WEBVTT

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 Lord, as we wrap up one year,

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 we just thank you for your faithfulness

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 that you've made manifest to us

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 this past year.

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 And as we look to a new year, Lord,

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 we ask that you would

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 become even more precious

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 in our eyes and in our hearts.

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 We want to know you more.

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 And so, Lord, we ask that you speak to us

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 through your word today.

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 Lord, I'm asking that you would,

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 by the power of your Holy Spirit,

00:00:26.760 --> 00:00:28.679
 speak through me to all of us.

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 Lord, I need your help.

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 Lord, I'm not adequate on my own

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 to speak the words you would have me

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 speak from your word.

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 So I'm asking you for your help.

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 Lord, for our good, for the glory of your name,

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 Lord, speak through me today.

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 Lord, we look to you in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Please be seated.

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 If you'd like to follow along,

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 we have Bibles here at the front.

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 You can grab and borrow for today

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 or take home if you need a copy of the Bible.

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 Please turn with me to Psalm 46.

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 As you do so,

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 I want to tell you about

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 Tuesday, January 12, 2010.

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 I received a phone call from Diane Scharf,

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 many of you know from this congregation,

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 a good friend of mine.

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 She called and asked how my sister Sarah was doing.

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 And I assured her she was doing really well.

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 She had just had a good holiday with us

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 at the Christmas season.

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 And she said,

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 no, something about an earthquake in Haiti.

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 And I assured her that

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 I didn't know what she was talking about,

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 but if I heard anything,

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 I'd let her know and thanked her for calling

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 and hung up the phone.

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 Then I went over to the internet

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 and Googled Haiti earthquake.

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 And to my horror,

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 I saw the first images of that earthquake

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 many of us will remember

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 following along in the news.

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 Well, for the next few hours,

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 few agonizing hours,

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 my family kept going to her Facebook

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 and checking online

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 to see if there's anything

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 that would let us know

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 that my sister Sarah was okay.

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 Eventually, we found out

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 that she was alive

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 and she was okay.

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 But okay is a relative term.

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 For all, like my sister,

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 and all in Haiti,

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 the time of the earthquake

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 was absolutely horrifying.

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 For those who lived like my sister,

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 they all had friends or family

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 who had perished

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 as the country crumbled.

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 My sister had gone down

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 to teach school

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 at a mission base.

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 And when she'd gone down

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 months before,

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 Haiti was already

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 in a state of tragedy

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 as the country is so poor

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 and so broken.

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 So when the earthquake came

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 and the few foundations

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 they did have crumbled,

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 it was just absolutely horrifying.

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 I remember clicking refresh

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 every few minutes

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 to see if there's any news updates

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 and the death toll numbers

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 were just skyrocketing.

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 It was horrifying.

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 And although my sister was okay,

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 it was really traumatizing

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 for her and for everyone

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 who lived through that time.

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 It was so painful.

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 And I didn't fully realize

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 how it affected me

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 until the next New Year

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 because New Year's

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 is a really precious time

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 in my family.

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 We often get together,

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 friends come over

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 and we play ice hockey

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 on the outdoor rink

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 and we watch some

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 family-friendly films.

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 We have a beautiful time

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 of worship and prayer

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 dedicating the New Year

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 to the Lord.

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 And 2010 was especially

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 a year that I was

00:03:00.659 --> 00:03:01.280
 looking forward to.

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 I was really confident

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 about a number of things

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 that were going to come.

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 And so the fact that

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 the earthquake came

00:03:07.159 --> 00:03:08.139
 on January 12th

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 just after this New Year

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 that was supposed to be

00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:10.579
 so precious to me

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 had got underway

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 and just out of nowhere,

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 bam!

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 This earthquake

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 shook everything.

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 And although it was

00:03:16.519 --> 00:03:17.379
 so far away in Haiti,

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 it was so close at home

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 that it affected my sister.

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 And so as the next New Year

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 was coming up,

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 I found myself looking forward

00:03:24.539 --> 00:03:25.099
 to the future

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 with this fear.

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 When is the next book

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 going to fall on our heads?

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 And I share the story

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 not because I necessarily

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 think you care about

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 my New Year's experiences,

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 but because I think

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 it's very common

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 for all of us

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 who, if you've lived

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 a few minutes

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 on this earth,

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 then you've probably

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 experienced the reality

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 of pain and suffering

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 that can be part

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 of the human condition.

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 And so it can be

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 a very normal human feeling

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 to look to the future

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 with a sense of dread.

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 What's in store?

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 And so,

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 as George asked me

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 to pray,

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 to preach today

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 and I was praying

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 for the church

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 and what God would have

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 for us in the New Year,

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 God really put on my heart

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 to go through a passage

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 that would show us

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 a biblical way

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 to view the future,

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 a biblical way

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 to see the New Year.

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 And so,

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 as we turn to Psalm 46,

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 and I won't read it all

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 because Nora

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 had just read it

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 in her powerful,

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 powerful scripture

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 reading voice.

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 Let's look at it.

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 The mountains

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 are often seen

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 as the things

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 that do not move,

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 those things in our lives

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 that we can count on

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 in every situation,

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 whereas the sea

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 and the oceans

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 are seen as those things

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 that are in flux

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 and changing

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 and it's the great unknown.

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 And in the passage

00:04:35.139 --> 00:04:36.019
 that Nora just read,

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 Psalm 46,

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 we see the mountains

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 giving way

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 and falling to the heart

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 of the sea.

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 It's those things

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 that should be firm,

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 it should not move,

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 are just crumbling

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 and those things

00:04:45.000 --> 00:04:45.720
 that are in flux

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 and changing

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 are just swelling up.

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 And yet we see

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 the psalmist saying

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 in Psalm 46

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 that though that may be

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 the case

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 and though that may be

00:04:53.259 --> 00:04:53.780
 in the future,

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 we don't need to fear.

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 God is a refuge

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 and strength,

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 a very present help

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 in trouble.

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 Therefore,

00:05:00.319 --> 00:05:01.040
 we will not fear

00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:01.540
 though the earth

00:05:01.540 --> 00:05:02.060
 gives way,

00:05:02.500 --> 00:05:03.060
 though the mountains

00:05:03.060 --> 00:05:03.639
 be moved

00:05:03.639 --> 00:05:04.259
 into the heart

00:05:04.259 --> 00:05:04.800
 of the sea,

00:05:05.360 --> 00:05:05.900
 though its waters

00:05:05.900 --> 00:05:06.920
 roar and foam,

00:05:07.319 --> 00:05:07.800
 though the mountains

00:05:07.800 --> 00:05:08.939
 tremble at its swelling.

00:05:11.240 --> 00:05:12.840
 One of the beautiful things

00:05:12.840 --> 00:05:14.000
 that first springs up

00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:14.660
 from this passage

00:05:14.660 --> 00:05:15.900
 is that the Bible

00:05:15.900 --> 00:05:16.939
 is very real

00:05:16.939 --> 00:05:17.780
 about the reality

00:05:17.780 --> 00:05:18.439
 of suffering

00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:19.280
 and pain

00:05:19.280 --> 00:05:20.019
 in our lives.

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 The Bible

00:05:21.160 --> 00:05:22.040
 doesn't pretend

00:05:22.040 --> 00:05:22.460
 about it,

00:05:22.500 --> 00:05:23.180
 it's real

00:05:23.180 --> 00:05:24.120
 about the reality

00:05:24.120 --> 00:05:24.620
 of pain

00:05:24.620 --> 00:05:25.100
 and suffering

00:05:25.100 --> 00:05:25.740
 in our lives.

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 Now this is really

00:05:27.519 --> 00:05:28.500
 special and unique

00:05:28.500 --> 00:05:29.460
 because there's a lot

00:05:29.460 --> 00:05:30.400
 of philosophies

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 and spiritualities

00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:31.879
 on this planet

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 that try to deal

00:05:33.620 --> 00:05:34.300
 with pain and suffering

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 by ignoring them.

00:05:35.480 --> 00:05:35.819
 There's a lot

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 of Eastern philosophies

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 and spiritualities

00:05:37.740 --> 00:05:38.420
 such as Buddhism

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 where the way

00:05:39.319 --> 00:05:39.819
 that you deal

00:05:39.819 --> 00:05:40.360
 with the reality

00:05:40.360 --> 00:05:41.199
 of pain and suffering

00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:41.780
 with earthquakes

00:05:41.780 --> 00:05:42.379
 in our lives,

00:05:42.500 --> 00:05:44.319
 it's just a matter

00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:45.680
 of separating yourself

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 from it,

00:05:45.980 --> 00:05:46.640
 just meditating

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 and it's all

00:05:48.500 --> 00:05:48.980
 in your mind

00:05:48.980 --> 00:05:49.319
 and you're going

00:05:49.319 --> 00:05:50.360
 to connect somehow

00:05:50.360 --> 00:05:50.980
 with something

00:05:50.980 --> 00:05:51.939
 that's more real

00:05:51.939 --> 00:05:52.480
 than a pain.

00:05:53.280 --> 00:05:54.259
 The Bible doesn't say

00:05:54.259 --> 00:05:54.840
 that the pain

00:05:54.840 --> 00:05:55.200
 isn't real,

00:05:55.259 --> 00:05:55.879
 the Bible treats

00:05:55.879 --> 00:05:56.620
 pain as real.

00:05:57.580 --> 00:05:58.259
 And it's not only

00:05:58.259 --> 00:05:59.280
 the Eastern philosophies

00:05:59.280 --> 00:06:00.100
 that you might encounter

00:06:00.100 --> 00:06:01.379
 a way of looking

00:06:01.379 --> 00:06:02.000
 at life that tries

00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:02.780
 to separate itself

00:06:02.780 --> 00:06:03.319
 from pain.

00:06:03.800 --> 00:06:04.960
 I've done a number

00:06:04.960 --> 00:06:05.819
 of initiatives

00:06:05.819 --> 00:06:06.540
 and work

00:06:06.540 --> 00:06:07.900
 in fighting human

00:06:07.899 --> 00:06:08.339
 trafficking

00:06:08.339 --> 00:06:09.199
 and sexual abuse.

00:06:09.659 --> 00:06:11.399
 One of the first,

00:06:11.579 --> 00:06:12.939
 the great hindrances

00:06:12.939 --> 00:06:14.319
 to people finding healing

00:06:14.319 --> 00:06:16.159
 is that when a child

00:06:16.159 --> 00:06:17.339
 or someone of any age

00:06:17.339 --> 00:06:18.439
 really comes to their family,

00:06:18.560 --> 00:06:19.039
 their parents,

00:06:19.139 --> 00:06:19.560
 their teachers

00:06:19.560 --> 00:06:20.939
 and tells them

00:06:20.939 --> 00:06:21.419
 that they're getting

00:06:21.419 --> 00:06:22.519
 sexually abused,

00:06:22.620 --> 00:06:24.179
 it's a very normal response

00:06:24.179 --> 00:06:24.919
 for people to say,

00:06:24.979 --> 00:06:26.000
 oh, it's just a game

00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:27.139
 or to downplay it

00:06:27.139 --> 00:06:27.620
 in some way

00:06:27.620 --> 00:06:28.639
 that we don't want

00:06:28.639 --> 00:06:29.459
 to deal with reality

00:06:29.459 --> 00:06:30.199
 of pain and suffering.

00:06:30.279 --> 00:06:30.939
 It's too painful,

00:06:31.099 --> 00:06:32.759
 especially if the abuser

00:06:32.759 --> 00:06:33.819
 is someone close to home.

00:06:33.919 --> 00:06:34.659
 It's too painful

00:06:34.659 --> 00:06:35.579
 to think that

00:06:35.579 --> 00:06:36.359
 that might be the case

00:06:36.359 --> 00:06:37.339
 and so people try

00:06:37.339 --> 00:06:38.000
 to act as if

00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:39.259
 it's not really happening.

