WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.640
 With that, I'm going to invite you to turn with me.

00:00:01.700 --> 00:00:04.320
 You can turn in your worship guide or in your Bible or in your phone.

00:00:04.360 --> 00:00:07.980
 No matter where you turn with me, remember that this is God's word.

00:00:08.099 --> 00:00:12.019
 And God tells us that his word is more precious than gold, even the finest gold.

00:00:12.500 --> 00:00:16.219
 And it's sweeter than honey, even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb.

00:00:16.320 --> 00:00:20.179
 And so that's why we read now Daniel 11, starting at verse 1.

00:00:20.920 --> 00:00:26.219
 And as for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him.

00:00:26.940 --> 00:00:28.500
 And now I will show you the truth.

00:00:28.500 --> 00:00:35.560
 Behold, three more kings shall arise in Persia, and a fourth shall be far richer than all of them.

00:00:36.340 --> 00:00:41.939
 And when he has become strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the kingdom of Greece.

00:00:42.579 --> 00:00:48.000
 Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion and do as he wills.

00:00:48.420 --> 00:00:54.280
 And as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken and divided toward the four winds of heaven,

00:00:54.280 --> 00:00:59.079
 but not to his posterity, nor according to the authority with which he ruled.

00:00:59.500 --> 00:01:03.380
 For his kingdom shall be plucked up and go to others besides these.

00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:04.579
 Verse 5.

00:01:05.060 --> 00:01:09.359
 Then the king of the south shall be strong, but one of his princes shall be stronger than he,

00:01:09.620 --> 00:01:12.960
 and shall rule, and his authority shall be a great authority.

00:01:13.620 --> 00:01:15.540
 After some years they shall make an alliance,

00:01:15.540 --> 00:01:20.020
 and the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement.

00:01:20.920 --> 00:01:24.820
 But she shall not retain the strength of her arm, and he and his arm shall not endure.

00:01:25.340 --> 00:01:31.060
 But she shall be given up in her attendance, he who fathered her, and he who supported her in those times.

00:01:31.780 --> 00:01:32.320
 Verse 7.

00:01:32.319 --> 00:01:59.359
 Verse 10.

00:02:02.319 --> 00:02:32.299
 Something like it.

00:02:32.319 --> 00:02:36.299
 And after some years he shall come on with a great army and abundant supplies.

00:03:02.319 --> 00:03:04.979
 He shall stand in the glorious land with destruction in his hand.

00:03:05.519 --> 00:03:08.439
 He shall set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom,

00:03:08.699 --> 00:03:11.639
 and he shall bring terms of an agreement and perform them.

00:03:12.199 --> 00:03:15.120
 He shall give him the daughter of women to destroy the kingdom,

00:03:15.400 --> 00:03:17.079
 but it shall not be to his advantage.

00:03:17.859 --> 00:03:21.560
 Afterward he shall turn his face to the coastlands and shall capture many of them,

00:03:21.939 --> 00:03:24.539
 but a commander shall put an end to his insolence.

00:03:25.159 --> 00:03:27.620
 Indeed, he shall turn his insolence back upon him.

00:03:28.240 --> 00:03:31.419
 Then he shall turn his face back toward the fortresses of his own land,

00:03:31.419 --> 00:03:34.299
 but he shall stumble and fall and shall not be found.

00:03:34.879 --> 00:03:35.539
 Verse 20.

00:03:36.599 --> 00:03:42.219
 Then shall arise in his place one who shall send an exactor of tribute for the glory of the kingdom.

00:03:42.639 --> 00:03:46.019
 But within a few days he shall be broken neither in anger nor in battle.

00:03:46.599 --> 00:03:47.159
 Verse 21.

00:03:47.439 --> 00:03:52.599
 In his place shall arise a contemptible person to whom royal magistrate has not been given.

00:03:53.179 --> 00:03:56.259
 He shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.

00:03:56.819 --> 00:03:59.219
 Armies shall be utterly swept away before him and broken,

00:03:59.219 --> 00:04:00.959
 even the prince of the covenant.

00:04:01.419 --> 00:04:04.759
 And from that time an alliance is made with him, he shall act deceitfully,

00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:07.179
 and he shall become strong with a small people.

00:04:07.819 --> 00:04:10.699
 Without warning he shall come into the richest parts of the province,

00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:15.000
 and he shall do what neither his fathers nor his father's fathers have done,

00:04:15.500 --> 00:04:18.300
 scattering among them plunder, spoil, and goods.

00:04:18.959 --> 00:04:22.120
 He shall devise plans against strongholds, but only for a time.

00:04:22.539 --> 00:04:27.120
 And he shall stir up his power and his heart against the king of the south with a great army.

00:04:27.120 --> 00:04:31.340
 And the king of the south shall wage war with an exceedingly great and mighty army,

00:04:31.519 --> 00:04:34.519
 but he shall not stand, for plots shall be devised against him.

00:04:35.100 --> 00:04:37.180
 Even those who eat his food shall break him.

00:04:37.780 --> 00:04:40.780
 His army shall be swept away, and many shall fall down slain.

00:04:41.319 --> 00:04:44.579
 And as for the two kings, their hearts shall be bent on doing evil.

00:04:45.300 --> 00:04:48.040
 They shall speak lies at the same table, but to no avail.

00:04:48.459 --> 00:04:50.740
 For the end is yet to be at the time appointed.

00:04:50.740 --> 00:04:53.560
 And he shall return to his land with great wealth,

00:04:53.819 --> 00:04:56.079
 but his heart shall be set against the holy covenant.

00:04:56.980 --> 00:05:00.300
 And he shall work his will and return to his own land.

00:05:01.220 --> 00:05:01.819
 Verse 29.

00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:05.860
 At the time appointed, he shall return and come into the south,

00:05:05.960 --> 00:05:07.980
 but it shall not be this time as it was before.

00:05:08.579 --> 00:05:10.379
 For ships of Kittim shall come against him,

00:05:10.420 --> 00:05:11.860
 and he shall be afraid and withdraw,

00:05:12.079 --> 00:05:13.740
 and shall turn back and be enraged,

00:05:13.960 --> 00:05:15.680
 and take action against the holy covenant.

00:05:16.400 --> 00:05:19.579
 He shall turn back and pay attention to those who forsake the holy covenant.

00:05:19.579 --> 00:05:23.240
 Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress,

00:05:23.500 --> 00:05:25.620
 and shall take away the regular burnt offering.

00:05:26.659 --> 00:05:28.879
 And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate.

00:05:29.479 --> 00:05:32.300
 He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant.

00:05:32.819 --> 00:05:37.399
 But the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.

00:05:38.099 --> 00:05:38.719
 Verse 33.

00:05:39.339 --> 00:05:41.879
 And the wise among the people shall make many understand,

00:05:42.319 --> 00:05:45.039
 though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame,

00:05:45.319 --> 00:05:46.699
 by captivity and plunder.

00:05:46.979 --> 00:05:49.560
 When they stumble, they shall receive a little help,

00:05:49.579 --> 00:05:52.459
 and many shall join themselves to them with flattery.

00:05:52.819 --> 00:05:54.560
 And some of the wise shall stumble,

00:05:54.939 --> 00:05:57.899
 so that they may be refined, purified, and made white,

00:05:58.139 --> 00:06:01.779
 until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time.

00:06:02.300 --> 00:06:03.099
 Verse 36.

00:06:03.419 --> 00:06:05.240
 And the king shall do as he wills.

00:06:05.639 --> 00:06:08.779
 He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god,

00:06:08.860 --> 00:06:11.919
 and shall speak astonishing things against the god of gods.

00:06:12.360 --> 00:06:14.899
 He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished,

00:06:15.180 --> 00:06:16.879
 for what is decreed shall be done.

00:06:16.879 --> 00:06:20.000
 He shall pay no attention to the god of his fathers,

00:06:20.259 --> 00:06:22.060
 or to the one beloved by women.

00:06:22.819 --> 00:06:25.180
 He shall not pay attention to any other god,

00:06:25.240 --> 00:06:27.719
 for he shall magnify himself above all.

00:06:28.399 --> 00:06:31.159
 He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these.

00:06:31.699 --> 00:06:33.439
 A god whom his fathers did not know,

00:06:33.500 --> 00:06:34.839
 he shall honor with gold and silver,

00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:36.680
 with precious stones and costly gifts.

00:06:37.219 --> 00:06:40.680
 He shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god.

00:06:41.300 --> 00:06:43.439
 Those who acknowledge him he shall load with honor.

00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:45.939
 He shall make them rulers over many,

00:06:46.139 --> 00:06:48.259
 and shall divide the land for a price.

00:06:48.860 --> 00:06:49.420
 Verse 40.

00:06:50.219 --> 00:06:52.920
 At the time of the end, the king of the south shall attack him,

00:06:53.139 --> 00:06:56.439
 but the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind,

00:06:56.660 --> 00:06:59.399
 with chariots and horsemen and with many ships.

00:06:59.879 --> 00:07:01.300
 And he shall come into countries,

00:07:01.420 --> 00:07:03.019
 and shall overflow and pass through.

00:07:03.500 --> 00:07:05.459
 He shall come into the glorious land,

00:07:05.839 --> 00:07:08.060
 and tens of thousands shall fall,

00:07:08.420 --> 00:07:10.480
 but these shall be delivered out of his hand,

00:07:10.480 --> 00:07:13.620
 Edom and Moab and the main part of the Ammonites.

00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:16.280
 He shall stretch out his hand against the countries,

00:07:16.420 --> 00:07:18.080
 and the land of Egypt shall not escape.

00:07:18.660 --> 00:07:21.300
 He shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and silver,

00:07:21.660 --> 00:07:23.259
 and all the precious things of Egypt,

00:07:23.500 --> 00:07:25.960
 and the Libyans and the Cushites shall follow in his train.

00:07:26.460 --> 00:07:29.040
 But news from the east and the north shall alarm him,

00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:33.819
 and he shall go out with great fury to destroy and devote many to destruction.

00:07:34.240 --> 00:07:37.240
 And he shall pitch his palatial tents between the sea

00:07:37.240 --> 00:07:39.040
 and the glorious holy mountain.

00:07:39.040 --> 00:07:44.220
 Yet he shall come to his end with none to help him.

00:07:45.319 --> 00:07:48.780
 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word.

00:07:49.819 --> 00:07:52.400
 Our Father in heaven, we thank you and praise you again

00:07:52.400 --> 00:07:56.259
 that you have not left us alone as orphans in a merciless universe,

00:07:56.259 --> 00:07:59.360
 but instead you speak to us clearly through your word.

00:07:59.460 --> 00:08:02.100
 And so we ask that you would speak to us this morning,

00:08:02.180 --> 00:08:05.620
 that you would give us the words of encouragement that we need

00:08:05.620 --> 00:08:08.340
 as we follow you in this broken and evil world.

00:08:08.339 --> 00:08:12.019
 And we are grateful that we don't have to earn or deserve these things,

00:08:12.139 --> 00:08:15.319
 but instead we simply ask them in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

00:08:15.739 --> 00:08:16.000
 Amen.

00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:24.060
 I know that some of you, maybe many of you,

00:08:24.540 --> 00:08:27.980
 consider yourselves investors of some sort.

00:08:28.459 --> 00:08:31.800
 Maybe it's simply investment in a retirement account.

00:08:31.899 --> 00:08:34.620
 Maybe you have some sort of mutual fund on the side.

00:08:34.679 --> 00:08:36.419
 Even if you're not someone who invests,

00:08:36.620 --> 00:08:39.960
 of course you see the news that happens right when markets go up and down.

00:08:40.360 --> 00:08:41.980
 People will tell you, oh, we're headed for a crash.

00:08:42.059 --> 00:08:43.519
 Maybe a recession is coming near.

00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:45.019
 There's going to be what's called a correction.

00:08:46.019 --> 00:08:48.120
 And of course, these things are true for everyone, right?

