WEBVTT 00:00:00.860 --> 00:00:05.459 Well, it's great to be back together this Sunday evening, beautiful Sunday evening. 00:00:06.080 --> 00:00:11.720 If you were with us last week, we began a series looking in a little-known book in the 00:00:11.720 --> 00:00:16.719 Old Testament called Habakkuk, and this is one of the minor prophets. 00:00:17.379 --> 00:00:21.059 If you're anything like me, I had not before now really spent a whole lot of time looking 00:00:21.059 --> 00:00:27.620 at it, and yet as I've studied it, I've found it to be exceedingly relevant for where we 00:00:27.620 --> 00:00:28.660 are now. 00:00:28.660 --> 00:00:35.640 It's known by many people as a kind of mini-Book of Job because it deals with the issue of 00:00:35.640 --> 00:00:36.039 suffering. 00:00:36.899 --> 00:00:43.560 It asks the question in the opening verses, how long, O Lord, how long, O Lord, will you 00:00:43.560 --> 00:00:47.299 let this evil and injustice happen? 00:00:47.719 --> 00:00:51.900 How long will we cry violence and you will seemingly do nothing? 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:54.060 I think these are questions that we have all asked. 00:00:54.060 --> 00:00:59.179 Any honest Christian who's been a Christian for any amount of time living in the world 00:00:59.179 --> 00:01:00.960 that we live in, you have to ask these questions. 00:01:01.480 --> 00:01:05.299 This is also the reason why some of you are here or friends or people you know who are 00:01:05.299 --> 00:01:05.960 not Christians. 00:01:06.260 --> 00:01:08.500 Maybe this is the thing that keeps them away. 00:01:09.040 --> 00:01:13.620 You see, I can't make sense of a good and powerful God in the world that we live in. 00:01:13.620 --> 00:01:16.719 So this is the issue that we're exploring through Habakkuk. 00:01:16.859 --> 00:01:20.920 And this week is going to be a little different because we're looking at chapter 2, verses 00:01:20.920 --> 00:01:21.700 1 through 4. 00:01:22.240 --> 00:01:27.700 And the question this week is not going to be so much, how do I understand evil times, 00:01:28.040 --> 00:01:30.300 but rather, how do I survive them? 00:01:31.100 --> 00:01:35.900 How do I endure when life is extremely overwhelming and difficult and hard? 00:01:35.900 --> 00:01:38.080 Which I know for many of you, it is. 00:01:38.440 --> 00:01:39.940 A lot of people are struggling right now. 00:01:40.060 --> 00:01:42.180 It's just something is in the water. 00:01:42.320 --> 00:01:46.640 Something is, I'm not sure what it is, but I know, I feel like a large number of people 00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:48.080 who are just really facing hardship. 00:01:48.700 --> 00:01:49.880 And so how do we endure? 00:01:50.400 --> 00:01:55.240 And the way the Bible talks about that, enduring through really challenging times, is a phrase 00:01:55.240 --> 00:01:59.439 that shows up a few different places in the Bible called living by faith. 00:02:00.680 --> 00:02:01.780 Living by faith. 00:02:02.580 --> 00:02:04.480 And so this shows up in Habakkuk. 00:02:04.480 --> 00:02:09.539 And so we're going to look at what does it mean to live by faith when it seems like God 00:02:09.539 --> 00:02:18.259 is absent and it seems like we're on our own and facing insurmountable odds. 00:02:19.379 --> 00:02:23.159 And Habakkuk 2, 1 through 4 is going to show us a couple of things about living by faith. 00:02:23.439 --> 00:02:28.480 It shows us that living by faith means living by God's Word and it means living by God's 00:02:28.480 --> 00:02:28.800 story. 00:02:29.159 --> 00:02:33.719 So those two things defining our life, that's what it means to live by faith. 00:02:33.719 --> 00:02:35.020 So as we get started, let's pray. 00:02:37.599 --> 00:02:40.500 Our Father, these are words that are written so long ago. 00:02:40.580 --> 00:02:42.120 How could they possibly be relevant? 00:02:42.120 --> 00:02:50.500 And yet we know that you are a God who speaks and is able to, through your Spirit, make these 00:02:50.500 --> 00:02:56.259 words come alive in a way that will reveal to us your living Word, your Son, Jesus Christ. 00:02:57.180 --> 00:02:59.480 Lord, may we see him face to face. 00:03:00.140 --> 00:03:03.759 And in his suffering, may we find comfort for our suffering. 00:03:04.360 --> 00:03:06.360 Lord, we pray this in your Son's holy name. 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:06.819 Amen. 00:03:06.819 --> 00:03:06.939 Amen. 00:03:08.699 --> 00:03:15.579 So Habakkuk 2, verses 1 through 4, living by faith means first living by God's Word. 00:03:15.680 --> 00:03:17.039 Living by God's Word. 00:03:17.879 --> 00:03:23.120 I want you to understand, if you're unfamiliar to this book, Habakkuk is a deeply troubled 00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:23.560 man. 00:03:23.780 --> 00:03:31.599 He's looking at his people, the kingdom of Judah in the south, and there's massive corruption. 00:03:31.599 --> 00:03:34.739 They're facing imminent destruction. 00:03:35.500 --> 00:03:39.439 And I don't know if you remember in chapter 1, for those of you who are here, it starts 00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:42.560 out with a bang and Habakkuk asking, how is this happening, Lord? 00:03:42.780 --> 00:03:46.299 And then God responds by saying, you think it's bad now. 00:03:47.359 --> 00:03:48.719 Things are going to get a lot worse. 00:03:48.900 --> 00:03:50.340 You're going to all go into exile. 00:03:50.560 --> 00:03:55.419 Babylon, these wicked, bloodthirsty people, I'm going to empower them to conquer you. 00:03:55.419 --> 00:04:02.379 And then Habakkuk fires another volley of questions at God, and then the chapter ends. 00:04:03.179 --> 00:04:06.599 And so chapter 2 opens with Habakkuk waiting on the response. 00:04:06.739 --> 00:04:08.879 What's God going to say in response? 00:04:09.560 --> 00:04:11.019 And so verse 1 says, 00:04:11.020 --> 00:04:28.540 And I want to focus in on the metaphor that he uses. 00:04:28.819 --> 00:04:33.060 He calls himself a watchman, climbing up into the tower. 00:04:33.160 --> 00:04:38.980 So you can imagine a city surrounded by a city wall and towers that were erected as a 00:04:38.980 --> 00:04:43.680 part of the wall, and you can climb up and get the best view of everything that might 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:45.400 be coming to get you. 00:04:45.939 --> 00:04:51.500 And so a watchman's job is to go up into the tower and to keep watch, and to do so vigilantly. 00:04:51.640 --> 00:04:54.860 And so this is the image that he uses for his posture toward God. 00:04:55.460 --> 00:05:00.860 I'm vigilantly, with rapt attention, awaiting the word of the Lord. 00:05:01.020 --> 00:05:03.600 I'm waiting for God to speak into my circumstances. 