WEBVTT

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 It's so terrifying that God will unleash the fury

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 that many will face the mountains and rocks,

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 fall on us and hide us from the face of him

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 who is seated on the throne.

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 The wrath of the Lamb, as the Revelation says.

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 Man is in utter rebellion against God.

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 Who can deny it?

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 And countless other things we have not mentioned here.

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 It's in all of us.

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 And who really is in control?

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 God or the devil?

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 Does God fail to accomplish his purposes

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 because of evident human rebellion?

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 Put this back on.

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 So how do we account for the sheer quantity of evil

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 and calamities in the world?

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 Many Christians want to take God off the hook

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 for evil and calamities.

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 And they rightly see that sin vandalizes God's good creation.

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 Sin affects creation itself.

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 Like putting graffiti on a beautiful painting in the Louvre.

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 God is not only the king, he is the judge.

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 People recognize that.

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 And many women will one day give an account

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 before the judgment seat of Christ.

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 And with this we must all agree.

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 But in arguing of how to understand evil in the world,

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 some want to say God cannot prevent evil

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 because that would destroy our freedom

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 to choose good and evil.

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 He just kind of rolls the dice and hopes for the best.

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 And humans have the power to choose good and evil.

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 And because it's up to us,

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 he can clean up the mess afterward,

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 but he is helpless to prevent it.

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 Our freedom is so valuable

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 that he's willing to pay the price of human suffering.

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 And God cannot prevent evil.

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 After the tsunami in Southeast Asia,

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 a Christian was asked this,

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 whether God had anything to do with a disaster.

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 No, he replied.

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 This question has to do with geology, not theology.

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 So putting aside the profound theological statement

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 that person's making in that statement,

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 I want to say the scripture has much to say to us

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 about this topic.

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 And the scripture appears to cut in a different direction

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 than that statement.

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 Isaiah 45, verse 7,

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 The same God who is good,

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 in which there is no darkness,

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 says to the people,

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 I form the light and create darkness.

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 I bring prosperity and create disaster.

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 I, the Lord, do all these things.

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 And Daniel 4, 35,

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 up here,

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 says,

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 All the inhabitants of the earth

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 are accounted as nothing,

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 and he does according to his will

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 among the hosts of heaven

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 and among the inhabitants of the earth,

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 and none can stay his hand or say to him,

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 What have you done?

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 In the midst of severe misfortune,

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 including winds which swept in

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 and caused the collapse of a house,

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 killing all the young inside,

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 Job refused to curse God.

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 He says,

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 Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?

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 In surveying the ruins of Jerusalem,

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 Jeremiah asked,

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 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High

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 that both calamities and good things come?

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 So in the scripture,

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 when suffering happens,

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 I think pastorally the writers of scripture

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 want to draw our attention to God's sovereignty.

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 The disciples asked Jesus,

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 Who sinned,

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 this blind man or his parents?

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 Jesus answered,

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 Neither,

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 but that the works of God

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 might be displayed in him.

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 So we know the creation is cursed

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 because sin creates disabilities

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 like blindness.

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 God created everything and called it good.

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 There was no blindness before sin.

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 But this man's blindness was no accident,

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 according to Jesus.

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 He was born blind

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 because God had a purpose for this man,

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 that he would have a chance to glorify him

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 through his suffering.

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 And one of the priceless truths,

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 the pillow we can lay our heads on at night,

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 is the truth of God's sovereignty.

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 All things are under God's rule and control,

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 and nothing happens without his direction or permission.

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 God doesn't work some things out,

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 but all things out,

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 according to the counsel of his will.

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 And this is good news for us,

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 that God controls every molecule,

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 atom,

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 even the smallest subatomic particle

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 unseen by the most powerful microscope on earth.

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 Something that the human eye has never seen,

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 God is in control of those things.

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 From the forces of nature, we'll see,

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 to the rise and fall of nations,

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 over good and evil,

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 even the deeply painful events in our lives.

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 God is in control.

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 And so this means your suffering is not meaningless.

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 We will see.

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 And Christian, though you can't see it now,

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 one day you will see

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 that God is working out these painful things for our good.

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 And my hope and prayer is that

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 by the end of our time together,

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 we will see God's sovereignty

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 as the bedrock of our trust,

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 and God's sovereignty would lead us to rest

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 in the fatherly hand of God.

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 So let's begin with,

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 what do we mean when we say sovereignty of God?

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 Well, a sovereign is a ruler, a lord.

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 To discuss the sovereignty of God

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 is to discuss his lordship, his kingship.

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 A.W. Tozer defines it as,

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 God's sovereignty is the attribute

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 by which he rules his entire creation.

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 And to be sovereign,

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 God must be all-knowing, all-powerful,

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 and absolutely free.

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 The word Yahweh in the Old Testament

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 expresses this sovereign rule.

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 The name revealed to Moses at the burning bush.

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 I am who I am.

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 He depends on no one.

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 He always was and always will be.

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 And the word Lord, Yahweh,

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 is found 7,000 times in the Old Testament.

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 He is the King of kings,

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 the Lord of lords,

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 the great, the mighty, and the awesome God.

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 Psalm 115, verse 3,

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 Our God is in the heavens.

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 He does all that he pleases.

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 And the prefix omni means all.

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 So he is omnipotent.

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 He is all-powerful.

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 Omniscient.

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 He knows everything.

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 You combine all the knowledge

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 by all the people at Yale,

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 and it is comparable to a kindergarten reading lesson

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 compared to what God knows.

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 He knows everything there is to know.

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 Omnipresent.

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 Scripture says he's everywhere.

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 You go 36,000 feet to the bottom of the ocean,

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 God is there,

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 if you aren't crushed by the pressure.

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 So we see this as the premise of God in the Exodus.

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 It was God, not Pharaoh,

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 who reigns over all things.

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 Exodus 3, verse 19 to 20,

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 But I know that the king of Egypt

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 will not let you go

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 unless compelled by a mighty hand,

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 so I will stretch out my hand

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 and strike Egypt

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 with all the wonders that I will do in it.

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 After that, he will let you go.

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 The sovereignty of God means

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 God as a king is in control of the world.

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 He is in control of Pharaoh.

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 And to what purpose does God exercise his sovereignty?

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 Well, God tells the Israelites in the Exodus,

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 So that the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord

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 when I stretch out my hand against Egypt

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 to bring out the people of Israel from among them.

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 God does everything for his own glory.

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 So think of God speaking to Isaiah,

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 Bring my sons from afar

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 and my daughters from the ends of the earth,

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 everyone who is called by my name,

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 whom I created for my glory.

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 We have been created to display the glory of God.

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 Like a master painter

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 whose canvas is the entire universe,

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 he governs every detail to bring himself glory.

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 And one day the earth will be filled

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 with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord

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 as the waters cover the sea,

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 as Sabaccic says.

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 So how does the scripture portray

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 the sovereignty of God?

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 So we'll begin with the macro

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 and then we'll narrow down to the micro

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 as it hits closer to home.

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 So first, God is sovereign

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 over the decisions of nations.

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 Over the decisions of nations.

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 Proverbs 21, verse 1.

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 The king's heart is a stream of water

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 in the hand of the Lord.

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 He turns it wherever he will.

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 He controls kings.

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 He has unlimited power.

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 He has the power to summon a king

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 to pound swiftly and destroy another nation.

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 And that's precisely what he did

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 when he summoned Cyrus and Isaiah

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 to crush Babylon.

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 Isaiah 46.

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 I am God and there is no other.

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 I am God and there's none like me,

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 declaring the end from the beginning.

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 And from ancient times,

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 things not yet done,

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 saying,

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 My counsel shall stand

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 and I will accomplish all my purpose.

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 Calling a bird of prey from the east,

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 a man of my counsel from a far country.

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 I have spoken and I will bring it to pass.

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 I have purposed and I will do it.

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 And that bird of prey that God is referring to

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 is him summoning Cyrus, the king of Persia,

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 to abruptly and swiftly conquer Babylon

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 and liberate the Jews from captivity.

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 God is sovereign over the very fortunes of nations

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 over Syria and Babylon and Persia.

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 He is sovereign over Russian tanks coming into Ukraine.

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 He is sovereign over Vladimir Putin and Zelensky.

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 He is sovereign over China and Taiwan,

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 over North Korea and South Korea, Lithuania.

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 He is sovereign over the elections in the United States,

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 the polar bears and the penguins in Antarctica.

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 He reigns supreme as the king over all the nations

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 and his purposes always prevail.

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 When he stretches out his hand,

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 there is none to turn him back

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 because there is no one over him and beside him.

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 So we see God is sovereign over the decisions of nations.

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 And second, God is sovereign over calamities,

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 over calamities.

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 We saw this previously in Job's life.

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 And also besides that,

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 who sent the flood during Noah's time?

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 God is not making a point of meteorology, but theology.

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 Genesis 6, verse 17,

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 I'm about to cover the earth with a flood

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 that will destroy every living thing that breathes.

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 Everything on earth will die.

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 God wants them to know ahead of time

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 who sends the storm.

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 He is the God of the storm.

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 He judges sin.

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 And he will send the storm to judge the nations.

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 He is sovereign even over calamities.

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 Who sent the plagues in Egypt?

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 In Exodus 9,

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 God brings a terrible hailstorm upon the Egyptians,

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 but he leaves one area untouched,

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 the land of Goshen,

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 where the Israelites lived.

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 He makes distinctions in the plagues

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 through natural events.

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 And for what purpose?

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 Again, God says,

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 the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.

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 He does it so that they know

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 that he is king in control,

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 even of nature itself.

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 And at his word,

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 the sun stood still so Joshua could win the battle.

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 According to Genesis,

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 he sends famine.

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 The disciples said to Jesus,

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 what kind of man is this?

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 Even the winds in the sea obey him.

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 God is in control of the weather,

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 even over calamities.

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 And do you remember that terrifying episode

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 of the sons of Korah in the book of Numbers?

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 Do you remember the sons of Korah

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 were rebellious men,

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 challenging the authority of Moses and Aaron

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 as God's appointed leaders?

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 And Moses in number 16 says,

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 if they die a natural death,

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 then the Lord has not sent me.

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 But if the Lord opens up the earth

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 and swallows them up

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 with everything that belongs to them

00:11:36.379 --> 00:11:38.340
 and they go alive into the realm of the dead,

00:11:38.540 --> 00:11:39.960
 then you will know that these men

00:11:39.960 --> 00:11:41.420
 have treated the Lord with contempt.

00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:43.019
 And what happened?

00:11:43.139 --> 00:11:44.740
 As soon as Moses was done talking,

00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:46.920
 the earth split open and swallowed them up

00:11:46.920 --> 00:11:48.240
 and the earth closed over them.

00:11:48.720 --> 00:11:50.379
 What an awesome and mighty God.

00:11:50.899 --> 00:11:52.320
 He can send the earthquake

00:11:52.320 --> 00:11:54.379
 to swallow up rebels.

00:11:54.379 --> 00:11:56.220
 And we can say with the psalmist,

00:11:56.580 --> 00:11:58.240
 be still and know that I am God.

00:11:58.399 --> 00:12:00.240
 I will be exalted among the nations.

00:12:00.580 --> 00:12:02.080
 I will be exalted in the earth.

00:12:02.840 --> 00:12:04.919
 And God reveals himself in nature

00:12:04.919 --> 00:12:06.159
 so that we will know his power.

00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:09.399
 And God is sovereign even over calamities.

00:12:11.879 --> 00:12:12.360
 Wow.

00:12:13.700 --> 00:12:15.879
 God is not only sovereign over calamities

00:12:15.879 --> 00:12:17.259
 and nations,

00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:20.679
 God is sovereign even over circumstances,

00:12:21.399 --> 00:12:23.120
 even if evil is being done to us.

00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:28.299
 You recall that well-known passage

00:12:28.299 --> 00:12:30.320
 in Joseph's life,

00:12:30.379 --> 00:12:31.100
 at the end of his life,

00:12:31.179 --> 00:12:32.440
 in Genesis 50, verse 20?

00:12:33.060 --> 00:12:33.779
 As for you,

00:12:34.100 --> 00:12:35.379
 you meant evil against me,

00:12:35.480 --> 00:12:36.659
 but God meant it for good.

00:12:36.919 --> 00:12:38.179
 To bring it that many people

00:12:38.179 --> 00:12:39.820
 should be kept alive as they are today.

00:12:40.500 --> 00:12:42.000
 You meant evil against me,

00:12:42.220 --> 00:12:43.899
 but God meant it for good.

00:12:44.740 --> 00:12:46.600
 Joseph had been sold into slavery

00:12:46.600 --> 00:12:49.600
 because of his malice and hatred.

00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:52.519
 Was a heinous evil done to Joseph?

00:12:53.480 --> 00:12:53.899
 Yes.

00:12:54.340 --> 00:12:55.060
 Yes, it was.

00:12:55.500 --> 00:12:56.440
 It was very evil.

00:12:56.920 --> 00:12:58.960
 Was God sovereign over those circumstances?

00:12:59.680 --> 00:13:00.000
 Yes.

00:13:00.779 --> 00:13:01.540
 God was sovereign.

00:13:02.420 --> 00:13:03.460
 And what was God's purpose?

00:13:03.860 --> 00:13:05.279
 That the people should be kept alive.

00:13:05.480 --> 00:13:07.420
 Ultimately, God is preserving the line of Abraham.

00:13:07.779 --> 00:13:08.259
 Right?

00:13:08.460 --> 00:13:09.680
 And all the nations of the earth

00:13:09.680 --> 00:13:12.200
 would be blessed through the line of Abraham.

00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:14.060
 Through Joseph's suffering,

00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:15.540
 God keeps his promises.

00:13:15.539 --> 00:13:18.219
 And think for a moment with me.

00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:19.500
 Think of Joseph's life.

00:13:20.539 --> 00:13:21.360
 An innocent man,

00:13:21.980 --> 00:13:22.980
 even if unwise,

00:13:23.439 --> 00:13:24.839
 with his rainbow coat,

00:13:25.219 --> 00:13:27.659
 who was loved by his father, Jacob,

00:13:28.599 --> 00:13:30.199
 stripped of his rainbow coat,

00:13:30.459 --> 00:13:31.679
 betrayed by his brothers

00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:33.240
 for 20 pieces of silver,

00:13:34.319 --> 00:13:35.939
 falsely accused by Potiphar's wife

00:13:35.939 --> 00:13:37.319
 and thrown into a pit with criminals.

00:13:38.199 --> 00:13:39.419
 But through his suffering,

00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:41.039
 he saves his people from death.

00:13:41.799 --> 00:13:42.579
 Through his suffering,

00:13:42.579 --> 00:13:45.019
 God ultimately delivers his people from famine.

00:13:46.120 --> 00:13:48.099
 And Joseph takes a Gentile bride

00:13:48.099 --> 00:13:50.279
 and he is exalted at the right hand of Pharaoh.

00:13:50.719 --> 00:13:52.659
 And his brothers bow down before him.

00:13:53.019 --> 00:13:54.500
 And he intercedes before Pharaoh

00:13:54.500 --> 00:13:55.599
 on behalf of his family.

00:13:56.199 --> 00:13:56.639
 And ultimately,

00:13:56.719 --> 00:13:57.980
 he will extend kindness and forgiveness

00:13:57.980 --> 00:13:59.139
 to those who betrayed him.

00:13:59.939 --> 00:14:01.259
 Through Joseph's life,

00:14:01.459 --> 00:14:03.019
 suffering and exaltation in Egypt,

00:14:03.339 --> 00:14:04.679
 God, he keeps his promises.

00:14:05.579 --> 00:14:07.459
 Now, does that story sound familiar to you at all?

00:14:08.740 --> 00:14:10.319
 Does that ring an echo

00:14:10.319 --> 00:14:11.860
 of a greater story in the Bible?

00:14:12.700 --> 00:14:15.399
 And God will actually orchestrate Joseph's life

00:14:15.399 --> 00:14:17.139
 to be a shadow of the greater Messiah

00:14:17.139 --> 00:14:19.340
 who would come to rescue his people.

00:14:19.779 --> 00:14:20.740
 Not from famine,

00:14:21.279 --> 00:14:24.019
 but from God's white-hot judgment against sin.

00:14:24.500 --> 00:14:26.080
 And Jesus, fully God and fully man,

00:14:26.139 --> 00:14:26.740
 was rejected.

00:14:27.419 --> 00:14:29.100
 Even though he had committed no evil,

00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:30.940
 he never sinned.

00:14:31.379 --> 00:14:32.720
 Not even for a millisecond.

00:14:32.720 --> 00:14:36.360
 Jesus was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver,

00:14:37.259 --> 00:14:37.899
 falsely accused,

00:14:37.980 --> 00:14:39.720
 and suffered at the hands of Pontius Pilate,

00:14:40.120 --> 00:14:41.100
 stripped of his robe,

00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:43.340
 and crucified next to two criminals,

00:14:43.920 --> 00:14:45.920
 and then was raised to the right hand of the Father

00:14:45.920 --> 00:14:47.360
 and now intercedes for us

00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:49.139
 to deliver us from death and judgment,

00:14:49.899 --> 00:14:52.320
 taking for himself a bride from the nations.

00:14:53.500 --> 00:14:55.580
 That sounds like Joseph's life.

00:14:55.580 --> 00:14:57.720
 Not one-to-one,

00:14:58.240 --> 00:14:59.139
 but there are echoes

00:14:59.139 --> 00:15:03.300
 of how Joseph was a signpost for Christ.

00:15:04.460 --> 00:15:06.680
 Now, were the details of Joseph's life an accident?

00:15:07.040 --> 00:15:07.879
 Well, clearly not.

00:15:08.460 --> 00:15:09.120
 Clearly not.

00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:11.360
 If you've been at Trinity long enough,

00:15:11.420 --> 00:15:13.280
 you've heard Christ preach from the Old Testament.

00:15:14.139 --> 00:15:15.820
 And examples like this abound.

00:15:16.820 --> 00:15:19.080
 And for those who came to the biblical theology class

00:15:19.080 --> 00:15:19.940
 last year,

00:15:20.300 --> 00:15:22.400
 you know that this is called typology.

00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:26.220
 And typologies are shadows in the Old Testament

00:15:26.220 --> 00:15:28.959
 wherein Christ is the reality.

00:15:29.139 --> 00:15:31.679
 And this is the hermeneutical framework

00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:34.860
 that the apostles used in the New Testament

00:15:34.860 --> 00:15:37.079
 to interpret events and people

00:15:37.079 --> 00:15:42.019
 and foreshadowing the work of Christ and the Messiah.

