WEBVTT

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 Well, let me just extend the warm welcome that you've had from JT and Stuart again this morning.

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 And I hope that everyone has been able to enjoy whatever your plans were for this week.

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 When you come through the door on a Sunday morning like this, people say, how was your Christmas?

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 And I think the answer for most of us is the same, busy.

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 And certainly when you have a small child, then it becomes even busier.

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 But it's good for us to be together again.

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 And I just, as I said, I just want to extend that warm welcome.

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 It's good to see some visitors with us.

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 And it's good to see, which is interesting because it slightly ties into what we're going to be thinking about this morning.

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 It's good to see even families that are represented here who are visiting family and loved ones that are not able to be with us.

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 But it is good to see you here this morning.

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 And we think about some family members that are dear friends and good church members here in Brunsfield

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 and not able to be with us through a number of different circumstances.

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 And we pray for them regularly.

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 And hopefully, what I'm about to say in our section in Matthew chapter 2, hopefully it just resonates with us.

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 Now, let me read the passage and then I'll pray and then we'll get into some of the detail.

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 And it's found in Matthew chapter 2.

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 We've been in Matthew for a couple of weeks.

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 And we've transitioned between the Christmas story into what we were thinking about last week,

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 which again was still within the Christmas story where those magi, these wise men came.

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 And Ian took us through the first 12 verses.

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 We're going to break in at verse 13 and we're going to read to the end of the chapter.

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 Matthew chapter 2, verse 13.

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 When they had gone, that is the wise man, the magi that we were just referencing there,

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 an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.

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 Get up, he said.

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 Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt.

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 Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.

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 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt,

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 where he stayed until the death of Herod.

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 And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet,

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 Out of Egypt I called my son.

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 When Herod realised that he had been outwitted by the magi,

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 he was furious and gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity,

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 who were two years and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the magi.

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 That what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled.

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 A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning.

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 Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted because they are no more.

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 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said,

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 Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel,

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 for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead.

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 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.

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 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod,

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 he was afraid to go there.

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 Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee.

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 And he went and lived in a town called Nazareth.

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 So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets that he would be called a Nazarene.

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 I'm sure that God will add his blessing to the reading of his word.

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 Now let's just commit our time and the next few minutes to God for his blessing.

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 Our Father, we come before you again this morning.

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 And as we approach this passage, in all of its complexity and difficulty,

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 our Father, we just, we ask that as we consider the early part of our Lord's life,

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 our Father, that you'd speak to us in the circumstances in which we find him.

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 Our Father, we just commit ourselves to you this morning.

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 We know that you know all of our needs.

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 Our Father, we know that you're able to fulfill far more abundantly than all that we can think or ask.

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 Our Father, you know each and every situation that finds itself before you this morning.

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 The weeks that we've had, the preparation of our hearts for this morning.

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 Our Father, we just pray that you would speak and that your voice may be heard.

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 That we might understand who you are.

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 Your great purpose in sending your son into this world.

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 And our Father, we just pray that as we listen to your voice, our Father,

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 that we might be ready to respond to it.

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 And so, our Father, we just ask that you be with us this morning as we consider your word.

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 For we ask these things in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 So, over the last few weeks, for anybody who hasn't been here, up to the run-up to Christmas,

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 we were doing a little series called God With Us.

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 And I haven't given my message this morning a title,

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 but I think we could probably not end with God With Us,

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 because you're going to find that that doesn't end.

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 But I would just like to reuse our little title this morning, God With Us.

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 You might not have noticed that in the passage as we had started.

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 But most nativity scenes stop at these words that we've thought about peace and angels and joy.

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 But yet, when we come to Matthew's gospel, that's not what Matthew writes,

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 or it's not what Matthew finishes on.

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 Matthew tells us that almost immediately after Jesus was born,

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 that he is forced, his family is forced to run for their lives.

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 There's no silent night.

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 There's no soft lighting.

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 There's no calm.

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 Instead, there's a fear of, there's a sense of fear.

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 There's urgency.

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 And we find danger.

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 Which is an interesting segue into our passage this morning,

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 because there will be those today who are not feeling peaceful at all.

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 We think of these nice, warm, fuzzy words at Christmastime,

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 but actually there will be those who have come and gathered this morning who are not peaceful.

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 Everything is not calm and bright.

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 Some of us will be worried about our safety,

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 and not necessarily physical safety,

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 even though some of us might be worried about that,

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 as we look around at the world,

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 and what's going on in the world,

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 and what's going on in our land, etc.

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 Some of us might be anxious about the future.

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 Some might be grieving things that we did not choose.

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 And some people might even feel displaced.

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 That might be physical.

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 But I think for many of us, it might be more emotional.

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 It might even be spiritual.

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 Spiritually that we feel displaced.

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 When we come to Matthew 2,

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 it reminds us of this truth that we had in that title that I just mentioned,

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 God with us.

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 And as we look through these 10 verses,

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 and there's so many different ways that we could have looked at these 10 verses this morning,

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 but as we look at these 10 verses from verse 13 to 23,

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 I want us just to be reminded of that truth that God is with us.

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 We kind of think of it on the lead up to Christmas, don't we?

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 And then as soon as it's Christmas done,

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 then sometimes we forget all about it.

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 And that's what I want to focus on this morning.

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 I mean, you may have come to this passage,

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 and there's some great historical narrative within here.

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 And as I was preparing for it, I did think to myself,

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 let's get into the history.

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 But there's people here that are far more clued up about that period in history than I am.

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 And I'm sure that they would come and maybe correct me afterwards.

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 So let's not necessarily just focus on the historical element of this passage.

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 We might have also just focused on prophecy being fulfilled,

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 and we will think about that slightly this morning,

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 because there's a number of prophecies that Matthew records for us in here,

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 and we will think about them.

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 But it brings us to our series, which we'll take into the new year,

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 which is Kingdom Come.

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 And it is very much establishing.

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 And what Matthew does in his first couple of chapters is he establishes that Christ is King,

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 that the Messiah is that Jesus is the Messiah,

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 that he is the King.

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 It takes us through in chapter one that we thought about his lineage.

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 It takes us through how he's come into this world.

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 It takes us through all of his credentials.

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 And Matthew is really setting out his stall in his book, in his gospel, that Christ is King.

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 But God with us was a little title of our series.

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 And God is with his people, even when life becomes a bit unstable,

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 when it becomes unfair or when it becomes unsafe.

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 And before we get into our passage in great detail,

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 let me just embellish what I was talking about there

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 in terms of what Matthew is setting out to do

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 and the kind of context of our chapter that we're in.

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 Chapter two demonstrates the birth of Jesus Christ,

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 that it wasn't an accident of history or in history,

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 but it was under divine and precise fulfillment of prophecy.

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 It was unfolding.

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 The narrative that we have in chapter two is unfolding under God's sovereign hand.

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 The scene that we are looking at this morning was set during the reign of Herod the Great.

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 And there are other Herods, but we mark this one as Herod the Great.

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 And even though he did great things, he was great things.

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 He was a ruthless leader installed by Rome,

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 whose insecurities exposes the contrast between his temporary earthly power and heaven's true king.

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 Last week we thought about the wise men coming

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 and these magi that arrived from the east.

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 The east reveals Christ's kingship was recognized far beyond Israel.

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 Maybe that's a glimpse into the plan that will be revealed in Christ to us.

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 These wise men were guided by a star, as we thought about last week,

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 and they come seeking the one who is born king of the Jews.

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 That is an echo of what we read about in Numbers chapter 24.

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 And as I say, we're not going to focus specifically on the prophecies

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 and the historical context of them and how they are fulfilled within Jesus,

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 but that is one of the echoes that we see from the Old Testament.

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 But Herod's response is fear.

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 It's not worship, as Ian reminded us last week.

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 And Jerusalem shares in that disturbance.

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 It's a telling indication of their spiritual blindness.

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 And even though that we're going to point the finger at Israel today,

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 some of what I'm going to say I hope lands with us.

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 You know, when questioned, as we have thought about last week,

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 when he summoned those, when questioned, the Jewish leaders and the scribes,

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 they correctly identified that Micah chapter 5 affirms or prophesies

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 that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem.

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 But there is one point that I just want to maybe mention this morning,

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 and it is this.

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 Knowledge of Scripture does not guarantee obedience to it.

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 You'll see a point that we might come on to later.

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 These wise men, sorry, these scribes and the priests that were summoned by Herod,

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 they knew exactly what the Scripture said,

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 but they were unwilling to be obedient to it.

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 And as the Magi then come and they worship,

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 Herod plots this atrocity, this murder,

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 this slaughter of Bethlehem's children.

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 And that also fulfills a prophecy that we read about in Jeremiah chapter 31,

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 portraying Israel's long history of sorrow under corrupt leadership.

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 Then, as we come into our section this morning,

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 we see that God intervenes through direct revelation,

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 and he sends Joseph into Egypt.

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 And again, Matthew tells us here that this is a fulfillment of prophecy,

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 and it takes us back to Hosea chapter 11.

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 And through originally, though that is originally referring to Israel,

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 it shows that Jesus is the true Son who perfectly embodies Israel's calling.

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 Often what we read about in the Old Testament that is written about Israel,

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 or written to Israel, we see that it is fulfilled in Christ.

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 And that is one of, that is, I think, a purposeful tact that Matthew takes

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 as he's writing his gospel here,

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 and really establishing who the Messiah is.

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 And then upon returning to Israel,

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 the family settles in Nazareth,

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 fulfilling what the prophets spoke collectively.

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 And even though there's no direct quote for this one,

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 that he would be called a Nazarene,

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 but I think it's maybe a colloquial term that Matthew is picking up,

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 that the Messiah would come, he would be humble,

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 he would be despised, as we think about in Isaiah 53,

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 and that it was unexpected.

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 And I think that's what is referred to as when he talks about

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 that the prophets said that he would be called a Nazarene.

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 So Matthew chapter 2 teaches us that prophecy is not merely in words,

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 but it is in, or only in a spiritual sense,

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 as some people would maybe lead us to believe.

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 But Matthew has shown us that prophecy is fulfilled

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 in literal, physical history.

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 And some of the predictions,

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 the prophetic predictions for the future,

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 will come to pass, and they will also come to pass.

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 Some of them will be spiritual,

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 but they will be literal and physical fulfillment

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 of some of the promises that have not yet been fulfilled.

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 Some of those are through suffering and obedience,

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 but they demonstrate God's unassailable purpose.

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 And that's what we want to think about this morning.

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 I want to look at this passage in a slightly different way,

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 as I've mentioned,

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 but I want, even just slightly different to my normal style,

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 I want to pick up one or two themes

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 that lie just beneath the context

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 of the casual reading that you would normally come across

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 if you were just to read this passage.

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 First of all, you'll see that I've got four simple points

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 that I want us to think about this morning.

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 And the first one is this, God's guidance.

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 We read this in chapter, in verse 13,

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 an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream

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 and said, get up,

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 take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt.

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 You know, Joseph doesn't receive this message

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 in some kind of quiet, prayerful retreat.

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 Sometimes that we think we have to be closed in

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 and God will speak to us.

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 No, actually, he received this

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 in what looks like a moment of crisis,

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 even though Joseph might not have understood it at the time.

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 But regardless of that, God speaks clearly.

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 And his instruction is direct.

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 He says this, get up, take the child and flee to Egypt.

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 There's no explanation of how long that will be.

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 There's no promise of ease.

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 It's just obedience.

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 We see here that Joseph doesn't argue.

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 He doesn't delay.

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 In fact, it actually says,

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 and I may be stretching it,

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 but I think it's in the passage here,

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 it says he obeyed.

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 Well, I'm saying that he obeyed that night

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 because it says here,

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 and he arose and took the child and his mother by night.

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 Instant obedience.

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 You know, many of us want spiritual clarity

00:16:46.299 --> 00:16:48.039
 in our lives without disruption.

00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:50.259
 We want God's guidance

00:16:50.259 --> 00:16:53.599
 as long as it fits our timeline,

00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:55.740
 as long as it fits our comfort,

00:16:55.899 --> 00:16:57.659
 as long as it fits our finances.

00:16:58.919 --> 00:17:01.939
 But under God's guidance,

00:17:02.779 --> 00:17:07.279
 we see that that's not the case.

00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:10.440
 Sometimes God's guidance changes our plans.

00:17:11.660 --> 00:17:13.839
 It interrupts our stable situations.

00:17:14.819 --> 00:17:16.940
 It maybe asks us to go when we'd rather stay.

00:17:18.099 --> 00:17:19.920
 And some of us might be here right now

00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:20.940
 as we finish 2025

00:17:20.940 --> 00:17:23.000
 and as we contemplate a new year,

00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:25.019
 we might think about this

00:17:25.019 --> 00:17:26.539
 in terms of our employment

00:17:26.539 --> 00:17:27.599
 or our relationships

00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:30.279
 or a calling that is making us nervous

00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:32.859
 or a conviction that we can't ignore.

00:17:32.859 --> 00:17:35.899
 But I just want to pause for a little second

00:17:35.899 --> 00:17:36.719
 and say this,

00:17:36.819 --> 00:17:37.379
 that faith

00:17:37.379 --> 00:17:41.959
 is not just believing that God speaks

00:17:41.959 --> 00:17:45.279
 or that God speaks to us.

00:17:46.659 --> 00:17:48.579
 Faith is obeying when he does.

00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:52.179
 You see that in Joseph's life.

00:17:54.759 --> 00:17:56.139
 Obedience or obeying

00:17:56.139 --> 00:17:57.319
 is a word that we don't,

00:17:57.639 --> 00:17:57.899
 in fact,

00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:00.479
 mostly we don't like to hear that word at all.

00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:02.960
 It kind of irks us a little bit.

00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:04.559
 Most of us don't like to obey.

00:18:05.099 --> 00:18:06.960
 I've got a 20-month-old son

00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:09.360
 and it's quite evident

00:18:09.360 --> 00:18:11.579
 that he often doesn't like to obey.

00:18:11.799 --> 00:18:14.059
 And as much as we sometimes

00:18:14.059 --> 00:18:15.420
 try and discipline ourselves,

00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:17.079
 I think that irks us

00:18:17.079 --> 00:18:18.120
 all the way through our lives.

00:18:18.259 --> 00:18:19.339
 We don't like that word obedience

00:18:19.339 --> 00:18:21.180
 and we don't like to obey.

00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:23.019
 But notice carefully

00:18:23.019 --> 00:18:25.460
 that Joseph obeys perfectly.

00:18:26.299 --> 00:18:27.539
 And in that perfect obedience,

00:18:27.700 --> 00:18:28.200
 unfortunately,

00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:29.559
 he still becomes a refugee.