00:06:40.159 --> 00:06:41.399
 And the tragedy

00:06:41.399 --> 00:06:42.060
 of that is that

00:06:42.060 --> 00:06:42.399
 you're not going

00:06:42.399 --> 00:06:43.060
 to find healing

00:06:43.060 --> 00:06:43.959
 unless if you deal

00:06:43.959 --> 00:06:44.919
 with the real situation,

00:06:45.179 --> 00:06:46.239
 if you deal with the pain.

00:06:46.659 --> 00:06:47.839
 And we see in Psalm 46

00:06:47.839 --> 00:06:48.500
 that the psalmist

00:06:48.500 --> 00:06:49.799
 does not beat around

00:06:49.799 --> 00:06:50.239
 the bush,

00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:51.219
 it speaks that

00:06:51.219 --> 00:06:52.659
 though there may be times

00:06:52.659 --> 00:06:53.439
 where the mountains

00:06:53.439 --> 00:06:54.339
 fall into the heart

00:06:54.339 --> 00:06:54.799
 of the sea,

00:06:55.479 --> 00:06:56.399
 we don't need to fear.

00:06:56.819 --> 00:06:57.599
 So just as the Bible

00:06:57.599 --> 00:06:58.439
 is real about pain

00:06:58.439 --> 00:06:58.899
 and suffering,

00:06:59.019 --> 00:06:59.679
 the Bible is real

00:06:59.679 --> 00:07:00.579
 about our refuge.

00:07:01.039 --> 00:07:02.039
 A refuge is a place

00:07:02.039 --> 00:07:02.859
 you go for shelter

00:07:02.860 --> 00:07:03.460
 and protection

00:07:03.460 --> 00:07:04.300
 when there is

00:07:04.300 --> 00:07:06.020
 some type of enemy

00:07:06.020 --> 00:07:08.460
 or difficulty,

00:07:08.740 --> 00:07:09.340
 danger coming.

00:07:09.620 --> 00:07:10.379
 So for example,

00:07:10.580 --> 00:07:12.860
 if you are in the Midwest

00:07:12.860 --> 00:07:13.840
 and a tornado is coming

00:07:13.840 --> 00:07:14.280
 to your house

00:07:14.280 --> 00:07:15.319
 and you run to the cellar,

00:07:15.580 --> 00:07:16.160
 that cellar,

00:07:16.199 --> 00:07:16.720
 your cellar,

00:07:16.759 --> 00:07:17.620
 becomes your refuge.

00:07:18.040 --> 00:07:18.800
 Or if there's an earthquake

00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:19.620
 and it's not as big

00:07:19.620 --> 00:07:20.199
 as the one in Haiti,

00:07:20.259 --> 00:07:21.439
 you can run to the doorposts

00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:21.920
 of your house,

00:07:21.920 --> 00:07:22.840
 the door frames,

00:07:23.199 --> 00:07:24.420
 and there you'll find refuge

00:07:24.420 --> 00:07:25.420
 as everything shakes

00:07:25.420 --> 00:07:26.180
 but the doorposts

00:07:26.180 --> 00:07:27.480
 should remain intact.

00:07:28.439 --> 00:07:29.220
 Or at the time

00:07:29.220 --> 00:07:30.160
 that these ancient words

00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:31.320
 in Psalm 46 were written,

00:07:31.860 --> 00:07:32.600
 it was very normal

00:07:32.600 --> 00:07:33.300
 for farmers.

00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:34.080
 A lot of the people

00:07:34.080 --> 00:07:34.560
 like us,

00:07:34.700 --> 00:07:35.260
 the commoners,

00:07:35.320 --> 00:07:36.240
 would have farms

00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:37.580
 outside a walled city

00:07:37.580 --> 00:07:38.980
 or near a castle

00:07:38.980 --> 00:07:40.300
 and if the enemy soldiers

00:07:40.300 --> 00:07:40.760
 were coming,

00:07:41.060 --> 00:07:41.800
 all of us farmers

00:07:41.800 --> 00:07:43.180
 would run into this walled city,

00:07:43.260 --> 00:07:43.820
 this fortress,

00:07:44.580 --> 00:07:45.720
 and that would be a refuge

00:07:45.720 --> 00:07:46.920
 and it would protect us.

00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:48.080
 Similarly,

00:07:48.300 --> 00:07:48.800
 if you yourself

00:07:48.800 --> 00:07:49.340
 was a soldier

00:07:49.340 --> 00:07:49.960
 and you went off

00:07:49.960 --> 00:07:50.480
 to a battle

00:07:50.480 --> 00:07:51.379
 and you got injured,

00:07:51.480 --> 00:07:51.980
 you'd come back

00:07:51.980 --> 00:07:52.879
 to a place of refuge,

00:07:52.940 --> 00:07:53.500
 of protection,

00:07:53.920 --> 00:07:54.840
 to find healing,

00:07:55.420 --> 00:07:56.260
 to find healing.

00:07:56.760 --> 00:07:57.360
 And so the scriptures

00:07:57.360 --> 00:07:58.140
 tell us that

00:07:58.140 --> 00:07:59.500
 just as pain and suffering

00:07:59.500 --> 00:08:00.639
 might be in store for us

00:08:00.639 --> 00:08:01.259
 and in some ways

00:08:01.259 --> 00:08:02.519
 it is in store for all of us

00:08:02.519 --> 00:08:03.540
 in different ways,

00:08:03.899 --> 00:08:05.600
 we can find refuge in God.

00:08:07.040 --> 00:08:08.500
 Now another beautiful thing

00:08:08.500 --> 00:08:09.100
 in this passage

00:08:09.100 --> 00:08:10.360
 is it doesn't speak about

00:08:10.360 --> 00:08:11.399
 God being a refuge,

00:08:11.519 --> 00:08:13.120
 it's just God being a refuge

00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:14.759
 or God being the refuge

00:08:14.759 --> 00:08:16.540
 but God being our refuge.

00:08:16.899 --> 00:08:17.920
 God is our refuge.

00:08:18.399 --> 00:08:19.279
 Just a few months ago

00:08:19.279 --> 00:08:19.860
 I was speaking,

00:08:20.259 --> 00:08:21.639
 a workshop,

00:08:22.139 --> 00:08:22.779
 I was asked to speak

00:08:22.779 --> 00:08:23.540
 on human trafficking

00:08:23.540 --> 00:08:24.139
 and the gospel

00:08:24.139 --> 00:08:25.959
 and so it was a two hour talk

00:08:25.959 --> 00:08:26.819
 and so I shared

00:08:26.819 --> 00:08:27.600
 for the first little bit

00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:28.240
 about the reality

00:08:28.240 --> 00:08:29.040
 of human trafficking

00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:29.780
 and sexual abuse

00:08:29.780 --> 00:08:30.259
 in Canada

00:08:30.259 --> 00:08:31.420
 and we looked a bit

00:08:31.420 --> 00:08:32.419
 at ways that people

00:08:32.419 --> 00:08:32.980
 can get involved

00:08:32.980 --> 00:08:33.659
 bringing rescue

00:08:33.659 --> 00:08:34.139
 and restoration

00:08:34.139 --> 00:08:35.740
 and then for the most part

00:08:35.740 --> 00:08:36.360
 of the two hours

00:08:36.360 --> 00:08:37.480
 we just looked at

00:08:37.480 --> 00:08:38.560
 different testimonies

00:08:38.560 --> 00:08:39.840
 of individuals

00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:40.919
 who found healing

00:08:40.919 --> 00:08:41.639
 and rescue

00:08:41.639 --> 00:08:42.159
 and restoration

00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:42.820
 in God

00:08:42.820 --> 00:08:44.120
 as people who were

00:08:44.120 --> 00:08:44.820
 so crushed

00:08:44.820 --> 00:08:45.500
 by the abuse

00:08:45.500 --> 00:08:46.460
 were able to be

00:08:46.460 --> 00:08:47.060
 just restored

00:08:47.060 --> 00:08:47.940
 and come alive

00:08:47.940 --> 00:08:48.840
 once again

00:08:48.840 --> 00:08:49.539
 through the power

00:08:49.539 --> 00:08:50.200
 of the gospel.

00:08:50.919 --> 00:08:51.700
 I promised not to talk

00:08:51.700 --> 00:08:52.539
 for two hours today

00:08:52.539 --> 00:08:53.460
 but it was a long

00:08:53.460 --> 00:08:54.379
 two hour talk

00:08:54.379 --> 00:08:55.080
 at the time

00:08:55.080 --> 00:08:56.240
 and afterward

00:08:56.240 --> 00:08:57.139
 a girl came up

00:08:57.139 --> 00:08:57.340
 to me

00:08:57.340 --> 00:08:57.720
 a teenager

00:08:57.720 --> 00:08:58.120
 came up

00:08:58.120 --> 00:08:58.340
 to me

00:08:58.340 --> 00:08:58.820
 and she said

00:08:58.820 --> 00:08:59.800
 do you really

00:08:59.800 --> 00:09:00.520
 believe that God

00:09:00.520 --> 00:09:01.420
 can bring me healing?

00:09:02.460 --> 00:09:03.240
 I could have responded

00:09:03.240 --> 00:09:03.639
 and said

00:09:03.639 --> 00:09:04.220
 well for sure

00:09:04.220 --> 00:09:05.500
 did you not just hear

00:09:05.500 --> 00:09:06.320
 the past two hours?

00:09:06.440 --> 00:09:07.100
 Weren't you listening?

00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:08.340
 You could have taken notes?

00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:09.300
 The whole thing

00:09:09.300 --> 00:09:09.759
 was about God

00:09:09.759 --> 00:09:10.500
 being the healer

00:09:10.500 --> 00:09:11.500
 God being a refuge

00:09:11.500 --> 00:09:12.800
 but she had heard

00:09:12.800 --> 00:09:14.100
 that God was a refuge

00:09:14.100 --> 00:09:15.160
 and she had heard

00:09:15.160 --> 00:09:16.360
 that God was the refuge

00:09:16.360 --> 00:09:17.139
 she had heard

00:09:17.139 --> 00:09:18.340
 that God was their refuge

00:09:18.340 --> 00:09:19.320
 she needed to know

00:09:19.320 --> 00:09:20.620
 could God be my refuge?

