WEBVTT

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 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church.

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 Good morning, Christ Church.

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 My name is Bill Barnes, and I am part of the Bavinkian community group.

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 And I'm going to be reading this morning from Genesis, the book of Genesis, Genesis 3.1.

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 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made.

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 He said to the woman,

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 Did God really say, you must not eat?

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 From any tree in the garden?

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 The woman said to the serpent,

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 We may eat fruit from trees in the garden, but God did say,

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 You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden,

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 and you must not touch it, or you will die.

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 You will not certainly die, the serpent said to the woman,

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 For God knows that when you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.

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 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye,

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 and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.

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 She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

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 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked.

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 So they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

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 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day.

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 And they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

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 But the Lord God called to the man,

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 Where are you?

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 He answered,

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 I heard you in the garden,

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 and I was afraid,

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 because I was naked.

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 So I hid.

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 The grass withers, and the flowers fall.

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 The word of our God stands forever.

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 Our gospel lesson today is a reading from the gospel according to Matthew.

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 Matthew.

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 As soon as Jesus was baptized,

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 he went up out of the water.

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 At that moment, heaven was opened,

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 and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.

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 And a voice from heaven said,

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 This is my Son, whom I love.

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 With Him, I'm well pleased.

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 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

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 to be tempted by the devil.

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 After fasting 40 days and 40 nights,

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 he was hungry.

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 The tempter came to him and said,

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 If you are the Son of God,

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 tell these stones to become bread.

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 Jesus answered,

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 It is written,

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 Man shall not live on bread alone,

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 but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

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 Then the devil took him to the holy city,

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 and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.

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 If you are the Son of God,

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 he said,

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 Throw yourself down,

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 for it is written,

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 He will command his angels concerning you,

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 and they will lift you up in their hands,

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 so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

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 Jesus answered him,

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 It is also written,

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 Do not put the Lord your God to the test.

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 Again,

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 the devil took him to a very high mountain,

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 and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their splendor.

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 All this I will give you,

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 he said,

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 if you will bow down and worship me.

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 Jesus said to him,

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 Away from me, Satan,

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 for it is written,

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 Worship the Lord your God,

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 and serve him only.

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 Then the devil left him,

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 and angels came and attended him.

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 This is the gospel of the Lord.

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 Praise to you, O Christ.

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 Well, thanks, Bill, for that scripture reading.

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 Good morning, everyone.

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 Welcome to Christ Church.

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 My name is Andrew,

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 and I'm one of the pastors here.

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 Will you pray with me as we open up God's word?

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 Our Father, we pray

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 that you would help us to believe,

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 just as our Savior, Jesus,

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 that we shall not live by bread alone,

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 but by every word that comes from your mouth.

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 Thank you for being a God who speaks words to us.

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 And in the preaching of your word, O God,

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 we pray that you would help us to believe them,

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 as our Savior did,

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 that we might overcome the schemes of the devil,

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 and the lies that he spits into our ears.

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 Help our unbelief, we pray.

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 In the name of Jesus, amen.

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 All right, so a few weeks ago,

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 I got to meet a grad student from Cal,

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 and this is one of the things I love about Christ Church.

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 We always have people coming through our doors,

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 sitting in our pews,

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 who are not Christians.

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 I love that about our church.

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 And so he came,

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 and it was his first Sunday here,

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 and he was really open with me right off the bat.

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 He said, you know,

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 I used to be a Christian,

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 but I'm not anymore.

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 I can't believe anymore,

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 and I'm not sure if I ever really did believe,

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 but I'm willing to talk to people

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 to try to figure things out.

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 I said, well, you're welcome here.

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 We love that you're here.

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 We're so excited about that.

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 Let's talk.

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 So a few days before Christmas,

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 we got on the phone.

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 I went out for a walk with my dog.

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 Actually, that was irrelevant,

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 but I did that on the phone with him.

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 And we talked for about an hour and a half,

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 and I got to hear some of his story.

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 And, you know, basically,

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 his big hang-up with Christianity was,

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 you know, I can believe my science and history textbooks

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 and the proven facts that are within them,

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 but I have trouble believing the Bible

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 and this unproven Christ.

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 And so, you know,

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 I tried to share with him

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 what I thought was strong evidence

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 for, you know,

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 the historicity of Jesus

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 and the reliability of the Scriptures,

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 but you know what we spent most of our time

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 talking about that day?

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 What we spent most of our time talking about

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 was not the evidences surrounding Jesus,

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 but what we talked about

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 was the nature of belief,

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 the nature of faith itself,

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 like how and why do we even believe

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 the things that we believe,

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 or what makes something truly believable

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 as true and as trustworthy.

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 And I tried to show him that

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 whether you're the most spiritual,

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 pious, religious, holy man in the world,

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 or you're the most secular, scientific,

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 anti-supernatural, modern person in the world,

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 at the very bottom,

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 we all have to live by faith.

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 We all have to live by faith,

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 whether faith in a personal God

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 who makes the world revolve around the sun

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 and maintains the laws of gravity,

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 or faith in some impersonal force,

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 or faith in chance,

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 that by chance,

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 somehow the sun will just rise tomorrow,

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 and in the next second,

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 we all won't start levitating

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 from our pews, right?

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 And so I challenged him to consider,

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 like, sure, you can doubt Christianity,

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 and I understand why you would doubt Christianity,

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 but like, why,

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 but like, what are the things

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 that you don't doubt,

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 and why not?

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 What are the ultimate things

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 that you're most convinced of,

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 the things that you can place your faith in,

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 is what I asked him.

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 And that's the question

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 I want to ask all of us today.

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 What are we placing our faith in?

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 What is the one thing

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 we are most convinced of

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 in all the world,

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 so convinced we'd stake

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 our whole lives upon it?

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 What is the one thing

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 that we believe about ourselves,

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 and about the world,

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 and about God,

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 that if this one thing were not true,

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 everything else would unravel for us?

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 You know, for the French philosopher,

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 Rene Descartes,

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 his one thing was what?

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 I think, therefore I am.

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 I doubt, therefore I am.

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 His one thing was that,

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 because at the very least,

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 I know that I'm doubting with my mind,

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 even that I'm doubting that I have a mind,

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 if I'm doubting,

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 I know that I have a mind.

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 That was his one thing,

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 that he could doubt everything.

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 And maybe that's where

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 some of us are at today.

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 This broken world has given us

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 so many reasons to doubt.

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 We've been let down repeatedly

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 by all the people

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 and all the institutions

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 and all the systems

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 that promised never to fail us,

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 our parents,

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 our politicians,

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 our churches,

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 our technologies.

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 We feel like there is nothing

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 and no one we can trust,

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 not even ourselves.

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 And so maybe we're like today,

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 you know, okay,

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 that's my one thing.

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 The only thing I can be convinced of

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 is that I cannot be convinced of anything.

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 The only thing I can trust

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 is that I cannot trust anything or anyone.

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 But you know,

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 even the atheist British philosopher,

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 Bertrand Russell,

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 he said that while such skepticism

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 is logically flawless,

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 it is psychologically impossible.

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 It is unlivable.

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 No one can truly live

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 with such radical skepticism.

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 So again,

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 the honest truth is

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 we all have to make calls

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 about what we're gonna believe,

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 what we're gonna place our faith in,

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 what we're gonna commit our lives to.

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 And if that sounds scary to you,

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 well, yeah, it is.

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 It's incredibly scary, right?

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 Because whatever we most fundamentally believe

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 will affect our whole life.

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 There is nothing more important

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 than assessing

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 what our deepest beliefs

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 and commitments are,

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 what we are placing our trust in

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 with our whole lives.

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 And you could probably guess

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 what I would tell you

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 to trust and believe.

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 I'm a pastor.

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 I'm preaching the Bible.

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 You know,

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 you might expect me to say,

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 believe in Jesus.

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 believe the Bible is God's word.

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 So I don't feel like

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 I need to do that today,

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 at least not explicitly.

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 But what I wanna do

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 for all of us today

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 is I wanna look at

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 what Jesus himself

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 placed his ultimate trust in.

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 I want us to consider

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 what, according to the Christian tradition,

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 this ideal human,

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 God himself,

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 in the flesh,

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 what he committed

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 and submitted himself to.

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 And I want us to consider

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 whether following him,

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 believing what he believed,

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 trusting what he trusted,

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 might actually be a good idea

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 for all of us too.