00:18:29.559 --> 00:18:30.839
 We're not going to necessarily,

00:18:30.940 --> 00:18:31.220
 as I say,

00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:32.659
 think about the kind of historical narrative,

00:18:32.819 --> 00:18:33.919
 but there's many, many Jews

00:18:33.919 --> 00:18:34.480
 at that time

00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:36.279
 around that period

00:18:36.279 --> 00:18:37.119
 that we are thinking about

00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:38.319
 of where Herod was reigning.

00:18:38.500 --> 00:18:39.659
 There's many Jews

00:18:39.659 --> 00:18:40.299
 that escaped

00:18:40.299 --> 00:18:43.299
 for refuge in Egypt.

00:18:44.359 --> 00:18:45.399
 But following God

00:18:45.399 --> 00:18:47.759
 does not guarantee us safety.

00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:49.779
 It doesn't guarantee us comfort.

00:18:49.940 --> 00:18:51.059
 It doesn't guarantee us

00:18:51.059 --> 00:18:52.259
 predictability

00:18:52.259 --> 00:18:54.599
 or earthly prosperity.

00:18:55.399 --> 00:18:56.240
 That's something else

00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:57.200
 that you will find

00:18:57.200 --> 00:18:58.640
 from people

00:18:58.640 --> 00:18:59.519
 who teach

00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:00.319
 a false gospel.

00:19:01.059 --> 00:19:02.140
 That if you follow God

00:19:02.140 --> 00:19:03.279
 then everything will be alright.

00:19:03.700 --> 00:19:04.480
 And yet from our passage

00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:04.980
 this morning,

00:19:05.079 --> 00:19:05.799
 I want to show us

00:19:05.799 --> 00:19:07.839
 that that is not guaranteed

00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:08.660
 to us.

00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:09.759
 In fact, actually,

00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:10.400
 we were talking about this

00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:11.200
 on the car on the way in.

00:19:12.120 --> 00:19:12.640
 The Lord Jesus

00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:14.019
 actually maybe indicates

00:19:14.019 --> 00:19:14.700
 that the opposite

00:19:14.700 --> 00:19:15.640
 might be true.

00:19:16.599 --> 00:19:17.500
 But what it does do

00:19:17.500 --> 00:19:18.620
 in our passage this morning

00:19:18.620 --> 00:19:19.460
 is it shows us this.

00:19:19.859 --> 00:19:20.240
 It shows us

00:19:21.059 --> 00:19:21.880
 that His presence

00:19:21.880 --> 00:19:23.400
 is with us.

00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:24.320
 That's why I thought

00:19:24.320 --> 00:19:24.980
 we would follow on

00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:25.720
 with a little card

00:19:25.720 --> 00:19:26.720
 that says God

00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:28.160
 with us.

00:19:29.320 --> 00:19:30.340
 Not only His presence

00:19:30.340 --> 00:19:30.820
 with us

00:19:30.820 --> 00:19:31.660
 but His purpose

00:19:31.660 --> 00:19:32.520
 for us.

00:19:33.420 --> 00:19:34.440
 Jesus begins His life

00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:35.460
 and He's displaced,

00:19:35.760 --> 00:19:36.400
 He's vulnerable

00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:40.180
 and He is dependent.

00:19:40.580 --> 00:19:41.140
 I can't imagine

00:19:41.140 --> 00:19:41.560
 what it would be

00:19:41.560 --> 00:19:42.680
 to run to another country

00:19:42.680 --> 00:19:43.680
 hundreds of miles

00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:44.600
 with a newborn baby.

00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:45.800
 We're expecting a baby

00:19:45.800 --> 00:19:46.520
 in a couple of months

00:19:46.520 --> 00:19:48.280
 and with all the faff

00:19:48.280 --> 00:19:48.960
 that goes with that,

00:19:49.280 --> 00:19:49.760
 I can't imagine.

00:19:49.820 --> 00:19:50.780
 Even just going with Chris

00:19:50.779 --> 00:19:52.200
 away for,

00:19:52.440 --> 00:19:52.579
 you know,

00:19:52.639 --> 00:19:53.460
 50 miles away

00:19:53.460 --> 00:19:55.180
 with a two-year-old

00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:56.460
 at Christmas time

00:19:56.460 --> 00:19:57.639
 is a lot of faff

00:19:57.639 --> 00:19:58.480
 but I can't imagine

00:19:58.480 --> 00:19:59.720
 bundling up a newborn baby

00:19:59.720 --> 00:20:01.079
 or a toddler

00:20:01.079 --> 00:20:02.240
 as we are probably

00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:04.619
 in this reading here

00:20:04.619 --> 00:20:05.619
 and taking them

00:20:05.619 --> 00:20:06.339
 hundreds of miles

00:20:06.339 --> 00:20:07.559
 into another country.

00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:09.980
 But I wonder

00:20:09.980 --> 00:20:10.559
 as a believer

00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:11.420
 do we find ourselves

00:20:11.420 --> 00:20:11.759
 like that?

00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:12.720
 Do we find ourselves

00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:13.299
 displaced?

00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:15.399
 Do we find ourselves

00:20:15.399 --> 00:20:16.420
 vulnerable,

00:20:16.980 --> 00:20:17.399
 dependent?

00:20:17.899 --> 00:20:18.059
 You know,

00:20:18.079 --> 00:20:18.700
 we're in the world

00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:19.480
 but we're not off it.

00:20:19.480 --> 00:20:21.259
 we're open to attack

00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:22.599
 from a hostile environment

00:20:22.599 --> 00:20:24.120
 but we should be

00:20:24.120 --> 00:20:25.660
 wholly dependent

00:20:25.660 --> 00:20:27.000
 on God.

00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:27.519
 You know,

00:20:27.559 --> 00:20:28.140
 for anyone who

00:20:28.140 --> 00:20:28.860
 has ever thought,

00:20:28.940 --> 00:20:29.019
 yeah,

00:20:29.059 --> 00:20:30.759
 I'm living as a Christian,

00:20:31.299 --> 00:20:32.220
 these things

00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:32.960
 shouldn't happen

00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:33.500
 to me.

00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:34.700
 Well,

00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:35.819
 let me put it to you

00:20:35.819 --> 00:20:36.160
 this,

00:20:36.339 --> 00:20:37.180
 that our passage

00:20:37.180 --> 00:20:38.460
 says otherwise.

00:20:39.559 --> 00:20:40.360
 Sometimes obedience

00:20:40.360 --> 00:20:41.440
 will lead us

00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:42.099
 into hardship

00:20:42.099 --> 00:20:43.819
 and not away from it

00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:45.400
 but it is never

00:20:45.400 --> 00:20:47.620
 outside of God's will.

00:20:47.619 --> 00:20:49.019
 God's guidance

00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:49.759
 speak to us,

00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:50.619
 God's guidance

00:20:50.619 --> 00:20:51.799
 speaks to us

00:20:51.799 --> 00:20:53.159
 because it is

00:20:53.159 --> 00:20:53.779
 God's will

00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:55.279
 and the narrative

00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:56.119
 that we see here

00:20:56.119 --> 00:20:57.399
 not only is

00:20:57.399 --> 00:20:58.439
 to fulfill prophecy

00:20:58.439 --> 00:20:59.339
 but it is God's

00:20:59.339 --> 00:21:00.359
 will.

00:21:00.579 --> 00:21:01.219
 It was planned

00:21:01.219 --> 00:21:02.919
 before the foundations

00:21:02.919 --> 00:21:05.199
 of the earth.

00:21:05.699 --> 00:21:06.579
 Which brings me

00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:07.519
 on to the second point

00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:08.379
 which is this

00:21:08.379 --> 00:21:10.079
 worldly resistance.

00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:13.119
 When Herod realised

00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:14.960
 verse 16 to 18

00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:16.599
 when Herod realised

00:21:16.599 --> 00:21:17.299
 that he had been

00:21:17.299 --> 00:21:18.139
 outwitted

00:21:18.139 --> 00:21:20.079
 he was furious.

00:21:21.539 --> 00:21:22.839
 The reaction of Herod

00:21:22.839 --> 00:21:23.439
 I think

00:21:23.439 --> 00:21:25.119
 exposes a timeless truth

00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:25.879
 and it is this

00:21:25.879 --> 00:21:26.480
 that Jesus

00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:27.299
 threatens

00:21:27.299 --> 00:21:28.339
 false

00:21:28.339 --> 00:21:29.199
 power.

00:21:29.559 --> 00:21:30.460
 Now I don't necessarily

00:21:30.460 --> 00:21:31.220
 or

00:21:31.220 --> 00:21:32.379
 I don't only mean

00:21:32.379 --> 00:21:33.379
 that Jesus

00:21:33.379 --> 00:21:34.379
 threatens

00:21:34.379 --> 00:21:36.059
 those in power

00:21:36.059 --> 00:21:37.740
 but it threatens

00:21:37.740 --> 00:21:38.460
 false power.

00:21:38.460 --> 00:21:39.319
 You see

00:21:39.319 --> 00:21:39.880
 I don't think

00:21:39.880 --> 00:21:40.500
 Herod was afraid

00:21:40.500 --> 00:21:40.960
 of a baby.

00:21:42.019 --> 00:21:43.559
 I'm a bit nervous

00:21:43.559 --> 00:21:43.980
 about a baby

00:21:43.980 --> 00:21:44.720
 but I'm not afraid

00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:45.160
 of a baby.

00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:46.039
 No, Herod

00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:46.920
 he was

00:21:46.920 --> 00:21:48.100
 afraid of losing

00:21:48.100 --> 00:21:48.640
 control

00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:50.259
 and I wondered

00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:50.759
 this morning

00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:51.600
 because I want to

00:21:51.600 --> 00:21:52.160
 make this really

00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:52.920
 real for us

00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:53.200
 this morning

00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:54.039
 I wonder if we

00:21:54.039 --> 00:21:55.579
 are afraid

00:21:55.579 --> 00:21:56.579
 of losing control.

00:21:57.380 --> 00:21:58.180
 We think

00:21:58.180 --> 00:21:59.160
 we are in control.

00:21:59.420 --> 00:21:59.840
 We think

00:21:59.840 --> 00:22:00.720
 we have the power

00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:01.519
 in our lives.

00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:02.220
 We think

00:22:02.220 --> 00:22:02.740
 we can do

00:22:02.740 --> 00:22:03.299
 what we want.

00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:04.360
 We want to be

00:22:04.360 --> 00:22:05.220
 in a sense

00:22:05.220 --> 00:22:06.860
 for many people

00:22:06.860 --> 00:22:07.440
 they want to be

00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:08.259
 God in that sense.

00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:08.819
 They want to

00:22:08.819 --> 00:22:10.220
 dictate all the rules

00:22:10.220 --> 00:22:10.879
 they want to be

00:22:10.879 --> 00:22:11.319
 in control

00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:12.019
 of their lives

00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:12.960
 and

00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:15.019
 in a sense

00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:15.779
 this is where

00:22:15.779 --> 00:22:16.279
 Herod is

00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:16.700
 he wants

00:22:16.700 --> 00:22:17.680
 ultimate control

00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:20.039
 false power

00:22:20.039 --> 00:22:20.819
 in that sense.

00:22:20.900 --> 00:22:21.379
 I wonder if we

00:22:21.379 --> 00:22:21.859
 are clinging

00:22:21.859 --> 00:22:22.660
 on to false power

00:22:22.660 --> 00:22:23.640
 we think

00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:23.920
 we've got

00:22:23.920 --> 00:22:25.619
 all sorted out

00:22:25.619 --> 00:22:26.140
 who has got

00:22:26.140 --> 00:22:27.180
 plans for 2026

00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:27.680
 already

00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:29.019
 all sorted out

00:22:29.019 --> 00:22:29.599
 all laid out

00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:29.879
 where you're

00:22:29.879 --> 00:22:30.339
 going on holiday

00:22:30.339 --> 00:22:30.859
 where you're

00:22:30.859 --> 00:22:31.299
 going to move

00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:32.119
 what job

00:22:32.119 --> 00:22:32.379
 you're going

00:22:32.379 --> 00:22:32.559
 to get

00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:33.039
 all that kind

00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:33.420
 of stuff

00:22:33.420 --> 00:22:34.859
 it's false

00:22:34.859 --> 00:22:35.240
 power.

