WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.139 rest. Most people say to me before I leave, I hope you have a good rest or I hope you have a good 00:00:05.139 --> 00:00:11.900 break, that sort of stuff. It's not so much sleep that I need. I tend to sleep fairly well. I've got 00:00:11.900 --> 00:00:16.179 one of these Fitbit things that tells me when I need to go to bed and wakes me up at the right 00:00:16.179 --> 00:00:22.800 time and what sort of quality of sleep I've had. It's more the freedom from deadlines and the 00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:27.420 day-to-day burdens to be able to step out of those things and do something very different. That 00:00:27.420 --> 00:00:35.219 is rest for me. And so tonight I will crawl into bed and not have my mind on work commitments for 00:00:35.219 --> 00:00:42.400 the next day. And that will feel good. That will feel really good. I had experience recently for a 00:00:42.400 --> 00:00:47.240 long weekend where I did that, crawling to bed on a Sunday night and I wasn't thinking about, oh, 00:00:47.460 --> 00:00:54.900 I don't have to go to work tomorrow. That felt good. Now rest is a big theme in the Bible. Right 00:00:54.899 --> 00:01:00.899 the beginning. God created the world and it says that he rested from all of his work in creating. 00:01:01.739 --> 00:01:07.939 And the rest there is a picture of harmony and peace. Everything is as it should be. However, 00:01:08.039 --> 00:01:13.739 the rejection of God and the devastating effects of sin destroyed that rest. And much of the Bible 00:01:13.739 --> 00:01:24.599 from that point on is this process of God revealing his plan to undo that and to bring his people back to 00:01:24.599 --> 00:01:32.159 a state of peace and rest with him. And as we come to the end of the story of Esther today, we notice 00:01:32.159 --> 00:01:44.039 that the upshot of all that Esther has achieved was that she got rest for God's people from rest from all of 00:01:44.039 --> 00:01:50.739 their enemies. And so let's track back a little bit. Remember what's transpired to this point. 00:01:50.739 --> 00:01:57.780 Esther is the young orphan Jewish woman who became Queen of Persia around two and a half thousand years 00:01:57.780 --> 00:02:03.640 ago. In the first couple of chapters, she hides her Jewish identity. She's compliant. She wins Miss 00:02:03.640 --> 00:02:11.079 Persia beauty pageant 480 BC. And her prize is to be the wife of the most powerful man in the world at 00:02:11.079 --> 00:02:16.879 the time, King Xerxes. In chapter three, she's living the high life in the palace when all of everything 00:02:16.879 --> 00:02:25.340 turns bad. Having been convinced by the narcissistic Haman, Xerxes issues a decree to his whole empire 00:02:25.340 --> 00:02:32.740 to kill, destroy and annihilate the Jews. They're Esther's people. They're God's people. 00:02:34.579 --> 00:02:42.019 And this was all because Esther's older cousin Mordecai wouldn't acknowledge how important Haman was. 00:02:42.020 --> 00:02:49.780 Chapters four and five, Esther finally does identify with her people, goes to Xerxes to mediate a plan on 00:02:49.780 --> 00:02:56.620 behalf of those people, a rescue plan. She risks her life and uses her position in the palace to work to 00:02:56.620 --> 00:03:05.780 save God's people. Chapter six, although Haman plots to execute Mordecai, Xerxes honors Mordecai in just the 00:03:05.780 --> 00:03:14.639 time to save his life. And from that moment on, Haman's downfall is swift. In chapter seven, there's a sense of 00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:22.920 poetic justice as he is executed on the stake that he himself had built to execute Mordecai on. And Mordecai 00:03:22.920 --> 00:03:29.759 then rises to Haman's place of power. A counter edict is drawn up saying that the Jews could now defend 00:03:29.759 --> 00:03:37.359 themselves when they are attacked and they could take the plunder of their enemies. Now, I suspect 00:03:37.359 --> 00:03:44.519 that Esther and Mordecai would have been hoping with the, that edict, counter edict being drawn up, that they 00:03:44.519 --> 00:03:49.479 could put the whole thing to rest and that people wouldn't be bothered now to attack the Jews. 00:03:49.479 --> 00:03:59.139 And as we see in chapter nine, many tried anyway. The whole thing wasn't put to rest. There was an 00:03:59.139 --> 00:04:06.419 enormous amount of bloodshed and many of the Jews were killed. Clearly, there were quite a few who were 00:04:06.419 --> 00:04:12.879 willing to carry through on the original edict. They really did hate the people of God. And even in the 00:04:12.879 --> 00:04:20.740 citadel, the seat of power and influence, there were more than 500 who wanted to kill the Jews. 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:30.699 This is in the palace, more than 500. In verse 16, we see that 75,000 were killed by God's people in one 00:04:30.699 --> 00:04:38.759 day. And none of them are named, none of the killed were named, except in verses seven to nine, the 10 00:04:38.759 --> 00:04:47.680 sons of Haman with names that are impossible to pronounce. Why are they named? I think for two 00:04:47.680 --> 00:04:56.959 really important reasons. Firstly, at the end of chapter five, when Haman's ego was bruised by Mordecai, 00:04:57.099 --> 00:05:02.839 he goes home, he gathers his family and his friends around him, and he just has a little boast session, 00:05:02.839 --> 00:05:13.199 tells him how great he is. And he boasts about three things. His wealth, his authority, his sons. 00:05:15.079 --> 00:05:22.299 In chapter seven, his position was taken away from him, given to Mordecai in chapter eight. In chapter 00:05:22.299 --> 00:05:30.439 eight, his wealth is taken away from him and given to Esther. And in chapter nine, his sons are no longer. 00:05:30.439 --> 00:05:40.079 They are hung on a pole as a public spectacle. The proud has been brought low. His boasting is gone. 00:05:40.800 --> 00:05:49.379 There is nothing left to boast about. And secondly, I think the death of Haman's sons marks the reversal 00:05:49.379 --> 00:05:59.000 and the end to a mistake the king saw make back in one Samuel chapter 15 that Deb spoke about a number 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:06.779 of weeks ago. God had instructed Saul to go and attack the Amalekites and to wipe them out and not to touch 00:06:06.779 --> 00:06:15.560 their plunder. And Saul didn't wipe them out and he took the plunder. And with the death of Haman's sons, 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:21.500 we're meant to see the end of the Amalekites, the enemies of God's people. 00:06:21.500 --> 00:06:29.379 God had not forgotten his plan to judge the Amalekites. He might take his time, but his justice 00:06:29.379 --> 00:06:36.259 will end up catching up. He always punishes his enemies. And at the very least, we ought to all 00:06:36.259 --> 00:06:45.199 at this point be considering our state before God very clearly. God's silence on our sin does not mean 00:06:45.199 --> 00:06:53.879 his absence or his lack of care for it. Now, let's be frank. Many people struggle with these parts 00:06:53.879 --> 00:06:58.740 of the Old Testament that portray God's people executing God's judgment on others. 00:07:00.360 --> 00:07:08.919 But God's anger here at his enemies is not a cranky explosion. It is his settled opposition 00:07:08.920 --> 00:07:18.379 to the cancer which is eating the insides of the human race, the race that he loves with his whole 00:07:18.379 --> 00:07:28.020 being. The Bible says that God's anger flows from his love and his delight of his creation. He is angry 00:07:28.020 --> 00:07:36.439 at evil and injustice because it is destroying the peace and the integrity of what he has made. 00:07:38.920 --> 00:07:44.819 It's quite noticeable that a couple of times in chapter 9 that we are told here that the Jews did not 00:07:44.819 --> 00:07:51.620 take the wealth of their attackers, even though the edict gave them permission to do so. 00:07:53.259 --> 00:07:59.259 And that just helps us see here, just for a moment, that this bloodshed here was simply an act of 00:07:59.259 --> 00:08:08.900 self-defence. It's an act of justice on wrongdoers. This bloodshed was not an imperial action by which 00:08:08.920 --> 00:08:17.800 they were enriching themselves and increasing their power. They were simply wanted and needed relief 00:08:17.800 --> 00:08:26.900 from their enemies. And that's what they get in chapter 9, verse 17. They rested and made it a day 00:08:26.900 --> 00:08:34.180 of feasting and joy. And at this point, they ended up consecrating a new annual celebration to remember 00:08:34.179 --> 00:08:42.459 the time that they got relief from their enemies. And yet, they've been here before, many times. 