00:15:42.740 --> 00:15:44.480
 And this way of interpreting the Old Testament

00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:47.439
 assumes that God is sovereign over all of history,

00:15:47.819 --> 00:15:49.259
 even the small details.

00:15:49.259 --> 00:15:52.519
 And God isn't just controlled generally,

00:15:52.980 --> 00:15:55.159
 but meticulously controlled.

00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:57.559
 And the supreme example of this

00:15:57.559 --> 00:15:58.679
 is the cross of Christ.

00:15:59.539 --> 00:16:02.639
 Jesus' death is a result of events outside his control,

00:16:03.139 --> 00:16:04.600
 even when evil is done to him.

00:16:05.740 --> 00:16:08.379
 God superintends every detail

00:16:08.379 --> 00:16:10.500
 precisely for his glory.

00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:13.600
 Everything that happened on Good Friday

00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:16.139
 was a fulfillment of Scripture, wasn't it?

00:16:16.139 --> 00:16:18.659
 Peter says as much while preaching in Jerusalem

00:16:18.659 --> 00:16:19.580
 after the resurrection.

00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:20.500
 Acts 2.

00:16:21.500 --> 00:16:23.259
 This Jesus delivered up to the,

00:16:23.460 --> 00:16:24.840
 according to the definite plan

00:16:24.840 --> 00:16:25.960
 and fuller knowledge of God,

00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:27.960
 you crucified and killed

00:16:27.960 --> 00:16:29.240
 by the hands of lawless men.

00:16:29.879 --> 00:16:31.039
 So according to Peter,

00:16:31.559 --> 00:16:33.139
 was a heinous evil done to Jesus?

00:16:34.279 --> 00:16:34.559
 Yes.

00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:36.759
 The Lord of glory was crucified

00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:38.919
 and killed by the hands of lawless men.

00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:40.860
 An innocent man was condemned.

00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:42.799
 A heinous evil

00:16:42.799 --> 00:16:45.740
 was God's sovereign over those circumstances.

00:16:46.819 --> 00:16:47.100
 Yes.

00:16:47.539 --> 00:16:49.679
 He was delivered up to the definite plan

00:16:49.679 --> 00:16:50.559
 and fuller knowledge of God,

00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:51.159
 according to Peter.

00:16:51.720 --> 00:16:53.240
 So the cross was not plan B

00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:55.179
 after human beings messed it up

00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:56.039
 according to our sin,

00:16:56.360 --> 00:16:57.759
 but it was God's plan A.

00:16:58.019 --> 00:16:59.539
 The cross was God's plan

00:16:59.539 --> 00:17:00.960
 from eternity past.

00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:02.720
 Revelation says,

00:17:03.539 --> 00:17:04.240
 in the mind of God,

00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:05.099
 the lamb was slain

00:17:05.099 --> 00:17:06.500
 from the foundation of the world.

00:17:08.099 --> 00:17:09.920
 But he accomplishes his purpose

00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:12.359
 through the hands of the sinful mob

00:17:12.359 --> 00:17:12.639
 who yelled,

00:17:12.779 --> 00:17:13.500
 crucify him,

00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:14.759
 crucify him.

00:17:14.759 --> 00:17:16.480
 So we were in that crowd.

00:17:18.339 --> 00:17:20.500
 We sinned with them.

00:17:20.599 --> 00:17:22.339
 We wanted to crucify the Lord of glory,

00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:24.279
 but through the sinful acts

00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:24.980
 of men and women,

00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:27.119
 God accomplishes his plan of redemption.

00:17:28.420 --> 00:17:30.359
 Just like in Joseph's life.

00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:33.319
 The precise details,

00:17:34.019 --> 00:17:36.039
 in Matthew chapter 26,

00:17:36.440 --> 00:17:36.859
 will say,

00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:38.920
 all this has taken place

00:17:38.920 --> 00:17:40.279
 so that the scriptures

00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:41.299
 might be fulfilled.

00:17:41.299 --> 00:17:43.319
 The precise details

00:17:43.319 --> 00:17:44.339
 were fulfilling the scriptures.

00:17:45.119 --> 00:17:46.200
 Judas, a close friend,

00:17:46.579 --> 00:17:47.740
 betrayed by Jesus,

00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:49.279
 fulfilled Psalm 41.

00:17:50.159 --> 00:17:51.259
 The Pharisees selling Jesus

00:17:51.259 --> 00:17:52.399
 for 30 pieces of silver.

00:17:52.879 --> 00:17:53.659
 And then Judas,

00:17:53.799 --> 00:17:55.159
 using that to buy a field,

00:17:56.059 --> 00:17:57.019
 God then moves Judas

00:17:57.019 --> 00:17:58.119
 to return the blood money

00:17:58.119 --> 00:18:00.099
 in fulfillment of the prophecy

00:18:00.099 --> 00:18:01.259
 in Jeremiah and Zechariah,

00:18:01.339 --> 00:18:02.299
 as Matthew tells us.

00:18:03.339 --> 00:18:05.079
 So all the precise details,

00:18:05.180 --> 00:18:06.740
 we can go to Isaiah 53.

00:18:07.299 --> 00:18:09.099
 He was pierced for our transgression.

00:18:09.099 --> 00:18:10.699
 He was crushed for our iniquities.

00:18:11.939 --> 00:18:13.240
 All the details

00:18:13.240 --> 00:18:14.839
 are precisely,

00:18:15.199 --> 00:18:16.859
 sovereignly ordained by God.

00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:18.839
 And all the attributes of God

00:18:18.839 --> 00:18:19.599
 meet at the cross.

00:18:20.119 --> 00:18:21.639
 The supremacy of his grace.

00:18:22.459 --> 00:18:24.399
 The supremacy of his kindness

00:18:24.399 --> 00:18:25.119
 towards sinners.

00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:27.659
 The supremacy of his holiness

00:18:27.659 --> 00:18:28.859
 and wrath against sin.

00:18:29.459 --> 00:18:30.359
 Both are there.

00:18:31.299 --> 00:18:32.480
 As Jesus, the Lamb of God,

00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:33.819
 hangs as our substitute,

00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:35.039
 the line of Judah

00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:36.559
 shows his supreme strength.

00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:39.159
 And the king is crucified

00:18:39.159 --> 00:18:40.099
 willingly.

00:18:40.919 --> 00:18:42.619
 Nothing external held him there,

00:18:42.940 --> 00:18:44.779
 but he willingly laid his life down

00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:45.399
 and was condemned

00:18:45.399 --> 00:18:46.460
 and submitting himself

00:18:46.460 --> 00:18:47.019
 to the Father.

00:18:48.379 --> 00:18:48.819
 And so,

00:18:49.059 --> 00:18:50.339
 God is sovereign

00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:51.960
 even over circumstances,

00:18:52.700 --> 00:18:53.319
 even if evil

00:18:53.319 --> 00:18:54.259
 is being done to us.

00:18:54.899 --> 00:18:55.700
 And in no way

00:18:55.700 --> 00:18:56.819
 does that diminish

00:18:56.819 --> 00:18:57.759
 human responsibility

00:18:57.759 --> 00:18:59.200
 for sin and evil.

00:18:59.960 --> 00:19:00.779
 And so D.A. Carson

00:19:00.779 --> 00:19:02.079
 makes this point.

00:19:02.679 --> 00:19:04.779
 God is absolutely sovereign.

00:19:04.779 --> 00:19:06.319
 Yet his sovereignty

00:19:06.319 --> 00:19:07.480
 does not diminish

00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:08.819
 human responsibility

00:19:08.819 --> 00:19:09.599
 and accountability.

00:19:10.440 --> 00:19:11.019
 Human beings

00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:12.700
 are morally responsible creatures.

00:19:13.059 --> 00:19:13.639
 Yet this fact

00:19:13.639 --> 00:19:14.799
 in no way jeopardizes

00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:15.839
 the sovereignty of God.

00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:17.039
 At Calvary,

00:19:17.379 --> 00:19:18.019
 all Christians

00:19:18.019 --> 00:19:18.660
 have to concede

00:19:18.660 --> 00:19:19.099
 the truth

00:19:19.099 --> 00:19:19.920
 of these two statements

00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:20.879
 or they give up

00:19:20.879 --> 00:19:21.240
 their claim

00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:21.839
 to be Christians.

00:19:22.700 --> 00:19:24.160
 So we must affirm them both.

00:19:24.279 --> 00:19:25.019
 God's sovereign

00:19:25.019 --> 00:19:25.980
 over the cross

00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:26.879
 and the evil

00:19:26.879 --> 00:19:28.019
 that was being done to Christ.

00:19:28.399 --> 00:19:28.759
 That's what

00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:30.019
 D.A. Carson is saying.

00:19:31.099 --> 00:19:31.899
 So he's sovereign

00:19:31.899 --> 00:19:32.680
 over circumstances.

00:19:32.879 --> 00:19:33.639
 Even if evil

00:19:33.639 --> 00:19:34.539
 is being done to us,

00:19:34.779 --> 00:19:35.799
 I want to take a moment

00:19:35.799 --> 00:19:37.339
 and see if there are

00:19:37.339 --> 00:19:38.019
 any questions

00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:40.680
 before we continue.

00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:43.019
 Does that make sense?

00:19:43.779 --> 00:19:45.440
 When you're talking

00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:47.759
 about all his attributes,

00:19:48.619 --> 00:19:49.240
 the only thing

00:19:49.240 --> 00:19:50.319
 that I would beg

00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:50.700
 to differ

00:19:50.700 --> 00:19:52.779
 is that all his attributes

00:19:52.779 --> 00:19:54.559
 are his attributes

00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:55.819
 because of his holiness.

00:19:56.519 --> 00:19:57.039
 His holiness

00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:58.579
 is not an attribute.

00:19:59.879 --> 00:20:00.720
 His holiness

00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:01.500
 encompasses

00:20:01.500 --> 00:20:02.940
 everything that he is.

00:20:02.940 --> 00:20:04.220
 he's completely

00:20:04.220 --> 00:20:04.980
 and wholly

00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:06.240
 other.

00:20:06.700 --> 00:20:07.320
 That's why

00:20:07.320 --> 00:20:08.180
 his omniscience

00:20:08.180 --> 00:20:08.960
 is other.

00:20:09.380 --> 00:20:10.120
 His sovereignty

00:20:10.120 --> 00:20:10.920
 is other.

00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:12.279
 It's the highest

00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:12.960
 form

00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:14.500
 of omniscience.

00:20:15.500 --> 00:20:16.000
 That's good.

00:20:16.140 --> 00:20:16.840
 It's not

00:20:16.840 --> 00:20:18.180
 another attribute.

00:20:18.180 --> 00:20:18.920
 evil.

00:20:20.840 --> 00:20:21.480
 We talk about

00:20:21.480 --> 00:20:22.000
 the simplicity

00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:22.600
 of God.

00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:23.620
 So the simplicity

00:20:23.620 --> 00:20:24.820
 is all his attributes

00:20:24.820 --> 00:20:25.680
 are one

00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:27.539
 and there's no division

00:20:27.539 --> 00:20:28.259
 within God.

00:20:28.680 --> 00:20:29.039
 He's not like

00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:30.299
 he's half holy

00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:31.680
 and he's half loving.

00:20:31.840 --> 00:20:32.820
 No, he's all holy.

00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:33.539
 He's all loving.

00:20:33.620 --> 00:20:34.340
 He's all rapture.

00:20:34.380 --> 00:20:35.600
 He's all love.

00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:36.759
 And so

00:20:36.759 --> 00:20:37.460
 I would say

00:20:37.460 --> 00:20:38.200
 his attributes

00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:39.340
 all kind of overlap

00:20:39.340 --> 00:20:39.720
 with each other.

00:20:39.779 --> 00:20:40.440
 His power, right?

00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:41.759
 He's powerfully loving.

00:20:41.900 --> 00:20:42.519
 He's powerfully

00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:43.840
 strong.

00:20:44.580 --> 00:20:45.440
 I know what you mean.

00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:46.960
 So we have to keep

00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:47.380
 that in mind.

00:20:47.380 --> 00:20:48.460
 He doesn't have

00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:50.460
 division within himself.

00:20:51.700 --> 00:20:52.960
 The simplicity of God.

00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:54.140
 Yeah, Matt.

00:20:54.900 --> 00:20:56.240
 A comment.

00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:58.120
 D.A. Carson

00:20:58.120 --> 00:21:00.000
 seems to me

00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:01.720
 to be echoing

00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:02.759
 something from

00:21:02.759 --> 00:21:03.460
 the Westminster

00:21:03.460 --> 00:21:04.440
 Catechism

00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:06.120
 about God

00:21:06.120 --> 00:21:06.860
 determines all

00:21:06.860 --> 00:21:07.820
 things that happen

00:21:07.820 --> 00:21:09.299
 yet in such a way

00:21:09.299 --> 00:21:11.240
 that doesn't

00:21:11.240 --> 00:21:12.960
 make him the author

00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:13.480
 of evil

00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:14.320
 or

00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:16.639
 violating

00:21:16.639 --> 00:21:17.759
 human freedom

00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:18.839
 or establishes

00:21:18.839 --> 00:21:19.480
 human freedom.

00:21:19.639 --> 00:21:20.159
 Something

00:21:20.159 --> 00:21:20.559
 maybe

00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:21.379
 such a conflict.

00:21:21.579 --> 00:21:22.000
 Yes.

00:21:22.460 --> 00:21:22.899
 Yes.

00:21:23.019 --> 00:21:23.839
 And we're going to get

00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:24.759
 to man's responsibility

00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:25.879
 toward the end.

00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:26.960
 But

00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:28.119
 that is

00:21:28.119 --> 00:21:28.819
 the two

00:21:28.819 --> 00:21:29.519
 truths

00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:30.139
 that the Bible

00:21:30.139 --> 00:21:30.740
 gives to us.

00:21:30.960 --> 00:21:31.519
 Sovereignty

00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:32.759
 and responsibility.

00:21:33.779 --> 00:21:33.919
 Right.

00:21:34.220 --> 00:21:34.579
 And Carson

00:21:34.579 --> 00:21:35.559
 is a different

00:21:35.559 --> 00:21:36.279
 Carson quote.

00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:36.899
 Yes.

00:21:37.159 --> 00:21:37.539
 Yes.

00:21:37.879 --> 00:21:38.359
 Carson.

00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:39.079
 So

00:21:39.079 --> 00:21:39.960
 there may be

00:21:39.960 --> 00:21:40.480
 some people

00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:41.019
 who can put

00:21:41.019 --> 00:21:41.659
 those together

00:21:41.659 --> 00:21:42.319
 logically.

00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:43.559
 You know,

00:21:43.559 --> 00:21:44.419
 I can't.

00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:46.000
 And so I,

00:21:46.179 --> 00:21:46.379
 you know,

00:21:46.379 --> 00:21:47.179
 I'm left with

00:21:47.179 --> 00:21:48.000
 what appears

00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:48.799
 to be a paradox.

00:21:49.919 --> 00:21:50.399
 But

00:21:50.399 --> 00:21:51.359
 that's okay.

00:21:51.539 --> 00:21:51.720
 You know,

00:21:51.779 --> 00:21:52.240
 science,

00:21:52.399 --> 00:21:53.399
 there are paradoxes.

00:21:53.579 --> 00:21:53.899
 Yes.

00:21:54.019 --> 00:21:55.240
 There are paradoxes.

00:21:55.679 --> 00:21:56.839
 It's not surprising

00:21:56.839 --> 00:21:57.940
 that I don't understand

00:21:57.940 --> 00:21:58.299
 God.

00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:00.460
 Join the club.

00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:02.940
 God is one.

00:22:03.019 --> 00:22:03.559
 God is three.

00:22:03.679 --> 00:22:04.299
 Three and one.

00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:06.379
 My puny mind

00:22:06.379 --> 00:22:07.419
 doesn't understand

00:22:07.419 --> 00:22:08.179
 that.

00:22:08.339 --> 00:22:08.480
 I mean,

00:22:08.599 --> 00:22:09.179
 I'm not going to

00:22:09.179 --> 00:22:10.000
 understand how

00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:11.220
 and Spurgeon said

00:22:11.220 --> 00:22:12.139
 there's not one line,

00:22:12.140 --> 00:22:12.920
 there's two lines

00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:13.780
 and you have to

00:22:13.780 --> 00:22:14.420
 look at them both.

00:22:15.320 --> 00:22:15.759
 And I think

00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:16.360
 the moment you

00:22:16.360 --> 00:22:17.080
 take one side

00:22:17.080 --> 00:22:17.440
 and make it

00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:18.220
 the whole thing,

00:22:18.300 --> 00:22:18.680
 that's when you

00:22:18.680 --> 00:22:19.259
 run into error.

00:22:19.660 --> 00:22:20.340
 You have to keep

00:22:20.340 --> 00:22:21.240
 them both in tension

00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:22.240
 to be,

00:22:23.040 --> 00:22:23.980
 to really keep

00:22:23.980 --> 00:22:24.440
 in tension

00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:24.920
 what the Bible

00:22:24.920 --> 00:22:25.560
 keeps in tension.

00:22:27.340 --> 00:22:27.720
 Yeah.

00:22:29.300 --> 00:22:30.340
 So he's sovereign

00:22:30.340 --> 00:22:31.180
 over nations.

00:22:31.300 --> 00:22:31.780
 He's sovereign

00:22:31.780 --> 00:22:32.640
 over calamities.

00:22:32.740 --> 00:22:33.259
 He's sovereign

00:22:33.259 --> 00:22:34.480
 over circumstances

00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:36.120
 even if evil

00:22:36.120 --> 00:22:36.640
 is being done

00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:37.160
 to us.

00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:40.019
 Now,

00:22:40.080 --> 00:22:40.680
 that's a hard

00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:42.300
 truth

00:22:42.300 --> 00:22:43.019
 and

00:22:43.019 --> 00:22:45.980
 that also

00:22:45.980 --> 00:22:47.220
 gives us

00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:48.400
 I think

00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:49.500
 that the

00:22:49.500 --> 00:22:50.019
 battlefield

00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:51.080
 of faith

00:22:51.080 --> 00:22:52.240
 when evil

00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:52.720
 is being done

00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:53.040
 to us

00:22:53.040 --> 00:22:53.820
 is in the mind.

00:22:54.080 --> 00:22:54.200
 Right?