00:22:36.140 --> 00:22:36.779
 God is in

00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:37.200
 control

00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:39.200
 in our

00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:39.660
 little section

00:22:39.660 --> 00:22:39.980
 here we're

00:22:39.980 --> 00:22:40.240
 going to see

00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:40.620
 that false

00:22:40.620 --> 00:22:41.200
 power actually

00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:41.779
 is very

00:22:41.779 --> 00:22:42.319
 ugly

00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:43.380
 power without

00:22:43.380 --> 00:22:44.259
 humility

00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:44.900
 is ugly

00:22:44.900 --> 00:22:45.180
 and it

00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:46.059
 often results

00:22:46.059 --> 00:22:47.840
 in violence

00:22:47.840 --> 00:22:48.960
 Herod responds

00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:49.299
 with this

00:22:49.299 --> 00:22:49.680
 cruelty

00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:50.799
 and he orders

00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:53.340
 the murder

00:22:53.340 --> 00:22:53.880
 of innocent

00:22:53.880 --> 00:22:54.400
 children

00:22:54.400 --> 00:22:55.240
 it's a dark

00:22:55.240 --> 00:22:55.840
 moment in history

00:22:55.840 --> 00:22:56.279
 and it's one

00:22:56.279 --> 00:22:56.720
 that we have

00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:57.319
 seen time

00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:57.720
 and time

00:22:57.720 --> 00:22:58.120
 and time

00:22:58.120 --> 00:22:58.440
 again

00:22:58.440 --> 00:22:59.340
 when you see

00:22:59.340 --> 00:22:59.940
 despots

00:22:59.940 --> 00:23:00.759
 and rulers

00:23:00.759 --> 00:23:01.480
 that just

00:23:01.480 --> 00:23:02.120
 want to cling

00:23:02.120 --> 00:23:02.700
 on to power

00:23:02.700 --> 00:23:03.620
 that ultimately

00:23:03.620 --> 00:23:04.180
 belongs to

00:23:04.180 --> 00:23:04.440
 God

00:23:04.440 --> 00:23:05.799
 and they

00:23:05.799 --> 00:23:06.059
 make a

00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:06.400
 mess of

00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:06.539
 it

00:23:06.539 --> 00:23:08.720
 and I

00:23:08.720 --> 00:23:09.000
 don't think

00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:09.259
 Matthew

00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:09.819
 skips over

00:23:09.819 --> 00:23:10.100
 it or

00:23:10.100 --> 00:23:10.580
 softens it

00:23:10.580 --> 00:23:10.819
 in that

00:23:10.819 --> 00:23:11.100
 sense

00:23:11.100 --> 00:23:11.500
 it's right

00:23:11.500 --> 00:23:11.740
 there on

00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:12.240
 the page

00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:13.059
 just the

00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:13.980
 brutality

00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:14.600
 of what

00:23:14.600 --> 00:23:15.039
 Herod was

00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:15.500
 willing to

00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:15.680
 do

00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:16.500
 Ian reminded

00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:16.980
 us last

00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:17.279
 week

00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:18.340
 which was

00:23:18.340 --> 00:23:19.519
 that he

00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:20.319
 went the

00:23:20.319 --> 00:23:21.240
 lengths of

00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:22.380
 killing his

00:23:22.380 --> 00:23:22.900
 own family

00:23:22.900 --> 00:23:23.279
 members

00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:23.680
 his own

00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:24.140
 sons and

00:23:24.140 --> 00:23:24.600
 his wife

00:23:24.600 --> 00:23:25.580
 because of

00:23:25.580 --> 00:23:26.880
 his insecurity

00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:27.360
 in that

00:23:27.360 --> 00:23:27.799
 sense

00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:29.019
 we still

00:23:29.019 --> 00:23:29.380
 live in a

00:23:29.380 --> 00:23:29.740
 world like

00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:29.980
 that

00:23:29.980 --> 00:23:31.360
 a world

00:23:31.360 --> 00:23:31.860
 where innocent

00:23:31.860 --> 00:23:32.559
 people suffer

00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:33.120
 because of

00:23:33.120 --> 00:23:33.519
 corrupt

00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:34.339
 leadership

00:23:34.339 --> 00:23:35.839
 where pride

00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:36.279
 produces

00:23:36.279 --> 00:23:36.779
 violence

00:23:36.779 --> 00:23:37.400
 where power

00:23:37.400 --> 00:23:38.339
 protects itself

00:23:38.339 --> 00:23:39.140
 at all

00:23:39.140 --> 00:23:39.680
 costs

00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:41.920
 I just refer

00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:42.400
 back to what

00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:42.779
 Ian said

00:23:42.779 --> 00:23:43.039
 again

00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:43.500
 Ian said

00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:43.920
 last week

00:23:43.920 --> 00:23:44.500
 that Matthew's

00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:44.980
 gospel is

00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:45.319
 gritty

00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:46.660
 and it's

00:23:46.660 --> 00:23:47.259
 right up to

00:23:47.259 --> 00:23:47.519
 date

00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:48.259
 in many

00:23:48.259 --> 00:23:49.039
 cases

00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:49.860
 it's so

00:23:49.860 --> 00:23:50.380
 similar to

00:23:50.380 --> 00:23:50.920
 the situations

00:23:50.920 --> 00:23:51.519
 we see

00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:51.839
 in our

00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:52.180
 world

00:23:52.180 --> 00:23:52.940
 today

00:23:52.940 --> 00:23:54.559
 but I

00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:54.860
 think our

00:23:54.860 --> 00:23:55.400
 passage here

00:23:55.400 --> 00:23:55.900
 just reminds

00:23:55.900 --> 00:23:56.559
 us that

00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:58.440
 in a sense

00:23:58.440 --> 00:23:59.000
 human nature

00:23:59.000 --> 00:23:59.720
 never changes

00:23:59.720 --> 00:24:01.319
 and it

00:24:01.319 --> 00:24:01.799
 also gives

00:24:01.799 --> 00:24:02.079
 us the

00:24:02.079 --> 00:24:02.440
 confidence

00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:02.980
 to call

00:24:02.980 --> 00:24:03.700
 out the

00:24:03.700 --> 00:24:04.360
 atrocities

00:24:04.360 --> 00:24:04.660
 that we

00:24:04.660 --> 00:24:04.920
 see in

00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:05.420
 this world

00:24:05.420 --> 00:24:06.940
 you know

00:24:06.940 --> 00:24:07.519
 Christian faith

00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:08.079
 doesn't deny

00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:08.360
 it

00:24:08.360 --> 00:24:09.339
 this is what I

00:24:09.339 --> 00:24:09.819
 go back to

00:24:09.819 --> 00:24:10.420
 when sometimes

00:24:10.420 --> 00:24:10.940
 we hear this

00:24:10.940 --> 00:24:11.299
 preaching

00:24:11.299 --> 00:24:12.980
 where you know

00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:13.460
 when you give

00:24:13.460 --> 00:24:13.920
 your life to

00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:14.860
 Jesus then

00:24:14.860 --> 00:24:15.440
 all will be

00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:15.860
 well and

00:24:15.860 --> 00:24:16.079
 you'll be

00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:16.700
 blessed and

00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:17.299
 you'll have

00:24:17.299 --> 00:24:17.559
 seen that

00:24:17.559 --> 00:24:18.019
 nonsense on

00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:18.500
 the television

00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:19.100
 and that

00:24:19.100 --> 00:24:19.360
 kind of

00:24:19.360 --> 00:24:19.600
 thing

00:24:19.600 --> 00:24:20.960
 but Christian

00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:21.400
 faith is

00:24:21.400 --> 00:24:21.660
 not a

00:24:21.660 --> 00:24:22.220
 denial of

00:24:22.220 --> 00:24:22.880
 these hard

00:24:22.880 --> 00:24:23.460
 situations

00:24:23.460 --> 00:24:24.160
 it's not

00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:24.640
 pretending

00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:25.100
 that everything

00:24:25.100 --> 00:24:25.680
 is okay

00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:27.579
 it acknowledges

00:24:27.579 --> 00:24:28.339
 the grief

00:24:28.339 --> 00:24:28.880
 and the

00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:29.339
 injustice

00:24:29.339 --> 00:24:30.799
 and the

00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:31.319
 pain that

00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:31.959
 is caused

00:24:31.959 --> 00:24:33.419
 by our

00:24:33.419 --> 00:24:33.759
 sinful

00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:35.220
 world

00:24:35.220 --> 00:24:35.879
 and God's

00:24:35.879 --> 00:24:36.439
 word takes

00:24:36.439 --> 00:24:37.559
 time and

00:24:37.559 --> 00:24:38.220
 room to

00:24:38.220 --> 00:24:38.839
 record the

00:24:38.839 --> 00:24:39.939
 grief that

00:24:39.939 --> 00:24:40.539
 we see

00:24:40.539 --> 00:24:41.059
 here

00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:41.559
 Matthew

00:24:41.559 --> 00:24:41.839
 quotes

00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:42.220
 Jeremiah

00:24:42.220 --> 00:24:42.599
 he says

00:24:42.599 --> 00:24:43.000
 a voice

00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:43.539
 was heard

00:24:43.539 --> 00:24:44.480
 in verse

00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:44.799
 18

00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:45.179
 a voice

00:24:45.179 --> 00:24:45.619
 was heard

00:24:45.619 --> 00:24:46.139
 in Ramah

00:24:46.139 --> 00:24:46.959
 weeping

00:24:46.959 --> 00:24:47.859
 and loud

00:24:47.859 --> 00:24:48.779
 lamentation

00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:49.779
 you know

00:24:49.779 --> 00:24:50.279
 God doesn't

00:24:50.279 --> 00:24:51.179
 rush past

00:24:51.179 --> 00:24:51.779
 our sorrow

00:24:51.779 --> 00:24:53.619
 or this sorrow

00:24:53.619 --> 00:24:54.459
 he records it

00:24:54.460 --> 00:24:55.579
 and he

00:24:55.579 --> 00:24:56.319
 doesn't rush

00:24:56.319 --> 00:24:57.100
 past our

00:24:57.100 --> 00:24:57.700
 sorrows

00:24:57.700 --> 00:24:57.860
 you know

00:24:57.860 --> 00:24:58.299
 some of us

00:24:58.299 --> 00:24:59.100
 are carrying

00:24:59.100 --> 00:24:59.799
 grief today

00:24:59.799 --> 00:25:01.100
 loved ones

00:25:01.100 --> 00:25:01.680
 that in human

00:25:01.680 --> 00:25:02.140
 terms

00:25:02.140 --> 00:25:02.620
 the loss

00:25:02.620 --> 00:25:02.960
 of loved

00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:03.200
 ones

00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:03.660
 that in human

00:25:03.660 --> 00:25:03.980
 terms

00:25:03.980 --> 00:25:04.500
 doesn't make

00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:04.900
 sense

00:25:04.900 --> 00:25:06.440
 we carry

00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:06.980
 pain

00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:07.519
 that we

00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:07.900
 didn't

00:25:07.900 --> 00:25:08.380
 choose

00:25:08.380 --> 00:25:09.240
 we have

00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:09.740
 questions

00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:10.160
 that are

00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:10.740
 not

00:25:10.740 --> 00:25:11.340
 answered

00:25:11.340 --> 00:25:13.120
 and yet

00:25:13.120 --> 00:25:13.420
 the Bible

00:25:13.420 --> 00:25:13.840
 makes it

00:25:13.840 --> 00:25:14.380
 clear that

00:25:14.380 --> 00:25:15.279
 God sees

00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:15.920
 the tears

00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:16.160
 that we

00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:16.480
 cry

00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:16.880
 in the

00:25:16.880 --> 00:25:17.100
 night

00:25:17.100 --> 00:25:18.799
 the hidden

00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:19.279
 pain

00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:20.039
 the hole

00:25:20.039 --> 00:25:20.579
 that's left

00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:20.860
 in our

00:25:20.860 --> 00:25:21.180
 lives

00:25:21.180 --> 00:25:22.460
 and

00:25:22.460 --> 00:25:23.460
 the Christian

00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:24.000
 hope is

00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:25.140
 not pretending

00:25:25.140 --> 00:25:25.539
 that it

00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:26.420
 doesn't exist

00:25:26.420 --> 00:25:27.360
 it is

00:25:27.360 --> 00:25:28.320
 trusting God

00:25:28.320 --> 00:25:29.180
 within

00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:30.140
 the pain

00:25:30.140 --> 00:25:31.160
 God

00:25:31.160 --> 00:25:31.580
 with

00:25:31.580 --> 00:25:32.340
 us

00:25:32.340 --> 00:25:33.279
 which is

00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:33.660
 the point

00:25:33.660 --> 00:25:34.060
 of our

00:25:34.060 --> 00:25:34.500
 little

00:25:34.500 --> 00:25:35.480
 which is

00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:36.340
 the title

00:25:36.340 --> 00:25:36.740
 for our

00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:37.000
 little

00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:38.420
 consideration

00:25:38.420 --> 00:25:39.220
 this morning

00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:40.580
 God

00:25:40.580 --> 00:25:41.080
