WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.940 Good morning, everyone. Lovely to see you today. My name is Graham and I'm the pastor here. 00:00:05.520 --> 00:00:07.679 And it's lovely to welcome you to church this morning. 00:00:08.439 --> 00:00:11.740 And particularly if you're new or this is your first time, maybe you're visiting us, 00:00:11.919 --> 00:00:17.359 know that we want to be the kind of church family that blesses you during your time with us. 00:00:17.400 --> 00:00:21.839 So if we can do anything to help or anything to love you, then please let us know. 00:00:21.900 --> 00:00:26.600 We would just love to do that. But let's pray as we get to Daniel 8 together. 00:00:26.600 --> 00:00:35.560 Father, Holy Spirit who inspired these words, we pray that you, the one who dwells amongst us, 00:00:35.660 --> 00:00:39.380 would come and help us see the beauty of our King. 00:00:40.219 --> 00:00:44.700 Lord, help us, we ask, as we come to this word, this challenging passage. 00:00:45.420 --> 00:00:48.079 Father, help us see the main thing. 00:00:49.359 --> 00:00:54.380 Help lift our eyes to the beauty of Jesus, we pray in his precious name. Amen. 00:00:54.380 --> 00:01:03.880 Daniel 8, if you've got it there, has reminded me of a chant that you will hear in football stadiums all over the world. 00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:09.579 And one set of fans normally sings it to another set of fans when they're not doing well. 00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:10.939 The chant goes like this. 00:01:11.599 --> 00:01:13.040 You only sing when you're winning. 00:01:14.320 --> 00:01:16.500 You only sing when you're winning. 00:01:16.500 --> 00:01:22.140 And it kind of just repeats until you kind of lose enthusiasm for the song. 00:01:22.760 --> 00:01:30.400 And it struck me in preparing for this that our German friends were so, so merciful in not singing that on Friday night. 00:01:30.519 --> 00:01:36.319 So, so merciful were they that they actually scored our goal for us. 00:01:36.319 --> 00:01:42.159 And then they let us celebrate like we have scored the goal. 00:01:42.279 --> 00:01:42.859 I love that. 00:01:44.179 --> 00:01:50.179 But if you are into sport or not, I think you kind of resonate with this song. 00:01:50.439 --> 00:01:50.599 Okay. 00:01:51.019 --> 00:01:54.319 So, we know what it's like to sing when we're winning. 00:01:54.319 --> 00:02:00.759 We get that it's easy to sing when things are going really well in life. 00:02:01.279 --> 00:02:11.639 When your job is secure, when your health is steady, when the grades are good, when the kids are behaving, when your marriage is in a good place. 00:02:11.659 --> 00:02:13.319 It's really, really easy to sing. 00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:17.079 But here's a question I want to ask you today. 00:02:17.159 --> 00:02:19.900 We're going to think about this morning for the next half an hour or so. 00:02:19.900 --> 00:02:26.939 And it comes to all of us, but maybe particularly if you're here and you wouldn't say that you follow this Jesus that we've been singing about. 00:02:27.099 --> 00:02:27.939 Love that you're here. 00:02:28.280 --> 00:02:29.560 Want you to think about this today. 00:02:30.080 --> 00:02:33.659 What framework do you fall back on when your world falls apart? 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:41.900 As you stare down the barrel of the darkest of times, what is the grid through which you process things? 00:02:43.960 --> 00:02:45.740 How do you sing when you're not winning? 00:02:45.740 --> 00:02:56.420 You see, before I became a Christian, the people that utterly baffled me were the people that I looked at in my church. 00:02:56.680 --> 00:03:05.740 And I could see by the way that they lived their lives, I could see that they had embraced the paradox that was right at the heart of the Christian faith. 00:03:05.980 --> 00:03:06.160 Okay. 00:03:06.480 --> 00:03:07.520 And it's this. 00:03:08.180 --> 00:03:14.420 It's that Jesus is the place where deep and satisfying joy is to be found in life. 00:03:14.419 --> 00:03:21.759 There is no greater thing to live for and know as we spend our lives in this world than him. 00:03:22.759 --> 00:03:24.239 That's what the gospel does. 00:03:24.359 --> 00:03:26.079 It transforms a people. 00:03:27.060 --> 00:03:33.779 And it puts a new song in our hearts, one that doesn't fluctuate with the changing circumstances of our lives. 00:03:33.780 --> 00:03:37.460 So I could see that they were embracing the joy of knowing Jesus. 00:03:38.080 --> 00:03:46.539 And yet at the same time, I could see that they were embracing the fact that to follow him puts you on a direct collision course with the world. 00:03:46.879 --> 00:03:53.259 And you read Jesus say in John chapter 15 that the world will hate you. 00:03:53.259 --> 00:03:59.939 And I saw them embrace this paradox of the Christian life. 00:04:00.019 --> 00:04:02.199 And boy, was it wildly attractive. 00:04:02.399 --> 00:04:07.599 And I thought to myself, whatever fuel that they are putting in the tank of their lives, 00:04:07.979 --> 00:04:13.120 someone point me in the direction of that petrol station because that's what I want for my life. 00:04:13.979 --> 00:04:17.860 So how do you keep on singing when you're not winning? 00:04:17.860 --> 00:04:21.280 That's the sharp end of this passage today. 00:04:22.139 --> 00:04:24.780 And I know it reads a bit like Godzilla meets King Kong. 00:04:25.220 --> 00:04:27.439 But hang with me and we'll see that that's the point. 00:04:27.560 --> 00:04:29.699 How do you keep on singing when you're not winning? 00:04:29.699 --> 00:04:36.240 Because this centers on God centuries before it even happens, 00:04:36.780 --> 00:04:40.900 telling his people about one of the darkest days that's coming up in their history. 00:04:40.899 --> 00:04:50.259 And he's given them both a framework for understanding it and he's giving them a way to keep singing through it. 00:04:51.459 --> 00:04:55.679 Now we thought about last week how we were in a new section of this book of Daniel. 00:04:56.259 --> 00:04:56.439 Okay. 00:04:58.199 --> 00:05:03.239 Because previously Daniel up until this point has been interpreting other people's dreams. 00:05:03.359 --> 00:05:04.259 That's what we thought about. 00:05:04.819 --> 00:05:10.339 But now as we step into chapter 7, Daniel himself is having these dreams. 