00:08:48.179 --> 00:08:51.759
 If the market goes down, everyone's affected by that at some level,

00:08:51.860 --> 00:08:55.100
 but people have different ways of responding to it and reacting to it.

00:08:55.139 --> 00:08:58.539
 And so, for example, last year in February, March,

00:08:59.199 --> 00:09:01.199
 we were under lockdown for the coronavirus.

00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:04.419
 We saw the stock market crash, right, at some level.

00:09:05.679 --> 00:09:07.019
 Now, the question is this.

00:09:07.139 --> 00:09:10.600
 If you see when you see the market crash, what is your response?

00:09:11.059 --> 00:09:12.480
 There's a variety of responses, right?

00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:14.720
 Some people see it as the time to sell.

00:09:14.820 --> 00:09:16.879
 They are taken in by the fear of the moment.

00:09:16.980 --> 00:09:19.139
 They think, well, I've lost money at this moment.

00:09:19.259 --> 00:09:20.800
 I don't want to lose any more money,

00:09:20.860 --> 00:09:22.680
 and so I'm going to sell before it keeps going down.

00:09:23.100 --> 00:09:25.539
 Other people think of this as the time to buy.

00:09:26.080 --> 00:09:27.820
 Stocks are at, there's a deal right now.

00:09:27.899 --> 00:09:29.840
 I'm going to get in and invest as much as I can

00:09:29.840 --> 00:09:31.279
 because I know it's going to go back up.

00:09:31.800 --> 00:09:33.580
 And some people simply hold on, right?

00:09:34.039 --> 00:09:37.480
 And so there's the same situation for many people,

00:09:38.019 --> 00:09:38.480
 different circumstances.

00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:41.460
 And these different circumstances, in many ways,

00:09:41.519 --> 00:09:44.159
 are affected by what your view is about history.

00:09:44.759 --> 00:09:47.539
 What do you believe about the history of the stock market?

00:09:47.940 --> 00:09:51.440
 What do you believe that the future holds for you?

00:09:52.039 --> 00:09:54.860
 It's your beliefs, it's your understanding of history

00:09:54.860 --> 00:09:56.860
 that determines your response.

00:09:56.960 --> 00:09:58.440
 Now, when all of these things were happening,

00:09:59.440 --> 00:10:00.840
 PCA pastors across the country,

00:10:00.940 --> 00:10:03.519
 we received these emails from the organization

00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:06.220
 that handles PCA pastors' retirement,

00:10:06.379 --> 00:10:09.460
 warning us not to overreact to market crashes, right?

00:10:09.480 --> 00:10:11.539
 You may see your retirement account dropping.

00:10:12.039 --> 00:10:12.779
 Don't be panicked.

00:10:12.840 --> 00:10:14.720
 So they sent us this first note that said this.

00:10:15.379 --> 00:10:17.600
 The market rewards patience and resilience.

00:10:18.259 --> 00:10:20.659
 As the following chart from the New York Times shows,

00:10:20.860 --> 00:10:22.759
 stocks generally reward investors

00:10:22.759 --> 00:10:25.220
 who look at their investment in terms of decades

00:10:25.220 --> 00:10:26.679
 and not days.

00:10:27.740 --> 00:10:30.360
 Look at their investments in terms of decades, not days.

00:10:30.360 --> 00:10:32.139
 Mature investors often do things

00:10:32.139 --> 00:10:33.340
 that are counterintuitive.

00:10:33.939 --> 00:10:36.299
 When stocks slide, it's not time to sell them.

00:10:36.779 --> 00:10:39.840
 Rather, it's an opportunity to purchase them at a discount.

00:10:40.620 --> 00:10:42.779
 And then in this letter, they provide this picture

00:10:42.779 --> 00:10:44.679
 that shows what the stock market

00:10:44.679 --> 00:10:45.840
 has looked like over history.

00:10:45.899 --> 00:10:46.919
 And the point is to say,

00:10:47.199 --> 00:10:49.279
 if you think about this in terms of decades,

00:10:49.319 --> 00:10:50.340
 you'll have some perspective.

00:10:50.699 --> 00:10:52.100
 You won't panic in the moment

00:10:52.100 --> 00:10:54.679
 because you know this is just for a time.

00:10:55.259 --> 00:10:57.519
 It will not last forever.

00:10:58.019 --> 00:11:01.120
 Brothers and sisters, as we come to this passage,

00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:04.360
 the goal is to give us and Daniel

00:11:04.360 --> 00:11:07.000
 an understanding of how history works.

00:11:07.139 --> 00:11:10.240
 That we would not think when we look at evil in the world

00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:13.000
 in terms of days, but in terms of decades.

00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:14.679
 We would understand the pattern

00:11:14.679 --> 00:11:17.080
 of how things work in this world

00:11:17.080 --> 00:11:19.179
 so that we could respond with wisdom

00:11:19.179 --> 00:11:20.539
 rather than foolishness.

00:11:20.600 --> 00:11:22.860
 We can respond rather than react.

00:11:22.960 --> 00:11:24.139
 And so that's what we're gonna see here.

00:11:24.200 --> 00:11:26.440
 I'm gonna point out primarily three things to you.

00:11:26.460 --> 00:11:27.919
 First of all, the pattern of history.

00:11:27.919 --> 00:11:30.459
 Second of all, the control of history.

00:11:30.719 --> 00:11:32.339
 And then our response to history.

00:11:32.439 --> 00:11:33.779
 We're gonna look at the pattern of history,

00:11:34.120 --> 00:11:38.159
 the control of history, and the response to history.

00:11:39.139 --> 00:11:41.379
 Just as, if you're familiar with the markets,

00:11:41.500 --> 00:11:43.679
 you know it's always going up and down,

00:11:43.939 --> 00:11:45.439
 up and down, up and down, right?

00:11:45.539 --> 00:11:47.099
 You look at this graph that they give,

00:11:47.360 --> 00:11:48.639
 there's times when things are less,

00:11:48.699 --> 00:11:49.879
 there's times when things are more.

00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:52.599
 The same is true of history.

00:11:52.600 --> 00:11:56.120
 We see this pattern that there's a constant rise

00:11:56.120 --> 00:11:57.440
 and fall of nations.

00:11:57.600 --> 00:12:01.920
 There is a constant ebb and flow to how geopolitics work.

00:12:02.019 --> 00:12:03.399
 We see in verses two through four,

00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:04.899
 a summary of things we've seen already

00:12:04.899 --> 00:12:05.759
 in the book of Daniel,

00:12:05.980 --> 00:12:07.399
 that there's the Persian empire

00:12:07.399 --> 00:12:09.560
 that's going to lead to Alexander the Great.

00:12:10.220 --> 00:12:12.200
 Then we're gonna go beyond Alexander the Great,

00:12:12.279 --> 00:12:12.920
 verse four.

00:12:13.340 --> 00:12:14.420
 His kingdom, if you remember,

00:12:14.560 --> 00:12:16.060
 it's broken into four pieces.

00:12:16.920 --> 00:12:18.500
 And then in verses five through 20,

00:12:18.680 --> 00:12:20.460
 we see the struggle and conflict

00:12:20.460 --> 00:12:22.940
 between the king of the north and the king of the south.

00:12:23.000 --> 00:12:24.820
 The king of the south is coming from Egypt.

00:12:25.019 --> 00:12:27.200
 The king of the north is coming from Syria.

00:12:27.960 --> 00:12:30.040
 And this is the section through verse 21

00:12:30.040 --> 00:12:32.540
 where we see those rise words over and over.

00:12:32.980 --> 00:12:35.700
 Okay, so my count is that of those I gave you,

00:12:35.740 --> 00:12:36.220
 there's eight.

00:12:36.400 --> 00:12:37.759
 However, I think I read two.

00:12:37.860 --> 00:12:38.680
 I double-checked this,

00:12:38.700 --> 00:12:40.139
 and then as I was reading, I read a second raise.

00:12:40.200 --> 00:12:42.080
 So if you got nine, I don't fault you.

00:12:42.920 --> 00:12:46.160
 But this word appears over and over again.

00:12:46.580 --> 00:12:48.240
 Arise, raise, rise.

00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:49.820
 And the purpose, the reason,

00:12:50.060 --> 00:12:53.060
 the reason it's showing up over and over again

00:12:53.060 --> 00:12:55.159
 is to highlight this pattern.

00:12:55.560 --> 00:12:58.580
 As soon as one king or kingdom is powerful,

00:12:59.080 --> 00:13:00.899
 he falls and another takes over.

00:13:02.039 --> 00:13:04.360
 Alexander the Great, wow, he's so wonderful,

00:13:04.919 --> 00:13:05.899
 dies at age 33.

00:13:06.620 --> 00:13:08.180
 There's just this constant spin.

00:13:08.440 --> 00:13:10.019
 You don't expect or know,

00:13:10.100 --> 00:13:11.779
 you know no one's gonna stay in control

00:13:11.779 --> 00:13:12.940
 and power for very long.

00:13:13.019 --> 00:13:14.879
 There's gonna be this constant back and forth.

00:13:15.180 --> 00:13:17.120
 We see this between the kingdoms of the north

00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:18.360
 and the kingdom of the south.

00:13:18.419 --> 00:13:19.740
 The author is telling us here,

00:13:19.940 --> 00:13:22.700
 no sooner has one kingdom arisen

00:13:22.700 --> 00:13:25.240
 than it's replaced by another.

00:13:25.980 --> 00:13:28.200
 That is the pattern of history.

00:13:28.340 --> 00:13:30.120
 That's how things work.

00:13:30.860 --> 00:13:33.240
 So remember, things get bad with the stock market.

00:13:34.080 --> 00:13:36.259
 Often it's foolish to sell.

00:13:36.679 --> 00:13:39.019
 We think in terms of days, in terms of decades.

00:13:39.539 --> 00:13:42.019
 Things get bad in history.

00:13:42.019 --> 00:13:45.759
 It is foolish to give up.

00:13:46.759 --> 00:13:48.899
 We know from this passage,

00:13:49.120 --> 00:13:51.259
 from the way the Bible talks about history,

00:13:51.419 --> 00:13:52.939
 before too long,

00:13:53.519 --> 00:13:56.139
 that wicked kingdom and ruler will fall.

00:13:57.279 --> 00:14:00.539
 In other words, as we watch the evil in this world,

00:14:00.699 --> 00:14:03.500
 we know it is only for a time.

00:14:03.679 --> 00:14:05.460
 God is constantly bringing down

00:14:05.460 --> 00:14:07.539
 and raising up kings and kingdoms.

00:14:07.539 --> 00:14:08.699
 We have perspective.

00:14:09.179 --> 00:14:12.459
 We understand how history works.

00:14:14.299 --> 00:14:15.899
 And so I've mentioned to you before,

00:14:16.139 --> 00:14:17.679
 I'm a book by a man named Chris Wright

00:14:17.679 --> 00:14:18.899
 about the book of Daniel.

00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:20.639
 He points out that there's two errors

00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:21.500
 that we can fall into

00:14:21.500 --> 00:14:23.819
 if we don't understand the way history works.

00:14:24.379 --> 00:14:27.980
 One error is to fear the rulers of this world too much.

00:14:28.959 --> 00:14:31.299
 We forget they're just here for a moment.

00:14:31.399 --> 00:14:32.339
 God's gonna take them away.

00:14:32.439 --> 00:14:34.459
 And so we shake in fear

00:14:34.460 --> 00:14:36.560
 when we should in fact have confidence in God.

00:14:37.320 --> 00:14:39.460
 The other temptation we can fall into

00:14:39.460 --> 00:14:41.180
 other than fear is to love them

00:14:41.180 --> 00:14:42.720
 and idolize them too much.

00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:44.920
 To think that being close

00:14:44.920 --> 00:14:46.980
 to the power centers of this world

00:14:46.980 --> 00:14:48.860
 is going to be our key to success.

00:14:49.379 --> 00:14:50.920
 We see this over and over

00:14:50.920 --> 00:14:52.120
 from Christian leaders

00:14:52.120 --> 00:14:53.560
 in the history of the church

00:14:53.560 --> 00:14:55.720
 that there's something seductive

00:14:55.720 --> 00:14:57.379
 about being close to the powerful.