 with

00:25:41.080 --> 00:25:41.539
 us

00:25:41.539 --> 00:25:42.779
 which brings

00:25:42.779 --> 00:25:43.060
 me on to

00:25:43.060 --> 00:25:43.340
 the next

00:25:43.340 --> 00:25:43.660
 point

00:25:43.660 --> 00:25:44.000
 that we're

00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:44.060
 going to

00:25:44.060 --> 00:25:44.299
 look at

00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:44.519
 this is

00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:44.660
 point

00:25:44.660 --> 00:25:44.820
 number

00:25:44.820 --> 00:25:45.039
 three

00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:45.380
 which is

00:25:45.380 --> 00:25:45.620
 this

00:25:45.620 --> 00:25:46.380
 sovereign

00:25:46.380 --> 00:25:47.600
 triumph

00:25:47.600 --> 00:25:48.600
 God

00:25:48.600 --> 00:25:49.060
 is in

00:25:49.060 --> 00:25:49.960
 control

00:25:49.960 --> 00:25:51.340
 verse 19

00:25:51.340 --> 00:25:52.059
 to 21

00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:53.059
 verse 19

00:25:53.059 --> 00:25:53.740
 and Herod

00:25:53.740 --> 00:25:54.180
 died

00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:55.380
 and an

00:25:55.380 --> 00:25:55.819
 angel of

00:25:55.819 --> 00:25:56.240
 the Lord

00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:57.039
 appeared

00:25:57.039 --> 00:25:57.740
 Herod

00:25:57.740 --> 00:25:58.559
 dies

00:25:58.559 --> 00:26:00.420
 but God's

00:26:00.420 --> 00:26:00.680
 plan

00:26:00.680 --> 00:26:01.279
 continues

00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:01.860
 does that

00:26:01.860 --> 00:26:02.180
 not give

00:26:02.180 --> 00:26:02.980
 us a

00:26:02.980 --> 00:26:03.180
 hope

00:26:03.180 --> 00:26:03.360
 this

00:26:03.360 --> 00:26:03.640
 morning

00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:04.259
 does it

00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:04.640
 not make

00:26:04.640 --> 00:26:04.840
 you

00:26:04.840 --> 00:26:06.000
 smile

00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:06.720
 even in

00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:07.039
 some of

00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:07.500
 the chaos

00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:08.019
 that happens

00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:08.299
 in our

00:26:08.299 --> 00:26:08.600
 lives

00:26:08.600 --> 00:26:08.860
 and in

00:26:08.860 --> 00:26:09.000
 our

00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:09.279
 world

00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:09.700
 it gives

00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:10.019
 us

00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:10.740
 hope

00:26:10.740 --> 00:26:11.680
 tyrants

00:26:11.680 --> 00:26:12.160
 fade

00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:14.180
 but God

00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:15.019
 remains

00:26:15.019 --> 00:26:15.460
 God is

00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:15.759
 always

00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:16.079
 there

00:26:16.079 --> 00:26:17.600
 he's

00:26:17.600 --> 00:26:18.019
 always been

00:26:18.019 --> 00:26:18.340
 there

00:26:18.340 --> 00:26:19.079
 and he

00:26:19.079 --> 00:26:19.700
 always will

00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:20.180
 be there

00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:20.779
 God

00:26:20.779 --> 00:26:21.140
 with

00:26:21.140 --> 00:26:21.680
 us

00:26:21.680 --> 00:26:23.240
 I

00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:23.500
 noticed

00:26:23.500 --> 00:26:23.720
 here

00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:23.960
 that

00:26:23.960 --> 00:26:24.960
 I've

00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:25.480
 written

00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:25.700
 down

00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:25.900
 that

00:26:25.900 --> 00:26:26.259
 evil

00:26:26.259 --> 00:26:26.580
 has

00:26:26.580 --> 00:26:26.759
 an

00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:27.360
 expiration

00:26:27.360 --> 00:26:27.740
 date

00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:28.100
 it's

00:26:28.100 --> 00:26:28.299
 probably

00:26:28.299 --> 00:26:28.600
 not what

00:26:28.600 --> 00:26:28.960
 we think

00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:29.140
 about

00:26:29.140 --> 00:26:29.460
 when you're

00:26:29.460 --> 00:26:29.660
 in a

00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:30.120
 situation

00:26:30.120 --> 00:26:30.940
 and you

00:26:30.940 --> 00:26:31.299
 think this

00:26:31.299 --> 00:26:31.759
 world is

00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:32.400
 so evil

00:26:32.400 --> 00:26:33.000
 and it

00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:33.400
 will never

00:26:33.400 --> 00:26:33.819
 end

00:26:33.819 --> 00:26:34.500
 and yet

00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:35.519
 Herod

00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:36.120
 dies

00:26:36.120 --> 00:26:37.500
 he believed

00:26:37.500 --> 00:26:37.819
 he can

00:26:37.819 --> 00:26:38.319
 control the

00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:38.580
 future

00:26:38.580 --> 00:26:38.960
 that's why

00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:39.440
 he killed

00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:39.860
 his sons

00:26:39.860 --> 00:26:40.200
 he killed

00:26:40.200 --> 00:26:40.620
 his wife

00:26:40.620 --> 00:26:41.240
 he killed

00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:41.700
 the babies

00:26:41.700 --> 00:26:42.059
 that were

00:26:42.059 --> 00:26:43.180
 the boys

00:26:43.180 --> 00:26:43.420
 that were

00:26:43.420 --> 00:26:43.580
 under

00:26:43.580 --> 00:26:43.920
 two year

00:26:43.920 --> 00:26:44.180
 old

00:26:44.180 --> 00:26:44.740
 in that

00:26:44.740 --> 00:26:45.340
 region

00:26:45.340 --> 00:26:46.080
 of Bethlehem

00:26:46.080 --> 00:26:46.819
 and in

00:26:46.819 --> 00:26:47.799
 the surrounding

00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:48.819
 vicinity

00:26:48.819 --> 00:26:49.539
 he thought

00:26:49.539 --> 00:26:49.859
 he was

00:26:49.859 --> 00:26:50.439
 in control

00:26:50.439 --> 00:26:51.319
 but one

00:26:51.319 --> 00:26:51.659
 thing he

00:26:51.659 --> 00:26:52.079
 could not

00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:52.500
 stop

00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:53.659
 was God's

00:26:53.659 --> 00:26:54.639
 promise

00:26:54.639 --> 00:26:56.279
 and so many

00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:56.740
 others have

00:26:56.740 --> 00:26:57.339
 tried the same

00:26:57.339 --> 00:26:57.740
 haven't they

00:26:57.740 --> 00:26:58.579
 so many

00:26:58.579 --> 00:26:59.259
 others have

00:26:59.259 --> 00:27:00.399
 tried to

00:27:00.399 --> 00:27:00.939
 do away

00:27:00.939 --> 00:27:01.679
 with Christianity

00:27:01.679 --> 00:27:02.379
 who have

00:27:02.379 --> 00:27:04.559
 put roadblocks

00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:05.000
 in the way

00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:05.859
 in fact

00:27:05.859 --> 00:27:06.599
 it was the same

00:27:06.599 --> 00:27:06.960
 when Jesus

00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:07.639
 was crucified

00:27:07.639 --> 00:27:08.159
 they said

00:27:08.159 --> 00:27:09.139
 we will not

00:27:09.139 --> 00:27:09.559
 have this

00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:10.079
 man to

00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:10.599
 reign over

00:27:10.599 --> 00:27:11.059
 us

00:27:11.059 --> 00:27:11.939
 Matthew

00:27:11.939 --> 00:27:12.559
 has established

00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:13.259
 Christ as

00:27:13.259 --> 00:27:13.700
 the king

00:27:13.700 --> 00:27:14.639
 and yet

00:27:14.639 --> 00:27:15.220
 they say

00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:15.899
 we will not

00:27:15.900 --> 00:27:16.259
 have this

00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:16.680
 man to

00:27:16.680 --> 00:27:17.000
 reign over

00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:17.300
 us

00:27:17.300 --> 00:27:17.660
 but he

00:27:17.660 --> 00:27:18.180
 is king

00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:19.120
 of kings

00:27:19.120 --> 00:27:19.400
 and he's

00:27:19.400 --> 00:27:19.780
 lord of

00:27:19.780 --> 00:27:20.100
 lords

00:27:20.100 --> 00:27:21.500
 his kingdom

00:27:21.500 --> 00:27:22.540
 will be

00:27:22.540 --> 00:27:22.980
 eternal

00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:24.240
 his purposes

00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:25.660
 will be

00:27:25.660 --> 00:27:26.019
 fulfilled

00:27:26.019 --> 00:27:28.220
 and the

00:27:28.220 --> 00:27:28.820
 scripture tells

00:27:28.820 --> 00:27:29.240
 us his

00:27:29.240 --> 00:27:29.940
 enemies will

00:27:29.940 --> 00:27:31.200
 be brought

00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:32.480
 to nothing

00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:34.820
 I was

00:27:34.820 --> 00:27:35.640
 thinking about

00:27:35.640 --> 00:27:36.040
 him this

00:27:36.040 --> 00:27:36.380
 morning

00:27:36.380 --> 00:27:37.100
 written by

00:27:37.100 --> 00:27:37.380
 Henry

00:27:37.380 --> 00:27:37.780
 Light

00:27:37.780 --> 00:27:38.340
 it's not

00:27:38.340 --> 00:27:38.640
 one that

00:27:38.640 --> 00:27:38.780
 we've

00:27:38.780 --> 00:27:39.100
 sang here

00:27:39.100 --> 00:27:39.340
 for a

00:27:39.340 --> 00:27:39.780
 long time

00:27:39.780 --> 00:27:40.580
 but it

00:27:40.580 --> 00:27:41.000
 says this

00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:41.600
 it is not

00:27:41.600 --> 00:27:42.019
 for us

00:27:42.019 --> 00:27:42.360
 to be

00:27:42.360 --> 00:27:42.600
 seeking

00:27:42.600 --> 00:27:43.180
 our bliss

00:27:43.180 --> 00:27:44.200
 or building

00:27:44.200 --> 00:27:44.740
 our hopes

00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:45.300
 in a region

00:27:45.300 --> 00:27:45.880
 like this

00:27:45.880 --> 00:27:46.420
 we look

00:27:46.420 --> 00:27:46.760
 for a

00:27:46.760 --> 00:27:47.060
 city

00:27:47.060 --> 00:27:48.080
 that hands

00:27:48.080 --> 00:27:48.520
 have not

00:27:48.520 --> 00:27:48.960
 piled

00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:49.480
 we long

00:27:49.480 --> 00:27:49.800
 for a

00:27:49.800 --> 00:27:50.180
 country

00:27:50.180 --> 00:27:51.260
 by sin

00:27:51.260 --> 00:27:52.500
 undefiled

00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:53.120
 you know

00:27:53.120 --> 00:27:53.400
 sometimes

00:27:53.400 --> 00:27:53.940
 this world

00:27:53.940 --> 00:27:54.500
 feels

00:27:54.500 --> 00:27:55.480
 overwhelming

00:27:55.480 --> 00:27:57.140
 there is

00:27:57.140 --> 00:27:57.580
 political

00:27:57.580 --> 00:27:58.660
 chaos

00:27:58.660 --> 00:27:59.320
 you just

00:27:59.320 --> 00:27:59.580
 need to

00:27:59.580 --> 00:27:59.980
 spend any

00:27:59.980 --> 00:28:00.300
 time on

00:28:00.300 --> 00:28:00.540
 twitter

00:28:00.540 --> 00:28:01.300
 or x

00:28:01.300 --> 00:28:01.580
 if I'm

00:28:01.580 --> 00:28:01.860
 up to

00:28:01.860 --> 00:28:02.040
 date

00:28:02.040 --> 00:28:02.680
 you spend

00:28:02.680 --> 00:28:03.000
 any time

00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:03.320
 on x

00:28:03.320 --> 00:28:03.540
 you will

00:28:03.540 --> 00:28:03.960
 find out

00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:04.240
 that it

00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:04.420
 is

00:28:04.420 --> 00:28:04.920
 political

00:28:04.920 --> 00:28:06.060
 chaos

00:28:06.060 --> 00:28:06.620
 it's

00:28:06.620 --> 00:28:07.040
 cultural

00:28:07.040 --> 00:28:07.780
 hostility

00:28:07.780 --> 00:28:09.460
 and I

00:28:09.460 --> 00:28:09.860
 think more

00:28:09.860 --> 00:28:10.320
 closer to

00:28:10.320 --> 00:28:10.620
 home

00:28:10.620 --> 00:28:11.280
 there is

00:28:11.280 --> 00:28:11.740
 moral

00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:12.700
 confusion

00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:13.300
 that is

00:28:13.300 --> 00:28:13.740
 the world

00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:14.500
 that we

00:28:14.500 --> 00:28:14.960
 live in

00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:15.560
 but remember

00:28:15.559 --> 00:28:15.899
 this

00:28:15.899 --> 00:28:16.339
 there is

00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:16.460
 no

00:28:16.460 --> 00:28:16.799
 government

00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:18.220
 there is

00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:18.339
 no

00:28:18.339 --> 00:28:18.879
 ideology

00:28:18.879 --> 00:28:19.240
 there is

00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:19.379
 no

00:28:19.379 --> 00:28:19.679
 power

00:28:19.679 --> 00:28:20.079
 struggle

00:28:20.079 --> 00:28:20.859
 a structure

00:28:20.859 --> 00:28:21.779
 that is

00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:22.379
 eternal

00:28:22.379 --> 00:28:23.579
 save that

00:28:23.579 --> 00:28:24.059
 which God

00:28:24.059 --> 00:28:24.619
 has planned

00:28:24.619 --> 00:28:25.119
 before the

00:28:25.119 --> 00:28:25.559
 foundations

00:28:25.559 --> 00:28:26.099
 of the

00:28:26.099 --> 00:28:26.379
 world

00:28:26.379 --> 00:28:26.940
 God is

00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:27.559
 not reacting

00:28:27.559 --> 00:28:28.259
 to the

00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:28.679
 events

00:28:28.679 --> 00:28:30.059
 and the

00:28:30.059 --> 00:28:30.879
 situation

00:28:30.879 --> 00:28:31.359
 that Herod

00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:31.839
 has created

00:28:31.839 --> 00:28:32.159
 here

00:28:32.159 --> 00:28:32.720
 no

00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:33.299
 God

00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:33.819
 is

00:28:33.819 --> 00:28:34.679
 reigning

00:28:34.679 --> 00:28:35.859
 he is

00:28:35.859 --> 00:28:36.059
 in

00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:36.639
 control

00:28:36.640 --> 00:28:38.340
 and