00:05:10.339 --> 00:05:15.379 And we thought about the fact that that is telling us that God has got something to say to the souls of his people. 00:05:16.939 --> 00:05:24.419 But now add to that in chapter 8 that the language changes that this is originally written in. 00:05:24.560 --> 00:05:26.659 You wouldn't get that from the plain reading of it, but it does. 00:05:26.759 --> 00:05:32.299 It changes from Aramaic, which is the language of the everyday person in the world at this day. 00:05:33.120 --> 00:05:34.659 It changes to Hebrew. 00:05:35.279 --> 00:05:39.359 So it changes from the language of the world to the mother tongue of God's people. 00:05:39.360 --> 00:05:43.400 So that tells you that this is doubly for the souls of God's people. 00:05:44.259 --> 00:05:49.600 And it flags to us that whatever's going on in our lives today, we need this. 00:05:49.740 --> 00:05:53.300 This is the proverbial cod liver oil tablet view. 00:05:53.379 --> 00:05:54.900 That was my childhood growing up. 00:05:55.819 --> 00:05:55.980 Okay. 00:05:56.020 --> 00:05:58.720 These things taste terrible. 00:05:58.720 --> 00:06:02.440 But they're really good for our souls in the long term. 00:06:03.480 --> 00:06:04.760 So this passage is. 00:06:06.280 --> 00:06:08.760 What's God doing here in this passage? 00:06:08.960 --> 00:06:13.220 As he tells his people about one of the darkest days that's going to come up in their history. 00:06:13.540 --> 00:06:15.420 I take it it's something like this. 00:06:15.420 --> 00:06:18.840 I remember when our little girl Grace was young. 00:06:20.100 --> 00:06:22.720 What started out as a routine GP appointment. 00:06:23.420 --> 00:06:25.480 They flagged a murmur in her heart. 00:06:26.379 --> 00:06:29.180 And all of a sudden we get taken to the sick kids hospital. 00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:31.920 And they tell us that she's got a tiny little hole in her heart. 00:06:33.060 --> 00:06:36.840 And what they did is they took us into one of these calming rooms. 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:41.620 Now you don't need to be a genius to work out that that's a place where they take you to tell you bad news. 00:06:41.620 --> 00:06:43.600 And they take us there. 00:06:44.180 --> 00:06:48.120 And the doctor comes in and he speaks to Alex on medical terms. 00:06:49.040 --> 00:06:50.759 Ways that she can understand things. 00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:52.620 I don't have a scooby what's going on. 00:06:53.399 --> 00:06:57.800 But then he turns to me and he speaks to me in a way that I can understand in layman's terms. 00:06:59.040 --> 00:07:00.019 And he said this. 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:03.579 He said I know that the next couple of weeks months are going to be bumpy. 00:07:04.420 --> 00:07:07.800 But what we're going to do is we're going to book her into the sick kids in Glasgow. 00:07:08.079 --> 00:07:08.819 And look at me. 00:07:09.840 --> 00:07:10.699 Everything's going to be okay. 00:07:12.060 --> 00:07:13.060 Everything's going to be okay. 00:07:14.120 --> 00:07:18.899 And I could tell from the tone of his voice and I could look into the whites of his eyes. 00:07:19.699 --> 00:07:22.280 And in that moment, because he wasn't panicking. 00:07:23.480 --> 00:07:27.139 Do you know his stuff played out over the next weeks and months just as he said. 00:07:28.040 --> 00:07:29.480 I wasn't panicking either. 00:07:30.220 --> 00:07:33.780 As scary as it was because I knew somebody was holding it. 00:07:34.780 --> 00:07:35.620 It was okay. 00:07:35.620 --> 00:07:41.819 And I think that's exactly what God is doing in this chapter with his people. 00:07:41.959 --> 00:07:48.120 As he tells them about the darkest hour for them as a nation that's going to happen just around the corner. 00:07:48.120 --> 00:07:53.079 So what I want us to do is we want us to take in some of the details of this vision. 00:07:54.340 --> 00:07:55.660 And there's three pit stops. 00:07:55.899 --> 00:07:57.819 Particularly as it maps onto history. 00:07:57.920 --> 00:08:01.579 What we're going to say is this is incredibly historically accurate. 00:08:01.579 --> 00:08:09.240 And then I've got two lessons that we can take as we seek to be disciples who are embracing those twin tracks of the Christian life. 00:08:09.339 --> 00:08:11.479 Joy and persecution. 00:08:11.480 --> 00:08:11.600 Joy and persecution. 00:08:12.800 --> 00:08:15.460 So three pit stops in Daniel's dream. 00:08:15.720 --> 00:08:17.939 That happens interestingly verse 2. 00:08:19.040 --> 00:08:19.900 If you look at it there. 00:08:20.060 --> 00:08:22.140 At this city called Susa. 00:08:22.300 --> 00:08:27.100 Now Susa is 220 miles east of Babylon. 00:08:27.420 --> 00:08:29.780 Susa is in modern day Iran. 00:08:30.819 --> 00:08:33.980 And Susa in Daniel's day is small fry. 00:08:34.740 --> 00:08:36.340 Nothing happens in Susa. 00:08:36.340 --> 00:08:43.420 But if you fast forward time in history you will soon find that Susa becomes a big deal. 00:08:43.540 --> 00:08:46.639 In fact the book of Esther it happens in Susa. 00:08:47.440 --> 00:08:50.360 So Daniel's vision takes in three things. 00:08:50.480 --> 00:08:52.460 Now here's the first one of these at verse 3. 00:08:52.600 --> 00:08:53.399 It's this ram. 00:08:53.980 --> 00:08:54.620 Do you see it? 00:08:55.840 --> 00:08:59.160 This two horned beast that charges in all directions. 00:08:59.160 --> 00:09:02.620 That did what it pleased and became great. 00:09:02.620 --> 00:09:06.899 So the picture we're meant to have is that this ram rules the roost. 00:09:08.580 --> 00:09:10.879 It's the top dog if I can change the metaphor. 00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:14.120 At this point in time. 00:09:15.100 --> 00:09:16.000 Verse 20. 00:09:16.100 --> 00:09:17.480 And this is the great thing about this chapter. 00:09:17.639 --> 00:09:19.399 It gives us the dream and the interpretation. 00:09:20.779 --> 00:09:24.600 Verse 20 tells us that the ram represents Media Persia. 00:09:25.000 --> 00:09:28.360 So this is Darius who we met back at chapter 5. 00:09:28.940 --> 00:09:32.440 Who himself received power from Belshazzar of Babylon. 00:09:33.620 --> 00:09:37.279 So the ram at this point in time is ruling the world. 00:09:39.139 --> 00:09:41.899 That is until we get the second figure on the horizon. 