00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:54.759
 We have to keep

00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:55.500
 three truths

00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:56.140
 in tension

00:22:56.140 --> 00:22:57.220
 together in our minds.

00:22:57.680 --> 00:22:58.279
 God is good,

00:22:59.300 --> 00:23:00.220
 God is for me,

00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:01.519
 and God is sovereign.

00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:03.100
 God is good,

00:23:03.340 --> 00:23:04.000
 God is for me,

00:23:04.120 --> 00:23:04.759
 God is sovereign.

00:23:05.100 --> 00:23:05.500
 You have to keep

00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:06.519
 those three things

00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:07.299
 in your minds

00:23:07.299 --> 00:23:08.380
 when we suffer

00:23:08.380 --> 00:23:09.859
 unjustly from others.

00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:11.240
 I think the moment

00:23:11.240 --> 00:23:11.920
 you take God's

00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:13.119
 sovereignty out of it,

00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:14.279
 God is good

00:23:14.279 --> 00:23:14.740
 in God's form,

00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:15.240
 but he's not really

00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:15.660
 sovereign,

00:23:16.339 --> 00:23:16.799
 and that's kind

00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:17.380
 of cold comfort.

00:23:18.140 --> 00:23:18.279
 You know,

00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:19.019
 God is really

00:23:19.019 --> 00:23:20.400
 powerless to help

00:23:20.400 --> 00:23:20.839
 you in your

00:23:20.839 --> 00:23:21.579
 struggles,

00:23:21.700 --> 00:23:22.200
 in your weakness.

00:23:22.880 --> 00:23:23.920
 But the scripture

00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:25.079
 presents those

00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:25.819
 three things

00:23:25.819 --> 00:23:27.539
 in unity together,

00:23:27.980 --> 00:23:28.480
 and I think

00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:29.099
 that's where

00:23:29.099 --> 00:23:29.559
 the battlefield

00:23:29.559 --> 00:23:30.819
 happens in our minds

00:23:30.819 --> 00:23:32.059
 as we try to

00:23:32.059 --> 00:23:34.140
 hold God's sovereignty

00:23:34.140 --> 00:23:34.619
 and his goodness

00:23:34.619 --> 00:23:35.019
 together.

00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:37.720
 So point number four,

00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:39.119
 point number four,

00:23:40.279 --> 00:23:40.880
 he is not only

00:23:40.880 --> 00:23:41.420
 sovereign over

00:23:41.420 --> 00:23:42.119
 our circumstances,

00:23:42.440 --> 00:23:43.039
 he is also

00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:43.960
 sovereign over

00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:44.799
 our decisions.

00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:46.859
 And we see that

00:23:46.859 --> 00:23:47.519
 in the decision

00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:49.640
 that Joseph's

00:23:49.640 --> 00:23:50.640
 brother made

00:23:50.640 --> 00:23:52.660
 to sell him

00:23:52.660 --> 00:23:53.259
 into slavery.

00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:56.440
 And the decision

00:23:56.440 --> 00:23:57.099
 to crucify the

00:23:57.099 --> 00:23:57.660
 Lord of glory

00:23:57.660 --> 00:23:58.279
 was according

00:23:58.279 --> 00:23:58.819
 to the definite

00:23:58.819 --> 00:23:59.779
 plan and foreknowledge

00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:00.200
 of God.

00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:01.640
 God is sovereign

00:24:01.640 --> 00:24:03.039
 even over the

00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:03.920
 hearts of sinful

00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:04.599
 men and women.

00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:06.759
 Proverbs 16,

00:24:06.839 --> 00:24:07.380
 verse 9,

00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:08.380
 the heart of man

00:24:08.380 --> 00:24:09.299
 plans his way,

00:24:09.420 --> 00:24:09.920
 but the Lord

00:24:09.920 --> 00:24:11.319
 establishes his steps.

00:24:12.660 --> 00:24:13.680
 And so even in that

00:24:13.680 --> 00:24:15.019
 verse,

00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:15.779
 you can see that

00:24:15.779 --> 00:24:16.359
 human beings have

00:24:16.359 --> 00:24:17.859
 freedom to make

00:24:17.859 --> 00:24:18.559
 their own decisions,

00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:18.940
 right?

00:24:19.019 --> 00:24:20.099
 The heart of man

00:24:20.099 --> 00:24:21.059
 plans his way,

00:24:21.880 --> 00:24:23.380
 but at the same time,

00:24:23.380 --> 00:24:24.559
 our choices are

00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:25.279
 under the sovereign

00:24:25.279 --> 00:24:26.339
 determination of God.

00:24:26.420 --> 00:24:26.920
 The Lord

00:24:26.920 --> 00:24:28.740
 establishes his steps.

00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:30.140
 Can that

00:24:30.140 --> 00:24:32.579
 Proverbs 16,

00:24:32.700 --> 00:24:34.000
 9 apply to

00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:35.759
 a cartel drug dealer?

00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:38.380
 Yes, it could.

00:24:39.140 --> 00:24:39.720
 Yes, it could.

00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:41.720
 Yes.

00:24:42.900 --> 00:24:43.640
 God is sovereign

00:24:43.640 --> 00:24:45.720
 over our decisions.

00:24:46.420 --> 00:24:46.980
 And we're going to see

00:24:46.980 --> 00:24:47.759
 that that does not

00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:49.620
 diminish the drug

00:24:49.620 --> 00:24:50.759
 dealer's responsibility

00:24:50.759 --> 00:24:51.579
 and accountability

00:24:51.579 --> 00:24:52.779
 toward God.

00:24:52.920 --> 00:24:53.140
 Yes.

00:24:53.140 --> 00:24:55.640
 So point number

00:24:55.640 --> 00:24:56.080
 five,

00:24:57.740 --> 00:24:58.600
 God is sovereign

00:24:58.600 --> 00:25:00.480
 not only our

00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:01.000
 decisions,

00:25:01.680 --> 00:25:02.600
 but God is sovereign

00:25:02.600 --> 00:25:03.680
 over our salvation.

00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:06.460
 Now,

00:25:06.660 --> 00:25:07.420
 when God

00:25:07.420 --> 00:25:08.100
 determines to bring

00:25:08.100 --> 00:25:08.700
 someone to faith

00:25:08.700 --> 00:25:09.220
 to Christ,

00:25:09.340 --> 00:25:10.259
 he cannot fail.

00:25:10.840 --> 00:25:11.080
 Now,

00:25:11.140 --> 00:25:12.000
 I suppose this is

00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:12.560
 where we must draw

00:25:12.560 --> 00:25:13.120
 our daggers.

00:25:14.580 --> 00:25:15.380
 As Charles Simeon

00:25:15.380 --> 00:25:16.240
 once said to his

00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:17.060
 friend John Wesley,

00:25:17.059 --> 00:25:18.519
 but before you

00:25:18.519 --> 00:25:19.460
 draw out your dagger,

00:25:20.119 --> 00:25:21.319
 let's consider together

00:25:21.319 --> 00:25:22.059
 God's sovereignty

00:25:22.059 --> 00:25:22.740
 in this area.

00:25:23.799 --> 00:25:24.419
 I'm convinced

00:25:24.419 --> 00:25:25.460
 if you are a Christian,

00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:27.279
 we all recognize

00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:28.119
 in our hearts

00:25:28.119 --> 00:25:29.700
 that God is sovereign.

00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:31.519
 And I don't need

00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:32.200
 to persuade you

00:25:32.200 --> 00:25:33.179
 that this is true.

00:25:34.379 --> 00:25:35.500
 How do I know that?

00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:36.919
 You're like,

00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:37.079
 Tyler,

00:25:37.099 --> 00:25:37.619
 you don't know me.

00:25:37.679 --> 00:25:38.359
 I'm actually

00:25:38.359 --> 00:25:39.539
 a really staunch

00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:41.179
 anti-sovereign type.

00:25:41.919 --> 00:25:42.039
 Well,

00:25:42.119 --> 00:25:42.299
 friend,

00:25:42.359 --> 00:25:42.819
 have you ever

00:25:42.819 --> 00:25:43.460
 thanked God

00:25:43.460 --> 00:25:44.139
 for your conversion?

00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:46.279
 Yes,

00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:47.000
 of course.

00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:48.440
 But why would

00:25:48.440 --> 00:25:48.960
 you do that?

00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:50.980
 Do you pat yourself

00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:51.480
 on the back

00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:52.059
 because you are

00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:52.480
 smarter,

00:25:52.700 --> 00:25:53.319
 more intelligent

00:25:53.319 --> 00:25:54.819
 than other people

00:25:54.819 --> 00:25:55.720
 who refuse to believe?

00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:57.119
 Not for a moment

00:25:57.119 --> 00:25:58.220
 would you ever say that.

00:25:58.879 --> 00:25:59.240
 Instead,

00:25:59.379 --> 00:26:00.299
 you give God glory.

00:26:01.039 --> 00:26:01.799
 You realize

00:26:01.799 --> 00:26:02.399
 that you once

00:26:02.399 --> 00:26:03.000
 were foolish,

00:26:03.359 --> 00:26:03.700
 blind,

00:26:03.779 --> 00:26:04.559
 and could not see,

00:26:04.779 --> 00:26:05.480
 but then you say

00:26:05.480 --> 00:26:05.919
 with Paul,

00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:06.619
 but by the grace

00:26:06.619 --> 00:26:06.980
 of God,

00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:07.720
 I am what I am.

00:26:08.539 --> 00:26:09.159
 And although

00:26:09.159 --> 00:26:09.879
 you have labored

00:26:09.879 --> 00:26:11.359
 hard for Christ,

00:26:11.419 --> 00:26:11.919
 you can say,

00:26:12.039 --> 00:26:12.859
 though it was not I,

00:26:12.919 --> 00:26:13.720
 but the grace of God

00:26:13.720 --> 00:26:14.399
 that is with me.

00:26:14.659 --> 00:26:16.019
 You give God glory

00:26:16.019 --> 00:26:16.819
 for your salvation.

00:26:17.559 --> 00:26:18.179
 But there's a second

00:26:18.179 --> 00:26:19.179
 thing that you do

00:26:19.179 --> 00:26:21.639
 that shows that you

00:26:21.639 --> 00:26:22.139
 believe that God

00:26:22.139 --> 00:26:22.559
 is sovereign.

00:26:23.299 --> 00:26:24.059
 And what is that?

00:26:24.539 --> 00:26:24.919
 Well,

00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:25.579
 you pray,

00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:26.220
 don't you?

00:26:26.579 --> 00:26:27.839
 You pray for the salvation

00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:28.480
 for someone

00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:29.759
 who has a hard heart,

00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:31.319
 a family member

00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:32.039
 who has rejected

00:26:32.039 --> 00:26:32.400
 the gospel

00:26:32.400 --> 00:26:33.379
 so many times.

00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:34.279
 Well,

00:26:34.339 --> 00:26:35.200
 what do you pray for

00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:36.140
 for that person?

00:26:37.660 --> 00:26:38.740
 Do you pray

00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:40.059
 that God gives them

00:26:40.059 --> 00:26:40.859
 eyes to see

00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:41.579
 and ears to hear?

00:26:42.599 --> 00:26:43.660
 That God removes

00:26:43.660 --> 00:26:44.480
 their heart of stone?

00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:45.299
 That God would

00:26:45.299 --> 00:26:46.379
 show himself to them?

00:26:47.379 --> 00:26:48.319
 I think all these prayers

00:26:48.319 --> 00:26:49.640
 acknowledge at a heart level

00:26:49.640 --> 00:26:51.400
 that God is in control

00:26:51.400 --> 00:26:52.160
 and he is powerful

00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:53.359
 to save by his grace.

00:26:53.680 --> 00:26:54.579
 And we understand that

00:26:54.579 --> 00:26:55.420
 at a heart level

00:26:55.420 --> 00:26:56.620
 when we are on our knees

00:26:56.620 --> 00:26:58.200
 before the throne of grace,

00:26:58.380 --> 00:26:59.500
 we cry out to God

00:26:59.500 --> 00:27:00.100
 and we recognize

00:27:00.100 --> 00:27:00.880
 that God is sovereign.

00:27:01.640 --> 00:27:02.440
 And so before we draw

00:27:02.440 --> 00:27:03.120
 our daggers,

00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:04.840
 listen to this conversation

00:27:04.840 --> 00:27:05.960
 between Charles Simeon

00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:06.700
 and John Wesley.

00:27:09.700 --> 00:27:11.080
 And two godly men

00:27:11.080 --> 00:27:12.259
 who are on opposite sides

00:27:12.259 --> 00:27:12.700
 of this.

00:27:13.080 --> 00:27:13.920
 And John Wesley

00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:15.300
 had this conversation

00:27:15.300 --> 00:27:16.240
 in his diary

00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:17.700
 with Charles Simeon.

00:27:18.559 --> 00:27:19.180
 Simeon said,

00:27:19.440 --> 00:27:19.640
 Sir,

00:27:19.819 --> 00:27:20.600
 I understand that you

00:27:20.600 --> 00:27:21.559
 were called an Arminian

00:27:21.559 --> 00:27:22.480
 and I have sometimes

00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:23.559
 been called a Calvinist

00:27:23.559 --> 00:27:24.640
 and so I suppose

00:27:24.640 --> 00:27:25.660
 we are to draw daggers.

00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:27.519
 But before I consent

00:27:27.519 --> 00:27:28.400
 to begin the combat,

00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:29.080
 with your permission,

00:27:29.220 --> 00:27:29.799
 I will ask you

00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:30.440
 a few questions.

00:27:31.059 --> 00:27:31.259
 Sir,

00:27:31.380 --> 00:27:32.259
 do you feel yourself

00:27:32.259 --> 00:27:33.180
 a depraved creature,

00:27:33.480 --> 00:27:34.420
 so depraved

00:27:34.420 --> 00:27:35.279
 that you would never

00:27:35.279 --> 00:27:36.039
 have thought of turning

00:27:36.039 --> 00:27:36.500
 to God

00:27:36.500 --> 00:27:37.580
 if God had not first

00:27:37.580 --> 00:27:38.440
 put it into your heart?

00:27:38.920 --> 00:27:39.180
 Yes,

00:27:39.220 --> 00:27:39.640
 says Wesley,

00:27:39.720 --> 00:27:40.519
 I believe that indeed.

00:27:41.460 --> 00:27:42.019
 Simeon says,

00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:42.420
 Sir,

00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:43.580
 do you utterly despair

00:27:43.580 --> 00:27:44.480
 of recommending yourself

00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:44.880
 to God

00:27:44.880 --> 00:27:45.940
 by anything you can do

00:27:45.940 --> 00:27:47.160
 and look for salvation

00:27:47.160 --> 00:27:48.380
 solely through the blood

00:27:48.380 --> 00:27:49.380
 and righteousness of Christ?

00:27:49.860 --> 00:27:50.259
 Yes,

00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:50.980
 Wesley said,

00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:52.000
 solely through Christ.

00:27:52.540 --> 00:27:52.980
 But sir,

00:27:53.180 --> 00:27:54.100
 suppose you were first

00:27:54.100 --> 00:27:55.200
 saved by Christ,

00:27:55.300 --> 00:27:56.920
 are you not somehow now

00:27:56.920 --> 00:27:58.080
 or afterward

00:27:58.080 --> 00:27:58.880
 to save yourself

00:27:58.880 --> 00:27:59.640
 by your own works?

00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:00.180
 No,

00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:00.960
 Wesley said.

00:28:02.140 --> 00:28:02.920
 Simeon continues,

00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:03.740
 What,

00:28:03.820 --> 00:28:04.960
 then are you to be upheld

00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:05.720
 every hour

00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:06.440
 and every moment

00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:06.900
 by God

00:28:06.900 --> 00:28:07.740
 as much as an infant

00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:08.640
 in its mother's arms?

00:28:09.060 --> 00:28:09.380
 Yes,

00:28:09.480 --> 00:28:09.960
 altogether,

00:28:10.200 --> 00:28:10.759
 Wesley says.

00:28:11.080 --> 00:28:12.100
 And this is all your hope

00:28:12.100 --> 00:28:12.920
 in the grace and mercy

00:28:12.920 --> 00:28:13.320
 of God

00:28:13.320 --> 00:28:13.940
 to preserve you

00:28:13.940 --> 00:28:14.960
 unto his heavenly kingdom?

00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:15.759
 Yes,

00:28:15.800 --> 00:28:16.920
 I have no hope,

00:28:16.920 --> 00:28:17.640
 but in him,

00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:18.960
 Wesley says.

00:28:19.140 --> 00:28:19.660
 Then sir,

00:28:20.060 --> 00:28:21.220
 Simeon continues,

00:28:21.380 --> 00:28:21.940
 with your leave,

00:28:22.019 --> 00:28:23.360
 I will put up my dagger again

00:28:23.360 --> 00:28:25.039
 for this is all my Calvinism.

00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:26.140
 This is my election,

00:28:26.380 --> 00:28:27.580
 my justification by faith,

00:28:27.640 --> 00:28:28.600
 my final perseverance.

00:28:29.140 --> 00:28:30.140
 It is in substance

00:28:30.140 --> 00:28:31.180
 all that I hold

00:28:31.180 --> 00:28:31.840
 and I hold it

00:28:31.840 --> 00:28:32.440
 and therefore,

00:28:32.560 --> 00:28:33.140
 if you please,

00:28:33.220 --> 00:28:34.060
 instead of searching out

00:28:34.060 --> 00:28:34.840
 terms and phrases

00:28:34.840 --> 00:28:35.920
 to be ground of contention

00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:36.460
 between us,

00:28:36.880 --> 00:28:37.980
 we will cordially unite

00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:38.500
 in those things

00:28:38.500 --> 00:28:39.279
 where we agree.

00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:41.779
 And that's a spirit

00:28:41.779 --> 00:28:43.340
 I think we all should have

00:28:43.340 --> 00:28:44.880
 as we encounter

00:28:44.880 --> 00:28:45.400
 our brothers and sisters

00:28:45.400 --> 00:28:47.160
 who differ with us

00:28:47.160 --> 00:28:47.840
 on this.

00:28:48.520 --> 00:28:50.220
 That's what we ultimately

00:28:50.220 --> 00:28:50.940
 agree on

00:28:50.940 --> 00:28:52.120
 is that God gets glory,

00:28:53.020 --> 00:28:54.200
 we depend on him

00:28:54.200 --> 00:28:55.020
 every single day,

00:28:55.880 --> 00:28:57.020
 and that there's nothing

00:28:57.020 --> 00:28:59.040
 in us that God saw

00:28:59.040 --> 00:28:59.920
 that wanted him

00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:00.920
 to save us.

