WEBVTT

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 As we sit, let's bow our heads and pray together.

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 Our gracious Father, we pray now that you would open our eyes and open our ears and open our hearts.

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 That we might receive your truth and your truth would set us truly free.

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 Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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 Amen. So, if you've been around churches any length of time, you'll have heard preachers say,

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 God has a plan. And in this world which seems so broken at the moment,

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 you might be wondering to yourselves what that plan actually is.

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 But God does have a plan. In fact, God has more than one plan.

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 First thing he has is a plan for your life.

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 And the problem with that is you'll only discover that plan the more you submit to him

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 and to his will for your life. The more likely you are to know what his plan is for you.

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 When I look through the annals of church history about the men and women

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 who have done great things for God, the first thing I note about them is

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 they're not plaster saints as we say, but they are people who are surrendered

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 to what God wants for them.

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 You might like to think about that in your own life.

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 But God has a bigger plan.

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 And the bigger plan is he wants to restore his kingdom here on earth.

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 And you need to put away, out of your minds, the idea that God's kingdom is a place.

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 You can't go on chewy and get there.

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 God's rule, sorry, God's kingdom is where God's sovereign rule exists in the hearts of human beings.

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 God's plan B, if you like, is the church.

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 And I have no idea why God would choose us to be his plan B.

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 Except that he is a God of grace and a God of mercy.

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 And a God who wants the very best for you.

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 And in the mind of God, the very best for you

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 is when you bring your life under his control.

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 As the old street preachers put it,

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 when you take self off the throne

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 and put Jesus on the throne.

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 You might well ask yourself,

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 what's going wrong with the world at the moment?

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 And the answer is,

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 I was having lunch with some church leaders just last week,

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 and one of them asked me very bluntly,

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 do I think that what's going on in the world at the moment

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 is the end of the world emerging?

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 I said, well, there have been several people throughout history

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 who thought that that was happening,

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 but what I can say is this,

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 it does look as though some of the signs that the Bible refers to

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 are coming about in our generation.

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 No one can say for sure whether it's the Lord's plan to return,

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 but if we're called to read the signs of the times,

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 then looking at those signs,

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 it does seem that Jesus' return might be imminent.

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 Someone say amen.

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 Don't sound too keen on it.

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 So the church is God's plan B,

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 and God's plan is this,

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 that the church, you and me,

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 have to model an alternative way of living.

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 Something to use Graham Tomlin's memorable verse

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 that makes the church provocative,

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 simply by the way we live together and individually,

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 will provoke others to ask some deeper questions,

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 rather than just get through life superficially,

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 like one of those water boatmen running across a pond.

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 Have we got to where we are?

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 Well, I'm going to give you a very simple explanation.

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 It's not my explanation, as a matter of fact.

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 It's the explanation of St. Paul.

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 And St. Paul thought very clearly,

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 the reason why the world is the way it is,

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 and Paul lived in very godless times,

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 the Roman Empire,

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 which occupied the ancient Near East,

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 was a very profligate society.

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 Just about every sin,

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 terrible sin,

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 that you could think of,

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 existed there.

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 Sexual immorality,

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 lying, cheating, murder,

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 child prostitution,

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 it was there.

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 And Paul has a very simple explanation of this.

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 He says,

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 it's the result of human sin.

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 The result of human sin.

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 It's why,

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 not only have I played a part implicitly

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 in the way the world is,

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 but at the same time,

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 I can play a part

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 in making it different.

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 Paul says in Romans chapter 3

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 and verse 23,

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 all have sinned.

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 You get that?

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 That's everybody in church today.

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 That's everybody who's existed

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 throughout the whole of human history.

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 All have sinned,

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 says St. Paul,

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 and fall short of the glory of God.

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 And if you were to read from Romans chapter 1,

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 you would read there

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 Paul's explanation

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 of the way the world is.

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 Just let me give you,

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 if I may for a moment,

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 a flavor of that.

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 If you have a Bible to handle,

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 you've got it on your phone,

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 you could turn to it right now.

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 Romans chapter 1.

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 Here's what the great apostle writes

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 about the way the world is.

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 He says this,

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 That's interesting.

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 That when we sin,

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 what we're effectively doing

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 is repressing the truth about God.

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 Paul goes on,

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 See, one of the things

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 that's going wrong in this world

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 at the moment is

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 that it's being governed

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 by some extremely wrong-headed ideas.

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 A little bit more about that

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 in just a moment.

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 And then,

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 this terrible verse,

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 verse 24.

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 In the light of the sinfulness

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 of human beings,

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 Paul writes this,

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 Therefore,

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 God gave them over

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 in the sinful desires of their hearts

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 to the sexual impurity

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 for the degrading of their bodies

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 with one another.

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 I don't think Paul was obsessed with sex.

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 But it's not a bad litmus test

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 of the culture of a society

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 to see what it thinks about sex.

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 Call me old-fashioned.

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 Call me fuddy-duddy.

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 Call me a man of my generation.

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 But what I see in our culture

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 is sexual profligacy.

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 I read recently

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 about a website.

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 I've never looked at it

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 and I'm not going to give you

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 the website address

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 because I don't think

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 it'd be good for you.

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 But it's called,

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 the website is Ashley Madison

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 and its strap line is this,

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 Life is short,

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 have an affair.

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 You know,

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 hands up if it makes you,

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 I mean, not literally,

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 but if that makes you feel sick.

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 You know,

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 David Watson

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 always used to say publicly

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 that one of the Satan's

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 wily tricks

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 to undermine Christians

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 was to encourage Satanists

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 to pray against Christian marriage.

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 We have used our freedom

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 to become slaves to sin.

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 And so,

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 John writes

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 in the passage

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 we had read to us,

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 if the Son sets you free,

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 you will be free indeed.

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 He also said this,

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 if you hold to my teaching,

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 you are really my disciples,

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 then you will know the truth

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 and the truth

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 will set you free.

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 I have

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 little,

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 I understand easily

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 why the world is

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 the way it is.

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 And that is,

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 when a society

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 turns to godlessness,

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 let me remind you

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 that according to

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 the last sentence done,

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 there are more people

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 now who have

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 no belief in God

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 than people who believe in him,

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 whatever that belief

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 might look like.

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 I have no doubt

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 it is the godlessness

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 of our society

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 which creates

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 the wrack and ruin

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 and brokenness

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 of the world.

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 And God

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 has a better plan

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 for the world.

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 And that is,

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 it should be governed

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 by his sovereign rule

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 in our hearts.

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 If the son sets you free,

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 you shall be free indeed.

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 God sees what's wrong

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 but the amazing thing is

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 God has a rescue plan.

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 If sin is the heart

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 of the human problem,

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 then Jesus

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 is the cure.

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 And when you trust Christ,

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 and if you haven't done that,

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 you can do that today.

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 If you've not trusted Christ

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 and his finished work

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 upon the cross of Calvary,

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 you can make a move

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 to God

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 this very day.

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 But there are three

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 immediate benefits

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 that accrue to you

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 the very moment

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 you give your life

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 to Christ.

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 One is,

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 you are saved

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 from your sin.

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 Romans chapter 5

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 and verse 6,

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 Paul writes this,

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 it was when we were

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 still sinful

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 that God sent his son

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 to die for us.

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 How long do you think

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 God would have to wait

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 till you became sinless?

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 Don't shout out.

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 A long time,

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 right?

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 The second benefit

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 that accrues to those

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 who trust Christ

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 is this,

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 you are saved

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 from the coming wrath.

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 1 Thessalonians

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 chapter 1

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 verses 9 and 10.

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 Paul tells the

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 Christians

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 in Thessalonica

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 that they're saved

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 from the wrath of God

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 which is about to fall

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 on society.

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 And the third thing is,

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 and this is not

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 about pie in the sky

00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:27.080
 when you die,

00:12:27.080 --> 00:12:29.100
 but the third benefit

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 that accrues to you

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 the moment you trust Christ

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 is that you will not

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 have to face

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 a Christless eternity.