00:08:43.079 --> 00:08:49.739 God's people have a track record of getting rest that doesn't last. 00:08:49.740 --> 00:08:55.519 Moses gave it to them for a little while. Joshua gave it to them for a little while. David gave it to 00:08:55.519 --> 00:08:59.700 them for a little while. Solomon gave it to them for a little while. Esther and Mordecai gives it to 00:08:59.700 --> 00:09:07.080 them for a little while. But this, even this rest that they have in this moment does not last. 00:09:09.259 --> 00:09:14.799 Tacked on the end of Esther is this awkward little postscript in chapter 10. 00:09:14.799 --> 00:09:18.979 Just a few verses. It's kind of awkward. It reads, 00:09:19.079 --> 00:09:26.259 King Xerxes imposed tribute throughout the empire to its distant shores and all his acts of power and 00:09:26.259 --> 00:09:32.459 might together with a full account of the greatness of Mordecai whom the king had promoted. 00:09:34.120 --> 00:09:43.120 And at first glance, it appears, what's that there for? Why end with those words? What's the purpose of it? 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:50.100 But if you put them in the big picture of the enormous reversal which has been experienced in the book of Esther, 00:09:50.700 --> 00:09:56.440 they show us that in the end, not a lot has actually changed. 00:09:58.759 --> 00:10:00.320 Xerxes is still king. 00:10:02.440 --> 00:10:09.960 And don't forget, it was his cold indifference that saw him write a law that allowed for the destruction of the Jews 00:10:09.960 --> 00:10:11.000 throughout the whole empire. 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:14.379 And he's still on the throne. 00:10:15.940 --> 00:10:21.759 His personal interests still remain paramount regardless of the cost to his subjects. 00:10:22.600 --> 00:10:27.759 That's what it means when it says here that he imposed tribute throughout the empire. 00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:33.000 A tribute is not a... 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:35.120 Good on Mordecai. 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:38.000 A tribute is a new tax. 00:10:39.220 --> 00:10:40.740 It's a new tax. 00:10:41.080 --> 00:10:46.720 Or, and most likely both together, it's also conscripting people into forced labour. 00:10:49.200 --> 00:10:52.720 God's people have received rest from all of their enemies 00:10:52.720 --> 00:10:55.560 except Xerxes. 00:10:56.560 --> 00:10:58.560 And he's still on the throne. 00:10:58.559 --> 00:11:02.759 It's a temporary rest. 00:11:02.899 --> 00:11:04.439 It's a fragile rest. 00:11:05.099 --> 00:11:09.519 And that's why the later prophets in the Old Testament, like Isaiah and Daniel, 00:11:09.979 --> 00:11:13.719 began to prophesy that someday the Messiah would come 00:11:13.719 --> 00:11:17.039 and he would give God's people the ultimate rest, 00:11:17.099 --> 00:11:18.159 the final rest, 00:11:18.559 --> 00:11:21.339 the final peace that God longs for. 00:11:21.340 --> 00:11:26.160 In fact, Daniel chapter 7 talks about the Son of Man 00:11:26.160 --> 00:11:28.720 who comes and he wages war, 00:11:29.340 --> 00:11:33.480 just warfare against all evil and injustice 00:11:33.480 --> 00:11:36.080 and who will bring final rest. 00:11:36.080 --> 00:11:41.120 And along comes Jesus. 00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:46.580 Jesus, 500 odd years after Esther and says, 00:11:47.080 --> 00:11:49.020 I am the Son of Man. 00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:57.020 But he wages war against God's enemies differently. 00:11:58.259 --> 00:11:59.300 In Luke chapter 9, 00:11:59.540 --> 00:12:01.500 there's a place where some people reject Jesus 00:12:01.500 --> 00:12:03.980 and they show themselves to be enemies of Jesus 00:12:03.980 --> 00:12:06.300 and enemies of God's people. 00:12:07.500 --> 00:12:09.580 And the disciples turn to Jesus 00:12:09.580 --> 00:12:13.899 and ask Jesus whether he wants them 00:12:13.899 --> 00:12:18.240 to call down fire on these people. 00:12:19.340 --> 00:12:21.519 It's like the disciples are sort of saying to Jesus, 00:12:21.680 --> 00:12:22.980 you know, Jesus, you're the Son of Man, right? 00:12:23.240 --> 00:12:25.139 And you've come to wage war, 00:12:25.320 --> 00:12:26.320 you know, final warfare 00:12:26.320 --> 00:12:28.759 on all of the enemies of God's people 00:12:28.759 --> 00:12:29.620 and to give us rest. 00:12:29.840 --> 00:12:32.180 So do you want to start now 00:12:32.179 --> 00:12:34.259 on these people? 00:12:35.099 --> 00:12:35.879 Because we don't like them. 00:12:37.139 --> 00:12:38.759 Fire down on these people? 00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:39.599 That'd be good. 00:12:43.439 --> 00:12:44.899 And Jesus rebukes him. 00:12:44.959 --> 00:12:45.439 He says, 00:12:45.739 --> 00:12:47.339 love your enemies. 00:12:48.779 --> 00:12:49.879 Forgive your enemies. 00:12:52.579 --> 00:12:55.059 And it doesn't make sense. 00:12:55.559 --> 00:12:59.299 How can that bring us rest from our enemies? 00:12:59.299 --> 00:13:03.519 And then at the very end, 00:13:04.199 --> 00:13:05.839 when his enemies come for him 00:13:05.839 --> 00:13:06.979 at the Garden of Gethsemane, 00:13:07.139 --> 00:13:10.019 the disciples finally got it. 00:13:11.459 --> 00:13:13.000 And that's when they ran. 00:13:13.859 --> 00:13:14.899 When they got it. 00:13:16.699 --> 00:13:18.339 This is the moment when Jesus, 00:13:18.500 --> 00:13:19.120 the Son of Man, 00:13:19.179 --> 00:13:19.779 is arrested 00:13:19.779 --> 00:13:20.799 and Peter 00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:23.240 draws his sword 00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:25.179 ready to die for Jesus 00:13:25.179 --> 00:13:26.279 because he thinks 00:13:26.279 --> 00:13:27.879 that this is the moment 00:13:27.879 --> 00:13:29.639 where we are going to bring destruction 00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:31.740 upon the enemies of God. 00:13:31.939 --> 00:13:33.259 It's finally a rise. 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:34.120 This is the moment 00:13:34.120 --> 00:13:35.559 when Jesus is going to rise up 00:13:35.559 --> 00:13:37.000 and he's going to defeat the Romans. 00:13:38.579 --> 00:13:39.459 And Jesus says, 00:13:39.539 --> 00:13:40.500 Peter, put your sword away. 00:13:42.679 --> 00:13:44.480 And Jesus goes with his enemies 00:13:44.480 --> 00:13:47.079 and he dies on a cross. 00:13:48.279 --> 00:13:49.959 He utters incredible words 00:13:49.959 --> 00:13:50.459 from the cross. 00:13:50.539 --> 00:13:50.799 He says, 00:13:50.899 --> 00:13:52.019 Father, forgive them 00:13:52.019 --> 00:13:53.819 for they don't know 00:13:53.819 --> 00:13:54.919 what they are doing. 00:13:57.759 --> 00:13:59.120 He forgives his enemies. 00:14:01.079 --> 00:14:02.000 Now, it's at this point 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:02.759 that many people think 00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:03.299 there's a difference 00:14:03.299 --> 00:14:04.460 between the God of the Old Testament 00:14:04.460 --> 00:14:05.579 and the God of the New Testament. 00:14:06.220 --> 00:14:07.319 You may have heard it before. 00:14:07.419 --> 00:14:08.559 The God of the Old Testament 00:14:08.559 --> 00:14:10.079 is a bloodthirsty God 00:14:10.079 --> 00:14:11.360 who's angry, 00:14:11.539 --> 00:14:12.279 capricious, 00:14:12.579 --> 00:14:13.019 evil. 00:14:13.379 --> 00:14:15.259 He doesn't like evil injustice 00:14:15.259 --> 00:14:17.840 and he's just always smiting things. 00:14:18.980 --> 00:14:20.539 Always obliterating things, 00:14:20.679 --> 00:14:21.960 annihilating things. 00:14:22.019 --> 00:14:24.759 But he's mellowed a bit 00:14:24.759 --> 00:14:25.439 by the time he gets 00:14:25.439 --> 00:14:26.259 to the New Testament. 00:14:27.559 --> 00:14:28.899 Gotten a bit older or something. 00:14:29.319 --> 00:14:29.939 Mellowed a bit 00:14:29.939 --> 00:14:31.699 and Jesus is love. 00:14:32.100 --> 00:14:33.919 Jesus just loves everybody. 00:14:34.319 --> 00:14:35.840 He just accepts everybody 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:36.699 and little kittens 00:14:36.699 --> 00:14:37.899 and children 00:14:37.899 --> 00:14:40.439 and lambs love him. 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:44.399 And yet Jesus believed 00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:45.699 in the judgment of God 00:14:45.699 --> 00:14:46.519 on evil. 00:14:47.079 --> 00:14:48.360 Jesus talked more about 00:14:48.360 --> 00:14:49.559 hell and judgment 00:14:49.559 --> 00:14:50.939 than everyone else 00:14:50.939 --> 00:14:52.000 in the Bible put together. 