00:09:20.620 --> 00:09:23.000
 and so I want us

00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:24.179
 to pause for a moment

00:09:24.179 --> 00:09:25.220
 today and let that

00:09:25.220 --> 00:09:25.759
 sink in

00:09:25.759 --> 00:09:26.799
 that God is not

00:09:26.799 --> 00:09:27.860
 just our refuge

00:09:27.860 --> 00:09:28.759
 he's not just

00:09:28.759 --> 00:09:29.740
 the refuge

00:09:29.740 --> 00:09:31.519
 he is our refuge

00:09:31.519 --> 00:09:33.179
 and all that that means

00:09:33.179 --> 00:09:35.519
 it's so important

00:09:35.519 --> 00:09:35.980
 because

00:09:35.980 --> 00:09:38.940
 if God is our refuge

00:09:38.940 --> 00:09:40.259
 it means that we can

00:09:40.259 --> 00:09:40.919
 stop trying to be

00:09:40.919 --> 00:09:41.960
 our own refuge

00:09:41.960 --> 00:09:43.120
 we can stop trying

00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:43.879
 to be our own refuge

00:09:43.879 --> 00:09:44.740
 this is so important

00:09:44.740 --> 00:09:45.399
 for so many different

00:09:45.399 --> 00:09:46.259
 parts of life

00:09:46.259 --> 00:09:47.799
 I'm told

00:09:47.799 --> 00:09:48.480
 I don't have any

00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:49.340
 experience of this myself

00:09:49.340 --> 00:09:49.860
 but I'm told

00:09:49.860 --> 00:09:50.919
 that one of the great

00:09:50.919 --> 00:09:52.460
 challenges of marriage

00:09:52.460 --> 00:09:52.980
 is that

00:09:52.980 --> 00:09:54.539
 when communication

00:09:54.539 --> 00:09:55.200
 breaks down

00:09:55.200 --> 00:09:56.279
 and one of the ways

00:09:56.279 --> 00:09:56.940
 that communication

00:09:56.940 --> 00:09:57.460
 breaks down

00:09:57.460 --> 00:09:58.000
 is when someone

00:09:58.000 --> 00:09:58.960
 is not able to be

00:09:58.960 --> 00:10:00.139
 vulnerable with the other person

00:10:00.139 --> 00:10:01.039
 and I know for sure

00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:01.860
 this is true in friendships

00:10:01.860 --> 00:10:02.860
 that if you're trying

00:10:02.860 --> 00:10:04.519
 to protect yourself

00:10:04.519 --> 00:10:05.220
 from being vulnerable

00:10:05.220 --> 00:10:06.440
 in any type of friendship

00:10:06.440 --> 00:10:07.659
 you're not going to be able

00:10:07.659 --> 00:10:08.460
 to really communicate

00:10:08.460 --> 00:10:09.100
 you're not going to be able

00:10:09.100 --> 00:10:10.120
 to have the real intimacy

00:10:10.120 --> 00:10:11.659
 that friendship is made for

00:10:11.659 --> 00:10:13.840
 and as long as

00:10:13.840 --> 00:10:15.120
 you're not trusting God

00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:15.820
 to be your refuge

00:10:15.820 --> 00:10:16.399
 you're going to be

00:10:16.399 --> 00:10:17.120
 your own refuge

00:10:17.120 --> 00:10:18.220
 you're going to try

00:10:18.220 --> 00:10:18.980
 to protect yourself

00:10:18.980 --> 00:10:19.519
 you're not going to allow

00:10:19.519 --> 00:10:20.740
 people to truly know you

00:10:20.740 --> 00:10:22.779
 Jesus addresses this

00:10:22.779 --> 00:10:23.699
 in Luke chapter 9

00:10:23.699 --> 00:10:24.299
 where he says

00:10:24.299 --> 00:10:25.059
 that if anyone

00:10:25.059 --> 00:10:26.220
 would seek to save his life

00:10:26.220 --> 00:10:27.000
 he'll lose it

00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:28.100
 but whoever will lose

00:10:28.100 --> 00:10:29.240
 his life for Jesus' sake

00:10:29.240 --> 00:10:30.220
 will find it

00:10:30.220 --> 00:10:31.620
 as long as we're trying

00:10:31.620 --> 00:10:32.620
 to be our own refuge

00:10:32.620 --> 00:10:34.519
 it's going to affect

00:10:34.519 --> 00:10:35.259
 the way that we spend

00:10:35.259 --> 00:10:35.699
 our money

00:10:35.699 --> 00:10:36.679
 we're always going to be

00:10:36.679 --> 00:10:37.699
 looking out for number one

00:10:37.699 --> 00:10:38.699
 as long as we're trying

00:10:38.699 --> 00:10:39.559
 to be our own refuge

00:10:39.559 --> 00:10:40.120
 we're not going to be able

00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:41.079
 to communicate with people

00:10:41.079 --> 00:10:41.840
 in a healthy way

00:10:41.840 --> 00:10:42.980
 as long as we're trying

00:10:42.980 --> 00:10:43.740
 to be our own refuge

00:10:43.740 --> 00:10:44.460
 we're not going to live

00:10:44.460 --> 00:10:45.939
 the beautiful

00:10:45.939 --> 00:10:46.980
 dangerous

00:10:46.980 --> 00:10:47.700
 risky

00:10:47.700 --> 00:10:49.440
 God glorifying life

00:10:49.440 --> 00:10:50.580
 that he made us for

00:10:50.580 --> 00:10:51.759
 because we're going to be

00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:52.460
 trying to always be

00:10:52.460 --> 00:10:53.420
 looking out for ourselves

00:10:53.420 --> 00:10:54.779
 but Jesus says

00:10:54.779 --> 00:10:55.899
 there's a lot at stake

00:10:55.899 --> 00:10:56.820
 in making God

00:10:56.820 --> 00:10:57.360
 your refuge

00:10:57.360 --> 00:10:58.860
 because if you don't do it

00:10:58.860 --> 00:10:59.440
 you're going to lose

00:10:59.440 --> 00:10:59.899
 your life

00:10:59.899 --> 00:11:01.100
 Jim Elliot

00:11:01.100 --> 00:11:01.700
 a martyr

00:11:01.700 --> 00:11:03.039
 just in the past century

00:11:03.039 --> 00:11:04.240
 said he is no fool

00:11:04.240 --> 00:11:05.659
 who gives what he cannot keep

00:11:05.659 --> 00:11:07.379
 to gain what he cannot lose

00:11:07.379 --> 00:11:08.659
 we are no fool

00:11:08.659 --> 00:11:09.519
 if we make God

00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:10.100
 our refuge

00:11:10.100 --> 00:11:11.399
 because he is the only

00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:12.560
 refuge that can really

00:11:12.560 --> 00:11:13.360
 protect us

00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:14.200
 that can give us

00:11:14.200 --> 00:11:14.940
 any true reason

00:11:14.940 --> 00:11:15.620
 for confidence

00:11:15.620 --> 00:11:16.520
 when we look at

00:11:16.520 --> 00:11:17.960
 the reality of the human condition

00:11:17.960 --> 00:11:19.020
 and see the reality

00:11:19.020 --> 00:11:19.940
 of suffering and pain

00:11:19.940 --> 00:11:20.680
 that awaits us

00:11:20.680 --> 00:11:21.600
 if we make God

00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:22.060
 our refuge

00:11:22.060 --> 00:11:22.860
 it's not going to make

00:11:22.860 --> 00:11:23.460
 those things

00:11:23.460 --> 00:11:24.379
 not happen

00:11:24.379 --> 00:11:25.379
 but it's going to give us

00:11:25.379 --> 00:11:26.720
 every reason for confidence

00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:28.320
 that we can go into the future

00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:29.340
 trusting God

00:11:29.340 --> 00:11:31.240
 not to make the earthquakes

00:11:31.240 --> 00:11:31.840
 not happen

00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:33.180
 but to sustain us

00:11:33.180 --> 00:11:34.360
 and keep us in himself

00:11:34.360 --> 00:11:35.020
 through it all

00:11:35.020 --> 00:11:36.500
 God is our refuge

00:11:36.500 --> 00:11:38.220
 now there's so much

00:11:38.220 --> 00:11:39.259
 to God being a refuge

00:11:39.259 --> 00:11:40.360
 I was quite tempted

00:11:40.360 --> 00:11:41.720
 to just keep it at that

00:11:41.720 --> 00:11:43.400
 and just continue to mind

00:11:43.399 --> 00:11:44.519
 the depths of God

00:11:44.519 --> 00:11:45.279
 being a refuge

00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:46.340
 and all that's at stake

00:11:46.340 --> 00:11:47.459
 and all that we have

00:11:47.459 --> 00:11:48.559
 to gain through learning

00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:50.139
 of God as a refuge

00:11:50.139 --> 00:11:52.179
 as I prayed about that

00:11:52.179 --> 00:11:55.120
 I think God reminded me

00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:55.959
 of the first time

00:11:55.959 --> 00:11:56.899
 I played laser tag

00:11:56.899 --> 00:11:57.879
 the first time I played

00:11:57.879 --> 00:11:58.340
 laser tag

00:11:58.340 --> 00:11:59.340
 was just a few years ago

00:11:59.340 --> 00:12:00.740
 and I had the gun

00:12:00.740 --> 00:12:01.259
 in my hand

00:12:01.259 --> 00:12:02.659
 I had the vest on

00:12:02.659 --> 00:12:04.139
 and they were counting us down

00:12:04.139 --> 00:12:04.959
 we were about to head out

00:12:04.959 --> 00:12:05.799
 I'm standing there

00:12:05.799 --> 00:12:06.059
 I'm just like

00:12:06.059 --> 00:12:07.139
 I want to win

00:12:07.139 --> 00:12:08.620
 I was committed to winning

00:12:08.620 --> 00:12:10.899
 and so the doors open

00:12:10.899 --> 00:12:11.579
 and I run in

00:12:11.579 --> 00:12:12.759
 and I found a little place

00:12:12.759 --> 00:12:13.220
 to hide

00:12:13.220 --> 00:12:14.480
 and I just stayed there

00:12:14.480 --> 00:12:16.220
 and everyone was running

00:12:16.220 --> 00:12:17.759
 and laser tagging each other

00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:19.340
 and no one was laser tagging me

00:12:19.340 --> 00:12:20.320
 I was safe

00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:21.620
 and I was confident

00:12:21.620 --> 00:12:22.480
 that I had this

00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:23.460
 the game ended

00:12:23.460 --> 00:12:24.500
 and I went out with everyone

00:12:24.500 --> 00:12:26.340
 to see on the little TV screen

00:12:26.340 --> 00:12:27.360
 that I'd won

00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:28.160
 and I looked

00:12:28.160 --> 00:12:28.980
 I think my name was probably

00:12:28.980 --> 00:12:29.899
 Aragorn or something

00:12:29.899 --> 00:12:31.240
 and I looked up

00:12:31.240 --> 00:12:32.440
 and I looked at the first few names

00:12:32.440 --> 00:12:33.080
 and no Aragorn

00:12:33.080 --> 00:12:33.660
 I looked down

00:12:33.660 --> 00:12:34.980
 I finally looked at the bottom

00:12:34.980 --> 00:12:35.800
 there was my name

00:12:35.800 --> 00:12:36.560
 Aragorn

00:12:36.560 --> 00:12:37.139
 what?

00:12:37.860 --> 00:12:39.360
 I never got hit basically

00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:40.899
 and the reason

00:12:40.899 --> 00:12:41.460
 that I lost

00:12:41.460 --> 00:12:42.279
 is that laser tag

00:12:42.279 --> 00:12:43.279
 is a lot like life

00:12:43.279 --> 00:12:44.700
 laser tag is a lot like

00:12:44.700 --> 00:12:45.960
 the call that we were made

00:12:45.960 --> 00:12:46.759
 for as human beings

00:12:46.759 --> 00:12:47.360
 by God

00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:48.200
 which is that

00:12:48.200 --> 00:12:48.879
 we're not only called

00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:49.960
 to have a refuge

00:12:49.960 --> 00:12:50.899
 we're actually called

00:12:50.899 --> 00:12:51.560
 to go out

00:12:51.560 --> 00:12:52.519
 we're called to fight

00:12:52.519 --> 00:12:54.139
 we're called to go tag

00:12:54.139 --> 00:12:56.500
 and what's interesting

00:12:56.500 --> 00:12:57.680
 as I was praying about this

00:12:57.680 --> 00:12:57.860
 I thought

00:12:57.860 --> 00:12:58.759
 okay maybe there's more

00:12:58.759 --> 00:12:59.639
 to just being a refuge

00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:00.659
 than the psalm

00:13:00.659 --> 00:13:01.779
 than just the refuge part

00:13:01.779 --> 00:13:03.120
 the psalm

00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:04.120
 is not just a

00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:05.620
 one stanza song

00:13:05.620 --> 00:13:06.899
 it was written as a song

00:13:06.899 --> 00:13:09.000
 written as a three stanza song

00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:10.220
 so whereas the first