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 The wages of sin

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 is death,

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 wrote Paul,

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 but the free gift

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 of God

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 is eternal life

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 in union

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 with Christ Jesus.

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 Here is God's plan.

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 The rescue act

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 and then,

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 amazingly,

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 God doesn't leave us

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 on our own

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 to kind of struggle

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 with all this,

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 to work out

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 how we can live

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 our lives,

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 how we can live

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 obediently to Christ

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 and find the freedom

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 that he talks about.

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 How do we allow

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 the Holy Spirit

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 to change us

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 from the inside out?

00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:18.399
 When I was a young fellow,

00:13:18.519 --> 00:13:19.420
 we used to sing

00:13:19.420 --> 00:13:21.060
 an old schism chorus.

00:13:21.680 --> 00:13:22.500
 It was called

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 No, Never Alone.

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 Some of you

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 look old enough

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 to remember it.

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 It goes like this,

00:13:30.659 --> 00:13:32.059
 The world's fierce winds

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 are blowing,

00:13:32.839 --> 00:13:34.919
 temptation sharp and keen.

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 I have a peace

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 in knowing

00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:38.579
 my Saviour

00:13:38.579 --> 00:13:39.939
 stands between.

00:13:41.079 --> 00:13:41.819
 He stands

00:13:41.819 --> 00:13:42.620
 to shield me

00:13:42.620 --> 00:13:43.339
 from danger

00:13:43.339 --> 00:13:44.939
 when all my friends

00:13:44.939 --> 00:13:45.419
 are gone.

00:13:47.079 --> 00:13:48.000
 He promised

00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:49.500
 never to leave me,

00:13:50.059 --> 00:13:51.679
 never to leave me alone.

00:13:51.679 --> 00:13:52.500
 The chorus is

00:13:52.500 --> 00:13:54.120
 No, Never Alone.

00:13:54.879 --> 00:13:56.199
 No, Never Alone.

00:13:57.159 --> 00:13:57.979
 He promised

00:13:57.979 --> 00:13:59.459
 never to leave me.

00:14:00.359 --> 00:14:02.039
 No, Never Alone.

00:14:04.179 --> 00:14:04.699
 If you're trying

00:14:04.699 --> 00:14:05.379
 to live your

00:14:05.379 --> 00:14:06.639
 Christian life

00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:07.620
 without the assistance

00:14:07.620 --> 00:14:08.799
 of the Holy Spirit,

00:14:09.599 --> 00:14:11.359
 who will illuminate

00:14:11.359 --> 00:14:12.099
 your conscience,

00:14:12.359 --> 00:14:13.579
 who will teach you

00:14:13.579 --> 00:14:14.439
 what Jesus

00:14:14.439 --> 00:14:15.559
 has taught us,

00:14:17.039 --> 00:14:17.639
 if you're trying

00:14:17.639 --> 00:14:18.000
 to do it

00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:19.139
 without the Holy Spirit,

00:14:19.139 --> 00:14:20.500
 it's going to be

00:14:20.500 --> 00:14:21.980
 a real uphill struggle.

00:14:23.659 --> 00:14:24.159
 And maybe

00:14:24.159 --> 00:14:25.000
 some of you

00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:26.500
 are honest enough

00:14:26.500 --> 00:14:27.699
 to recognize that

00:14:27.699 --> 00:14:29.179
 in your life today.

00:14:30.580 --> 00:14:31.939
 God's plan B

00:14:31.939 --> 00:14:33.519
 is the church,

00:14:34.679 --> 00:14:35.419
 you and me.

00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:37.539
 A people

00:14:37.539 --> 00:14:39.059
 who would believe

00:14:39.059 --> 00:14:39.600
 in Jesus,

00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:40.199
 a people

00:14:40.199 --> 00:14:41.740
 whose earnest desire

00:14:41.740 --> 00:14:43.139
 would be

00:14:43.139 --> 00:14:43.759
 to become

00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:44.980
 more like Jesus.

00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:47.159
 and a people

00:14:47.159 --> 00:14:49.100
 whose primary aim

00:14:49.100 --> 00:14:50.399
 would be

00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:50.860
 to do

00:14:50.860 --> 00:14:51.519
 his will.

00:14:53.120 --> 00:14:54.539
 Matthew chapter 7

00:14:54.539 --> 00:14:55.779
 and verse 21,

00:14:56.240 --> 00:14:56.800
 Jesus says,

00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:57.600
 Not everyone

00:14:57.600 --> 00:14:58.659
 who calls me

00:14:58.659 --> 00:14:59.039
 Lord,

00:14:59.159 --> 00:14:59.480
 Lord,

00:14:59.560 --> 00:15:00.000
 will enter

00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:00.980
 the kingdom of heaven,

00:15:01.259 --> 00:15:02.379
 but only those,

00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:02.840
 only,

00:15:04.200 --> 00:15:04.840
 who do the will

00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:05.659
 of my Father,

00:15:06.779 --> 00:15:08.399
 who is in heaven.

00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:13.720
 I don't know

00:15:13.720 --> 00:15:14.720
 what your assessment

00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:15.360
 would be.

00:15:17.100 --> 00:15:17.579
 And,

00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:18.740
 in a way,

00:15:18.819 --> 00:15:19.740
 I don't need to know.

00:15:21.720 --> 00:15:22.659
 But I wonder

00:15:22.659 --> 00:15:23.899
 if you think

00:15:23.899 --> 00:15:24.899
 about the church

00:15:24.899 --> 00:15:26.799
 and the call

00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:27.879
 to be distinctive

00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:29.600
 because we're invited

00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:31.039
 to live as Jesus

00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:32.120
 wants us to live.

00:15:32.620 --> 00:15:33.079
 I don't know

00:15:33.079 --> 00:15:33.480
 what you think.

00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:34.139
 What do you think

00:15:34.139 --> 00:15:34.919
 when people look

00:15:34.919 --> 00:15:35.639
 at the church?

00:15:35.639 --> 00:15:38.980
 Just suppose

00:15:38.980 --> 00:15:40.259
 a Martian

00:15:40.259 --> 00:15:42.279
 arrived on planet Earth

00:15:42.279 --> 00:15:43.899
 and looked at

00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:44.879
 the Church of England

00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:45.580
 just now.

00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:47.980
 What conclusions

00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:48.659
 do you think

00:15:48.659 --> 00:15:49.399
 he might draw?

00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:51.840
 Do you think

00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:52.659
 he would see

00:15:52.659 --> 00:15:53.960
 a distinctive

00:15:53.960 --> 00:15:54.740
 community

00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:55.659
 fired up

00:15:55.659 --> 00:15:56.539
 to live

00:15:56.539 --> 00:15:57.220
 as Jesus

00:15:57.220 --> 00:15:58.199
 wants us to live,

00:15:58.419 --> 00:15:59.419
 to offer the world

00:15:59.419 --> 00:16:00.259
 a different way

00:16:00.259 --> 00:16:00.759
 of living?

00:16:03.700 --> 00:16:04.879
 Or do you think

00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:05.480
 he would see

00:16:05.480 --> 00:16:06.139
 a group

00:16:06.139 --> 00:16:07.379
 of well-meaning

00:16:07.379 --> 00:16:07.940
 people

00:16:07.940 --> 00:16:09.240
 who do some

00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:09.940
 good things

00:16:09.940 --> 00:16:10.680
 occasionally

00:16:10.680 --> 00:16:14.060
 but actually

00:16:14.060 --> 00:16:15.840
 whose aspirations

00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:16.940
 about life

00:16:16.940 --> 00:16:18.779
 seem exactly

00:16:18.779 --> 00:16:19.440
 the same

00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:20.659
 as everybody

00:16:20.659 --> 00:16:21.539
 else's?

00:16:22.820 --> 00:16:23.899
 Do we look

00:16:23.899 --> 00:16:24.420
 different?