00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:54.259 Of course he believed 00:14:54.259 --> 00:14:55.460 in the reality of hell 00:14:55.460 --> 00:14:56.360 and the judgment of God 00:14:56.360 --> 00:14:57.120 on all sin 00:14:57.120 --> 00:14:58.039 and evil injustice. 00:14:58.559 --> 00:14:59.299 And what we have 00:14:59.299 --> 00:15:00.360 on the cross 00:15:00.360 --> 00:15:02.039 is Jesus Christ 00:15:02.039 --> 00:15:03.879 loving his enemies, 00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:06.419 forgiving his enemies, 00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:09.079 dying for his enemies. 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:11.360 And yet it's the ultimate 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:12.259 warfare 00:15:12.259 --> 00:15:14.220 and judgment 00:15:14.220 --> 00:15:15.600 on evil and injustice. 00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:19.759 He is concerned about 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:21.500 destroying the sin 00:15:21.500 --> 00:15:22.779 and the evil 00:15:22.779 --> 00:15:24.220 and the injustice 00:15:24.220 --> 00:15:26.019 that he's eating away 00:15:26.019 --> 00:15:26.720 at the world 00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:27.700 that he loves. 00:15:28.460 --> 00:15:29.680 Galatians 3.13 00:15:29.680 --> 00:15:31.019 says that Jesus 00:15:31.019 --> 00:15:33.960 was hung on a pole. 00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:36.420 He was on display 00:15:36.420 --> 00:15:38.320 as a public spectacle. 00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:40.000 It says, 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:41.840 Christ redeemed us 00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:42.500 from the curse 00:15:42.500 --> 00:15:43.080 of the law 00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:44.220 by becoming 00:15:44.220 --> 00:15:45.980 a curse for us. 00:15:46.580 --> 00:15:47.620 For as it is written, 00:15:47.820 --> 00:15:49.040 cursed is everyone 00:15:49.040 --> 00:15:50.320 who is hung 00:15:50.320 --> 00:15:51.200 on a pole. 00:15:52.080 --> 00:15:53.420 He redeemed us 00:15:53.420 --> 00:15:53.960 in order 00:15:53.960 --> 00:15:54.800 that the blessing 00:15:54.800 --> 00:15:55.540 of Abraham 00:15:55.540 --> 00:15:56.360 might come 00:15:56.360 --> 00:15:57.200 to the Gentiles 00:15:57.200 --> 00:15:58.320 through Christ Jesus 00:15:58.320 --> 00:16:00.000 so that by faith 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:01.600 we might receive 00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:02.300 the promise 00:16:02.300 --> 00:16:03.780 of the Spirit. 00:16:03.779 --> 00:16:06.159 You see, 00:16:06.279 --> 00:16:07.659 Jesus trades places 00:16:07.659 --> 00:16:08.220 with us 00:16:08.220 --> 00:16:08.959 and becomes 00:16:08.959 --> 00:16:09.720 a curse 00:16:09.720 --> 00:16:10.980 for us. 00:16:11.439 --> 00:16:12.559 He takes God's anger 00:16:12.559 --> 00:16:13.339 and his judgment 00:16:13.339 --> 00:16:13.839 for us. 00:16:14.079 --> 00:16:15.059 He's made a spectacle 00:16:15.059 --> 00:16:16.299 for our sin 00:16:16.299 --> 00:16:16.959 and our evil 00:16:16.959 --> 00:16:17.899 and our injustice. 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:19.639 You see, 00:16:19.799 --> 00:16:20.399 what the cross 00:16:20.399 --> 00:16:21.339 of Christ reveals 00:16:21.339 --> 00:16:22.500 is that God 00:16:22.500 --> 00:16:24.539 is concerned 00:16:24.539 --> 00:16:25.819 to destroy 00:16:25.819 --> 00:16:27.299 evil, 00:16:27.439 --> 00:16:28.240 injustice and sin 00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:28.980 but he's not so much 00:16:28.980 --> 00:16:29.819 concerned to destroy 00:16:29.819 --> 00:16:30.919 that enemy over there 00:16:30.919 --> 00:16:32.279 and that enemy over there. 00:16:32.279 --> 00:16:34.620 he is very concerned 00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:35.559 to destroy 00:16:35.559 --> 00:16:37.139 enmity. 00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:41.699 He's very concerned 00:16:41.699 --> 00:16:42.539 to destroy 00:16:42.539 --> 00:16:43.740 enmity. 00:16:44.179 --> 00:16:44.919 That is 00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:46.439 hostility. 00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:49.199 That's what he wants 00:16:49.199 --> 00:16:49.819 to destroy. 00:16:50.559 --> 00:16:51.379 In Ephesians 2 00:16:51.379 --> 00:16:51.919 we are told 00:16:51.919 --> 00:16:52.559 that on the cross 00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:53.319 Jesus killed 00:16:53.319 --> 00:16:54.059 the enmity 00:16:54.059 --> 00:16:55.259 that divides me 00:16:55.259 --> 00:16:55.740 from you 00:16:55.740 --> 00:16:56.519 and you from you. 00:16:57.919 --> 00:16:58.799 The enmity 00:16:58.799 --> 00:16:59.899 that divides us 00:16:59.899 --> 00:17:00.399 as people 00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:01.159 from God. 00:17:02.279 --> 00:17:03.139 the hostility 00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:03.939 that exists 00:17:03.939 --> 00:17:05.059 and he killed 00:17:05.059 --> 00:17:06.119 the enmity 00:17:06.119 --> 00:17:07.619 that exists. 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:08.779 You see, 00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:09.420 if Jesus 00:17:09.420 --> 00:17:10.639 had said to Peter 00:17:10.639 --> 00:17:11.460 go nuts 00:17:11.460 --> 00:17:12.079 in the Garden 00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:12.700 of Gethsemane 00:17:12.700 --> 00:17:13.519 use your sword 00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:13.920 and in fact 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:14.519 all the disciples 00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:15.359 let's all whip out 00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:15.740 our swords 00:17:15.740 --> 00:17:16.339 and go nuts 00:17:16.339 --> 00:17:17.039 on these guys 00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:17.920 and destroy 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:18.579 the Romans 00:17:18.579 --> 00:17:21.299 he would have 00:17:21.299 --> 00:17:22.180 given his people 00:17:22.180 --> 00:17:23.160 in that moment 00:17:23.160 --> 00:17:24.259 temporary 00:17:24.259 --> 00:17:25.319 rest 00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:27.059 from one 00:17:27.059 --> 00:17:27.980 particular enemy 00:17:27.980 --> 00:17:31.779 but when he died 00:17:31.779 --> 00:17:32.279 on the cross 00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:33.079 for our sin 00:17:33.079 --> 00:17:35.279 he was destroying 00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:35.859 sin 00:17:35.859 --> 00:17:36.779 and evil 00:17:36.779 --> 00:17:37.359 and injustice 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:37.859 and death 00:17:37.859 --> 00:17:38.339 itself. 00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:40.859 He became 00:17:40.859 --> 00:17:41.500 the curse 00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:42.779 he was hung 00:17:42.779 --> 00:17:43.519 on a pole 00:17:43.519 --> 00:17:44.720 and turned away 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:45.299 the anger 00:17:45.299 --> 00:17:45.960 of God 00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:47.759 the cross 00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:48.779 is the ultimate 00:17:48.779 --> 00:17:49.659 warfare 00:17:49.659 --> 00:17:51.240 against God's 00:17:51.240 --> 00:17:51.779 enemies 00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:52.000 enemies 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:54.720 because it 00:17:54.720 --> 00:17:55.639 kills the enmity 00:17:55.639 --> 00:17:57.599 the hostility. 00:17:58.920 --> 00:17:59.779 This is so 00:17:59.779 --> 00:18:00.379 important to 00:18:00.379 --> 00:18:00.740 grasp. 00:18:02.460 --> 00:18:03.819 If someone 00:18:03.819 --> 00:18:04.539 wrongs you 00:18:04.539 --> 00:18:05.379 in some way 00:18:05.379 --> 00:18:06.440 maybe they've 00:18:06.440 --> 00:18:06.819 hurt your 00:18:06.819 --> 00:18:07.399 reputation 00:18:07.399 --> 00:18:08.039 or something 00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:08.700 most people 00:18:08.700 --> 00:18:09.420 would conclude 00:18:09.420 --> 00:18:10.559 that you have 00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:11.539 a perfect right 00:18:11.539 --> 00:18:12.220 to tell everyone 00:18:12.220 --> 00:18:13.200 else about it. 00:18:14.180 --> 00:18:14.839 Tell them 00:18:14.839 --> 00:18:15.319 what's happened 00:18:15.319 --> 00:18:15.859 and therefore 00:18:15.859 --> 00:18:16.539 what you're doing 00:18:16.539 --> 00:18:17.200 in that moment 00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:18.259 is you're ruining 00:18:18.259 --> 00:18:19.420 their reputation. 