00:28:38.340 --> 00:28:39.580
 he was

00:28:39.580 --> 00:28:39.720
 in

00:28:39.720 --> 00:28:40.000
 control

00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:40.340
 then

00:28:40.340 --> 00:28:40.920
 he is

00:28:40.920 --> 00:28:41.080
 in

00:28:41.080 --> 00:28:41.360
 control

00:28:41.360 --> 00:28:41.680
 now

00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:42.160
 and God

00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:42.759
 continues

00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:43.259
 to guide

00:28:43.259 --> 00:28:43.740
 his people

00:28:43.740 --> 00:28:44.460
 step by

00:28:44.460 --> 00:28:44.880
 step

00:28:44.880 --> 00:28:45.460
 I want

00:28:45.460 --> 00:28:45.759
 you to

00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:46.120
 notice

00:28:46.120 --> 00:28:46.460
 again

00:28:46.460 --> 00:28:46.720
 that

00:28:46.720 --> 00:28:47.340
 Joseph

00:28:47.340 --> 00:28:47.600
 is

00:28:47.600 --> 00:28:47.900
 guided

00:28:47.900 --> 00:28:48.759
 step

00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:48.960
 by

00:28:48.960 --> 00:28:49.360
 step

00:28:49.360 --> 00:28:49.980
 the

00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:50.340
 angel

00:28:50.340 --> 00:28:50.780
 comes

00:28:50.780 --> 00:28:51.259
 and speaks

00:28:51.259 --> 00:28:51.520
 to him

00:28:51.520 --> 00:28:51.860
 and tells

00:28:51.860 --> 00:28:52.140
 him to

00:28:52.140 --> 00:28:52.640
 get to

00:28:52.640 --> 00:28:54.580
 Egypt

00:28:54.580 --> 00:28:55.360
 he then

00:28:55.360 --> 00:28:55.620
 comes

00:28:55.620 --> 00:28:56.000
 again

00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:56.900
 and he

00:28:56.900 --> 00:28:57.380
 tells him

00:28:57.380 --> 00:28:57.620
 he can

00:28:57.620 --> 00:28:57.840
 come

00:28:57.840 --> 00:28:58.220
 back

00:28:58.220 --> 00:28:59.040
 it's

00:28:59.040 --> 00:28:59.280
 not all

00:28:59.280 --> 00:28:59.740
 at once

00:28:59.740 --> 00:29:00.480
 it's one

00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:00.880
 step at

00:29:00.880 --> 00:29:01.180
 a time

00:29:01.180 --> 00:29:01.360
 it's

00:29:01.360 --> 00:29:01.520
 something

00:29:01.520 --> 00:29:01.800
 that we

00:29:01.800 --> 00:29:02.020
 thought

00:29:02.020 --> 00:29:02.280
 about

00:29:02.280 --> 00:29:02.759
 recently

00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:03.440
 when we

00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:03.780
 thought

00:29:03.780 --> 00:29:04.060
 about

00:29:04.060 --> 00:29:05.100
 walking

00:29:05.099 --> 00:29:07.339
 walking

00:29:07.339 --> 00:29:07.699
 free

00:29:07.699 --> 00:29:08.259
 in

00:29:08.259 --> 00:29:08.639
 Galatians

00:29:08.639 --> 00:29:08.959
 chapter

00:29:08.959 --> 00:29:09.519
 5

00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:11.299
 whether

00:29:11.299 --> 00:29:11.740
 or not

00:29:11.740 --> 00:29:12.059
 we were

00:29:12.059 --> 00:29:12.419
 just going

00:29:12.419 --> 00:29:12.919
 to walk

00:29:12.919 --> 00:29:13.439
 in

00:29:13.439 --> 00:29:14.019
 partnership

00:29:14.019 --> 00:29:14.399
 with the

00:29:14.399 --> 00:29:14.639
 spirit

00:29:14.639 --> 00:29:14.980
 well I

00:29:14.980 --> 00:29:15.179
 think

00:29:15.179 --> 00:29:15.480
 it is

00:29:15.480 --> 00:29:15.799
 the same

00:29:15.799 --> 00:29:16.119
 here

00:29:16.119 --> 00:29:17.079
 when we

00:29:17.079 --> 00:29:17.279
 think

00:29:17.279 --> 00:29:17.500
 about

00:29:17.500 --> 00:29:18.000
 God's

00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:18.719
 sovereign

00:29:18.719 --> 00:29:19.599
 triumph

00:29:19.599 --> 00:29:20.599
 he wants

00:29:20.599 --> 00:29:20.899
 us to

00:29:20.899 --> 00:29:21.240
 obey

00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:22.399
 some of

00:29:22.399 --> 00:29:22.659
 us want

00:29:22.659 --> 00:29:23.019
 the full

00:29:23.019 --> 00:29:23.619
 road map

00:29:23.619 --> 00:29:25.259
 but God

00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:25.759
 often just

00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:26.119
 gives us

00:29:26.119 --> 00:29:26.519
 the next

00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:26.859
 fatal

00:29:26.859 --> 00:29:27.299
 step

00:29:27.299 --> 00:29:28.039
 I wonder

00:29:28.039 --> 00:29:28.379
 as we

00:29:28.379 --> 00:29:28.699
 finish

00:29:28.699 --> 00:29:29.039
 this

00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:29.619
 year

00:29:29.619 --> 00:29:30.539
 if there

00:29:30.539 --> 00:29:30.659
 is

00:29:30.659 --> 00:29:30.939
 something

00:29:30.939 --> 00:29:31.399
 ahead

00:29:31.399 --> 00:29:31.819
 of us

00:29:31.819 --> 00:29:32.199
 and God

00:29:32.199 --> 00:29:32.359
 just

00:29:32.359 --> 00:29:32.619
 asking

00:29:32.619 --> 00:29:32.759
 us

00:29:32.759 --> 00:29:32.879
 to

00:29:32.879 --> 00:29:33.099
 take

00:29:33.099 --> 00:29:33.419
 that

00:29:33.419 --> 00:29:34.299
 simple

00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:34.980
 step

00:29:34.980 --> 00:29:35.920
 it

00:29:35.920 --> 00:29:36.079
 might

00:29:36.079 --> 00:29:36.200
 be

00:29:36.200 --> 00:29:36.339
 this

00:29:36.339 --> 00:29:36.559
 morning

00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:36.799
 that

00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:36.940
 there

00:29:36.940 --> 00:29:37.059
 are

00:29:37.059 --> 00:29:37.380
 people

00:29:37.380 --> 00:29:38.120
 and

00:29:38.120 --> 00:29:38.299
 for

00:29:38.299 --> 00:29:38.579
 some

00:29:38.579 --> 00:29:38.700
 of

00:29:38.700 --> 00:29:38.819
 this

00:29:38.819 --> 00:29:39.200
 message

00:29:39.200 --> 00:29:39.440
 you

00:29:39.440 --> 00:29:39.599
 might

00:29:39.599 --> 00:29:39.680
 have

00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:39.860
 already

00:29:39.860 --> 00:29:40.160
 closed

00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:40.319
 your

00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:40.599
 eyes

00:29:40.599 --> 00:29:40.779
 and

00:29:40.779 --> 00:29:40.940
 you're

00:29:40.940 --> 00:29:41.140
 not

00:29:41.140 --> 00:29:41.559
 really

00:29:41.559 --> 00:29:42.160
 absorbing

00:29:42.160 --> 00:29:42.900
 what

00:29:42.900 --> 00:29:43.039
 we're

00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:43.299
 saying

00:29:43.299 --> 00:29:43.480
 that

00:29:43.480 --> 00:29:43.660
 could

00:29:43.660 --> 00:29:43.839
 just

00:29:43.839 --> 00:29:43.980
 be

00:29:43.980 --> 00:29:44.140
 because

00:29:44.140 --> 00:29:44.259
 you're

00:29:44.259 --> 00:29:44.460
 a little

00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:44.599
 bit

00:29:44.599 --> 00:29:44.860
 tired

00:29:44.860 --> 00:29:45.039
 this

00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:45.220
 morning

00:29:45.220 --> 00:29:45.460
 you've

00:29:45.460 --> 00:29:45.559
 had

00:29:45.559 --> 00:29:45.640
 a

00:29:45.640 --> 00:29:45.759
 busy

00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:46.120
 week

00:29:46.120 --> 00:29:46.700
 it

00:29:46.700 --> 00:29:46.880
 could

00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:47.759
 be

00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.059
 though

00:29:48.059 --> 00:29:48.339
 that

00:29:48.339 --> 00:29:48.720
 you've

00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:48.960
 never

00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:49.319
 come

00:29:49.319 --> 00:29:49.660
 face

00:29:49.660 --> 00:29:49.799
 to

00:29:49.799 --> 00:29:50.160
 face

00:29:50.160 --> 00:29:51.019
 with

00:29:51.019 --> 00:29:51.339
 Jesus

00:29:51.339 --> 00:29:51.640
 as

00:29:51.640 --> 00:29:51.799
 your

00:29:51.799 --> 00:29:52.120
 saviour

00:29:52.120 --> 00:29:53.099
 you've

00:29:53.099 --> 00:29:53.039
!

00:29:53.039 --> 00:29:53.339
 never

00:29:53.339 --> 00:29:53.940
 been

00:29:53.940 --> 00:29:54.259
 willing

00:29:54.259 --> 00:29:54.259


00:29:54.259 --> 00:29:54.700
 to take

00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:54.860
 that

00:29:54.859 --> 00:29:55.179
 step

00:29:55.179 --> 00:29:55.579
 of

00:29:55.579 --> 00:29:56.240
 faith

00:29:56.240 --> 00:29:56.519
 you've

00:29:56.519 --> 00:29:56.699
 never

00:29:56.699 --> 00:29:56.919
 been

00:29:56.919 --> 00:29:57.199
 willing

00:29:57.199 --> 00:29:57.539
 to

00:29:57.539 --> 00:29:58.559
 respond

00:29:58.559 --> 00:29:58.819
 to

00:29:58.819 --> 00:29:59.339
 God's

00:29:59.339 --> 00:30:00.259
 call

00:30:00.259 --> 00:30:00.539
 into

00:30:00.539 --> 00:30:00.719
 your

00:30:00.719 --> 00:30:01.039
 life

00:30:01.039 --> 00:30:01.500
 well

00:30:01.500 --> 00:30:02.179
 the

00:30:02.179 --> 00:30:02.559
 invitation

00:30:02.559 --> 00:30:02.759
 is

00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:02.939
 still

00:30:02.939 --> 00:30:03.199
 there

00:30:03.199 --> 00:30:04.199
 in fact

00:30:04.199 --> 00:30:04.599
 often

00:30:04.599 --> 00:30:05.299
 when we're

00:30:05.299 --> 00:30:05.659
 preaching the

00:30:05.659 --> 00:30:05.859
 gospel

00:30:05.859 --> 00:30:06.639
 we would

00:30:06.639 --> 00:30:06.899
 maybe

00:30:06.899 --> 00:30:07.559
 reference

00:30:07.559 --> 00:30:08.019
 in

00:30:08.019 --> 00:30:08.519
 revelation

00:30:08.519 --> 00:30:08.899
 behold

00:30:08.899 --> 00:30:09.399
 I stand

00:30:09.400 --> 00:30:09.640
 at the

00:30:09.640 --> 00:30:09.780
 door

00:30:09.780 --> 00:30:09.900
 and

00:30:09.900 --> 00:30:10.120
 knock

00:30:10.120 --> 00:30:10.280
 well

00:30:10.280 --> 00:30:10.540
 that

00:30:10.540 --> 00:30:10.640
 is

00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:10.840
 true

00:30:10.840 --> 00:30:11.040
 this

00:30:11.040 --> 00:30:11.320
 morning

00:30:11.320 --> 00:30:12.720
 he

00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:13.000
 is

00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:14.940
 the

00:30:14.940 --> 00:30:15.480
 invitation

00:30:15.480 --> 00:30:15.720
 is

00:30:15.720 --> 00:30:15.940
 there

00:30:15.940 --> 00:30:18.519
 for us

00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:18.840
 to come

00:30:18.840 --> 00:30:19.320
 to God

00:30:19.320 --> 00:30:20.519
 to take

00:30:20.519 --> 00:30:20.960
 that step

00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:21.380
 of faith

00:30:21.380 --> 00:30:21.900
 to trust

00:30:21.900 --> 00:30:22.200
 in him

00:30:22.200 --> 00:30:22.740
 to realise

00:30:22.740 --> 00:30:22.980
 that

00:30:22.980 --> 00:30:24.100
 the baby

00:30:24.100 --> 00:30:24.460
 that came

00:30:24.460 --> 00:30:25.080
 into the

00:30:25.080 --> 00:30:25.460
 world

00:30:25.460 --> 00:30:26.200
 as we've

00:30:26.200 --> 00:30:26.519
 thought about

00:30:26.519 --> 00:30:26.820
 in this

00:30:26.820 --> 00:30:27.360
 last week

00:30:27.360 --> 00:30:27.880
 came into

00:30:27.880 --> 00:30:28.380
 this world

00:30:28.380 --> 00:30:29.259
 to be

00:30:29.259 --> 00:30:30.300
 a saviour

00:30:30.300 --> 00:30:31.840
 he came

00:30:31.840 --> 00:30:32.200
 into this

00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:32.480
 world

00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:33.340
 to go

00:30:33.340 --> 00:30:33.620
 to a

00:30:33.620 --> 00:30:34.000
 cross

00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:34.880
 and to

00:30:34.880 --> 00:30:35.160
 suffer

00:30:35.160 --> 00:30:35.440
 there

00:30:35.440 --> 00:30:35.780
 on our

00:30:35.780 --> 00:30:36.240
 behalf

00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:37.040
 and

00:30:37.040 --> 00:30:37.440
 another

00:30:37.440 --> 00:30:37.960
 old hymn

00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:38.280
 that we've

00:30:38.280 --> 00:30:38.780
 probably never

00:30:38.780 --> 00:30:39.259
 sang

00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:39.720
 in this

00:30:39.720 --> 00:30:40.019
 hall

00:30:40.019 --> 00:30:40.259
 for a

00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:40.400
 long

00:30:40.400 --> 00:30:40.579
 time

00:30:40.579 --> 00:30:40.759
 was

00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:40.960
 this

00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:41.279
 only

00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:41.480
 a

00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:41.660
 step

00:30:41.660 --> 00:30:41.839
 to

00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:42.079
 Jesus

00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:42.460
 it

00:30:42.460 --> 00:30:42.619
 is

00:30:42.619 --> 00:30:42.859
 that

00:30:42.859 --> 00:30:43.279
 step

00:30:43.279 --> 00:30:43.460
 of

00:30:43.460 --> 00:30:43.799
 faith

00:30:43.799 --> 00:30:44.379
 that

00:30:44.379 --> 00:30:44.519
 we

00:30:44.519 --> 00:30:44.740
 should

00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:45.160
 take

00:30:45.160 --> 00:30:45.859
 but I

00:30:45.859 --> 00:30:46.140
 slightly

00:30:46.140 --> 00:30:46.759
 digress

00:30:46.759 --> 00:30:48.500
 some of us

00:30:48.500 --> 00:30:48.799
 want that

00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:49.460
 full roadmap

00:30:49.460 --> 00:30:50.119
 up front

00:30:50.119 --> 00:30:50.519
 we want to

00:30:50.519 --> 00:30:50.720
 know what

00:30:50.720 --> 00:30:51.220
 it's like

00:30:51.220 --> 00:30:51.960
 and yet

00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:52.359
 we don't

00:30:52.359 --> 00:30:52.759
 see that

00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:53.119
 in this

00:30:53.119 --> 00:30:53.420
 passage

00:30:53.420 --> 00:30:53.700
 here

00:30:53.700 --> 00:30:53.900
 with

00:30:53.900 --> 00:30:54.180
 Joseph

00:30:54.180 --> 00:30:54.619
 this

00:30:54.619 --> 00:30:54.960
 morning

00:30:54.960 --> 00:30:55.640
 you know

00:30:55.640 --> 00:30:55.799
 my

00:30:55.799 --> 00:30:56.440
 challenge

00:30:56.440 --> 00:30:56.660
 is

00:30:56.660 --> 00:30:56.839
 this

00:30:56.839 --> 00:30:57.059
 morning

00:30:57.059 --> 00:30:57.240
 that

00:30:57.240 --> 00:30:57.519
 when we

00:30:57.519 --> 00:30:57.720
 hear

00:30:57.720 --> 00:30:58.119
 God's

00:30:58.119 --> 00:30:58.400
 voice

00:30:58.400 --> 00:30:58.900
 are we

00:30:58.900 --> 00:30:59.420
 humble

00:30:59.420 --> 00:30:59.420


00:30:59.819 --> 00:31:00.079
 do we

00:31:00.079 --> 00:31:00.379
 humble

00:31:00.379 --> 00:31:00.759
 ourselves

00:31:00.759 --> 00:31:01.279
 ready to

00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:01.500
!