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 And maybe you're like,

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 yo,

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 what does any of this have to do

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 with this temptation narrative

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 that we just read about Jesus?

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 And my response to that

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 is that

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 we have to understand

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 that temptation

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 is not merely about behavior.

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 Behavior flows from belief.

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 Behavior flows from faith,

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 from our deepest,

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 seated commitments.

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 If you are tempted to,

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 if you're tempted by

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 and to succumb to pornography,

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 you are not just tempted

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 to some act with your eyes.

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 Deep down in your heart,

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 you believe,

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 you have faith

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 that there is more pleasure,

00:11:04.860 --> 00:11:05.399
 more fulfillment,

00:11:05.720 --> 00:11:06.519
 more satisfaction

00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:07.740
 in the objectification

00:11:07.740 --> 00:11:09.120
 of other human beings

00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:10.000
 than in living

00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:11.059
 and loving God's way.

00:11:11.320 --> 00:11:12.939
 If you are tempted by greed,

00:11:13.419 --> 00:11:14.559
 you are not just tempted

00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:16.779
 to the act of hoarding

00:11:16.779 --> 00:11:17.879
 and withholding your money

00:11:17.879 --> 00:11:18.700
 and your resources.

00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:19.440
 Deep down,

00:11:19.679 --> 00:11:20.559
 you believe

00:11:20.559 --> 00:11:22.239
 that God won't provide for you

00:11:22.239 --> 00:11:23.719
 and that you have to provide

00:11:23.719 --> 00:11:24.599
 for yourself.

00:11:25.359 --> 00:11:26.719
 So if we want to address

00:11:26.719 --> 00:11:28.039
 the wayward behaviors

00:11:28.039 --> 00:11:29.119
 of our lives,

00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:30.299
 if we want victory

00:11:30.299 --> 00:11:31.519
 over temptation,

00:11:32.399 --> 00:11:33.339
 we have to look at our hearts.

00:11:33.739 --> 00:11:34.279
 We have to look

00:11:34.279 --> 00:11:35.439
 at our faith commitments.

00:11:35.579 --> 00:11:36.479
 And that's why I wanted us

00:11:36.479 --> 00:11:37.279
 to hear the original

00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:38.079
 temptation account

00:11:38.079 --> 00:11:38.699
 this morning

00:11:38.699 --> 00:11:40.299
 from Genesis chapter 3.

00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:41.759
 Because see, yes,

00:11:42.079 --> 00:11:42.799
 Adam and Eve,

00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:44.299
 they shouldn't have committed

00:11:44.299 --> 00:11:46.459
 the action of eating the fruit.

00:11:47.219 --> 00:11:47.759
 But do you know

00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:49.419
 what the real fatal sin was

00:11:49.419 --> 00:11:50.299
 even before that?

00:11:50.559 --> 00:11:51.479
 The sin that led them

00:11:51.479 --> 00:11:52.179
 to eat the fruit?

00:11:53.179 --> 00:11:54.159
 They stopped believing

00:11:54.159 --> 00:11:54.779
 God's word.

00:11:56.199 --> 00:11:57.159
 They doubted God's word.

00:11:57.239 --> 00:11:58.179
 Instead of crushing

00:11:58.179 --> 00:11:58.819
 the serpent,

00:11:58.939 --> 00:11:59.699
 they entertained

00:11:59.699 --> 00:12:00.379
 the question,

00:12:00.939 --> 00:12:02.879
 did God really say?

00:12:02.959 --> 00:12:03.500
 They entertained

00:12:03.500 --> 00:12:04.359
 the serpent's question

00:12:04.359 --> 00:12:05.079
 and they subjected

00:12:05.079 --> 00:12:06.159
 the creator's word

00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:08.379
 to their own creaturely scrutiny

00:12:08.379 --> 00:12:09.539
 and skepticism

00:12:09.539 --> 00:12:10.459
 and analysis.

00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:12.199
 Even doubting his character.

00:12:12.759 --> 00:12:13.579
 Entertaining the thought

00:12:13.579 --> 00:12:15.019
 that God was not truly for them.

00:12:15.339 --> 00:12:16.099
 Entertaining the thought

00:12:16.099 --> 00:12:17.299
 that God was not truly loving.

00:12:17.579 --> 00:12:18.739
 That God was not truly good.

00:12:18.740 --> 00:12:20.019
 That God was withholding

00:12:20.019 --> 00:12:21.480
 something from them.

00:12:22.860 --> 00:12:23.779
 The original sin

00:12:23.779 --> 00:12:24.740
 wasn't merely the eating

00:12:24.740 --> 00:12:26.019
 of some forbidden fruit.

00:12:26.840 --> 00:12:28.259
 But it was a lack of faith

00:12:28.259 --> 00:12:29.860
 in God's true word

00:12:29.860 --> 00:12:32.159
 and in God's good character.

00:12:33.299 --> 00:12:34.120
 It wasn't merely

00:12:34.120 --> 00:12:35.480
 a sin of the hands

00:12:35.480 --> 00:12:36.159
 or the lips

00:12:36.159 --> 00:12:37.279
 but a sin of the heart.

00:12:38.620 --> 00:12:39.100
 So again,

00:12:39.180 --> 00:12:40.019
 we have to look at our hearts.

00:12:40.120 --> 00:12:41.000
 We have to consider

00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:42.759
 our deepest faith commitments.

00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:43.740
 And this is also why

00:12:43.740 --> 00:12:44.560
 we picked back up

00:12:44.559 --> 00:12:45.579
 and read some of our passage

00:12:45.579 --> 00:12:46.559
 from last week

00:12:46.559 --> 00:12:47.979
 from Matthew chapter 3

00:12:47.979 --> 00:12:49.339
 verses 16 and 17.

00:12:49.459 --> 00:12:50.659
 I wanted to remind us

00:12:50.659 --> 00:12:52.000
 of Jesus' baptism.

00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:53.979
 Of Jesus' ultimate

00:12:53.979 --> 00:12:55.219
 faith commitment.

00:12:56.079 --> 00:12:57.199
 His faith and trust

00:12:57.199 --> 00:12:57.839
 in the words

00:12:57.839 --> 00:12:59.259
 his father spoke to him

00:12:59.259 --> 00:13:00.259
 at his baptism

00:13:00.259 --> 00:13:01.339
 from the heavens.

00:13:01.719 --> 00:13:03.439
 This is my beloved son

00:13:03.439 --> 00:13:04.699
 with whom

00:13:04.699 --> 00:13:05.859
 I am well pleased.

00:13:06.819 --> 00:13:07.000
 See,

00:13:07.199 --> 00:13:08.559
 this was

00:13:09.079 --> 00:13:10.739
 Jesus' ultimate

00:13:10.739 --> 00:13:11.379
 faith commitment.

00:13:11.379 --> 00:13:13.000
 This is what he believed

00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:14.100
 more than anything else

00:13:14.100 --> 00:13:14.879
 in all the world.

00:13:15.439 --> 00:13:16.379
 Right before entering

00:13:16.379 --> 00:13:17.419
 the wilderness temptation,

00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:19.500
 Jesus heard the word of God

00:13:19.500 --> 00:13:20.500
 and he was anointed

00:13:20.500 --> 00:13:21.500
 with the spirit of God

00:13:21.500 --> 00:13:21.879
 crying,

00:13:22.019 --> 00:13:22.580
 Abba, Father,

00:13:22.740 --> 00:13:23.500
 within his heart.

00:13:23.580 --> 00:13:24.240
 And this word

00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:25.240
 and this spirit

00:13:25.240 --> 00:13:26.340
 who confirmed to him

00:13:26.340 --> 00:13:27.960
 that he was truly God's son,

00:13:28.279 --> 00:13:29.500
 truly loved by his father

00:13:29.500 --> 00:13:31.460
 and even truly liked

00:13:31.460 --> 00:13:33.100
 and pleasing to his father,

00:13:33.419 --> 00:13:34.460
 this was the word.

00:13:34.600 --> 00:13:35.980
 This was Jesus' one thing,

00:13:36.039 --> 00:13:37.259
 the one thing he most believed,

00:13:37.779 --> 00:13:38.500
 the one truth

00:13:38.500 --> 00:13:39.899
 he was most committed to

00:13:39.899 --> 00:13:41.080
 and convinced of.

00:13:41.840 --> 00:13:42.820
 This word from his father

00:13:42.820 --> 00:13:44.220
 about who he was.