00:14:57.740 --> 00:14:59.160
 There's something that's wonderful

00:14:59.160 --> 00:15:01.540
 and alluring about having your picture taken

00:15:01.540 --> 00:15:03.480
 with a president or a senator, right?

00:15:03.480 --> 00:15:05.639
 These are things that people brag about.

00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:07.620
 There's something that's just alluring

00:15:07.620 --> 00:15:09.840
 about having your opinions published

00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:11.039
 in a major publication.

00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:13.480
 And remember,

00:15:14.379 --> 00:15:15.840
 wherever the power center is,

00:15:15.920 --> 00:15:17.060
 wherever the power is,

00:15:17.600 --> 00:15:19.360
 it will only be there for a time.

00:15:20.180 --> 00:15:21.680
 Don't shake and tremble

00:15:21.680 --> 00:15:22.960
 at the powers of this world.

00:15:23.860 --> 00:15:24.740
 Don't idolize them.

00:15:24.779 --> 00:15:25.820
 Don't be drawn in by them.

00:15:26.580 --> 00:15:28.360
 Be someone who's wise.

00:15:28.840 --> 00:15:30.539
 Understand how history works.

00:15:30.539 --> 00:15:32.559
 Know that as soon as one,

00:15:32.860 --> 00:15:34.099
 they'll be replaced by another.

00:15:34.599 --> 00:15:36.039
 There is a futility,

00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:37.659
 in other words, to history.

00:15:39.019 --> 00:15:42.079
 Now, if you're not a Christian,

00:15:42.659 --> 00:15:43.799
 I want to suggest to you

00:15:43.799 --> 00:15:44.839
 that this actually makes

00:15:44.839 --> 00:15:46.500
 much more sense of our world

00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:47.740
 than the views of history

00:15:47.740 --> 00:15:49.279
 that we're given in our culture.

00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:51.319
 So there's, among many,

00:15:51.399 --> 00:15:51.939
 this idea

00:15:51.939 --> 00:15:54.500
 that we're on this road to progress.

00:15:54.819 --> 00:15:55.519
 That somehow,

00:15:55.740 --> 00:15:56.539
 generation after generation,

00:15:56.539 --> 00:15:57.059
 generation,

00:15:57.240 --> 00:15:58.980
 we're going to improve morally.

00:15:59.259 --> 00:16:00.659
 We're going to transcend

00:16:00.659 --> 00:16:02.120
 the people who came before us.

00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:03.319
 They were stupid and foolish.

00:16:04.379 --> 00:16:05.120
 We, however,

00:16:05.199 --> 00:16:06.299
 are wise and enlightened.

00:16:07.299 --> 00:16:08.699
 Now, there is a sense

00:16:08.699 --> 00:16:10.579
 in which history is moving forward.

00:16:10.860 --> 00:16:11.659
 We have greater

00:16:11.659 --> 00:16:12.740
 and greater technology.

00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:14.079
 The problem is

00:16:14.079 --> 00:16:15.059
 that has not solved

00:16:15.059 --> 00:16:15.959
 our moral problems.

00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:18.539
 Now, I don't have time today.

00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:20.000
 There's a book

00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:21.000
 that recently came out

00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:22.079
 by a man named Tim Keller

00:16:22.079 --> 00:16:23.559
 called Hope in Times of Fear.

00:16:24.179 --> 00:16:25.539
 And he talks about this phenomenon

00:16:25.539 --> 00:16:26.719
 in the very last chapter,

00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:27.599
 in chapter 12.

00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:29.139
 And he points out a few things,

00:16:29.199 --> 00:16:29.939
 one of which is that

00:16:29.939 --> 00:16:31.419
 technology has not helped us at all.

00:16:32.299 --> 00:16:32.719
 In fact,

00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:33.939
 if we look at the threats

00:16:33.939 --> 00:16:34.579
 to the world,

00:16:34.719 --> 00:16:36.399
 I think he lists five major threats

00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:37.139
 to civilization.

00:16:37.799 --> 00:16:38.579
 Technology has made,

00:16:38.679 --> 00:16:38.799
 I think,

00:16:38.859 --> 00:16:40.179
 three or four of them much worse.

00:16:41.119 --> 00:16:41.599
 And in fact,

00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:42.239
 it's technology

00:16:42.239 --> 00:16:43.239
 that allows things

00:16:43.239 --> 00:16:44.079
 like pandemics

00:16:44.079 --> 00:16:45.259
 to spread around the world

00:16:45.259 --> 00:16:45.819
 very quickly.

00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:48.639
 And so if you believe

00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:51.199
 that we are going to improve

00:16:51.199 --> 00:16:52.719
 as people morally,

00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:54.920
 you are flying

00:16:54.920 --> 00:16:56.360
 in the face

00:16:56.360 --> 00:16:57.120
 of all the evidence

00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:57.700
 and the facts.

00:16:58.500 --> 00:16:59.420
 It's the Bible

00:16:59.420 --> 00:17:00.259
 that actually gives us

00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:01.600
 a realistic view of history.

00:17:02.139 --> 00:17:03.720
 No matter how much

00:17:03.720 --> 00:17:04.620
 things improve,

00:17:04.740 --> 00:17:05.559
 the human heart

00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:07.160
 still stays wicked

00:17:07.160 --> 00:17:08.200
 and evil.

00:17:09.120 --> 00:17:10.200
 And so our only hope

00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:11.319
 is for salvation

00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:13.319
 from outside of this world.

00:17:14.220 --> 00:17:15.100
 Our only hope

00:17:15.100 --> 00:17:15.700
 is for someone

00:17:15.700 --> 00:17:17.079
 not who can change technology,

00:17:17.620 --> 00:17:18.720
 but who can change hearts.

00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:20.380
 And so as we understand

00:17:20.380 --> 00:17:21.420
 the pattern of history,

00:17:21.420 --> 00:17:21.460
 history,

00:17:21.779 --> 00:17:23.000
 we know it involves

00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:23.620
 ups and downs.

00:17:23.740 --> 00:17:24.920
 We're not taken in

00:17:24.920 --> 00:17:26.039
 by one moment.

00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:26.800
 We're not taken in

00:17:26.800 --> 00:17:27.440
 by one year

00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:28.160
 or one event.

00:17:28.800 --> 00:17:30.039
 We have a calm,

00:17:30.180 --> 00:17:30.720
 a perspective.

00:17:30.860 --> 00:17:31.759
 Just as an investor

00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:33.340
 watches the stock market

00:17:33.340 --> 00:17:34.380
 go up and down

00:17:34.380 --> 00:17:34.880
 and they know,

00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:36.300
 I'm thinking about this

00:17:36.300 --> 00:17:37.180
 in terms of decades,

00:17:37.539 --> 00:17:38.759
 we watch history

00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:39.340
 and events

00:17:39.340 --> 00:17:39.880
 and evil

00:17:39.880 --> 00:17:41.019
 go up and down

00:17:41.019 --> 00:17:41.440
 in the world

00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:42.340
 and even as we might

00:17:42.340 --> 00:17:43.259
 grieve about it,

00:17:43.460 --> 00:17:44.400
 we have a perspective

00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:44.759
 on it.

00:17:46.019 --> 00:17:46.880
 We know

00:17:46.880 --> 00:17:47.779
 how it works.

00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:49.620
 Now there's another pattern

00:17:49.619 --> 00:17:50.339
 that we're given here,

00:17:50.399 --> 00:17:51.119
 not just the pattern

00:17:51.119 --> 00:17:52.619
 of kings going up and down,

00:17:52.699 --> 00:17:53.619
 but we see the pattern

00:17:53.619 --> 00:17:54.500
 that in history

00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:55.899
 we should expect

00:17:55.899 --> 00:17:57.319
 and prepare for

00:17:57.319 --> 00:17:58.559
 the persecution

00:17:58.559 --> 00:17:59.500
 of God's people.

00:18:00.099 --> 00:18:01.039
 So this battle

00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:02.179
 between the north

00:18:02.179 --> 00:18:02.719
 and the south

00:18:02.719 --> 00:18:03.359
 takes up

00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:04.759
 verses 1

00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:06.519
 through 21 or so

00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:07.679
 and then we turn

00:18:07.679 --> 00:18:09.519
 to this new figure,

00:18:09.619 --> 00:18:10.279
 verse 21,

00:18:10.439 --> 00:18:11.299
 there's going to arise

00:18:11.299 --> 00:18:12.779
 a contemptible person

00:18:12.779 --> 00:18:13.679
 and we're told

00:18:13.679 --> 00:18:14.339
 the details

00:18:14.339 --> 00:18:15.659
 of this contemptible person

00:18:15.659 --> 00:18:16.679
 verses 21

00:18:16.679 --> 00:18:17.699
 through 35.

00:18:17.700 --> 00:18:18.539
 I'm not going to dive

00:18:18.539 --> 00:18:19.519
 into the details here

00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:20.180
 because of the link

00:18:20.180 --> 00:18:21.180
 of this passage

00:18:21.180 --> 00:18:21.660
 and the limits

00:18:21.660 --> 00:18:22.539
 of our time this morning

00:18:22.539 --> 00:18:23.600
 but I'll simply tell you

00:18:23.600 --> 00:18:24.700
 verses 21

00:18:24.700 --> 00:18:25.500
 through 35

00:18:25.500 --> 00:18:26.440
 is telling us

00:18:26.440 --> 00:18:27.519
 about the same figure

00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:28.400
 we saw in Daniel

00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:29.039
 chapter 8.

00:18:29.380 --> 00:18:30.940
 This is Antiochus IV

00:18:30.940 --> 00:18:32.319
 who is someone

00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:33.080
 who persecuted

00:18:33.080 --> 00:18:33.900
 God's people.

00:18:34.620 --> 00:18:35.840
 He brought intense

00:18:35.840 --> 00:18:36.460
 persecution

00:18:36.460 --> 00:18:37.799
 in the 2nd century BC

00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:39.180
 and I'll give you

00:18:39.180 --> 00:18:40.420
 the same quote

00:18:40.420 --> 00:18:41.039
 that I gave you

00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:41.480
 last time

00:18:41.480 --> 00:18:42.420
 in Daniel chapter 8

00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:43.100
 from a man named

00:18:43.100 --> 00:18:43.759
 David Chapman.

00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:45.279
 Antiochus IV

00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:46.720
 who styled himself

00:18:46.720 --> 00:18:47.299
 Epiphanes,

00:18:47.299 --> 00:18:48.200
 God manifest,

00:18:48.700 --> 00:18:49.539
 invaded Jerusalem,

00:18:49.940 --> 00:18:50.799
 despoiled the temple,

00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:51.899
 commanded the burning

00:18:51.899 --> 00:18:52.539
 of the scriptures,

00:18:53.019 --> 00:18:53.779
 forbade the covenant

00:18:53.779 --> 00:18:54.740
 right of circumcision,

00:18:54.980 --> 00:18:55.659
 put to death

00:18:55.659 --> 00:18:56.759
 many faithful Jews

00:18:56.759 --> 00:18:58.639
 and ultimately instituted

00:18:58.639 --> 00:18:59.819
 pagan sacrifices

00:18:59.819 --> 00:19:01.279
 in the Jerusalem temple.

00:19:02.379 --> 00:19:03.819
 In other words,

00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:05.559
 Daniel is not just prepared

00:19:05.559 --> 00:19:06.720
 for the pattern of history.

00:19:06.899 --> 00:19:08.259
 He knows persecution

00:19:08.259 --> 00:19:09.759
 is coming for God's people.

00:19:09.960 --> 00:19:10.680
 This is something

00:19:10.680 --> 00:19:11.399
 that is sure

00:19:11.399 --> 00:19:12.159
 and definite

00:19:12.159 --> 00:19:12.980
 in the future.