00:29:01.140 --> 00:29:02.360
 It is God's mercy

00:29:02.360 --> 00:29:03.280
 and love alone.

00:29:04.280 --> 00:29:05.460
 And I think we all

00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:06.480
 can agree on this.

00:29:06.920 --> 00:29:07.820
 That is the heart

00:29:07.820 --> 00:29:08.380
 of a Christian.

00:29:09.380 --> 00:29:10.320
 And that's the spirit

00:29:10.320 --> 00:29:11.200
 I want to proceed

00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:12.040
 in this conversation.

00:29:12.039 --> 00:29:14.779
 What's at stake here,

00:29:15.379 --> 00:29:16.159
 I don't want it

00:29:16.159 --> 00:29:16.759
 to be definitions,

00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:18.539
 but I want us to see

00:29:18.539 --> 00:29:19.500
 that God is to be relied

00:29:19.500 --> 00:29:20.460
 upon every moment

00:29:20.460 --> 00:29:21.879
 and he is to get glory.

00:29:22.940 --> 00:29:25.240
 So, 2 Thessalonians 2,

00:29:25.339 --> 00:29:27.000
 verses 13 to 14 says,

00:29:27.799 --> 00:29:28.759
 But we are always

00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:31.139
 to give thanks to God

00:29:31.139 --> 00:29:31.980
 for you, brothers,

00:29:32.119 --> 00:29:32.920
 beloved by the Lord.

00:29:33.119 --> 00:29:33.440
 Why?

00:29:33.579 --> 00:29:34.759
 Because God chose you

00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:35.899
 as the first for us

00:29:35.899 --> 00:29:36.440
 to be saved

00:29:36.440 --> 00:29:37.559
 through sanctification

00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:38.440
 by the Spirit

00:29:38.440 --> 00:29:39.379
 and belief in the truth.

00:29:39.380 --> 00:29:42.380
 So, God chooses those

00:29:42.380 --> 00:29:43.180
 to be saved

00:29:43.180 --> 00:29:44.160
 through belief

00:29:44.160 --> 00:29:44.800
 in the truth.

00:29:45.180 --> 00:29:45.880
 And some call this

00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:46.900
 irresistible grace.

00:29:47.580 --> 00:29:48.460
 God the Father

00:29:48.460 --> 00:29:50.680
 chose certain individuals

00:29:50.680 --> 00:29:51.320
 to be saved

00:29:51.320 --> 00:29:52.340
 based on his sovereign

00:29:52.340 --> 00:29:53.000
 good pleasure.

00:29:53.880 --> 00:29:54.740
 Christ would say,

00:29:55.200 --> 00:29:56.260
 No one comes to me

00:29:56.260 --> 00:29:57.120
 unless the Father

00:29:57.120 --> 00:29:58.460
 who sent me draws him.

00:29:59.120 --> 00:30:00.440
 All the Father gives me

00:30:00.440 --> 00:30:01.300
 will come to me.

00:30:02.220 --> 00:30:03.340
 So, Jesus is saying,

00:30:03.760 --> 00:30:04.460
 You can't come to me

00:30:04.460 --> 00:30:04.960
 unless the Father

00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:05.680
 first draws you.

00:30:05.680 --> 00:30:08.920
 You have the golden chain

00:30:08.920 --> 00:30:09.600
 of salvation

00:30:09.600 --> 00:30:10.820
 in Romans 8.

00:30:11.400 --> 00:30:12.299
 The golden chain

00:30:12.299 --> 00:30:12.880
 of redemption.

00:30:13.860 --> 00:30:14.500
 So, those whom

00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:15.519
 he predestined,

00:30:15.620 --> 00:30:16.220
 he called.

00:30:16.320 --> 00:30:17.080
 And those whom he called,

00:30:17.160 --> 00:30:17.720
 he justified.

00:30:18.320 --> 00:30:19.400
 And those whom he justified,

00:30:19.600 --> 00:30:20.299
 he glorified.

00:30:21.080 --> 00:30:22.340
 So, the golden chain,

00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:24.279
 those chains cannot be broken.

00:30:24.420 --> 00:30:25.539
 If God has predestined you,

00:30:25.640 --> 00:30:26.779
 you will be glorified

00:30:26.779 --> 00:30:28.259
 according to Paul

00:30:28.259 --> 00:30:28.840
 in Romans 8.

00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:30.980
 And the Scripture

00:30:30.980 --> 00:30:32.340
 which emphatically teaches

00:30:32.340 --> 00:30:33.320
 that God is sovereign

00:30:33.320 --> 00:30:34.140
 over salvation

00:30:34.140 --> 00:30:36.320
 and that his sovereign

00:30:36.320 --> 00:30:36.940
 determination

00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:37.900
 is decisive

00:30:37.900 --> 00:30:39.980
 is Romans 9.

00:30:42.780 --> 00:30:44.380
 Romans 9, verse 15.

00:30:44.500 --> 00:30:45.480
 For he says to Moses,

00:30:45.960 --> 00:30:46.780
 I will have mercy

00:30:46.780 --> 00:30:48.080
 on whom I have mercy

00:30:48.080 --> 00:30:49.560
 and I will have compassion

00:30:49.560 --> 00:30:51.540
 on whom I have compassion.

00:30:51.940 --> 00:30:52.580
 So then,

00:30:52.640 --> 00:30:54.040
 it depends not on human will

00:30:54.040 --> 00:30:54.680
 or exertion

00:30:54.680 --> 00:30:55.360
 but on God

00:30:55.360 --> 00:30:56.060
 who has mercy.

00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:57.640
 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh,

00:30:58.020 --> 00:30:58.880
 For this very purpose

00:30:58.880 --> 00:30:59.759
 I have raised you up

00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:00.940
 that I might show

00:31:00.940 --> 00:31:01.980
 my power in you

00:31:01.980 --> 00:31:02.860
 and that my name

00:31:02.860 --> 00:31:03.600
 might be proclaimed

00:31:03.599 --> 00:31:04.319
 in all the earth.

00:31:04.799 --> 00:31:05.179
 So then,

00:31:05.259 --> 00:31:05.779
 he has mercy

00:31:05.779 --> 00:31:06.799
 on whomever he wills

00:31:06.799 --> 00:31:07.559
 and he hardens

00:31:07.559 --> 00:31:08.699
 whomever he wills.

00:31:09.199 --> 00:31:09.779
 And verse 21,

00:31:10.139 --> 00:31:10.919
 Has the potter

00:31:10.919 --> 00:31:12.599
 no right over the clay

00:31:12.599 --> 00:31:14.799
 to make out of the same lump

00:31:14.799 --> 00:31:16.059
 some vessels

00:31:16.059 --> 00:31:17.000
 for honorable use

00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:17.719
 and another

00:31:17.719 --> 00:31:19.019
 for dishonorable use?

00:31:19.379 --> 00:31:19.980
 What if God,

00:31:20.099 --> 00:31:21.379
 desiring to show his wrath

00:31:21.379 --> 00:31:22.539
 and to make known

00:31:22.539 --> 00:31:23.079
 his power,

00:31:23.159 --> 00:31:23.659
 has endured

00:31:23.659 --> 00:31:24.719
 with much patience

00:31:24.719 --> 00:31:26.439
 vessels of wrath

00:31:26.439 --> 00:31:29.459
 prepared for destruction

00:31:29.459 --> 00:31:31.099
 in order to make known

00:31:31.099 --> 00:31:32.119
 the riches of his glory

00:31:32.119 --> 00:31:33.079
 for vessels of mercy

00:31:33.079 --> 00:31:34.199
 which he has prepared

00:31:34.199 --> 00:31:35.539
 beforehand for glory?

00:31:36.679 --> 00:31:37.739
 So ethnicity

00:31:37.739 --> 00:31:38.619
 in Romans 9

00:31:38.619 --> 00:31:39.599
 or family heritage

00:31:39.599 --> 00:31:40.699
 is not decisive.

00:31:41.239 --> 00:31:41.879
 That's the point

00:31:41.879 --> 00:31:42.639
 that Paul is making.

00:31:43.439 --> 00:31:44.859
 Your ancestors,

00:31:45.159 --> 00:31:45.799
 your mom

00:31:45.799 --> 00:31:46.500
 or your grandmother,

00:31:47.019 --> 00:31:47.219
 right,

00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:48.500
 that doesn't determine

00:31:48.500 --> 00:31:49.459
 whether you're a Christian.

00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:50.979
 God's mercy is decisive.

00:31:52.219 --> 00:31:53.119
 And I was telling Jonathan

00:31:53.119 --> 00:31:54.339
 there's an old southern song

00:31:54.339 --> 00:31:54.679
 called

00:31:54.679 --> 00:31:56.139
 God Ain't Never Had a Grandchild.

00:31:56.819 --> 00:31:58.659
 It goes something like this,

00:31:58.660 --> 00:32:00.279
 God Ain't Never Had a Grandchild,

00:32:00.440 --> 00:32:01.580
 Only a Child Will Do.

00:32:02.700 --> 00:32:04.060
 If you're not a joint heir,

00:32:04.160 --> 00:32:05.160
 then you ain't going there.

00:32:06.440 --> 00:32:08.019
 No cousin, niece, or nephew

00:32:08.019 --> 00:32:10.080
 will be among the chosen few.

00:32:10.420 --> 00:32:11.860
 God Ain't Never Had a Grandchild,

00:32:12.019 --> 00:32:13.240
 Only a Child Will Do.

00:32:14.200 --> 00:32:16.320
 And what a richly edifying song.

00:32:18.620 --> 00:32:21.200
 But what they're saying

00:32:21.200 --> 00:32:22.460
 is what Romans 9 is saying,

00:32:23.000 --> 00:32:25.080
 is that your ethnicity

00:32:25.080 --> 00:32:25.880
 or family heritage

00:32:25.880 --> 00:32:26.600
 is not decisive.

00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:27.940
 God's sovereign decision

00:32:27.940 --> 00:32:28.660
 to save

00:32:28.660 --> 00:32:29.540
 and to show mercy

00:32:29.540 --> 00:32:30.180
 is decisive.

00:32:31.060 --> 00:32:32.000
 And Romans 9

00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:33.200
 is not a popular truth,

00:32:33.280 --> 00:32:33.580
 but it says

00:32:33.580 --> 00:32:34.400
 He created the wicked

00:32:34.400 --> 00:32:35.640
 for the day of wrath.

00:32:36.760 --> 00:32:37.760
 You can go back

00:32:37.760 --> 00:32:38.180
 in your Bible,

00:32:38.280 --> 00:32:38.780
 Romans 9,

00:32:38.920 --> 00:32:39.740
 make sure it's there

00:32:39.740 --> 00:32:40.600
 after this.

00:32:41.540 --> 00:32:43.040
 So to our finite minds,

00:32:43.260 --> 00:32:43.640
 admittedly,

00:32:43.700 --> 00:32:44.720
 this sounds absurd.

00:32:45.460 --> 00:32:46.960
 How can God be sovereign

00:32:46.960 --> 00:32:48.620
 over salvation

00:32:48.620 --> 00:32:51.080
 if He is a judge

00:32:51.080 --> 00:32:51.800
 and who will condemn

00:32:51.800 --> 00:32:52.820
 those who do not believe?

00:32:52.819 --> 00:32:57.220
 How does that make sense?

00:32:59.200 --> 00:33:00.299
 And Paul anticipates

00:33:00.299 --> 00:33:00.899
 this complaint

00:33:00.899 --> 00:33:01.740
 in Romans 9.

00:33:02.379 --> 00:33:03.319
 You will say to me then,

00:33:03.599 --> 00:33:05.379
 why does God still find fault?

00:33:05.919 --> 00:33:07.200
 For who can resist His will?

00:33:08.200 --> 00:33:09.200
 And Paul responds

00:33:09.200 --> 00:33:10.819
 not by a comprehensive explanation

00:33:10.819 --> 00:33:13.500
 of how these two things

00:33:13.500 --> 00:33:14.059
 work together,

00:33:14.279 --> 00:33:14.899
 but he rebukes

00:33:14.899 --> 00:33:15.859
 the spirit of the question.

00:33:16.299 --> 00:33:17.079
 But who are you,

00:33:17.159 --> 00:33:17.500
 O man,

00:33:17.559 --> 00:33:18.559
 to answer back to God?

00:33:18.919 --> 00:33:20.000
 We have no right

00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:20.700
 to find fault

00:33:20.700 --> 00:33:21.519
 in God's ways.

00:33:21.519 --> 00:33:24.000
 Our part is to acknowledge

00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:24.480
 these facts

00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:25.299
 and worship God

00:33:25.299 --> 00:33:26.619
 and His righteousness

00:33:26.619 --> 00:33:28.460
 as both sovereign king

00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:29.420
 and judge.

00:33:31.039 --> 00:33:31.799
 And we see

00:33:31.799 --> 00:33:32.460
 that there's no part

00:33:32.460 --> 00:33:33.099
 of the universe

00:33:33.099 --> 00:33:36.099
 that exceeds God's authority

00:33:36.099 --> 00:33:36.920
 and that includes

00:33:36.920 --> 00:33:38.639
 those whom He calls

00:33:38.639 --> 00:33:39.180
 to be His.

00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:41.000
 The Lord alone

00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:41.660
 will be exalted

00:33:41.660 --> 00:33:43.759
 before that great

00:33:43.759 --> 00:33:44.420
 white throne.

00:33:45.299 --> 00:33:46.480
 And we will say with Him,

00:33:46.759 --> 00:33:47.940
 why have you shown me mercy?

00:33:48.420 --> 00:33:49.259
 Nothing in me

00:33:49.259 --> 00:33:51.099
 caused me to be here,

00:33:51.099 --> 00:33:52.359
 but your grace alone.

00:33:52.480 --> 00:33:52.939
 And He will get

00:33:52.939 --> 00:33:55.279
 all the glory for that.

00:33:55.599 --> 00:33:56.539
 So I want to stop there

00:33:56.539 --> 00:33:57.500
 and ask questions.

00:33:58.899 --> 00:33:59.559
 Feel free.

00:33:59.619 --> 00:34:00.219
 If you have a question

00:34:00.219 --> 00:34:01.079
 in your mind,

00:34:03.579 --> 00:34:07.099
 throw it out for the group.

00:34:07.099 --> 00:34:08.779
 So I'm just,

00:34:09.619 --> 00:34:11.699
 so I think these are

00:34:11.699 --> 00:34:12.960
 really difficult things

00:34:12.960 --> 00:34:13.900
 for humanity,

00:34:14.099 --> 00:34:15.339
 for people like me.

00:34:16.819 --> 00:34:17.679
 Everything you said,

00:34:17.759 --> 00:34:18.199
 I believe,

00:34:18.259 --> 00:34:18.739
 is true.

00:34:19.319 --> 00:34:20.599
 But how do you respond

00:34:20.599 --> 00:34:21.860
 to the person who

00:34:21.860 --> 00:34:23.179
 isn't just arguing

00:34:23.179 --> 00:34:24.159
 for the sake of arguing,

00:34:24.480 --> 00:34:25.079
 isn't just trying

00:34:25.079 --> 00:34:25.679
 to pinpoint,

00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:27.920
 isn't just intellectualizing

00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:28.299
 and like,

00:34:28.360 --> 00:34:28.480
 well,

00:34:28.500 --> 00:34:29.319
 it doesn't make sense

00:34:29.319 --> 00:34:30.000
 or it's not fair.

00:34:30.299 --> 00:34:31.199
 But the person

00:34:31.199 --> 00:34:31.779
 whose heart

00:34:31.779 --> 00:34:32.759
 is really torn

00:34:32.759 --> 00:34:33.599
 about these things.

00:34:33.599 --> 00:34:34.599
 Like the person

00:34:34.599 --> 00:34:35.559
 who's genuinely,

00:34:35.559 --> 00:34:38.059
 yeah,

00:34:38.279 --> 00:34:40.199
 feeling this isn't fair

00:34:40.199 --> 00:34:40.579
 or,

00:34:41.659 --> 00:34:42.380
 like how do you

00:34:42.380 --> 00:34:43.579
 respond to that person?

00:34:43.860 --> 00:34:43.880
 Like,

00:34:44.139 --> 00:34:45.380
 everything you said

00:34:45.380 --> 00:34:46.099
 is true,

00:34:46.279 --> 00:34:47.179
 but I'm thinking about

00:34:47.179 --> 00:34:48.259
 how's that going to land

00:34:48.259 --> 00:34:48.739
 with someone

00:34:48.739 --> 00:34:49.860
 who's really struggling

00:34:49.860 --> 00:34:50.480
 with this,

00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:51.759
 not someone who just

00:34:51.759 --> 00:34:52.519
 wants to check off

00:34:52.519 --> 00:34:53.440
 the doctrinal box.

00:34:54.119 --> 00:34:55.039
 I just wondered.

00:34:55.039 --> 00:34:56.619
 I completely agree

00:34:56.619 --> 00:35:00.000
 and it depends

00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:01.199
 on the heart

00:35:01.199 --> 00:35:01.779
 of that person.

00:35:02.159 --> 00:35:03.259
 Is it an intellectual

00:35:03.259 --> 00:35:03.800
 problem?

00:35:04.619 --> 00:35:06.420
 Is it maybe

00:35:06.420 --> 00:35:07.380
 a past history

00:35:07.380 --> 00:35:07.900
 of abuse?

00:35:08.119 --> 00:35:08.179
 Like,

00:35:08.239 --> 00:35:08.539
 are you saying

00:35:08.539 --> 00:35:09.300
 God is sovereign

00:35:09.300 --> 00:35:10.179
 over what happened

00:35:10.179 --> 00:35:11.239
 to me when I was a child?

00:35:11.759 --> 00:35:13.259
 How is God good

00:35:13.259 --> 00:35:13.679
 in that?

00:35:13.820 --> 00:35:14.619
 How is he sovereign

00:35:14.619 --> 00:35:15.380
 over that?

00:35:16.440 --> 00:35:17.619
 And I think those,

00:35:18.179 --> 00:35:18.739
 depending on where

00:35:18.739 --> 00:35:19.480
 they are,

00:35:19.639 --> 00:35:20.039
 those are two

00:35:20.039 --> 00:35:20.619
 different answers.

00:35:21.259 --> 00:35:21.400
 Well,

00:35:21.500 --> 00:35:22.300
 I think that's

00:35:22.300 --> 00:35:22.980
 what I'm getting at.