00:13:10.220 --> 00:13:12.000
 stanza of the song

00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:12.919
 speaks about

00:13:12.919 --> 00:13:14.120
 the mountains may fall

00:13:14.120 --> 00:13:15.259
 and the oceans may rise

00:13:15.259 --> 00:13:16.600
 but God will be a refuge

00:13:16.600 --> 00:13:18.220
 then the second speaks

00:13:18.220 --> 00:13:19.579
 to what the next little bit

00:13:19.579 --> 00:13:20.579
 of the first line says

00:13:20.579 --> 00:13:21.720
 that God is a refuge

00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:22.439
 and strength

00:13:22.439 --> 00:13:23.639
 that God is not only

00:13:23.639 --> 00:13:24.539
 a refuge for us

00:13:24.539 --> 00:13:25.419
 but he's our strength

00:13:25.419 --> 00:13:27.259
 and if refuge is something

00:13:27.259 --> 00:13:28.819
 that is an external

00:13:28.819 --> 00:13:29.860
 protection to us

00:13:29.860 --> 00:13:31.220
 strength is this

00:13:31.220 --> 00:13:33.039
 inner dynamic force

00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:33.679
 within us

00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:34.559
 that enables

00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:35.360
 and empowers

00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:36.220
 and equips us

00:13:36.220 --> 00:13:36.980
 to live the life

00:13:36.980 --> 00:13:37.920
 he's called us to live

00:13:37.920 --> 00:13:39.040
 see

00:13:39.040 --> 00:13:40.879
 in the second stanza

00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:41.620
 it speaks first

00:13:41.620 --> 00:13:42.200
 of a city

00:13:42.200 --> 00:13:43.600
 and it speaks

00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:44.180
 of a river

00:13:44.180 --> 00:13:44.500
 it says

00:13:44.500 --> 00:13:45.060
 there's a river

00:13:45.060 --> 00:13:45.540
 whose streams

00:13:45.540 --> 00:13:45.960
 make glad

00:13:45.960 --> 00:13:46.879
 the city of God

00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:48.080
 the holy habitation

00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:48.899
 of the most high

00:13:48.899 --> 00:13:50.080
 God is in the midst

00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:50.420
 of her

00:13:50.420 --> 00:13:51.480
 she shall not be moved

00:13:51.480 --> 00:13:52.399
 God will help her

00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:53.360
 when morning dawns

00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:54.200
 and then it turns

00:13:54.200 --> 00:13:55.340
 our attention to wars

00:13:55.340 --> 00:13:56.560
 the nations rage

00:13:56.560 --> 00:13:57.420
 the kingdoms totter

00:13:57.420 --> 00:13:58.259
 he utters his voice

00:13:58.259 --> 00:13:59.420
 as God utters his voice

00:13:59.420 --> 00:14:00.440
 the earth melts

00:14:00.440 --> 00:14:01.399
 and it continues

00:14:01.399 --> 00:14:02.519
 into the next stanza

00:14:02.519 --> 00:14:03.879
 speaking of wars

00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:05.340
 and how God brings peace

00:14:05.340 --> 00:14:07.600
 now the first thing

00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:08.600
 to note about the city

00:14:08.600 --> 00:14:09.060
 is that

00:14:09.060 --> 00:14:10.120
 if it's speaking about

00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:11.340
 the city of God

00:14:11.340 --> 00:14:12.120
 we think Jerusalem

00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:13.620
 but unlike most

00:14:13.620 --> 00:14:14.120
 of the cities

00:14:14.120 --> 00:14:14.580
 at the time

00:14:14.580 --> 00:14:15.259
 the big cities

00:14:15.259 --> 00:14:16.000
 the important cities

00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:16.580
 that had rivers

00:14:16.580 --> 00:14:17.340
 going through them

00:14:17.340 --> 00:14:18.940
 Jerusalem as far as

00:14:18.940 --> 00:14:19.420
 I understand

00:14:19.420 --> 00:14:20.399
 at that time at least

00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:21.360
 and I think still today

00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:22.220
 does not have a river

00:14:22.220 --> 00:14:22.940
 going through it

00:14:22.940 --> 00:14:24.019
 but this river

00:14:24.019 --> 00:14:24.780
 is a river

00:14:24.780 --> 00:14:25.560
 whose streams

00:14:25.560 --> 00:14:26.019
 make glad

00:14:26.019 --> 00:14:27.060
 the city of our God

00:14:27.060 --> 00:14:27.980
 and the scriptures

00:14:27.980 --> 00:14:28.780
 elsewhere speak

00:14:28.780 --> 00:14:30.420
 of the river

00:14:30.420 --> 00:14:32.000
 of streams

00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:32.620
 of living water

00:14:32.620 --> 00:14:33.820
 coming from God

00:14:33.820 --> 00:14:34.660
 and how God

00:14:34.660 --> 00:14:35.680
 it's this image

00:14:35.680 --> 00:14:36.180
 of bringing

00:14:36.180 --> 00:14:36.900
 the nutrients

00:14:36.900 --> 00:14:37.780
 we need for life

00:14:37.780 --> 00:14:39.100
 it makes analogies

00:14:39.100 --> 00:14:39.980
 to us being like

00:14:39.980 --> 00:14:40.980
 a tree

00:14:40.980 --> 00:14:42.240
 by the streams

00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:42.680
 of water

00:14:42.680 --> 00:14:43.879
 and how God

00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:44.900
 enables us

00:14:44.900 --> 00:14:45.680
 to bear the fruit

00:14:45.680 --> 00:14:46.300
 and live the life

00:14:46.300 --> 00:14:46.980
 he's called us to

00:14:46.980 --> 00:14:48.060
 there's a strengthening

00:14:48.060 --> 00:14:49.140
 that we receive

00:14:49.140 --> 00:14:49.480
 from God

00:14:49.480 --> 00:14:49.980
 as a river

00:14:49.980 --> 00:14:51.640
 so either speaking

00:14:51.640 --> 00:14:52.560
 of Jerusalem

00:14:52.560 --> 00:14:53.200
 at the time

00:14:53.200 --> 00:14:53.980
 and how God

00:14:53.980 --> 00:14:54.540
 is in the midst

00:14:54.540 --> 00:14:55.340
 of bringing life

00:14:55.340 --> 00:14:56.760
 not as an actual

00:14:56.760 --> 00:14:57.920
 H2O water

00:14:57.920 --> 00:14:59.040
 but by the power

00:14:59.040 --> 00:14:59.800
 of his Holy Spirit

00:14:59.800 --> 00:15:00.940
 or it's looking forward

00:15:00.940 --> 00:15:02.040
 to the future time

00:15:02.039 --> 00:15:04.059
 in the new Jerusalem

00:15:04.059 --> 00:15:04.779
 where God

00:15:04.779 --> 00:15:05.419
 will be as a river

00:15:05.419 --> 00:15:05.980
 to us

00:15:05.980 --> 00:15:07.139
 either way

00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:08.579
 for me at least

00:15:08.579 --> 00:15:09.139
 I'm honest

00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:09.740
 I'm just an intern

00:15:09.740 --> 00:15:10.059
 at this church

00:15:10.059 --> 00:15:10.839
 I don't actually know

00:15:10.839 --> 00:15:11.620
 all that it's talking

00:15:11.620 --> 00:15:12.559
 about the city of God

00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:13.699
 but what I do know

00:15:13.699 --> 00:15:14.299
 with confidence

00:15:14.299 --> 00:15:15.459
 is that it's true

00:15:15.459 --> 00:15:16.500
 that God is the one

00:15:16.500 --> 00:15:17.059
 who brings us

00:15:17.059 --> 00:15:17.679
 that life

00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:19.000
 that just like water

00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:20.319
 brings trees life

00:15:20.319 --> 00:15:21.659
 so God is a river

00:15:21.659 --> 00:15:22.259
 to us

00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:23.299
 and it's in contrast

00:15:23.299 --> 00:15:24.439
 to the swelling

00:15:24.439 --> 00:15:25.079
 of the oceans

00:15:25.079 --> 00:15:25.980
 but God is a river

00:15:25.980 --> 00:15:26.339
 to us

00:15:26.339 --> 00:15:27.000
 that brings life

00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:27.899
 and then as it turns

00:15:27.899 --> 00:15:28.259
 our attention

00:15:28.259 --> 00:15:29.740
 to the wars on earth

00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:30.620
 and the reality

00:15:30.620 --> 00:15:31.439
 of the pain

00:15:31.440 --> 00:15:31.880
 and suffering

00:15:31.880 --> 00:15:32.720
 and the fighting

00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:33.700
 and the human condition

00:15:33.700 --> 00:15:34.660
 we see that God

00:15:34.660 --> 00:15:35.480
 is bringing peace

00:15:35.480 --> 00:15:36.580
 but God brings peace

00:15:36.580 --> 00:15:37.760
 not in this passive way

00:15:37.760 --> 00:15:39.760
 of just some type

00:15:39.760 --> 00:15:40.400
 of passive thing

00:15:40.400 --> 00:15:41.280
 but rather you see

00:15:41.280 --> 00:15:42.300
 God's going out

00:15:42.300 --> 00:15:43.860
 and he burns the chariots

00:15:43.860 --> 00:15:45.000
 and he speaks

00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:45.880
 and he's this act

00:15:45.880 --> 00:15:46.660
 of moving forward

00:15:46.660 --> 00:15:47.920
 and see the reason

00:15:47.920 --> 00:15:49.020
 for human suffering

00:15:49.020 --> 00:15:49.940
 the reason that there's wars

00:15:49.940 --> 00:15:50.780
 and all those things

00:15:50.780 --> 00:15:51.300
 is because

00:15:51.300 --> 00:15:53.460
 at the dawn of time

00:15:53.460 --> 00:15:54.200
 human beings

00:15:54.200 --> 00:15:55.500
 we turned away from God

00:15:55.500 --> 00:15:56.820
 and we still do this today

00:15:56.820 --> 00:15:58.240
 every time we see war

00:15:58.240 --> 00:15:58.980
 all these things

00:15:58.980 --> 00:16:00.200
 just pain and suffering

00:16:00.200 --> 00:16:01.420
 we're seeing human beings

00:16:01.420 --> 00:16:02.160
 turn us

00:16:02.160 --> 00:16:03.100
 turn away from God

00:16:03.100 --> 00:16:04.420
 saying we're not going

00:16:04.420 --> 00:16:05.200
 to honor you as king

00:16:05.200 --> 00:16:06.259
 we're going to do our own thing

00:16:06.259 --> 00:16:06.960
 and that's why

00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:07.780
 there's all this suffering

00:16:07.780 --> 00:16:09.100
 but since the dawn of time

00:16:09.100 --> 00:16:09.800
 God promised

00:16:09.800 --> 00:16:10.860
 to bring us a rescue

00:16:10.860 --> 00:16:12.480
 and God has been working

00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:13.840
 his grand scheme

00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:14.940
 through Jesus

00:16:14.940 --> 00:16:16.060
 of bringing rescue

00:16:16.060 --> 00:16:16.860
 and restoration

00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:17.820
 to the universe

00:16:17.820 --> 00:16:19.960
 as he reconciles humanity

00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:20.640
 to himself

00:16:20.640 --> 00:16:21.680
 through Jesus Christ

00:16:21.680 --> 00:16:25.520
 and if we're followers of God

00:16:25.520 --> 00:16:26.580
 if we're children of God

00:16:26.580 --> 00:16:27.520
 then we're joining him

00:16:27.520 --> 00:16:28.860
 in that rescue mission

00:16:28.860 --> 00:16:31.500
 and so my heart for us

00:16:31.500 --> 00:16:32.759
 as we head into a new year

00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:33.259
 is that we would

00:16:33.259 --> 00:16:34.379
 evermore embrace

00:16:34.379 --> 00:16:35.460
 this call of God

00:16:35.460 --> 00:16:36.539
 that we don't only look

00:16:36.539 --> 00:16:37.740
 to God as a refuge

00:16:37.740 --> 00:16:38.659
 but we look to him

00:16:38.659 --> 00:16:39.639
 as one who gives the strength

00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:40.320
 to go out

00:16:40.320 --> 00:16:41.220
 and to live

00:16:41.220 --> 00:16:42.220
 the adventure

00:16:42.220 --> 00:16:43.379
 the life that he's called us

00:16:43.379 --> 00:16:43.800
 to live

00:16:43.800 --> 00:16:45.720
 reoccurring in the psalm

00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:46.419
 is the words

00:16:46.419 --> 00:16:47.340
 the Lord of hosts

00:16:47.340 --> 00:16:48.000
 is with us

00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:49.360
 it means the God of armies