00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:16.180
 not only does it happen

00:19:16.180 --> 00:19:17.279
 in the 2nd century

00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:18.660
 but then we see

00:19:18.660 --> 00:19:19.720
 this twist,

00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:20.420
 this switch

00:19:20.420 --> 00:19:21.460
 in verse 36.

00:19:22.099 --> 00:19:23.160
 Up through verse 35

00:19:23.160 --> 00:19:24.059
 everything aligns

00:19:24.059 --> 00:19:25.200
 with Antiochus IV.

00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:26.240
 Verse 36

00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:27.180
 we begin to hear

00:19:27.180 --> 00:19:28.240
 things about this king

00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:28.980
 that don't line up

00:19:28.980 --> 00:19:30.680
 at all with Antiochus IV

00:19:30.680 --> 00:19:32.519
 or any other historical figure

00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:33.299
 we can identify.

00:19:33.860 --> 00:19:34.960
 And so many people believe,

00:19:35.059 --> 00:19:35.599
 scholars believe

00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:36.779
 what's being talked about here

00:19:36.779 --> 00:19:37.900
 is a future,

00:19:38.339 --> 00:19:39.380
 even future to us,

00:19:39.539 --> 00:19:40.140
 persecutor

00:19:40.140 --> 00:19:41.520
 of God's people.

00:19:42.180 --> 00:19:43.060
 So we switch

00:19:43.060 --> 00:19:44.040
 from a historical figure

00:19:44.040 --> 00:19:44.920
 that we know about

00:19:44.920 --> 00:19:45.820
 to someone,

00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:46.500
 it's a persecution

00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:47.360
 that's going to happen

00:19:47.360 --> 00:19:47.860
 in the future.

00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:49.180
 And this type of persecution

00:19:49.180 --> 00:19:50.620
 sounds like

00:19:50.620 --> 00:19:51.140
 the kind of thing

00:19:51.140 --> 00:19:52.120
 that's going to happen

00:19:52.120 --> 00:19:53.660
 at the very end of the world.

00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:54.000
 In fact,

00:19:54.040 --> 00:19:55.080
 we see that explicitly

00:19:55.080 --> 00:19:56.680
 in verse 40,

00:19:56.880 --> 00:19:57.480
 the very beginning,

00:19:57.620 --> 00:19:58.480
 we're told this king

00:19:58.480 --> 00:19:59.680
 is at the time

00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:00.700
 of the end.

00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:04.120
 And then in verse 45,

00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:04.520
 however,

00:20:04.940 --> 00:20:06.180
 so he's coming at the end,

00:20:07.040 --> 00:20:07.380
 however,

00:20:07.520 --> 00:20:08.160
 verse 45,

00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:09.360
 he's going to come

00:20:09.360 --> 00:20:10.259
 to an end.

00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:11.720
 So again,

00:20:11.820 --> 00:20:12.720
 just like rulers

00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:13.980
 and kingdoms in general,

00:20:14.420 --> 00:20:15.480
 these persecutors

00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:16.779
 who are after God

00:20:16.779 --> 00:20:17.240
 and his people

00:20:17.240 --> 00:20:18.019
 are going to come,

00:20:18.580 --> 00:20:19.560
 they're going to be powerful,

00:20:20.160 --> 00:20:21.019
 and then in a moment

00:20:21.019 --> 00:20:21.580
 they'll be gone.

00:20:23.380 --> 00:20:24.360
 And so as Christians,

00:20:24.519 --> 00:20:25.019
 we know,

00:20:25.100 --> 00:20:26.460
 as we look at history then,

00:20:27.060 --> 00:20:28.120
 it's not just

00:20:28.120 --> 00:20:29.480
 that there's ups and downs

00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:29.980
 that we keep

00:20:29.980 --> 00:20:31.060
 the long term in mind,

00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:32.120
 there is going

00:20:32.120 --> 00:20:32.920
 to be persecution.

00:20:33.620 --> 00:20:34.500
 We shouldn't be surprised

00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:35.060
 by this.

00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:35.700
 In fact,

00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:36.300
 if we're in a time

00:20:36.300 --> 00:20:37.660
 where we don't face persecution,

00:20:37.660 --> 00:20:38.380
 we should know,

00:20:38.519 --> 00:20:38.620
 oh,

00:20:38.700 --> 00:20:39.680
 we're in a strange part

00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:40.360
 of church history.

00:20:41.040 --> 00:20:41.480
 Wow,

00:20:41.600 --> 00:20:42.680
 this is not normal

00:20:42.680 --> 00:20:43.340
 for Christians

00:20:43.340 --> 00:20:44.120
 around the world

00:20:44.120 --> 00:20:45.500
 or throughout history.

00:20:46.300 --> 00:20:47.080
 And so if we are

00:20:47.080 --> 00:20:48.560
 the wise investor,

00:20:48.620 --> 00:20:48.980
 we're going to take

00:20:48.980 --> 00:20:50.060
 wise action,

00:20:50.620 --> 00:20:52.060
 we know our job is this,

00:20:52.180 --> 00:20:52.960
 we prepare

00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:53.940
 for persecution.

00:20:54.120 --> 00:20:54.900
 We're ready for it.

00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:56.279
 We know that it's

00:20:56.279 --> 00:20:56.800
 a normal,

00:20:57.019 --> 00:20:57.700
 regular part

00:20:57.700 --> 00:20:58.920
 of the Christian life.

00:20:58.980 --> 00:20:59.660
 We're students

00:20:59.660 --> 00:21:00.660
 of church history

00:21:00.660 --> 00:21:01.100
 and scripture.

00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:02.960
 We see God's faithfulness

00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:04.140
 to his people

00:21:04.140 --> 00:21:05.700
 generation after generation,

00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:06.820
 decade after decade.

00:21:06.819 --> 00:21:08.039
 We know there are times

00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:09.200
 and things that are hard

00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:11.399
 and they only last

00:21:11.399 --> 00:21:12.319
 for a time.

00:21:13.339 --> 00:21:14.419
 We've actually seen

00:21:14.419 --> 00:21:15.059
 that in this series,

00:21:15.159 --> 00:21:15.259
 right?

00:21:15.319 --> 00:21:15.980
 Part of the reason

00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:16.740
 we're studying Daniel

00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:18.439
 is to know those things.

00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:20.379
 We see God's faithfulness

00:21:20.379 --> 00:21:20.919
 to Daniel.

00:21:21.359 --> 00:21:22.659
 We're reminded Babylon

00:21:22.659 --> 00:21:23.659
 was only powerful

00:21:23.659 --> 00:21:24.419
 for a time.

00:21:25.079 --> 00:21:25.779
 We are reminded

00:21:25.779 --> 00:21:26.819
 of God's faithfulness

00:21:26.819 --> 00:21:27.359
 to us.

00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:28.859
 Powers in this world

00:21:28.859 --> 00:21:29.740
 will only rule

00:21:29.740 --> 00:21:30.779
 for a time.

00:21:30.859 --> 00:21:31.839
 The foolish action

00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:32.299
 then would be

00:21:32.299 --> 00:21:33.299
 overly frightened,

00:21:33.460 --> 00:21:34.519
 overly scared

00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:35.579
 of persecution,

00:21:35.779 --> 00:21:37.039
 to abandon the faith.

00:21:37.720 --> 00:21:38.119
 That would be like

00:21:38.119 --> 00:21:39.259
 the person who sells

00:21:39.259 --> 00:21:40.240
 as soon as things

00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:40.900
 get bad, right?

00:21:40.920 --> 00:21:41.920
 They sell their stock.

00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:43.839
 What are we going to do

00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:44.819
 if and when

00:21:44.819 --> 00:21:45.980
 the stock of Christianity

00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:47.059
 in this world falls?

00:21:48.599 --> 00:21:49.799
 That's part of the warning here.

00:21:49.879 --> 00:21:50.660
 Do we sell it

00:21:50.660 --> 00:21:52.319
 or do we take

00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:53.460
 the long-term view?

00:21:53.579 --> 00:21:54.200
 Do we think

00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:55.039
 that we're looking

00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:55.839
 at decades

00:21:55.839 --> 00:21:57.339
 rather than days?

00:21:58.660 --> 00:21:58.799
 Right?

00:21:58.900 --> 00:21:59.460
 Great Depression

00:21:59.460 --> 00:22:00.379
 of the 1930s.

00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:01.299
 Wow, it's really bad.

00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:03.240
 Also, it's over.

00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:04.339
 Stock market's recovered.

00:22:05.640 --> 00:22:06.039
 Persecution,

00:22:06.140 --> 00:22:06.579
 when it comes

00:22:06.579 --> 00:22:07.299
 for God's people,

00:22:07.420 --> 00:22:08.019
 yes, it's going

00:22:08.019 --> 00:22:08.740
 to be really bad.

00:22:08.859 --> 00:22:09.960
 Also, it's going to end.

00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:11.380
 Things are going

00:22:11.380 --> 00:22:11.779
 to recover.

00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:13.620
 So we understand

00:22:13.620 --> 00:22:15.420
 and know history.

00:22:15.940 --> 00:22:17.140
 We avoid the temptation

00:22:17.140 --> 00:22:17.940
 to sell now,

00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:19.240
 to give up on God

00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:19.759
 and his church

00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:20.339
 and his ways

00:22:20.339 --> 00:22:21.640
 just because something's

00:22:21.640 --> 00:22:23.099
 bad for a moment

00:22:23.099 --> 00:22:24.420
 and for a time.

00:22:26.299 --> 00:22:27.480
 And so we're seeing here

00:22:27.480 --> 00:22:28.720
 chapter 10.

00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:29.660
 Again, we want

00:22:29.660 --> 00:22:30.920
 to be wise people.

00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:32.380
 We want to be people

00:22:32.380 --> 00:22:33.480
 who know the pattern

00:22:33.480 --> 00:22:34.640
 of history.

00:22:35.220 --> 00:22:36.260
 We see here also,

00:22:36.340 --> 00:22:36.760
 though, there's not

00:22:36.760 --> 00:22:38.040
 just a pattern to history,

00:22:38.140 --> 00:22:39.360
 there's also a control

00:22:39.360 --> 00:22:40.360
 in history.

00:22:40.860 --> 00:22:41.760
 The reason that these

00:22:41.760 --> 00:22:43.180
 things operate

00:22:43.180 --> 00:22:43.700
 in this way

00:22:43.700 --> 00:22:44.360
 that's predictable

00:22:44.360 --> 00:22:45.300
 that we understand

00:22:45.300 --> 00:22:46.040
 is that we know

00:22:46.040 --> 00:22:47.020
 that there is someone

00:22:47.020 --> 00:22:48.400
 who is in charge

00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:49.380
 of everything.

00:22:49.900 --> 00:22:51.000
 Now, in previous chapters,

00:22:51.060 --> 00:22:51.500
 when we've looked

00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:52.300
 at prophecy,

00:22:52.460 --> 00:22:52.860
 for example,

00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:53.640
 chapter 7,

00:22:54.040 --> 00:22:54.720
 I've told you,

00:22:54.820 --> 00:22:55.200
 well, you know,

00:22:55.240 --> 00:22:55.980
 there's lots of debate

00:22:55.980 --> 00:22:56.820
 among scholars

00:22:56.820 --> 00:22:57.820
 about what this means.

00:22:58.380 --> 00:22:59.580
 Some people think this.

00:22:59.579 --> 00:23:00.579
 Some people think that.

00:23:01.139 --> 00:23:02.500
 We come to chapter 8,

00:23:03.199 --> 00:23:04.059
 especially when we look

00:23:04.059 --> 00:23:05.500
 at verses 21 through 35,

00:23:05.740 --> 00:23:06.599
 there is virtually

00:23:06.599 --> 00:23:07.740
 no debate.

00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:09.139
 The reason there's

00:23:09.139 --> 00:23:10.059
 virtually no debate

00:23:10.059 --> 00:23:11.179
 is because the actions

00:23:11.179 --> 00:23:11.799
 given here

00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:13.299
 are so precise

00:23:13.299 --> 00:23:15.379
 and align perfectly

00:23:15.379 --> 00:23:16.939
 with real historical events

00:23:16.939 --> 00:23:17.419
 that have happened

00:23:17.419 --> 00:23:18.019
 in the past.