00:05:03.740 --> 00:05:05.879 I'm focused all my energy there. 00:05:05.879 --> 00:05:12.420 I don't know if you've ever had the opportunity to read a favorite book to a young child. 00:05:13.100 --> 00:05:15.839 But my boys, they have certain books that are their favorites. 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:20.740 And when we pick one of those books to read at night, they scramble for the best position 00:05:20.740 --> 00:05:25.159 around me, and normally on me in some way, which I'm not complaining, it's fantastic, 00:05:25.339 --> 00:05:27.480 to try to get the best view of the book. 00:05:27.579 --> 00:05:32.600 And then, even though they're not great at reading yet, when I read, and a lot of times 00:05:32.600 --> 00:05:37.840 that if I'm tired, I'll skip a sentence here, or skip a page there, you know, maybe summarize. 00:05:38.520 --> 00:05:41.320 And, you know, the gist. 00:05:41.520 --> 00:05:44.140 And they catch me 100% of the time. 00:05:44.700 --> 00:05:46.920 Because they're hanging on my every word. 00:05:47.020 --> 00:05:49.000 And they know every word in there. 00:05:49.080 --> 00:05:53.980 And they're paying so close attention that if I change a name, or skip an indefinite article, 00:05:54.020 --> 00:05:55.700 or anything like that, they call me out on it. 00:05:56.180 --> 00:05:56.439 Right? 00:05:56.439 --> 00:05:59.279 And that's the kind of attention that Habakkuk has. 00:05:59.379 --> 00:06:00.219 He's focused. 00:06:01.019 --> 00:06:02.180 What is God going to say? 00:06:03.680 --> 00:06:08.579 And the other thing that we need to see is that he's not only listening, but he's already 00:06:08.579 --> 00:06:10.040 poised to respond. 00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:13.860 In other words, he's saying, whatever God says, I'm going to have to respond to it. 00:06:13.959 --> 00:06:15.360 So he's ready for the response. 00:06:15.740 --> 00:06:16.360 What's it going to be? 00:06:17.300 --> 00:06:20.659 And I want to stop, and I want to ask why this is relevant. 00:06:21.220 --> 00:06:25.279 Because, you see, this is not only the posture that prophets are called to have. 00:06:25.279 --> 00:06:26.939 You see the same image show up in Isaiah. 00:06:27.299 --> 00:06:28.759 But this is not just for the prophets. 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:32.859 This is the kind of posture that every disciple of Jesus is called to have. 00:06:33.879 --> 00:06:34.279 Right? 00:06:34.399 --> 00:06:38.599 A posture of listening and responding to the word of God. 00:06:38.699 --> 00:06:43.239 A regular daily rhythm of listening and responding to the word of God. 00:06:43.239 --> 00:06:48.079 That's what Jesus is talking about in the passage that Megan read, John chapter 8, when he says, 00:06:48.399 --> 00:06:52.019 if you abide in my word, then you are truly my disciples. 00:06:52.779 --> 00:06:52.899 Right? 00:06:52.899 --> 00:06:58.079 Abiding in his word means living in his word, living by his word, which means listening and 00:06:58.079 --> 00:06:59.039 then responding. 00:06:59.739 --> 00:06:59.919 Right? 00:07:00.120 --> 00:07:05.939 So at any given time, the essence of your discipleship, for those of you who are here who are Christians, 00:07:06.419 --> 00:07:07.579 is boiled down to this. 00:07:08.299 --> 00:07:10.439 What is God saying to you right now? 00:07:10.500 --> 00:07:11.579 What are you hearing from the Lord? 00:07:12.359 --> 00:07:13.659 And then how are you responding? 00:07:13.660 --> 00:07:16.000 What are you hearing? 00:07:16.300 --> 00:07:17.280 And how are you responding? 00:07:17.560 --> 00:07:21.700 So let's break that down a little bit because I know the idea of hearing from the Lord sounds 00:07:21.700 --> 00:07:23.340 very mystical and esoteric. 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:24.939 And what does that actually mean? 00:07:25.900 --> 00:07:30.860 Can you hear the Lord through the circumstances of your life? 00:07:30.860 --> 00:07:35.080 I think it's possible. 00:07:36.080 --> 00:07:41.879 Can you hear the Lord through your community, through your friends, your Christian brothers 00:07:41.879 --> 00:07:42.360 and sisters? 00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:44.379 I think that it's possible. 00:07:44.520 --> 00:07:44.879 Absolutely. 00:07:45.740 --> 00:07:45.980 Ah. 00:07:46.240 --> 00:07:48.139 Can you hear the audible voice of God? 00:07:48.139 --> 00:07:52.240 I actually think it's possible. 00:07:53.319 --> 00:07:54.879 I know people who say they have. 00:07:55.839 --> 00:08:01.699 And I know that there have been a handful of times in my life where I was about as sure 00:08:01.699 --> 00:08:05.300 as I've ever been of anything that God was directly telling me to do something. 00:08:05.719 --> 00:08:05.899 Right? 00:08:06.319 --> 00:08:11.899 Marrying Laura, leaving the doctoral program I was in to move to D.C. to be a part of starting 00:08:11.899 --> 00:08:12.240 Advent. 00:08:12.939 --> 00:08:17.439 There's these discrete moments where from every side, from every angle, life circumstances, 00:08:17.439 --> 00:08:21.699 doors opening and closing, the council of friends and mentors and everybody, everything 00:08:21.699 --> 00:08:22.519 was aligning. 00:08:23.259 --> 00:08:24.459 You need to do this. 00:08:25.740 --> 00:08:27.459 So yeah, I think that that's possible. 00:08:29.240 --> 00:08:32.360 But God always speaks through Scripture. 00:08:33.059 --> 00:08:34.480 That's the foundation. 00:08:34.779 --> 00:08:38.100 That's how we are guaranteed to hear from God. 00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:42.940 The one surefire foundational way is through Scripture. 00:08:43.179 --> 00:08:47.419 So that's what Paul's talking about in his letter to Timothy, 2 Timothy, chapter 3. 00:08:47.440 --> 00:08:53.860 When he says all Scripture is God-breathed, he's saying these pages right here, God's breath 00:08:53.860 --> 00:08:54.540 is in here. 00:08:54.680 --> 00:08:56.780 God's voice is in here. 00:08:56.880 --> 00:09:04.040 And when we read this written word that we have access to the living, breathing voice of 00:09:04.040 --> 00:09:04.420 God. 00:09:04.419 --> 00:09:11.579 So anytime I think God might be telling me something through my friends or through my circumstances 00:09:11.579 --> 00:09:15.599 or if I think I'm hearing the voice of God, the first thing I need to do is what? 00:09:15.659 --> 00:09:17.719 I need to check it against Scripture. 00:09:17.860 --> 00:09:20.019 I need to check it to verify it. 00:09:20.079 --> 00:09:21.819 Because I know that God has spoken here. 00:09:23.039 --> 00:09:23.199 Right? 