00:18:19.420 --> 00:18:22.740 or if a person 00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:23.539 has robbed you 00:18:23.539 --> 00:18:24.160 of happiness 00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:25.259 or in love 00:18:25.259 --> 00:18:26.640 we tend to think 00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:27.080 that we have 00:18:27.080 --> 00:18:27.940 every right 00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:28.660 to withdraw 00:18:28.660 --> 00:18:31.120 from that person 00:18:31.120 --> 00:18:31.720 to withhold 00:18:31.720 --> 00:18:32.720 from that person 00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:34.160 our love. 00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:36.060 We can go 00:18:36.060 --> 00:18:36.759 really cold 00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:37.259 with them 00:18:37.259 --> 00:18:39.000 and so that 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:39.860 we hurt them 00:18:39.860 --> 00:18:40.279 and we hurt 00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:40.860 their happiness 00:18:40.860 --> 00:18:41.720 and their love. 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:42.820 We're really good 00:18:42.820 --> 00:18:43.880 at this in marriage 00:18:43.880 --> 00:18:44.980 especially. 00:18:46.460 --> 00:18:47.240 Wife doesn't 00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:47.880 treat me the way 00:18:47.880 --> 00:18:48.220 I want 00:18:48.220 --> 00:18:48.779 doesn't give me 00:18:48.779 --> 00:18:49.340 what I want 00:18:49.339 --> 00:18:49.779 so I'm just 00:18:49.779 --> 00:18:50.199 going to go 00:18:50.199 --> 00:18:50.439 over here 00:18:50.439 --> 00:18:50.699 and I'm just 00:18:50.699 --> 00:18:50.980 going to go 00:18:50.980 --> 00:18:52.099 cold shoulder 00:18:52.099 --> 00:18:52.720 until I get 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:53.279 what I want. 00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:57.099 Great at that. 00:18:57.179 --> 00:18:57.919 That's our 00:18:57.919 --> 00:18:59.039 default human 00:18:59.039 --> 00:18:59.579 position. 00:19:00.299 --> 00:19:01.839 Our position 00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:02.819 in the human 00:19:02.819 --> 00:19:03.220 heart 00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:04.500 is to respond 00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:06.679 to evil 00:19:06.679 --> 00:19:07.139 force 00:19:07.139 --> 00:19:08.179 with hurtful 00:19:08.179 --> 00:19:08.779 force. 00:19:09.379 --> 00:19:10.459 Evil force 00:19:10.459 --> 00:19:11.139 hurtful 00:19:11.139 --> 00:19:11.639 force. 00:19:13.480 --> 00:19:14.319 Our default 00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:14.859 position 00:19:14.859 --> 00:19:15.639 is to 00:19:15.639 --> 00:19:16.319 whack 00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:17.119 the enemy 00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:19.079 even if 00:19:19.079 --> 00:19:19.299 it is 00:19:19.299 --> 00:19:19.459 our 00:19:19.459 --> 00:19:19.819 spouse. 00:19:22.059 --> 00:19:22.739 And if 00:19:22.739 --> 00:19:23.239 you whack 00:19:23.239 --> 00:19:23.819 them hard 00:19:23.819 --> 00:19:24.279 enough 00:19:24.279 --> 00:19:25.139 you will 00:19:25.139 --> 00:19:25.939 get rest. 00:19:30.219 --> 00:19:31.039 That's because 00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:31.559 they're 00:19:31.559 --> 00:19:32.179 dead 00:19:32.179 --> 00:19:34.219 or they're 00:19:34.219 --> 00:19:34.699 gone 00:19:34.699 --> 00:19:35.239 or they're 00:19:35.239 --> 00:19:35.979 debilitated 00:19:35.979 --> 00:19:36.439 or they're 00:19:36.439 --> 00:19:37.039 in hospital 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:37.439 they're 00:19:37.439 --> 00:19:38.199 humiliated 00:19:38.199 --> 00:19:39.099 or something's 00:19:39.099 --> 00:19:39.479 happened. 00:19:39.480 --> 00:19:43.920 if you 00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:44.200 whack 00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:44.400 them 00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:44.740 hard 00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:45.140 enough 00:19:45.140 --> 00:19:45.519 you 00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:45.900 will 00:19:45.900 --> 00:19:46.440 win 00:19:46.440 --> 00:19:48.259 with 00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:48.480 that 00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:48.819 enemy 00:19:48.819 --> 00:19:51.079 for a 00:19:51.079 --> 00:19:51.339 moment. 00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:53.120 On the 00:19:53.120 --> 00:19:53.539 train on 00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:53.880 Wednesday 00:19:53.880 --> 00:19:54.920 I was 00:19:54.920 --> 00:19:55.440 heading back 00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:55.779 up this 00:19:55.779 --> 00:19:56.160 way and 00:19:56.160 --> 00:19:56.380 there were 00:19:56.380 --> 00:19:56.680 a couple 00:19:56.680 --> 00:19:57.240 of guys 00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:57.920 standing 00:19:57.920 --> 00:19:58.599 beside me 00:19:58.599 --> 00:19:59.319 talking about 00:19:59.319 --> 00:19:59.880 some work 00:19:59.880 --> 00:20:00.339 scenario 00:20:00.339 --> 00:20:01.740 and from 00:20:01.740 --> 00:20:02.160 what I could 00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:02.539 gather 00:20:02.539 --> 00:20:03.539 and I tell 00:20:03.539 --> 00:20:03.900 you what 00:20:03.900 --> 00:20:04.220 it's 00:20:04.220 --> 00:20:05.039 everything to 00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:05.539 me not to 00:20:05.539 --> 00:20:05.960 jump in on 00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:06.620 this conversation 00:20:06.619 --> 00:20:07.399 but for 00:20:07.399 --> 00:20:07.779 what I could 00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:08.000 gather 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:08.479 one of the 00:20:08.479 --> 00:20:09.059 guys had 00:20:09.059 --> 00:20:09.679 just finished 00:20:09.679 --> 00:20:10.179 up on a 00:20:10.179 --> 00:20:11.099 job and 00:20:11.099 --> 00:20:11.619 it ended 00:20:11.619 --> 00:20:12.279 fairly badly 00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:12.599 with the 00:20:12.599 --> 00:20:12.959 boss. 00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:15.159 And these 00:20:15.159 --> 00:20:15.819 two guys 00:20:15.819 --> 00:20:16.799 were really 00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:18.459 bad-mouthing 00:20:18.459 --> 00:20:19.099 this guy 00:20:19.099 --> 00:20:21.519 and for 00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:21.939 what I could 00:20:21.939 --> 00:20:22.299 gather 00:20:22.299 --> 00:20:23.379 that this 00:20:23.379 --> 00:20:24.419 guy who 00:20:24.419 --> 00:20:24.879 finished up 00:20:24.879 --> 00:20:25.199 the job 00:20:25.199 --> 00:20:25.459 and his 00:20:25.459 --> 00:20:25.959 boss were 00:20:25.959 --> 00:20:26.639 bad-mouthing 00:20:26.639 --> 00:20:27.159 each other 00:20:27.159 --> 00:20:27.559 in their 00:20:27.559 --> 00:20:28.199 fairly small 00:20:28.199 --> 00:20:28.679 industry. 00:20:29.239 --> 00:20:29.479 And the 00:20:29.479 --> 00:20:30.039 other gentleman 00:20:30.039 --> 00:20:30.559 there was 00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:31.779 giving him 00:20:31.779 --> 00:20:34.199 advice on 00:20:34.199 --> 00:20:34.819 how he can 00:20:34.819 --> 00:20:35.179 win. 00:20:36.619 --> 00:20:37.419 And he 00:20:37.419 --> 00:20:37.919 mentioned a 00:20:37.919 --> 00:20:38.299 bunch of 00:20:38.299 --> 00:20:40.039 stuff and 00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:41.559 a few 00:20:41.559 --> 00:20:42.059 things that 00:20:42.059 --> 00:20:42.439 he could 00:20:42.439 --> 00:20:43.839 manipulate in 00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:44.559 the scenario 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:45.859 and leverage 00:20:45.859 --> 00:20:46.599 to beat 00:20:46.599 --> 00:20:47.079 his former 00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:47.539 boss. 00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:49.099 His 00:20:49.099 --> 00:20:49.859 conflict 00:20:49.859 --> 00:20:50.519 management 00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:51.239 advice 00:20:51.239 --> 00:20:51.919 included a 00:20:51.919 --> 00:20:52.219 heap of 00:20:52.219 --> 00:20:52.659 threats, 00:20:53.159 --> 00:20:53.619 manipulation 00:20:53.619 --> 00:20:54.259 and 00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:55.059 expletive 00:20:55.059 --> 00:20:55.419 laden 00:20:55.419 --> 00:20:55.959 sentences. 