00:35:23.059 --> 00:35:23.480
 The person

00:35:23.480 --> 00:35:24.360
 who's really suffering

00:35:24.360 --> 00:35:24.840
 or has,

00:35:25.099 --> 00:35:25.320
 you know,

00:35:25.380 --> 00:35:26.079
 so I have a history

00:35:26.079 --> 00:35:26.920
 of childhood abuse.

00:35:27.180 --> 00:35:28.140
 I had to work

00:35:28.140 --> 00:35:28.900
 really hard

00:35:28.900 --> 00:35:30.079
 to get through that

00:35:30.079 --> 00:35:30.840
 in a way

00:35:30.840 --> 00:35:31.620
 that maintained

00:35:31.620 --> 00:35:32.120
 my faith

00:35:32.120 --> 00:35:32.800
 in a good God.

00:35:34.300 --> 00:35:34.740
 So,

00:35:34.920 --> 00:35:35.220
 that's,

00:35:35.300 --> 00:35:35.960
 I think that's

00:35:35.960 --> 00:35:36.760
 the person I think.

00:35:37.120 --> 00:35:37.480
 Yeah.

00:35:40.980 --> 00:35:42.240
 I will say,

00:35:42.720 --> 00:35:45.000
 I would go back

00:35:45.000 --> 00:35:45.620
 to the cross

00:35:45.620 --> 00:35:46.700
 and

00:35:46.700 --> 00:35:50.019
 someone said,

00:35:50.420 --> 00:35:50.579
 you know,

00:35:50.620 --> 00:35:50.700
 we,

00:35:51.059 --> 00:35:51.599
 sometimes

00:35:51.599 --> 00:35:53.680
 we don't know

00:35:53.679 --> 00:35:55.419
 why he does

00:35:55.419 --> 00:35:56.039
 certain things,

00:35:56.159 --> 00:35:56.960
 but we know

00:35:56.960 --> 00:35:58.079
 that it's not

00:35:58.079 --> 00:35:58.599
 because he doesn't

00:35:58.599 --> 00:35:59.299
 care about us.

00:36:00.259 --> 00:36:00.960
 That much we can

00:36:00.960 --> 00:36:01.500
 say for sure.

00:36:02.099 --> 00:36:02.819
 Because at the heart

00:36:02.819 --> 00:36:03.359
 of the cross,

00:36:03.440 --> 00:36:04.299
 we see that he does

00:36:04.299 --> 00:36:05.019
 care for us.

00:36:05.500 --> 00:36:06.500
 And he did give us

00:36:06.500 --> 00:36:07.000
 his own son.

00:36:07.059 --> 00:36:07.659
 He will give us

00:36:07.659 --> 00:36:08.219
 all things.

00:36:09.159 --> 00:36:10.500
 And I don't know

00:36:10.500 --> 00:36:11.059
 if we can answer

00:36:11.059 --> 00:36:12.119
 the question of why,

00:36:12.399 --> 00:36:13.399
 which I think

00:36:13.399 --> 00:36:13.940
 people want to know

00:36:13.940 --> 00:36:14.799
 why did this happen

00:36:14.799 --> 00:36:15.519
 to me when I was

00:36:15.519 --> 00:36:16.099
 younger.

00:36:17.159 --> 00:36:17.460
 And,

00:36:17.559 --> 00:36:19.079
 of course,

00:36:19.139 --> 00:36:20.019
 Christians are to

00:36:20.019 --> 00:36:20.839
 lament and to

00:36:20.839 --> 00:36:21.579
 weep at those

00:36:21.579 --> 00:36:22.119
 who are weeping

00:36:22.119 --> 00:36:22.900
 and there's true

00:36:22.900 --> 00:36:23.860
 injustice and evil.

00:36:25.299 --> 00:36:26.219
 God's sovereignty

00:36:26.219 --> 00:36:27.719
 provides comfort

00:36:27.719 --> 00:36:28.460
 and patience

00:36:28.460 --> 00:36:29.239
 in tribulation

00:36:29.239 --> 00:36:29.659
 knowing that

00:36:29.659 --> 00:36:30.119
 these are not

00:36:30.119 --> 00:36:30.840
 random acts

00:36:30.840 --> 00:36:31.599
 outside of God's

00:36:31.599 --> 00:36:32.059
 control.

00:36:33.179 --> 00:36:33.860
 And he does

00:36:33.860 --> 00:36:34.619
 have some...

00:36:34.619 --> 00:36:37.099
 Say it again?

00:36:37.099 --> 00:36:38.099
 I have a full

00:36:38.099 --> 00:36:39.679
 view in faithfulness.

00:36:39.880 --> 00:36:40.619
 That's what God

00:36:40.619 --> 00:36:41.519
 says in his word.

00:36:42.679 --> 00:36:43.599
 I was in rehab

00:36:43.599 --> 00:36:44.420
 six times,

00:36:44.639 --> 00:36:45.980
 three rehabs,

00:36:46.039 --> 00:36:46.860
 two heart attacks,

00:36:46.980 --> 00:36:47.579
 16 months

00:36:47.579 --> 00:36:48.059
 in a homeless

00:36:48.059 --> 00:36:48.519
 shelter,

00:36:49.059 --> 00:36:49.860
 molested by my

00:36:49.860 --> 00:36:50.199
 dad,

00:36:50.199 --> 00:36:50.859
 my uncle,

00:36:51.359 --> 00:36:51.839
 raised with

00:36:51.839 --> 00:36:52.960
 hardcore porno,

00:36:53.099 --> 00:36:53.819
 my father beat

00:36:53.819 --> 00:36:54.419
 my mom.

00:36:55.099 --> 00:36:55.799
 It's like I never

00:36:55.799 --> 00:36:56.599
 questioned God.

00:36:57.239 --> 00:36:58.960
 I never said why.

00:36:59.859 --> 00:37:00.939
 I never questioned.

00:37:01.079 --> 00:37:02.119
 I just knew that

00:37:02.119 --> 00:37:03.319
 he was working.

00:37:03.739 --> 00:37:04.679
 And then finally

00:37:04.679 --> 00:37:05.699
 my eyes were opened

00:37:05.699 --> 00:37:08.139
 up and there he is.

00:37:08.699 --> 00:37:08.859
 Yeah.

00:37:09.079 --> 00:37:09.439
 You know,

00:37:09.639 --> 00:37:10.699
 you find out that

00:37:10.699 --> 00:37:12.339
 when God is the

00:37:12.339 --> 00:37:13.399
 only thing you have,

00:37:13.559 --> 00:37:14.419
 you find out that

00:37:14.419 --> 00:37:15.259
 God is the only

00:37:15.259 --> 00:37:16.079
 thing you need.

00:37:16.079 --> 00:37:16.659
 Mm-hmm.

00:37:17.500 --> 00:37:17.779
 Mm-hmm.

00:37:17.899 --> 00:37:18.379
 You know?

00:37:18.380 --> 00:37:20.720
 And it's because

00:37:20.720 --> 00:37:21.180
 him,

00:37:21.460 --> 00:37:22.119
 because in my

00:37:22.119 --> 00:37:22.960
 natural state,

00:37:23.059 --> 00:37:23.860
 I hate God.

00:37:24.420 --> 00:37:26.019
 He drove me to

00:37:26.019 --> 00:37:26.640
 the cross.

00:37:27.099 --> 00:37:27.280
 Mm-hmm.

00:37:27.280 --> 00:37:27.960
 Nobody is

00:37:27.960 --> 00:37:29.119
 sincerely looking

00:37:29.119 --> 00:37:30.240
 for God.

00:37:30.760 --> 00:37:31.440
 Nobody.

00:37:31.980 --> 00:37:32.260
 Mm-hmm.

00:37:32.260 --> 00:37:33.640
 They all hate God.

00:37:33.960 --> 00:37:34.500
 No matter how

00:37:34.500 --> 00:37:35.519
 it looks outside.

00:37:36.360 --> 00:37:36.619
 You know,

00:37:36.660 --> 00:37:37.340
 you can get this

00:37:37.340 --> 00:37:38.099
 close to God

00:37:38.099 --> 00:37:39.039
 and end up in hell.

00:37:39.800 --> 00:37:41.099
 And it looks like

00:37:41.099 --> 00:37:42.640
 he's really wanting

00:37:42.640 --> 00:37:43.700
 to find God.

00:37:43.960 --> 00:37:44.559
 But no.

00:37:45.220 --> 00:37:46.220
 God is sovereign.

00:37:46.599 --> 00:37:47.099
 You're not going

00:37:47.099 --> 00:37:47.639
 to make it.

00:37:49.500 --> 00:37:49.980
 Yeah.

00:37:50.639 --> 00:37:51.559
 God knows who

00:37:51.559 --> 00:37:52.059
 are his.

00:37:52.639 --> 00:37:53.639
 And his

00:37:53.639 --> 00:37:54.179
 sovereignty,

00:37:54.920 --> 00:37:55.920
 to your point,

00:37:56.619 --> 00:37:57.559
 we can look back

00:37:57.559 --> 00:37:58.480
 and this is the

00:37:58.480 --> 00:37:59.480
 doctrine of providence,

00:37:59.659 --> 00:38:00.500
 which we'll get to

00:38:00.500 --> 00:38:01.400
 in future weeks.

00:38:02.339 --> 00:38:02.960
 Sovereignty is

00:38:02.960 --> 00:38:03.679
 God's attribute,

00:38:03.819 --> 00:38:04.519
 but providence

00:38:04.519 --> 00:38:05.239
 looks backwards

00:38:05.239 --> 00:38:06.039
 and sees how

00:38:06.039 --> 00:38:06.839
 our lives

00:38:06.839 --> 00:38:08.779
 were orchestrated

00:38:08.779 --> 00:38:10.059
 for our good.

00:38:11.119 --> 00:38:11.460
 I think

00:38:11.460 --> 00:38:12.299
 Flavel said

00:38:12.299 --> 00:38:13.460
 providence is like

00:38:13.460 --> 00:38:14.259
 the Hebrew alphabet.

00:38:14.599 --> 00:38:15.639
 It's read backwards.

00:38:15.639 --> 00:38:17.099
 So you have to

00:38:17.099 --> 00:38:17.639
 go backwards

00:38:17.639 --> 00:38:18.259
 and see.

00:38:19.059 --> 00:38:20.179
 I remember that.

00:38:21.599 --> 00:38:22.739
 You have

00:38:22.739 --> 00:38:24.679
 horrible circumstances

00:38:24.679 --> 00:38:25.579
 in your life.

00:38:25.960 --> 00:38:26.639
 If you're a Christian,

00:38:27.299 --> 00:38:28.239
 you can look back

00:38:28.239 --> 00:38:28.900
 on those things

00:38:28.900 --> 00:38:29.900
 and see how God

00:38:29.900 --> 00:38:31.239
 was orchestrating

00:38:31.239 --> 00:38:32.159
 events to bring

00:38:32.159 --> 00:38:32.759
 you to himself.

00:38:33.519 --> 00:38:34.079
 Oh, Jesus

00:38:34.079 --> 00:38:35.019
 had a great life

00:38:35.019 --> 00:38:35.480
 on earth.

00:38:35.799 --> 00:38:36.119
 Yeah.

00:38:37.179 --> 00:38:37.460
 No,

00:38:37.619 --> 00:38:39.420
 man of sorrows.

00:38:39.779 --> 00:38:40.819
 Look at Paul.

00:38:40.980 --> 00:38:41.400
 When he came

00:38:41.400 --> 00:38:42.940
 to Christianity,

00:38:42.940 --> 00:38:44.500
 he lost everything.

00:38:45.220 --> 00:38:45.740
 Everything.

00:38:46.679 --> 00:38:47.780
 And he was raised

00:38:47.780 --> 00:38:49.200
 in a male culture.

00:38:49.700 --> 00:38:50.720
 He had the education.

00:38:51.119 --> 00:38:52.039
 He had the money.

00:38:52.420 --> 00:38:54.260
 He had the reputation

00:38:54.260 --> 00:38:55.720
 and he came to Christ,

00:38:56.099 --> 00:38:56.900
 beaten, robbed,

00:38:57.039 --> 00:38:58.539
 jailed, shipwrecked.

00:38:58.720 --> 00:38:58.960
 I mean,

00:38:59.000 --> 00:39:00.360
 he lost everything.

00:39:00.639 --> 00:39:00.880
 You know?

00:39:01.400 --> 00:39:02.500
 It's not a fun walk.

00:39:02.980 --> 00:39:03.220
 Yeah.

00:39:04.039 --> 00:39:04.960
 But he gained Christ.

00:39:05.220 --> 00:39:05.559
 Yeah.

00:39:06.280 --> 00:39:06.579
 So,

00:39:07.179 --> 00:39:08.579
 I'll take that math

00:39:08.579 --> 00:39:09.079
 right there.

00:39:09.119 --> 00:39:09.579
 It's all worth it.

00:39:09.579 --> 00:39:09.860
 Yeah.

00:39:09.920 --> 00:39:10.739
 It's all worth it.

00:39:11.239 --> 00:39:12.099
 It's all worth it.

00:39:12.559 --> 00:39:13.759
 And God's sovereignty

00:39:13.759 --> 00:39:14.199
 is,

00:39:14.319 --> 00:39:14.840
 it is,

00:39:14.900 --> 00:39:15.639
 it is a mystery

00:39:15.639 --> 00:39:16.340
 and I think

00:39:16.340 --> 00:39:17.219
 most things in the...

00:39:17.219 --> 00:39:19.480
 Sorry,

00:39:19.559 --> 00:39:19.719
 Amos,

00:39:19.779 --> 00:39:19.980
 go ahead.

00:39:20.980 --> 00:39:22.619
 I just want to add

00:39:22.619 --> 00:39:22.940
 maybe,

00:39:23.500 --> 00:39:24.039
 it's a bit,

00:39:24.039 --> 00:39:24.880
 a bit cliche,

00:39:25.059 --> 00:39:25.500
 but I think

00:39:25.500 --> 00:39:25.880
 that there's

00:39:25.880 --> 00:39:26.599
 greater glory

00:39:26.599 --> 00:39:28.639
 in different testimonies

00:39:28.639 --> 00:39:29.239
 all pointing

00:39:29.239 --> 00:39:30.119
 to the same

00:39:30.119 --> 00:39:31.980
 holiness of God.

00:39:32.199 --> 00:39:32.900
 And everybody

00:39:32.900 --> 00:39:33.739
 had identical

00:39:33.739 --> 00:39:35.159
 testimonies

00:39:35.159 --> 00:39:35.599
 of like,

00:39:35.639 --> 00:39:36.179
 we all had

00:39:36.179 --> 00:39:37.579
 idyllic childhood

00:39:37.579 --> 00:39:38.960
 and then

00:39:38.960 --> 00:39:41.599
 came to Christ

00:39:41.599 --> 00:39:42.159
 and then died.

00:39:42.319 --> 00:39:42.360
 Like,

00:39:42.400 --> 00:39:43.219
 if everybody's testimony

00:39:43.219 --> 00:39:43.940
 was identical,

00:39:44.480 --> 00:39:45.819
 I think it would say

00:39:45.819 --> 00:39:46.659
 less about God

00:39:46.659 --> 00:39:47.000
 than...

00:39:47.000 --> 00:39:48.279
 I was long schooled

00:39:48.279 --> 00:39:49.440
 and raised in Nebraska.

00:39:50.319 --> 00:39:50.539
 Which,

00:39:50.679 --> 00:39:51.099
 I've been saying

00:39:51.099 --> 00:39:51.500
 that there's,

00:39:51.579 --> 00:39:52.259
 that there's,

00:39:53.460 --> 00:39:53.940
 that there's,

00:39:53.940 --> 00:39:54.699
 that those,

00:39:54.819 --> 00:39:55.559
 that that also

00:39:55.559 --> 00:39:57.380
 demonstrates God's power.

00:39:57.639 --> 00:39:58.420
 But it's,

00:39:58.739 --> 00:39:59.199
 but there's

00:39:59.199 --> 00:40:00.279
 greater testimony

00:40:00.279 --> 00:40:01.659
 in the diversity

00:40:01.659 --> 00:40:02.279
 of stories

00:40:02.279 --> 00:40:03.059
 that people bring.

00:40:04.179 --> 00:40:04.659
 That,

00:40:04.840 --> 00:40:05.059
 you know,

00:40:05.099 --> 00:40:05.659
 it's kind of like

00:40:05.659 --> 00:40:06.039
 the all,

00:40:06.099 --> 00:40:06.920
 all nations,

00:40:06.920 --> 00:40:07.900
 all races,

00:40:08.280 --> 00:40:09.860
 all walks of life.

00:40:10.480 --> 00:40:11.340
 But our stories

00:40:11.340 --> 00:40:12.200
 all melt into

00:40:12.200 --> 00:40:13.000
 one story,

00:40:13.880 --> 00:40:14.500
 his story,

00:40:14.619 --> 00:40:15.340
 of what he's doing

00:40:15.340 --> 00:40:16.599
 in history for us

00:40:16.599 --> 00:40:18.079
 and for his glory.

00:40:18.720 --> 00:40:19.480
 My story doesn't

00:40:19.480 --> 00:40:20.099
 mean anything.

00:40:20.740 --> 00:40:20.960
 You know,

00:40:21.019 --> 00:40:21.980
 I'm saying it's a story.

00:40:23.099 --> 00:40:24.019
 No matter how bad

00:40:24.019 --> 00:40:24.519
 it is,

00:40:24.680 --> 00:40:25.500
 it means nothing.

00:40:26.340 --> 00:40:27.500
 It's his story.

00:40:28.099 --> 00:40:29.139
 His utter

00:40:29.139 --> 00:40:30.720
 sovereignty

00:40:30.720 --> 00:40:31.500
 and my utter

00:40:31.500 --> 00:40:32.680
 dependence on him.

00:40:32.860 --> 00:40:33.880
 That's the story.

00:40:35.059 --> 00:40:35.800
 And that's what

00:40:35.800 --> 00:40:36.800
 Dorothy Sayers said

00:40:36.800 --> 00:40:37.519
 in the 40s.

00:40:37.539 --> 00:40:37.920
 He says,

00:40:38.400 --> 00:40:39.860
 the drama of Christianity

00:40:39.860 --> 00:40:41.360
 is in the doctrine.

00:40:42.600 --> 00:40:44.180
 Crossing the Red Sea.

00:40:44.980 --> 00:40:46.260
 The prophets of Baal

00:40:46.260 --> 00:40:47.200
 and Mount Carmel.