00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:50.220
 is with us

00:16:50.220 --> 00:16:51.320
 so the word host

00:16:51.320 --> 00:16:51.980
 means armies

00:16:51.980 --> 00:16:53.440
 God's call is to join him

00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:54.019
 in his army

00:16:54.019 --> 00:16:55.100
 as he brings peace

00:16:55.100 --> 00:16:55.720
 and reconciliation

00:16:55.720 --> 00:16:56.940
 to the universe

00:16:56.940 --> 00:16:59.120
 later on in the service

00:16:59.120 --> 00:16:59.620
 we're going to be

00:16:59.620 --> 00:17:00.320
 having communion

00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:01.480
 and so often

00:17:01.480 --> 00:17:02.460
 communion for us

00:17:02.460 --> 00:17:03.460
 is simply about

00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:04.019
 the refuge

00:17:04.019 --> 00:17:04.920
 that God provides

00:17:04.920 --> 00:17:06.160
 as we eat the bread

00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:07.080
 and drink the wine

00:17:07.080 --> 00:17:07.980
 we remember that

00:17:07.980 --> 00:17:09.820
 Jesus in his own body

00:17:09.820 --> 00:17:10.740
 bore the punishment

00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:11.500
 that we deserve

00:17:11.500 --> 00:17:12.720
 all of us

00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:14.380
 the ultimate earthquake

00:17:14.380 --> 00:17:15.900
 the ultimate calamity

00:17:15.900 --> 00:17:16.700
 of the human condition

00:17:16.700 --> 00:17:19.200
 is the just punishment

00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:19.880
 we should receive

00:17:19.880 --> 00:17:20.420
 from God

00:17:20.420 --> 00:17:21.580
 but as we remember

00:17:21.580 --> 00:17:22.080
 in communion

00:17:22.080 --> 00:17:23.460
 Jesus bore that punishment

00:17:23.460 --> 00:17:24.160
 for us

00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:25.539
 he took it upon himself

00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:27.240
 and so as we eat the bread

00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:27.859
 and drink the wine

00:17:27.859 --> 00:17:29.259
 we remember Jesus

00:17:29.259 --> 00:17:30.779
 bearing the punishment

00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:31.519
 that we deserve

00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:32.859
 so that we don't have

00:17:32.859 --> 00:17:34.000
 to face that punishment

00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:35.399
 and for a lot of us

00:17:35.399 --> 00:17:36.259
 that's where it ends

00:17:36.259 --> 00:17:37.799
 but Leviticus 17

00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:38.839
 speaks about the life

00:17:38.839 --> 00:17:39.720
 being in the blood

00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:41.240
 and as we drink the wine

00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:42.500
 today and in the future

00:17:42.500 --> 00:17:43.379
 let us remember

00:17:43.379 --> 00:17:44.379
 not only is Jesus

00:17:44.379 --> 00:17:45.799
 the ultimate refuge for us

00:17:45.799 --> 00:17:46.899
 but as we drink the wine

00:17:46.899 --> 00:17:47.559
 let us remember

00:17:47.559 --> 00:17:48.119
 that Jesus

00:17:48.119 --> 00:17:50.259
 gives us his own strength

00:17:50.259 --> 00:17:50.859
 his own blood

00:17:50.859 --> 00:17:51.680
 his own life

00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:53.079
 let us remember

00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:53.960
 not only the death

00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:54.399
 of Jesus

00:17:54.399 --> 00:17:55.259
 but the resurrection

00:17:55.259 --> 00:17:56.279
 and how he's called

00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:56.960
 to share in that

00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:57.940
 resurrection life

00:17:57.940 --> 00:17:59.299
 and to go and live

00:17:59.299 --> 00:18:00.720
 and sharing in that

00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:01.599
 resurrection life

00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:02.200
 from Jesus

00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:02.859
 does not mean

00:18:02.859 --> 00:18:03.379
 that we're going to be

00:18:03.379 --> 00:18:05.059
 not mean we're going

00:18:05.059 --> 00:18:06.160
 to avoid earthquakes

00:18:06.160 --> 00:18:06.559
 in life

00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:07.500
 but again

00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:08.420
 it means we can share

00:18:08.420 --> 00:18:09.099
 in the refuge

00:18:09.099 --> 00:18:09.759
 that is God

00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:10.539
 and the strength

00:18:10.539 --> 00:18:11.379
 that he gives us

00:18:11.379 --> 00:18:12.920
 now as I thought

00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:13.619
 about how to make

00:18:13.619 --> 00:18:14.319
 this practical

00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:15.099
 I thought

00:18:15.099 --> 00:18:15.579
 well we can

00:18:15.579 --> 00:18:16.440
 look at prayer

00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:17.759
 and how

00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:19.319
 prayer is one of the ways

00:18:19.319 --> 00:18:20.400
 that we go to God

00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:21.420
 to find refuge in him

00:18:21.420 --> 00:18:22.059
 I know everyone

00:18:22.059 --> 00:18:23.579
 who is God's child

00:18:23.579 --> 00:18:24.899
 in this room

00:18:24.899 --> 00:18:25.799
 has testimonies

00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:26.419
 of that time

00:18:26.419 --> 00:18:26.879
 that your back

00:18:26.879 --> 00:18:27.699
 is up against the wall

00:18:27.699 --> 00:18:28.720
 but you went to God

00:18:28.720 --> 00:18:28.960
 in prayer

00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:29.500
 and he came through

00:18:29.500 --> 00:18:29.919
 for you

00:18:29.919 --> 00:18:31.539
 like 2 Chronicles 20

00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:32.599
 where King Jehoshaphat

00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:33.179
 says Lord

00:18:33.179 --> 00:18:33.799
 we do not know

00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:34.179
 what to do

00:18:34.179 --> 00:18:34.740
 but our eyes

00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:35.139
 are on you

00:18:35.139 --> 00:18:35.619
 and God comes

00:18:35.619 --> 00:18:36.240
 through for him

00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:37.740
 or we can look

00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:38.299
 at worship

00:18:38.299 --> 00:18:40.519
 we've all had

00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:40.939
 those times

00:18:40.939 --> 00:18:41.579
 where our soul

00:18:41.579 --> 00:18:42.319
 is being crushed

00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:43.079
 and yet we

00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:44.399
 remind ourselves

00:18:44.399 --> 00:18:45.159
 remind God

00:18:45.159 --> 00:18:45.859
 of who he is

00:18:45.859 --> 00:18:46.859
 like the psalmuses

00:18:46.859 --> 00:18:47.819
 in Psalm 73

00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:48.339
 as his soul

00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:49.079
 is being crushed

00:18:49.079 --> 00:18:50.460
 and then he worships God

00:18:50.460 --> 00:18:51.439
 he enters into his presence

00:18:51.439 --> 00:18:51.859
 and he finds

00:18:51.859 --> 00:18:52.460
 such a life

00:18:52.460 --> 00:18:53.779
 and renewal in him

00:18:53.779 --> 00:18:55.360
 or we can look

00:18:55.360 --> 00:18:56.240
 at how the word

00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:57.620
 helps us find strength

00:18:57.620 --> 00:18:58.579
 and refuge in God

00:18:58.579 --> 00:19:00.420
 think of Jesus

00:19:00.420 --> 00:19:01.200
 in Luke 4

00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:01.819
 how he's getting

00:19:01.819 --> 00:19:02.740
 so tempted

00:19:02.740 --> 00:19:03.539
 and he's so weak

00:19:03.539 --> 00:19:04.019
 and tired

00:19:04.019 --> 00:19:04.480
 and hungry

00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:05.039
 he's fasting

00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:05.940
 and he quotes

00:19:05.940 --> 00:19:06.460
 the scripture

00:19:06.460 --> 00:19:07.360
 and he finds refuge

00:19:07.360 --> 00:19:07.880
 and strength

00:19:07.880 --> 00:19:08.220
 and he's able

00:19:08.220 --> 00:19:08.700
 to overcome

00:19:08.700 --> 00:19:09.360
 the temptation

00:19:09.360 --> 00:19:10.840
 or King Josiah

00:19:10.840 --> 00:19:12.980
 in 2 Kings 22

00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:14.660
 where he's living

00:19:14.660 --> 00:19:15.120
 his life

00:19:15.120 --> 00:19:15.400
 and also

00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:16.100
 they come across

00:19:16.100 --> 00:19:17.840
 the Torah

00:19:17.840 --> 00:19:19.019
 and they come across

00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:20.180
 the books of Moses

00:19:20.180 --> 00:19:20.940
 right in the temple

00:19:20.940 --> 00:19:21.860
 and it changes

00:19:21.860 --> 00:19:22.320
 the course

00:19:22.320 --> 00:19:22.700
 of the lives

00:19:22.700 --> 00:19:23.460
 it strengthens them

00:19:23.460 --> 00:19:24.019
 to live

00:19:24.019 --> 00:19:24.900
 the holy life

00:19:24.900 --> 00:19:25.500
 God's called them

00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:25.700
 to do

00:19:25.700 --> 00:19:26.900
 and to do all

00:19:26.900 --> 00:19:27.360
 that he's called

00:19:27.360 --> 00:19:28.100
 them to do

00:19:28.100 --> 00:19:28.500
 and be

00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:30.299
 or we can talk

00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:30.940
 about obedience

00:19:30.940 --> 00:19:32.039
 I mean the whole book

00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:32.559
 of Proverbs

00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:33.160
 is basically

00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:34.259
 filled with this message

00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:35.660
 that if we fear God

00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:36.799
 and seek to obey him

00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:38.019
 there's such refuge

00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:38.680
 and shelter

00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:39.720
 and life in that

00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:40.559
 there's such strength

00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:40.860
 in that

00:19:40.860 --> 00:19:41.279
 that if we

00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:42.220
 actually seek

00:19:42.220 --> 00:19:42.900
 to live the way

00:19:42.900 --> 00:19:43.480
 God's called us

00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:43.759
 to live

00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:44.740
 according to his wisdom

00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:45.500
 and his ways

00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:46.559
 applying the word

00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:46.840
 of God

00:19:46.840 --> 00:19:47.440
 to our lives

00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:48.080
 then we'll be

00:19:48.080 --> 00:19:49.019
 just like Jesus said

00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:49.819
 like the person

00:19:49.819 --> 00:19:50.420
 who built their house

00:19:50.420 --> 00:19:51.019
 on the rock

00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:51.980
 that when the winds

00:19:51.980 --> 00:19:53.119
 come and the rains

00:19:53.119 --> 00:19:53.859
 come and the floods

00:19:53.859 --> 00:19:54.420
 come we're going

00:19:54.420 --> 00:19:55.220
 to be able to stay

00:19:55.220 --> 00:19:56.539
 steadfast in the Lord

00:19:56.539 --> 00:19:58.160
 there's such a life

00:19:58.160 --> 00:19:59.220
 strength and refuge

00:19:59.220 --> 00:20:00.039
 as we seek

00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:00.740
 to obey God

00:20:00.740 --> 00:20:01.940
 and so I thought

00:20:01.940 --> 00:20:03.240
 if we had the time

00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:03.799
 to delve into

00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:04.619
 all those different ones