00:16:26.019 --> 00:16:26.940
 God calls

00:16:26.940 --> 00:16:27.700
 his church

00:16:27.700 --> 00:16:28.340
 to account

00:16:28.340 --> 00:16:29.600
 in times

00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:30.399
 of godlessness.

00:16:31.879 --> 00:16:33.019
 What would God

00:16:33.019 --> 00:16:33.740
 say to you,

00:16:33.860 --> 00:16:34.399
 my friend,

00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:35.699
 about the quality

00:16:35.699 --> 00:16:36.579
 of your Christian

00:16:36.579 --> 00:16:37.419
 life today?

00:16:39.299 --> 00:16:40.659
 In John chapter 8,

00:16:40.860 --> 00:16:41.459
 we're told

00:16:41.459 --> 00:16:42.079
 that Jesus

00:16:42.079 --> 00:16:43.120
 was specifically

00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:44.459
 talking to Jews

00:16:44.459 --> 00:16:45.819
 who had believed

00:16:45.819 --> 00:16:46.319
 in him.

00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:48.740
 In other words,

00:16:48.819 --> 00:16:49.899
 the starting point

00:16:49.899 --> 00:16:50.819
 for all this stuff

00:16:50.819 --> 00:16:51.720
 is belief

00:16:51.720 --> 00:16:52.179
 in him.

00:16:54.419 --> 00:16:54.939
 Today

00:16:54.939 --> 00:16:56.319
 might be the day

00:16:56.319 --> 00:16:57.740
 that the Holy Spirit

00:16:57.740 --> 00:16:59.519
 whispers in your ear.

00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:02.860
 and what you see

00:17:02.860 --> 00:17:03.960
 in this passage

00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:05.460
 is two

00:17:05.460 --> 00:17:06.599
 fundamentally

00:17:06.599 --> 00:17:07.500
 challenging

00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:08.220
 things

00:17:08.220 --> 00:17:09.119
 that Jesus

00:17:09.119 --> 00:17:10.019
 has to say

00:17:10.019 --> 00:17:11.160
 to the world

00:17:11.160 --> 00:17:11.759
 and the way

00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:12.220
 it is.

00:17:12.359 --> 00:17:13.279
 The first thing

00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:14.440
 is about freedom.

00:17:16.599 --> 00:17:17.900
 I think today

00:17:17.900 --> 00:17:18.879
 our view

00:17:18.879 --> 00:17:19.579
 of freedom

00:17:19.579 --> 00:17:20.839
 has been fashioned

00:17:20.839 --> 00:17:21.720
 by an idea

00:17:21.720 --> 00:17:22.980
 that was initially

00:17:22.980 --> 00:17:24.839
 applied to the world

00:17:24.839 --> 00:17:26.139
 of economics.

00:17:26.140 --> 00:17:27.460
 it's called

00:17:27.460 --> 00:17:28.480
 libertarianism.

00:17:28.680 --> 00:17:29.520
 It's what leads

00:17:29.520 --> 00:17:30.480
 to free market

00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:31.280
 economies.

00:17:33.280 --> 00:17:34.440
 But that now

00:17:34.440 --> 00:17:35.520
 has been applied

00:17:35.520 --> 00:17:36.300
 to ethics.

00:17:37.320 --> 00:17:38.020
 We don't want

00:17:38.020 --> 00:17:39.060
 any restraint.

00:17:39.220 --> 00:17:39.640
 We don't want

00:17:39.640 --> 00:17:41.280
 any moral baggage

00:17:41.280 --> 00:17:42.240
 loaded upon us

00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:43.100
 by anybody

00:17:43.100 --> 00:17:44.560
 in today's world.

00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:47.119
 In the book

00:17:47.119 --> 00:17:47.759
 of Proverbs

00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:48.359
 you've probably

00:17:48.359 --> 00:17:49.379
 heard that verse

00:17:49.379 --> 00:17:50.019
 that says

00:17:50.019 --> 00:17:51.659
 where there is

00:17:51.659 --> 00:17:52.379
 no vision

00:17:52.379 --> 00:17:53.319
 what does it say?

00:17:55.019 --> 00:17:56.279
 The people perish.

00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:57.240
 Did you know

00:17:57.240 --> 00:17:59.220
 that the Hebrew

00:17:59.220 --> 00:18:00.039
 in that verse

00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:00.940
 more accurately

00:18:00.940 --> 00:18:01.559
 means

00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:03.000
 where people

00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:04.599
 have no

00:18:04.599 --> 00:18:05.339
 revelation

00:18:05.339 --> 00:18:07.220
 they cast

00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:08.099
 off restraint?

00:18:10.099 --> 00:18:11.079
 Do you see

00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:11.799
 a society

00:18:11.799 --> 00:18:12.740
 that's

00:18:12.740 --> 00:18:14.099
 happy to work

00:18:14.099 --> 00:18:15.000
 under restraint

00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:16.740
 to live

00:18:16.740 --> 00:18:17.139
 life

00:18:17.139 --> 00:18:17.699
 with some

00:18:17.699 --> 00:18:18.699
 moral values?

00:18:19.659 --> 00:18:20.500
 Or do you

00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:21.339
 see a society

00:18:21.339 --> 00:18:22.019
 that's making

00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:22.480
 it up

00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:23.119
 as it goes

00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:23.599
 along?

00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:29.379
 When there

00:18:29.379 --> 00:18:29.839
 is no

00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:30.519
 revelation

00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:32.139
 the people

00:18:32.139 --> 00:18:33.059
 cast off

00:18:33.059 --> 00:18:33.759
 restraint.

00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:36.519
 See not

00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:37.199
 only is the

00:18:37.199 --> 00:18:37.619
 answer

00:18:37.619 --> 00:18:38.299
 Jesus

00:18:38.299 --> 00:18:43.459
 but Jesus

00:18:43.460 --> 00:18:45.220
 is concerned

00:18:45.220 --> 00:18:45.819
 as well

00:18:45.819 --> 00:18:47.380
 to set

00:18:47.380 --> 00:18:47.980
 your life

00:18:47.980 --> 00:18:48.700
 on a new

00:18:48.700 --> 00:18:49.240
 track.

00:18:51.240 --> 00:18:51.860
 Do you

00:18:51.860 --> 00:18:52.360
 see what's

00:18:52.360 --> 00:18:52.900
 going on

00:18:52.900 --> 00:18:53.319
 in this

00:18:53.319 --> 00:18:53.660
 passage?

00:18:53.860 --> 00:18:54.200
 Jesus

00:18:54.200 --> 00:18:54.980
 has a

00:18:54.980 --> 00:18:55.519
 completely

00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:56.039
 different

00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:56.480
 idea

00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:57.180
 of freedom

00:18:57.180 --> 00:18:58.039
 than the

00:18:58.039 --> 00:18:58.440
 way the

00:18:58.440 --> 00:18:58.980
 world will

00:18:58.980 --> 00:18:59.620
 teach you.

00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:01.319
 So

00:19:01.319 --> 00:19:02.180
 this is

00:19:02.180 --> 00:19:02.420
 it.

00:19:03.299 --> 00:19:03.960
 The world

00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:04.500
 says

00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:07.279
 you can

00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:07.779
 do what

00:19:07.779 --> 00:19:08.360
 you like

00:19:08.360 --> 00:19:09.640
 as long

00:19:09.640 --> 00:19:09.900
 as it

00:19:09.900 --> 00:19:10.579
 doesn't harm

00:19:10.579 --> 00:19:11.319
 other people.

00:19:13.639 --> 00:19:14.639
 What a

00:19:14.639 --> 00:19:15.299
 fatuous

00:19:15.299 --> 00:19:16.399
 way of

00:19:16.399 --> 00:19:16.740
 thinking

00:19:16.740 --> 00:19:17.399
 that is.