00:13:45.320 --> 00:13:46.620
 This was his ultimate truth

00:13:46.620 --> 00:13:48.120
 against which every other truth

00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:49.080
 was tested.

00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:50.779
 And that's what this

00:13:50.779 --> 00:13:51.799
 wilderness temptation

00:13:51.799 --> 00:13:53.039
 account is about.

00:13:53.460 --> 00:13:54.399
 In the wilderness,

00:13:54.639 --> 00:13:56.539
 Jesus' ultimate faith commitment

00:13:56.539 --> 00:13:57.759
 is tested.

00:13:58.720 --> 00:13:59.679
 That's what's happening here.

00:13:59.899 --> 00:14:00.500
 This is not just

00:14:00.500 --> 00:14:01.460
 a little nice story

00:14:01.460 --> 00:14:02.259
 telling us how to

00:14:02.259 --> 00:14:03.419
 overcome temptation.

00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:04.960
 This is a story

00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:05.919
 about whether or not

00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:07.240
 Jesus will be the son of God

00:14:07.240 --> 00:14:07.960
 who saves the world.

00:14:08.039 --> 00:14:08.899
 The stakes are high.

00:14:09.220 --> 00:14:10.360
 Will the second Adam

00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:11.080
 succeed?

00:14:11.379 --> 00:14:12.840
 Where the first Adam

00:14:12.840 --> 00:14:13.679
 failed?

00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:16.240
 When the first Adam

00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:17.399
 plunged creation

00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:19.139
 into a state of hell,

00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:21.439
 will the second Adam

00:14:21.439 --> 00:14:22.879
 be able to bring us

00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:23.899
 to new creation

00:14:23.899 --> 00:14:25.000
 by withstanding

00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:25.700
 the temptation

00:14:25.700 --> 00:14:26.639
 of the devil?

00:14:27.320 --> 00:14:27.960
 Does that make sense?

00:14:28.700 --> 00:14:28.860
 All right,

00:14:28.860 --> 00:14:29.480
 now let's turn

00:14:29.480 --> 00:14:30.799
 to this temptation account

00:14:30.799 --> 00:14:31.820
 in Matthew chapter four.

00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:32.980
 So again,

00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:33.659
 this is the scene,

00:14:34.019 --> 00:14:34.759
 this is the context.

00:14:34.899 --> 00:14:36.080
 Jesus has just had

00:14:36.080 --> 00:14:37.340
 the most defining moment

00:14:37.340 --> 00:14:38.620
 of his life thus far,

00:14:38.620 --> 00:14:38.879
 right?

00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:40.500
 He is literally defined

00:14:40.500 --> 00:14:41.560
 from the heavens

00:14:41.560 --> 00:14:42.539
 by his Father in heaven

00:14:42.539 --> 00:14:43.779
 as a pleasing

00:14:43.779 --> 00:14:45.379
 and beloved Son of God.

00:14:46.100 --> 00:14:46.879
 And we are told

00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:47.539
 in verse one

00:14:47.539 --> 00:14:48.039
 that the Spirit

00:14:48.039 --> 00:14:48.940
 then leads him out

00:14:48.940 --> 00:14:49.799
 into the wilderness

00:14:49.799 --> 00:14:50.960
 to be tempted

00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:51.580
 by the devil.

00:14:52.519 --> 00:14:53.980
 And I want us to pay

00:14:53.980 --> 00:14:55.519
 really, really close attention

00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:56.740
 to what exactly

00:14:56.740 --> 00:14:57.659
 the temptation was

00:14:57.659 --> 00:14:58.379
 for Jesus here.

00:14:58.820 --> 00:14:59.080
 All right,

00:14:59.120 --> 00:14:59.879
 let's pay close attention.

00:15:00.019 --> 00:15:00.620
 So in verse two,

00:15:00.679 --> 00:15:02.240
 it says that he had been fasting

00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:03.500
 for 40 days

00:15:03.500 --> 00:15:04.139
 and 40 nights

00:15:04.139 --> 00:15:04.779
 and that of course

00:15:04.779 --> 00:15:05.639
 he was hungry.

00:15:06.100 --> 00:15:06.879
 Just imagine him,

00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:07.299
 like, you know,

00:15:07.379 --> 00:15:08.340
 unlike Adam and Eve

00:15:08.340 --> 00:15:09.480
 in their lush garden

00:15:09.480 --> 00:15:11.000
 able to eat from any tree

00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:11.860
 they want around them

00:15:11.860 --> 00:15:13.100
 except for just that one.

00:15:13.699 --> 00:15:14.899
 Jesus here is all alone.

00:15:15.340 --> 00:15:16.139
 He has no partner.

00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:17.500
 He's in a desert wilderness.

00:15:17.819 --> 00:15:18.340
 He's starving

00:15:18.340 --> 00:15:19.379
 and perhaps even threatened

00:15:19.379 --> 00:15:20.539
 by wild animals,

00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:20.860
 all right?

00:15:21.500 --> 00:15:22.639
 40 days is a long time.

00:15:22.699 --> 00:15:23.259
 This is no joke.

00:15:23.299 --> 00:15:24.120
 His body is probably

00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:24.899
 shutting down.

00:15:24.980 --> 00:15:26.080
 His muscles are probably

00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:27.039
 atrophying.

00:15:27.139 --> 00:15:28.120
 He's probably just sitting

00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:28.659
 there still

00:15:28.659 --> 00:15:30.220
 trying to preserve energy,

00:15:30.460 --> 00:15:30.759
 right?

00:15:31.220 --> 00:15:32.279
 His vision is probably

00:15:32.279 --> 00:15:32.759
 going blurry.

00:15:32.840 --> 00:15:33.700
 He probably can't think

00:15:33.700 --> 00:15:35.000
 as straight as he normally does

00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:35.820
 and it is precisely

00:15:35.820 --> 00:15:37.299
 at this point of weakness

00:15:37.299 --> 00:15:39.179
 that the devil strikes,

00:15:39.379 --> 00:15:39.600
 right?

00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:40.639
 And again,

00:15:40.700 --> 00:15:41.879
 try to pay close attention

00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:43.080
 to what the actual temptation

00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:44.419
 is here.

00:15:44.679 --> 00:15:45.100
 Read with me,

00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:45.600
 verse three.

00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:47.419
 The tempter came to him

00:15:47.419 --> 00:15:47.919
 and said,

00:15:48.899 --> 00:15:51.279
 if you are the son of God,

00:15:52.139 --> 00:15:53.039
 tell these stones

00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:54.139
 to become bread.

00:15:55.419 --> 00:15:56.279
 Now, did you catch that?

00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:58.120
 The temptation here

00:15:58.120 --> 00:15:59.320
 is not just doing

00:15:59.320 --> 00:16:00.159
 a magic trick

00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:01.779
 in order to break one's fast

00:16:01.779 --> 00:16:02.539
 and eat some bread.

00:16:02.539 --> 00:16:03.899
 Jesus' sin here

00:16:03.899 --> 00:16:04.599
 isn't breaking

00:16:04.599 --> 00:16:05.519
 his keto diet

00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:06.740
 and making some carbs

00:16:06.740 --> 00:16:07.299
 for himself

00:16:07.299 --> 00:16:08.099
 out of stones.

00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:09.139
 The devil

00:16:09.139 --> 00:16:10.839
 was questioning

00:16:10.839 --> 00:16:11.659
 his identity

00:16:11.659 --> 00:16:13.240
 as the son of God.

00:16:13.779 --> 00:16:14.480
 The devil

00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:15.299
 was questioning

00:16:15.299 --> 00:16:16.059
 God's words

00:16:16.059 --> 00:16:17.219
 spoken from the heavens

00:16:17.219 --> 00:16:17.899
 about Jesus

00:16:17.899 --> 00:16:18.779
 at his baptism.

00:16:18.939 --> 00:16:19.839
 He was tempting Jesus

00:16:19.839 --> 00:16:20.480
 to doubt

00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:21.980
 his father's words

00:16:21.980 --> 00:16:22.539
 by saying,

00:16:23.179 --> 00:16:24.399
 if you are

00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:25.500
 the son of God.

00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:27.259
 The tempter

00:16:27.259 --> 00:16:27.919
 was using

00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:28.559
 the same method

00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:29.019
 on Jesus,

00:16:29.240 --> 00:16:29.899
 the second Adam,

00:16:30.179 --> 00:16:30.659
 as he used

00:16:30.659 --> 00:16:31.959
 on the first Adam.