00:09:42.060 --> 00:09:43.440 This is pit stop number 2. 00:09:43.539 --> 00:09:45.100 It's this goat at verse 5. 00:09:45.159 --> 00:09:45.659 Do you see? 00:09:47.519 --> 00:09:48.279 And what happens? 00:09:48.379 --> 00:09:50.899 I mean this really is Godzilla and King Kong isn't it? 00:09:50.899 --> 00:09:56.480 This goat charges at the ram and it obliterates the ram. 00:09:56.480 --> 00:09:59.159 And this goat verse 8. 00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:00.920 It becomes great. 00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:06.300 Again verse 21 tells us that this goat is the king of Greece. 00:10:06.420 --> 00:10:08.860 So this is Alexander the Great. 00:10:08.860 --> 00:10:13.060 He defeats the Medes and Persians. 00:10:13.340 --> 00:10:17.919 And he establishes himself as the world power on the world stage. 00:10:19.480 --> 00:10:21.700 And what's interesting about the goat verse 8. 00:10:21.700 --> 00:10:24.220 How many horns emerge? 00:10:24.280 --> 00:10:24.780 Do you see it? 00:10:26.020 --> 00:10:27.180 Four of them emerge. 00:10:28.780 --> 00:10:31.820 And in history we know that that's what happened to the Greek kingdom. 00:10:32.040 --> 00:10:34.000 Once Alexander the Great dies. 00:10:34.259 --> 00:10:36.060 His kingdom splits into four. 00:10:36.460 --> 00:10:37.860 Four of his leading generals. 00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:40.000 They take a bit of the kingdom each. 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:42.940 And they come to dominate a different part of the world. 00:10:44.500 --> 00:10:48.360 Do you see how Daniel's dream focuses verse 9 on one of those horns. 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:49.700 On this little horn. 00:10:51.059 --> 00:10:52.279 And track with this in the text. 00:10:52.379 --> 00:10:55.259 This is us moving towards the center of this dream. 00:10:56.259 --> 00:11:01.299 This little horn causes utter courage to God's people. 00:11:01.299 --> 00:11:04.359 And so that is what the language of verse 9. 00:11:05.120 --> 00:11:06.620 Of the glorious land. 00:11:07.699 --> 00:11:09.319 Of the sanctuary. 00:11:09.699 --> 00:11:11.120 Of the burnt offering. 00:11:11.859 --> 00:11:13.779 Of the desolation. 00:11:14.159 --> 00:11:15.719 Is meant to convey to Daniel. 00:11:16.559 --> 00:11:18.979 He would have understood the glorious land as where? 00:11:20.439 --> 00:11:21.199 It's Jerusalem. 00:11:23.559 --> 00:11:25.059 This is God's people. 00:11:25.240 --> 00:11:26.639 This is God's place. 00:11:26.779 --> 00:11:29.039 That's in the firing line for this. 00:11:29.039 --> 00:11:31.480 The rage of this little horn. 00:11:32.539 --> 00:11:34.039 And what history tells us. 00:11:34.219 --> 00:11:38.919 Is that what happens at the hands of this man called Antiochus. 00:11:39.159 --> 00:11:41.099 In 167 BC. 00:11:41.939 --> 00:11:44.360 Is that he ransacks the temple. 00:11:45.639 --> 00:11:48.379 He massacres thousands of Jews. 00:11:49.079 --> 00:11:51.860 And in the place where the Lord was worshipped. 00:11:51.959 --> 00:11:54.139 He puts up an idol of Zeus. 00:11:54.879 --> 00:11:58.439 And he worships and he sacrifices to him. 00:11:59.039 --> 00:12:00.559 So in 167. 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:01.980 When it all kicks off. 00:12:01.980 --> 00:12:03.339 What is happening. 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:05.360 Is a systematic program. 00:12:05.500 --> 00:12:06.799 Designed to eradicate. 00:12:06.980 --> 00:12:09.559 Every trace of Israel's faith. 00:12:10.099 --> 00:12:11.199 Worship and life. 00:12:11.480 --> 00:12:12.699 What we need to understand. 00:12:13.039 --> 00:12:14.139 Is that God's people. 00:12:14.339 --> 00:12:15.240 Have never before. 00:12:15.419 --> 00:12:17.480 Faced something as brutal as this. 00:12:19.099 --> 00:12:20.059 And what happens. 00:12:20.159 --> 00:12:21.319 Is that Antiochus. 00:12:21.319 --> 00:12:22.519 Becomes a type. 00:12:24.219 --> 00:12:25.679 He becomes a prototype. 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:26.759 If you like. 00:12:27.159 --> 00:12:29.359 Of the anti-God sentiment. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:32.359 That's going to keep on surfacing. 00:12:32.539 --> 00:12:33.439 In history. 00:12:34.039 --> 00:12:35.159 Right the way. 00:12:35.399 --> 00:12:36.219 To the end. 00:12:38.279 --> 00:12:39.579 And God tells his people. 00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:40.219 That it's coming. 00:12:41.979 --> 00:12:42.939 But he's got it. 00:12:45.000 --> 00:12:46.000 And so God's people. 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:46.799 Aren't meant to use this. 00:12:46.919 --> 00:12:47.719 Like a kind of Mecca. 00:12:48.139 --> 00:12:48.899 Bingo card. 00:12:50.839 --> 00:12:51.639 Throughout history. 00:12:51.740 --> 00:12:52.659 That they can look at history. 00:12:52.659 --> 00:12:53.279 As it unfolds. 00:12:53.279 --> 00:12:53.459 And go. 00:12:53.539 --> 00:12:54.199 Media Persia. 00:12:54.299 --> 00:12:54.600 Tick. 00:12:55.620 --> 00:12:56.059 Greece. 00:12:56.339 --> 00:12:56.679 Tick. 00:12:57.360 --> 00:12:58.819 They're actually meant to use this. 00:12:58.879 --> 00:12:59.699 As a road map. 00:13:02.459 --> 00:13:03.279 Because this. 00:13:03.819 --> 00:13:04.620 Antiochus spirit. 00:13:04.779 --> 00:13:05.879 Is going to keep on coming. 00:13:05.939 --> 00:13:06.659 At God's people. 00:13:07.259 --> 00:13:08.279 In different shapes. 00:13:08.339 --> 00:13:08.980 And sizes. 00:13:09.579 --> 00:13:10.679 Through different people. 00:13:10.819 --> 00:13:11.399 And guises. 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:13.339 Right up until the point. 00:13:13.419 --> 00:13:14.399 When Jesus returns. 00:13:16.120 --> 00:13:17.240 And just in case. 00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:18.759 This feels distant to us. 00:13:18.939 --> 00:13:20.120 We do so well. 00:13:20.120 --> 00:13:20.860 To recall. 00:13:20.860 --> 00:13:22.759 That for a good proportion. 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:23.779 Of Christian believers. 00:13:23.779 --> 00:13:24.500 Around the world. 00:13:24.600 --> 00:13:25.600 This is normal life. 00:13:27.519 --> 00:13:28.759 What we need to do. 00:13:29.720 --> 00:13:30.720 Is go on the. 00:13:30.960 --> 00:13:32.159 Open Doors website. 00:13:33.419 --> 00:13:34.440 And read reports. 