00:19:18.599 --> 00:19:19.159
 How can

00:19:19.159 --> 00:19:19.639
 you ever

00:19:19.639 --> 00:19:20.099
 know

00:19:20.099 --> 00:19:20.839
 whether your

00:19:20.839 --> 00:19:21.359
 example

00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:21.879
 affects

00:19:21.879 --> 00:19:22.220
 another

00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:22.759
 person

00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:23.359
 or not?

00:19:26.419 --> 00:19:27.319
 How can

00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:27.859
 you know

00:19:27.859 --> 00:19:28.319
 if you

00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:28.819
 think you

00:19:28.819 --> 00:19:29.759
 are secretly

00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:30.379
 having an

00:19:30.379 --> 00:19:30.960
 affair with

00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:31.240
 another

00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:31.740
 person?

00:19:32.059 --> 00:19:32.559
 How can

00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:32.980
 you know

00:19:32.980 --> 00:19:33.500
 that when

00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:34.299
 your spouse

00:19:34.299 --> 00:19:34.799
 eventually

00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:35.500
 finds out

00:19:35.500 --> 00:19:36.160
 is it

00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:36.380
 going to

00:19:36.380 --> 00:19:36.700
 affect

00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:36.900
 them?

00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:37.319
 Of course

00:19:37.319 --> 00:19:37.539
 it's

00:19:37.539 --> 00:19:37.799
 going to

00:19:37.799 --> 00:19:38.099
 affect

00:19:38.099 --> 00:19:38.339
 them.

00:19:41.180 --> 00:19:41.680
 No.

00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:43.119
 Jesus

00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:43.660
 has a

00:19:43.660 --> 00:19:44.019
 different

00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:44.779
 plan and

00:19:44.779 --> 00:19:45.259
 the plan

00:19:45.259 --> 00:19:45.720
 is this

00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:46.380
 that we

00:19:46.380 --> 00:19:46.940
 will find

00:19:46.940 --> 00:19:47.440
 freedom

00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:48.259
 when we

00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:48.859
 live as

00:19:48.859 --> 00:19:49.440
 he wants

00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:49.799
 us to

00:19:49.799 --> 00:19:50.019
 live.

00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:53.519
 The

00:19:53.519 --> 00:19:54.140
 primary

00:19:54.140 --> 00:19:55.579
 healthy

00:19:55.579 --> 00:19:56.299
 desire

00:19:56.299 --> 00:19:57.500
 of a

00:19:57.500 --> 00:19:58.180
 disciple

00:19:58.180 --> 00:19:58.700
 of Jesus

00:19:58.700 --> 00:19:59.299
 Christ

00:19:59.299 --> 00:20:00.720
 would be

00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:01.259
 to live

00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:01.960
 as Jesus

00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:02.819
 wants us

00:20:02.819 --> 00:20:03.380
 to live.

00:20:03.380 --> 00:20:05.520
 please

00:20:05.520 --> 00:20:06.300
 please

00:20:06.300 --> 00:20:07.080
 please

00:20:07.080 --> 00:20:07.940
 don't

00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:08.560
 buy into

00:20:08.560 --> 00:20:09.320
 the idea

00:20:09.320 --> 00:20:10.420
 that freedom

00:20:10.420 --> 00:20:11.000
 is I can

00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:11.440
 do what

00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:11.820
 the heck

00:20:11.820 --> 00:20:12.340
 I like

00:20:12.340 --> 00:20:13.020
 as long

00:20:13.020 --> 00:20:13.340
 as it

00:20:13.340 --> 00:20:14.020
 doesn't

00:20:14.020 --> 00:20:14.500
 hurt

00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:14.800
 other

00:20:14.800 --> 00:20:15.260
 people.

00:20:17.360 --> 00:20:18.020
 Those of

00:20:18.020 --> 00:20:18.180
 you who

00:20:18.180 --> 00:20:18.580
 know your

00:20:18.580 --> 00:20:19.100
 philosophy

00:20:19.100 --> 00:20:19.620
 know this

00:20:19.620 --> 00:20:20.540
 stems from

00:20:20.540 --> 00:20:21.620
 a guy

00:20:21.620 --> 00:20:22.140
 called

00:20:22.140 --> 00:20:23.700
 John

00:20:23.700 --> 00:20:24.280
 Stuart

00:20:24.280 --> 00:20:24.660
 Mill.

00:20:25.780 --> 00:20:26.000
 And

00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:26.240
 John

00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:26.580
 Stuart

00:20:26.580 --> 00:20:27.140
 Mill was

00:20:27.140 --> 00:20:27.640
 very

00:20:27.640 --> 00:20:28.600
 very clear.

00:20:28.820 --> 00:20:29.180
 He said

00:20:29.180 --> 00:20:29.440
 this,

00:20:29.460 --> 00:20:29.780
 this is what

00:20:29.780 --> 00:20:30.140
 he wrote,

00:20:30.300 --> 00:20:30.760
 the only

00:20:30.760 --> 00:20:31.440
 purpose for

00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:32.040
 which power

00:20:32.040 --> 00:20:32.440
 can be

00:20:32.440 --> 00:20:32.800
 rightly

00:20:32.800 --> 00:20:33.360
 exercised

00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:34.659
 over any

00:20:34.659 --> 00:20:35.299
 member of

00:20:35.299 --> 00:20:36.039
 a civilised

00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:36.679
 community

00:20:36.679 --> 00:20:37.899
 against his

00:20:37.899 --> 00:20:38.379
 or her

00:20:38.379 --> 00:20:39.459
 will is

00:20:39.459 --> 00:20:40.019
 to prevent

00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:40.759
 harm to

00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:41.199
 others.

00:20:44.019 --> 00:20:44.639
 Look

00:20:44.639 --> 00:20:45.299
 around you.

00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:46.639
 Has that

00:20:46.639 --> 00:20:47.000
 view of

00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:47.639
 freedom led

00:20:47.639 --> 00:20:47.959
 to a

00:20:47.959 --> 00:20:48.500
 civilised

00:20:48.500 --> 00:20:49.059
 society?

00:20:50.399 --> 00:20:51.259
 You tell

00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:51.579
 me.

00:20:53.799 --> 00:20:54.479
 The second

00:20:54.479 --> 00:20:55.119
 thing is

00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:56.599
 Jesus has

00:20:56.599 --> 00:20:57.599
 a completely

00:20:57.599 --> 00:20:58.639
 different view

00:20:58.639 --> 00:21:00.059
 of truth.

00:21:00.919 --> 00:21:01.579
 Truth in

00:21:01.579 --> 00:21:01.919
 Jesus'

00:21:01.919 --> 00:21:02.919
 mind is

00:21:02.920 --> 00:21:03.720
 entirely

00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:04.720
 applied to

00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:05.200
 the word

00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:05.680
 of God.

00:21:07.160 --> 00:21:07.480
 His

00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:07.920
 words

00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:09.519
 and the

00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:09.880
 word of

00:21:09.880 --> 00:21:10.300
 God as

00:21:10.300 --> 00:21:10.960
 revealed in

00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:11.560
 the whole

00:21:11.560 --> 00:21:12.060
 of Holy

00:21:12.060 --> 00:21:12.539
 Scripture.

00:21:14.140 --> 00:21:14.580
 You don't

00:21:14.580 --> 00:21:14.980
 think the

00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:15.500
 Old Testament

00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:16.200
 is important?

00:21:16.340 --> 00:21:16.940
 I beg to

00:21:16.940 --> 00:21:17.560
 differ from

00:21:17.560 --> 00:21:17.759
 you.

00:21:17.840 --> 00:21:18.120
 I've just

00:21:18.120 --> 00:21:18.560
 been asked

00:21:18.560 --> 00:21:19.180
 to go to

00:21:19.180 --> 00:21:20.100
 a church

00:21:20.100 --> 00:21:20.460
 in this

00:21:20.460 --> 00:21:20.940
 deanery and

00:21:20.940 --> 00:21:21.740
 explain why

00:21:21.740 --> 00:21:22.080
 the Old

00:21:22.080 --> 00:21:22.800
 Testament is

00:21:22.800 --> 00:21:23.460
 important.