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:25.360 And that's important for a lot of reasons. 00:09:25.419 --> 00:09:26.299 But the main reason is this. 00:09:26.419 --> 00:09:28.000 There are a lot of voices out there. 00:09:28.659 --> 00:09:30.219 And they're saying a lot of different things. 00:09:30.220 --> 00:09:34.180 So how do you pick out God's voice from all of the other voices? 00:09:35.960 --> 00:09:37.680 Well, you have to develop an ear for it. 00:09:38.600 --> 00:09:42.379 And the more you immerse yourself in Scripture, and the more you immerse yourself in studying 00:09:42.379 --> 00:09:46.620 and learning and memorizing and understanding and applying it, the more you develop an ear 00:09:46.620 --> 00:09:48.200 for the voice of God in your life. 00:09:49.019 --> 00:09:50.879 And you can pick it out from the other voices. 00:09:51.620 --> 00:09:53.980 That sounds like what God is saying to me. 00:09:54.180 --> 00:09:55.040 I see it right here. 00:09:55.039 --> 00:10:01.839 Now, this is why the image, I think, of a watchman is particularly helpful. 00:10:02.419 --> 00:10:05.360 Because I don't want to sugarcoat this. 00:10:05.839 --> 00:10:08.959 It's not as easy as just picking this up, flipping to a random passage and saying, 00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:09.799 Oh, Luke 22. 00:10:09.959 --> 00:10:11.459 And immediately I hear God's voice. 00:10:11.519 --> 00:10:12.639 Of course it doesn't work that way. 00:10:12.899 --> 00:10:14.599 In fact, sometimes it's really, really hard. 00:10:15.159 --> 00:10:15.819 And you'll wrestle. 00:10:16.159 --> 00:10:17.199 And it'll feel dry. 00:10:17.740 --> 00:10:21.480 And you're not getting anything out of it. 00:10:21.480 --> 00:10:24.299 And so what does a good watchman do? 00:10:25.039 --> 00:10:25.480 Right? 00:10:25.559 --> 00:10:27.319 Does a watchman go up in the tower and say, 00:10:28.539 --> 00:10:29.639 No, things look pretty calm. 00:10:29.860 --> 00:10:32.360 And then just kind of head off to go watch the football game? 00:10:32.439 --> 00:10:33.019 No, that's not. 00:10:33.219 --> 00:10:36.659 A good watchman stays in his post, right? 00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:38.379 He stays there. 00:10:38.459 --> 00:10:39.120 And he's vigilant. 00:10:39.299 --> 00:10:40.319 Doesn't let things distract him. 00:10:40.319 --> 00:10:41.339 Not looking at his iPhone. 00:10:41.639 --> 00:10:43.199 Not talking to people on the... 00:10:43.199 --> 00:10:46.779 You know, he's vigilantly, with rapt attention, 00:10:47.599 --> 00:10:50.599 looking and attending to his duties. 00:10:50.959 --> 00:10:52.199 And that's what we need to do. 00:10:52.240 --> 00:10:53.120 We need to hang in there. 00:10:53.120 --> 00:10:55.659 When we don't feel like we're hearing from the Lord, 00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:56.799 keep at it. 00:10:57.539 --> 00:10:58.840 Be a good watchman, right? 00:10:59.820 --> 00:11:03.279 I want to give just an example of this from my life just this past week, 00:11:03.340 --> 00:11:04.500 because I want to demystify it. 00:11:04.539 --> 00:11:09.840 This is not some mystical, esoteric experience that only certain Christians have. 00:11:10.100 --> 00:11:11.840 This is what's available to all Christians. 00:11:12.480 --> 00:11:15.259 If you have the Spirit in you, which all Christians do, 00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:18.200 then you have this ability to hear from the Lord. 00:11:18.200 --> 00:11:22.600 So just this week, I was away with some guys at a retreat, an overnight. 00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:27.000 And I have to be totally honest, I was kind of grumbling about having to be there. 00:11:27.280 --> 00:11:29.120 And I had a pretty bad attitude, because I was just like, 00:11:29.160 --> 00:11:30.540 I don't have the time to devote to this. 00:11:31.300 --> 00:11:37.900 And yet, one of the things we had to do was to go away and spend an hour with our Bibles 00:11:37.900 --> 00:11:39.420 and just reflect and think. 00:11:39.480 --> 00:11:40.220 Don't talk to anybody. 00:11:40.360 --> 00:11:41.360 Turn all your devices off. 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:44.759 And the first thing I thought was, I could get so much done in this hour. 00:11:45.960 --> 00:11:46.320 Right? 00:11:46.440 --> 00:11:48.519 But I had these other guys, and we all agreed to do it. 00:11:48.539 --> 00:11:49.100 So I say, okay. 00:11:49.220 --> 00:11:50.320 And I put all my stuff away. 00:11:50.800 --> 00:11:54.080 And I go, and I open, and we're supposed to read Psalm 46. 00:11:55.080 --> 00:11:57.440 So I open my Bible, start reading Psalm 46. 00:11:57.860 --> 00:12:01.159 Now, if you're not familiar with the psalm, it's actually a fantastic psalm. 00:12:01.159 --> 00:12:06.860 It's about how when chaos seems to be swallowing everything up in your life, 00:12:07.339 --> 00:12:14.740 how God is still a present, available refuge who can provide strength and safety, 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:17.959 despite whatever chaos may be swallowing you up. 00:12:18.679 --> 00:12:21.679 And I read that, and quite honestly, as I start reading it, 00:12:21.839 --> 00:12:26.500 the first thought I have is, man, I have not experienced God as a refuge in a while. 00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:29.179 And I was kind of frustrated at that. 00:12:29.179 --> 00:12:33.319 And then it was almost as though the Spirit just kind of drew my attention down to, 00:12:33.419 --> 00:12:34.259 I'm reading, reading, reading. 00:12:34.359 --> 00:12:36.539 And then verse 10 just kind of jumped off the page at me. 00:12:36.699 --> 00:12:39.279 It was almost as though it just kind of like lifted off the page, 00:12:39.319 --> 00:12:41.259 and I just immediately focused in on it. 00:12:41.359 --> 00:12:45.500 And verse 10 is, be still and know that I am God. 00:12:45.679 --> 00:12:45.819 Right? 00:12:45.899 --> 00:12:47.219 Be still and know that I am the Lord. 00:12:47.379 --> 00:12:51.439 And immediately, it was almost like that verse was turned around like a spotlight. 00:12:51.719 --> 00:12:54.819 And the next sensation I had was a sense of clear conviction 00:12:54.820 --> 00:13:04.200 that I can't remember the last time I was still before the Lord simply to be in His presence. 00:13:04.280 --> 00:13:05.220 It's been a long time. 00:13:05.800 --> 00:13:07.040 And it was this moment of conviction. 00:13:08.100 --> 00:13:10.120 And I realized, why do I have so much chaos in my life? 00:13:10.180 --> 00:13:12.860 Why am I so busy that I'm grumbling about being on this retreat? 