00:20:04.619 --> 00:20:05.379
 but as I came back

00:20:05.379 --> 00:20:06.180
 to this passage

00:20:06.180 --> 00:20:08.559
 I saw that it doesn't

00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:09.240
 at the beginning

00:20:09.240 --> 00:20:10.240
 and throughout it say

00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:12.220
 prayer is our refuge

00:20:12.220 --> 00:20:13.819
 or worship is our refuge

00:20:13.819 --> 00:20:14.900
 or even obedience

00:20:14.900 --> 00:20:16.720
 as important as that is

00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:17.400
 is our refuge

00:20:17.400 --> 00:20:18.720
 no it says God

00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:19.400
 is our refuge

00:20:19.400 --> 00:20:19.940
 and strength

00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:21.560
 and the reality

00:20:21.560 --> 00:20:22.160
 that the psalm

00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:22.920
 is pointing us to

00:20:22.920 --> 00:20:23.519
 is so much more

00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:25.120
 precious and intimate

00:20:25.120 --> 00:20:26.420
 than simply looking

00:20:26.420 --> 00:20:27.400
 at prayer and worship

00:20:27.400 --> 00:20:28.460
 those things are important

00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:30.140
 see prayer and worship

00:20:30.140 --> 00:20:31.080
 and obedience

00:20:31.080 --> 00:20:32.340
 the scriptures

00:20:32.340 --> 00:20:34.800
 those are all facets

00:20:34.800 --> 00:20:37.240
 of getting to know God

00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:38.740
 look at verse 10

00:20:38.740 --> 00:20:39.600
 in the midst of it

00:20:39.600 --> 00:20:40.340
 speaking about God

00:20:40.340 --> 00:20:40.980
 being a refuge

00:20:40.980 --> 00:20:41.700
 and strength

00:20:41.700 --> 00:20:42.340
 and how God

00:20:42.340 --> 00:20:43.540
 is bringing peace

00:20:43.540 --> 00:20:44.120
 to the world

00:20:44.120 --> 00:20:45.100
 as he crushes

00:20:45.099 --> 00:20:46.579
 the bows

00:20:46.579 --> 00:20:47.519
 and the chariots

00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:48.559
 in verse 10

00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:48.819
 it says

00:20:48.819 --> 00:20:49.559
 be still

00:20:49.559 --> 00:20:50.419
 and know

00:20:50.419 --> 00:20:52.299
 that I am God

00:20:52.299 --> 00:20:54.439
 be still

00:20:54.439 --> 00:20:54.819
 and know

00:20:54.819 --> 00:20:55.599
 that I am God

00:20:55.599 --> 00:20:58.159
 these ancient words

00:20:58.159 --> 00:20:59.579
 are so fresh

00:20:59.579 --> 00:21:00.639
 and so alive today

00:21:00.639 --> 00:21:01.740
 because all of us

00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:02.379
 live in a world

00:21:02.379 --> 00:21:03.719
 where relativism

00:21:03.719 --> 00:21:04.500
 is so dominant

00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:05.279
 I mean

00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:06.240
 we all have friends

00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:06.819
 who will be like

00:21:06.819 --> 00:21:08.139
 I'm glad that you're a Christian

00:21:08.139 --> 00:21:09.319
 Christianity works for you

00:21:09.319 --> 00:21:10.639
 but I'm an agnostic

00:21:10.639 --> 00:21:12.599
 because that works for you

00:21:12.599 --> 00:21:13.039
 this works for me

00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:13.539
 it's all good

00:21:13.539 --> 00:21:15.019
 and the idea is that

00:21:15.019 --> 00:21:16.159
 religion and spirituality

00:21:16.159 --> 00:21:16.839
 and truth

00:21:16.839 --> 00:21:17.859
 is just like a flavor

00:21:17.859 --> 00:21:19.000
 we all have our preferences

00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:20.180
 and whatever works for you

00:21:20.180 --> 00:21:21.139
 works for you

00:21:21.139 --> 00:21:23.579
 but what's undergirding

00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:24.460
 this whole philosophy

00:21:24.460 --> 00:21:25.299
 this way of life

00:21:25.299 --> 00:21:26.399
 that even some Christians

00:21:26.399 --> 00:21:27.159
 partake in

00:21:27.159 --> 00:21:28.379
 is the idea that

00:21:28.379 --> 00:21:28.980
 it's impossible

00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:30.279
 to really know anything

00:21:30.279 --> 00:21:31.159
 it's impossible

00:21:31.159 --> 00:21:31.879
 to be certain

00:21:31.879 --> 00:21:32.559
 of anything

00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:34.960
 but what we see right here

00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:36.339
 is a command

00:21:36.339 --> 00:21:36.960
 to be still

00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:37.599
 and to know

00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:38.619
 God

00:21:38.619 --> 00:21:40.539
 a few years ago

00:21:40.539 --> 00:21:41.619
 I was on the Greyhound bus

00:21:41.619 --> 00:21:42.480
 chatting with a guy

00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:42.899
 my age

00:21:42.900 --> 00:21:43.840
 it was a long bus ride

00:21:43.840 --> 00:21:45.019
 so we had a long conversation

00:21:45.019 --> 00:21:46.440
 all the way from Windsor to Ottawa

00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:48.240
 and he was an agnostic

00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:50.580
 and really a guy of the times today

00:21:50.580 --> 00:21:51.680
 telling me how it's impossible

00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:52.320
 to know anything

00:21:52.320 --> 00:21:53.759
 and I interrupted him gently

00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:54.100
 and said

00:21:54.100 --> 00:21:56.460
 hey I actually know God exists

00:21:56.460 --> 00:21:57.340
 I know God

00:21:57.340 --> 00:21:58.580
 I said how can you be certain

00:21:58.580 --> 00:21:59.700
 how can you know God

00:21:59.700 --> 00:22:01.360
 and so I shared with him

00:22:01.360 --> 00:22:03.200
 the rational logical reasons

00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:04.240
 for why I believe in God

00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:05.259
 I shared with him

00:22:05.259 --> 00:22:06.160
 the argument from design

00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:07.140
 how if you look at a

00:22:07.140 --> 00:22:08.240
 at a clock

00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:08.880
 or a watch

00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:09.700
 or for the younger people

00:22:09.700 --> 00:22:10.380
 who don't know a watch

00:22:10.380 --> 00:22:11.040
 their cell phone

00:22:11.040 --> 00:22:11.840
 if you look at a cell phone

00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:13.079
 you'll see it intricately

00:22:13.079 --> 00:22:13.759
 put together

00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:14.559
 and you'll think

00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:15.779
 for sure there's a designer

00:22:15.779 --> 00:22:17.059
 someone who made this

00:22:17.059 --> 00:22:18.500
 the universe is so much

00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:19.119
 more intricate

00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:20.079
 even our own bodies

00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:20.879
 are so much more intricate

00:22:20.879 --> 00:22:21.740
 than a watch

00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:22.419
 or a cell phone

00:22:22.419 --> 00:22:23.779
 clearly there's a designer

00:22:23.779 --> 00:22:25.099
 he said sure I'm with you

00:22:25.099 --> 00:22:27.519
 sure I'll agree with you

00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:28.699
 it's logical to believe

00:22:28.699 --> 00:22:29.740
 that there's a supreme being

00:22:29.740 --> 00:22:30.559
 who created the universe

00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:31.299
 how that works

00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:31.879
 I have no idea

00:22:31.879 --> 00:22:32.740
 I said yeah

00:22:32.740 --> 00:22:33.779
 we'd have no idea

00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:35.019
 except if there was

00:22:35.019 --> 00:22:36.779
 some reliable text

00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:37.519
 that would speak to us

00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:37.899
 about this

00:22:37.899 --> 00:22:38.959
 something that actually knows

00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:39.840
 he said sure

00:22:39.840 --> 00:22:40.400
 but there's so many

00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:41.100
 different holy books

00:22:41.100 --> 00:22:41.539
 out there

00:22:41.539 --> 00:22:42.240
 how can you know

00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:42.920
 which one's real

00:22:42.920 --> 00:22:43.380
 or I said

00:22:43.380 --> 00:22:44.740
 well let's test them out

00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:46.000
 we can talk about

00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:47.200
 the claims of many

00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:47.840
 different ones

00:22:47.840 --> 00:22:49.059
 but if you find the one

00:22:49.059 --> 00:22:49.740
 that's true

00:22:49.740 --> 00:22:50.640
 that you can trust

00:22:50.640 --> 00:22:51.579
 there you go

00:22:51.579 --> 00:22:51.940
 he said well

00:22:51.940 --> 00:22:52.880
 how would you ever find that

00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:54.480
 well it was a long bus ride

00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:55.279
 longer than we have time

00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:55.680
 for today

00:22:55.680 --> 00:22:56.400
 but we looked at

00:22:56.400 --> 00:22:57.660
 so many different prophecies

00:22:57.660 --> 00:22:58.259
 in the scripture

00:22:58.259 --> 00:22:59.640
 all these prophecies

00:22:59.640 --> 00:23:00.420
 of these words

00:23:00.420 --> 00:23:01.240
 we know we're in

00:23:01.240 --> 00:23:02.720
 long before Jesus ever came

00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:03.900
 and then from what we know

00:23:03.900 --> 00:23:04.400
 of history

00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:05.000
 about Jesus

00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:06.120
 we see that it's true

00:23:06.119 --> 00:23:07.259
 the prophecies about

00:23:07.259 --> 00:23:08.239
 where the Messiah

00:23:08.239 --> 00:23:09.039
 was going to be born

00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:10.239
 is where Jesus was born

00:23:10.239 --> 00:23:10.979
 the description

00:23:10.979 --> 00:23:12.000
 of how Jesus would live

00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:12.959
 is how Jesus lived

00:23:12.959 --> 00:23:14.099
 and about his death

00:23:14.099 --> 00:23:14.759
 and his resurrection

00:23:14.759 --> 00:23:15.859
 all these different things

00:23:15.859 --> 00:23:17.159
 and I mean that would be

00:23:17.159 --> 00:23:17.859
 a cool coincidence

00:23:17.859 --> 00:23:19.419
 if it was one

00:23:19.419 --> 00:23:20.579
 or a few prophecies

00:23:20.579 --> 00:23:20.979
 but we're talking

00:23:20.979 --> 00:23:22.179
 prophecy after prophecy

00:23:22.179 --> 00:23:22.919
 after prophecy

00:23:22.919 --> 00:23:24.139
 and not only are there

00:23:24.139 --> 00:23:24.959
 prophecies in the scriptures

00:23:24.959 --> 00:23:25.599
 about Jesus

00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:26.799
 but there's other prophecies

00:23:26.799 --> 00:23:27.839
 about Cyrus

00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:29.459
 before the guy ever came

00:23:29.459 --> 00:23:30.799
 before he was even born

00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:32.039
 prophecies about Cyrus

00:23:32.039 --> 00:23:32.439
 and how he would

00:23:32.439 --> 00:23:33.279
 restore Jerusalem

00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:34.459
 and then there was a king

00:23:34.459 --> 00:23:35.439
 history tells us

00:23:35.439 --> 00:23:35.979
 Cyrus

00:23:35.980 --> 00:23:36.799
 who restored Jerusalem

00:23:36.799 --> 00:23:37.819
 so many prophecies

00:23:37.819 --> 00:23:38.339
 in the Bible

00:23:38.339 --> 00:23:39.380
 and eventually

00:23:39.380 --> 00:23:40.420
 the Bible goes

00:23:40.420 --> 00:23:41.099
 from simply being

00:23:41.099 --> 00:23:42.799
 an interesting book

00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:43.360
 to all of a sudden

00:23:43.360 --> 00:23:43.980
 being something

00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:45.220
 that it's logical