00:13:34.500 --> 00:13:35.240 Of brothers and sisters. 00:13:35.240 --> 00:13:36.220 All around the world. 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:38.060 Who face the daily reality. 00:13:38.060 --> 00:13:38.639 Of death. 00:13:38.740 --> 00:13:39.340 For their faith. 00:13:39.379 --> 00:13:40.139 And all of a sudden. 00:13:40.259 --> 00:13:41.259 This becomes really. 00:13:41.460 --> 00:13:42.200 Really real. 00:13:42.919 --> 00:13:43.120 You know. 00:13:43.139 --> 00:13:43.840 We're going to hear from. 00:13:44.039 --> 00:13:45.080 Danny later on. 00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:46.620 At the end of our service. 00:13:47.180 --> 00:13:48.300 And the very fact. 00:13:48.300 --> 00:13:49.360 That we have to do that. 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:50.539 After the live stream. 00:13:50.940 --> 00:13:51.379 Ends. 00:13:51.379 --> 00:13:52.600 Should alert us. 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:53.139 As a church. 00:13:53.139 --> 00:13:53.800 To the fact. 00:13:53.800 --> 00:13:55.659 That what she is doing. 00:13:55.659 --> 00:13:56.580 And the organization. 00:13:56.580 --> 00:13:57.820 That she's part of. 00:13:57.820 --> 00:13:59.180 Really are on the front line. 00:13:59.180 --> 00:13:59.919 With this stuff. 00:14:02.500 --> 00:14:03.700 But closer to home. 00:14:03.800 --> 00:14:04.860 I think the greatest challenge. 00:14:04.860 --> 00:14:05.680 That the book of Daniel. 00:14:05.680 --> 00:14:06.740 Has brought to my heart. 00:14:07.080 --> 00:14:07.779 And I wonder if. 00:14:08.259 --> 00:14:09.399 This clicks with you as well. 00:14:10.519 --> 00:14:11.820 Is it's just revealed. 00:14:11.820 --> 00:14:13.060 The idol of comfort. 00:14:13.060 --> 00:14:14.139 That exists there. 00:14:14.139 --> 00:14:16.580 Because. 00:14:17.240 --> 00:14:18.819 I love the smooth ocean. 00:14:18.819 --> 00:14:19.500 Of my life. 00:14:21.319 --> 00:14:23.179 And I love my hazelnut lattes. 00:14:23.240 --> 00:14:23.679 And Starbucks. 00:14:26.019 --> 00:14:26.419 Yeah. 00:14:26.519 --> 00:14:28.279 I love putting my feet up. 00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:29.000 With a good book. 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:30.679 I love being on nice terms. 00:14:30.679 --> 00:14:31.419 With my neighbors. 00:14:31.419 --> 00:14:32.059 And friends. 00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:33.019 I like to be the guy. 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:33.799 In the schoolyard. 00:14:33.879 --> 00:14:34.659 Who people like. 00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:37.120 And yet. 00:14:37.220 --> 00:14:38.059 This has challenged me. 00:14:38.100 --> 00:14:38.779 All the way through. 00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:40.039 Am I ready to stand. 00:14:40.259 --> 00:14:40.819 For Jesus. 00:14:40.819 --> 00:14:42.039 When it's going to cost me. 00:14:42.039 --> 00:14:44.179 And it might even be. 00:14:44.319 --> 00:14:45.259 Just on a little scale. 00:14:45.539 --> 00:14:45.779 Nothing. 00:14:45.899 --> 00:14:46.779 Nothing really compared. 00:14:46.919 --> 00:14:47.959 To what brothers and sisters. 00:14:47.959 --> 00:14:48.620 All around the world. 00:14:48.679 --> 00:14:49.019 Are facing. 00:14:49.139 --> 00:14:49.259 But. 00:14:49.699 --> 00:14:50.480 Am I ready. 00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:51.639 When the going gets tough. 00:14:51.659 --> 00:14:52.539 To stand for Jesus. 00:14:53.860 --> 00:14:55.199 Even if it's just a conversation. 00:14:55.199 --> 00:14:56.279 With a football dad. 00:14:57.000 --> 00:14:58.299 Am I ready to tell him. 00:14:58.419 --> 00:14:58.579 About. 00:14:59.419 --> 00:15:00.179 The future. 00:15:00.439 --> 00:15:01.360 About who Jesus is. 00:15:01.419 --> 00:15:02.259 Come and meet the Lord. 00:15:04.659 --> 00:15:05.919 Am I ready to stand. 00:15:06.360 --> 00:15:07.480 When it's going to cost me. 00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:08.579 How are we going to do that. 00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:11.639 Well in this passage. 00:15:11.639 --> 00:15:13.100 God equips his people. 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:14.059 With two things. 00:15:15.860 --> 00:15:17.199 To equip them to do it. 00:15:18.939 --> 00:15:20.139 And the first one. 00:15:22.019 --> 00:15:22.419 Is. 00:15:23.019 --> 00:15:23.960 Is a rule book. 00:15:24.059 --> 00:15:25.319 For processing persecution. 00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:28.419 And the rule is. 00:15:28.480 --> 00:15:29.080 Here's the rule. 00:15:30.379 --> 00:15:31.199 That God is the one. 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:32.419 Pulling the strings of history. 00:15:33.259 --> 00:15:34.019 That's the rule. 00:15:35.220 --> 00:15:35.879 We've been thinking. 00:15:35.960 --> 00:15:36.620 All the way through this. 00:15:36.679 --> 00:15:37.779 About God's sovereignty. 00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:39.220 Haven't we? 00:15:40.059 --> 00:15:40.419 But this. 00:15:40.419 --> 00:15:40.500 This. 00:15:41.639 --> 00:15:42.699 Wonderful truth. 00:15:42.779 --> 00:15:43.679 That should stabilize. 00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:44.480 The saints. 00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:45.460 That God is sovereign. 00:15:45.460 --> 00:15:46.500 Over all of history. 00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:47.340 That there's nothing. 00:15:47.340 --> 00:15:48.559 That's slipping stealth. 00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:50.259 Into his radar. 00:15:51.199 --> 00:15:52.179 He is the one that. 00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:53.379 That is in control. 00:15:53.379 --> 00:15:54.120 Of all things. 00:15:54.259 --> 00:15:54.939 And that means. 00:15:54.939 --> 00:15:56.220 That this persecution. 00:15:57.600 --> 00:15:59.240 Has not escaped his eye. 00:16:00.100 --> 00:16:00.500 Actually. 00:16:00.699 --> 00:16:01.659 It's factoring somehow. 00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:02.279 We'll think about this. 00:16:02.340 --> 00:16:02.620 In a minute. 00:16:02.679 --> 00:16:03.740 Into his grand purposes. 00:16:03.740 --> 00:16:06.480 And in this. 00:16:07.080 --> 00:16:07.480 Vision. 00:16:07.560 --> 00:16:08.000 Do you see. 