00:16:32.019 --> 00:16:32.860
 You can't trust

00:16:32.860 --> 00:16:34.079
 your father's words.

00:16:34.579 --> 00:16:35.399
 You can't trust

00:16:35.399 --> 00:16:36.120
 his declaration

00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:37.279
 of your identity.

00:16:37.439 --> 00:16:38.179
 You can't trust

00:16:38.179 --> 00:16:38.939
 that he loves you.

00:16:39.459 --> 00:16:40.579
 You need to confirm it

00:16:40.579 --> 00:16:42.639
 with other outside proofs.

00:16:42.699 --> 00:16:43.019
 And Jesus,

00:16:43.379 --> 00:16:44.000
 the proof

00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:45.419
 is the self-serving

00:16:45.419 --> 00:16:45.939
 transformation

00:16:45.939 --> 00:16:47.039
 of these rocks

00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:48.120
 into bread.

00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:49.639
 And you know,

00:16:49.699 --> 00:16:50.740
 I think for some of us

00:16:50.740 --> 00:16:52.219
 that Jesus is

00:16:52.219 --> 00:16:53.120
 fully God.

00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:53.419
 You know,

00:16:53.459 --> 00:16:54.039
 it makes it hard

00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:55.100
 for us to sympathize

00:16:55.100 --> 00:16:55.980
 with the reality

00:16:55.980 --> 00:16:57.199
 of his temptation.

00:16:58.019 --> 00:16:58.259
 But you know,

00:16:58.339 --> 00:16:59.339
 Orthodox Christianity

00:16:59.340 --> 00:17:00.399
 has always said

00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:01.580
 that Jesus is

00:17:01.580 --> 00:17:02.420
 not just fully God,

00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:03.860
 but he is fully man

00:17:03.860 --> 00:17:05.500
 and therefore fully tempted.

00:17:05.819 --> 00:17:06.860
 Like truly tempted

00:17:06.860 --> 00:17:07.600
 in every way

00:17:07.600 --> 00:17:08.400
 just like us.

00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:09.340
 As the apostle writes

00:17:09.340 --> 00:17:10.799
 in Hebrews chapter 4,

00:17:11.100 --> 00:17:11.720
 we do not have

00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:12.559
 a high priest

00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:13.640
 who is unable

00:17:13.640 --> 00:17:14.440
 to empathize

00:17:14.440 --> 00:17:15.180
 with our weaknesses,

00:17:15.620 --> 00:17:16.420
 but we have one

00:17:16.420 --> 00:17:17.680
 who has been tempted

00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:19.299
 in every way

00:17:19.299 --> 00:17:20.799
 just as we are,

00:17:21.380 --> 00:17:22.299
 yet he did not sin.

00:17:23.140 --> 00:17:24.299
 So we have to understand

00:17:24.299 --> 00:17:25.480
 how tempted

00:17:25.480 --> 00:17:26.600
 Jesus actually

00:17:26.600 --> 00:17:27.420
 was here.

00:17:27.420 --> 00:17:29.140
 Imagine,

00:17:29.460 --> 00:17:29.980
 just imagine,

00:17:30.340 --> 00:17:31.380
 this is the Son of God,

00:17:31.640 --> 00:17:31.860
 right?

00:17:32.200 --> 00:17:33.160
 From all eternity,

00:17:33.700 --> 00:17:35.420
 he has always been fulfilled

00:17:35.420 --> 00:17:36.100
 in the presence

00:17:36.100 --> 00:17:36.720
 of his Father.

00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:38.740
 And yet now he's become human

00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:40.140
 and now he's hungry,

00:17:40.620 --> 00:17:40.960
 lonely,

00:17:41.300 --> 00:17:42.160
 feeling insecure,

00:17:42.320 --> 00:17:43.240
 maybe even on the brink

00:17:43.240 --> 00:17:43.800
 of death.

00:17:44.500 --> 00:17:45.180
 And in one sense,

00:17:45.259 --> 00:17:46.420
 the tempter was right,

00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:46.680
 right?

00:17:46.740 --> 00:17:47.480
 The Son of God

00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:48.539
 is not supposed

00:17:48.539 --> 00:17:49.140
 to be hungry.

00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:51.220
 No child of God

00:17:51.220 --> 00:17:52.240
 is supposed to be hungry,

00:17:52.360 --> 00:17:52.580
 right?

00:17:53.800 --> 00:17:54.600
 But if we follow

00:17:54.600 --> 00:17:55.560
 this logic apart

00:17:55.560 --> 00:17:56.240
 from the rest

00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:57.339
 of what God says,

00:17:58.039 --> 00:17:58.539
 you could start

00:17:58.539 --> 00:17:58.960
 to wonder,

00:17:59.160 --> 00:17:59.299
 well,

00:18:00.180 --> 00:18:00.960
 am I actually

00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:01.700
 a child of God?

00:18:02.420 --> 00:18:03.700
 Does he really love me?

00:18:04.299 --> 00:18:05.559
 Or is my Father

00:18:05.559 --> 00:18:06.460
 just not able

00:18:06.460 --> 00:18:08.380
 to truly take care of me?

00:18:09.620 --> 00:18:10.700
 This is what Satan

00:18:10.700 --> 00:18:11.859
 was trying to introduce

00:18:11.859 --> 00:18:12.920
 into the mind

00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:13.960
 and the heart of Jesus.

00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:15.240
 You cannot trust

00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:15.799
 the power

00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:16.720
 and authority

00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:17.819
 of your Father's Word

00:18:17.819 --> 00:18:18.720
 at your baptism.

00:18:19.079 --> 00:18:19.839
 You cannot trust

00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:20.500
 his love

00:18:20.500 --> 00:18:21.160
 and his care.

00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:22.779
 You can only trust

00:18:22.779 --> 00:18:23.259
 and believe

00:18:23.259 --> 00:18:23.759
 in the power

00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:24.220
 and authority

00:18:24.220 --> 00:18:25.400
 of your own words.

00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:25.940
 So speak,

00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:26.299
 Jesus.

00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:27.240
 Speak,

00:18:27.360 --> 00:18:27.799
 he says,

00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:29.180
 and let's see

00:18:29.180 --> 00:18:30.259
 if you really are

00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:31.740
 the Son of God.

00:18:31.860 --> 00:18:32.700
 Speak your own words.

00:18:32.819 --> 00:18:34.079
 Exercise your own authority.

00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:35.380
 Serve your own ends.

00:18:35.660 --> 00:18:36.480
 Feed and provide

00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:37.319
 for yourself

00:18:37.319 --> 00:18:38.799
 if you are

00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:39.680
 the Son of God.

00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:40.579
 I mean,

00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:41.420
 surely the Son of God

00:18:41.420 --> 00:18:41.900
 has authority

00:18:41.900 --> 00:18:42.819
 to do so, right?

00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:43.920
 And who's it gonna hurt?

00:18:44.460 --> 00:18:45.120
 Doesn't your Father

00:18:45.120 --> 00:18:46.500
 even want this for you?

00:18:47.319 --> 00:18:48.500
 It's a pretty smart

00:18:48.500 --> 00:18:49.600
 and subtle strategy,

00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:49.920
 right?

00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:51.839
 The same strategy

00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:52.400
 used, again,

00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:53.160
 on Adam and Eve

00:18:53.160 --> 00:18:55.220
 and also on all of us.

00:18:55.900 --> 00:18:56.259
 I mean, really,

00:18:56.380 --> 00:18:57.019
 how many of us

00:18:57.019 --> 00:18:57.620
 have entertained

00:18:57.620 --> 00:18:59.380
 these similar thoughts?

00:18:59.900 --> 00:19:00.700
 Tempted in times

00:19:00.700 --> 00:19:01.240
 of need

00:19:01.240 --> 00:19:02.440
 and desperation

00:19:02.440 --> 00:19:03.240
 to question

00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:04.360
 whether or not

00:19:04.360 --> 00:19:05.780
 we are children of God

00:19:05.780 --> 00:19:06.900
 loved by our Father.

00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:07.860
 Tempted to take

00:19:07.860 --> 00:19:08.560
 our own lives

00:19:08.560 --> 00:19:09.460
 into our own hands

00:19:09.460 --> 00:19:10.620
 and to stop trusting God

00:19:10.620 --> 00:19:11.759
 for our daily bread.