00:31:09.259 --> 00:31:09.799
 trust

00:31:09.799 --> 00:31:10.259
 but trust

00:31:10.259 --> 00:31:10.720
 is not

00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:11.379
 knowing

00:31:11.379 --> 00:31:11.759
 everything

00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:12.779
 trust

00:31:12.779 --> 00:31:14.039
 grows by

00:31:14.039 --> 00:31:14.579
 just walking

00:31:14.579 --> 00:31:15.259
 obediently

00:31:15.259 --> 00:31:16.000
 in what

00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:16.420
 God has

00:31:16.420 --> 00:31:16.740
 already

00:31:16.740 --> 00:31:17.379
 revealed to

00:31:17.379 --> 00:31:17.660
 us

00:31:17.660 --> 00:31:18.960
 and sometimes

00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:20.180
 I think this is true

00:31:20.180 --> 00:31:20.680
 in my own life

00:31:20.680 --> 00:31:21.660
 sometimes he just shows

00:31:21.660 --> 00:31:22.420
 the next step

00:31:22.420 --> 00:31:22.759
 ahead

00:31:22.759 --> 00:31:24.440
 and as long as we are

00:31:24.440 --> 00:31:25.400
 willing to take it

00:31:25.400 --> 00:31:26.099
 as long as we are

00:31:26.099 --> 00:31:27.119
 willing to trust him

00:31:27.119 --> 00:31:28.680
 then we should

00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:30.160
 be confident

00:31:30.160 --> 00:31:30.859
 and we should be

00:31:30.859 --> 00:31:31.740
 comfortable in the fact

00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:32.559
 that God said

00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:33.700
 I am with you

00:31:33.700 --> 00:31:34.279
 God

00:31:34.279 --> 00:31:34.879
 with

00:31:34.879 --> 00:31:35.559
 us

00:31:35.559 --> 00:31:36.500
 and

00:31:36.500 --> 00:31:37.839
 God

00:31:37.839 --> 00:31:38.539
 triumphs

00:31:38.539 --> 00:31:38.940
 over

00:31:38.940 --> 00:31:39.899
 evil

00:31:39.899 --> 00:31:40.919
 his plan

00:31:40.919 --> 00:31:41.579
 continues

00:31:41.579 --> 00:31:42.240
 he is with

00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:42.440
 us

00:31:42.440 --> 00:31:43.119
 and that is why

00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:44.059
 on this third

00:31:44.059 --> 00:31:44.779
 point that I want us

00:31:44.779 --> 00:31:45.119
 just to

00:31:45.119 --> 00:31:46.519
 finish on

00:31:46.519 --> 00:31:46.899
 is this

00:31:46.899 --> 00:31:48.279
 the sovereign

00:31:48.279 --> 00:31:49.259
 triumph

00:31:49.259 --> 00:31:50.159
 of God

00:31:50.159 --> 00:31:51.019
 but it takes me to

00:31:51.019 --> 00:31:51.619
 our last point

00:31:51.619 --> 00:31:53.139
 and this is maybe

00:31:53.139 --> 00:31:53.740
 not something that

00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:54.159
 we are going to

00:31:54.159 --> 00:31:54.639
 necessarily

00:31:54.639 --> 00:31:55.859
 like this morning

00:31:55.859 --> 00:31:56.700
 but it is this

00:31:56.700 --> 00:31:58.240
 quiet providence

00:31:58.240 --> 00:31:58.779
 so when I talk

00:31:58.779 --> 00:31:59.419
 about providence

00:31:59.419 --> 00:32:01.480
 I mean

00:32:01.480 --> 00:32:02.419
 God's purpose

00:32:02.419 --> 00:32:03.639
 God's plan

00:32:03.639 --> 00:32:04.619
 and God's

00:32:04.619 --> 00:32:05.059
 provision

00:32:05.059 --> 00:32:06.079
 within

00:32:06.079 --> 00:32:07.720
 our lives

00:32:07.720 --> 00:32:08.159
 quiet

00:32:08.159 --> 00:32:09.000
 providence

00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:10.659
 we read here

00:32:10.659 --> 00:32:11.799
 when we come to

00:32:11.799 --> 00:32:13.039
 this last

00:32:13.039 --> 00:32:13.679
 little section

00:32:13.679 --> 00:32:14.559
 in verses 22

00:32:14.559 --> 00:32:15.299
 and 23

00:32:15.299 --> 00:32:15.879
 that Joseph

00:32:15.879 --> 00:32:16.759
 settles

00:32:16.759 --> 00:32:17.480
 in Nazareth

00:32:17.480 --> 00:32:18.859
 you know

00:32:18.859 --> 00:32:19.679
 Nazareth is not

00:32:19.679 --> 00:32:20.639
 an impressive

00:32:20.639 --> 00:32:21.759
 place

00:32:21.759 --> 00:32:22.940
 it's not

00:32:22.940 --> 00:32:23.379
 strategic

00:32:23.379 --> 00:32:24.599
 it's not

00:32:24.599 --> 00:32:25.980
 prestigious

00:32:25.980 --> 00:32:27.379
 in fact

00:32:27.379 --> 00:32:29.480
 later people

00:32:29.480 --> 00:32:30.059
 would ask

00:32:30.059 --> 00:32:31.240
 as we read about

00:32:31.240 --> 00:32:31.839
 in John's Gospel

00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:32.759
 later people would ask

00:32:32.759 --> 00:32:33.779
 can any good thing

00:32:33.779 --> 00:32:34.619
 come from

00:32:34.619 --> 00:32:35.239
 Nazareth

00:32:35.239 --> 00:32:36.939
 we were having a

00:32:36.939 --> 00:32:37.379
 discussion

00:32:37.379 --> 00:32:38.500
 at the beginning

00:32:38.500 --> 00:32:39.939
 of the

00:32:39.939 --> 00:32:41.599
 long conflict

00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:42.199
 but at the beginning

00:32:42.199 --> 00:32:42.779
 of the recent

00:32:42.779 --> 00:32:43.279
 conflict

00:32:43.279 --> 00:32:44.219
 that started

00:32:44.219 --> 00:32:45.299
 between Israel

00:32:45.299 --> 00:32:45.919
 and Palestine

00:32:45.919 --> 00:32:47.279
 and one of

00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:48.000
 Rachel's

00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:49.019
 if she doesn't

00:32:49.019 --> 00:32:49.539
 mind me saying this

00:32:49.539 --> 00:32:50.279
 but one of Rachel's

00:32:50.279 --> 00:32:50.559
 aunt

00:32:50.559 --> 00:32:51.619
 had been there

00:32:51.619 --> 00:32:52.919
 and had been

00:32:52.919 --> 00:32:53.259
 in Israel

00:32:53.259 --> 00:32:53.719
 at the time

00:32:53.719 --> 00:32:54.339
 and as she was

00:32:54.339 --> 00:32:55.179
 coming to the airport

00:32:55.179 --> 00:32:57.099
 they asked her

00:32:57.099 --> 00:32:57.579
 where she'd been

00:32:57.579 --> 00:32:58.000
 and she said

00:32:58.000 --> 00:32:58.439
 she'd been in

00:32:58.439 --> 00:32:58.839
 Nazareth

00:32:58.839 --> 00:33:00.019
 and there was

00:33:00.019 --> 00:33:00.879
 a disgust

00:33:00.879 --> 00:33:01.740
 in the

00:33:01.740 --> 00:33:02.819
 border guards

00:33:02.819 --> 00:33:05.500
 question

00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:06.059
 about why

00:33:06.059 --> 00:33:06.539
 she had been

00:33:06.539 --> 00:33:07.359
 in Nazareth

00:33:07.359 --> 00:33:08.740
 still a place

00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:11.379
 that is despised

00:33:11.379 --> 00:33:12.119
 even today

00:33:12.119 --> 00:33:12.779
 that is what

00:33:12.779 --> 00:33:13.240
 Nazareth

00:33:13.240 --> 00:33:14.240
 was like

00:33:14.240 --> 00:33:14.639
 and yet

00:33:14.639 --> 00:33:16.539
 the little point

00:33:16.539 --> 00:33:17.240
 I want to make

00:33:17.240 --> 00:33:17.659
 this morning

00:33:17.659 --> 00:33:18.259
 is this

00:33:18.259 --> 00:33:18.679
 that God

00:33:18.679 --> 00:33:19.819
 chose

00:33:19.819 --> 00:33:20.879
 humility

00:33:20.879 --> 00:33:22.740
 over hype

00:33:22.740 --> 00:33:24.579
 Jesus grows up

00:33:24.579 --> 00:33:25.279
 unnoticed

00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:26.279
 unknown

00:33:26.279 --> 00:33:27.359
 ordinary

00:33:27.359 --> 00:33:28.640
 in human terms

00:33:28.640 --> 00:33:29.440
 as we might say

00:33:29.440 --> 00:33:31.380
 I think for many of us

00:33:31.380 --> 00:33:32.440
 we live in a culture

00:33:32.440 --> 00:33:33.460
 where we're obsessed

00:33:33.460 --> 00:33:34.339
 with visibility

00:33:34.339 --> 00:33:36.319
 we're obsessed

00:33:36.319 --> 00:33:37.599
 with success

00:33:37.599 --> 00:33:38.500
 it's a culture

00:33:38.500 --> 00:33:39.500
 where it's all about us

00:33:39.500 --> 00:33:40.740
 where we want to be

00:33:40.740 --> 00:33:41.500
 the next big thing

00:33:41.500 --> 00:33:41.819
 where

00:33:41.819 --> 00:33:43.420
 and you hear this so often

00:33:43.420 --> 00:33:44.220
 and I have to smile

00:33:44.220 --> 00:33:45.000
 fake it until

00:33:45.000 --> 00:33:46.200
 you make it

00:33:46.200 --> 00:33:48.440
 well

00:33:48.440 --> 00:33:49.180
 that's not the way

00:33:49.180 --> 00:33:49.859
 that God works

00:33:49.859 --> 00:33:50.880
 God works

00:33:50.880 --> 00:33:51.680
 in quiet

00:33:51.680 --> 00:33:52.279
 faithfulness

00:33:52.740 --> 00:33:54.460
 he works

00:33:54.460 --> 00:33:55.000
 in the hidden

00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:55.420
 obedience

00:33:55.420 --> 00:33:55.980
 he works

00:33:55.980 --> 00:33:57.039
 in ordinary

00:33:57.039 --> 00:33:57.720
 routines

00:33:57.720 --> 00:33:58.120
 I want

00:33:58.120 --> 00:33:59.140
 to just dwell

00:33:59.140 --> 00:33:59.440
 on that

00:33:59.440 --> 00:34:00.160
 for a few minutes

00:34:00.160 --> 00:34:00.640
 this morning

00:34:00.640 --> 00:34:01.240
 because I think

00:34:01.240 --> 00:34:01.839
 that should give us

00:34:01.839 --> 00:34:02.400
 confidence

00:34:02.400 --> 00:34:03.440
 it should give us

00:34:03.440 --> 00:34:03.779
 hope

00:34:03.779 --> 00:34:04.579
 it should be a comfort

00:34:04.579 --> 00:34:05.099
 to us

00:34:05.099 --> 00:34:06.180
 and

00:34:06.180 --> 00:34:07.359
 our lives

00:34:07.359 --> 00:34:07.880
 might not feel

00:34:07.880 --> 00:34:08.380
 impressive

00:34:08.380 --> 00:34:09.539
 our obedience

00:34:09.539 --> 00:34:11.179
 may feel unseen

00:34:11.179 --> 00:34:12.920
 but God chose

00:34:12.920 --> 00:34:13.380
 this place

00:34:13.380 --> 00:34:13.920
 in Nazareth

00:34:13.920 --> 00:34:15.199
 for his son

00:34:15.199 --> 00:34:16.139
 that's where he grew up

00:34:16.139 --> 00:34:17.400
 that's where he learned

00:34:17.400 --> 00:34:17.760
 obedience

00:34:17.760 --> 00:34:19.239
 that's where he

00:34:19.239 --> 00:34:19.840
 fulfilled

00:34:19.840 --> 00:34:21.320
 his father's

00:34:21.320 --> 00:34:21.940
 will

00:34:21.940 --> 00:34:23.880
 it was God's

00:34:23.880 --> 00:34:24.700
 purpose

00:34:24.700 --> 00:34:25.300
 it was God's

00:34:25.300 --> 00:34:25.679
 plan

00:34:25.679 --> 00:34:27.019
 it was God's

00:34:27.019 --> 00:34:27.539
 provision

00:34:27.539 --> 00:34:28.980
 I don't want that

00:34:28.980 --> 00:34:30.220
 necessarily to contradict

00:34:30.220 --> 00:34:31.000
 my first point

00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:32.059
 I don't know if you remember

00:34:32.059 --> 00:34:32.860
 what my first point was

00:34:32.860 --> 00:34:33.619
 after 20 minutes

00:34:33.619 --> 00:34:34.000
 but

00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:35.099
 which was that

00:34:35.099 --> 00:34:36.220
 God guides

00:34:36.220 --> 00:34:37.400
 and we

00:34:37.400 --> 00:34:38.059
 should

00:34:38.059 --> 00:34:39.000
 obey

00:34:39.000 --> 00:34:39.619
 that God's

00:34:39.619 --> 00:34:39.980
 guidance

00:34:39.980 --> 00:34:41.059
 and our

00:34:41.059 --> 00:34:41.639
 obedience

00:34:41.639 --> 00:34:43.639
 but I want us to see

00:34:43.639 --> 00:34:44.119
 here that

00:34:44.119 --> 00:34:45.119
 God works

00:34:45.119 --> 00:34:46.039
 in our lives

00:34:46.039 --> 00:34:47.400
 just where we are

00:34:47.400 --> 00:34:49.360
 we don't need to be

00:34:49.360 --> 00:34:49.680
 someone

00:34:49.680 --> 00:34:50.300
 we don't need to

00:34:50.300 --> 00:34:51.260
 go somewhere

00:34:51.260 --> 00:34:53.019
 for many of us

00:34:53.019 --> 00:34:53.800
 we won't be called

00:34:53.800 --> 00:34:54.720
 to paid ministry

00:34:54.720 --> 00:34:55.760
 or to serve abroad

00:34:55.760 --> 00:34:58.460
 but God expects us

00:34:58.460 --> 00:34:58.840
 just to

00:34:58.840 --> 00:35:01.260
 enjoy

00:35:01.260 --> 00:35:03.079
 and to serve him

00:35:03.079 --> 00:35:03.940
 and

00:35:03.940 --> 00:35:05.079
 to rely on him

00:35:05.079 --> 00:35:05.800
 and to be in

00:35:05.800 --> 00:35:06.760
 the circumstances

00:35:06.760 --> 00:35:07.880
 in which

00:35:07.880 --> 00:35:09.420
 we find ourselves

00:35:09.420 --> 00:35:10.360
 and often

00:35:10.360 --> 00:35:10.960
 that is in

00:35:10.960 --> 00:35:11.579
 unexpected

00:35:11.579 --> 00:35:12.440
 ways

00:35:12.440 --> 00:35:13.740
 Matthew says

00:35:13.740 --> 00:35:14.599
 that this was

00:35:14.599 --> 00:35:15.339
 to fulfill

00:35:15.339 --> 00:35:16.559
 prophecy

00:35:16.559 --> 00:35:17.099
 that Jesus

00:35:17.099 --> 00:35:18.219
 would be called

00:35:18.219 --> 00:35:19.599
 a Nazarene

00:35:19.599 --> 00:35:22.000
 do you know

00:35:22.000 --> 00:35:22.599
 God's promises

00:35:22.599 --> 00:35:23.739
 are sure

00:35:23.739 --> 00:35:25.319
 something I think

00:35:25.319 --> 00:35:26.319
 that I often forget

00:35:26.319 --> 00:35:27.779
 and if you are like me

00:35:27.779 --> 00:35:28.599
 then you will probably

00:35:28.599 --> 00:35:30.019
 often forget that as well

00:35:30.019 --> 00:35:31.699
 God's promises

00:35:31.699 --> 00:35:32.279
 are

00:35:32.279 --> 00:35:33.219
 sure

00:35:33.219 --> 00:35:34.940
 but they are not

00:35:34.940 --> 00:35:35.779
 always predictable

00:35:35.779 --> 00:35:37.599
 I think for many of us

00:35:37.599 --> 00:35:38.440
 you might even just look back

00:35:38.440 --> 00:35:39.299
 over the last few years

00:35:39.299 --> 00:35:39.900
 and you see

00:35:39.900 --> 00:35:40.819
 things that happened

00:35:40.819 --> 00:35:41.480
 in your life

00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:43.219
 situations that you