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:08.840 This persecution. 00:16:08.840 --> 00:16:09.759 Is intense. 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:11.039 But it is limited. 00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:11.720 Come with me. 00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:12.980 To verse 14. 00:16:15.019 --> 00:16:15.820 Because Daniel. 00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:16.320 Do you see. 00:16:16.460 --> 00:16:17.519 Just before verse 13. 00:16:17.620 --> 00:16:18.620 He rightly asks. 00:16:18.779 --> 00:16:18.879 Is he. 00:16:18.980 --> 00:16:20.060 God presents him with this. 00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:20.340 He says. 00:16:20.560 --> 00:16:21.139 How long. 00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:21.700 Oh Lord. 00:16:22.440 --> 00:16:23.360 How long. 00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:23.940 Will this. 00:16:24.440 --> 00:16:24.860 Happen. 00:16:24.919 --> 00:16:25.379 I take it. 00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:26.460 That's verse 14. 00:16:26.460 --> 00:16:27.660 What this whole. 00:16:28.100 --> 00:16:30.420 2,300 morning and evenings. 00:16:31.040 --> 00:16:31.800 Is saying. 00:16:31.879 --> 00:16:32.980 Is meant to indicate. 00:16:34.280 --> 00:16:35.440 Now here's my shot at it. 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:37.600 What's quite cool. 00:16:37.680 --> 00:16:38.980 Is that if you divide that number. 00:16:39.060 --> 00:16:39.519 By two. 00:16:39.660 --> 00:16:40.000 You get. 00:16:40.139 --> 00:16:41.200 And if your math isn't strong. 00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:42.600 1,150. 00:16:43.280 --> 00:16:44.259 Which is roughly. 00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:45.720 The three year period. 00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:46.780 That this persecution. 00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:48.100 Under Antiochus. 00:16:48.400 --> 00:16:49.000 Lasts. 00:16:50.440 --> 00:16:52.300 Until a disease. 00:16:52.920 --> 00:16:53.660 Kills him. 00:16:53.800 --> 00:16:55.280 And that might well explain. 00:16:55.440 --> 00:16:56.360 The not by. 00:16:56.360 --> 00:16:57.039 Human hands. 00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:57.460 Language. 00:16:57.639 --> 00:16:58.019 That you get. 00:16:58.120 --> 00:16:59.100 At verse 25. 00:16:59.899 --> 00:17:00.620 But regardless. 00:17:02.220 --> 00:17:03.600 As hard as it gets. 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:04.620 God is saying. 00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:05.539 That I am the one. 00:17:05.620 --> 00:17:06.140 Who will bring this. 00:17:06.220 --> 00:17:06.839 To an end. 00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:08.880 And we've got to know. 00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:09.200 That. 00:17:09.339 --> 00:17:10.500 That nothing happens. 00:17:10.500 --> 00:17:11.180 In this world. 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:11.900 According to. 00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:13.559 Out with his sovereign. 00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:14.539 Plans and purposes. 00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:17.860 Nothing's going to topple him. 00:17:19.140 --> 00:17:19.420 You know. 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:20.079 I love just to give you. 00:17:20.140 --> 00:17:20.740 A little illustration. 00:17:20.880 --> 00:17:21.120 Is this. 00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:21.900 We were in the states. 00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:22.680 A few years ago. 00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:23.240 We got to know. 00:17:23.339 --> 00:17:24.039 This older couple. 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:25.160 Called Jeff and Julie. 00:17:25.160 --> 00:17:27.540 And over dinner. 00:17:27.700 --> 00:17:29.320 Julie starts telling Alex and I. 00:17:29.380 --> 00:17:30.519 About how when she was a student. 00:17:30.620 --> 00:17:32.200 She was part of this mission team. 00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:33.340 That travelled all the way. 00:17:33.440 --> 00:17:35.000 To the country of Albania. 00:17:35.860 --> 00:17:36.100 Right. 00:17:36.140 --> 00:17:37.380 And if you were watching the football last night. 00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:38.540 You might have got a little bit of this. 00:17:39.840 --> 00:17:40.240 Albania. 00:17:40.340 --> 00:17:40.779 And she. 00:17:41.040 --> 00:17:41.940 Gets to the border. 00:17:42.140 --> 00:17:42.720 With her team. 00:17:42.840 --> 00:17:44.100 And only to be told. 00:17:44.200 --> 00:17:45.120 That you're not getting in. 00:17:46.580 --> 00:17:47.519 You're not getting in. 00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:50.059 Because we know what you're here to do. 00:17:50.160 --> 00:17:50.900 And if you know the. 00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:53.279 Communist history of that country. 00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:54.740 You'll know that a point in time. 00:17:54.900 --> 00:17:56.480 And it really wasn't that long ago. 00:17:57.500 --> 00:17:59.279 They tried to just eradicate religion. 00:18:01.379 --> 00:18:01.819 Yeah. 00:18:02.059 --> 00:18:03.980 And thousands of priests and imams. 00:18:03.980 --> 00:18:04.740 Were imprisoned. 00:18:05.099 --> 00:18:05.799 And executed. 00:18:06.059 --> 00:18:07.139 Churches and mosques. 00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:08.559 Either demolished. 00:18:08.660 --> 00:18:10.839 Or turned into state run institutions. 00:18:11.460 --> 00:18:13.180 Can you imagine being a Christian believer. 00:18:13.180 --> 00:18:14.879 Living in that country at that time. 00:18:15.800 --> 00:18:17.740 One of the darkest hours that you are facing. 00:18:18.700 --> 00:18:20.180 As people high up. 00:18:20.300 --> 00:18:22.100 Their plan is just to take you out. 00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:26.740 But the one thing that Julie and her friends could do. 00:18:26.820 --> 00:18:27.860 They couldn't get in the country. 00:18:27.980 --> 00:18:28.680 But what they could do. 00:18:28.760 --> 00:18:30.560 Is they just prayer walked around the country. 