00:20:56.979 --> 00:20:57.959 Just say 00:20:57.959 --> 00:20:58.599 this to him 00:20:58.599 --> 00:20:58.799 and I'm 00:20:58.799 --> 00:20:59.099 thinking oh 00:20:59.099 --> 00:20:59.399 that's going 00:20:59.399 --> 00:20:59.799 to inflame 00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:00.339 it, that's 00:21:00.339 --> 00:21:00.539 going to 00:21:00.539 --> 00:21:00.859 inflame 00:21:00.859 --> 00:21:01.000 it. 00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:02.619 You see 00:21:02.619 --> 00:21:02.979 what was 00:21:02.979 --> 00:21:03.419 happening in 00:21:03.419 --> 00:21:04.059 that moment 00:21:04.059 --> 00:21:06.039 evil force 00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:07.500 hurtful 00:21:07.500 --> 00:21:08.019 force. 00:21:11.720 --> 00:21:12.500 Someone will 00:21:12.500 --> 00:21:12.980 come out the 00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:13.720 victor, someone 00:21:13.720 --> 00:21:14.420 will lose. 00:21:14.759 --> 00:21:15.039 You've 00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:15.579 whacked the 00:21:15.579 --> 00:21:16.220 only enemy 00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:17.940 but all 00:21:17.940 --> 00:21:18.319 you've done 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:18.639 is made 00:21:18.639 --> 00:21:18.980 the enemy 00:21:18.980 --> 00:21:19.460 worse. 00:21:20.420 --> 00:21:20.759 That's all 00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:20.899 you've 00:21:20.899 --> 00:21:21.099 done. 00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:24.799 The 00:21:24.799 --> 00:21:25.839 enmity, the 00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:26.980 hostility between 00:21:26.980 --> 00:21:27.399 you and the 00:21:27.399 --> 00:21:28.059 enemy is still 00:21:28.059 --> 00:21:28.299 there. 00:21:29.379 --> 00:21:29.980 It's still 00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:30.240 there. 00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:31.799 When you 00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:32.480 fight evil 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:33.119 with evil 00:21:33.119 --> 00:21:33.839 you don't 00:21:33.839 --> 00:21:34.759 beat evil, 00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:36.019 evil wins. 00:21:36.039 --> 00:21:38.379 and it 00:21:38.379 --> 00:21:38.779 wins in 00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:39.420 two ways. 00:21:39.859 --> 00:21:41.519 Firstly, you 00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:42.920 become harder. 00:21:43.819 --> 00:21:44.460 You become 00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:45.019 colder. 00:21:45.579 --> 00:21:46.319 But most of 00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:46.599 all you 00:21:46.599 --> 00:21:47.359 become self 00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:47.759 righteous. 00:21:48.460 --> 00:21:48.799 You say 00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:49.399 things like I 00:21:49.399 --> 00:21:49.839 can't believe 00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:50.279 that person 00:21:50.279 --> 00:21:50.759 did that. 00:21:51.119 --> 00:21:51.599 I can't 00:21:51.599 --> 00:21:51.920 believe they 00:21:51.920 --> 00:21:52.299 said that. 00:21:52.339 --> 00:21:52.619 I would 00:21:52.619 --> 00:21:53.339 never do 00:21:53.339 --> 00:21:53.619 that. 00:21:56.099 --> 00:21:56.579 So evil 00:21:56.579 --> 00:21:57.159 wins firstly 00:21:57.159 --> 00:21:57.460 that way. 00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:57.940 The second 00:21:57.940 --> 00:21:58.680 way that evil 00:21:58.680 --> 00:21:59.639 wins is when 00:21:59.639 --> 00:22:00.480 you whack an 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:01.240 enemy back 00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:02.420 you make 00:22:02.420 --> 00:22:03.259 them more 00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:03.899 of an 00:22:03.899 --> 00:22:04.279 enemy. 00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:06.619 even if 00:22:06.619 --> 00:22:06.960 they are 00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:07.259 dead. 00:22:10.119 --> 00:22:10.359 The 00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:10.940 children might 00:22:10.940 --> 00:22:11.420 come after 00:22:11.420 --> 00:22:11.599 you. 00:22:11.920 --> 00:22:12.619 Haman's a 00:22:12.619 --> 00:22:13.319 classic case 00:22:13.319 --> 00:22:13.599 here. 00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:15.160 Haman's 00:22:15.160 --> 00:22:15.460 bitterness 00:22:15.460 --> 00:22:16.220 towards God 00:22:16.220 --> 00:22:16.839 people was 00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:17.519 carried over 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:18.259 from centuries 00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:18.720 before. 00:22:21.099 --> 00:22:21.940 Or maybe 00:22:21.940 --> 00:22:22.379 the enemy 00:22:22.379 --> 00:22:23.200 will regroup 00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:23.879 and be more 00:22:23.879 --> 00:22:24.599 angry than 00:22:24.599 --> 00:22:24.960 ever. 00:22:25.619 --> 00:22:26.039 It just 00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:26.899 goes on 00:22:26.899 --> 00:22:27.899 and on 00:22:27.899 --> 00:22:28.899 and on 00:22:28.899 --> 00:22:29.899 and on. 00:22:29.900 --> 00:22:32.580 the best 00:22:32.580 --> 00:22:33.140 way to 00:22:33.140 --> 00:22:33.580 defeat 00:22:33.580 --> 00:22:34.220 evil and 00:22:34.220 --> 00:22:34.800 injustice 00:22:34.800 --> 00:22:36.040 the best 00:22:36.040 --> 00:22:36.380 way to 00:22:36.380 --> 00:22:36.880 defeat 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:37.540 an enemy 00:22:37.540 --> 00:22:38.600 is with 00:22:38.600 --> 00:22:39.200 good. 00:22:40.880 --> 00:22:41.880 The cross 00:22:41.880 --> 00:22:42.460 of Jesus 00:22:42.460 --> 00:22:42.980 Christ 00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:43.960 changes the 00:22:43.960 --> 00:22:44.420 warfare 00:22:44.420 --> 00:22:45.500 against evil 00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:46.300 and injustice 00:22:46.300 --> 00:22:47.740 so that now 00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:48.380 the way we 00:22:48.380 --> 00:22:49.320 handle enemies 00:22:49.320 --> 00:22:50.180 is by loving 00:22:50.180 --> 00:22:50.580 them and 00:22:50.580 --> 00:22:51.240 forgiving them. 00:22:51.780 --> 00:22:52.640 We overcome 00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:53.259 evil with 00:22:53.259 --> 00:22:53.640 good. 00:22:54.140 --> 00:22:54.460 We don't 00:22:54.460 --> 00:22:55.360 respond to 00:22:55.360 --> 00:22:56.360 evil force 00:22:56.360 --> 00:22:56.940 with hurtful 00:22:56.940 --> 00:22:57.259 force. 00:22:57.259 --> 00:22:57.839 we respond 00:22:57.839 --> 00:22:58.339 to evil 00:22:58.339 --> 00:23:00.019 force with 00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:00.900 something more 00:23:00.900 --> 00:23:01.460 powerful, 00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:02.660 grace. 00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:05.779 Grace is 00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:06.400 powerful. 00:23:07.140 --> 00:23:07.579 Grace 00:23:07.579 --> 00:23:08.619 destroys 00:23:08.619 --> 00:23:09.559 enmity. 00:23:10.119 --> 00:23:10.420 There is 00:23:10.420 --> 00:23:11.019 nothing more 00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:11.480 formidable, 00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:13.000 nothing more 00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:14.440 violent in 00:23:14.440 --> 00:23:15.220 the best 00:23:15.220 --> 00:23:16.460 possible way 00:23:16.460 --> 00:23:17.539 than 00:23:17.539 --> 00:23:18.720 grace. 00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:25.220 You may, 00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:25.980 for those who 00:23:25.980 --> 00:23:26.400 are cultural 00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:27.000 buffs amongst 00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:27.259 us, 00:23:27.480 --> 00:23:27.980 les mis, 00:23:29.079 --> 00:23:30.640 Jean Valjean, 00:23:31.400 --> 00:23:32.180 the interaction 00:23:32.180 --> 00:23:32.759 with the 00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:33.299 bishop right 00:23:33.299 --> 00:23:33.960 at the end 00:23:33.960 --> 00:23:35.859 when the 00:23:35.859 --> 00:23:36.299 bishop says, 00:23:36.460 --> 00:23:37.680 oh, you 00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:38.079 stole the 00:23:38.079 --> 00:23:38.579 candlesticks, 00:23:38.660 --> 00:23:39.180 I told you 00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:39.480 to take 00:23:39.480 --> 00:23:40.240 everything else. 00:23:40.660 --> 00:23:41.259 Jean Valjean 00:23:41.259 --> 00:23:41.759 walks away 00:23:41.759 --> 00:23:42.099 from that 00:23:42.099 --> 00:23:42.619 moment and 00:23:42.619 --> 00:23:43.119 he says, 00:23:43.660 --> 00:23:44.759 grace did 00:23:44.759 --> 00:23:45.720 violence to 00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:46.519 his soul. 00:23:50.579 --> 00:23:51.359 Nothing more 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:51.819 violent in the 00:23:51.819 --> 00:23:52.400 best possible way 00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:52.920 than grace. 