00:35:43.219 --> 00:35:44.400
 that you had to face

00:35:44.400 --> 00:35:45.280
 and deal with

00:35:45.280 --> 00:35:46.240
 and

00:35:46.240 --> 00:35:48.360
 it's only by looking back

00:35:48.360 --> 00:35:49.039
 do you realise

00:35:49.039 --> 00:35:50.300
 that God's hand

00:35:50.300 --> 00:35:51.000
 was in it

00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:52.099
 it might not have been

00:35:52.099 --> 00:35:52.519
 predictable

00:35:52.519 --> 00:35:53.260
 it's not what we would

00:35:53.260 --> 00:35:54.039
 expect and it's not

00:35:54.039 --> 00:35:54.920
 what you're planning

00:35:54.920 --> 00:35:55.860
 for 2026

00:35:55.860 --> 00:35:58.200
 but the point is this

00:35:58.200 --> 00:36:00.400
 that God

00:36:00.400 --> 00:36:01.099
 is

00:36:01.099 --> 00:36:01.920
 with us

00:36:01.920 --> 00:36:02.860
 God with us

00:36:02.860 --> 00:36:04.200
 and we see that

00:36:04.200 --> 00:36:04.900
 we see this

00:36:04.900 --> 00:36:05.740
 in the way that

00:36:05.740 --> 00:36:06.820
 the promised Messiah

00:36:06.820 --> 00:36:07.800
 enters into the world

00:36:07.800 --> 00:36:08.920
 they were looking for

00:36:08.920 --> 00:36:09.340
 a big

00:36:09.340 --> 00:36:10.340
 majestic

00:36:10.340 --> 00:36:11.720
 display

00:36:11.720 --> 00:36:12.340
 of power

00:36:12.340 --> 00:36:12.860
 and might

00:36:12.860 --> 00:36:13.380
 a king

00:36:13.380 --> 00:36:13.840
 that would

00:36:13.840 --> 00:36:15.240
 that would

00:36:15.240 --> 00:36:15.960
 ride in

00:36:15.960 --> 00:36:16.300
 and all

00:36:16.300 --> 00:36:17.260
 pomp and ceremony

00:36:17.260 --> 00:36:18.280
 and

00:36:18.280 --> 00:36:19.360
 that is not

00:36:19.360 --> 00:36:19.900
 what is given

00:36:19.900 --> 00:36:21.920
 it is a curveball

00:36:21.920 --> 00:36:23.400
 that when we come to see

00:36:23.400 --> 00:36:24.099
 how Jesus

00:36:24.099 --> 00:36:25.340
 entered into this world

00:36:25.340 --> 00:36:26.840
 not as a mighty warrior

00:36:26.840 --> 00:36:27.760
 I mean we think of

00:36:27.760 --> 00:36:29.700
 we think even of that

00:36:29.700 --> 00:36:30.539
 you know tender route

00:36:30.539 --> 00:36:31.599
 out of a dry ground

00:36:31.599 --> 00:36:35.019
 unpredictable

00:36:35.019 --> 00:36:36.240
 and yet

00:36:36.240 --> 00:36:37.119
 God's plan

00:36:37.119 --> 00:36:37.700
 is sure

00:36:37.700 --> 00:36:38.640
 and it will be

00:36:38.640 --> 00:36:39.160
 fulfilled

00:36:39.159 --> 00:36:40.539
 I wonder if we

00:36:40.539 --> 00:36:41.059
 underestimate

00:36:41.059 --> 00:36:41.559
 what God

00:36:41.559 --> 00:36:42.299
 has placed us

00:36:42.299 --> 00:36:43.019
 in our workplaces

00:36:43.019 --> 00:36:44.579
 in our family

00:36:44.579 --> 00:36:45.899
 in the season

00:36:45.899 --> 00:36:46.839
 that we're currently in

00:36:46.839 --> 00:36:48.339
 do we underestimate

00:36:48.339 --> 00:36:49.319
 that God has that

00:36:49.319 --> 00:36:50.460
 totally in control

00:36:50.460 --> 00:36:51.679
 that his hand

00:36:51.679 --> 00:36:52.440
 is on us

00:36:52.440 --> 00:36:53.579
 that he is

00:36:53.579 --> 00:36:54.259
 looking for us

00:36:54.259 --> 00:36:54.659
 to obey

00:36:54.659 --> 00:36:55.399
 his guidance

00:36:55.399 --> 00:36:57.159
 you know

00:36:57.159 --> 00:36:57.659
 God is not

00:36:57.659 --> 00:36:58.019
 absent

00:36:58.019 --> 00:36:58.920
 in obscurity

00:36:58.920 --> 00:36:59.899
 he wasn't absent

00:36:59.899 --> 00:37:01.859
 when Jesus

00:37:01.859 --> 00:37:02.759
 was in Nazareth

00:37:02.760 --> 00:37:04.220
 and he's not

00:37:04.220 --> 00:37:04.900
 absent

00:37:04.900 --> 00:37:05.480
 in our

00:37:05.480 --> 00:37:06.520
 ordinary

00:37:06.520 --> 00:37:08.300
 situation as well

00:37:08.300 --> 00:37:09.100
 in fact

00:37:09.100 --> 00:37:09.720
 that's actually

00:37:09.720 --> 00:37:10.340
 where he's most

00:37:10.340 --> 00:37:12.340
 active

00:37:12.340 --> 00:37:15.440
 you know

00:37:15.440 --> 00:37:16.000
 I just mentioned

00:37:16.000 --> 00:37:16.180
 there

00:37:16.180 --> 00:37:18.160
 the whole nation

00:37:18.160 --> 00:37:18.620
 of Israel

00:37:18.620 --> 00:37:19.320
 those that were

00:37:19.320 --> 00:37:20.700
 waiting for the Messiah

00:37:20.700 --> 00:37:21.120
 to come

00:37:21.120 --> 00:37:21.700
 they were looking

00:37:21.700 --> 00:37:23.220
 for a king

00:37:23.220 --> 00:37:23.700
 to come

00:37:23.700 --> 00:37:24.940
 and to be

00:37:24.940 --> 00:37:25.640
 on a throne

00:37:25.640 --> 00:37:26.020
 and yet

00:37:26.020 --> 00:37:26.900
 we find this

00:37:26.900 --> 00:37:28.020
 baby

00:37:28.020 --> 00:37:29.500
 not on a throne

00:37:29.500 --> 00:37:30.660
 but on the run

00:37:30.659 --> 00:37:33.599
 where he knows

00:37:33.599 --> 00:37:34.119
 fear

00:37:34.119 --> 00:37:35.319
 and displacement

00:37:35.319 --> 00:37:36.980
 and injustice

00:37:36.980 --> 00:37:39.159
 and loss

00:37:39.159 --> 00:37:41.879
 and I think

00:37:41.879 --> 00:37:42.339
 that means

00:37:42.339 --> 00:37:42.759
 that when

00:37:42.759 --> 00:37:43.420
 we think

00:37:43.420 --> 00:37:43.940
 about our

00:37:43.940 --> 00:37:45.799
 situations

00:37:45.799 --> 00:37:46.539
 when we think

00:37:46.539 --> 00:37:46.899
 about

00:37:46.899 --> 00:37:48.480
 walking through

00:37:48.480 --> 00:37:49.759
 unstable seasons

00:37:49.759 --> 00:37:50.339
 in our life

00:37:50.339 --> 00:37:51.119
 we are never alone

00:37:51.119 --> 00:37:52.059
 Matthew tells us

00:37:52.059 --> 00:37:53.019
 if we just

00:37:53.019 --> 00:37:54.219
 kind of summarize

00:37:54.219 --> 00:37:54.739
 what we've been

00:37:54.739 --> 00:37:55.339
 thinking about here

00:37:55.339 --> 00:37:56.319
 in Matthew chapter 2

00:37:56.319 --> 00:37:57.059
 Matthew 2

00:37:57.059 --> 00:37:57.879
 tells us

00:37:57.879 --> 00:37:58.739
 subtly

00:37:58.739 --> 00:37:59.699
 that God

00:37:59.699 --> 00:38:00.639
 guides his people

00:38:00.639 --> 00:38:03.619
 he sees their pain

00:38:03.619 --> 00:38:06.339
 and he defeats

00:38:06.339 --> 00:38:06.839
 evil

00:38:06.839 --> 00:38:07.500
 every

00:38:07.500 --> 00:38:08.639
 in his time

00:38:08.639 --> 00:38:09.299
 might not be

00:38:09.299 --> 00:38:09.819
 in our time

00:38:09.819 --> 00:38:10.440
 might not be

00:38:10.440 --> 00:38:10.839
 in the time

00:38:10.839 --> 00:38:11.599
 that we expected

00:38:11.599 --> 00:38:12.619
 but it is defeated

00:38:12.619 --> 00:38:14.799
 and God

00:38:14.799 --> 00:38:15.379
 works through

00:38:15.379 --> 00:38:16.579
 humble obedience

00:38:16.579 --> 00:38:17.819
 you know

00:38:17.819 --> 00:38:18.819
 God is with us

00:38:18.819 --> 00:38:19.739
 even when we feel

00:38:19.739 --> 00:38:21.119
 unstable

00:38:21.119 --> 00:38:22.299
 even when we feel

00:38:22.299 --> 00:38:23.179
 uncertain

00:38:23.179 --> 00:38:23.779
 even when we

00:38:23.779 --> 00:38:24.460
 maybe even feel

00:38:24.460 --> 00:38:25.159
 unsafe

00:38:25.159 --> 00:38:28.699
 but I wonder

00:38:28.699 --> 00:38:30.019
 where is God

00:38:30.019 --> 00:38:30.639
 asking you

00:38:30.639 --> 00:38:31.319
 to trust him

00:38:31.319 --> 00:38:31.699
 today

00:38:31.699 --> 00:38:33.339
 I want to

00:38:33.339 --> 00:38:34.219
 finish our

00:38:34.219 --> 00:38:35.099
 2025

00:38:35.099 --> 00:38:36.139
 this is the last

00:38:36.139 --> 00:38:37.419
 service that we'll

00:38:37.419 --> 00:38:37.939
 have here

00:38:37.939 --> 00:38:38.939
 in 2025

00:38:38.939 --> 00:38:39.799
 and I wonder

00:38:39.799 --> 00:38:40.779
 if I could just

00:38:40.779 --> 00:38:41.919
 challenge us all

00:38:41.919 --> 00:38:42.599
 including myself

00:38:42.599 --> 00:38:43.039
 this morning

00:38:43.039 --> 00:38:43.879
 where is God

00:38:43.879 --> 00:38:44.719
 asking us

00:38:44.719 --> 00:38:45.399
 to trust him

00:38:45.399 --> 00:38:46.419
 right now

00:38:46.420 --> 00:38:48.519
 in the uncertainty

00:38:48.519 --> 00:38:50.780
 in the grief

00:38:50.780 --> 00:38:53.099
 in our

00:38:53.099 --> 00:38:53.500
 visions

00:38:53.500 --> 00:38:56.639
 in our waiting

00:38:56.639 --> 00:38:59.000
 you know

00:38:59.000 --> 00:38:59.460
 like Joseph

00:38:59.460 --> 00:39:00.619
 we may rise

00:39:00.619 --> 00:39:01.380
 even when it's

00:39:01.380 --> 00:39:01.760
 dark

00:39:01.760 --> 00:39:04.059
 and follow

00:39:04.059 --> 00:39:04.740
 where God

00:39:04.740 --> 00:39:05.539
 leads

00:39:05.539 --> 00:39:08.599
 it's a hard

00:39:08.599 --> 00:39:09.119
 thing to do

00:39:09.119 --> 00:39:10.279
 but that is

00:39:10.279 --> 00:39:10.800
 what God

00:39:10.800 --> 00:39:12.340
 is asking us

00:39:12.340 --> 00:39:13.619
 there's a poem

00:39:13.619 --> 00:39:14.059
 that I didn't

00:39:14.059 --> 00:39:14.500
 write down

00:39:14.500 --> 00:39:15.079
 some of you

00:39:15.079 --> 00:39:15.619
 will know it

00:39:15.619 --> 00:39:16.900
 and it's often

00:39:16.900 --> 00:39:17.460
 recited at

00:39:17.460 --> 00:39:17.900
 New Year

00:39:17.900 --> 00:39:19.199
 and it is about

00:39:19.199 --> 00:39:19.539
 us

00:39:19.539 --> 00:39:20.019
 it is about

00:39:20.019 --> 00:39:20.460
 the Christian

00:39:20.460 --> 00:39:20.960
 putting their

00:39:20.960 --> 00:39:21.360
 hand

00:39:21.360 --> 00:39:22.440
 into God's

00:39:22.440 --> 00:39:22.739
 hand

00:39:22.739 --> 00:39:23.320
 and stepping

00:39:23.320 --> 00:39:23.739
 into the

00:39:23.739 --> 00:39:24.039
 unknown

00:39:24.039 --> 00:39:24.480
 and as we

00:39:24.480 --> 00:39:25.400
 step over

00:39:25.400 --> 00:39:25.960
 that New Year

00:39:25.960 --> 00:39:26.320
 line

00:39:26.320 --> 00:39:27.300
 on Wednesday

00:39:27.300 --> 00:39:27.559
 night

00:39:27.559 --> 00:39:28.019
 and we step

00:39:28.019 --> 00:39:28.840
 into 2026

00:39:28.840 --> 00:39:29.739
 and all of

00:39:29.739 --> 00:39:30.119
 these things

00:39:30.119 --> 00:39:30.599
 might be going

00:39:30.599 --> 00:39:31.000
 on in your

00:39:31.000 --> 00:39:31.320
 head

00:39:31.320 --> 00:39:32.159
 and there

00:39:32.159 --> 00:39:32.440
 might be

00:39:32.440 --> 00:39:32.860
 uncertainty

00:39:32.860 --> 00:39:33.300
 and there

00:39:33.300 --> 00:39:33.820
 might be

00:39:33.820 --> 00:39:34.579
 things that

00:39:34.579 --> 00:39:34.880
 you don't