00:18:31.380 --> 00:18:32.200 Maybe not the whole thing. 00:18:32.260 --> 00:18:32.560 But you know. 00:18:32.600 --> 00:18:33.180 Just the border. 00:18:33.560 --> 00:18:34.260 That they were at. 00:18:34.380 --> 00:18:35.300 They just prayed. 00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:36.520 And prayed and prayed. 00:18:36.660 --> 00:18:37.680 God we can't get in. 00:18:37.760 --> 00:18:38.800 But we know that you can. 00:18:40.340 --> 00:18:42.100 Would you do your work in this place? 00:18:43.580 --> 00:18:44.620 And at dinner she says. 00:18:44.619 --> 00:18:45.719 I always wondered what happened. 00:18:45.719 --> 00:18:46.939 In that country of Albania. 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:49.559 And it was my absolute joy. 00:18:49.639 --> 00:18:50.319 To be able to tell her. 00:18:50.399 --> 00:18:52.079 About the many family. 00:18:52.979 --> 00:18:53.839 They used to come here. 00:18:53.919 --> 00:18:55.079 They now worship at Bellevue. 00:18:56.459 --> 00:18:57.699 Themselves from Albania. 00:18:59.679 --> 00:19:00.500 And I love it. 00:19:00.539 --> 00:19:01.899 Speaking to Florence really recently. 00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:04.299 They would call their parents. 00:19:04.399 --> 00:19:05.559 First generation Christians. 00:19:06.879 --> 00:19:07.679 What's really cool. 00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:08.799 Was that when Julie and her friends. 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:09.939 Were praying roughly. 00:19:11.199 --> 00:19:12.699 Their parents were becoming believers. 00:19:12.700 --> 00:19:15.960 This is telling us. 00:19:16.039 --> 00:19:17.140 That as hard as it gets. 00:19:18.080 --> 00:19:18.980 God is bigger. 00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:21.660 We've got to fight by faith. 00:19:21.740 --> 00:19:23.019 To believe that that's true. 00:19:23.140 --> 00:19:24.480 God gives us every reason. 00:19:24.580 --> 00:19:25.000 In scripture. 00:19:25.160 --> 00:19:26.160 To trust his promises. 00:19:26.360 --> 00:19:27.160 And know that it's true. 00:19:27.580 --> 00:19:29.059 And not just that he is bigger. 00:19:29.500 --> 00:19:30.960 But that he is in control. 00:19:32.380 --> 00:19:33.960 And as hard as it gets. 00:19:34.420 --> 00:19:36.299 Ephesians 1 chapter 10. 00:19:36.380 --> 00:19:37.019 Is true. 00:19:37.360 --> 00:19:38.400 That God's plan. 00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:39.299 To unite all things. 00:19:39.360 --> 00:19:40.039 In heaven and earth. 00:19:40.039 --> 00:19:40.720 In Christ. 00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:42.180 Is bang on track. 00:19:44.279 --> 00:19:46.180 God is bigger. 00:19:46.379 --> 00:19:48.019 His plans are mysterious. 00:19:48.659 --> 00:19:51.460 And yet they are purposeful. 00:19:51.539 --> 00:19:52.059 And yet. 00:19:53.079 --> 00:19:53.899 This does. 00:19:55.099 --> 00:19:56.019 Raise the question. 00:19:56.099 --> 00:19:56.460 Doesn't it? 00:19:56.460 --> 00:19:57.299 I think we'd be foolish. 00:19:57.420 --> 00:19:58.159 Just to skip on. 00:19:58.220 --> 00:19:59.019 Without addressing it. 00:20:00.299 --> 00:20:01.119 Why does God. 00:20:01.399 --> 00:20:02.000 Take his people. 00:20:02.159 --> 00:20:02.899 Through these times. 00:20:04.899 --> 00:20:05.899 You haven't wrestled. 00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:06.440 With that one. 00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:07.399 That is a great one. 00:20:07.400 --> 00:20:08.640 To get your teeth into. 00:20:09.140 --> 00:20:09.540 Honestly. 00:20:09.960 --> 00:20:10.320 Rawly. 00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:11.640 Why? 00:20:12.620 --> 00:20:13.600 Because that's what Daniel asks. 00:20:13.640 --> 00:20:14.240 In this passage. 00:20:14.380 --> 00:20:14.740 Why? 00:20:16.680 --> 00:20:17.720 Here's my best shot. 00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:21.420 Perhaps friends. 00:20:21.480 --> 00:20:22.480 It's to refine us. 00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:26.420 To wean us off of ourselves. 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:28.200 The idols that we cling to. 00:20:28.300 --> 00:20:28.800 For life. 00:20:28.920 --> 00:20:29.900 So dearly. 00:20:30.900 --> 00:20:32.320 And realize that God. 00:20:32.400 --> 00:20:33.160 Is all we have. 00:20:33.320 --> 00:20:34.220 Jesus is glorious. 00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:34.940 And all we need. 00:20:34.940 --> 00:20:38.200 Perhaps though. 00:20:38.320 --> 00:20:39.820 It's to increase our yearning. 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:41.400 For the return of King Jesus. 00:20:41.640 --> 00:20:41.799 I mean. 00:20:41.820 --> 00:20:42.740 Is that not how you've been. 00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:43.920 Responding to all the. 00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:45.759 The stuff in the Middle East. 00:20:45.860 --> 00:20:46.080 Lord. 00:20:46.140 --> 00:20:46.740 Would you come. 00:20:47.539 --> 00:20:48.420 Put it to an end. 00:20:48.860 --> 00:20:49.820 As you see the evil. 00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:50.519 In this world. 00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:51.480 Put it to an end. 00:20:52.259 --> 00:20:53.100 How long. 00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:53.820 Oh Lord. 00:20:53.880 --> 00:20:54.279 I take it. 00:20:54.320 --> 00:20:55.700 Is the cry of the saints. 00:20:56.360 --> 00:20:57.440 It is a faith. 00:20:57.980 --> 00:20:58.420 Filled. 00:20:59.059 --> 00:20:59.380 Cry. 00:21:00.380 --> 00:21:01.400 That we should never. 00:21:01.759 --> 00:21:02.080 Stop. 00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:02.680 Making. 00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:05.140 And with that. 00:21:05.220 --> 00:21:06.080 We need to understand. 00:21:06.080 --> 00:21:06.840 The difference. 00:21:06.840 --> 00:21:07.860 Between grumbling. 00:21:08.860 --> 00:21:10.440 Which is moaning at. 00:21:10.620 --> 00:21:12.100 And turning away from God. 00:21:12.779 --> 00:21:14.080 And lamenting. 00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:16.860 Which is taking. 00:21:16.860 --> 00:21:17.700 Our tear. 00:21:18.080 --> 00:21:18.620 Soaked. 00:21:18.940 --> 00:21:19.340 Pain. 