00:21:24.460 --> 00:21:24.779
 I mean,

00:21:24.840 --> 00:21:25.320
 not least

00:21:25.320 --> 00:21:26.720
 because the

00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:27.279
 early apostles

00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:27.880
 only had the

00:21:27.880 --> 00:21:28.420
 Old Testament

00:21:28.420 --> 00:21:28.940
 to preach

00:21:28.940 --> 00:21:29.460
 the gospel

00:21:29.460 --> 00:21:29.840
 from.

00:21:33.880 --> 00:21:34.860
 But this

00:21:34.860 --> 00:21:35.840
 view of

00:21:35.840 --> 00:21:38.120
 truth is

00:21:38.120 --> 00:21:38.680
 very

00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:39.440
 basically

00:21:39.440 --> 00:21:41.279
 that if

00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:42.080
 human beings

00:21:42.080 --> 00:21:42.680
 are to live

00:21:42.680 --> 00:21:43.640
 in a civilised

00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:44.519
 way, we

00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:45.440
 need to agree

00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:46.120
 on some

00:21:46.120 --> 00:21:47.620
 truths that

00:21:47.620 --> 00:21:48.480
 are absolute,

00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:51.400
 not truths

00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:52.080
 that are

00:21:52.080 --> 00:21:52.740
 slippery,

00:21:53.880 --> 00:21:54.460
 that are

00:21:54.460 --> 00:21:55.060
 difficult to

00:21:55.059 --> 00:21:55.460
 get your

00:21:55.460 --> 00:21:55.980
 hand on.

00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:56.480
 In the

00:21:56.480 --> 00:21:58.179
 50s and

00:21:58.179 --> 00:21:59.059
 60s in

00:21:59.059 --> 00:21:59.639
 the world

00:21:59.639 --> 00:22:00.799
 of universities,

00:22:01.740 --> 00:22:02.759
 an idea

00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:03.440
 came to

00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:03.679
 bear.

00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:03.960
 It was

00:22:03.960 --> 00:22:04.440
 meant to

00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:05.440
 be largely

00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:06.039
 for literary

00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:06.720
 criticism,

00:22:07.079 --> 00:22:07.480
 but it

00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:08.259
 stretched its

00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:08.960
 way into

00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:09.440
 ethical

00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:10.220
 thinking as

00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:10.500
 well.

00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:11.919
 It was

00:22:11.919 --> 00:22:12.240
 called

00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:13.480
 deconstructionism.

00:22:13.579 --> 00:22:13.799
 You don't

00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:14.139
 need to

00:22:14.139 --> 00:22:14.779
 know about

00:22:14.779 --> 00:22:15.419
 that, but

00:22:15.419 --> 00:22:15.759
 what it

00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:16.279
 did do

00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:17.079
 was it

00:22:17.079 --> 00:22:18.039
 bred in

00:22:18.039 --> 00:22:18.539
 the hearts

00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:19.059
 and minds

00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:19.519
 of men

00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:20.539
 cynicism.

00:22:22.339 --> 00:22:22.759
 Any

00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:23.799
 statement of

00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:25.039
 truth is

00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:25.740
 immediately

00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:26.359
 suspect,

00:22:26.940 --> 00:22:27.399
 and the

00:22:27.399 --> 00:22:28.220
 only truth

00:22:28.220 --> 00:22:28.639
 that I

00:22:28.639 --> 00:22:29.159
 can believe

00:22:29.159 --> 00:22:29.799
 in is

00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:30.180
 the one

00:22:30.180 --> 00:22:30.500
 that I

00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:31.759
 feel might

00:22:31.759 --> 00:22:32.079
 be the

00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:32.659
 right one.

00:22:34.879 --> 00:22:35.420
 Thus,

00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:36.379
 Meghan

00:22:36.379 --> 00:22:36.980
 Markle,

00:22:37.460 --> 00:22:38.059
 in that

00:22:38.059 --> 00:22:38.879
 unfortunate

00:22:38.879 --> 00:22:39.879
 interview with

00:22:39.879 --> 00:22:40.700
 Piers Morgan,

00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:41.639
 where Piers

00:22:41.639 --> 00:22:42.180
 Morgan,

00:22:43.359 --> 00:22:44.379
 improperly in

00:22:44.379 --> 00:22:44.740
 a way,

00:22:45.220 --> 00:22:45.960
 just called

00:22:45.960 --> 00:22:46.359
 her an

00:22:46.359 --> 00:22:47.299
 outright liar

00:22:47.299 --> 00:22:47.940
 to her

00:22:47.940 --> 00:22:48.339
 face.

00:22:49.460 --> 00:22:49.940
 What was

00:22:49.940 --> 00:22:50.200
 Meghan

00:22:50.200 --> 00:22:50.759
 Markle's

00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:51.200
 response?

00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:51.940
 Very

00:22:51.940 --> 00:22:52.480
 modern

00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:53.180
 response.

00:22:53.180 --> 00:22:53.299
 truth.

00:22:54.880 --> 00:22:55.320
 She's

00:22:55.320 --> 00:22:55.539
 being

00:22:55.539 --> 00:22:55.920
 accused

00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:56.279
 of being

00:22:56.279 --> 00:22:56.640
 a liar.

00:22:56.740 --> 00:22:56.820
 Do you

00:22:56.820 --> 00:22:57.019
 know what

00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:57.380
 she said

00:22:57.380 --> 00:22:57.759
 to him?

00:22:58.140 --> 00:22:58.660
 That's

00:22:58.660 --> 00:22:59.000
 my

00:22:59.000 --> 00:22:59.519
 truth.

00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:01.460
 Truth

00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:01.940
 now is

00:23:01.940 --> 00:23:02.620
 no longer

00:23:02.620 --> 00:23:03.279
 seen as

00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:03.680
 something

00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:04.380
 objective,

00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:05.120
 something

00:23:05.120 --> 00:23:05.460
 I'm

00:23:05.460 --> 00:23:05.840
 absolutely,

00:23:05.940 --> 00:23:06.180
 it's

00:23:06.180 --> 00:23:06.799
 subjective.

00:23:08.380 --> 00:23:08.720
 And it

00:23:08.720 --> 00:23:09.980
 depends on

00:23:09.980 --> 00:23:10.420
 what I

00:23:10.420 --> 00:23:10.799
 feel.

00:23:11.080 --> 00:23:11.380
 Jesus

00:23:11.380 --> 00:23:12.120
 has a

00:23:12.120 --> 00:23:12.440
 different

00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:12.940
 idea.

00:23:13.840 --> 00:23:14.000
 No

00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:14.640
 wonder our

00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:15.340
 society is

00:23:15.340 --> 00:23:15.660
 going

00:23:15.660 --> 00:23:16.940
 haywire with

00:23:16.940 --> 00:23:17.240
 these

00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:18.080
 cockeyed

00:23:18.080 --> 00:23:19.180
 ideas at

00:23:19.180 --> 00:23:19.660
 the heart

00:23:19.660 --> 00:23:20.060
 of it.

00:23:20.059 --> 00:23:22.339
 And I

00:23:22.339 --> 00:23:23.700
 wonder when

00:23:23.700 --> 00:23:24.220
 we will

00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:25.019
 understand

00:23:25.019 --> 00:23:25.559
 this.

00:23:26.619 --> 00:23:26.919
 I

00:23:26.919 --> 00:23:27.460
 wonder when

00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:27.799
 we will

00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:28.579
 understand

00:23:28.579 --> 00:23:29.960
 that the

00:23:29.960 --> 00:23:30.319
 church,

00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:30.740
 I mean it's

00:23:30.740 --> 00:23:31.299
 about you

00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:31.839
 individually,

00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:32.240
 but it's

00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:32.859
 about us

00:23:32.859 --> 00:23:33.359
 together.

