39:34.160 Amen. 00:39:41.160 --> 00:39:42.480 Let's continue in 00:39:42.480 --> 00:39:42.660 prayer. 00:39:42.659 --> 00:39:47.500 Almighty God 00:39:47.500 --> 00:39:48.059 and merciful 00:39:48.059 --> 00:39:49.639 Father, we 00:39:49.639 --> 00:39:50.539 give you humble 00:39:50.539 --> 00:39:51.440 and heartfelt 00:39:51.440 --> 00:39:53.099 thanks for all 00:39:53.099 --> 00:39:54.239 your goodness and 00:39:54.239 --> 00:39:55.279 loving kindness to 00:39:55.279 --> 00:39:56.480 us and to all 00:39:56.480 --> 00:39:56.819 people. 00:39:57.679 --> 00:39:59.019 We bless you for 00:39:59.019 --> 00:40:00.179 our creation and 00:40:00.179 --> 00:40:01.500 preservation and 00:40:01.500 --> 00:40:02.460 all the blessings of 00:40:02.460 --> 00:40:04.119 this life, but 00:40:04.119 --> 00:40:05.139 above all for your 00:40:05.139 --> 00:40:06.679 immeasurable love in 00:40:06.679 --> 00:40:07.719 the redemption of