00:13:13.640 --> 00:13:15.140 Well, it's because I've, have you ever, do you grow up in, 00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:17.100 if you've grown up in the South, you know what kudzu is? 00:13:17.620 --> 00:13:18.740 Anybody know what kudzu is? 00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:22.460 It's just this like ivy-like vine that just takes over everything. 00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:26.060 And you wake up one morning, your entire yard just covered in kudzu. 00:13:26.379 --> 00:13:28.120 Well, my life is like that with busyness. 00:13:28.120 --> 00:13:30.700 Just lots of little stupid menial things that are unnecessary, 00:13:31.159 --> 00:13:33.440 but it's so cluttered that I have no time to be still. 00:13:33.639 --> 00:13:37.259 And I realized in that moment, God is telling me I need to repent of that busyness. 00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:41.960 How can I expect to know Him as a refuge if I can't sit still with Him for five minutes? 00:13:43.019 --> 00:13:45.980 And so if you were to ask me, Tommy, in your life following Christ, 00:13:46.159 --> 00:13:47.200 what is God telling you? 00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:49.240 I would say, well, right now, here's what I'm hearing from the Lord. 00:13:49.379 --> 00:13:50.879 I need to repent of my busyness. 00:13:51.960 --> 00:13:55.140 I'm sinning in my busyness, right? 00:13:55.379 --> 00:13:56.440 But that's not enough. 00:13:56.520 --> 00:14:00.879 It's not good for me to be like, okay, I'm going to write that down in my prayer journal and move on, right? 00:14:00.920 --> 00:14:02.780 I have to actually respond. 00:14:02.900 --> 00:14:04.080 I have to do something about it. 00:14:04.100 --> 00:14:06.540 I have to turn that into active obedience. 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:10.340 So that's the next part of what it means to live by God's Word, 00:14:10.600 --> 00:14:12.500 is to hear and then respond. 00:14:12.500 --> 00:14:18.500 And responding to God, converting this into active obedience, 00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:22.139 it's really great to talk about this in the context of Habakkuk. 00:14:22.659 --> 00:14:24.100 And here's a point I want to make. 00:14:24.820 --> 00:14:28.120 Habakkuk is not hearing what he wants to hear from the Lord. 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:33.779 He's, you know, the Lord is not saying, hey, I think to obey me you should go get ice cream. 00:14:33.879 --> 00:14:38.600 Or, you know, he's not hearing these nice, peaceful, wonderful things that he gets to do. 00:14:38.600 --> 00:14:42.220 He's hearing that God is going to come and destroy his nation. 00:14:42.540 --> 00:14:46.600 And they're going to become exiles for literally God knows how long. 00:14:47.480 --> 00:14:48.860 And that's what he's hearing. 00:14:50.019 --> 00:14:54.720 And yet, in the end, his desire is to live under God's Word, 00:14:54.820 --> 00:14:57.720 to respond faithfully, whatever God says. 00:14:58.279 --> 00:14:59.580 Even if he disagrees. 00:15:00.340 --> 00:15:01.500 Even if he disagrees. 00:15:02.899 --> 00:15:04.320 Now, this is an important point. 00:15:04.320 --> 00:15:09.560 Because I think it's very common in our circles for people to talk about decisions that they're making 00:15:09.560 --> 00:15:13.280 and to say, well, you know, I prayed about it and I feel a sense of peace. 00:15:14.500 --> 00:15:16.220 I prayed about it and I feel a sense of peace. 00:15:16.760 --> 00:15:18.620 And I just kind of want to go on record and say, 00:15:18.740 --> 00:15:24.660 I have not yet found in the Bible where it says that that's how we hear God's voice and discern his will. 00:15:24.760 --> 00:15:25.920 I just can't find the verse. 00:15:26.379 --> 00:15:28.180 It may be in there, but I can't find it. 00:15:28.880 --> 00:15:31.440 And I think that if you were to tell that to Habakkuk, 00:15:31.540 --> 00:15:33.080 he would laugh in your face. 00:15:33.080 --> 00:15:34.160 You know? 00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:36.139 Can you imagine Habakkuk saying, 00:15:36.400 --> 00:15:40.180 you know, God said he's going to send us all into exile and we're going to die and suffer. 00:15:40.440 --> 00:15:43.300 And, you know, I'm feeling pretty peaceful about that. 00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:43.560 You know? 00:15:44.180 --> 00:15:44.740 You know? 00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:45.639 No, no. 00:15:45.700 --> 00:15:47.420 If you're really hearing from God, here's the thing. 00:15:47.620 --> 00:15:49.660 If you're really hearing from God in your life, 00:15:49.900 --> 00:15:52.280 chances are a lot of what you hear you're not going to agree with. 00:15:52.560 --> 00:15:54.259 God's going to call you to do hard things, 00:15:54.300 --> 00:15:55.500 not things that you want to do. 00:15:55.940 --> 00:15:58.540 And you're going to come to this fork in the road again and again and again 00:15:58.539 --> 00:16:02.939 where God is calling you in this direction and your heart and guts and cells and everything 00:16:02.939 --> 00:16:04.039 wants to go in this direction. 00:16:04.579 --> 00:16:07.659 And you have to decide what faithfulness is going to look like for you. 00:16:08.839 --> 00:16:12.159 This is the reality of actually hearing and responding to the God of the universe 00:16:12.159 --> 00:16:13.599 rather than the God of our imagination. 00:16:15.319 --> 00:16:15.439 Right? 00:16:15.599 --> 00:16:17.079 So, you know, a couple of examples. 00:16:17.219 --> 00:16:18.019 You know, somebody says, 00:16:18.019 --> 00:16:20.500 Hey, I know I have a good job now, 00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:25.519 but I've just decided that I'm going to take this other job offer that came down the way. 00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:27.860 And it's great because I'm going to make a lot more money. 00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:29.059 Well, tell me about it. 00:16:29.100 --> 00:16:31.759 Well, I am going to be on the road more. 00:16:31.819 --> 00:16:32.460 Well, how much more? 00:16:32.539 --> 00:16:35.539 Well, I'm probably going to be traveling 75, 80% of the year. 00:16:36.019 --> 00:16:36.340 Okay. 00:16:38.059 --> 00:16:39.480 What does your spouse think about that? 00:16:39.799 --> 00:16:41.659 Well, my spouse isn't really very supportive. 00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:43.899 Yeah, we have a couple of young kids, 00:16:44.079 --> 00:16:46.480 and my spouse is not really excited about it. 00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:49.480 But, I prayed about it, 00:16:50.180 --> 00:16:51.420 and I feel a sense of peace. 