00:23:35.059 --> 00:23:35.759
 That together

00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:36.579
 we seek to

00:23:36.579 --> 00:23:37.359
 live a

00:23:37.359 --> 00:23:38.220
 life that

00:23:38.220 --> 00:23:39.059
 is distinctive.

00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:42.379
 I think

00:23:42.379 --> 00:23:43.859
 many of

00:23:43.859 --> 00:23:44.819
 you may

00:23:44.819 --> 00:23:45.480
 have the

00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:46.240
 idea that

00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:46.679
 to be

00:23:46.679 --> 00:23:47.720
 distinctive in

00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:48.779
 Christian terms

00:23:48.779 --> 00:23:49.759
 is to be

00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:50.160
 weird.

00:23:52.599 --> 00:23:53.399
 And I

00:23:53.399 --> 00:23:53.960
 was telling

00:23:53.960 --> 00:23:54.660
 my home

00:23:54.660 --> 00:23:55.039
 group the

00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:55.539
 other evening

00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:56.000
 that when

00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:56.619
 I worked

00:23:56.619 --> 00:23:57.379
 in Slough,

00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:58.460
 there was a

00:23:58.460 --> 00:23:59.200
 community

00:23:59.200 --> 00:23:59.980
 there of

00:23:59.980 --> 00:24:00.779
 lay people

00:24:00.779 --> 00:24:01.519
 who were

00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:02.160
 seeking to

00:24:02.160 --> 00:24:02.759
 live a

00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:03.240
 distinctive

00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:03.839
 life.

00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:05.259
 You know,

00:24:05.339 --> 00:24:06.039
 full credit

00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:06.559
 to them,

00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:07.440
 except they

00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:08.279
 just came

00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:08.819
 across as

00:24:08.819 --> 00:24:09.180
 weird.

00:24:10.819 --> 00:24:11.460
 They wore

00:24:11.460 --> 00:24:12.639
 brown

00:24:12.639 --> 00:24:14.539
 dressing

00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:15.279
 gowns,

00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:17.299
 and for

00:24:17.299 --> 00:24:18.079
 some reason,

00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:18.819
 tell me

00:24:18.819 --> 00:24:19.039
 where you

00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:19.379
 would find

00:24:19.379 --> 00:24:19.679
 this in

00:24:19.679 --> 00:24:20.119
 the Bible.

00:24:20.599 --> 00:24:20.899
 They had

00:24:20.899 --> 00:24:21.259
 a thing

00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:21.659
 against

00:24:21.659 --> 00:24:22.099
 soap.

00:24:25.399 --> 00:24:25.679
 You know,

00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:26.059
 don't get

00:24:26.059 --> 00:24:26.740
 downwind of

00:24:26.740 --> 00:24:27.259
 them is my

00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:27.799
 advice.

00:24:32.039 --> 00:24:32.839
 To be a

00:24:32.839 --> 00:24:35.079
 Christian is

00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:35.480
 the most

00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:36.359
 normal way

00:24:36.359 --> 00:24:36.859
 to live,

00:24:37.439 --> 00:24:39.159
 not abnormal

00:24:39.159 --> 00:24:40.159
 way to live.

00:24:42.099 --> 00:24:42.859
 Life of

00:24:42.859 --> 00:24:43.919
 faith is a

00:24:43.919 --> 00:24:44.980
 team sport.

00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:45.980
 God's

00:24:45.980 --> 00:24:46.559
 love.

00:24:46.559 --> 00:24:46.740
 It's not

00:24:46.740 --> 00:24:47.299
 just about

00:24:47.299 --> 00:24:47.680
 you.

00:24:49.140 --> 00:24:49.700
 It's about

00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:50.620
 us and

00:24:50.620 --> 00:24:51.360
 our witness

00:24:51.360 --> 00:24:52.299
 in this

00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:53.299
 town that

00:24:53.299 --> 00:24:53.759
 God has

00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:54.240
 called us

00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:54.940
 to serve

00:24:54.940 --> 00:24:55.900
 and to

00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:56.500
 play our

00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:57.380
 part in

00:24:57.380 --> 00:24:58.200
 its salvation.

00:24:59.660 --> 00:25:00.519
 It's about

00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:01.160
 collectively

00:25:01.160 --> 00:25:01.839
 showing to

00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:02.319
 the world

00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:02.880
 in which we

00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:03.759
 find ourselves

00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:04.660
 that there

00:25:04.660 --> 00:25:05.039
 is a

00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:05.700
 different way

00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:06.180
 to live.

00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:08.279
 You don't

00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:09.019
 have to be

00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:09.700
 mown down

00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:10.360
 by the

00:25:10.360 --> 00:25:11.059
 values of

00:25:11.059 --> 00:25:11.640
 thinking in

00:25:11.640 --> 00:25:12.079
 this world.

00:25:12.180 --> 00:25:12.380
 No,

00:25:12.579 --> 00:25:13.140
 there is a

00:25:13.140 --> 00:25:13.819
 different way.

00:25:13.819 --> 00:25:15.679
 And I

00:25:15.679 --> 00:25:16.099
 wonder,

00:25:16.419 --> 00:25:17.299
 when am I

00:25:17.299 --> 00:25:17.639
 going to

00:25:17.639 --> 00:25:18.379
 stop making

00:25:18.379 --> 00:25:19.019
 excuses?

00:25:20.619 --> 00:25:21.379
 I wonder,

00:25:22.099 --> 00:25:22.740
 when are you

00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:23.059
 going to

00:25:23.059 --> 00:25:23.779
 stop making

00:25:23.779 --> 00:25:24.579
 excuses?

00:25:28.359 --> 00:25:29.279
 The end

00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:30.119
 of the

00:25:30.119 --> 00:25:30.519
 book of

00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.079
 Judges,

00:25:31.559 --> 00:25:32.059
 the very

00:25:32.059 --> 00:25:33.019
 last verse

00:25:33.019 --> 00:25:33.579
 in that

00:25:33.579 --> 00:25:33.960
 book,

00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:35.460
 there is a

00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:36.200
 verse I've

00:25:36.200 --> 00:25:36.700
 come to

00:25:36.700 --> 00:25:37.139
 love.

00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:38.759
 It says

00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:39.019
 this,

00:25:39.079 --> 00:25:39.500
 in those

00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:39.980
 days,

00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:40.679
 and this

00:25:40.679 --> 00:25:41.339
 was during

00:25:41.339 --> 00:25:41.799
 a time

00:25:41.799 --> 00:25:43.000
 when Israel

00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:43.500
 had gone

00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:43.859
 through

00:25:43.859 --> 00:25:44.400
 terrible

00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:45.059
 military

00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:45.900
 and political

00:25:45.900 --> 00:25:46.660
 upheaval,

00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:48.220
 et cetera,

00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:48.740
 et cetera.

00:25:48.920 --> 00:25:49.779
 And just

00:25:49.779 --> 00:25:50.180
 so you

00:25:50.180 --> 00:25:50.539
 know,

00:25:51.079 --> 00:25:51.660
 when men

00:25:51.660 --> 00:25:51.980
 couldn't

00:25:51.980 --> 00:25:52.200
 hack

00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:52.740
 leadership

00:25:52.740 --> 00:25:53.220
 at the

00:25:53.220 --> 00:25:53.720
 season of

00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:54.140
 Judges,

00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:54.640
 God called

00:25:54.640 --> 00:25:55.000
 a woman

00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:55.339
 called

00:25:55.339 --> 00:25:55.740
 Deborah,

00:25:56.940 --> 00:25:57.420
 who,

00:25:57.619 --> 00:25:57.920
 it turns

00:25:57.920 --> 00:25:58.200
 out,

00:25:58.259 --> 00:25:58.720
 was quite

00:25:58.720 --> 00:25:59.180
 handy

00:25:59.180 --> 00:25:59.559
 with the

00:25:59.559 --> 00:26:00.059
 jawbone

00:26:00.059 --> 00:26:00.359
 of an

00:26:00.359 --> 00:26:00.700
 axe,

00:26:00.900 --> 00:26:03.319
 and took

00:26:03.319 --> 00:26:03.640
 it to

00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:03.839
 the

00:26:03.839 --> 00:26:04.500
 Philistines

00:26:04.500 --> 00:26:05.039
 and stuck

00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:05.400
 it on

00:26:05.400 --> 00:26:05.599
 them.