00:23:45.220 --> 00:23:46.440
 and rational to trust

00:23:46.440 --> 00:23:47.019
 in fact it would be

00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:47.920
 a fool to ignore

00:23:47.920 --> 00:23:48.839
 and he was kind of

00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:49.440
 tracking with me

00:23:49.440 --> 00:23:50.360
 for a lot of that

00:23:50.360 --> 00:23:51.299
 and I said to him

00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:53.039
 all of those would be

00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:54.140
 reasons for why

00:23:54.140 --> 00:23:54.620
 I would claim

00:23:54.620 --> 00:23:56.039
 to know God exists

00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:56.860
 but I'm going to go

00:23:56.860 --> 00:23:57.460
 one step further

00:23:57.460 --> 00:23:58.180
 I don't just know

00:23:58.180 --> 00:23:58.920
 that God exists

00:23:58.920 --> 00:23:59.799
 and that it's the God

00:23:59.799 --> 00:24:00.319
 of the Bible

00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:01.460
 I know him

00:24:01.460 --> 00:24:02.579
 I said what do you mean

00:24:02.579 --> 00:24:04.160
 well there's two kinds

00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:04.620
 of knowing

00:24:04.619 --> 00:24:05.779
 there's a type

00:24:05.779 --> 00:24:06.279
 of knowing

00:24:06.279 --> 00:24:06.859
 that is knowing

00:24:06.859 --> 00:24:07.279
 about

00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:08.279
 say for example

00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:08.979
 you have children

00:24:08.979 --> 00:24:10.279
 who were orphans

00:24:10.279 --> 00:24:10.719
 and they hear

00:24:10.719 --> 00:24:11.839
 that there's a great king

00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:13.319
 a benevolent king

00:24:13.319 --> 00:24:14.319
 who's going to adopt them

00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:15.419
 they're so excited

00:24:15.419 --> 00:24:16.879
 to meet their new father

00:24:16.879 --> 00:24:18.699
 and kings make edicts

00:24:18.699 --> 00:24:19.659
 kings make laws

00:24:19.659 --> 00:24:20.399
 they do stuff

00:24:20.399 --> 00:24:21.479
 so it shouldn't be too hard

00:24:21.479 --> 00:24:22.279
 to find those edicts

00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:22.519
 and laws

00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:23.859
 so they start searching it out

00:24:23.859 --> 00:24:24.500
 and sure enough

00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:25.479
 they find edicts

00:24:25.479 --> 00:24:26.719
 and laws made by this king

00:24:26.719 --> 00:24:28.139
 and so they meet together

00:24:28.139 --> 00:24:28.500
 weekly

00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:29.159
 let's say Sundays

00:24:29.159 --> 00:24:29.899
 they meet together

00:24:29.899 --> 00:24:30.959
 they read these laws

00:24:30.959 --> 00:24:31.919
 these edicts by the king

00:24:31.919 --> 00:24:32.979
 and they're getting to know

00:24:32.980 --> 00:24:33.920
 more about their king

00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:34.480
 their father

00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:35.640
 and then the father

00:24:35.640 --> 00:24:36.360
 even writes letters

00:24:36.360 --> 00:24:36.640
 to them

00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:37.319
 they're so happy

00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:38.180
 they got letters from them

00:24:38.180 --> 00:24:39.319
 so they read these letters

00:24:39.319 --> 00:24:40.740
 now they can spend

00:24:40.740 --> 00:24:41.620
 as much time as they want

00:24:41.620 --> 00:24:42.440
 reading those letters

00:24:42.440 --> 00:24:43.680
 and looking at those laws

00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:44.400
 but they'll never

00:24:44.400 --> 00:24:45.900
 ever be able to claim

00:24:45.900 --> 00:24:47.039
 that they know their father

00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:48.579
 until their father comes

00:24:48.579 --> 00:24:49.400
 and they're in his presence

00:24:49.400 --> 00:24:50.240
 and they meet him

00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:51.380
 and now they know

00:24:51.380 --> 00:24:52.000
 their father

00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:52.819
 I said

00:24:52.819 --> 00:24:54.360
 so often

00:24:54.360 --> 00:24:55.880
 as Christians

00:24:55.880 --> 00:24:57.680
 we settle for

00:24:57.680 --> 00:24:58.980
 knowing about God

00:24:58.980 --> 00:25:00.380
 and that's my

00:25:00.380 --> 00:25:01.180
 one concern

00:25:01.180 --> 00:25:02.099
 with just talking about

00:25:02.099 --> 00:25:03.139
 prayer and worship

00:25:03.139 --> 00:25:03.939
 and reading the scriptures

00:25:03.939 --> 00:25:04.819
 and even obedience

00:25:04.819 --> 00:25:06.259
 is that for a lot of us

00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:07.899
 we can know a lot about God

00:25:07.899 --> 00:25:08.639
 and go through these things

00:25:08.639 --> 00:25:09.480
 that are so important

00:25:09.480 --> 00:25:10.699
 for living the life

00:25:10.699 --> 00:25:11.579
 we were called to live

00:25:11.579 --> 00:25:12.959
 and an obedient life to God

00:25:12.959 --> 00:25:15.159
 but all those things

00:25:15.159 --> 00:25:16.139
 are only getting at

00:25:16.139 --> 00:25:17.119
 knowing God

00:25:17.119 --> 00:25:19.099
 George a few weeks ago

00:25:19.099 --> 00:25:20.619
 spoke from Revelation 3

00:25:20.619 --> 00:25:21.500
 about Jesus

00:25:21.500 --> 00:25:21.959
 who says

00:25:21.959 --> 00:25:22.779
 he stands at the door

00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:23.439
 and knocks

00:25:23.439 --> 00:25:25.199
 and how by God's grace

00:25:25.199 --> 00:25:26.019
 by his power

00:25:26.019 --> 00:25:27.359
 we can open up our heart

00:25:27.359 --> 00:25:28.219
 and receive him

00:25:28.219 --> 00:25:30.119
 how we can actually

00:25:30.119 --> 00:25:31.039
 get to know him

00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:33.359
 there's such comfort

00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:34.319
 in Psalm 46

00:25:34.319 --> 00:25:35.879
 about God being a refuge

00:25:35.879 --> 00:25:36.460
 and strength

00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:38.299
 such promise of confidence

00:25:38.299 --> 00:25:38.779
 in him

00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:40.259
 and the life we can live

00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:41.659
 but that's only true

00:25:41.659 --> 00:25:42.379
 if God is actually

00:25:42.379 --> 00:25:43.059
 your refuge

00:25:43.059 --> 00:25:44.159
 and God is only

00:25:44.159 --> 00:25:44.779
 your refuge

00:25:44.779 --> 00:25:46.299
 if you actually know him

00:25:46.299 --> 00:25:47.559
 and he knows you

00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:48.859
 not just that you know

00:25:48.859 --> 00:25:49.599
 about God

00:25:49.599 --> 00:25:50.680
 not just that you speak

00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:51.740
 the liturgy each week

00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:52.500
 but that you actually

00:25:52.500 --> 00:25:53.159
 know him

00:25:53.159 --> 00:25:54.680
 the words

00:25:54.680 --> 00:25:55.279
 be still

00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:56.359
 and know that I am God

00:25:56.359 --> 00:25:57.720
 are not an invitation

00:25:57.720 --> 00:25:58.879
 they're a command

00:25:58.880 --> 00:26:01.560
 they're not an invitation

00:26:01.560 --> 00:26:02.600
 they're an ultimatum

00:26:02.600 --> 00:26:04.220
 the scriptures say

00:26:04.220 --> 00:26:04.640
 right here

00:26:04.640 --> 00:26:05.180
 be still

00:26:05.180 --> 00:26:06.340
 and know that I am God

00:26:06.340 --> 00:26:07.880
 I will be exalted

00:26:07.880 --> 00:26:08.620
 among the nations

00:26:08.620 --> 00:26:09.540
 I will be exalted

00:26:09.540 --> 00:26:10.120
 in the earth

00:26:10.120 --> 00:26:13.440
 we see this

00:26:13.440 --> 00:26:16.260
 this feature of the psalm

00:26:16.260 --> 00:26:17.040
 not just at the end

00:26:17.040 --> 00:26:18.160
 but throughout the whole thing

00:26:18.160 --> 00:26:18.980
 it keeps speaking

00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:20.340
 about the presence of God

00:26:20.340 --> 00:26:22.600
 it says repeatedly

00:26:22.600 --> 00:26:23.660
 the Lord of hosts

00:26:23.660 --> 00:26:24.500
 is with us

00:26:24.500 --> 00:26:26.120
 the Lord of hosts

00:26:26.120 --> 00:26:27.700
 isn't just alive

00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:28.620
 he's with us

00:26:28.620 --> 00:26:30.200
 it says about God

00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:30.799
 being in the midst

00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:31.440
 of the city

00:26:31.440 --> 00:26:34.019
 it's getting at the fact

00:26:34.019 --> 00:26:34.960
 that God is not only

00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:36.240
 that great king

00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:37.840
 that benevolent king

00:26:37.840 --> 00:26:39.340
 but he's our king

00:26:39.340 --> 00:26:41.539
 and he longs to adopt us

00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:42.120
 as our own

00:26:42.120 --> 00:26:42.940
 if we'll just open

00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:43.740
 the door of our hearts

00:26:43.740 --> 00:26:44.220
 to him

00:26:44.220 --> 00:26:45.860
 God will be exalted

00:26:45.860 --> 00:26:46.600
 among the nations

00:26:46.600 --> 00:26:47.539
 one of the ways

00:26:47.539 --> 00:26:47.880
 that we

00:26:47.880 --> 00:26:49.500
 not one of the ways

00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:50.680
 the way that we're able

00:26:50.680 --> 00:26:51.940
 to allow Jesus

00:26:51.940 --> 00:26:52.720
 into our hearts

00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:53.920
 is when we turn

00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:55.340
 from our own ways

00:26:55.340 --> 00:26:57.120
 and we turn to him

00:26:57.119 --> 00:26:57.439
 and say

00:26:57.439 --> 00:26:58.519
 not only are you

00:26:58.519 --> 00:26:59.439
 the God of the universe

00:26:59.439 --> 00:27:00.759
 not only are you

00:27:00.759 --> 00:27:01.939
 the king of the universe

00:27:01.939 --> 00:27:03.079
 not only are you

00:27:03.079 --> 00:27:03.939
 exalted in the universe

00:27:03.939 --> 00:27:05.459
 but Lord be my God

00:27:05.459 --> 00:27:06.739
 be my king

00:27:06.739 --> 00:27:07.719
 you are the one

00:27:07.719 --> 00:27:08.919
 with whom my life

00:27:08.919 --> 00:27:09.919
 I will worship

00:27:09.919 --> 00:27:10.319
 and obey

00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:11.299
 you be exalted

00:27:11.299 --> 00:27:12.359
 now these words

00:27:12.359 --> 00:27:14.239
 about God being exalted

00:27:14.239 --> 00:27:14.979
 or really anything

00:27:14.979 --> 00:27:15.639
 being exalted

00:27:15.639 --> 00:27:16.919
 can really scare

00:27:16.919 --> 00:27:17.459
 any of us

00:27:17.459 --> 00:27:18.379
 who've ever been abused

00:27:18.379 --> 00:27:19.139
 because if you've been

00:27:19.139 --> 00:27:20.419
 abused or bullied

00:27:20.419 --> 00:27:22.279
 it's where someone's

00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:23.000
 being exalted

00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:23.739
 who shouldn't be

00:27:23.739 --> 00:27:24.879
 it's where the more powerful

00:27:24.879 --> 00:27:25.739
 is taken from the weaker

00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:26.559
 and that's wrong

00:27:26.559 --> 00:27:27.759
 it's evil

00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:29.500
 but when Jesus

00:27:29.500 --> 00:27:30.319
 is exalted

00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:32.140
 when God is exalted