00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:20.659
 So we know exactly

00:23:20.659 --> 00:23:21.299
 what Daniel's

00:23:21.299 --> 00:23:22.099
 being told about.

00:23:22.639 --> 00:23:23.379
 Now, we could spend

00:23:23.379 --> 00:23:24.919
 an hour going through

00:23:24.919 --> 00:23:26.139
 all the debates

00:23:26.139 --> 00:23:27.199
 and the details of it.

00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:28.799
 If you want to see

00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:30.000
 everything in this chapter

00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:30.640
 and how it plays out

00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:31.000
 in history,

00:23:31.080 --> 00:23:31.539
 there's a variety

00:23:31.539 --> 00:23:32.580
 of commentaries you can get.

00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:33.200
 One of them is called

00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:34.059
 How to Read Daniel

00:23:34.059 --> 00:23:35.380
 by a man named

00:23:35.380 --> 00:23:36.080
 Tremper Longman.

00:23:36.299 --> 00:23:36.880
 I'm going to give you

00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:37.799
 one example.

00:23:38.580 --> 00:23:40.960
 So chapter 11,

00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:42.000
 look at me at verse 6.

00:23:42.460 --> 00:23:43.019
 It tells us

00:23:43.019 --> 00:23:43.799
 there's an alliance

00:23:43.799 --> 00:23:44.559
 and the daughter

00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:45.559
 of the king of the south,

00:23:45.740 --> 00:23:46.140
 remember the king

00:23:46.140 --> 00:23:46.980
 of the south's in Egypt,

00:23:47.400 --> 00:23:48.240
 shall come to the king

00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:48.700
 of the north

00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:49.519
 to make an agreement.

00:23:50.140 --> 00:23:51.200
 But she shall not retain

00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:52.299
 the strength of her arm

00:23:52.299 --> 00:23:53.900
 and his arm

00:23:53.900 --> 00:23:54.519
 shall not endure,

00:23:54.620 --> 00:23:55.580
 but she shall be given up

00:23:55.580 --> 00:23:56.259
 and her attendance.

00:23:56.259 --> 00:23:57.640
 It's he who fathered her

00:23:57.640 --> 00:23:59.119
 and he who supported her

00:23:59.119 --> 00:24:00.240
 in those times.

00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:02.599
 Well, this aligns perfectly

00:24:02.599 --> 00:24:03.559
 with historical events

00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:04.480
 that we know about.

00:24:04.839 --> 00:24:05.379
 It turns out

00:24:05.379 --> 00:24:06.059
 there was a marriage

00:24:06.059 --> 00:24:06.859
 between the daughter

00:24:06.859 --> 00:24:07.819
 of Ptolemy II

00:24:07.819 --> 00:24:08.480
 in the south

00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:09.619
 and the grandson

00:24:09.619 --> 00:24:10.619
 of Seleucus

00:24:10.619 --> 00:24:11.200
 in the north.

00:24:11.539 --> 00:24:11.940
 The grandson

00:24:11.940 --> 00:24:12.819
 had an ex-wife

00:24:12.819 --> 00:24:13.579
 who killed the daughter

00:24:13.579 --> 00:24:14.099
 of Ptolemy

00:24:14.099 --> 00:24:15.160
 and that's how

00:24:15.160 --> 00:24:15.839
 this plays out.

00:24:16.420 --> 00:24:17.319
 That's the level

00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:18.720
 of precise detail

00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:19.420
 that we have here

00:24:19.420 --> 00:24:20.079
 in this passage.

00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:21.680
 All these events here

00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:22.759
 have this similar level

00:24:22.759 --> 00:24:23.279
 of detail.

00:24:23.539 --> 00:24:24.180
 We're not going to go

00:24:24.180 --> 00:24:24.960
 into all of them.

00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:26.519
 The point is this though.

00:24:27.279 --> 00:24:29.100
 God knows the future

00:24:29.100 --> 00:24:30.940
 not just in general.

00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:32.559
 He knows it

00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:34.980
 in excruciating precision

00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:36.220
 and detail.

00:24:37.079 --> 00:24:38.660
 It's not just that God

00:24:38.660 --> 00:24:39.640
 is in control

00:24:39.640 --> 00:24:41.180
 in this big picture,

00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:43.740
 40,000 feet sort of way.

00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:45.059
 It's that God

00:24:45.059 --> 00:24:46.059
 is in control

00:24:46.059 --> 00:24:47.420
 in an on the ground,

00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:48.519
 moment by moment,

00:24:48.860 --> 00:24:50.559
 day by day sort of way.

00:24:50.559 --> 00:24:52.379
 God does not just know

00:24:52.379 --> 00:24:53.480
 the future as well.

00:24:53.619 --> 00:24:54.919
 He controls it.

00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:55.220
 Remember,

00:24:55.319 --> 00:24:56.039
 I pointed this out

00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:56.460
 when we did our

00:24:56.460 --> 00:24:57.139
 confession of faith.

00:24:57.220 --> 00:24:58.119
 The word appointed

00:24:58.119 --> 00:24:59.940
 shows up over and over again.

00:25:00.019 --> 00:25:00.720
 Verse 27,

00:25:00.839 --> 00:25:01.440
 verse 29,

00:25:01.559 --> 00:25:02.299
 verse 35.

00:25:02.839 --> 00:25:03.779
 Verse 36,

00:25:03.879 --> 00:25:05.279
 we're told what is decreed

00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:05.899
 shall be done.

00:25:06.019 --> 00:25:06.059
 Well,

00:25:06.119 --> 00:25:06.700
 who decreed it?

00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:07.740
 God decrees it.

00:25:08.399 --> 00:25:08.919
 And then,

00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:10.279
 verse 45,

00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:11.220
 remember,

00:25:11.339 --> 00:25:12.279
 we're reading about

00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:13.440
 this future persecutor.

00:25:13.879 --> 00:25:15.399
 He shall come to his end

00:25:15.399 --> 00:25:16.339
 with none

00:25:16.339 --> 00:25:17.220
 to help him.

00:25:18.180 --> 00:25:19.220
 In other words,

00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:20.100
 as we're looking

00:25:20.100 --> 00:25:21.200
 for encouragement

00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:22.600
 from God

00:25:22.600 --> 00:25:24.140
 as we face times of evil,

00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:25.059
 we're reminded

00:25:25.059 --> 00:25:26.440
 of God's precision

00:25:26.440 --> 00:25:27.740
 in his control.

00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:29.860
 God chose us

00:25:29.860 --> 00:25:30.640
 to be the people

00:25:30.640 --> 00:25:31.740
 at this church

00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:32.759
 right now,

00:25:32.880 --> 00:25:33.339
 this year,

00:25:33.360 --> 00:25:34.000
 and last year.

00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:36.019
 God chose us

00:25:36.019 --> 00:25:37.240
 as the specific people

00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:38.059
 that he wanted

00:25:38.059 --> 00:25:38.860
 to walk through

00:25:38.860 --> 00:25:40.200
 the coronavirus together

00:25:40.200 --> 00:25:41.220
 at Cheyenne Mountain

00:25:41.220 --> 00:25:42.180
 Presbyterian Church.

00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:45.200
 God chose you

00:25:45.200 --> 00:25:46.380
 to be stationed

00:25:46.380 --> 00:25:47.079
 at Fort Carson.

00:25:47.220 --> 00:25:48.019
 He decided

00:25:48.019 --> 00:25:48.839
 you wouldn't be stationed

00:25:48.839 --> 00:25:49.420
 somewhere else

00:25:49.420 --> 00:25:49.880
 in the country.

00:25:50.339 --> 00:25:51.440
 That was God's decision.

00:25:52.440 --> 00:25:53.079
 God decided

00:25:53.079 --> 00:25:53.680
 that when I bought

00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:54.559
 a house on Coolcrest,

00:25:54.660 --> 00:25:55.140
 I was going to buy

00:25:55.140 --> 00:25:55.900
 the green house

00:25:55.900 --> 00:25:57.120
 and not the blue house.

00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:58.160
 Okay?

00:25:59.100 --> 00:25:59.819
 It has a blue door.

00:25:59.960 --> 00:26:00.620
 That's another story.

00:26:02.019 --> 00:26:02.819
 We could go back

00:26:02.819 --> 00:26:03.819
 to last week's illustration.

00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:04.660
 Remember the kids

00:26:04.660 --> 00:26:05.539
 in the back of the car.

00:26:05.779 --> 00:26:06.740
 It's not just

00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:07.740
 that God is the one

00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:08.360
 driving us

00:26:08.360 --> 00:26:08.920
 and we know

00:26:08.920 --> 00:26:09.440
 that we're safe

00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:10.000
 because of it,

00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:11.059
 but God has decided

00:26:11.059 --> 00:26:11.860
 what road he's going

00:26:11.860 --> 00:26:12.240
 to be on.

00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:12.680
 He's decided

00:26:12.680 --> 00:26:13.380
 what speed

00:26:13.380 --> 00:26:14.319
 he's going to take it

00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:15.339
 and he's decided

00:26:15.339 --> 00:26:16.299
 where it's going.

00:26:17.720 --> 00:26:18.220
 Elections

00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:18.839
 and rulers

00:26:18.839 --> 00:26:19.299
 are not

00:26:19.299 --> 00:26:20.500
 outside of God's control.

00:26:20.700 --> 00:26:21.539
 God specifically

00:26:21.539 --> 00:26:22.900
 chose Joe Biden,

00:26:23.019 --> 00:26:23.579
 John Southers,

00:26:23.660 --> 00:26:24.640
 and Jared Polis

00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:25.860
 to rule our city,

00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:26.799
 state,

00:26:27.019 --> 00:26:27.819
 and nation.

00:26:28.380 --> 00:26:29.720
 In some way,

00:26:29.819 --> 00:26:30.380
 that's part

00:26:30.380 --> 00:26:31.240
 of his grand plan.

00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:32.200
 He's not surprised

00:26:32.200 --> 00:26:32.620
 by it.

00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:33.839
 He's using it

00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:34.779
 for his purposes.

00:26:36.180 --> 00:26:37.700
 God chose the kids

00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:38.400
 that you have.

00:26:38.480 --> 00:26:39.480
 He assigned them

00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:39.960
 to you.

00:26:40.960 --> 00:26:42.339
 God chose your spouse.

00:26:42.339 --> 00:26:45.379
 God is in control

00:26:45.379 --> 00:26:46.740
 even over the smallest

00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:48.159
 and tiniest details.

00:26:48.379 --> 00:26:48.980
 We are meant

00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:50.179
 to see this here

00:26:50.179 --> 00:26:50.879
 like Daniel

00:26:50.879 --> 00:26:52.240
 to be encouraged

00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:53.000
 in terrible

00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:53.699
 and difficult

00:26:53.699 --> 00:26:54.619
 and evil times.

00:26:54.839 --> 00:26:56.039
 When you face

00:26:56.039 --> 00:26:56.879
 challenges

00:26:56.879 --> 00:26:57.480
 and persecution

00:26:57.480 --> 00:26:58.379
 in the world,

00:26:58.500 --> 00:26:59.079
 you remember

00:26:59.079 --> 00:27:00.879
 God chose for me

00:27:00.879 --> 00:27:02.199
 to be in this situation

00:27:02.199 --> 00:27:03.039
 at this time.

00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:05.419
 And that means

00:27:05.419 --> 00:27:06.720
 that he knew

00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:07.439
 in advance

00:27:07.439 --> 00:27:08.439
 he has given me

00:27:08.439 --> 00:27:10.179
 everything I need

00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:11.180
 to stay

00:27:11.180 --> 00:27:12.519
 and stand strong.

00:27:13.740 --> 00:27:15.039
 We are able

00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:16.120
 to be encouraged

00:27:16.120 --> 00:27:17.200
 in the midst of evil

00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:17.840
 because we know

00:27:17.840 --> 00:27:18.980
 the pattern of history.