00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:07.500
 In

00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:08.220
 those days,

00:26:08.359 --> 00:26:08.759
 the last

00:26:08.759 --> 00:26:09.339
 verse says,

00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:10.319
 Israel had

00:26:10.319 --> 00:26:11.000
 no king.

00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:12.720
 everyone

00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:14.000
 did as

00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:14.539
 he saw

00:26:14.539 --> 00:26:14.940
 fit.

00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:17.440
 Can I

00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:18.140
 say something

00:26:18.140 --> 00:26:19.099
 that's going

00:26:19.099 --> 00:26:19.440
 to sound

00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:20.380
 very simplistic

00:26:20.380 --> 00:26:20.980
 to you,

00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:21.579
 and I

00:26:21.579 --> 00:26:21.799
 don't

00:26:21.799 --> 00:26:22.279
 apologize

00:26:22.279 --> 00:26:23.000
 for it.

00:26:25.599 --> 00:26:26.579
 If Jesus

00:26:26.579 --> 00:26:27.319
 is not

00:26:27.319 --> 00:26:27.819
 the king

00:26:27.819 --> 00:26:29.039
 of your

00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:29.579
 life,

00:26:30.859 --> 00:26:31.420
 if Jesus

00:26:31.420 --> 00:26:32.240
 is not

00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:32.779
 the king

00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:33.500
 of our

00:26:33.500 --> 00:26:33.940
 society,

00:26:34.059 --> 00:26:34.539
 then people

00:26:34.539 --> 00:26:34.980
 will do

00:26:34.980 --> 00:26:35.640
 just that.

00:26:36.839 --> 00:26:37.359
 They will

00:26:37.359 --> 00:26:38.519
 do what

00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:39.480
 they see

00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:40.620
 as fit.

00:26:43.940 --> 00:26:44.920
 I have,

00:26:45.079 --> 00:26:45.539
 if I can

00:26:45.539 --> 00:26:46.200
 find it on

00:26:46.200 --> 00:26:46.839
 my phone,

00:26:47.039 --> 00:26:47.740
 that wonderful

00:26:47.740 --> 00:26:48.360
 hymn by

00:26:48.360 --> 00:26:48.839
 Bishop

00:26:48.839 --> 00:26:49.420
 Walsham

00:26:49.420 --> 00:26:49.960
 Howe.

00:26:51.160 --> 00:26:51.579
 It was a

00:26:51.579 --> 00:26:52.120
 time when

00:26:52.120 --> 00:26:52.880
 bishops did

00:26:52.880 --> 00:26:53.599
 good stuff.

00:26:56.059 --> 00:26:56.920
 And he

00:26:56.920 --> 00:26:57.620
 wrote these

00:26:57.620 --> 00:26:58.160
 words in

00:26:58.160 --> 00:26:58.860
 that amazing

00:26:58.860 --> 00:26:59.279
 hymn,

00:26:59.680 --> 00:27:00.120
 It is a

00:27:00.120 --> 00:27:00.640
 thing most

00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:01.180
 wonderful.

00:27:02.880 --> 00:27:03.380
 He said,

00:27:03.460 --> 00:27:04.039
 I sometimes

00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:04.660
 think about

00:27:04.660 --> 00:27:05.180
 the cross

00:27:05.180 --> 00:27:05.680
 and shut

00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:06.420
 my eyes

00:27:06.420 --> 00:27:06.880
 and try

00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:07.360
 to see

00:27:07.360 --> 00:27:07.900
 the cruel

00:27:07.900 --> 00:27:08.440
 nails

00:27:08.440 --> 00:27:09.519
 and crown

00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:10.100
 of thorns

00:27:10.100 --> 00:27:10.920
 and Jesus

00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:12.080
 crucified

00:27:12.080 --> 00:27:12.820
 for me.

00:27:15.059 --> 00:27:15.440
 Even

00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:16.720
 could I

00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:17.420
 see him

00:27:17.420 --> 00:27:17.779
 die,

00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:18.519
 I could

00:27:18.519 --> 00:27:19.059
 but see

00:27:19.059 --> 00:27:19.400
 a little

00:27:19.400 --> 00:27:19.980
 part of

00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:20.559
 that great

00:27:20.559 --> 00:27:20.920
 love,

00:27:21.400 --> 00:27:21.840
 which like

00:27:21.840 --> 00:27:22.400
 a fire

00:27:22.400 --> 00:27:23.779
 is always

00:27:23.779 --> 00:27:24.360
 burning

00:27:24.360 --> 00:27:25.360
 in his

00:27:25.360 --> 00:27:25.860
 heart.

00:27:27.480 --> 00:27:28.100
 It is

00:27:28.100 --> 00:27:28.820
 most wonderful

00:27:28.820 --> 00:27:29.480
 to know

00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:30.960
 his love

00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:31.680
 for me

00:27:31.680 --> 00:27:32.100
 is so

00:27:32.100 --> 00:27:32.559
 free

00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:33.420
 and sure,

00:27:34.180 --> 00:27:34.860
 but it is

00:27:34.860 --> 00:27:35.580
 more wonderful

00:27:35.580 --> 00:27:36.180
 to see

00:27:36.180 --> 00:27:36.740
 my love

00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:37.259
 for him

00:27:37.259 --> 00:27:38.920
 so faint

00:27:38.920 --> 00:27:40.059
 and poor.

00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:55.160
 Is this

00:27:55.160 --> 00:27:55.620
 a moment?

00:27:58.120 --> 00:27:58.799
 Is this

00:27:58.799 --> 00:27:59.380
 a moment

00:27:59.380 --> 00:27:59.819
 when the

00:27:59.819 --> 00:28:00.680
 Holy Spirit

00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:01.799
 shakes your

00:28:01.799 --> 00:28:02.319
 soul and

00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:02.960
 wakes you

00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:05.220
 to the

00:28:05.220 --> 00:28:06.039
 spiritual

00:28:06.039 --> 00:28:06.980
 nonsense

00:28:06.980 --> 00:28:07.420
 that's

00:28:07.420 --> 00:28:07.900
 going on

00:28:07.900 --> 00:28:08.279
 in the

00:28:08.279 --> 00:28:08.600
 world

00:28:08.600 --> 00:28:09.799
 and we

00:28:09.799 --> 00:28:10.559
 might decide

00:28:10.559 --> 00:28:11.160
 together

00:28:11.160 --> 00:28:13.779
 to stand

00:28:13.779 --> 00:28:14.100
 up,

00:28:15.100 --> 00:28:15.680
 to pray

00:28:15.680 --> 00:28:15.960
 up,

00:28:16.579 --> 00:28:17.500
 to speak

00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:17.880
 up

00:28:17.880 --> 00:28:21.019
 and collectively

00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:21.980
 as well as

00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:22.700
 individually

00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:24.539
 make a

00:28:24.539 --> 00:28:25.079
 difference

00:28:25.079 --> 00:28:25.680
 in this

00:28:25.680 --> 00:28:26.079
 world.

00:28:28.039 --> 00:28:28.740
 Of course,

00:28:29.340 --> 00:28:29.680
 there are

00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:30.400
 green shoots

00:28:30.400 --> 00:28:30.799
 all through

00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:31.480
 the history

00:28:31.480 --> 00:28:31.779
 of the

00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:32.039
 church.

00:28:32.360 --> 00:28:32.759
 Wonderful

00:28:32.759 --> 00:28:33.180
 things

00:28:33.180 --> 00:28:33.500
 happen

00:28:33.500 --> 00:28:33.880
 and we've

00:28:33.880 --> 00:28:34.299
 heard about

00:28:34.299 --> 00:28:34.860
 TLG.