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:20.000 Filled. 00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:20.799 Questions. 00:21:20.920 --> 00:21:22.100 Not away from God. 00:21:22.740 --> 00:21:23.960 It's taking them. 00:21:24.600 --> 00:21:25.220 To God. 00:21:25.660 --> 00:21:26.240 And God. 00:21:26.320 --> 00:21:26.840 As you read it. 00:21:26.920 --> 00:21:27.860 All the way through. 00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:28.799 Scripture says. 00:21:29.299 --> 00:21:29.920 Come to me. 00:21:29.960 --> 00:21:30.660 With your tears. 00:21:30.660 --> 00:21:34.180 Let me recommend to you. 00:21:34.220 --> 00:21:35.019 If you want to think about this. 00:21:35.060 --> 00:21:35.440 A bit more. 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:35.880 This book. 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:37.259 By a man called. 00:21:37.360 --> 00:21:38.400 Paul Mallard. 00:21:39.340 --> 00:21:41.000 Who works for the FIEC. 00:21:41.120 --> 00:21:41.860 And he's written this book. 00:21:41.940 --> 00:21:42.960 Called Learning to Lament. 00:21:43.040 --> 00:21:43.940 And I read it recently. 00:21:44.080 --> 00:21:45.600 And it was absolutely fantastic. 00:21:46.100 --> 00:21:47.240 And if you click the QR code. 00:21:47.300 --> 00:21:48.040 You'll get to it. 00:21:48.279 --> 00:21:49.040 Or you can just come and. 00:21:49.160 --> 00:21:49.920 I'll give it to you. 00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:50.920 Later on. 00:21:50.940 --> 00:21:51.540 But he says this. 00:21:51.600 --> 00:21:51.900 Get this. 00:21:52.360 --> 00:21:52.720 Lamentation. 00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:53.960 Is the prayer language. 00:21:54.080 --> 00:21:55.440 God has given to us. 00:21:55.800 --> 00:21:57.180 So that we can tell him. 00:21:57.259 --> 00:21:58.300 About the sorrows. 00:21:58.299 --> 00:22:00.419 And rekindle our trust. 00:22:00.500 --> 00:22:01.519 In his fatherly care. 00:22:02.419 --> 00:22:03.759 All humans cry. 00:22:03.879 --> 00:22:04.359 Get this. 00:22:04.579 --> 00:22:06.139 Only Christians lament. 00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:09.740 Lament stands in the gap. 00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:11.399 Between pain. 00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:13.240 And promises. 00:22:15.779 --> 00:22:18.579 But that still really doesn't answer the why. 00:22:20.019 --> 00:22:22.299 And I take it ultimately friends. 00:22:22.379 --> 00:22:24.740 That we can know who this God is. 00:22:24.899 --> 00:22:26.000 We can trust him. 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:28.220 And what he does in scripture. 00:22:28.359 --> 00:22:28.680 He says. 00:22:28.859 --> 00:22:29.900 Take your why. 00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:32.259 And let me meet it with my who. 00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:35.960 Because if we know his fatherly heart. 00:22:36.059 --> 00:22:38.359 If we know that this God is for us in Christ. 00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:38.900 If we know. 00:22:38.980 --> 00:22:40.200 As we'll see right at the end. 00:22:40.440 --> 00:22:42.900 That nothing will separate us from his love. 00:22:43.180 --> 00:22:45.039 If we know that he works all things. 00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:46.440 For the good of those who love him. 00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:48.759 Then we can trust his heart in the why. 00:22:51.960 --> 00:22:53.140 God gives his people here. 00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:53.460 Do you see? 00:22:53.460 --> 00:22:54.640 He gives them a rule book. 00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:57.259 For processing persecution. 00:22:59.140 --> 00:23:00.500 And he gives us. 00:23:00.620 --> 00:23:01.259 In here. 00:23:01.640 --> 00:23:02.759 A role model. 00:23:05.220 --> 00:23:06.240 For endurance. 00:23:08.100 --> 00:23:09.120 I just have a look. 00:23:09.259 --> 00:23:10.019 Right at the end. 00:23:10.100 --> 00:23:12.519 You might blink and miss verse 27. 00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:14.200 Have a look at it there. 00:23:14.279 --> 00:23:14.779 If you have it. 00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:16.319 In front of you. 00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:20.359 Daniel is overcome and lies sick. 00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:23.059 But do you see how he rises? 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:26.460 And in response to this. 00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:27.500 Do you see how he just keeps. 00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:32.039 He keeps faithfully obeying God's words. 00:23:32.579 --> 00:23:35.579 He just keeps doing the thing that God has asked him to do. 00:23:35.659 --> 00:23:36.240 And I take it. 00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:38.399 He's just meditating on what God has said. 00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:40.200 We thought about this right at the start. 00:23:40.259 --> 00:23:41.379 Through the prophet Jeremiah. 00:23:41.380 --> 00:23:44.980 About how he said to his people that. 00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:46.680 During the time of exile. 00:23:46.800 --> 00:23:48.140 He wanted them to be a blessing. 00:23:49.520 --> 00:23:52.240 A blessing to the people of Babylon. 00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:55.040 And do you see how Daniel. 00:23:55.120 --> 00:23:55.520 What does he do? 00:23:55.560 --> 00:23:56.060 He rises. 00:23:56.280 --> 00:23:58.040 And he just goes about the king's business. 00:23:58.260 --> 00:23:59.300 And you've got to ask yourself. 00:23:59.380 --> 00:23:59.920 Which king? 00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:04.700 This is King Belshazzar. 00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:07.779 The guy who we met at chapter 5. 00:24:07.980 --> 00:24:10.460 The young guy who thought he owned the joint. 00:24:11.140 --> 00:24:13.180 The king for whom the writing was on the wall. 00:24:13.560 --> 00:24:15.380 It was him that Daniel kept on serving. 00:24:17.320 --> 00:24:18.700 And so when times get really hard. 00:24:18.779 --> 00:24:20.160 What does God say to his people? 