00:16:51.899 --> 00:16:52.680 So, I'm going to take it. 00:16:53.560 --> 00:16:53.740 Right? 00:16:53.820 --> 00:16:54.940 So, what would you say to that person? 00:16:55.820 --> 00:16:57.740 I think you need to go back up in the watchtower. 00:16:58.460 --> 00:17:00.200 I think you left a little early, 00:17:00.560 --> 00:17:02.580 and you need to go back up and finish your post 00:17:02.580 --> 00:17:04.360 and do a little more listening. 00:17:04.920 --> 00:17:05.160 Right? 00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:06.099 A little more attention. 00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:08.059 You know, read Hebrews 13. 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:09.380 Read Luke 12. 00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:09.960 Right? 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:11.799 Is this about loving the Lord and your family? 00:17:12.579 --> 00:17:15.059 Is this about faithfulness and trust that God is going to provide? 00:17:15.059 --> 00:17:17.039 Or is this about the love of money? 00:17:18.099 --> 00:17:21.159 Is this because you actually believe that if you don't scrap and make it happen, 00:17:21.419 --> 00:17:22.679 that you're going to be destitute? 00:17:23.619 --> 00:17:24.839 What's really going on here? 00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:25.419 You know? 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:28.019 Or another kind of common example. 00:17:28.139 --> 00:17:28.500 Somebody says, 00:17:28.599 --> 00:17:30.599 Hey, you know, I'm dating this person. 00:17:30.659 --> 00:17:31.279 They're really great. 00:17:31.659 --> 00:17:33.339 And they're not a Christian. 00:17:33.440 --> 00:17:35.099 They don't really have any interest in my faith. 00:17:35.379 --> 00:17:36.480 But we really love each other. 00:17:36.519 --> 00:17:37.279 We have a great time. 00:17:37.379 --> 00:17:37.779 We've decided. 00:17:37.899 --> 00:17:38.480 We're sleeping together. 00:17:38.539 --> 00:17:39.419 We've decided to move in together. 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:41.159 And I think it's going to be really great. 00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:44.400 And, okay, well, has anybody talked to you about this? 00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:45.600 And are your friends supportive? 00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:47.240 Most of my friends are supportive. 00:17:47.300 --> 00:17:48.720 A couple of people are being judgmental. 00:17:48.779 --> 00:17:49.820 But most people are supportive. 00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:51.240 And what about your parents? 00:17:51.360 --> 00:17:52.620 Oh, my parents aren't too excited. 00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:53.160 But they're fundamentalists. 00:17:53.800 --> 00:17:54.640 And I just really don't. 00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:56.500 You know, I mean, I listen to them. 00:17:56.600 --> 00:17:58.500 But I mean, but I prayed about it. 00:17:59.259 --> 00:18:01.180 And I feel a sense of peace about this. 00:18:01.600 --> 00:18:03.279 I think God is blessing this. 00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:03.759 Really? 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:05.600 I think you need to go back up in the tower. 00:18:05.820 --> 00:18:06.580 Because here's why. 00:18:06.579 --> 00:18:13.299 The one thing we know about God's will is he's not going to give you a sense of peace when you're actively sinning against him. 00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:14.519 That's not going to happen. 00:18:16.179 --> 00:18:17.939 In fact, it's going to be the opposite. 00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:18.639 Right? 00:18:18.859 --> 00:18:20.339 God is going to convict you. 00:18:20.460 --> 00:18:24.960 He's going to, if the spirit is in you, the spirit is going to convict you. 00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:29.960 Maybe that's why you get so defensive when people question your relationship. 00:18:30.439 --> 00:18:32.639 Because you're already feeling deep conviction. 00:18:32.639 --> 00:18:34.319 And you're trying to press it down. 00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:35.539 And ignore it. 00:18:35.899 --> 00:18:36.079 Right? 00:18:36.579 --> 00:18:37.819 So go back up into the tower. 00:18:38.279 --> 00:18:38.599 Listen. 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:41.799 What is God actually saying to you about this situation in your life? 00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:44.419 And we can give example after example after example. 00:18:45.659 --> 00:18:48.500 So living by faith means first that we live by God's word. 00:18:48.579 --> 00:18:53.139 Which means hearing and responding to what God is saying with active obedience. 00:18:54.419 --> 00:18:55.980 But then there's more to the story. 00:18:56.079 --> 00:19:02.599 Because I don't want to just leave us thinking, okay, enduring hard times means doing what the Bible says. 00:19:02.599 --> 00:19:06.859 Because the Bible is much more than just a set of standards for how to live. 00:19:07.679 --> 00:19:10.519 And that's why we've got to talk about the story as a whole. 00:19:11.439 --> 00:19:13.759 That we're not just called to live by God's word. 00:19:13.819 --> 00:19:21.659 But we're called to live by and within and live out of this grand story of God's saving work in history. 00:19:21.660 --> 00:19:24.480 And you say, okay, well that sounds nice. 00:19:24.540 --> 00:19:25.960 But where do you get that from Habakkuk? 00:19:26.060 --> 00:19:28.120 The word story is not in here. 00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:30.160 Well, look at verse 2. 00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:31.519 It says, 00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:41.220 Now what's going on there? 00:19:42.519 --> 00:19:45.539 God is saying, what I'm telling you Habakkuk. 00:19:45.940 --> 00:19:50.379 And he's getting ready to kind of lay out this vision for what's going to happen. 00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:54.599 And the ultimate unveiling of the righteous and the unrighteous. 00:19:55.079 --> 00:19:57.539 And he says, I want you to write this down. 00:19:57.720 --> 00:19:59.700 Because it's not just about you and me Habakkuk. 00:19:59.700 --> 00:20:00.819 This is for everybody. 