00:23:53.140 --> 00:23:53.480 And get 00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:54.240 this, this 00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:54.799 is so 00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:55.500 important. 00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:57.339 when you 00:23:57.339 --> 00:23:58.279 give somebody 00:23:58.279 --> 00:23:59.019 grace, 00:23:59.819 --> 00:24:00.680 when you 00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:01.539 forgive them, 00:24:02.099 --> 00:24:02.900 and especially 00:24:02.900 --> 00:24:03.759 your enemies, 00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:05.500 you give them 00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:06.240 the prospect 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:06.980 of becoming 00:24:06.980 --> 00:24:07.720 a friend. 00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:11.480 And that 00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:12.400 is the only 00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:13.559 way to 00:24:13.559 --> 00:24:14.240 truly to 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:15.079 destroy an 00:24:15.079 --> 00:24:15.480 enemy, 00:24:16.019 --> 00:24:17.700 is to make 00:24:17.700 --> 00:24:18.039 them a 00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:18.299 friend. 00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:19.799 It's the only 00:24:19.799 --> 00:24:20.079 way. 00:24:20.079 --> 00:24:22.079 God's 00:24:22.079 --> 00:24:23.079 God's 00:24:23.079 --> 00:24:24.079 God's 00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:26.199 enemies to 00:24:26.199 --> 00:24:27.079 God's 00:24:27.079 --> 00:24:27.339 friends. 00:24:27.339 --> 00:24:27.579 He was 00:24:27.579 --> 00:24:28.379 changing us 00:24:28.379 --> 00:24:28.819 from being 00:24:28.819 --> 00:24:29.299 God's 00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:30.220 enemies to 00:24:30.220 --> 00:24:31.299 God's 00:24:31.299 --> 00:24:31.939 friends. 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:34.039 Rather than 00:24:34.039 --> 00:24:35.279 smiting us 00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:36.179 and whacking 00:24:36.179 --> 00:24:37.599 us, he 00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:38.119 dealt with 00:24:38.119 --> 00:24:38.740 the righteous 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:40.480 anger because 00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:41.079 of our 00:24:41.079 --> 00:24:43.099 evil by 00:24:43.099 --> 00:24:43.500 whacking 00:24:43.500 --> 00:24:45.579 himself to 00:24:45.579 --> 00:24:46.059 make us 00:24:46.059 --> 00:24:46.759 his friends. 00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:50.200 the minute 00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:50.900 we grasp 00:24:50.900 --> 00:24:51.539 hold of 00:24:51.539 --> 00:24:52.319 that, the 00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:52.740 minute we 00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:53.619 grasp hold 00:24:53.619 --> 00:24:54.500 of that, it 00:24:54.500 --> 00:24:55.379 changes us 00:24:55.379 --> 00:24:55.920 from being 00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:56.660 an enemy 00:24:56.660 --> 00:24:58.339 to a 00:24:58.339 --> 00:25:00.160 friend of 00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:00.500 God. 00:25:02.379 --> 00:25:03.119 And what 00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:03.759 that does is 00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:04.180 it sends 00:25:04.180 --> 00:25:04.819 you out 00:25:04.819 --> 00:25:06.519 into this 00:25:06.519 --> 00:25:08.759 world at 00:25:08.759 --> 00:25:09.960 truly being 00:25:09.960 --> 00:25:10.599 at rest 00:25:10.599 --> 00:25:11.720 with your 00:25:11.720 --> 00:25:12.119 enemies. 00:25:12.119 --> 00:25:12.319 enemies. 00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:14.000 If you 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:15.259 understand the 00:25:15.259 --> 00:25:16.059 good news of 00:25:16.059 --> 00:25:16.659 what Jesus 00:25:16.659 --> 00:25:17.159 has done 00:25:17.159 --> 00:25:18.139 for you, you 00:25:18.139 --> 00:25:19.039 get rest from 00:25:19.039 --> 00:25:19.619 your enemies. 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:20.119 And this is 00:25:20.119 --> 00:25:20.779 how it works. 00:25:21.639 --> 00:25:21.959 Do you 00:25:21.959 --> 00:25:22.679 truly believe 00:25:22.679 --> 00:25:23.219 that Jesus 00:25:23.219 --> 00:25:24.019 Christ had to 00:25:24.019 --> 00:25:24.579 die for you 00:25:24.579 --> 00:25:25.119 because you 00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:25.579 are that 00:25:25.579 --> 00:25:27.059 bad, that 00:25:27.059 --> 00:25:27.839 sinful, that 00:25:27.839 --> 00:25:28.379 evil, that 00:25:28.379 --> 00:25:28.859 unjust? 00:25:29.399 --> 00:25:29.899 Do you 00:25:29.899 --> 00:25:30.559 believe that 00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:31.279 you are that 00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:31.879 sinful that 00:25:31.879 --> 00:25:32.619 nothing less 00:25:32.619 --> 00:25:32.979 than the 00:25:32.979 --> 00:25:33.339 Son of 00:25:33.339 --> 00:25:34.319 God dying 00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:34.599 on the 00:25:34.599 --> 00:25:35.099 cross could 00:25:35.099 --> 00:25:35.839 save you? 00:25:37.099 --> 00:25:38.219 That is 00:25:38.219 --> 00:25:39.000 humbling. 00:25:40.419 --> 00:25:41.199 The cross 00:25:41.199 --> 00:25:42.019 of Christ is 00:25:42.019 --> 00:25:42.519 tumbling. 00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:44.019 It inoculates 00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:45.039 you against 00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:45.720 what evil 00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:46.440 does to 00:25:46.440 --> 00:25:47.339 keep itself 00:25:47.339 --> 00:25:48.099 going in 00:25:48.099 --> 00:25:48.759 this world. 00:25:49.119 --> 00:25:49.779 When someone 00:25:49.779 --> 00:25:50.379 does something 00:25:50.379 --> 00:25:51.059 wrong to you, 00:25:51.180 --> 00:25:51.940 when an enemy 00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:53.019 insults you, 00:25:53.180 --> 00:25:53.920 the first thing 00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:54.639 that happens is 00:25:54.639 --> 00:25:55.339 we jump on our 00:25:55.339 --> 00:25:56.359 high horse of 00:25:56.359 --> 00:25:57.460 self-righteousness, 00:25:57.619 --> 00:25:58.619 we get angry. 00:25:59.660 --> 00:26:00.700 And that's 00:26:00.700 --> 00:26:01.220 what helps 00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:02.359 evil continue 00:26:02.359 --> 00:26:03.559 to go around 00:26:03.559 --> 00:26:04.099 and around 00:26:04.099 --> 00:26:04.660 and around. 00:26:07.940 --> 00:26:08.700 I'm not 00:26:08.700 --> 00:26:09.259 like that. 00:26:09.639 --> 00:26:09.980 You've 00:26:09.980 --> 00:26:10.500 whacked me, 00:26:10.660 --> 00:26:11.059 I'm going to 00:26:11.059 --> 00:26:11.700 whack you. 00:26:12.019 --> 00:26:14.440 the good 00:26:14.440 --> 00:26:14.819 news of 00:26:14.819 --> 00:26:15.259 Jesus dying 00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:15.480 on the 00:26:15.480 --> 00:26:15.980 cross for 00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:17.240 me tells 00:26:17.240 --> 00:26:18.400 me that I 00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:18.819 am no 00:26:18.819 --> 00:26:19.180 better. 00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:20.379 I am a 00:26:20.379 --> 00:26:21.339 sinner saved 00:26:21.339 --> 00:26:21.960 by sheer 00:26:21.960 --> 00:26:22.779 grace and 00:26:22.779 --> 00:26:23.559 if that is 00:26:23.559 --> 00:26:24.240 your place 00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:25.039 of refuge, 00:26:25.539 --> 00:26:26.799 then the 00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:28.359 evil one 00:26:28.359 --> 00:26:29.639 and evil 00:26:29.639 --> 00:26:30.240 and injustice 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:30.980 and sin 00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:32.019 doesn't have 00:26:32.019 --> 00:26:33.420 any place to 00:26:33.420 --> 00:26:33.700 get a 00:26:33.700 --> 00:26:34.240 foothold in 00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:34.879 your life. 