00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:20.940
 We know that God

00:27:20.940 --> 00:27:22.060
 is in absolute

00:27:22.060 --> 00:27:23.440
 and complete control

00:27:23.440 --> 00:27:24.580
 over history.

00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:26.840
 And so his people

00:27:26.840 --> 00:27:27.799
 can take hope

00:27:27.799 --> 00:27:28.779
 and courage

00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:30.580
 no matter what comes

00:27:30.580 --> 00:27:31.480
 and no matter

00:27:31.480 --> 00:27:32.500
 what happens.

00:27:35.620 --> 00:27:36.920
 And we've seen here

00:27:36.920 --> 00:27:38.340
 our encouragement,

00:27:39.220 --> 00:27:40.060
 the way that God

00:27:40.059 --> 00:27:40.879
 has given us

00:27:40.879 --> 00:27:41.599
 a pattern

00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:42.159
 and he's also

00:27:42.159 --> 00:27:43.359
 given us his control.

00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:45.000
 There's not just

00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.539
 a pattern

00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:46.480
 and a control of history,

00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:47.159
 we also see

00:27:47.159 --> 00:27:48.019
 our response

00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:49.179
 in history.

00:27:49.960 --> 00:27:50.839
 And I've quoted this

00:27:50.839 --> 00:27:51.839
 over and over again

00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:52.579
 through this series

00:27:52.579 --> 00:27:53.460
 and we're now at it.

00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:54.200
 Verse 32,

00:27:55.480 --> 00:27:56.259
 he shall seduce

00:27:56.259 --> 00:27:56.919
 with flattery

00:27:56.919 --> 00:27:57.700
 those who violate

00:27:57.700 --> 00:27:58.220
 the covenant,

00:27:58.779 --> 00:27:59.500
 but the people

00:27:59.500 --> 00:28:00.759
 who know their God

00:28:00.759 --> 00:28:02.200
 shall stand firm

00:28:02.200 --> 00:28:03.399
 and take action.

00:28:04.059 --> 00:28:04.799
 Now this is talking

00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:05.639
 about the persecution

00:28:05.639 --> 00:28:06.200
 that happened

00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:07.159
 in the second century.

00:28:07.160 --> 00:28:09.380
 And there were

00:28:09.380 --> 00:28:10.140
 some Jews

00:28:10.140 --> 00:28:11.600
 during this persecution

00:28:11.600 --> 00:28:12.700
 who abandoned

00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:13.180
 the faith.

00:28:14.279 --> 00:28:14.779
 Okay, so that's

00:28:14.779 --> 00:28:15.200
 what it's talking

00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:15.640
 about here

00:28:15.640 --> 00:28:16.360
 in verse 32.

00:28:16.519 --> 00:28:16.860
 There's some

00:28:16.860 --> 00:28:17.980
 that gave up Judaism.

00:28:18.480 --> 00:28:19.000
 They are the ones

00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:19.519
 who are seduced

00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:20.120
 with flattery

00:28:20.120 --> 00:28:20.640
 and violated

00:28:20.640 --> 00:28:21.100
 the covenant.

00:28:21.940 --> 00:28:23.160
 There's also those

00:28:23.160 --> 00:28:23.920
 who despite

00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:24.860
 the persecution

00:28:24.860 --> 00:28:26.019
 of Antiochus IV

00:28:26.019 --> 00:28:27.320
 remain strong

00:28:27.320 --> 00:28:28.160
 and firm.

00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:29.040
 Those are the ones

00:28:29.040 --> 00:28:30.380
 we're told here

00:28:30.380 --> 00:28:31.759
 who knew their God

00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:33.340
 that would stand firm

00:28:33.340 --> 00:28:34.620
 and take action.

00:28:34.619 --> 00:28:35.359
 And then we see

00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:36.779
 some more ideas here

00:28:36.779 --> 00:28:38.299
 verses 33 through 35.

00:28:38.539 --> 00:28:39.619
 What are these people doing?

00:28:39.679 --> 00:28:40.179
 We've talked about

00:28:40.179 --> 00:28:41.159
 the wise investor.

00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:42.119
 We also see the wisdom

00:28:42.119 --> 00:28:43.019
 among God's people.

00:28:43.119 --> 00:28:43.679
 Verse 33,

00:28:43.799 --> 00:28:44.979
 the wise among the people

00:28:44.979 --> 00:28:46.859
 shall make many understand.

00:28:47.959 --> 00:28:48.719
 Though for some days

00:28:48.719 --> 00:28:49.339
 they shall stumble

00:28:49.339 --> 00:28:50.299
 by sword and flame,

00:28:50.379 --> 00:28:52.139
 by captivity and plunder.

00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:54.879
 Some of the wise

00:28:54.879 --> 00:28:55.479
 shall stumble

00:28:55.479 --> 00:28:56.959
 so that they may be refined,

00:28:57.139 --> 00:28:57.619
 purified,

00:28:57.799 --> 00:28:58.699
 and made white

00:28:58.699 --> 00:28:59.879
 until the time of the end.

00:29:00.379 --> 00:29:01.379
 For it still awaits

00:29:01.379 --> 00:29:02.819
 the appointed time.

00:29:02.819 --> 00:29:05.019
 In other words,

00:29:05.599 --> 00:29:07.139
 these people stood firm

00:29:07.139 --> 00:29:08.759
 during a time of persecution

00:29:08.759 --> 00:29:10.200
 because they knew God

00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:11.139
 and they encouraged

00:29:11.139 --> 00:29:11.700
 one another.

00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:12.980
 They made mistakes

00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:14.339
 and failed at times.

00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:15.639
 God used that

00:29:15.639 --> 00:29:16.839
 to purify them

00:29:16.839 --> 00:29:18.220
 and strengthen them.

00:29:18.299 --> 00:29:19.279
 The point for us

00:29:19.279 --> 00:29:19.779
 is this.

00:29:19.980 --> 00:29:21.139
 We know

00:29:21.139 --> 00:29:22.399
 God's faithfulness.

00:29:23.079 --> 00:29:24.399
 We know his faithfulness

00:29:24.399 --> 00:29:25.359
 in terms of facts

00:29:25.359 --> 00:29:26.139
 and history.

00:29:26.299 --> 00:29:27.419
 We know his faithfulness

00:29:27.419 --> 00:29:28.159
 here to Daniel

00:29:28.159 --> 00:29:29.019
 in this book

00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:30.139
 that we're studying together.

00:29:30.419 --> 00:29:31.119
 That's part of how

00:29:31.119 --> 00:29:32.819
 we grow in knowing our God.

00:29:33.099 --> 00:29:34.279
 We know our God

00:29:34.279 --> 00:29:35.379
 throughout church history

00:29:35.379 --> 00:29:36.359
 after the scriptures

00:29:36.359 --> 00:29:37.279
 were finished being written.

00:29:37.379 --> 00:29:38.679
 We can see his faithfulness

00:29:38.679 --> 00:29:39.679
 to the church

00:29:39.679 --> 00:29:41.039
 generation after generation,

00:29:41.239 --> 00:29:42.159
 country after country,

00:29:42.599 --> 00:29:43.799
 persecution after persecution.

00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:45.279
 We know that God

00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:46.479
 remains faithful

00:29:46.479 --> 00:29:48.099
 and delivers his people.

00:29:48.279 --> 00:29:49.159
 That is part of how

00:29:49.159 --> 00:29:50.219
 we know our God

00:29:50.219 --> 00:29:51.659
 so that we can stand firm.

00:29:52.199 --> 00:29:53.079
 We know him

00:29:53.079 --> 00:29:54.159
 not just in terms of

00:29:54.159 --> 00:29:54.939
 facts and history

00:29:54.939 --> 00:29:56.000
 though we also know

00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:57.339
 our God relationally.

00:29:57.659 --> 00:29:58.479
 Remember we talked

00:29:58.479 --> 00:29:59.579
 prior in Daniel

00:29:59.579 --> 00:30:00.419
 about the fact that

00:30:00.419 --> 00:30:02.519
 prayer is what prepares us

00:30:02.519 --> 00:30:03.919
 for what's ahead of us.

00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:05.139
 We are people

00:30:05.139 --> 00:30:06.279
 who want to know God

00:30:06.279 --> 00:30:07.199
 at a personal level.

00:30:07.359 --> 00:30:08.419
 We see his answers

00:30:08.419 --> 00:30:10.099
 to prayer over and over again

00:30:10.099 --> 00:30:10.939
 throughout our lives

00:30:10.939 --> 00:30:13.000
 so that when trouble comes

00:30:13.000 --> 00:30:14.259
 we have confidence

00:30:14.259 --> 00:30:15.559
 that he's in control.

00:30:15.720 --> 00:30:16.599
 We look back

00:30:16.599 --> 00:30:17.599
 to his faithfulness

00:30:17.599 --> 00:30:18.500
 in the past

00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:19.539
 and it allows us

00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:20.679
 to know our God

00:30:20.679 --> 00:30:21.579
 and stand firm

00:30:21.579 --> 00:30:22.519
 in the present.

00:30:24.419 --> 00:30:25.460
 Remember I talked

00:30:25.460 --> 00:30:26.240
 when we were in Matthew

00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:27.619
 chapter 21

00:30:27.619 --> 00:30:29.279
 many many years ago

00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:30.079
 in 2017

00:30:30.079 --> 00:30:32.239
 I told you

00:30:32.239 --> 00:30:33.219
 a story

00:30:33.219 --> 00:30:34.399
 about a friend of mine

00:30:34.399 --> 00:30:35.239
 dealing with

00:30:35.239 --> 00:30:36.019
 unanswered prayer

00:30:36.019 --> 00:30:36.639
 and I asked him

00:30:36.639 --> 00:30:37.619
 how he stood strong

00:30:37.619 --> 00:30:38.139
 in his faith

00:30:38.139 --> 00:30:38.959
 and he told me this

00:30:38.959 --> 00:30:40.659
 you use what you've seen

00:30:40.659 --> 00:30:41.559
 in the dark

00:30:41.559 --> 00:30:42.439
 or in the light

00:30:42.439 --> 00:30:43.599
 to help you trust

00:30:43.599 --> 00:30:44.139
 in the dark.

00:30:44.919 --> 00:30:45.879
 You use what you've seen

00:30:45.879 --> 00:30:46.359
 in the light

00:30:46.359 --> 00:30:47.439
 to help you trust

00:30:47.439 --> 00:30:47.959
 in the dark.

00:30:48.399 --> 00:30:49.139
 Brothers and sisters

00:30:49.139 --> 00:30:50.159
 if we are going to be

00:30:50.159 --> 00:30:51.139
 people who know

00:30:51.139 --> 00:30:51.899
 our God

00:30:51.899 --> 00:30:53.539
 we know God now

00:30:53.539 --> 00:30:55.019
 and see his faithfulness

00:30:55.019 --> 00:30:55.659
 in the light

00:30:55.660 --> 00:30:56.960
 so that when the dark

00:30:56.960 --> 00:30:58.580
 comes we trust him.

00:30:59.340 --> 00:31:00.480
 We are able

00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:01.980
 to know our God

00:31:01.980 --> 00:31:03.340
 to stand firm

00:31:03.340 --> 00:31:04.660
 and take action.

00:31:05.880 --> 00:31:07.060
 Now it's not just 32

00:31:07.060 --> 00:31:08.060
 but verse 33

00:31:08.060 --> 00:31:09.880
 the wise among the people

00:31:09.880 --> 00:31:11.580
 shall make many understand.

00:31:12.060 --> 00:31:13.600
 So we stand firm here

00:31:13.600 --> 00:31:15.220
 not just by knowing our God

00:31:15.220 --> 00:31:16.380
 but by doing it together.