00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:03.759 And to the one who reads it is referring to a herald. 00:20:03.919 --> 00:20:05.039 So write this down. 00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:06.039 Give it to a herald. 00:20:06.399 --> 00:20:07.299 Make copies of it. 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:10.460 Send it out so that everybody hears what I'm about to say. 00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:12.639 Because I want everybody to know my story. 00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:16.119 This is the story of the world that I'm going to tell you. 00:20:16.139 --> 00:20:17.379 And everybody needs to hear it. 00:20:17.439 --> 00:20:18.599 And then live by this story. 00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:20.119 Right? 00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:22.460 And this is what the Bible really is. 00:20:22.539 --> 00:20:25.399 I mean, this book is really the story of the world. 00:20:25.700 --> 00:20:30.460 It's written by poets and fishermen and scholars. 00:20:30.819 --> 00:20:34.819 And nobles and prophets and ex-slaves. 00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:37.359 It's written by a whole, all different kinds of people. 00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:38.319 All different cultures. 00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:43.899 But it contains the unified story of God's saving work in history. 00:20:44.740 --> 00:20:47.880 And he's saying this is the story of the world. 00:20:48.060 --> 00:20:48.920 And of us. 00:20:49.120 --> 00:20:49.920 And of God. 00:20:50.440 --> 00:20:52.160 And so he says this in verse 2. 00:20:52.460 --> 00:20:55.560 And then in verse 3, God encourages Habakkuk. 00:20:55.600 --> 00:20:57.880 He says, you know, you're going to tell people this story. 00:20:58.120 --> 00:20:59.800 And they're going to be tempted to doubt it. 00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:04.539 And a lot of this is going to take a lot longer to unfold than you think. 00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:10.099 And there are going to be times when you think this can't possibly be true. 00:21:11.659 --> 00:21:13.480 And you're going to want to walk away from it. 00:21:14.019 --> 00:21:16.200 And God is essentially saying, stay with it. 00:21:16.200 --> 00:21:19.080 Keep believing the story. 00:21:19.600 --> 00:21:22.759 Because then in verse 4 he says, because the day is going to come. 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:25.559 Where no matter how unlikely it may seem now. 00:21:25.640 --> 00:21:29.059 The day is going to come when everyone who has rejected God. 00:21:29.259 --> 00:21:32.039 And started to live by another story. 00:21:33.120 --> 00:21:34.759 That those people are going to be exposed. 00:21:35.100 --> 00:21:39.200 And the people who despite what things seemed to be. 00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:41.420 The people who held on to the story. 00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:43.720 Who continued living by the story of the gospel. 00:21:43.720 --> 00:21:45.940 Those people are going to be declared righteous. 00:21:46.460 --> 00:21:48.100 Because they were living by faith. 00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:49.559 That's what verse 4 is all about. 00:21:50.640 --> 00:21:52.259 So why does this matter so much? 00:21:54.400 --> 00:21:56.660 Over the last few decades. 00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:59.759 In diverse fields of study. 00:21:59.900 --> 00:22:01.539 From philosophy to neurobiology. 00:22:01.720 --> 00:22:02.360 To psychology. 00:22:02.579 --> 00:22:03.180 To theology. 00:22:03.539 --> 00:22:05.700 There's a consensus that has emerged. 00:22:05.880 --> 00:22:06.960 About our identities. 00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:08.420 And where identity comes from. 00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:12.720 Our identity primarily comes from the stories that we inhabit. 00:22:13.720 --> 00:22:17.100 And you say, well I don't inhabit a story. 00:22:17.180 --> 00:22:18.339 I've never thought about that before. 00:22:18.519 --> 00:22:21.460 Well, actually what you find is that we do. 00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:23.380 Now we're not aware that we do. 00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:26.900 It's a kind of subconscious thing that sinks in over time. 00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:29.200 But we all inhabit stories. 00:22:29.339 --> 00:22:31.600 So you have a way of thinking about the world. 00:22:31.940 --> 00:22:32.059 Right? 00:22:32.140 --> 00:22:34.620 This is what all reasonable people think. 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:35.120 Right? 00:22:35.420 --> 00:22:37.079 Whatever it is you say that about. 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:39.200 Well all reasonable people think this. 00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:42.380 That's a reflection of the story that you're living in. 00:22:42.380 --> 00:22:43.220 Right? 00:22:43.300 --> 00:22:47.560 And so there's one story or version of reality. 00:22:48.080 --> 00:22:53.840 That says the only thing that really matters is being true to who I am. 00:22:53.960 --> 00:23:01.220 And I have to make sure that my sense of self isn't unduly impacted by any outside corrupting influences. 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:04.340 And the way I figure out who I am is by looking inside. 00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:08.420 And whatever I feel, I need to be true to that. 00:23:08.420 --> 00:23:11.720 And the only real virtue is just to be authentic. 00:23:12.300 --> 00:23:13.519 Be authentic to that. 00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:13.840 Right? 00:23:14.320 --> 00:23:19.840 Now, 500 years ago, if you laid that out to somebody, they would have laughed. 00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:21.160 That would be laughable. 00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:25.660 But nowadays, most people think that way. 00:23:26.580 --> 00:23:26.700 Right? 00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:28.660 At least most of the people in the circles that I'm in. 00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:30.480 That's their default assumption. 00:23:30.820 --> 00:23:30.960 Why? 00:23:31.060 --> 00:23:34.100 Because that's a prevailing story in our culture. 00:23:34.099 --> 00:23:34.539 Right? 00:23:34.899 --> 00:23:41.039 There's another story that says that life is really about finding happiness. 