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:37.119 The enemy 00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:37.420 of the 00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:37.940 Christian can 00:26:37.940 --> 00:26:38.379 no longer 00:26:38.379 --> 00:26:39.319 destroy them 00:26:39.319 --> 00:26:40.319 because they 00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:40.980 can't make 00:26:40.980 --> 00:26:41.500 you hate 00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:41.799 them. 00:26:43.799 --> 00:26:44.579 If you 00:26:44.579 --> 00:26:45.139 hate your 00:26:45.139 --> 00:26:45.599 enemy, 00:26:46.339 --> 00:26:48.240 then you 00:26:48.240 --> 00:26:48.879 don't know 00:26:48.879 --> 00:26:49.339 that you 00:26:49.339 --> 00:26:49.740 are a 00:26:49.740 --> 00:26:50.240 sinner saved 00:26:50.240 --> 00:26:50.899 by grace. 00:26:52.119 --> 00:26:52.939 You don't 00:26:52.939 --> 00:26:53.359 know that. 00:26:55.279 --> 00:26:56.059 If you 00:26:56.059 --> 00:26:56.579 haven't been 00:26:56.579 --> 00:26:57.139 humbled by 00:26:57.139 --> 00:26:57.659 the Christian 00:26:57.659 --> 00:26:58.319 gospel of 00:26:58.319 --> 00:26:58.859 God dying 00:26:58.859 --> 00:26:59.339 on the cross 00:26:59.339 --> 00:26:59.859 for you, 00:27:00.279 --> 00:27:00.779 if you 00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:01.480 haven't truly 00:27:01.480 --> 00:27:03.799 seen that, 00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:05.299 then you 00:27:05.299 --> 00:27:05.980 are so 00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:06.419 vulnerable. 00:27:06.420 --> 00:27:08.920 if you 00:27:08.920 --> 00:27:09.340 don't have 00:27:09.340 --> 00:27:09.779 rest from 00:27:09.779 --> 00:27:10.300 your enemies, 00:27:10.400 --> 00:27:10.860 your enemies 00:27:10.860 --> 00:27:11.519 can destroy 00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:11.840 you and 00:27:11.840 --> 00:27:12.120 they can 00:27:12.120 --> 00:27:12.800 control you, 00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:13.519 they can 00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:14.380 manipulate you 00:27:14.380 --> 00:27:15.000 and the 00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:15.420 Christian 00:27:15.420 --> 00:27:15.840 gospel 00:27:15.840 --> 00:27:17.220 humbles you 00:27:17.220 --> 00:27:18.039 so that 00:27:18.039 --> 00:27:18.259 you are 00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:18.900 able to 00:27:18.900 --> 00:27:20.160 resist what 00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:20.680 the enemy 00:27:20.680 --> 00:27:21.259 does to 00:27:21.259 --> 00:27:21.539 you. 00:27:22.740 --> 00:27:23.080 And now 00:27:23.080 --> 00:27:23.340 you can 00:27:23.340 --> 00:27:23.700 go out in 00:27:23.700 --> 00:27:24.000 the world 00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:24.340 and you 00:27:24.340 --> 00:27:25.120 can give 00:27:25.120 --> 00:27:25.820 enemies 00:27:25.820 --> 00:27:26.360 what you 00:27:26.360 --> 00:27:26.779 got from 00:27:26.779 --> 00:27:27.180 Jesus. 00:27:27.940 --> 00:27:28.320 You can 00:27:28.320 --> 00:27:28.980 forgive them, 00:27:29.600 --> 00:27:30.180 reach out to 00:27:30.180 --> 00:27:30.480 them, be 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:31.160 gracious to 00:27:31.160 --> 00:27:31.380 them. 00:27:31.740 --> 00:27:32.100 More and 00:27:32.100 --> 00:27:32.880 more enemies 00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:33.980 will then 00:27:33.980 --> 00:27:34.860 become friends, 00:27:34.940 --> 00:27:35.440 not all of 00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:35.820 them, but 00:27:35.819 --> 00:27:36.700 many will 00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:37.179 become 00:27:37.179 --> 00:27:37.679 friends. 00:27:42.200 --> 00:27:42.960 That's what 00:27:42.960 --> 00:27:43.480 we need. 00:27:44.519 --> 00:27:45.639 That's true 00:27:45.639 --> 00:27:46.519 and genuine 00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:47.279 and enduring 00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:47.839 rest. 00:27:48.659 --> 00:27:49.419 And that's 00:27:49.419 --> 00:27:50.259 what we all 00:27:50.259 --> 00:27:50.960 need and 00:27:50.960 --> 00:27:51.679 that's what 00:27:51.679 --> 00:27:52.759 the Lord 00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:53.599 Jesus has 00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:54.299 secured for 00:27:54.299 --> 00:27:54.799 us and 00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:55.679 promises us. 00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:57.919 And it's a 00:27:57.919 --> 00:27:58.379 rest that we 00:27:58.379 --> 00:27:58.939 can have both 00:27:58.939 --> 00:28:00.240 now and a 00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:00.839 rest that just 00:28:00.839 --> 00:28:01.619 goes on and 00:28:01.619 --> 00:28:02.879 on into all 00:28:02.879 --> 00:28:03.319 the future 00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:03.919 and eternity. 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:05.820 Jesus gives 00:28:05.820 --> 00:28:06.360 us rest for 00:28:06.360 --> 00:28:07.240 ourselves now. 00:28:07.340 --> 00:28:07.740 Jesus says 00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:08.100 this in 00:28:08.100 --> 00:28:08.720 Matthew 11. 00:28:09.120 --> 00:28:09.380 He says, 00:28:09.500 --> 00:28:09.860 Come to me 00:28:09.860 --> 00:28:10.340 all who are 00:28:10.340 --> 00:28:10.920 weary and 00:28:10.920 --> 00:28:11.500 burdened and 00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:12.039 I will give 00:28:12.039 --> 00:28:12.600 you rest. 00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:13.340 Take my 00:28:13.340 --> 00:28:13.880 yoke upon 00:28:13.880 --> 00:28:14.380 you and 00:28:14.380 --> 00:28:14.840 learn from 00:28:14.840 --> 00:28:15.220 me for 00:28:15.220 --> 00:28:15.440 I am 00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:15.920 gentle and 00:28:15.920 --> 00:28:16.320 humble in 00:28:16.320 --> 00:28:17.000 heart and 00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:17.320 you will 00:28:17.320 --> 00:28:17.920 find rest 00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:18.340 for your 00:28:18.340 --> 00:28:18.860 souls. 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:20.320 Many 00:28:20.320 --> 00:28:21.100 people today 00:28:21.100 --> 00:28:21.840 speak about 00:28:21.840 --> 00:28:22.200 a deep 00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:22.640 hunger in 00:28:22.640 --> 00:28:22.940 the human 00:28:22.940 --> 00:28:23.220 heart. 00:28:23.340 --> 00:28:23.680 People are 00:28:23.680 --> 00:28:24.700 hungry for 00:28:24.700 --> 00:28:25.279 love and 00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:25.920 security and 00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:26.680 significance and 00:28:26.680 --> 00:28:27.019 meaning. 00:28:27.400 --> 00:28:27.700 And Jesus 00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:27.880 says, 00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:28.320 I'm the bread 00:28:28.320 --> 00:28:28.720 of life. 00:28:28.840 --> 00:28:29.100 Feed them 00:28:29.100 --> 00:28:29.400 mean you 00:28:29.400 --> 00:28:29.700 never be 00:28:29.700 --> 00:28:30.039 hungry. 00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:31.220 Many walk 00:28:31.220 --> 00:28:31.839 in darkness 00:28:31.839 --> 00:28:32.980 and disillusionment 00:28:32.980 --> 00:28:33.720 and despair. 00:28:34.099 --> 00:28:34.420 And Jesus 00:28:34.420 --> 00:28:34.599 says, 00:28:34.659 --> 00:28:35.220 I'm the light 00:28:35.220 --> 00:28:35.759 of the world. 00:28:36.019 --> 00:28:36.339 If you 00:28:36.339 --> 00:28:36.839 follow me, 00:28:36.899 --> 00:28:37.119 you will 00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:37.680 never walk 00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:38.159 in darkness. 00:28:38.299 --> 00:28:38.599 Instead, 00:28:38.700 --> 00:28:38.980 you'll have 00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:39.339 the light 00:28:39.339 --> 00:28:39.839 of life. 00:28:40.159 --> 00:28:40.579 Others are 00:28:40.579 --> 00:28:41.079 fearful of 00:28:41.079 --> 00:28:41.339 death. 