00:40:48.360 --> 00:40:49.440
 The cross.

00:40:50.820 --> 00:40:52.120
 All the miracles.

00:40:52.580 --> 00:40:52.740
 Man,

00:40:52.800 --> 00:40:53.539
 what drama.

00:40:53.640 --> 00:40:54.519
 You can't even make

00:40:54.519 --> 00:40:55.420
 a movie like this.

00:40:56.500 --> 00:40:56.960
 You know?

00:40:56.960 --> 00:40:59.639
 And,

00:40:59.760 --> 00:41:00.679
 again,

00:41:00.760 --> 00:41:02.280
 this is hard

00:41:02.280 --> 00:41:02.780
 to keep

00:41:02.780 --> 00:41:03.820
 in our minds

00:41:03.820 --> 00:41:04.559
 at once.

00:41:06.760 --> 00:41:07.320
 But,

00:41:07.559 --> 00:41:09.139
 the challenge

00:41:09.139 --> 00:41:10.639
 of most truths

00:41:10.639 --> 00:41:11.699
 in the scripture

00:41:11.699 --> 00:41:13.900
 is that

00:41:13.900 --> 00:41:15.260
 there are tensions

00:41:15.260 --> 00:41:16.420
 and we have to keep

00:41:16.420 --> 00:41:17.599
 them both

00:41:17.599 --> 00:41:19.840
 in our minds

00:41:19.840 --> 00:41:21.199
 at the same time.

00:41:21.420 --> 00:41:22.240
 And those who

00:41:22.240 --> 00:41:23.000
 aren't comfortable

00:41:23.000 --> 00:41:23.960
 living in that tension

00:41:23.960 --> 00:41:25.740
 tend to shirk

00:41:25.740 --> 00:41:27.039
 one for the other

00:41:27.039 --> 00:41:27.599
 and that

00:41:27.599 --> 00:41:28.460
 is where

00:41:28.460 --> 00:41:29.679
 you get

00:41:29.679 --> 00:41:30.860
 error.

00:41:32.500 --> 00:41:33.360
 I think the

00:41:33.360 --> 00:41:33.800
 intellectual

00:41:33.800 --> 00:41:35.500
 part of this,

00:41:35.639 --> 00:41:36.360
 the objection is,

00:41:36.480 --> 00:41:36.619
 look,

00:41:37.079 --> 00:41:38.800
 if God commands

00:41:38.800 --> 00:41:40.400
 that we believe

00:41:40.400 --> 00:41:42.320
 or to obey

00:41:42.320 --> 00:41:42.880
 the gospel,

00:41:43.380 --> 00:41:44.320
 then that must

00:41:44.320 --> 00:41:44.980
 somehow imply

00:41:44.980 --> 00:41:45.840
 the moral ability

00:41:45.840 --> 00:41:46.440
 to do so.

00:41:47.039 --> 00:41:47.900
 How can God

00:41:47.900 --> 00:41:49.059
 command something

00:41:49.059 --> 00:41:50.720
 if we have

00:41:50.720 --> 00:41:51.320
 no ability

00:41:51.320 --> 00:41:52.860
 to follow

00:41:52.860 --> 00:41:53.380
 that command?

00:41:53.960 --> 00:41:56.019
 that is the part

00:41:56.019 --> 00:41:57.340
 where I think

00:41:57.340 --> 00:41:58.480
 people have

00:41:58.480 --> 00:41:59.420
 a hard time with.

00:42:01.039 --> 00:42:01.559
 And there's

00:42:01.559 --> 00:42:01.900
 something

00:42:01.900 --> 00:42:04.920
 that makes sense.

00:42:05.119 --> 00:42:06.039
 That's a logical

00:42:06.039 --> 00:42:06.900
 argument that makes

00:42:06.900 --> 00:42:07.280
 sense.

00:42:08.179 --> 00:42:09.099
 I think the answer

00:42:09.099 --> 00:42:11.420
 that I can see

00:42:11.420 --> 00:42:11.800
 is that

00:42:11.800 --> 00:42:12.940
 the command

00:42:12.940 --> 00:42:16.099
 to obey

00:42:16.099 --> 00:42:17.340
 is given

00:42:17.340 --> 00:42:18.119
 but we always

00:42:18.119 --> 00:42:18.980
 act in accordance

00:42:18.980 --> 00:42:19.619
 with our nature.

00:42:20.920 --> 00:42:21.860
 I think that's

00:42:21.860 --> 00:42:22.559
 the answer

00:42:22.559 --> 00:42:22.900
 that scripture

00:42:22.900 --> 00:42:23.460
 gives us.

00:42:23.960 --> 00:42:24.519
 We have

00:42:24.519 --> 00:42:25.659
 complete freedom

00:42:25.659 --> 00:42:26.960
 to choose

00:42:26.960 --> 00:42:27.440
 what is in our

00:42:27.440 --> 00:42:27.760
 hearts.

00:42:29.260 --> 00:42:30.139
 But we always

00:42:30.139 --> 00:42:30.639
 choose sin

00:42:30.639 --> 00:42:32.980
 apart from God's

00:42:32.980 --> 00:42:33.300
 grace.

00:42:34.240 --> 00:42:35.280
 In our natural

00:42:35.280 --> 00:42:35.720
 estate,

00:42:36.079 --> 00:42:36.760
 we always

00:42:36.760 --> 00:42:38.099
 choose sin.

00:42:39.099 --> 00:42:39.360
 And

00:42:39.360 --> 00:42:41.599
 that's what

00:42:41.599 --> 00:42:42.599
 our hearts love.

00:42:42.880 --> 00:42:43.760
 And you get that

00:42:43.760 --> 00:42:45.019
 in the language

00:42:45.019 --> 00:42:46.260
 of being slaves

00:42:46.260 --> 00:42:46.920
 to sin.

00:42:46.920 --> 00:42:48.220
 you get that

00:42:48.220 --> 00:42:48.720
 in Genesis

00:42:48.720 --> 00:42:49.760
 even from the

00:42:49.760 --> 00:42:50.139
 beginning.

00:42:50.700 --> 00:42:51.659
 You had

00:42:51.659 --> 00:42:52.420
 the fall

00:42:52.420 --> 00:42:52.920
 of Adam

00:42:52.920 --> 00:42:53.900
 and then

00:42:53.900 --> 00:42:54.420
 right after

00:42:54.420 --> 00:42:54.760
 the fall

00:42:54.760 --> 00:42:55.180
 who comes

00:42:55.180 --> 00:42:55.599
 next?

00:42:55.599 --> 00:42:56.099
 Cain.

00:42:56.559 --> 00:42:57.119
 And you have

00:42:57.119 --> 00:42:58.059
 Cain's line

00:42:58.059 --> 00:42:59.260
 of murderers.

00:42:59.800 --> 00:43:00.320
 But then you have

00:43:00.320 --> 00:43:00.700
 Seth,

00:43:01.260 --> 00:43:02.400
 the appointed line,

00:43:02.500 --> 00:43:02.860
 the heir

00:43:02.860 --> 00:43:03.360
 of God's

00:43:03.360 --> 00:43:03.760
 promises

00:43:03.760 --> 00:43:04.700
 and you see

00:43:04.700 --> 00:43:05.740
 that Seth's line

00:43:05.740 --> 00:43:06.579
 are recipients

00:43:06.579 --> 00:43:07.440
 of God's grace.

00:43:07.440 --> 00:43:07.500
 grace.

00:43:08.500 --> 00:43:09.200
 And so you have

00:43:09.200 --> 00:43:10.220
 those in our

00:43:10.220 --> 00:43:10.880
 natural estate

00:43:10.880 --> 00:43:11.760
 apart from God's

00:43:11.760 --> 00:43:12.099
 grace,

00:43:12.539 --> 00:43:13.400
 we are slaves

00:43:13.400 --> 00:43:13.840
 to sin.

00:43:14.280 --> 00:43:14.960
 Paul says that

00:43:14.960 --> 00:43:15.579
 right in Ephesians

00:43:15.579 --> 00:43:15.880
 2.

00:43:16.380 --> 00:43:17.179
 You were slaves

00:43:17.179 --> 00:43:18.679
 to the prince of

00:43:18.679 --> 00:43:19.240
 the power of the

00:43:19.240 --> 00:43:19.440
 air,

00:43:20.000 --> 00:43:21.240
 but God rich in

00:43:21.240 --> 00:43:21.920
 mercy has made

00:43:21.920 --> 00:43:22.440
 you alive with

00:43:22.440 --> 00:43:22.760
 Christ.

00:43:23.880 --> 00:43:24.780
 So this state,

00:43:25.220 --> 00:43:26.360
 we always act in

00:43:26.360 --> 00:43:26.760
 accordance with

00:43:26.760 --> 00:43:27.119
 our nature.

00:43:27.440 --> 00:43:28.340
 God gives us

00:43:28.340 --> 00:43:29.019
 the commands,

00:43:29.280 --> 00:43:29.800
 but we never

00:43:29.800 --> 00:43:30.500
 choose Christ

00:43:30.500 --> 00:43:31.200
 apart from

00:43:31.200 --> 00:43:32.599
 the Spirit's

00:43:32.599 --> 00:43:33.260
 intervening grace

00:43:33.260 --> 00:43:33.860
 in our lives.

00:43:35.540 --> 00:43:36.440
 So we must

00:43:36.440 --> 00:43:37.360
 emphatically say

00:43:37.360 --> 00:43:39.440
 that man's

00:43:39.440 --> 00:43:40.100
 responsibility

00:43:40.100 --> 00:43:41.320
 cannot be

00:43:41.320 --> 00:43:41.860
 minimized

00:43:41.860 --> 00:43:43.420
 and that we

00:43:43.420 --> 00:43:43.960
 are responsible

00:43:43.960 --> 00:43:44.500
 for the choices

00:43:44.500 --> 00:43:44.940
 we make.

00:43:45.940 --> 00:43:46.380
 Yeah,

00:43:46.600 --> 00:43:46.820
 I'm sorry,

00:43:46.900 --> 00:43:47.620
 I just want to

00:43:47.620 --> 00:43:48.260
 add something

00:43:48.260 --> 00:43:48.560
 here.

00:43:50.620 --> 00:43:51.500
 I think,

00:43:52.000 --> 00:43:52.320
 I mean,

00:43:52.380 --> 00:43:53.080
 you were kind

00:43:53.080 --> 00:43:53.520
 of camped out

00:43:53.520 --> 00:43:54.040
 in Romans 9

00:43:54.040 --> 00:43:54.460
 a little bit

00:43:54.460 --> 00:43:54.660
 here,

00:43:54.780 --> 00:43:55.280
 which is good.

00:43:57.060 --> 00:43:58.740
 And the end

00:43:58.740 --> 00:43:59.720
 of Romans 9,

00:43:59.900 --> 00:44:00.600
 I think,

00:44:01.040 --> 00:44:02.860
 gives us

00:44:02.860 --> 00:44:03.240
 life,

00:44:03.480 --> 00:44:04.200
 it's like we

00:44:04.200 --> 00:44:04.720
 get to the

00:44:04.720 --> 00:44:05.160
 edge of this

00:44:05.160 --> 00:44:05.599
 mystery,

00:44:06.400 --> 00:44:06.960
 and then we're

00:44:06.960 --> 00:44:07.380
 all like,

00:44:07.539 --> 00:44:07.780
 wow,

00:44:08.039 --> 00:44:08.280
 like,

00:44:09.039 --> 00:44:09.380
 we're at the

00:44:09.380 --> 00:44:09.660
 edge of a

00:44:09.660 --> 00:44:10.160
 real mystery

00:44:10.160 --> 00:44:10.539
 here,

00:44:10.680 --> 00:44:11.120
 and God

00:44:11.120 --> 00:44:11.539
 says,

00:44:11.900 --> 00:44:12.440
 basically,

00:44:12.680 --> 00:44:13.200
 this far

00:44:13.200 --> 00:44:13.559
 and no

00:44:13.559 --> 00:44:13.920
 further,

00:44:14.700 --> 00:44:15.500
 but then we

00:44:15.500 --> 00:44:16.260
 go on and

00:44:16.260 --> 00:44:17.000
 try to explain

00:44:17.000 --> 00:44:17.260
 it,

00:44:17.840 --> 00:44:18.539
 which is,

00:44:19.000 --> 00:44:19.740
 we just can't

00:44:19.740 --> 00:44:20.180
 help it,

00:44:20.320 --> 00:44:20.480
 right?

00:44:20.579 --> 00:44:22.320
 We go on to

00:44:22.320 --> 00:44:23.320
 apply our human

00:44:23.320 --> 00:44:24.599
 reason to try

00:44:24.599 --> 00:44:25.280
 to make it

00:44:25.280 --> 00:44:25.960
 make sense.

00:44:28.360 --> 00:44:29.180
 And I think

00:44:29.180 --> 00:44:29.900
 a helpful thing

00:44:29.900 --> 00:44:30.360
 to do,

00:44:31.099 --> 00:44:31.960
 back to Laura's

00:44:31.960 --> 00:44:32.340
 question,

00:44:32.340 --> 00:44:35.940
 is to ask

00:44:35.940 --> 00:44:36.460
 ourselves,

00:44:36.620 --> 00:44:37.100
 why did God

00:44:37.100 --> 00:44:37.780
 put this,

00:44:37.980 --> 00:44:38.539
 if we have

00:44:38.539 --> 00:44:38.940
 the scripture

00:44:38.940 --> 00:44:39.500
 he intended

00:44:39.500 --> 00:44:40.059
 us to have,

00:44:40.380 --> 00:44:41.039
 I think most

00:44:41.039 --> 00:44:41.820
 of us believe

00:44:41.820 --> 00:44:42.200
 that,

00:44:43.160 --> 00:44:43.740
 what is the

00:44:43.740 --> 00:44:44.140
 point of

00:44:44.140 --> 00:44:44.680
 Romans 9?

00:44:45.240 --> 00:44:45.420
 Like,

00:44:46.640 --> 00:44:47.100
 what,

00:44:47.420 --> 00:44:48.300
 why is he

00:44:48.300 --> 00:44:48.820
 telling us

00:44:48.820 --> 00:44:49.340
 as much as

00:44:49.340 --> 00:44:50.100
 he is telling

00:44:50.100 --> 00:44:50.280
 us?

00:44:50.340 --> 00:44:51.059
 What question

00:44:51.059 --> 00:44:51.579
 is God

00:44:51.579 --> 00:44:52.000
 trying to

00:44:52.000 --> 00:44:53.420
 answer in

00:44:53.420 --> 00:44:53.960
 this particular

00:44:53.960 --> 00:44:54.519
 passage?

00:44:55.280 --> 00:44:56.019
 And one

00:44:56.019 --> 00:44:56.420
 thing we know

00:44:56.420 --> 00:44:57.460
 for sure is

00:44:57.460 --> 00:44:58.180
 not to give

00:44:58.180 --> 00:45:00.140
 us answers

00:45:00.140 --> 00:45:00.600
 that are going

00:45:00.600 --> 00:45:01.280
 to satisfy our

00:45:01.280 --> 00:45:01.860
 human reason.

00:45:01.860 --> 00:45:02.260
 like,

00:45:02.660 --> 00:45:03.220
 he could,

00:45:03.420 --> 00:45:03.559
 he,

00:45:03.740 --> 00:45:03.960
 well,

00:45:04.160 --> 00:45:04.680
 it's a debate

00:45:04.680 --> 00:45:05.039
 whether he

00:45:05.039 --> 00:45:05.500
 could do that

00:45:05.500 --> 00:45:05.860
 at all,

00:45:06.059 --> 00:45:06.500
 but he's

00:45:06.500 --> 00:45:07.320
 definitely not

00:45:07.320 --> 00:45:07.820
 done it.

00:45:08.420 --> 00:45:08.800
 And so,

00:45:08.920 --> 00:45:09.240
 when we're

00:45:09.240 --> 00:45:09.880
 chasing our

00:45:09.880 --> 00:45:10.380
 tails,

00:45:10.539 --> 00:45:10.860
 trying to

00:45:10.860 --> 00:45:11.519
 figure out,

00:45:12.380 --> 00:45:14.039
 make it all

00:45:14.039 --> 00:45:14.579
 work,

00:45:15.079 --> 00:45:15.720
 what are we

00:45:15.720 --> 00:45:16.160
 missing?

00:45:16.159 --> 00:45:16.259
 realizing,

00:45:16.859 --> 00:45:19.460
 why is God

00:45:19.460 --> 00:45:20.399
 telling us,

00:45:21.500 --> 00:45:22.319
 if you think

00:45:22.319 --> 00:45:22.920
 you had a

00:45:22.920 --> 00:45:23.399
 hand in

00:45:23.399 --> 00:45:23.539
 your,

00:45:23.679 --> 00:45:23.859
 like,

00:45:23.899 --> 00:45:24.199
 if you

00:45:24.199 --> 00:45:24.579
 think,

00:45:24.799 --> 00:45:25.139
 you know,

00:45:25.179 --> 00:45:26.000
 there's 8%

00:45:26.000 --> 00:45:26.599
 where you

00:45:26.599 --> 00:45:27.799
 stepped up to

00:45:27.799 --> 00:45:28.920
 the line and

00:45:28.920 --> 00:45:29.339
 made a good

00:45:29.339 --> 00:45:29.799
 choice,

00:45:30.799 --> 00:45:31.519
 and he's

00:45:31.519 --> 00:45:31.699
 saying,

00:45:31.759 --> 00:45:31.899
 no,

00:45:31.960 --> 00:45:32.420
 you didn't,

00:45:32.940 --> 00:45:33.639
 what are we

00:45:33.639 --> 00:45:34.079
 supposed to

00:45:34.079 --> 00:45:34.599
 take away

00:45:34.599 --> 00:45:35.219
 from that?