00:24:20.820 --> 00:24:21.380 Trust me. 00:24:22.060 --> 00:24:24.100 And just keep on walking by faith. 00:24:25.080 --> 00:24:26.940 Doing the thing that I've called you to do. 00:24:27.120 --> 00:24:28.740 Keep on trusting my promises. 00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:30.900 And be a blessing to the world. 00:24:33.819 --> 00:24:34.680 And just as we close. 00:24:34.779 --> 00:24:35.940 Let me leave you with one image. 00:24:37.079 --> 00:24:39.640 And I've got two real quick points of application. 00:24:39.880 --> 00:24:40.960 For us to make off the back of it. 00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:41.620 You ready for these? 00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:42.400 Here's the image. 00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:44.960 And it's the image that's been all over our news. 00:24:45.059 --> 00:24:45.880 The last few weeks. 00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:48.960 Is this man Rob Burrow. 00:24:49.079 --> 00:24:51.720 Has died of motor neuron disease. 00:24:51.980 --> 00:24:55.380 And I loved watching the image that came out. 00:24:55.400 --> 00:24:57.160 Of his friend Kevin Seinfeld. 00:24:57.160 --> 00:25:00.620 Who carried him across the marathon finishing line. 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:01.940 In Leeds raising money. 00:25:02.320 --> 00:25:03.740 For the charity. 00:25:05.080 --> 00:25:06.519 It's a lovely image isn't it? 00:25:06.900 --> 00:25:09.100 And so here's quick fire point one. 00:25:11.140 --> 00:25:12.580 As we think about this corporately. 00:25:12.660 --> 00:25:13.759 As a church family friends. 00:25:14.180 --> 00:25:15.640 Who is on the deck just now? 00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:20.900 Who needs that comfort right now? 00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:24.020 Who can we get alongside that's really struggling just now? 00:25:24.400 --> 00:25:27.800 Particularly on the firing line for their faith. 00:25:27.800 --> 00:25:31.820 And who can we get alongside and help up to keep on going? 00:25:33.420 --> 00:25:34.280 Keep on going. 00:25:34.279 --> 00:25:36.940 And second thing. 00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:38.160 And this is where we want to end. 00:25:40.940 --> 00:25:43.680 Thinking about a friend who is able to help to the utmost. 00:25:45.379 --> 00:25:48.460 We cannot leave this passage without thinking about Jesus. 00:25:50.220 --> 00:25:52.980 Who in his life would also be on his knees. 00:25:52.980 --> 00:25:56.019 As he faced his darkest hour. 00:25:57.579 --> 00:26:02.980 And yet who would rise and do the thing that God had called him to do. 00:26:03.259 --> 00:26:07.740 The rescue plan to rescue sinners around the globe. 00:26:07.860 --> 00:26:08.759 Down the ages. 00:26:08.759 --> 00:26:10.259 As he goes to the cross. 00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:13.000 And as he sheds not silver and gold. 00:26:13.420 --> 00:26:18.980 But as he sheds his own blood to secure our eternal future. 00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:24.299 And what this means is that because he has done that. 00:26:25.220 --> 00:26:28.180 That we can face our darkest hour. 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:32.500 And I read this this morning right at the end of Romans 8. 00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:34.980 We can face it knowing that nothing. 00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:38.740 Famine, persecution or sword. 00:26:39.259 --> 00:26:42.180 Nothing can separate us from the God who loves us. 00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:47.099 Nothing can separate us from the God who is for us. 00:26:47.659 --> 00:26:50.519 And actually we first point of application. 00:26:50.639 --> 00:26:52.240 We thought about being the friend who carries. 00:26:53.039 --> 00:26:54.740 Actually when you think about the gospel. 00:26:54.980 --> 00:26:57.019 Jesus is the friend who carries us all the way home. 00:26:58.099 --> 00:26:59.659 And this is what it's telling us right. 00:26:59.779 --> 00:27:01.599 As hard as this gets in this life. 00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:06.839 As hard as it gets for standing for Jesus in our world. 00:27:07.399 --> 00:27:11.500 Nothing is going to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. 00:27:13.019 --> 00:27:15.899 So how can we sing even when we're not winning? 00:27:15.900 --> 00:27:22.560 I take it by knowing the beauty and might of our king. 00:27:23.620 --> 00:27:25.560 And knowing that he is our song. 00:27:29.280 --> 00:27:30.140 Okay let's pray. 00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:32.660 And let's close with these words of Romans 8. 00:27:34.580 --> 00:27:35.420 Paul would write this. 00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:38.980 Knowing all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 00:27:39.940 --> 00:27:42.700 For I am sure that neither death nor life. 00:27:43.340 --> 00:27:44.720 Nor angels nor rulers. 00:27:44.860 --> 00:27:45.700 Nor things present. 00:27:45.900 --> 00:27:46.860 Nor things to come. 00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:48.279 Nor powers. 00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:49.480 Nor height nor depth. 00:27:49.600 --> 00:27:51.440 Nor anything else in all creation. 00:27:52.080 --> 00:27:58.000 Will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 00:27:58.000 --> 00:28:09.160 Father we thank you for the wonderful security that we have in the risen, ascended, and one day returning Jesus. 00:28:10.279 --> 00:28:14.980 And it's our prayer Father that as we just spend this time together this morning. 00:28:15.819 --> 00:28:17.460 Lord that you would equip us. 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:19.440 And that you would strengthen us. 00:28:19.579 --> 00:28:21.720 Father that you would challenge us where we need challenge. 00:28:21.839 --> 00:28:23.099 Where there's idols in our hearts. 00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:24.660 Lord that we need to rip out. 00:28:24.660 --> 00:28:31.779 And Father would you fill our hearts with a greater and an ever increasing love for Jesus. 00:28:32.800 --> 00:28:38.360 Lord this is our prayer because we make it in his strong and in his perfect name. 00:28:39.320 --> 00:28:39.720 Amen.