00:31:16.519 --> 00:31:17.660
 We've talked over and over

00:31:17.660 --> 00:31:18.240
 about the fact

00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:18.740
 that God

00:31:18.740 --> 00:31:20.100
 does not just call us

00:31:20.100 --> 00:31:20.600
 individually

00:31:20.600 --> 00:31:21.480
 into a relationship

00:31:21.480 --> 00:31:22.240
 with himself

00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:23.100
 but he gives us

00:31:23.100 --> 00:31:23.660
 his people

00:31:23.660 --> 00:31:24.180
 the church

00:31:24.180 --> 00:31:25.540
 that we would be able

00:31:25.540 --> 00:31:27.140
 to remind one another

00:31:27.140 --> 00:31:27.860
 of the truth.

00:31:28.220 --> 00:31:29.120
 It would be foolish

00:31:29.120 --> 00:31:29.820
 for us

00:31:29.820 --> 00:31:32.060
 to try to stand alone.

00:31:32.759 --> 00:31:33.360
 But instead

00:31:33.360 --> 00:31:34.640
 these wise people

00:31:34.640 --> 00:31:35.279
 it's not just

00:31:35.279 --> 00:31:36.160
 that they know God

00:31:36.160 --> 00:31:37.420
 but they know each other.

00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:38.259
 It's the same thing

00:31:38.259 --> 00:31:39.000
 that we talked about

00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:40.279
 at the end of 1 Peter

00:31:40.279 --> 00:31:41.279
 that there are people

00:31:41.279 --> 00:31:41.920
 who are linking

00:31:41.920 --> 00:31:43.019
 their arms together

00:31:43.019 --> 00:31:44.700
 and singing one song

00:31:44.700 --> 00:31:45.900
 so that they would be able

00:31:45.900 --> 00:31:46.960
 to move forward

00:31:46.960 --> 00:31:49.040
 no matter what is going on

00:31:49.040 --> 00:31:49.920
 in the world.

00:31:49.920 --> 00:31:52.700
 And so I'll give you

00:31:52.700 --> 00:31:53.840
 a couple more applications

00:31:53.840 --> 00:31:55.039
 here of what it looks like

00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:55.980
 to know our God

00:31:55.980 --> 00:31:57.180
 so that we can stand firm.

00:31:57.640 --> 00:31:59.039
 To be able to talk

00:31:59.039 --> 00:32:00.160
 with one another

00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:00.940
 verse 33

00:32:00.940 --> 00:32:02.480
 the wise among the people

00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:03.720
 shall make many understand.

00:32:03.880 --> 00:32:04.279
 I'm going to give you

00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:05.180
 a very simple

00:32:05.180 --> 00:32:07.519
 and extremely boring application.

00:32:09.200 --> 00:32:10.060
 One of the ways

00:32:10.060 --> 00:32:10.700
 we prepare

00:32:10.700 --> 00:32:11.680
 to stand firm

00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:13.140
 is by being here

00:32:13.140 --> 00:32:13.640
 together

00:32:13.640 --> 00:32:14.779
 on Sunday morning.

00:32:14.779 --> 00:32:18.339
 This is the place

00:32:18.339 --> 00:32:19.420
 where God

00:32:19.420 --> 00:32:20.799
 grows his people

00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:21.839
 in knowing him.

00:32:22.899 --> 00:32:24.039
 This is the place

00:32:24.039 --> 00:32:25.099
 where God grows

00:32:25.099 --> 00:32:25.700
 his people

00:32:25.700 --> 00:32:26.379
 in knowing

00:32:26.379 --> 00:32:27.299
 each other.

00:32:28.319 --> 00:32:29.500
 I want you to imagine

00:32:29.500 --> 00:32:30.200
 for a second

00:32:30.200 --> 00:32:31.920
 I know many of you

00:32:31.920 --> 00:32:33.579
 take your firearms

00:32:33.579 --> 00:32:34.440
 very seriously

00:32:34.440 --> 00:32:36.079
 I want you to imagine

00:32:36.079 --> 00:32:36.480
 someone

00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:38.160
 who brags about the gun

00:32:38.160 --> 00:32:38.579
 that they have

00:32:38.579 --> 00:32:39.259
 for home defense.

00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:39.759
 Right?

00:32:40.599 --> 00:32:41.220
 And you ask them

00:32:41.220 --> 00:32:42.200
 well when was the last time

00:32:42.200 --> 00:32:42.779
 you used it?

00:32:42.779 --> 00:32:44.879
 I can't remember.

00:32:45.899 --> 00:32:47.000
 Do you ever go to the range

00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:47.500
 and practice?

00:32:47.980 --> 00:32:48.720
 No not really.

00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:50.519
 I just have it here.

00:32:51.099 --> 00:32:51.259
 Right?

00:32:52.680 --> 00:32:54.039
 We do not rise

00:32:54.039 --> 00:32:54.779
 to the occasion

00:32:54.779 --> 00:32:56.119
 we fall

00:32:56.119 --> 00:32:56.920
 to the level

00:32:56.920 --> 00:32:57.559
 of our training.

00:32:58.759 --> 00:33:00.000
 God has provided

00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:01.000
 his worship

00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:02.160
 with his people

00:33:02.160 --> 00:33:03.279
 to prepare us

00:33:03.279 --> 00:33:04.480
 and strengthen us

00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:05.259
 for whatever

00:33:05.259 --> 00:33:06.420
 is to come ahead.

00:33:07.500 --> 00:33:08.200
 And so be

00:33:08.200 --> 00:33:09.359
 with his people.

00:33:10.599 --> 00:33:11.519
 Make it a priority

00:33:11.519 --> 00:33:12.180
 to be

00:33:12.180 --> 00:33:12.920
 in worship.

00:33:13.480 --> 00:33:14.180
 Make it a priority

00:33:14.180 --> 00:33:14.980
 to worship God

00:33:14.980 --> 00:33:15.759
 and hear from him

00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:16.440
 in his word.

00:33:16.560 --> 00:33:17.539
 That is how we grow

00:33:17.539 --> 00:33:18.779
 in knowing him.

00:33:21.980 --> 00:33:23.240
 Now we've seen here

00:33:23.240 --> 00:33:25.799
 that there's this pattern

00:33:25.799 --> 00:33:26.120
 right?

00:33:26.200 --> 00:33:27.080
 There's this control

00:33:27.080 --> 00:33:28.019
 and I started out

00:33:28.019 --> 00:33:28.640
 by telling you

00:33:28.640 --> 00:33:29.279
 about the idea

00:33:29.279 --> 00:33:29.880
 of investing

00:33:29.880 --> 00:33:30.779
 that you want to make sure

00:33:30.779 --> 00:33:31.460
 you're investing

00:33:31.460 --> 00:33:32.900
 in things that are true

00:33:32.900 --> 00:33:33.880
 and wise.

00:33:34.039 --> 00:33:34.779
 You may remember

00:33:34.779 --> 00:33:37.480
 when we were in the book

00:33:37.480 --> 00:33:38.259
 of 1 Peter

00:33:38.259 --> 00:33:39.240
 at the very beginning

00:33:39.240 --> 00:33:40.100
 we were told

00:33:40.099 --> 00:33:41.099
 about our inheritance.

00:33:41.480 --> 00:33:42.179
 What it is

00:33:42.179 --> 00:33:42.919
 that we invest in

00:33:42.919 --> 00:33:43.539
 and I'm going to turn

00:33:43.539 --> 00:33:44.019
 there now.

00:33:44.119 --> 00:33:45.019
 This is what we see

00:33:45.019 --> 00:33:46.379
 in our Lord Jesus.

00:33:46.759 --> 00:33:47.459
 We're told

00:33:47.459 --> 00:33:49.099
 verse 3

00:33:49.099 --> 00:33:50.359
 blessed be the God

00:33:50.359 --> 00:33:50.719
 and Father

00:33:50.719 --> 00:33:51.879
 of our Lord Jesus Christ.

00:33:52.559 --> 00:33:53.679
 According to his great mercy

00:33:53.679 --> 00:33:54.579
 he has caused us

00:33:54.579 --> 00:33:55.359
 to be born again

00:33:55.359 --> 00:33:56.500
 to a living hope

00:33:56.500 --> 00:33:57.480
 through the resurrection

00:33:57.480 --> 00:33:58.359
 of Jesus Christ

00:33:58.359 --> 00:33:59.240
 from the dead.

00:33:59.779 --> 00:34:00.599
 To an inheritance

00:34:00.599 --> 00:34:01.319
 listen to this

00:34:01.319 --> 00:34:02.319
 that is imperishable

00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:03.419
 undefiled

00:34:03.419 --> 00:34:04.240
 and unfading.

00:34:04.879 --> 00:34:05.740
 Kept in heaven

00:34:05.740 --> 00:34:06.480
 for you

00:34:06.480 --> 00:34:07.819
 who by God's power

00:34:07.819 --> 00:34:08.420
 are being guarded

00:34:08.420 --> 00:34:09.099
 through faith

00:34:09.099 --> 00:34:09.980
 for salvation

00:34:09.980 --> 00:34:11.539
 ready to be revealed

00:34:11.539 --> 00:34:12.400
 in the last time.

00:34:13.019 --> 00:34:14.259
 In other words

00:34:14.259 --> 00:34:15.880
 there is only one

00:34:15.880 --> 00:34:17.839
 sure and true investment.

00:34:17.840 --> 00:34:20.160
 It is the inheritance

00:34:20.160 --> 00:34:21.340
 that has been earned

00:34:21.340 --> 00:34:21.920
 for us

00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:23.240
 by Jesus Christ

00:34:23.240 --> 00:34:24.880
 and cannot be touched

00:34:24.880 --> 00:34:25.640
 by anything

00:34:25.640 --> 00:34:26.940
 in this world.

00:34:27.640 --> 00:34:28.400
 That's what it means here

00:34:28.400 --> 00:34:29.579
 that it's imperishable

00:34:29.579 --> 00:34:30.559
 undefiled

00:34:30.559 --> 00:34:31.500
 and unfading.

00:34:32.300 --> 00:34:32.820
 In other words

00:34:32.820 --> 00:34:33.940
 the only good

00:34:33.940 --> 00:34:35.420
 and true investment

00:34:35.420 --> 00:34:36.059
 is this

00:34:36.059 --> 00:34:37.300
 that we would follow

00:34:37.300 --> 00:34:38.120
 after our Lord

00:34:38.120 --> 00:34:39.320
 and Savior Jesus Christ

00:34:39.320 --> 00:34:39.820
 knowing

00:34:39.820 --> 00:34:41.640
 that he has secured

00:34:41.640 --> 00:34:42.340
 for us

00:34:42.340 --> 00:34:43.500
 something that cannot

00:34:43.500 --> 00:34:44.360
 be changed

00:34:44.360 --> 00:34:45.340
 or destroyed.

00:34:45.340 --> 00:34:46.200
 he when he came

00:34:46.200 --> 00:34:46.660
 and lived

00:34:46.660 --> 00:34:47.579
 a perfect life

00:34:47.579 --> 00:34:48.500
 on this earth

00:34:48.500 --> 00:34:49.440
 the life we should

00:34:49.440 --> 00:34:49.780
 have lived

00:34:49.780 --> 00:34:50.539
 and when he died

00:34:50.539 --> 00:34:51.000
 a death

00:34:51.000 --> 00:34:51.480
 the death

00:34:51.480 --> 00:34:51.980
 that we should

00:34:51.980 --> 00:34:52.680
 have died

00:34:52.680 --> 00:34:53.380
 to take our

00:34:53.380 --> 00:34:54.280
 punishment for sin

00:34:54.280 --> 00:34:55.840
 he at that time

00:34:55.840 --> 00:34:57.039
 earned for us

00:34:57.039 --> 00:34:58.280
 something that cannot

00:34:58.280 --> 00:34:59.019
 be changed

00:34:59.019 --> 00:34:59.860
 or shaken.

00:35:00.059 --> 00:35:00.780
 In other words

00:35:00.780 --> 00:35:02.440
 we don't risk

00:35:02.440 --> 00:35:04.140
 that for anything.