00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:43.879 We have a moral obligation to seek happiness. 00:23:44.339 --> 00:23:49.639 And anything or anyone or any status or anything that makes you happy, you should pursue that. 00:23:49.740 --> 00:23:51.759 Because happiness is its own justification. 00:23:53.639 --> 00:23:57.439 And woe be to anyone who gets in the way of that. 00:23:57.959 --> 00:23:59.679 Who impedes that. 00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:01.439 Because that's the most important thing. 00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:04.480 So these are stories that float around. 00:24:04.600 --> 00:24:06.180 And in Habakkuk's day, it was the same way. 00:24:06.539 --> 00:24:10.720 You know, people said, here's the real, Habakkuk, here's what's really going on. 00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:11.880 There is no God. 00:24:13.340 --> 00:24:14.860 Habakkuk, here's what's really going on. 00:24:15.320 --> 00:24:18.299 There was a God and he used to love us, but now he's totally abandoned us. 00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:21.039 Habakkuk, here's what's really going on. 00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:22.940 It was never the God that we thought it was. 00:24:22.980 --> 00:24:23.600 It was Baal. 00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:24.620 It was Moloch. 00:24:25.259 --> 00:24:30.220 Do you know by this time in their history, it's easy to feel bad for the kingdom of Judah, 00:24:30.220 --> 00:24:31.220 for God's people. 00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:32.600 God's about to send them into exile. 00:24:32.740 --> 00:24:34.799 We say, that's so awful, I can't imagine that. 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:38.920 But we also have to remember, they had become pretty corrupt by this point. 00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:46.400 Most people in Judah, by the time Habakkuk's writing, were regularly sacrificing kids to Moloch. 00:24:47.019 --> 00:24:48.559 So child sacrifice was widespread. 00:24:49.279 --> 00:24:54.420 They were more Baal worshippers, really, than worshippers of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:57.319 They were dedicating their horses to the sun god. 00:24:57.319 --> 00:24:59.939 And they had completely neglected the temple. 00:25:00.419 --> 00:25:01.859 Temple upkeep and temple worship. 00:25:02.399 --> 00:25:03.679 So all this is going on. 00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:05.339 It's very dire. 00:25:06.220 --> 00:25:08.359 And so a lot of people have said, or here's the story. 00:25:08.919 --> 00:25:10.559 We've fallen too far, Habakkuk. 00:25:12.359 --> 00:25:13.679 It's beyond the pale. 00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:16.099 And God has given up on us. 00:25:17.079 --> 00:25:17.839 That's what's happening. 00:25:18.700 --> 00:25:20.159 All these competing stories. 00:25:20.419 --> 00:25:22.439 And we have the same thing. 00:25:22.920 --> 00:25:23.120 Right? 00:25:24.080 --> 00:25:25.200 I'm so tired of being single. 00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:26.720 I've got to take things into my own hands. 00:25:26.940 --> 00:25:28.160 You know, pull out all the stops. 00:25:28.259 --> 00:25:29.140 All restrictions gone. 00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:30.700 Whatever I need to do to solve this problem. 00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:32.039 Because God obviously doesn't care. 00:25:32.740 --> 00:25:32.960 Right? 00:25:34.380 --> 00:25:37.580 There's versions of stories floating around all the time. 00:25:37.660 --> 00:25:39.840 And so the question is, which story is the true story? 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:43.220 Are you living out of a true version of the world or a false one? 00:25:43.220 --> 00:25:51.140 And Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, is talking about, and this is much later. 00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:53.019 This is 600, 700 years after Habakkuk. 00:25:54.460 --> 00:25:57.620 Paul's talking about, again, what it means to live by faith. 00:25:57.920 --> 00:25:59.120 Shows up again and again and again. 00:25:59.319 --> 00:26:00.620 What does it mean to live by faith? 00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:04.559 And he actually quotes Habakkuk chapter 2, verse 4. 00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:07.319 The righteous shall live by faith. 00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:15.059 And Paul's essentially saying that God's story, you know, the story that's hinted at in Habakkuk, 00:26:16.279 --> 00:26:18.759 that that story has actually come true. 00:26:20.200 --> 00:26:22.000 You know, you thought it was a fairy tale. 00:26:22.119 --> 00:26:23.839 You thought, you know, fairy tales aren't real. 00:26:24.299 --> 00:26:25.359 They never come true. 00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:27.419 And Paul's saying, this one did, actually. 00:26:28.379 --> 00:26:29.899 It actually came true. 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:31.139 And how do we know? 00:26:31.859 --> 00:26:33.439 And then he points to Jesus Christ. 00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:40.660 He says in verse 13, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. 00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:41.759 So what's he saying? 00:26:41.980 --> 00:26:47.860 He's saying, Habakkuk, you are on the brink of believing that the real story of your life 00:26:47.860 --> 00:26:51.480 is that God is bringing ultimate judgment on you. 00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:53.140 He's done with you. 00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:54.019 He's fed up. 00:26:54.640 --> 00:26:55.779 You cross the line. 00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:57.860 And God is done with Israel. 00:26:58.140 --> 00:26:59.259 And you're going into exile. 00:26:59.380 --> 00:27:01.340 And now he's backing the Babylonians. 00:27:01.339 --> 00:27:03.579 They're his current favorite. 00:27:04.319 --> 00:27:05.079 You're done. 00:27:06.059 --> 00:27:06.279 Right? 00:27:06.339 --> 00:27:08.439 You were on the brink of believing that, Habakkuk. 00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:12.480 But if you had just hung in there, you would see how things actually played out. 00:27:13.319 --> 00:27:17.939 You would see that this story of God's saving work in history culminates with Jesus Christ. 00:27:18.220 --> 00:27:19.659 That exile wasn't judgment. 