00:45:35.219 --> 00:45:36.419
 because we

00:45:36.419 --> 00:45:36.939
 can miss

00:45:36.939 --> 00:45:37.839
 that most

00:45:37.839 --> 00:45:39.039
 obvious thing,

00:45:39.159 --> 00:45:39.599
 and I think

00:45:39.599 --> 00:45:41.119
 that can

00:45:41.119 --> 00:45:41.719
 become,

00:45:41.879 --> 00:45:42.559
 if not a

00:45:42.559 --> 00:45:42.959
 bomb,

00:45:43.199 --> 00:45:43.500
 it can

00:45:43.500 --> 00:45:46.119
 become a

00:45:46.119 --> 00:45:46.939
 more livable

00:45:46.939 --> 00:45:47.639
 thing that we

00:45:47.639 --> 00:45:48.159
 walk away and

00:45:48.159 --> 00:45:48.259
 say,

00:45:48.319 --> 00:45:48.879
 God's trying to

00:45:48.879 --> 00:45:49.459
 tell us all

00:45:49.459 --> 00:45:49.859
 something,

00:45:49.860 --> 00:45:52.480
 and we

00:45:52.480 --> 00:45:53.059
 want to argue

00:45:53.059 --> 00:45:53.680
 about how it

00:45:53.680 --> 00:45:54.140
 fits in the

00:45:54.140 --> 00:45:54.940
 human categories,

00:45:55.140 --> 00:45:56.019
 when we all

00:45:56.019 --> 00:45:56.559
 are all sitting

00:45:56.559 --> 00:45:57.120
 here agreeing,

00:45:57.340 --> 00:45:58.079
 Jesus is fully

00:45:58.079 --> 00:45:58.340
 man,

00:45:58.420 --> 00:45:59.019
 fully God at

00:45:59.019 --> 00:45:59.620
 the same time,

00:46:00.220 --> 00:46:00.360
 there,

00:46:00.519 --> 00:46:01.280
 pop goes the

00:46:01.280 --> 00:46:01.680
 weasel,

00:46:01.960 --> 00:46:02.320
 I mean,

00:46:02.480 --> 00:46:04.300
 you did the

00:46:04.300 --> 00:46:04.980
 Trinity last

00:46:04.980 --> 00:46:05.320
 week,

00:46:05.440 --> 00:46:05.880
 it's like,

00:46:05.940 --> 00:46:06.360
 all we're

00:46:06.360 --> 00:46:07.079
 doing is

00:46:07.079 --> 00:46:09.900
 observing the

00:46:09.900 --> 00:46:10.820
 inner workings

00:46:10.820 --> 00:46:11.760
 of biological

00:46:11.760 --> 00:46:12.539
 reality that we

00:46:12.539 --> 00:46:13.019
 haven't even the

00:46:13.019 --> 00:46:13.800
 first clue how

00:46:13.800 --> 00:46:14.340
 it works,

00:46:14.620 --> 00:46:15.000
 you know,

00:46:15.800 --> 00:46:17.320
 and I think,

00:46:17.760 --> 00:46:18.320
 just if I just

00:46:18.320 --> 00:46:19.079
 make it one step

00:46:19.079 --> 00:46:19.579
 further in

00:46:19.579 --> 00:46:20.139
 Romans,

00:46:21.239 --> 00:46:23.159
 God's bringing

00:46:23.159 --> 00:46:23.980
 Jewish believers

00:46:23.980 --> 00:46:24.659
 together and

00:46:24.659 --> 00:46:25.420
 Gentile believers

00:46:25.420 --> 00:46:25.900
 together,

00:46:26.480 --> 00:46:27.480
 humanly speaking,

00:46:27.599 --> 00:46:28.099
 it's like a

00:46:28.099 --> 00:46:28.940
 miraculous thing

00:46:28.940 --> 00:46:29.539
 that's happening,

00:46:29.900 --> 00:46:30.440
 and guess what,

00:46:30.519 --> 00:46:31.059
 they hate each

00:46:31.059 --> 00:46:31.239
 other,

00:46:31.340 --> 00:46:31.779
 guess what,

00:46:31.880 --> 00:46:32.340
 half of them

00:46:32.340 --> 00:46:32.599
 are like,

00:46:32.659 --> 00:46:33.099
 well our Bible

00:46:33.099 --> 00:46:33.619
 tells us we

00:46:33.619 --> 00:46:33.960
 have to do

00:46:33.960 --> 00:46:34.159
 this,

00:46:34.219 --> 00:46:34.400
 and the

00:46:34.400 --> 00:46:34.840
 Gentiles are

00:46:34.840 --> 00:46:34.940
 like,

00:46:35.000 --> 00:46:35.500
 no we don't,

00:46:35.639 --> 00:46:36.179
 Paul's on our

00:46:36.179 --> 00:46:36.400
 side,

00:46:36.519 --> 00:46:36.699
 blah,

00:46:36.759 --> 00:46:36.819
 blah,

00:46:36.860 --> 00:46:37.000
 blah,

00:46:37.000 --> 00:46:38.159
 and the

00:46:38.159 --> 00:46:39.440
 context is,

00:46:40.099 --> 00:46:42.400
 believers have

00:46:42.400 --> 00:46:43.039
 their daggers

00:46:43.039 --> 00:46:43.360
 out,

00:46:44.440 --> 00:46:45.319
 and he's like,

00:46:45.420 --> 00:46:45.599
 hey,

00:46:45.779 --> 00:46:46.179
 none of y'all

00:46:46.179 --> 00:46:46.619
 can be,

00:46:46.920 --> 00:46:47.619
 I think,

00:46:47.940 --> 00:46:48.819
 some of why

00:46:48.820 --> 00:46:49.580
 we're told

00:46:49.580 --> 00:46:51.340
 that salvation

00:46:51.340 --> 00:46:52.260
 is not of

00:46:52.260 --> 00:46:52.720
 us,

00:46:53.539 --> 00:46:54.900
 is to allow

00:46:54.900 --> 00:46:55.580
 a platform

00:46:55.580 --> 00:46:56.480
 actually for

00:46:56.480 --> 00:46:56.900
 unity,

00:46:57.080 --> 00:46:57.559
 ironically,

00:46:57.880 --> 00:46:58.960
 because once

00:46:58.960 --> 00:46:59.720
 we acknowledge

00:46:59.720 --> 00:47:02.180
 that we're

00:47:02.180 --> 00:47:02.860
 only here

00:47:02.860 --> 00:47:03.960
 because of

00:47:03.960 --> 00:47:05.140
 an intervention

00:47:05.140 --> 00:47:05.620
 of God

00:47:05.620 --> 00:47:05.860
 and a

00:47:05.860 --> 00:47:06.320
 supernatural

00:47:06.320 --> 00:47:06.960
 miracle in

00:47:06.960 --> 00:47:07.360
 our hearts

00:47:07.360 --> 00:47:07.740
 to open

00:47:07.740 --> 00:47:08.300
 our eyes,

00:47:08.580 --> 00:47:09.160
 how can I

00:47:09.160 --> 00:47:09.580
 turn to

00:47:09.580 --> 00:47:10.000
 some guy

00:47:10.000 --> 00:47:10.320
 that's like,

00:47:10.600 --> 00:47:10.800
 okay,

00:47:10.880 --> 00:47:11.260
 but we have

00:47:11.260 --> 00:47:12.440
 to really

00:47:12.440 --> 00:47:13.140
 hang on to

00:47:13.140 --> 00:47:14.180
 some of the

00:47:14.180 --> 00:47:14.559
 things God

00:47:14.559 --> 00:47:14.900
 said in the

00:47:14.900 --> 00:47:15.300
 Old Testament

00:47:15.300 --> 00:47:15.760
 in this way,

00:47:15.760 --> 00:47:16.160
 well,

00:47:16.260 --> 00:47:16.500
 okay,

00:47:16.660 --> 00:47:16.960
 great,

00:47:17.280 --> 00:47:17.720
 because if

00:47:17.720 --> 00:47:18.120
 you believe

00:47:18.120 --> 00:47:18.360
 that,

00:47:18.460 --> 00:47:18.700
 it's sin

00:47:18.700 --> 00:47:19.020
 for you

00:47:19.020 --> 00:47:19.380
 not to

00:47:19.380 --> 00:47:19.680
 do it.

00:47:20.180 --> 00:47:20.320
 Like,

00:47:20.380 --> 00:47:21.580
 the context

00:47:21.580 --> 00:47:22.200
 that Paul's

00:47:22.200 --> 00:47:22.680
 dropping

00:47:22.680 --> 00:47:24.740
 these hard

00:47:24.740 --> 00:47:25.380
 truths,

00:47:25.780 --> 00:47:26.520
 I feel like

00:47:26.520 --> 00:47:27.240
 if we miss

00:47:27.240 --> 00:47:27.780
 some of the

00:47:27.780 --> 00:47:28.320
 purpose,

00:47:29.320 --> 00:47:29.960
 and there

00:47:29.960 --> 00:47:30.260
 are other

00:47:30.260 --> 00:47:30.800
 places that

00:47:30.800 --> 00:47:31.440
 touch on

00:47:31.440 --> 00:47:32.580
 God's

00:47:32.580 --> 00:47:32.920
 sovereignty

00:47:32.920 --> 00:47:33.600
 and salvation,

00:47:33.820 --> 00:47:34.000
 and we

00:47:34.000 --> 00:47:34.880
 always have

00:47:34.880 --> 00:47:35.280
 to ask

00:47:35.280 --> 00:47:35.760
 ourselves,

00:47:36.220 --> 00:47:36.680
 why is

00:47:36.680 --> 00:47:37.480
 God revealing

00:47:37.480 --> 00:47:38.020
 this at

00:47:38.020 --> 00:47:38.560
 this time

00:47:38.560 --> 00:47:38.940
 to these

00:47:38.940 --> 00:47:39.580
 people in

00:47:39.580 --> 00:47:40.220
 this place?

00:47:40.879 --> 00:47:41.419
 Because if

00:47:41.419 --> 00:47:41.879
 we go down

00:47:41.879 --> 00:47:42.539
 the road

00:47:42.539 --> 00:47:43.239
 of trying

00:47:43.239 --> 00:47:43.779
 to figure

00:47:43.779 --> 00:47:44.459
 this out,

00:47:45.159 --> 00:47:45.719
 at the

00:47:45.719 --> 00:47:46.719
 expense of

00:47:46.719 --> 00:47:47.459
 actually sitting

00:47:47.459 --> 00:47:47.759
 there and

00:47:47.759 --> 00:47:48.379
 humbly saying,

00:47:48.519 --> 00:47:49.659
 can we receive

00:47:49.659 --> 00:47:50.099
 what God's

00:47:50.099 --> 00:47:50.579
 actually trying

00:47:50.579 --> 00:47:51.379
 to say in

00:47:51.379 --> 00:47:52.199
 this passage,

00:47:53.239 --> 00:47:53.839
 we're off

00:47:53.839 --> 00:47:54.159
 track.

00:47:54.539 --> 00:47:54.759
 Yeah,

00:47:54.759 --> 00:47:55.699
 if I can.

00:47:55.779 --> 00:47:55.980
 Yeah,

00:47:56.079 --> 00:47:56.319
 I agree.

00:47:56.539 --> 00:47:57.559
 It doesn't

00:47:57.559 --> 00:47:58.159
 make someone

00:47:58.159 --> 00:47:58.759
 feel better

00:47:58.759 --> 00:47:59.799
 who had a

00:47:59.799 --> 00:48:00.419
 three-year-old

00:48:00.419 --> 00:48:01.099
 worn behind a

00:48:01.099 --> 00:48:01.859
 dumpster to a

00:48:01.859 --> 00:48:02.439
 drug addict.

00:48:03.079 --> 00:48:03.239
 You know,

00:48:03.299 --> 00:48:03.619
 to me,

00:48:03.679 --> 00:48:03.939
 the harder

00:48:03.939 --> 00:48:04.480
 questions are,

00:48:04.599 --> 00:48:04.859
 what about,

00:48:05.079 --> 00:48:05.219
 like,

00:48:05.259 --> 00:48:05.719
 it's one thing

00:48:05.719 --> 00:48:06.179
 to say as

00:48:06.179 --> 00:48:06.599
 Christians,

00:48:07.379 --> 00:48:07.839
 God's at

00:48:07.839 --> 00:48:08.339
 work in my

00:48:08.339 --> 00:48:08.619
 trials,

00:48:08.739 --> 00:48:09.079
 God's at

00:48:09.079 --> 00:48:09.519
 work in my

00:48:09.519 --> 00:48:09.879
 suffering,

00:48:09.880 --> 00:48:10.180
 like,

00:48:10.480 --> 00:48:11.039
 this is to

00:48:11.039 --> 00:48:11.720
 refine my

00:48:11.720 --> 00:48:12.000
 character.

00:48:12.180 --> 00:48:12.700
 What about a

00:48:12.700 --> 00:48:13.240
 three-year-old

00:48:13.240 --> 00:48:13.800
 who's born to

00:48:13.800 --> 00:48:14.440
 two godless

00:48:14.440 --> 00:48:15.119
 drug addicts

00:48:15.119 --> 00:48:15.400
 and gets

00:48:15.400 --> 00:48:16.000
 raped a hundred

00:48:16.000 --> 00:48:16.619
 times and

00:48:16.619 --> 00:48:17.519
 dies at 15

00:48:17.519 --> 00:48:18.160
 and had no,

00:48:18.360 --> 00:48:18.579
 like,

00:48:18.660 --> 00:48:19.180
 we have to,

00:48:19.900 --> 00:48:20.519
 if that doesn't

00:48:20.519 --> 00:48:21.380
 humble us and

00:48:21.380 --> 00:48:22.019
 insult our

00:48:22.019 --> 00:48:23.019
 conversation here,

00:48:23.240 --> 00:48:24.559
 we're off

00:48:24.559 --> 00:48:25.519
 track again.

00:48:28.400 --> 00:48:28.840
 Yeah,

00:48:28.840 --> 00:48:30.019
 yeah,

00:48:30.180 --> 00:48:30.420
 no,

00:48:30.500 --> 00:48:30.780
 thank you,

00:48:30.860 --> 00:48:30.940
 brother,

00:48:31.039 --> 00:48:31.700
 appreciate that.

00:48:32.200 --> 00:48:32.460
 It's,

00:48:32.660 --> 00:48:33.059
 the sovereignty

00:48:33.059 --> 00:48:33.599
 of God is

00:48:33.599 --> 00:48:34.280
 not a dagger

00:48:34.280 --> 00:48:35.039
 for us to

00:48:35.039 --> 00:48:35.900
 hit each other

00:48:35.900 --> 00:48:36.119
 with,

00:48:36.180 --> 00:48:36.660
 it's a pillow

00:48:36.660 --> 00:48:37.380
 to put our

00:48:37.380 --> 00:48:37.820
 heads on at

00:48:37.820 --> 00:48:38.059
 night.

00:48:38.059 --> 00:48:39.259
 problem.

00:48:39.699 --> 00:48:40.340
 Why does

00:48:40.340 --> 00:48:41.179
 God tell us

00:48:41.179 --> 00:48:41.940
 to do something

00:48:41.940 --> 00:48:42.579
 that we have

00:48:42.579 --> 00:48:43.219
 no ability

00:48:43.219 --> 00:48:43.799
 to do?

00:48:44.799 --> 00:48:45.360
 Because he

00:48:45.360 --> 00:48:45.880
 shows us,

00:48:45.940 --> 00:48:46.119
 like,

00:48:46.360 --> 00:48:47.179
 we can't keep

00:48:47.179 --> 00:48:47.500
 the Ten

00:48:47.500 --> 00:48:47.940
 Commandments,

00:48:47.980 --> 00:48:48.500
 I break them

00:48:48.500 --> 00:48:49.000
 every day,

00:48:49.259 --> 00:48:50.299
 so what is

00:48:50.299 --> 00:48:50.799
 the result?

00:48:51.079 --> 00:48:51.880
 You run to

00:48:51.880 --> 00:48:52.279
 Jesus.

00:48:53.079 --> 00:48:54.019
 He kept it.

00:48:55.219 --> 00:48:56.139
 God shows me

00:48:56.139 --> 00:48:56.900
 that I can't

00:48:56.900 --> 00:48:57.460
 keep his law

00:48:57.460 --> 00:48:58.019
 every day,

00:48:58.099 --> 00:48:58.579
 but he shows

00:48:58.579 --> 00:48:59.340
 me every day

00:48:59.340 --> 00:49:00.500
 somebody kept

00:49:00.500 --> 00:49:01.259
 it for me.

00:49:02.259 --> 00:49:02.519
 Yeah,

00:49:02.619 --> 00:49:02.980
 that's good.

00:49:02.980 --> 00:49:03.780
 That's it.

00:49:04.019 --> 00:49:04.420
 That's the

00:49:04.420 --> 00:49:04.820
 answer.

00:49:05.420 --> 00:49:06.340
 Jesus did

00:49:06.340 --> 00:49:06.800
 it all.

00:49:07.260 --> 00:49:07.740
 Instead of

00:49:07.740 --> 00:49:08.500
 me trying

00:49:08.500 --> 00:49:09.340
 and trying

00:49:09.340 --> 00:49:10.099
 and trying

00:49:10.099 --> 00:49:10.960
 and failing

00:49:10.960 --> 00:49:12.059
 and failing

00:49:12.059 --> 00:49:12.800
 and failing,

00:49:13.139 --> 00:49:13.699
 but little

00:49:13.699 --> 00:49:14.179
 by little,

00:49:14.280 --> 00:49:15.219
 he's conforming

00:49:15.219 --> 00:49:15.960
 me to his

00:49:15.960 --> 00:49:16.360
 image,

00:49:16.679 --> 00:49:17.400
 and I trust

00:49:17.400 --> 00:49:17.639
 him.

00:49:18.780 --> 00:49:19.519
 It's trust,

00:49:19.699 --> 00:49:19.860
 yeah,

00:49:20.039 --> 00:49:20.240
 amen,

00:49:20.320 --> 00:49:20.440
 brother.

00:49:21.639 --> 00:49:22.059
 Trust,

00:49:23.159 --> 00:49:24.900
 to underline

00:49:24.900 --> 00:49:25.400
 the mystery

00:49:25.400 --> 00:49:26.460
 here,

00:49:26.539 --> 00:49:26.800
 and then we'll

00:49:26.800 --> 00:49:27.199
 get into some

00:49:27.199 --> 00:49:28.059
 application before

00:49:28.059 --> 00:49:28.980
 we close,

00:49:30.000 --> 00:49:30.159
 you know,

00:49:30.159 --> 00:49:30.480
 we see this

00:49:30.480 --> 00:49:30.980
 all over the

00:49:30.980 --> 00:49:31.340
 place,

00:49:31.740 --> 00:49:31.880
 right?

00:49:31.880 --> 00:49:32.300
 The Spirit

00:49:32.300 --> 00:49:33.460
 sanctifies us

00:49:33.460 --> 00:49:35.340
 through diligent

00:49:35.340 --> 00:49:36.340
 self-discipline.