00:35:05.180 --> 00:35:06.720
 No matter what comes

00:35:06.720 --> 00:35:07.920
 no matter what happens

00:35:07.920 --> 00:35:09.380
 no matter how

00:35:09.380 --> 00:35:10.660
 evil things get

00:35:10.660 --> 00:35:11.579
 we trust

00:35:11.579 --> 00:35:12.680
 in our Lord

00:35:12.680 --> 00:35:13.380
 and Savior

00:35:13.380 --> 00:35:14.680
 Jesus Christ.

00:35:16.640 --> 00:35:17.720
 Now the first

00:35:17.720 --> 00:35:18.440
 letter

00:35:18.440 --> 00:35:19.980
 that I read

00:35:19.980 --> 00:35:20.400
 to you

00:35:20.400 --> 00:35:22.039
 came at the

00:35:22.039 --> 00:35:22.680
 end of February

00:35:22.680 --> 00:35:23.579
 as the stock market

00:35:23.579 --> 00:35:24.780
 was going up

00:35:24.780 --> 00:35:25.180
 and down.

00:35:25.800 --> 00:35:26.420
 Things continued

00:35:26.420 --> 00:35:27.800
 to get worse

00:35:27.800 --> 00:35:29.420
 and so we were sent

00:35:29.420 --> 00:35:30.420
 pastors were sent

00:35:30.420 --> 00:35:31.200
 this second letter

00:35:31.200 --> 00:35:32.240
 in March

00:35:32.240 --> 00:35:33.780
 we were told this

00:35:33.780 --> 00:35:35.660
 it is very important

00:35:35.660 --> 00:35:36.840
 that investors

00:35:36.840 --> 00:35:37.599
 maintain their

00:35:37.599 --> 00:35:38.840
 long term perspective

00:35:38.840 --> 00:35:40.119
 during this very

00:35:40.119 --> 00:35:41.099
 disappointing period.

00:35:41.500 --> 00:35:42.460
 We believe

00:35:42.460 --> 00:35:42.900
 the market

00:35:42.900 --> 00:35:43.639
 is being driven

00:35:43.639 --> 00:35:44.740
 down by investors

00:35:44.740 --> 00:35:45.500
 focused on

00:35:45.500 --> 00:35:46.559
 short term

00:35:46.559 --> 00:35:47.400
 strategies.

00:35:48.440 --> 00:35:49.440
 Staying focused

00:35:49.440 --> 00:35:50.360
 on our long term

00:35:50.360 --> 00:35:50.860
 objectives

00:35:50.860 --> 00:35:51.920
 is a winning

00:35:51.920 --> 00:35:52.500
 strategy.

00:35:53.980 --> 00:35:54.780
 One of our

00:35:54.780 --> 00:35:55.260
 board members

00:35:55.260 --> 00:35:55.880
 works for a

00:35:55.880 --> 00:35:56.840
 legendary investor

00:35:56.840 --> 00:35:57.599
 who has famously

00:35:57.599 --> 00:35:58.760
 said nervous energy

00:35:58.760 --> 00:35:59.380
 is a great

00:35:59.380 --> 00:36:00.660
 destroyer of wealth.

00:36:01.460 --> 00:36:02.280
 We are in total

00:36:02.280 --> 00:36:03.019
 agreement with this

00:36:03.019 --> 00:36:03.639
 statement and would

00:36:03.639 --> 00:36:04.519
 only add that the

00:36:04.519 --> 00:36:05.240
 peace of God

00:36:05.240 --> 00:36:06.000
 which has been

00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:06.639
 given to us

00:36:06.639 --> 00:36:07.220
 through the death

00:36:07.220 --> 00:36:07.900
 and resurrection

00:36:07.900 --> 00:36:08.800
 of Jesus Christ

00:36:08.800 --> 00:36:09.579
 is our constant

00:36:09.579 --> 00:36:10.220
 hope.

00:36:10.219 --> 00:36:12.459
 brothers and

00:36:12.459 --> 00:36:12.699
 sisters

00:36:12.699 --> 00:36:13.459
 how do we

00:36:13.459 --> 00:36:14.319
 what do we do

00:36:14.319 --> 00:36:14.980
 when we are

00:36:14.980 --> 00:36:15.679
 discouraged

00:36:15.679 --> 00:36:16.799
 when we're faced

00:36:16.799 --> 00:36:17.459
 with fear

00:36:17.459 --> 00:36:18.379
 and anger

00:36:18.379 --> 00:36:19.639
 at the evil

00:36:19.639 --> 00:36:20.199
 of the world

00:36:20.199 --> 00:36:20.839
 around us.

00:36:20.839 --> 00:36:21.759
 As Christians

00:36:21.759 --> 00:36:22.699
 we know it's

00:36:22.699 --> 00:36:23.439
 very important

00:36:23.439 --> 00:36:24.259
 that we maintain

00:36:24.259 --> 00:36:25.259
 a long term

00:36:25.259 --> 00:36:25.899
 perspective

00:36:25.899 --> 00:36:26.959
 during this

00:36:26.959 --> 00:36:27.779
 very disappointing

00:36:27.779 --> 00:36:28.199
 period.

00:36:28.759 --> 00:36:30.099
 We believe

00:36:30.099 --> 00:36:31.139
 the world

00:36:31.139 --> 00:36:32.519
 or faith

00:36:32.519 --> 00:36:33.339
 is being threatened

00:36:33.339 --> 00:36:33.899
 but in fact

00:36:33.899 --> 00:36:34.439
 that's simply

00:36:34.439 --> 00:36:35.519
 a short term

00:36:35.519 --> 00:36:36.279
 strategy.

00:36:36.280 --> 00:36:37.580
 staying focused

00:36:37.580 --> 00:36:38.960
 on our long term

00:36:38.960 --> 00:36:39.540
 goals

00:36:39.540 --> 00:36:40.800
 is a winning

00:36:40.800 --> 00:36:41.720
 strategy.

00:36:42.640 --> 00:36:43.000
 And in fact

00:36:43.000 --> 00:36:43.380
 we can be

00:36:43.380 --> 00:36:44.380
 reminded of the

00:36:44.380 --> 00:36:45.060
 words of our

00:36:45.060 --> 00:36:45.500
 Lord Jesus

00:36:45.500 --> 00:36:46.620
 in Luke chapter 9

00:36:46.620 --> 00:36:47.860
 if anyone would

00:36:47.860 --> 00:36:48.580
 come after me

00:36:48.580 --> 00:36:49.360
 let him deny

00:36:49.360 --> 00:36:49.900
 himself

00:36:49.900 --> 00:36:50.880
 and take up

00:36:50.880 --> 00:36:51.300
 his cross

00:36:51.300 --> 00:36:52.060
 daily and follow

00:36:52.060 --> 00:36:52.340
 me.

00:36:52.980 --> 00:36:53.540
 For whoever

00:36:53.540 --> 00:36:54.140
 would save

00:36:54.140 --> 00:36:54.620
 his life

00:36:54.620 --> 00:36:55.240
 will lose it

00:36:55.240 --> 00:36:55.700
 but whoever

00:36:55.700 --> 00:36:56.820
 loses his life

00:36:56.820 --> 00:36:57.680
 for my sake

00:36:57.680 --> 00:36:58.680
 will save it.

00:36:59.300 --> 00:36:59.840
 For what does

00:36:59.840 --> 00:37:00.580
 it profit a man

00:37:00.580 --> 00:37:01.300
 if he gains

00:37:01.300 --> 00:37:02.120
 the whole world

00:37:02.120 --> 00:37:03.140
 and loses

00:37:03.140 --> 00:37:04.120
 or forfeits

00:37:04.120 --> 00:37:04.840
 himself?

00:37:04.840 --> 00:37:06.360
 For whoever

00:37:06.360 --> 00:37:06.960
 is ashamed

00:37:06.960 --> 00:37:07.320
 of me

00:37:07.320 --> 00:37:07.960
 and my words

00:37:07.960 --> 00:37:08.320
 of him

00:37:08.320 --> 00:37:08.620
 will the

00:37:08.620 --> 00:37:09.079
 son of man

00:37:09.079 --> 00:37:09.640
 be ashamed

00:37:09.640 --> 00:37:10.320
 when he

00:37:10.320 --> 00:37:10.900
 comes in

00:37:10.900 --> 00:37:11.380
 his glory

00:37:11.380 --> 00:37:12.400
 in the glory

00:37:12.400 --> 00:37:12.980
 of the father

00:37:12.980 --> 00:37:13.820
 and of the

00:37:13.820 --> 00:37:14.400
 holy angels.

00:37:15.120 --> 00:37:15.620
 Brothers and

00:37:15.620 --> 00:37:16.079
 sisters the

00:37:16.079 --> 00:37:16.640
 people who

00:37:16.640 --> 00:37:17.000
 know their

00:37:17.000 --> 00:37:17.360
 God

00:37:17.360 --> 00:37:18.340
 shall stand

00:37:18.340 --> 00:37:18.720
 firm

00:37:18.720 --> 00:37:19.640
 and take

00:37:19.640 --> 00:37:20.019
 action.

00:37:20.340 --> 00:37:20.700
 Let's pray.

00:37:22.300 --> 00:37:22.980
 Our father

00:37:22.980 --> 00:37:23.320
 in heaven

00:37:23.320 --> 00:37:24.220
 we praise

00:37:24.220 --> 00:37:24.559
 you and

00:37:24.559 --> 00:37:25.120
 thank you

00:37:25.120 --> 00:37:25.720
 for your

00:37:25.720 --> 00:37:26.200
 word that

00:37:26.200 --> 00:37:26.400
 you've

00:37:26.400 --> 00:37:26.820
 given us

00:37:26.820 --> 00:37:27.360
 to encourage

00:37:27.360 --> 00:37:27.740
 us and

00:37:27.740 --> 00:37:28.120
 we ask

00:37:28.120 --> 00:37:28.480
 that we

00:37:28.480 --> 00:37:29.320
 would grow

00:37:29.320 --> 00:37:29.680
 in our

00:37:29.680 --> 00:37:30.059
 knowledge

00:37:30.059 --> 00:37:30.519
 of you

00:37:30.519 --> 00:37:31.460
 that we

00:37:31.460 --> 00:37:31.760
 would be

00:37:31.760 --> 00:37:32.180
 able to

00:37:32.180 --> 00:37:32.860
 stand firm

00:37:32.860 --> 00:37:33.400
 no matter

00:37:33.400 --> 00:37:33.760
 what.

00:37:34.180 --> 00:37:34.600
 We thank

00:37:34.599 --> 00:37:34.839
 you for

00:37:34.839 --> 00:37:34.980
 the

00:37:34.980 --> 00:37:35.440
 encouragement

00:37:35.440 --> 00:37:36.039
 you give

00:37:36.039 --> 00:37:36.500
 us as we

00:37:36.500 --> 00:37:37.079
 face the

00:37:37.079 --> 00:37:37.480
 evil in

00:37:37.480 --> 00:37:37.759
 the world

00:37:37.759 --> 00:37:38.259
 around us

00:37:38.259 --> 00:37:38.480
 and we

00:37:38.480 --> 00:37:38.819
 ask that

00:37:38.819 --> 00:37:38.980
 you'd

00:37:38.980 --> 00:37:39.360
 continue

00:37:39.360 --> 00:37:40.000
 to

00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:40.380
 strengthen

00:37:40.380 --> 00:37:40.739
 us

00:37:40.739 --> 00:37:41.440
 no

00:37:41.440 --> 00:37:41.639
 matter

00:37:41.639 --> 00:37:41.860
 what

00:37:41.860 --> 00:37:42.159
 comes.

00:37:42.219 --> 00:37:42.659
 We ask

00:37:42.659 --> 00:37:42.880
 these

00:37:42.880 --> 00:37:43.279
 things in

00:37:43.279 --> 00:37:43.579
 the mighty

00:37:43.579 --> 00:37:44.000
 name of

00:37:44.000 --> 00:37:44.199
 Jesus

00:37:44.199 --> 00:37:44.659
 Christ.

00:37:45.059 --> 00:37:45.259
 Amen.