00:27:32.140 --> 00:27:33.460
 it's the rightful

00:27:33.460 --> 00:27:34.480
 benevolent king

00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:35.299
 the one who should

00:27:35.299 --> 00:27:36.000
 be exalted

00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:36.839
 the one who should

00:27:36.839 --> 00:27:37.400
 be above

00:27:37.400 --> 00:27:38.460
 being above

00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:39.500
 obeyed and exalted

00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:41.039
 and so

00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:42.019
 there is truly

00:27:42.019 --> 00:27:42.799
 such comfort

00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:43.559
 as we look at

00:27:43.559 --> 00:27:44.140
 the fact that

00:27:44.140 --> 00:27:44.859
 God promises

00:27:44.859 --> 00:27:46.539
 that he will be exalted

00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:48.099
 and I want to invite you

00:27:48.099 --> 00:27:48.420
 today

00:27:48.420 --> 00:27:49.380
 if you haven't ever

00:27:49.380 --> 00:27:51.180
 truly given your life

00:27:51.180 --> 00:27:51.579
 to God

00:27:51.579 --> 00:27:52.400
 if you've never said

00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:52.960
 that

00:27:52.960 --> 00:27:54.140
 if you've never

00:27:54.140 --> 00:27:54.759
 asked him

00:27:54.759 --> 00:27:55.620
 for forgiveness

00:27:55.620 --> 00:27:57.019
 for your sins

00:27:57.019 --> 00:27:57.440
 if you've never

00:27:57.440 --> 00:27:58.280
 actually looked to him

00:27:58.280 --> 00:27:58.580
 and said

00:27:58.580 --> 00:28:00.040
 enough of me

00:28:00.040 --> 00:28:01.100
 trying to be my own refuge

00:28:01.100 --> 00:28:01.720
 enough of me

00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:02.759
 trying to live

00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:03.300
 the good life

00:28:03.300 --> 00:28:03.860
 I can't live

00:28:03.860 --> 00:28:04.380
 but Lord

00:28:04.380 --> 00:28:05.280
 I'm going to look to you

00:28:05.280 --> 00:28:05.840
 that you would be

00:28:05.840 --> 00:28:06.720
 my refuge

00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:07.720
 from the judgment

00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:08.380
 that I'm due

00:28:08.380 --> 00:28:09.380
 and that you would also

00:28:09.380 --> 00:28:10.240
 be my strength

00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:11.060
 to live the life

00:28:11.060 --> 00:28:11.980
 you've called me to live

00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:13.780
 and as often

00:28:13.780 --> 00:28:14.360
 as we follow

00:28:14.360 --> 00:28:15.100
 as often as we

00:28:15.100 --> 00:28:15.860
 come back to him

00:28:15.860 --> 00:28:16.460
 and we say

00:28:16.460 --> 00:28:16.940
 God

00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:17.500
 Father

00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:18.100
 forgive me

00:28:18.100 --> 00:28:18.560
 for my sins

00:28:18.560 --> 00:28:19.220
 we keep looking

00:28:19.220 --> 00:28:19.820
 back to God

00:28:19.820 --> 00:28:20.920
 for he is

00:28:20.920 --> 00:28:21.980
 the savior

00:28:21.980 --> 00:28:22.880
 and not only

00:28:22.880 --> 00:28:23.720
 is he the savior

00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:24.519
 but he longs

00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:25.519
 to be our savior

00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:31.000
 my prayer for us

00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:31.500
 as a church

00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:32.660
 leading into this Sunday

00:28:32.660 --> 00:28:33.480
 as we go into

00:28:33.480 --> 00:28:34.180
 the new year

00:28:34.180 --> 00:28:35.539
 is that we can

00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:36.440
 look to God

00:28:36.440 --> 00:28:37.539
 with confidence

00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:38.440
 to be a refuge

00:28:38.440 --> 00:28:40.079
 that if you are

00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:40.579
 like me

00:28:40.579 --> 00:28:41.220
 someone who

00:28:41.220 --> 00:28:42.200
 you've experienced

00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:43.039
 pain and suffering

00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:43.720
 and so you're

00:28:43.720 --> 00:28:44.240
 kind of fearing

00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:44.700
 the future

00:28:44.700 --> 00:28:45.319
 that you can let

00:28:45.319 --> 00:28:46.259
 go of those fears

00:28:46.259 --> 00:28:47.180
 and you can look

00:28:47.180 --> 00:28:47.759
 to God

00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:49.059
 as your refuge

00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:50.000
 you can go into

00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:51.680
 2014 with confidence

00:28:51.680 --> 00:28:52.600
 that no matter

00:28:52.600 --> 00:28:53.360
 what earthquakes

00:28:53.360 --> 00:28:53.720
 no matter

00:28:53.720 --> 00:28:54.380
 what death

00:28:54.380 --> 00:28:54.740
 no matter

00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:55.320
 what pain

00:28:55.320 --> 00:28:56.340
 might be in store

00:28:56.340 --> 00:28:56.880
 for others

00:28:56.880 --> 00:28:57.400
 or for yourself

00:28:57.400 --> 00:28:58.080
 that you can know

00:28:58.080 --> 00:28:58.560
 that God

00:28:58.560 --> 00:28:59.440
 will be your refuge

00:28:59.440 --> 00:29:00.380
 that we can go

00:29:00.380 --> 00:29:01.080
 into a new year

00:29:01.080 --> 00:29:01.539
 knowing

00:29:01.539 --> 00:29:02.140
 that no matter

00:29:02.140 --> 00:29:03.240
 the frailty

00:29:03.240 --> 00:29:03.860
 we have

00:29:03.860 --> 00:29:04.240
 that God

00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:04.980
 will be our strength

00:29:04.980 --> 00:29:05.680
 that God

00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:06.519
 will be your strength

00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:07.259
 to be the dad

00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:08.220
 or the mom

00:29:08.220 --> 00:29:08.660
 the husband

00:29:08.660 --> 00:29:09.220
 or the wife

00:29:09.220 --> 00:29:10.120
 or the person

00:29:10.120 --> 00:29:10.799
 that he made you

00:29:10.799 --> 00:29:11.160
 to be

00:29:11.160 --> 00:29:11.799
 that you can

00:29:11.799 --> 00:29:12.980
 actually put to death

00:29:12.980 --> 00:29:14.380
 those sinful habits

00:29:14.380 --> 00:29:15.080
 that have riddled

00:29:15.080 --> 00:29:15.539
 our lives

00:29:15.539 --> 00:29:16.019
 and we can look

00:29:16.019 --> 00:29:16.560
 to God

00:29:16.560 --> 00:29:17.240
 for the strength

00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:17.600
 we need

00:29:17.600 --> 00:29:19.140
 to advance

00:29:19.140 --> 00:29:19.540
 the kingdom

00:29:19.540 --> 00:29:20.080
 of God

00:29:20.080 --> 00:29:20.759
 to bring

00:29:20.759 --> 00:29:21.280
 his peace

00:29:21.280 --> 00:29:21.800
 and his shalom

00:29:21.800 --> 00:29:22.420
 to this earth

00:29:22.420 --> 00:29:24.180
 but more than anything

00:29:24.180 --> 00:29:25.500
 my prayer is that

00:29:25.500 --> 00:29:26.520
 that you and I

00:29:26.520 --> 00:29:27.660
 can go into the new year

00:29:27.660 --> 00:29:28.880
 confident

00:29:28.880 --> 00:29:30.300
 that God

00:29:30.300 --> 00:29:31.200
 is not only God

00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:32.340
 who wants to be known about

00:29:32.340 --> 00:29:33.780
 but he wants to be known

00:29:33.780 --> 00:29:34.960
 he wants to know us

00:29:34.960 --> 00:29:36.640
 we find refuge

00:29:36.640 --> 00:29:37.860
 and strength in God

00:29:37.860 --> 00:29:40.000
 as we get to know him

00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:41.320
 as we look to him

00:29:41.320 --> 00:29:43.560
 would you stand with me

00:29:43.560 --> 00:29:44.380
 as we pray

00:29:44.380 --> 00:29:51.380
 heavenly father

00:29:51.380 --> 00:29:51.960
 thank you

00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:52.300
 that

00:29:52.300 --> 00:29:53.800
 these words

00:29:53.800 --> 00:29:55.680
 written so many years ago

00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:56.920
 are trustworthy

00:29:56.920 --> 00:29:57.800
 and true

00:29:57.800 --> 00:29:59.820
 lord we thank you

00:29:59.820 --> 00:30:00.580
 that you have

00:30:00.580 --> 00:30:02.280
 not only invited us

00:30:02.280 --> 00:30:03.120
 but commanded us

00:30:03.120 --> 00:30:03.760
 to know you

00:30:03.760 --> 00:30:05.520
 and lord we say

00:30:05.520 --> 00:30:06.720
 we want to know you

00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:08.000
 we thank you

00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:08.400
 for

00:30:08.400 --> 00:30:09.940
 your faithfulness

00:30:09.940 --> 00:30:10.580
 we thank you

00:30:10.580 --> 00:30:10.820
 that

00:30:10.820 --> 00:30:11.840
 you made it possible

00:30:11.840 --> 00:30:12.460
 that despite

00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:13.140
 our frailty

00:30:13.140 --> 00:30:14.040
 and defilements

00:30:14.039 --> 00:30:14.500
 that we can

00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:15.859
 be reconciled to you

00:30:15.859 --> 00:30:17.899
 and become your children

00:30:17.899 --> 00:30:19.339
 lord we thank you

00:30:19.339 --> 00:30:20.359
 that you are our refuge

00:30:20.359 --> 00:30:21.039
 and our strength

00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:22.659
 and lord we look to you

00:30:22.659 --> 00:30:23.339
 that as we enter

00:30:23.339 --> 00:30:23.980
 a new year

00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:24.680
 you would help us

00:30:24.680 --> 00:30:25.839
 entrust that to you

00:30:25.839 --> 00:30:27.500
 entrust our future to you

00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:29.059
 and stop trying to

00:30:29.059 --> 00:30:29.859
 save our own lives

00:30:29.859 --> 00:30:30.480
 but instead

00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:32.079
 seek to lose our life

00:30:32.079 --> 00:30:32.659
 for your sake

00:30:32.659 --> 00:30:33.420
 that we would live

00:30:33.420 --> 00:30:35.079
 the full adventure

00:30:35.079 --> 00:30:35.759
 of the life

00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:36.859
 that you've called us to live

00:30:36.859 --> 00:30:39.000
 confident in your goodness

00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:40.960
 and your steadfast love

00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:42.639
 lord we look to you

00:30:42.639 --> 00:30:43.599
 in Jesus' name

00:30:43.599 --> 00:30:44.399
 amen

00:30:44.399 --> 00:30:44.500
 amen

00:30:44.500 --> 00:30:47.599
 and

00:30:47.599 --> 00:30:49.039
 as well as we talk to you

00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:49.880
 of the world

00:30:49.880 --> 00:30:51.380
 who have come up

00:30:51.380 --> 00:30:54.920
 and be the depositions

00:30:54.920 --> 00:30:56.180
 so you can have them

00:30:56.180 --> 00:30:56.440
 들 proclaimed

00:30:56.440 --> 00:30:56.720
 it

00:30:56.720 --> 00:30:57.539
 they

00:30:57.539 --> 00:31:02.140
 have

00:31:02.140 --> 00:31:02.660
 years

00:31:02.660 --> 00:31:03.859
 they

00:31:03.859 --> 00:31:04.960
 rotate

00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:06.480
 their

00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:08.000
 come up

00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:08.799
 here

00:31:08.799 --> 00:31:10.400
 let me

00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:11.299
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