00:28:35.120 --> 00:28:35.640
 That is

00:28:35.640 --> 00:28:36.160
 wonderful.

00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:38.980
 But the

00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:39.660
 most wonderful

00:28:39.660 --> 00:28:41.740
 thing is

00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:42.380
 when human

00:28:42.380 --> 00:28:42.880
 eyes are

00:28:42.880 --> 00:28:45.019
 opened and

00:28:45.019 --> 00:28:45.539
 they see

00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:46.140
 Jesus,

00:28:47.319 --> 00:28:49.000
 not sitting

00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:49.640
 on a throne

00:28:49.640 --> 00:28:50.000
 with a

00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:50.759
 massive crown

00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:51.160
 on his

00:28:51.160 --> 00:28:51.740
 head and

00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:52.940
 loads of

00:28:52.940 --> 00:28:53.779
 people serving

00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:54.160
 him, but

00:28:54.160 --> 00:28:55.079
 on a cross,

00:28:56.460 --> 00:28:57.000
 which,

00:28:57.200 --> 00:28:57.620
 thank God,

00:28:58.079 --> 00:28:58.539
 is an

00:28:58.539 --> 00:28:59.440
 empty cross.

00:29:01.480 --> 00:29:02.599
 because Jesus

00:29:02.599 --> 00:29:03.440
 is alive

00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:05.640
 and he's

00:29:05.640 --> 00:29:06.220
 here now

00:29:06.220 --> 00:29:07.980
 and he

00:29:07.980 --> 00:29:08.400
 wants to

00:29:08.400 --> 00:29:09.299
 occupy your

00:29:09.299 --> 00:29:09.799
 soul,

00:29:11.360 --> 00:29:12.099
 that together

00:29:12.099 --> 00:29:13.799
 we might

00:29:13.799 --> 00:29:14.380
 show the

00:29:14.380 --> 00:29:15.539
 world there

00:29:15.539 --> 00:29:15.860
 is a

00:29:15.860 --> 00:29:16.440
 different way

00:29:16.440 --> 00:29:17.019
 to live.

00:29:19.200 --> 00:29:20.059
 Can we

00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:20.339
 pray?

00:29:22.420 --> 00:29:23.039
 Our

00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:23.360
 gracious

00:29:23.360 --> 00:29:23.839
 Lord,

00:29:23.960 --> 00:29:24.680
 we are

00:29:24.680 --> 00:29:27.080
 truly

00:29:27.080 --> 00:29:27.720
 sorry

00:29:27.720 --> 00:29:31.700
 that our

00:29:31.700 --> 00:29:32.420
 lives can

00:29:32.420 --> 00:29:33.120
 fall so

00:29:33.120 --> 00:29:34.560
 short of

00:29:34.560 --> 00:29:34.960
 what you

00:29:34.960 --> 00:29:35.539
 want from

00:29:35.539 --> 00:29:35.920
 us.

00:29:38.920 --> 00:29:39.740
 And Lord,

00:29:39.840 --> 00:29:40.320
 I cannot

00:29:40.320 --> 00:29:41.279
 speak for

00:29:41.279 --> 00:29:42.160
 anybody else

00:29:42.160 --> 00:29:42.580
 in this

00:29:42.580 --> 00:29:43.519
 church and

00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:44.000
 their sin,

00:29:44.060 --> 00:29:44.500
 but I can

00:29:44.500 --> 00:29:45.299
 certainly speak

00:29:45.299 --> 00:29:45.940
 for my own.

00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:49.340
 And Lord,

00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:50.740
 please fill

00:29:50.740 --> 00:29:51.080
 me,

00:29:52.740 --> 00:29:53.440
 fill us,

00:29:53.440 --> 00:29:53.920
 with that

00:29:53.920 --> 00:29:54.860
 Holy Spirit.

00:29:56.200 --> 00:29:56.620
 Lord,

00:29:56.660 --> 00:29:56.940
 that we

00:29:56.940 --> 00:29:57.960
 might truly

00:29:57.960 --> 00:29:59.360
 become people

00:29:59.360 --> 00:30:00.500
 that you

00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:01.200
 want us to

00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:01.480
 be.

00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:03.320
 That,

00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:03.700
 Father,

00:30:03.820 --> 00:30:04.340
 people would

00:30:04.340 --> 00:30:04.920
 look at the

00:30:04.920 --> 00:30:05.539
 church and

00:30:05.539 --> 00:30:06.460
 see a

00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:06.920
 genuine

00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:08.080
 alternative way

00:30:08.080 --> 00:30:08.580
 of living,

00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:09.660
 something that's

00:30:09.660 --> 00:30:10.400
 not weird,

00:30:11.860 --> 00:30:13.080
 but which is

00:30:13.080 --> 00:30:13.900
 so normal,

00:30:14.820 --> 00:30:15.480
 it would be

00:30:15.480 --> 00:30:17.000
 striking and

00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:17.559
 provocative.

00:30:20.039 --> 00:30:20.779
 And Father,

00:30:20.860 --> 00:30:21.700
 I pray now,

00:30:21.700 --> 00:30:23.059
 Lord,

00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:24.420
 as we

00:30:24.420 --> 00:30:24.940
 gather

00:30:24.940 --> 00:30:25.519
 together,

00:30:27.019 --> 00:30:28.039
 that you

00:30:28.039 --> 00:30:29.000
 would speak

00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:29.980
 to our

00:30:29.980 --> 00:30:30.519
 hearts

00:30:30.519 --> 00:30:33.220
 and give

00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:33.420
 us,

00:30:33.580 --> 00:30:33.640
 Lord,

00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:34.400
 conviction

00:30:34.400 --> 00:30:36.000
 that we

00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:36.740
 need to do

00:30:36.740 --> 00:30:37.279
 something.

00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:41.960
 So,

00:30:42.140 --> 00:30:42.360
 Lord,

00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:43.519
 I pray

00:30:43.519 --> 00:30:45.779
 that you

00:30:45.779 --> 00:30:46.460
 would speak

00:30:46.460 --> 00:30:46.880
 to us

00:30:46.880 --> 00:30:49.120
 today and

00:30:49.120 --> 00:30:49.620
 that you

00:30:49.620 --> 00:30:50.160
 would help

00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:51.800
 us individually

00:30:51.800 --> 00:30:52.980
 and collectively

00:30:52.980 --> 00:30:55.840
 to be that

00:30:55.840 --> 00:30:57.200
 different person,

00:30:57.380 --> 00:30:58.080
 that different

00:30:58.080 --> 00:30:58.779
 community,

00:31:00.019 --> 00:31:00.920
 whose lives

00:31:00.920 --> 00:31:01.800
 become meaning

00:31:01.800 --> 00:31:02.740
 makers in the

00:31:02.740 --> 00:31:03.180
 lives of

00:31:03.180 --> 00:31:03.540
 others.

00:31:04.600 --> 00:31:05.200
 And we

00:31:05.200 --> 00:31:06.180
 ask this in

00:31:06.180 --> 00:31:07.080
 the name of

00:31:07.080 --> 00:31:07.500
 the Lord

00:31:07.500 --> 00:31:08.480
 Jesus Christ

00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:09.580
 and those

00:31:09.580 --> 00:31:10.200
 who agreed

00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:11.019
 said together,

00:31:12.019 --> 00:31:12.860
 Amen.

00:31:12.860 --> 00:31:13.140
 Amen.

00:31:13.140 --> 00:31:13.279
 Amen.

00:31:13.279 --> 00:31:13.380
 Amen.

00:31:13.380 --> 00:31:13.460
 Amen.

00:31:13.460 --> 00:31:14.340
 Amen.

00:31:14.340 --> 00:31:14.460
 Amen.

00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:14.519
 Amen.

00:31:14.519 --> 00:31:14.580
 Amen.

00:31:14.580 --> 00:31:14.620
 Amen.

00:31:14.620 --> 00:31:14.640
 Amen.