00:19:12.500 --> 00:19:13.540
 Maybe we don't tell

00:19:13.540 --> 00:19:15.180
 rocks to turn into bread,

00:19:15.259 --> 00:19:15.820
 but we do have

00:19:15.820 --> 00:19:16.480
 various tricks

00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:17.140
 of our own,

00:19:17.380 --> 00:19:17.759
 don't we?

00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:19.880
 Maybe we,

00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:21.080
 instead of Sabbathing,

00:19:21.079 --> 00:19:22.619
 we take that extra shift,

00:19:23.159 --> 00:19:23.839
 pick up that extra

00:19:23.839 --> 00:19:24.460
 side hustle.

00:19:25.379 --> 00:19:26.199
 Maybe we withhold

00:19:26.199 --> 00:19:27.379
 our generosity fib

00:19:27.379 --> 00:19:28.899
 on our tax returns

00:19:28.899 --> 00:19:30.220
 all to make that bread,

00:19:30.419 --> 00:19:30.699
 right?

00:19:32.139 --> 00:19:34.379
 This was Jesus' temptation

00:19:34.379 --> 00:19:36.039
 and it's a temptation

00:19:36.039 --> 00:19:37.279
 common to all of us,

00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:37.919
 the temptation

00:19:37.919 --> 00:19:38.799
 to doubt

00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:39.559
 that we are children

00:19:39.559 --> 00:19:40.220
 of a good,

00:19:40.579 --> 00:19:40.879
 loving,

00:19:41.259 --> 00:19:41.500
 caring,

00:19:41.639 --> 00:19:42.819
 and capable Father.

00:19:42.899 --> 00:19:44.079
 It's the same temptation

00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:44.679
 as always,

00:19:44.759 --> 00:19:45.159
 the temptation

00:19:45.159 --> 00:19:46.199
 to distrust God,

00:19:46.439 --> 00:19:47.039
 the temptation

00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:47.960
 that fractured

00:19:47.960 --> 00:19:50.839
 all of creation's relationship.

00:19:51.079 --> 00:19:52.359
 with its creator.

00:19:53.659 --> 00:19:54.759
 But the good news

00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:55.339
 about Jesus,

00:19:55.919 --> 00:19:56.679
 the second Adam,

00:19:57.299 --> 00:19:58.000
 is that unlike

00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:58.819
 the first Adam,

00:19:58.960 --> 00:20:00.559
 unlike all the rest of us,

00:20:00.859 --> 00:20:02.099
 he didn't believe

00:20:02.099 --> 00:20:03.359
 this lie

00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:04.299
 about his own identity

00:20:04.299 --> 00:20:05.879
 or about his father's love

00:20:05.879 --> 00:20:06.339
 and care

00:20:06.339 --> 00:20:07.039
 and capability.

00:20:07.819 --> 00:20:07.939
 No,

00:20:08.099 --> 00:20:09.639
 even when his circumstances

00:20:09.639 --> 00:20:10.919
 made it seem like

00:20:10.919 --> 00:20:12.059
 his father's words to him

00:20:12.059 --> 00:20:14.339
 might possibly be untrue,

00:20:15.059 --> 00:20:15.939
 he believed.

00:20:16.599 --> 00:20:18.179
 He entrusted his whole life

00:20:18.179 --> 00:20:19.839
 to his father's words.

00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:21.279
 Jesus had been soaking

00:20:21.279 --> 00:20:22.179
 like a sponge

00:20:22.179 --> 00:20:23.000
 in the scriptures

00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:23.579
 and every time

00:20:23.579 --> 00:20:24.319
 the devil poked,

00:20:25.159 --> 00:20:26.779
 scripture dripped out.

00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:29.659
 Reciting from the divinely inspired

00:20:29.659 --> 00:20:30.539
 Hebrew scriptures,

00:20:30.699 --> 00:20:31.619
 Deuteronomy chapter 8,

00:20:31.699 --> 00:20:33.039
 Moses' words to Israel

00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:33.500
 in the wilderness,

00:20:33.899 --> 00:20:34.199
 verse 4,

00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:34.899
 Jesus answered,

00:20:34.900 --> 00:20:36.040
 it is written,

00:20:36.780 --> 00:20:37.920
 man shall not live

00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:38.940
 on bread alone,

00:20:39.460 --> 00:20:40.740
 but on every word

00:20:40.740 --> 00:20:41.540
 that comes

00:20:41.540 --> 00:20:42.440
 from the mouth

00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:43.259
 of God.

00:20:43.820 --> 00:20:45.060
 Even after 40 days

00:20:45.060 --> 00:20:45.960
 with no food,

00:20:46.040 --> 00:20:46.700
 even on the brink

00:20:46.700 --> 00:20:47.160
 of death,

00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:48.100
 Jesus trusts

00:20:48.100 --> 00:20:49.400
 that he is his father,

00:20:49.620 --> 00:20:51.120
 he is his father

00:20:51.120 --> 00:20:52.240
 in heaven's beloved

00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:53.940
 and well-pleasing son.

00:20:54.680 --> 00:20:55.300
 He trusts

00:20:55.300 --> 00:20:56.040
 that somehow

00:20:56.040 --> 00:20:56.920
 his father

00:20:56.920 --> 00:20:58.019
 will provide him

00:20:58.019 --> 00:20:59.160
 with his daily bread

00:20:59.160 --> 00:21:00.000
 and that ultimately

00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:01.640
 his father's word

00:21:01.640 --> 00:21:02.960
 will sustain him.

00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:05.019
 But now the devil

00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:06.079
 doesn't give up so easily,

00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:06.960
 he launches into

00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:07.960
 a second temptation

00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:09.539
 basically saying,

00:21:09.940 --> 00:21:10.680
 will you, Jesus?

00:21:11.460 --> 00:21:11.640
 Like,

00:21:11.840 --> 00:21:12.860
 will you really live?

00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:14.500
 Look at verse 5.

00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:15.980
 Then the devil

00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:16.480
 took him

00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:17.380
 to the holy city

00:21:17.380 --> 00:21:18.860
 and had him stand

00:21:18.860 --> 00:21:19.799
 on the highest point

00:21:19.799 --> 00:21:20.340
 of the temple.

00:21:21.340 --> 00:21:22.220
 If you are

00:21:22.220 --> 00:21:22.799
 the son of God,

00:21:22.819 --> 00:21:23.299
 he said again,

00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:24.900
 throw yourself down

00:21:24.900 --> 00:21:26.180
 for it is written,

00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:27.440
 he will command

00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:27.940
 his angels

00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:28.620
 concerning you

00:21:28.620 --> 00:21:29.600
 and they will lift you up

00:21:29.600 --> 00:21:30.220
 in their hands

00:21:30.220 --> 00:21:30.940
 so that you will not

00:21:30.940 --> 00:21:31.720
 strike your foot

00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:33.240
 against a stone.

00:21:33.360 --> 00:21:34.000
 The devil sees

00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:35.000
 Jesus' faith,

00:21:35.079 --> 00:21:35.700
 his conviction

00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:37.420
 that he will live

00:21:37.420 --> 00:21:38.120
 by the word of God

00:21:38.120 --> 00:21:39.079
 so he takes the words

00:21:39.079 --> 00:21:40.120
 out of God's mouth

00:21:40.120 --> 00:21:41.319
 and he uses scripture

00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:42.960
 itself to tempt Jesus.

00:21:44.039 --> 00:21:44.980
 Satan basically says,

00:21:45.160 --> 00:21:45.299
 okay,

00:21:45.860 --> 00:21:46.799
 you believe you'll live

00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:47.460
 by every word

00:21:47.460 --> 00:21:48.039
 that proceeds

00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:48.960
 from the mouth of God,

00:21:49.019 --> 00:21:49.819
 how about this word

00:21:49.819 --> 00:21:51.240
 from Psalm chapter 91?

00:21:51.339 --> 00:21:52.079
 Let's test it.

00:21:52.660 --> 00:21:53.360
 Let's be good

00:21:53.360 --> 00:21:54.900
 empirical scientists,

00:21:55.500 --> 00:21:55.700
 right?

00:21:56.140 --> 00:21:57.200
 No offense to the scientists

00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:57.779
 in this room.

00:21:58.680 --> 00:21:59.620
 Don't you want to see

00:21:59.620 --> 00:22:00.299
 if it's true

00:22:00.299 --> 00:22:01.240
 is what he says to Jesus?