00:28:41.420 --> 00:28:41.740 And Jesus 00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:41.940 says, 00:28:41.960 --> 00:28:42.279 I'm the 00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:42.700 resurrection 00:28:42.700 --> 00:28:43.019 of the 00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:43.420 life. 00:28:43.819 --> 00:28:44.119 He who 00:28:44.119 --> 00:28:44.680 believes in 00:28:44.680 --> 00:28:45.079 me will 00:28:45.079 --> 00:28:45.799 live even 00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:46.139 though he 00:28:46.139 --> 00:28:46.500 dies. 00:28:46.579 --> 00:28:46.779 And whoever 00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:47.220 lives and 00:28:47.220 --> 00:28:47.639 believes in 00:28:47.639 --> 00:28:48.279 me will 00:28:48.279 --> 00:28:49.079 never die. 00:28:49.779 --> 00:28:50.180 Others are 00:28:50.180 --> 00:28:50.700 burdened by 00:28:50.700 --> 00:28:51.319 worry and 00:28:51.319 --> 00:28:52.039 anxiety and 00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:52.680 fear and 00:28:52.680 --> 00:28:52.899 guilt. 00:28:53.000 --> 00:28:53.220 And Jesus 00:28:53.220 --> 00:28:53.379 says, 00:28:53.420 --> 00:28:53.700 come to 00:28:53.700 --> 00:28:53.879 me, 00:28:54.119 --> 00:28:54.440 all who 00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:55.019 are weary 00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:56.299 and burdened, 00:28:56.559 --> 00:28:57.099 and I 00:28:57.099 --> 00:28:57.859 will give 00:28:57.859 --> 00:28:58.959 you rest. 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:00.439 That's the 00:29:00.439 --> 00:29:00.980 promise of 00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:01.799 rest for 00:29:01.799 --> 00:29:02.259 our souls 00:29:02.259 --> 00:29:02.899 right now 00:29:02.899 --> 00:29:03.139 as we 00:29:03.139 --> 00:29:03.480 come to 00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:03.980 Jesus. 00:29:05.500 --> 00:29:05.859 And yet 00:29:05.859 --> 00:29:06.219 the best 00:29:06.219 --> 00:29:06.639 is yet to 00:29:06.639 --> 00:29:07.059 come for 00:29:07.059 --> 00:29:07.480 those who 00:29:07.480 --> 00:29:07.939 trust in 00:29:07.939 --> 00:29:08.299 Jesus. 00:29:08.919 --> 00:29:09.240 Jesus 00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:09.740 secured 00:29:09.740 --> 00:29:10.299 final, 00:29:10.899 --> 00:29:11.439 perfect, 00:29:12.099 --> 00:29:12.879 never-ending 00:29:12.879 --> 00:29:13.879 rest in 00:29:13.879 --> 00:29:14.419 God's new 00:29:14.419 --> 00:29:14.899 creation. 00:29:15.859 --> 00:29:16.399 The rest 00:29:16.399 --> 00:29:17.740 of unspoiled 00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:18.439 love between 00:29:18.439 --> 00:29:18.779 you and 00:29:18.779 --> 00:29:19.099 God. 00:29:19.219 --> 00:29:19.679 No enemies. 00:29:20.759 --> 00:29:21.099 The rest 00:29:21.099 --> 00:29:21.859 of temptation 00:29:21.859 --> 00:29:22.279 and our 00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:23.119 inbuilt drift 00:29:23.119 --> 00:29:24.179 away from 00:29:24.179 --> 00:29:24.500 God. 00:29:24.619 --> 00:29:24.959 The rest 00:29:24.959 --> 00:29:25.419 from the 00:29:25.419 --> 00:29:26.480 shaming cycle 00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:27.079 of failing, 00:29:27.099 --> 00:29:27.379 failure and 00:29:27.379 --> 00:29:28.179 confession and 00:29:28.179 --> 00:29:28.919 trying harder 00:29:28.919 --> 00:29:29.480 and failure 00:29:29.480 --> 00:29:30.059 and confession 00:29:30.059 --> 00:29:30.879 and rest 00:29:30.879 --> 00:29:31.139 from the 00:29:31.139 --> 00:29:31.659 opposition of 00:29:31.659 --> 00:29:32.000 the world, 00:29:32.139 --> 00:29:32.399 rest from 00:29:32.399 --> 00:29:32.879 all sickness 00:29:32.879 --> 00:29:33.359 and pain 00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:33.939 and disability 00:29:33.939 --> 00:29:34.599 and death, 00:29:34.939 --> 00:29:35.219 rest from 00:29:35.219 --> 00:29:35.899 everything that 00:29:35.899 --> 00:29:36.240 takes the 00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:36.759 gloss of this 00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:37.119 life. 00:29:37.480 --> 00:29:37.779 And that 00:29:37.779 --> 00:29:38.159 is the 00:29:38.159 --> 00:29:38.980 rest that 00:29:38.980 --> 00:29:40.359 Jesus offers 00:29:40.359 --> 00:29:41.539 his people 00:29:41.539 --> 00:29:42.500 right now. 00:29:42.579 --> 00:29:42.919 It's what he 00:29:42.919 --> 00:29:43.480 has secured 00:29:43.480 --> 00:29:44.639 for you right 00:29:44.639 --> 00:29:45.079 now. 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:48.439 And so 00:29:48.439 --> 00:29:49.919 we come to 00:29:49.919 --> 00:29:50.639 the end of 00:29:50.639 --> 00:29:51.719 Esther. 00:29:53.559 --> 00:29:54.639 Six weeks 00:29:54.639 --> 00:29:55.599 looking at 00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:57.079 pride and 00:29:57.079 --> 00:29:58.579 identity in 00:29:58.579 --> 00:30:00.199 Christ and 00:30:00.199 --> 00:30:00.819 a bunch of 00:30:00.819 --> 00:30:01.519 other stuff. 00:30:02.879 --> 00:30:03.159 And the 00:30:03.159 --> 00:30:04.139 last verse 00:30:04.139 --> 00:30:04.679 of chapter 00:30:04.679 --> 00:30:05.339 eight is 00:30:05.339 --> 00:30:05.679 where I 00:30:05.679 --> 00:30:05.919 want to 00:30:05.919 --> 00:30:06.419 take some 00:30:06.419 --> 00:30:06.679 of you 00:30:06.679 --> 00:30:07.359 right now. 00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:10.759 It says, 00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:12.980 Jews and 00:30:12.980 --> 00:30:13.900 many people 00:30:13.900 --> 00:30:14.920 of other 00:30:14.920 --> 00:30:15.819 nationalities 00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:17.039 became Jews 00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:18.180 because fear 00:30:18.180 --> 00:30:18.500 of the 00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:19.660 Jews had 00:30:19.660 --> 00:30:20.379 seized them. 00:30:21.460 --> 00:30:22.019 That is, 00:30:22.920 --> 00:30:23.680 what was 00:30:23.680 --> 00:30:24.680 remarkable at 00:30:24.680 --> 00:30:25.039 the end of 00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:25.700 chapter eight 00:30:25.700 --> 00:30:26.680 is that many 00:30:26.680 --> 00:30:28.480 people across 00:30:28.480 --> 00:30:29.200 the Persian 00:30:29.200 --> 00:30:31.059 empire identified 00:30:31.059 --> 00:30:31.819 with the 00:30:31.819 --> 00:30:32.299 people of 00:30:32.299 --> 00:30:32.660 God. 00:30:33.039 --> 00:30:34.200 They identified 00:30:34.200 --> 00:30:35.200 with the 00:30:35.200 --> 00:30:35.759 God of the 00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:36.920 Bible and 00:30:36.920 --> 00:30:38.000 they too 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:38.980 enjoyed the 00:30:38.980 --> 00:30:40.120 rest of 00:30:40.120 --> 00:30:40.980 chapter nine 00:30:40.980 --> 00:30:41.839 and ten 00:30:41.839 --> 00:30:43.099 and the 00:30:43.099 --> 00:30:43.980 celebration of 00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:44.740 joy and 00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:45.319 happiness. 00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:47.299 And so as 00:30:47.299 --> 00:30:47.960 we come to 00:30:47.960 --> 00:30:48.720 our time, 00:30:48.839 --> 00:30:49.140 the end of 00:30:49.140 --> 00:30:49.660 our time in 00:30:49.660 --> 00:30:50.000 Esther, 00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:53.200 this is a 00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:53.980 decision time 00:30:53.980 --> 00:30:54.440 for you. 00:30:55.880 --> 00:30:56.860 It might be 00:30:56.860 --> 00:30:57.360 that you don't 00:30:57.360 --> 00:30:58.200 have that place 00:30:58.200 --> 00:30:58.900 of rest right 00:30:58.900 --> 00:30:59.240 now. 00:31:01.120 --> 00:31:01.920 And maybe 00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:02.880 today is the 00:31:02.880 --> 00:31:03.360 day that you 00:31:03.360 --> 00:31:03.920 need to make 00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:04.599 that decision 00:31:04.599 --> 00:31:05.859 to have 00:31:05.859 --> 00:31:06.539 that rest. 00:31:09.059 --> 00:31:09.839 Come to 00:31:09.839 --> 00:31:10.439 Jesus, 00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:12.619 end the 00:31:12.619 --> 00:31:13.459 warfare on 00:31:13.459 --> 00:31:13.959 God, 00:31:14.579 --> 00:31:15.559 and find 00:31:15.559 --> 00:31:16.419 true and 00:31:16.419 --> 00:31:17.319 enduring rest 00:31:17.319 --> 00:31:17.740 for your 00:31:17.740 --> 00:31:18.119 soul. 00:31:19.179 --> 00:31:20.039 If that's 00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:20.379 you, 00:31:21.119 --> 00:31:21.559 I'd be 00:31:21.559 --> 00:31:22.439 really glad 00:31:22.439 --> 00:31:23.019 to speak to 00:31:23.019 --> 00:31:23.359 you after 00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:23.959 the service.