00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:22.500 It felt like it at the time. 00:27:22.859 --> 00:27:26.159 But it was a part of this plan of redemption and salvation. 00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:32.540 And it led, ultimately, to the one who would experience ultimate judgment. 00:27:33.300 --> 00:27:37.800 Ultimate judgment happened not in Judah, but on the cross, right? 00:27:38.440 --> 00:27:40.519 Jesus became the curse for us. 00:27:40.620 --> 00:27:42.840 He took that judgment, took the punishment. 00:27:44.620 --> 00:27:48.820 And Paul's saying, what this shows us is that here's the true story. 00:27:48.920 --> 00:27:52.019 God is not a God of merciless judgment. 00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:55.160 He's a God of merciful redemption. 00:27:55.160 --> 00:27:59.100 And everything he's done up to this point is a part of that story. 00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:06.240 And he's saying, if you want proof, look at Jesus. 00:28:07.160 --> 00:28:08.160 Look at his life. 00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:09.580 Look at his death. 00:28:10.140 --> 00:28:10.900 Look at his resurrection. 00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:14.560 This is proof that the Christian story of the gospel is true. 00:28:14.800 --> 00:28:15.560 And here's the thing. 00:28:15.559 --> 00:28:20.480 If Jesus is true, and if we could believe in Jesus, that means the rest of it is true. 00:28:21.599 --> 00:28:24.119 It means that God's version of history is true. 00:28:24.259 --> 00:28:27.119 That he created everything to be good and beautiful. 00:28:27.859 --> 00:28:30.919 And that it got broken when we rebelled against God. 00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:34.379 But that ultimately Jesus came to restore creation. 00:28:34.799 --> 00:28:35.440 And us. 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:39.079 And that one day it's all going to be put right again. 00:28:39.079 --> 00:28:41.099 And every tear will be wiped away. 00:28:41.779 --> 00:28:43.179 That's the real story. 00:28:43.359 --> 00:28:46.299 And so the invitation is to live within that story. 00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:51.220 All of the suffering and all the waiting on God and all the wondering where God is. 00:28:51.339 --> 00:28:54.359 It has to be placed in the context of that story. 00:28:54.679 --> 00:28:56.399 You look back at Jesus on the cross. 00:28:56.539 --> 00:28:59.220 And you look forward to the promise of restoration and renewal. 00:28:59.460 --> 00:29:02.439 And you say, I'm living between the cross and the consummation. 00:29:02.440 --> 00:29:05.059 I can survive this. 00:29:05.980 --> 00:29:07.720 Because I know how the story ends. 00:29:08.160 --> 00:29:09.799 I know that God doesn't abandon us. 00:29:10.799 --> 00:29:12.400 I know that it will all be okay. 00:29:13.680 --> 00:29:16.720 Just like it says to back, it may take longer than we hope. 00:29:17.900 --> 00:29:20.000 It may seem at times like God is silent. 00:29:20.740 --> 00:29:22.519 It may not happen the way we want it to. 00:29:23.400 --> 00:29:24.440 But it's going to happen. 00:29:26.880 --> 00:29:27.279 Right? 00:29:27.360 --> 00:29:31.140 So living by faith means not only believing the gospel story. 00:29:31.140 --> 00:29:34.060 But it means placing ourselves in it and living by it. 00:29:35.400 --> 00:29:37.480 And what this shows us is these other stories. 00:29:37.740 --> 00:29:39.759 You know, life is about being true to yourself. 00:29:39.880 --> 00:29:41.540 No, it's about being true to Christ. 00:29:42.080 --> 00:29:42.300 Right? 00:29:43.360 --> 00:29:45.020 And finding our identity in Him. 00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:48.420 Life's not about finding personal happiness. 00:29:48.660 --> 00:29:50.240 It's about the joy of the Lord. 00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:53.820 That comes, believe it or not, through personal holiness. 00:29:55.620 --> 00:29:56.020 Right? 00:29:56.080 --> 00:29:57.480 This is why we gather, by the way. 00:29:57.580 --> 00:29:59.140 Every week we gather. 00:29:59.240 --> 00:30:00.700 And you say, why do we do this? 00:30:00.700 --> 00:30:01.660 Why all the liturgy? 00:30:01.799 --> 00:30:02.400 And why all the... 00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:04.420 And people say, I'm not really a big fan of ceremony. 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:05.799 And why do we do all this? 00:30:07.299 --> 00:30:08.360 We're telling a story. 00:30:09.460 --> 00:30:12.000 From beginning to end, from the first word and the first sound, 00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:14.440 to the last word where we send you out. 00:30:16.640 --> 00:30:17.660 We're telling a story. 00:30:18.920 --> 00:30:20.519 We're inhabiting a story. 00:30:20.700 --> 00:30:22.400 We're enacting a story. 00:30:22.819 --> 00:30:23.500 I have a part. 00:30:24.100 --> 00:30:24.779 Dan has a part. 00:30:24.900 --> 00:30:25.600 You have parts. 00:30:26.180 --> 00:30:27.240 Our readers have parts. 00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:28.940 There are lots of parts, just like a play. 00:30:29.079 --> 00:30:31.200 And all the parts have kind of been assigned out every week. 00:30:31.359 --> 00:30:32.299 We all play our part. 00:30:32.940 --> 00:30:36.599 And what we're actually doing is reenacting salvation history. 00:30:37.880 --> 00:30:39.220 Again and again and again. 00:30:39.380 --> 00:30:43.539 Because all week, all these other stories get written into your heart. 00:30:43.539 --> 00:30:47.740 And then we come here to have those stories erased, washed away, 00:30:48.200 --> 00:30:52.339 and have the story of the gospel rewritten again and again and again and again. 00:30:52.440 --> 00:30:56.339 Until it's in our marrow and our bones and our cells and our instincts. 00:30:56.639 --> 00:31:02.000 And we just naturally emanate the gospel story in everything we say and do. 00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:07.059 So every week we need to be reminded of this great story. 00:31:08.140 --> 00:31:10.880 That God actually hates suffering more than we do. 00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:14.559 And that he was willing to suffer more than we ever will. 00:31:15.079 --> 00:31:18.500 To ensure that one day suffering will be no more. 00:31:19.339 --> 00:31:20.700 And that's a good story. 00:31:21.119 --> 00:31:22.579 It's the best story there is. 00:31:22.680 --> 00:31:23.460 Because it's true. 00:31:24.420 --> 00:31:25.079 Let's pray. 00:31:25.079 --> 00:31:25.119 Let's pray.