00:22:01.319 --> 00:22:01.859
 Don't you want to see

00:22:01.859 --> 00:22:02.379
 if it's true?

00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:04.500
 Now if you want to look

00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:05.519
 at Psalm chapter 91,

00:22:05.659 --> 00:22:06.619
 it's on page 480

00:22:06.619 --> 00:22:07.559
 in your pew Bibles,

00:22:08.460 --> 00:22:09.259
 but you'll notice

00:22:09.259 --> 00:22:10.180
 that it's a psalm,

00:22:10.659 --> 00:22:11.399
 it's all about

00:22:11.399 --> 00:22:12.259
 God's protection.

00:22:12.440 --> 00:22:13.099
 Whoever dwells

00:22:13.099 --> 00:22:13.579
 in the shelter

00:22:13.579 --> 00:22:14.440
 of the Most High

00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:15.419
 will rest in the shadow

00:22:15.419 --> 00:22:16.039
 of the Almighty.

00:22:16.539 --> 00:22:18.119
 No harm will overtake you,

00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:19.180
 no disaster will come

00:22:19.180 --> 00:22:19.759
 near your tent

00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:20.720
 for he will command

00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:21.960
 his angels concerning you

00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:22.700
 to guard you

00:22:22.700 --> 00:22:23.559
 in all your ways.

00:22:23.659 --> 00:22:24.879
 They will lift you up

00:22:24.879 --> 00:22:25.839
 in their hands

00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:26.639
 so that you will not

00:22:26.639 --> 00:22:27.379
 strike your foot

00:22:27.379 --> 00:22:28.519
 against a stone.

00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:30.519
 But very interestingly,

00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:32.099
 the verse Satan omits,

00:22:32.900 --> 00:22:33.720
 the verse right after

00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:34.339
 this passage

00:22:34.339 --> 00:22:35.119
 that he quotes

00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:36.000
 is verse 13

00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:36.539
 if you want to take

00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:37.059
 a look at that.

00:22:37.139 --> 00:22:37.440
 It says,

00:22:38.220 --> 00:22:38.759
 you will tread

00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:39.599
 on the lion

00:22:39.599 --> 00:22:40.879
 and the cobra.

00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:42.579
 You will trample

00:22:42.579 --> 00:22:43.400
 the great lion

00:22:43.400 --> 00:22:44.519
 and the serpent.

00:22:46.139 --> 00:22:46.539
 Now remember,

00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:47.559
 ever since the fall,

00:22:47.819 --> 00:22:49.259
 a war has been waged

00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:50.740
 between the people

00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:51.240
 of God

00:22:51.240 --> 00:22:52.139
 and the serpent.

00:22:52.220 --> 00:22:53.000
 And what did God say

00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:54.180
 as soon as they fell?

00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:54.539
 He said,

00:22:55.039 --> 00:22:56.059
 the offspring of the woman

00:22:56.059 --> 00:22:56.900
 will crush

00:22:56.900 --> 00:22:57.799
 the head of the serpent.

00:22:57.799 --> 00:22:58.639
 So Satan is saying

00:22:58.639 --> 00:22:59.000
 to Jesus,

00:22:59.159 --> 00:22:59.359
 alright,

00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:00.399
 let's do this.

00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:01.899
 Throw yourself down.

00:23:02.139 --> 00:23:02.960
 Let's see if God

00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:03.980
 will protect these feet

00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:04.460
 of yours

00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:05.200
 that are supposed

00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:06.440
 to crush my head,

00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:06.839
 that are supposed

00:23:06.839 --> 00:23:07.720
 to trample me.

00:23:08.079 --> 00:23:08.680
 Come on, Jesus.

00:23:09.359 --> 00:23:10.079
 Let's go for it.

00:23:10.099 --> 00:23:10.799
 Let's test it out

00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:11.299
 right now.

00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:12.460
 Let's test out God's word.

00:23:12.700 --> 00:23:13.159
 Go for it.

00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:13.779
 Let's do this.

00:23:13.919 --> 00:23:14.819
 Let's make a show of it.

00:23:15.079 --> 00:23:15.940
 Then you and me

00:23:15.940 --> 00:23:17.139
 and everyone at the temple

00:23:17.139 --> 00:23:18.399
 will really know

00:23:18.399 --> 00:23:19.859
 whether God's word

00:23:19.859 --> 00:23:20.659
 is true.

00:23:21.419 --> 00:23:22.299
 Whether you are

00:23:22.299 --> 00:23:23.500
 God's beloved

00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:25.339
 and well-pleasing son.

00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:25.980
 Whether you are

00:23:25.980 --> 00:23:26.819
 the son of God.

00:23:26.819 --> 00:23:28.619
 Whether you actually live

00:23:28.619 --> 00:23:29.740
 by every word

00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:30.379
 that comes

00:23:30.379 --> 00:23:31.460
 from the mouth of God.

00:23:32.859 --> 00:23:33.460
 But Jesus

00:23:33.460 --> 00:23:34.779
 will not take the bait.

00:23:35.619 --> 00:23:36.139
 Verse 7.

00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:37.379
 This time citing

00:23:37.379 --> 00:23:38.500
 Deuteronomy chapter 6,

00:23:38.619 --> 00:23:39.179
 Jesus answered,

00:23:39.639 --> 00:23:40.519
 it is also written,

00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:42.379
 do not put the Lord

00:23:42.379 --> 00:23:42.960
 your God

00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:43.859
 to the test.

00:23:43.960 --> 00:23:44.500
 Jesus says,

00:23:45.059 --> 00:23:46.279
 I know what Psalm 91

00:23:46.279 --> 00:23:47.079
 says, man.

00:23:47.939 --> 00:23:49.339
 And I already believe it.

00:23:49.939 --> 00:23:50.859
 I don't need

00:23:50.859 --> 00:23:51.720
 to test it.

00:23:52.099 --> 00:23:52.619
 I don't need

00:23:52.619 --> 00:23:53.679
 to manipulate God

00:23:53.679 --> 00:23:54.879
 or to force his hand

00:23:54.880 --> 00:23:56.040
 to assure myself

00:23:56.040 --> 00:23:57.000
 of his loving care

00:23:57.000 --> 00:23:58.240
 and his loving power.

00:23:59.180 --> 00:23:59.440
 Besides,

00:23:59.540 --> 00:24:00.040
 who are we

00:24:00.040 --> 00:24:01.140
 to demand proof

00:24:01.140 --> 00:24:01.660
 from God

00:24:01.660 --> 00:24:02.520
 that what he says

00:24:02.520 --> 00:24:03.380
 is true?

00:24:03.480 --> 00:24:03.900
 It's silly.

00:24:05.120 --> 00:24:05.680
 And I mean,

00:24:06.120 --> 00:24:06.620
 what would even

00:24:06.620 --> 00:24:07.960
 constitute proof?

00:24:08.020 --> 00:24:08.960
 How many loaves

00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:09.460
 of bread

00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:10.460
 would Jesus need

00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:12.300
 to turn stones into?

00:24:13.080 --> 00:24:14.080
 Or how many loaves

00:24:14.080 --> 00:24:14.340
 of bread

00:24:14.340 --> 00:24:14.780
 would Jesus need

00:24:14.780 --> 00:24:15.300
 to transform?

00:24:15.780 --> 00:24:16.840
 Or how many times

00:24:16.840 --> 00:24:17.200
 would he need

00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:17.840
 to throw himself

00:24:17.840 --> 00:24:18.460
 off the temple

00:24:18.460 --> 00:24:19.160
 and be rescued

00:24:19.160 --> 00:24:20.040
 by the angels

00:24:20.040 --> 00:24:21.600
 for him to really,

00:24:21.800 --> 00:24:22.480
 really be sure,

00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:22.920
 right,

00:24:22.920 --> 00:24:24.220
 that God's word

00:24:24.220 --> 00:24:24.600
 was true?

00:24:24.660 --> 00:24:25.279
 How many times?

00:24:26.460 --> 00:24:26.680
 You know,

00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:27.240
 when I was talking

00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:28.600
 to this grad student

00:24:28.600 --> 00:24:29.259
 from Cal,

00:24:29.300 --> 00:24:29.779
 I asked him,

00:24:29.860 --> 00:24:30.480
 do you even know

00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:31.880
 what it would take

00:24:31.880 --> 00:24:32.940
 for you to believe

00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:33.360
 these things

00:24:33.360 --> 00:24:33.820
 that you say

00:24:33.820 --> 00:24:34.960
 are hard for you

00:24:34.960 --> 00:24:35.279
 to believe,

00:24:35.360 --> 00:24:36.019
 just like you believe

00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:36.360
 the things

00:24:36.360 --> 00:24:37.220
 in your science books

00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:38.620
 and your history textbooks?