00:49:37.619 --> 00:49:38.160
 Who lives

00:49:38.160 --> 00:49:38.480
 your Christian

00:49:38.480 --> 00:49:38.740
 life?

00:49:38.840 --> 00:49:39.300
 You or the

00:49:39.300 --> 00:49:39.579
 Spirit?

00:49:40.280 --> 00:49:40.440
 Well,

00:49:40.500 --> 00:49:41.099
 Philippians 2,

00:49:41.160 --> 00:49:41.640
 verse 12,

00:49:42.019 --> 00:49:42.680
 work out your

00:49:42.680 --> 00:49:43.340
 salvation with

00:49:43.340 --> 00:49:43.700
 fear and

00:49:43.700 --> 00:49:44.019
 trembling,

00:49:45.099 --> 00:49:45.900
 but it's God

00:49:45.900 --> 00:49:46.360
 who's at work

00:49:46.360 --> 00:49:46.880
 in you,

00:49:48.000 --> 00:49:49.059
 both willing to

00:49:49.059 --> 00:49:49.420
 work for his

00:49:49.420 --> 00:49:49.840
 good pleasure.

00:49:50.039 --> 00:49:50.420
 How does that

00:49:50.420 --> 00:49:50.599
 work?

00:49:50.619 --> 00:49:51.099
 I have no idea.

00:49:51.800 --> 00:49:52.380
 I don't think

00:49:52.380 --> 00:49:52.860
 Paul understood

00:49:52.860 --> 00:49:53.320
 completely.

00:49:53.460 --> 00:49:53.800
 He's saying,

00:49:53.900 --> 00:49:53.980
 look,

00:49:54.019 --> 00:49:54.380
 the Spirit

00:49:54.380 --> 00:49:54.940
 works in you,

00:49:55.039 --> 00:49:56.119
 but work your

00:49:56.119 --> 00:49:56.920
 salvation out with

00:49:56.920 --> 00:49:57.840
 fear and

00:49:57.840 --> 00:49:58.099
 trembling.

00:49:59.860 --> 00:50:00.220
 Paul,

00:50:00.740 --> 00:50:01.400
 another part,

00:50:01.400 --> 00:50:02.360
 it says,

00:50:02.980 --> 00:50:03.720
 if you sow,

00:50:03.800 --> 00:50:04.320
 you will reap.

00:50:05.099 --> 00:50:05.700
 But then another

00:50:05.700 --> 00:50:05.920
 part,

00:50:05.980 --> 00:50:06.200
 it says,

00:50:06.320 --> 00:50:06.500
 well,

00:50:06.559 --> 00:50:06.880
 it doesn't

00:50:06.880 --> 00:50:07.380
 really depend

00:50:07.380 --> 00:50:07.780
 on human

00:50:07.780 --> 00:50:09.119
 exertion or

00:50:09.119 --> 00:50:10.380
 trying hard,

00:50:10.440 --> 00:50:10.980
 it just depends

00:50:10.980 --> 00:50:11.320
 on God's

00:50:11.320 --> 00:50:11.599
 mercy.

00:50:12.519 --> 00:50:12.960
 And so,

00:50:13.660 --> 00:50:15.200
 these tensions

00:50:15.200 --> 00:50:15.960
 are all over

00:50:15.960 --> 00:50:16.720
 the place in

00:50:16.720 --> 00:50:17.220
 the New Testament.

00:50:18.840 --> 00:50:20.900
 And let's go

00:50:20.900 --> 00:50:21.220
 into some

00:50:21.220 --> 00:50:22.139
 application before

00:50:22.139 --> 00:50:23.139
 we close.

00:50:23.980 --> 00:50:24.380
 So how does

00:50:24.380 --> 00:50:25.059
 God's sovereignty

00:50:25.059 --> 00:50:25.900
 help us in our

00:50:25.900 --> 00:50:26.220
 sorrow?

00:50:26.219 --> 00:50:28.239
 Well,

00:50:28.279 --> 00:50:28.399
 again,

00:50:28.439 --> 00:50:28.919
 we talk about

00:50:28.919 --> 00:50:29.899
 the three things

00:50:29.899 --> 00:50:30.639
 keeping in your

00:50:30.639 --> 00:50:31.439
 mind at once.

00:50:31.539 --> 00:50:32.079
 God is good,

00:50:32.339 --> 00:50:33.179
 God is for me,

00:50:33.339 --> 00:50:33.919
 and God is

00:50:33.919 --> 00:50:34.259
 sovereign.

00:50:34.959 --> 00:50:35.480
 And that's the

00:50:35.480 --> 00:50:36.439
 battlefield in your

00:50:36.439 --> 00:50:37.039
 mind to keep

00:50:37.039 --> 00:50:37.480
 those things

00:50:37.480 --> 00:50:37.839
 together.

00:50:38.259 --> 00:50:38.699
 I love what

00:50:38.699 --> 00:50:39.399
 Elizabeth Elliot

00:50:39.399 --> 00:50:39.759
 said,

00:50:40.439 --> 00:50:41.139
 a woman well

00:50:41.139 --> 00:50:41.739
 acquainted with

00:50:41.739 --> 00:50:42.079
 suffering.

00:50:42.759 --> 00:50:43.000
 She said,

00:50:43.099 --> 00:50:43.759
 I'm convinced

00:50:43.759 --> 00:50:44.399
 that there is

00:50:44.399 --> 00:50:45.119
 nothing that can

00:50:45.119 --> 00:50:45.859
 happen to me in

00:50:45.859 --> 00:50:47.059
 this life that

00:50:47.059 --> 00:50:47.959
 is not precisely

00:50:47.959 --> 00:50:49.159
 designed by a

00:50:49.159 --> 00:50:49.879
 sovereign Lord to

00:50:49.879 --> 00:50:50.279
 give me the

00:50:50.279 --> 00:50:51.039
 opportunity to

00:50:51.039 --> 00:50:51.659
 learn to know

00:50:51.659 --> 00:50:51.899
 him.

00:50:51.900 --> 00:50:53.139
 And so what

00:50:53.139 --> 00:50:53.519
 she's saying is

00:50:53.519 --> 00:50:54.039
 suffering is not

00:50:54.039 --> 00:50:54.460
 random,

00:50:55.139 --> 00:50:56.980
 but even if

00:50:56.980 --> 00:50:57.539
 others mean

00:50:57.539 --> 00:50:59.119
 evil against me,

00:50:59.280 --> 00:51:00.000
 it's an opportunity

00:51:00.000 --> 00:51:01.099
 for me to know

00:51:01.099 --> 00:51:01.599
 the Lord.

00:51:01.700 --> 00:51:02.180
 He means it for

00:51:02.180 --> 00:51:02.559
 my good.

00:51:03.599 --> 00:51:04.119
 So how does

00:51:04.119 --> 00:51:05.980
 the Baptist

00:51:05.980 --> 00:51:06.559
 faith and message

00:51:06.559 --> 00:51:07.300
 put it this way?

00:51:07.740 --> 00:51:08.480
 God as Father

00:51:08.480 --> 00:51:09.119
 reigns with

00:51:09.119 --> 00:51:10.280
 providential care

00:51:10.280 --> 00:51:10.780
 over his

00:51:10.780 --> 00:51:11.220
 universe,

00:51:12.300 --> 00:51:13.240
 his creatures,

00:51:13.340 --> 00:51:13.860
 and the flow of

00:51:13.860 --> 00:51:14.380
 the stream of

00:51:14.380 --> 00:51:14.840
 human history

00:51:14.840 --> 00:51:15.519
 according to the

00:51:15.519 --> 00:51:16.360
 purposes of his

00:51:16.360 --> 00:51:16.760
 grace.

00:51:17.160 --> 00:51:18.200
 So God reigns

00:51:18.200 --> 00:51:19.200
 with providential

00:51:19.200 --> 00:51:20.579
 care for us.

00:51:21.900 --> 00:51:23.460
 how does God's

00:51:23.460 --> 00:51:23.940
 sovereignty,

00:51:24.059 --> 00:51:24.579
 I'll throw this

00:51:24.579 --> 00:51:24.980
 out here,

00:51:25.740 --> 00:51:26.400
 how does God's

00:51:26.400 --> 00:51:27.180
 sovereignty help

00:51:27.180 --> 00:51:27.639
 us in our

00:51:27.639 --> 00:51:28.420
 decision making

00:51:28.420 --> 00:51:30.260
 as we battle

00:51:30.260 --> 00:51:31.300
 tough decisions

00:51:31.300 --> 00:51:32.500
 in our future?

00:51:32.579 --> 00:51:32.900
 How does that

00:51:32.900 --> 00:51:33.400
 help us?

00:51:35.440 --> 00:51:35.980
 You know,

00:51:36.059 --> 00:51:36.820
 he has our

00:51:36.820 --> 00:51:41.019
 good in his

00:51:41.019 --> 00:51:41.500
 mind.

00:51:43.460 --> 00:51:44.240
 And his

00:51:44.240 --> 00:51:44.579
 glory.

00:51:45.360 --> 00:51:45.579
 Yeah.

00:51:46.360 --> 00:51:46.740
 Yeah.

00:51:47.059 --> 00:51:48.320
 So some of you

00:51:48.320 --> 00:51:48.820
 who are facing

00:51:48.820 --> 00:51:49.660
 tough decisions,

00:51:51.000 --> 00:51:51.880
 God's sovereignty

00:51:51.880 --> 00:51:53.860
 helps us to have

00:51:53.860 --> 00:51:54.539
 peace in our

00:51:54.539 --> 00:51:55.140
 decision making.

00:51:56.000 --> 00:51:56.700
 If God wasn't

00:51:56.700 --> 00:51:58.200
 sovereign, I mean,

00:51:58.280 --> 00:51:58.940
 we should be more

00:51:58.940 --> 00:51:59.519
 anxious than we

00:51:59.519 --> 00:52:00.019
 actually are.

00:52:00.079 --> 00:52:00.539
 Can you imagine?

00:52:01.440 --> 00:52:02.440
 Can you imagine

00:52:02.440 --> 00:52:05.160
 the uncertainty

00:52:05.160 --> 00:52:07.280
 of each decision

00:52:07.280 --> 00:52:07.820
 we make?

00:52:08.780 --> 00:52:09.340
 Did you not have

00:52:09.340 --> 00:52:10.079
 your quiet time

00:52:10.079 --> 00:52:10.519
 this morning?

00:52:11.260 --> 00:52:11.640
 Man, you better

00:52:11.640 --> 00:52:12.119
 be careful.

00:52:13.400 --> 00:52:14.320
 The sovereignty

00:52:14.320 --> 00:52:15.280
 of God helps us

00:52:15.280 --> 00:52:16.059
 to have rest

00:52:16.059 --> 00:52:18.480
 in our decision

00:52:18.480 --> 00:52:18.940
 making.

00:52:18.940 --> 00:52:20.619
 and that doesn't

00:52:20.619 --> 00:52:21.440
 diminish, again,

00:52:21.559 --> 00:52:22.619
 human responsibility

00:52:22.619 --> 00:52:24.360
 to choose

00:52:24.360 --> 00:52:25.380
 each day to

00:52:25.380 --> 00:52:26.119
 follow Christ.

00:52:27.679 --> 00:52:28.740
 And the last

00:52:28.740 --> 00:52:30.039
 thing, how does

00:52:30.039 --> 00:52:30.800
 God's sovereignty

00:52:30.800 --> 00:52:32.039
 help our evangelism?

00:52:32.280 --> 00:52:32.619
 Because some

00:52:32.619 --> 00:52:33.099
 say, well, doesn't

00:52:33.099 --> 00:52:33.599
 that just kill

00:52:33.599 --> 00:52:34.179
 evangelism?

00:52:34.440 --> 00:52:34.920
 What's the point

00:52:34.920 --> 00:52:35.860
 of evangelizing if

00:52:35.860 --> 00:52:36.380
 God is sovereign,

00:52:36.420 --> 00:52:36.900
 he's going to save

00:52:36.900 --> 00:52:37.980
 anyone who he

00:52:37.980 --> 00:52:39.400
 decides to save?

00:52:39.400 --> 00:52:41.519
 And of course,

00:52:41.579 --> 00:52:42.700
 the gospel invitation

00:52:42.700 --> 00:52:43.780
 can and often

00:52:43.780 --> 00:52:44.519
 is resisted

00:52:44.519 --> 00:52:45.059
 and rejected,

00:52:45.820 --> 00:52:47.820
 but God's sovereignty

00:52:47.820 --> 00:52:48.500
 tells us God

00:52:48.500 --> 00:52:49.220
 can save anyone,

00:52:49.639 --> 00:52:50.200
 even the most

00:52:50.200 --> 00:52:51.119
 hard-hearted person.

00:52:51.740 --> 00:52:52.139
 And that should

00:52:52.139 --> 00:52:52.840
 make us bold.

00:52:53.059 --> 00:52:54.180
 The first reaction

00:52:54.180 --> 00:52:55.800
 of your parents

00:52:55.800 --> 00:52:56.139
 when you share

00:52:56.139 --> 00:52:56.700
 the gospel with

00:52:56.700 --> 00:52:58.500
 them is contempt

00:52:58.500 --> 00:53:00.019
 for God.

00:53:00.119 --> 00:53:00.740
 Such a reaction

00:53:00.740 --> 00:53:01.599
 should not surprise

00:53:01.599 --> 00:53:02.960
 us, because no

00:53:02.960 --> 00:53:03.820
 heart is too hard

00:53:03.820 --> 00:53:04.940
 for the grace of

00:53:04.940 --> 00:53:05.200
 God.

00:53:06.460 --> 00:53:07.160
 And I think

00:53:07.160 --> 00:53:07.980
 Luther had it

00:53:07.980 --> 00:53:08.840
 right, and

00:53:08.840 --> 00:53:09.519
 then we'll end

00:53:09.519 --> 00:53:10.039
 in prayer.

00:53:11.160 --> 00:53:12.360
 It leaves no doubt

00:53:12.360 --> 00:53:13.100
 who is in charge

00:53:13.100 --> 00:53:13.519
 and all these

00:53:13.519 --> 00:53:14.480
 skirmishes that

00:53:14.480 --> 00:53:15.360
 we face in our

00:53:15.360 --> 00:53:15.720
 life.

00:53:16.280 --> 00:53:17.059
 Though this world

00:53:17.059 --> 00:53:17.579
 with devils

00:53:17.579 --> 00:53:18.320
 filled should

00:53:18.320 --> 00:53:19.120
 threaten to undo

00:53:19.120 --> 00:53:20.340
 us, we will not

00:53:20.340 --> 00:53:21.039
 fear, for God

00:53:21.039 --> 00:53:21.880
 has willed his

00:53:21.880 --> 00:53:22.960
 truth to triumph

00:53:22.960 --> 00:53:23.740
 through us.

00:53:24.100 --> 00:53:24.820
 The prince of

00:53:24.820 --> 00:53:25.579
 darkness grim,

00:53:25.640 --> 00:53:26.480
 we tremble not

00:53:26.480 --> 00:53:26.920
 for him.

00:53:27.160 --> 00:53:27.960
 His rage we

00:53:27.960 --> 00:53:28.559
 can't endure,

00:53:28.720 --> 00:53:29.360
 but for lo,

00:53:29.480 --> 00:53:30.240
 his doom is

00:53:30.240 --> 00:53:31.960
 sure, one little

00:53:31.960 --> 00:53:32.760
 word shall follow

00:53:32.760 --> 00:53:32.980
 him.

00:53:33.660 --> 00:53:34.280
 Amen, brothers

00:53:34.280 --> 00:53:34.559
 and sisters.

00:53:34.660 --> 00:53:35.120
 Let's pray.

00:53:35.900 --> 00:53:36.660
 Father in heaven,

00:53:36.720 --> 00:53:37.500
 we thank you for

00:53:37.500 --> 00:53:38.460
 the time together

00:53:38.460 --> 00:53:39.000
 and your word.

00:53:39.240 --> 00:53:39.880
 Lord, I do

00:53:39.880 --> 00:53:40.960
 pray that you

00:53:40.960 --> 00:53:41.559
 would help us

00:53:41.559 --> 00:53:43.340
 to live in the

00:53:43.340 --> 00:53:44.079
 mystery, help us

00:53:44.079 --> 00:53:44.900
 to humble us,

00:53:45.139 --> 00:53:45.820
 Lord, before your

00:53:45.820 --> 00:53:48.019
 throne, to give us

00:53:48.019 --> 00:53:48.599
 confidence and

00:53:48.599 --> 00:53:49.960
 assurance that you

00:53:49.960 --> 00:53:50.840
 are working out all

00:53:50.840 --> 00:53:51.880
 things for our good,

00:53:52.280 --> 00:53:53.159
 for those who love

00:53:53.159 --> 00:53:53.699
 you and are calling

00:53:53.699 --> 00:53:54.199
 according to your

00:53:54.199 --> 00:53:54.559
 purpose.

00:53:55.199 --> 00:53:55.679
 Father, we give you

00:53:55.679 --> 00:53:56.320
 all praise and

00:53:56.320 --> 00:53:56.679
 thanks.

00:53:57.220 --> 00:53:57.820
 May you get the

00:53:57.820 --> 00:53:58.559
 honor and glory

00:53:58.559 --> 00:53:59.260
 forever and ever.

00:53:59.599 --> 00:54:00.179
 In Jesus' name,

00:54:00.539 --> 00:54:00.760
 Amen.

00:54:00.760 --> 00:54:00.860
 Amen.

00:54:01.860 --> 00:54:02.099
 Amen.

00:54:02.099 --> 00:54:02.240
 Amen.

00:54:02.240 --> 00:54:02.380
 Amen.

00:54:02.380 --> 00:54:02.639
 Amen.

00:54:02.639 --> 00:54:04.579
 Amen.

00:54:04.579 --> 00:54:04.639
 Amen.

00:54:04.639 --> 00:54:04.699
 Amen.

00:54:04.699 --> 00:54:04.740
 Amen.

00:54:04.740 --> 00:54:04.760
 Amen.

00:54:04.760 --> 00:54:04.780
 Amen.

00:54:04.780 --> 00:54:04.840
 Amen.

00:54:04.840 --> 00:54:04.860
 Amen.

00:54:04.860 --> 00:54:05.280
 Amen.

00:54:05.280 --> 00:54:05.300
 Amen.

00:54:05.300 --> 00:54:05.400
 Amen.

00:54:05.400 --> 00:54:06.440
 Amen.

00:54:06.440 --> 00:54:08.440
 Amen.