00:39:34.880 --> 00:39:35.139
 know

00:39:35.139 --> 00:39:35.480
 and there

00:39:35.480 --> 00:39:35.819
 might be

00:39:35.819 --> 00:39:36.239
 chaos

00:39:36.239 --> 00:39:36.719
 in a

00:39:36.719 --> 00:39:37.199
 situation

00:39:37.199 --> 00:39:38.460
 well

00:39:38.460 --> 00:39:39.639
 we might

00:39:39.639 --> 00:39:40.199
 just remember

00:39:40.199 --> 00:39:40.739
 this little

00:39:40.739 --> 00:39:41.900
 story of

00:39:41.900 --> 00:39:42.159
 Joseph

00:39:42.159 --> 00:39:43.619
 the story

00:39:43.619 --> 00:39:43.960
 is actually

00:39:43.960 --> 00:39:44.379
 not about

00:39:44.379 --> 00:39:44.679
 Joseph

00:39:44.679 --> 00:39:45.619
 the story

00:39:45.619 --> 00:39:45.960
 is about

00:39:45.960 --> 00:39:46.319
 Jesus

00:39:46.319 --> 00:39:48.299
 but we

00:39:48.299 --> 00:39:48.599
 might just

00:39:48.599 --> 00:39:48.859
 remember

00:39:48.859 --> 00:39:49.239
 the story

00:39:49.239 --> 00:39:49.679
 about Joseph

00:39:49.679 --> 00:39:50.179
 this morning

00:39:50.179 --> 00:39:50.819
 that he

00:39:50.819 --> 00:39:51.299
 even left

00:39:51.299 --> 00:39:51.559
 in the

00:39:51.559 --> 00:39:51.859
 dark

00:39:51.859 --> 00:39:52.159
 and we

00:39:52.159 --> 00:39:52.420
 might be

00:39:52.420 --> 00:39:52.599
 in the

00:39:52.599 --> 00:39:52.819
 dark

00:39:52.819 --> 00:39:53.079
 in our

00:39:53.079 --> 00:39:53.619
 situations

00:39:53.619 --> 00:39:55.219
 but are

00:39:55.219 --> 00:39:55.619
 we willing

00:39:55.619 --> 00:39:56.199
 to follow

00:39:56.199 --> 00:39:56.599
 God

00:39:56.599 --> 00:39:57.039
 where he

00:39:57.039 --> 00:39:57.420
 leads

00:39:57.420 --> 00:39:58.960
 because

00:39:58.960 --> 00:39:59.659
 the God

00:39:59.659 --> 00:40:00.579
 who protected

00:40:00.579 --> 00:40:01.000
 Jesus

00:40:01.000 --> 00:40:02.279
 and Joseph

00:40:02.279 --> 00:40:02.859
 and Mary

00:40:02.859 --> 00:40:03.900
 and countless

00:40:03.900 --> 00:40:04.859
 other followers

00:40:04.860 --> 00:40:05.420
 after

00:40:05.420 --> 00:40:06.160
 is still

00:40:06.160 --> 00:40:07.120
 faithful

00:40:07.120 --> 00:40:07.800
 today

00:40:07.800 --> 00:40:08.840
 he is

00:40:08.840 --> 00:40:09.380
 with us

00:40:09.380 --> 00:40:10.140
 he will

00:40:10.140 --> 00:40:10.360
 never

00:40:10.360 --> 00:40:11.660
 leave us

00:40:11.660 --> 00:40:12.640
 and these

00:40:12.640 --> 00:40:13.099
 four simple

00:40:13.099 --> 00:40:13.519
 points this

00:40:13.519 --> 00:40:13.760
 morning

00:40:13.760 --> 00:40:14.099
 which is

00:40:14.099 --> 00:40:14.460
 maybe not

00:40:14.460 --> 00:40:14.740
 where you

00:40:14.740 --> 00:40:15.039
 thought we

00:40:15.039 --> 00:40:15.260
 were going

00:40:15.260 --> 00:40:15.480
 to go

00:40:15.480 --> 00:40:15.860
 in Matthew

00:40:15.860 --> 00:40:16.579
 chapter 2

00:40:16.579 --> 00:40:17.620
 of God's

00:40:17.620 --> 00:40:18.079
 guidance

00:40:18.079 --> 00:40:18.480
 that he

00:40:18.480 --> 00:40:18.920
 speaks

00:40:18.920 --> 00:40:20.340
 of the

00:40:20.340 --> 00:40:20.720
 worldly

00:40:20.720 --> 00:40:21.320
 resistance

00:40:21.320 --> 00:40:22.860
 against him

00:40:22.860 --> 00:40:24.920
 of his

00:40:24.920 --> 00:40:25.360
 sovereign

00:40:25.360 --> 00:40:25.980
 triumph

00:40:25.980 --> 00:40:26.860
 and of his

00:40:26.860 --> 00:40:27.240
 quiet

00:40:27.240 --> 00:40:27.840
 providence

00:40:27.840 --> 00:40:28.200
 in our

00:40:28.200 --> 00:40:28.519
 life

00:40:28.519 --> 00:40:28.940
 if we

00:40:28.940 --> 00:40:29.559
 think about

00:40:29.559 --> 00:40:29.980
 these four

00:40:29.980 --> 00:40:30.260
 things

00:40:30.260 --> 00:40:30.599
 and if we

00:40:30.599 --> 00:40:30.840
 took them

00:40:30.840 --> 00:40:31.640
 into 2026

00:40:31.640 --> 00:40:32.079
 I think

00:40:32.079 --> 00:40:32.340
 we would

00:40:32.340 --> 00:40:32.600
 be doing

00:40:32.600 --> 00:40:32.860
 well

00:40:32.860 --> 00:40:34.800
 let's just

00:40:34.800 --> 00:40:35.360
 commit ourselves

00:40:35.360 --> 00:40:35.900
 to God

00:40:35.900 --> 00:40:36.960
 as we

00:40:36.960 --> 00:40:37.720
 ponder these

00:40:37.720 --> 00:40:38.180
 things and we

00:40:38.180 --> 00:40:38.559
 can ask the

00:40:38.559 --> 00:40:39.340
 band to

00:40:39.340 --> 00:40:39.840
 come up

00:40:39.840 --> 00:40:42.280
 our gracious

00:40:42.280 --> 00:40:42.900
 father we

00:40:42.900 --> 00:40:43.660
 come again

00:40:43.660 --> 00:40:44.480
 to you this

00:40:44.480 --> 00:40:44.740
 morning

00:40:44.740 --> 00:40:47.079
 and we

00:40:47.079 --> 00:40:47.539
 thank you

00:40:47.539 --> 00:40:48.220
 that you

00:40:48.220 --> 00:40:49.579
 are in

00:40:49.579 --> 00:40:50.400
 sovereign

00:40:50.400 --> 00:40:51.120
 control

00:40:51.120 --> 00:40:52.519
 and all of

00:40:52.519 --> 00:40:53.000
 the details

00:40:53.000 --> 00:40:53.320
 of our

00:40:53.320 --> 00:40:53.660
 life

00:40:53.660 --> 00:40:54.720
 even where

00:40:54.720 --> 00:40:55.079
 it doesn't

00:40:55.079 --> 00:40:55.620
 make sense

00:40:55.620 --> 00:40:56.039
 our father

00:40:56.039 --> 00:40:57.559
 we cling

00:40:57.559 --> 00:40:58.079
 to you

00:40:58.079 --> 00:40:59.559
 our father

00:40:59.559 --> 00:40:59.940
 we just

00:40:59.940 --> 00:41:00.619
 ask that

00:41:00.619 --> 00:41:01.259
 as we

00:41:01.259 --> 00:41:01.820
 consider

00:41:01.820 --> 00:41:02.139
 these

00:41:02.139 --> 00:41:02.519
 simple

00:41:02.519 --> 00:41:02.840
 things

00:41:02.840 --> 00:41:03.039
 this

00:41:03.039 --> 00:41:03.320
 morning

00:41:03.320 --> 00:41:04.639
 that we

00:41:04.639 --> 00:41:04.960
 might be

00:41:04.960 --> 00:41:05.440
 willing to

00:41:05.440 --> 00:41:05.840
 hear your

00:41:05.840 --> 00:41:06.239
 voice

00:41:06.239 --> 00:41:07.360
 that we

00:41:07.360 --> 00:41:07.699
 might be

00:41:07.699 --> 00:41:08.159
 willing to

00:41:08.159 --> 00:41:08.480
 take that

00:41:08.480 --> 00:41:09.159
 step of

00:41:09.159 --> 00:41:09.579
 faith

00:41:09.579 --> 00:41:10.800
 and of

00:41:10.800 --> 00:41:11.259
 trust

00:41:11.259 --> 00:41:11.940
 and of

00:41:11.940 --> 00:41:12.340
 obedience

00:41:12.340 --> 00:41:14.239
 our father

00:41:14.239 --> 00:41:14.920
 challenge us

00:41:14.920 --> 00:41:15.380
 this morning

00:41:15.380 --> 00:41:15.860
 just to

00:41:15.860 --> 00:41:16.219
 wholly

00:41:16.219 --> 00:41:17.539
 depend on

00:41:17.539 --> 00:41:17.840
 you

00:41:17.840 --> 00:41:19.139
 and as we

00:41:19.139 --> 00:41:19.779
 consider this

00:41:19.779 --> 00:41:20.279
 year that

00:41:20.279 --> 00:41:21.239
 is before

00:41:21.239 --> 00:41:21.619
 us our

00:41:21.619 --> 00:41:22.000
 father we

00:41:22.000 --> 00:41:22.360
 pray

00:41:22.360 --> 00:41:23.480
 that we

00:41:23.480 --> 00:41:23.840
 might just

00:41:23.840 --> 00:41:24.279
 commit it

00:41:24.279 --> 00:41:24.699
 to you

00:41:24.699 --> 00:41:26.079
 that we

00:41:26.079 --> 00:41:26.439
 might just

00:41:26.439 --> 00:41:27.839
 commit our

00:41:27.839 --> 00:41:28.239
 footsteps

00:41:28.239 --> 00:41:29.579
 and our

00:41:29.579 --> 00:41:31.599
 obedient walk

00:41:31.599 --> 00:41:31.960
 to you

00:41:31.960 --> 00:41:32.279
 our father

00:41:32.279 --> 00:41:32.619
 that you

00:41:32.619 --> 00:41:33.099
 might guide

00:41:33.099 --> 00:41:33.699
 our steps

00:41:33.699 --> 00:41:34.879
 that you

00:41:34.879 --> 00:41:35.339
 might give

00:41:35.339 --> 00:41:35.960
 us clarity

00:41:35.960 --> 00:41:36.799
 even in

00:41:36.799 --> 00:41:37.399
 the most

00:41:37.399 --> 00:41:37.919
 ordinary

00:41:37.919 --> 00:41:39.279
 day to

00:41:39.279 --> 00:41:39.859
 day aspects

00:41:39.859 --> 00:41:40.179
 of our

00:41:40.179 --> 00:41:40.519
 life

00:41:40.519 --> 00:41:44.719
 our father

00:41:44.719 --> 00:41:45.039
 in our

00:41:45.039 --> 00:41:45.359
 living

00:41:45.359 --> 00:41:46.599
 and

00:41:46.599 --> 00:41:48.399
 in our

00:41:48.399 --> 00:41:49.819
 daily business

00:41:49.819 --> 00:41:50.159
 our father

00:41:50.159 --> 00:41:50.519
 we just

00:41:50.519 --> 00:41:50.980
 pray that

00:41:50.980 --> 00:41:51.279
 we might

00:41:51.279 --> 00:41:51.839
 honour you

00:41:51.839 --> 00:41:52.719
 in everything

00:41:52.719 --> 00:41:53.139
 that we

00:41:53.139 --> 00:41:53.439
 do

00:41:53.439 --> 00:41:53.919
 and everything

00:41:53.919 --> 00:41:54.339
 that we

00:41:54.339 --> 00:41:54.639
 say

00:41:54.639 --> 00:41:56.279
 our father

00:41:56.279 --> 00:41:57.079
 challenge us

00:41:57.079 --> 00:41:58.019
 as we go

00:41:58.019 --> 00:41:58.480
 into this

00:41:58.480 --> 00:41:59.000
 new year

00:41:59.000 --> 00:41:59.480
 not to

00:41:59.480 --> 00:41:59.799
 make

00:41:59.799 --> 00:42:00.719
 earthly

00:42:00.719 --> 00:42:01.239
 promises

00:42:01.239 --> 00:42:01.759
 and

00:42:01.759 --> 00:42:02.400
 resolutions

00:42:02.400 --> 00:42:02.900
 our father

00:42:02.900 --> 00:42:03.239
 but to

00:42:03.239 --> 00:42:03.400
 make

00:42:03.400 --> 00:42:03.839
 spiritual

00:42:03.839 --> 00:42:04.319
 ones

00:42:04.319 --> 00:42:05.179
 that we

00:42:05.179 --> 00:42:05.379
 might

00:42:05.379 --> 00:42:05.920
 love you

00:42:05.920 --> 00:42:06.339
 more

00:42:06.339 --> 00:42:06.639
 that we

00:42:06.639 --> 00:42:06.819
 might

00:42:06.819 --> 00:42:07.199
 serve

00:42:07.199 --> 00:42:07.480
 you

00:42:07.480 --> 00:42:08.299
 more

00:42:08.299 --> 00:42:08.839
 our father

00:42:08.839 --> 00:42:09.159
 but that

00:42:09.159 --> 00:42:09.480
 we might

00:42:09.480 --> 00:42:09.900
 depend

00:42:09.900 --> 00:42:10.359
 on you

00:42:10.359 --> 00:42:11.039
 more

00:42:11.039 --> 00:42:13.059
 our father

00:42:13.059 --> 00:42:13.359
 we just

00:42:13.359 --> 00:42:13.699
 ask that

00:42:13.699 --> 00:42:14.079
 you bless

00:42:14.079 --> 00:42:14.319
 us

00:42:14.319 --> 00:42:14.619
 that you

00:42:14.619 --> 00:42:14.980
 be with

00:42:14.980 --> 00:42:15.279
 us

00:42:15.279 --> 00:42:15.699
 for we

00:42:15.699 --> 00:42:16.079
 ask these

00:42:16.079 --> 00:42:16.460
 things

00:42:16.460 --> 00:42:17.059
 in Jesus

00:42:17.059 --> 00:42:17.440
 name

00:42:17.440 --> 00:42:18.279
 amen

00:42:18.280 --> 00:42:20.680
 as

00:42:20.680 --> 00:42:20.680


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