00:24:39.580 --> 00:24:39.940
 I asked him,

00:24:40.080 --> 00:24:40.980
 how do we even define

00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:42.519
 what a fact is?

00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:45.180
 How many scientific experiments

00:24:45.180 --> 00:24:46.000
 does it take

00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:47.080
 to make something

00:24:47.080 --> 00:24:48.220
 a verified fact

00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:49.019
 and get it

00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:50.440
 into a scientific textbook?

00:24:51.080 --> 00:24:51.660
 And is that

00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:52.400
 scientific textbook

00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:53.420
 then infallible?

00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:54.700
 How many experiments?

00:24:54.840 --> 00:24:55.200
 A thousand?

00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:56.460
 A thousand one?

00:24:56.780 --> 00:24:57.500
 A thousand two?

00:24:57.640 --> 00:24:58.259
 A thousand three?

00:24:58.980 --> 00:25:00.740
 Or how many eyewitness accounts?

00:25:01.400 --> 00:25:02.040
 Or how much

00:25:02.040 --> 00:25:03.540
 archaeological consensus

00:25:03.540 --> 00:25:04.820
 does it take

00:25:04.820 --> 00:25:05.180
 for something

00:25:05.180 --> 00:25:06.440
 to be a verified fact

00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:07.680
 within a history book,

00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:07.920
 right?

00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:09.960
 At the end of the day,

00:25:10.040 --> 00:25:10.720
 the highest standard

00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:11.140
 of truth,

00:25:11.240 --> 00:25:12.019
 it has to be

00:25:12.019 --> 00:25:12.960
 something that's

00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:13.620
 self-attesting

00:25:13.620 --> 00:25:14.960
 by its very nature.

00:25:15.980 --> 00:25:16.820
 And this is how

00:25:16.820 --> 00:25:17.540
 Jesus saw

00:25:17.540 --> 00:25:18.540
 the word of God.

00:25:18.840 --> 00:25:19.340
 This is how

00:25:19.340 --> 00:25:20.019
 Jesus saw

00:25:20.019 --> 00:25:20.980
 the scriptures.

00:25:21.259 --> 00:25:21.620
 For Jesus,

00:25:21.619 --> 00:25:22.479
 God's word

00:25:22.479 --> 00:25:24.139
 wasn't a hypothesis

00:25:24.139 --> 00:25:25.299
 to be tested,

00:25:25.679 --> 00:25:26.279
 but the ultimate

00:25:26.279 --> 00:25:27.859
 standard of truth.

00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:29.679
 And God's word

00:25:29.679 --> 00:25:30.279
 to him was that

00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:30.899
 no matter what

00:25:30.899 --> 00:25:32.299
 anyone else said,

00:25:32.679 --> 00:25:33.279
 no matter what

00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:34.139
 his circumstances

00:25:34.139 --> 00:25:35.319
 seemed to be like,

00:25:35.579 --> 00:25:36.899
 you are my beloved son

00:25:36.899 --> 00:25:38.179
 and with you

00:25:38.179 --> 00:25:39.439
 I am well pleased.

00:25:39.559 --> 00:25:40.279
 And Jesus took that

00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:40.779
 to the bank

00:25:40.779 --> 00:25:42.459
 and he lived by those words

00:25:42.459 --> 00:25:43.359
 from his father.

00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:44.799
 And you see,

00:25:44.939 --> 00:25:45.639
 this is what

00:25:45.639 --> 00:25:46.459
 got Jesus through

00:25:46.459 --> 00:25:47.379
 all his temptations.

00:25:47.439 --> 00:25:48.379
 He believed God's word.

00:25:48.380 --> 00:25:49.560
 He was utterly

00:25:49.560 --> 00:25:50.760
 convinced of who

00:25:50.760 --> 00:25:52.060
 God said he was

00:25:52.060 --> 00:25:53.060
 by faith.

00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:54.440
 And the question

00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:54.980
 for us is,

00:25:55.080 --> 00:25:55.660
 do we believe?

00:25:55.760 --> 00:25:57.180
 Do we have faith

00:25:57.180 --> 00:25:58.220
 in who God says

00:25:58.220 --> 00:25:58.980
 we are?

00:26:00.020 --> 00:26:00.860
 For those of us

00:26:00.860 --> 00:26:01.480
 who are tired

00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:02.140
 of falling into

00:26:02.140 --> 00:26:03.500
 the same temptations

00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:04.360
 again and again

00:26:04.360 --> 00:26:04.740
 and again,

00:26:04.840 --> 00:26:05.440
 maybe for you

00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:06.320
 it has to do

00:26:06.320 --> 00:26:07.720
 with your eating habits

00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:08.260
 or maybe it's

00:26:08.260 --> 00:26:08.900
 your sex life

00:26:08.900 --> 00:26:09.460
 or maybe it's

00:26:09.460 --> 00:26:10.220
 your laziness

00:26:10.220 --> 00:26:10.720
 or maybe it's

00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:11.680
 your overworking

00:26:11.680 --> 00:26:12.340
 or your greed

00:26:12.340 --> 00:26:12.960
 or maybe it just

00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:13.440
 has to do with

00:26:13.440 --> 00:26:14.080
 how you treat

00:26:14.080 --> 00:26:14.760
 and view

00:26:14.760 --> 00:26:15.340
 and think about

00:26:15.340 --> 00:26:16.160
 others in your life.

00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:17.140
 Maybe with disregard

00:26:17.140 --> 00:26:17.840
 or malice,

00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:18.640
 whatever it is

00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:19.620
 that tempts you,

00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:21.020
 the solution

00:26:21.020 --> 00:26:22.480
 is not simply

00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:23.420
 trying harder.

00:26:24.460 --> 00:26:25.140
 It's not merely

00:26:25.140 --> 00:26:25.820
 a matter of

00:26:25.820 --> 00:26:26.780
 better technique

00:26:26.780 --> 00:26:28.920
 or self-mastery.

00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:30.460
 The solution

00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:32.020
 is coming to grips

00:26:32.020 --> 00:26:33.300
 with who God

00:26:33.300 --> 00:26:34.480
 says we are.

00:26:36.040 --> 00:26:36.259
 You know,

00:26:36.300 --> 00:26:36.840
 I might not look

00:26:36.840 --> 00:26:37.259
 like it,

00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:38.640
 but every week

00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:39.120
 I go to this

00:26:39.120 --> 00:26:39.980
 exercise class

00:26:39.980 --> 00:26:41.420
 at 24 Hour Fitness

00:26:41.420 --> 00:26:43.700
 and it's called

00:26:43.700 --> 00:26:44.240
 Body Pump

00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:45.160
 and I exercise

00:26:45.160 --> 00:26:45.920
 with a bunch

00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:46.799
 of middle-aged

00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:48.079
 moms and senior

00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:48.500
 citizens

00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:50.620
 and I used

00:26:50.620 --> 00:26:51.359
 to go to

00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:52.420
 the class

00:26:52.420 --> 00:26:53.700
 out in Oakland

00:26:53.700 --> 00:26:54.400
 on High Street

00:26:54.400 --> 00:26:55.940
 and the instructor

00:26:55.940 --> 00:26:56.359
 was great.

00:26:56.480 --> 00:26:57.400
 He was really good

00:26:57.400 --> 00:26:58.620
 at inspiring us

00:26:58.620 --> 00:26:59.400
 and for some reason

00:26:59.400 --> 00:26:59.960
 he used to call me

00:26:59.960 --> 00:27:00.240
 Richard.

00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:01.400
 I don't really get that.

00:27:01.839 --> 00:27:02.819
 It's not relevant.

00:27:03.319 --> 00:27:03.660
 But anyways,

00:27:03.740 --> 00:27:04.160
 he was great

00:27:04.160 --> 00:27:04.839
 at pushing us,

00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:05.900
 inspiring us

00:27:05.900 --> 00:27:06.380
 and he would often

00:27:06.380 --> 00:27:06.740
 say this.

00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:07.099
 He would say,

00:27:07.400 --> 00:27:08.359
 come on athletes,

00:27:08.859 --> 00:27:09.779
 come on athletes

00:27:09.779 --> 00:27:11.359
 and I'd be like,

00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:11.740
 yeah,

00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:12.200
 yeah,

00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:12.900
 I'm an athlete.

00:27:13.500 --> 00:27:14.140
 Extra burpee.

00:27:14.400 --> 00:27:15.400
 Extra squat,

00:27:15.640 --> 00:27:15.900
 right?

00:27:17.380 --> 00:27:18.120
 And you know,

00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:18.380
 like,

00:27:18.859 --> 00:27:20.180
 I was able to overcome

00:27:20.180 --> 00:27:21.779
 physical limits

00:27:21.779 --> 00:27:22.859
 that I thought I had

00:27:22.859 --> 00:27:23.839
 by believing

00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:25.140
 who he said I was.

00:27:25.779 --> 00:27:26.380
 An athlete,

00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:26.700
 right?

00:27:27.559 --> 00:27:27.779
 Well,

00:27:27.819 --> 00:27:28.599
 how much truer

00:27:28.599 --> 00:27:30.259
 is what God says

00:27:30.259 --> 00:27:31.700
 about who we are?

00:27:32.940 --> 00:27:34.140
 When Jesus leaned

00:27:34.140 --> 00:27:35.299
 into who exactly

00:27:35.299 --> 00:27:36.680
 God told him he was,

00:27:37.299 --> 00:27:38.140
 he overcame

00:27:38.140 --> 00:27:38.900
 the most tempting

00:27:38.900 --> 00:27:39.720
 of temptations.

00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:41.480
 The only kinds

00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:41.859
 of people

00:27:41.859 --> 00:27:42.740
 who can overcome

00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:43.500
 temptation

00:27:43.500 --> 00:27:44.420
 is those

00:27:44.420 --> 00:27:45.119
 who believe

00:27:45.119 --> 00:27:45.839
 the word of God.

00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:46.359
 It's those

00:27:46.359 --> 00:27:47.099
 who believe

00:27:47.099 --> 00:27:48.559
 what God says

00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:49.319
 about who

00:27:49.319 --> 00:27:50.220
 they are.

00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:51.839
 Specifically,

00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:52.400
 that they are

00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:53.299
 children of God,

00:27:54.099 --> 00:27:54.480
 loved,

00:27:55.099 --> 00:27:55.660
 well-pleasing

00:27:55.660 --> 00:27:56.579
 before their

00:27:56.579 --> 00:27:57.759
 father in heaven.

00:27:58.200 --> 00:27:59.119
 A father so willing

00:27:59.119 --> 00:27:59.900
 to declare that

00:27:59.900 --> 00:28:01.059
 he rends the heavens

00:28:01.059 --> 00:28:01.920
 and speaks it

00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:03.119
 in front of everyone.

00:28:04.519 --> 00:28:05.400
 But now I say this

00:28:05.400 --> 00:28:05.960
 knowing full well

00:28:05.960 --> 00:28:06.839
 that for some of us,

00:28:07.099 --> 00:28:07.940
 this is precisely

00:28:07.940 --> 00:28:08.440
 the problem.

00:28:08.500 --> 00:28:09.299
 This is a huge problem.

00:28:09.299 --> 00:28:10.579
 I've sat with

00:28:10.579 --> 00:28:11.259
 enough of you,

00:28:11.899 --> 00:28:12.859
 tears running

00:28:12.859 --> 00:28:13.519
 down your cheeks,

00:28:13.659 --> 00:28:15.720
 desperation in your eyes,

00:28:15.859 --> 00:28:16.680
 hopelessness there.

00:28:16.819 --> 00:28:17.879
 I've sat with enough

00:28:17.879 --> 00:28:18.480
 of you to know

00:28:18.480 --> 00:28:20.240
 that even for those

00:28:20.240 --> 00:28:20.799
 of you who want

00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:21.419
 to believe,

00:28:21.879 --> 00:28:22.480
 who want to believe

00:28:22.480 --> 00:28:22.899
 in the God

00:28:22.899 --> 00:28:23.419
 of the scriptures,

00:28:23.579 --> 00:28:24.139
 who want to believe

00:28:24.139 --> 00:28:24.680
 that there is a

00:28:24.680 --> 00:28:25.279
 father in heaven

00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:26.119
 who loves you

00:28:26.119 --> 00:28:26.579
 more than you

00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:27.599
 could ever imagine,

00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:28.399
 I know that this

00:28:28.399 --> 00:28:29.879
 can seem impossible

00:28:29.879 --> 00:28:31.579
 for many of us

00:28:31.579 --> 00:28:32.039
 to believe.

00:28:32.220 --> 00:28:33.220
 Like prodigal children

00:28:33.220 --> 00:28:34.519
 who just can't seem

00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:35.599
 to believe

00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:36.659
 our father's words

00:28:36.660 --> 00:28:37.519
 of welcome home,

00:28:38.440 --> 00:28:39.140
 who can't seem

00:28:39.140 --> 00:28:40.220
 to put that ring on

00:28:40.220 --> 00:28:41.540
 or put that robe on

00:28:41.540 --> 00:28:42.320
 that he so wants us

00:28:42.320 --> 00:28:42.880
 to have,

00:28:43.220 --> 00:28:43.759
 who can't seem

00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:44.440
 to take a bite

00:28:44.440 --> 00:28:45.480
 of the fattened calf,

00:28:46.019 --> 00:28:46.180
 right,

00:28:46.360 --> 00:28:47.500
 who can't seem

00:28:47.500 --> 00:28:48.920
 to enjoy the party

00:28:48.920 --> 00:28:50.240
 that our father

00:28:50.240 --> 00:28:51.519
 wants for us to enjoy.

00:28:52.800 --> 00:28:53.600
 And while I continue

00:28:53.600 --> 00:28:54.680
 to pray that the spirit

00:28:54.680 --> 00:28:55.640
 comes upon you

00:28:55.640 --> 00:28:57.060
 and cries,

00:28:57.300 --> 00:28:57.880
 Abba, Father,

00:28:58.100 --> 00:28:59.200
 in your hearts,

00:28:59.660 --> 00:29:00.560
 just as he cried,

00:29:00.660 --> 00:29:01.100
 Abba, Father,

00:29:01.180 --> 00:29:02.140
 in Jesus' heart

00:29:02.140 --> 00:29:03.100
 at his baptism

00:29:03.100 --> 00:29:03.759
 when the spirit

00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:04.720
 ascended on him

00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:05.680
 like a dove,

00:29:06.660 --> 00:29:07.500
 I just want to encourage

00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:08.140
 you to continue

00:29:08.140 --> 00:29:08.800
 leaning in.

00:29:09.640 --> 00:29:10.740
 Draw near to God

00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:11.980
 and he will draw near

00:29:11.980 --> 00:29:12.580
 to you.

00:29:12.680 --> 00:29:13.600
 This is a promise

00:29:13.600 --> 00:29:15.220
 from God's word.

00:29:15.779 --> 00:29:16.320
 It's a promise

00:29:16.320 --> 00:29:17.100
 from God's word.

00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:18.640
 And if I could just

00:29:18.640 --> 00:29:19.820
 give you one more reason

00:29:19.820 --> 00:29:21.019
 to lean in

00:29:21.019 --> 00:29:21.580
 and draw near,

00:29:21.660 --> 00:29:22.140
 could I just draw

00:29:22.140 --> 00:29:22.580
 your attention

00:29:22.580 --> 00:29:23.900
 to this final temptation

00:29:23.900 --> 00:29:24.400
 of Jesus?

00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:25.820
 Look with me

00:29:25.820 --> 00:29:26.420
 in verse 8.

00:29:27.560 --> 00:29:28.420
 In verse 8,

00:29:28.500 --> 00:29:29.279
 Jesus is taken

00:29:29.279 --> 00:29:30.220
 to a high mountain

00:29:30.220 --> 00:29:31.779
 and he's shown

00:29:31.779 --> 00:29:32.259
 and offered

00:29:32.259 --> 00:29:33.240
 all the kingdoms

00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:34.380
 of the world

00:29:34.380 --> 00:29:35.600
 in all their glory.

00:29:35.599 --> 00:29:36.219
 if he'll just

00:29:36.219 --> 00:29:36.879
 bow down

00:29:36.879 --> 00:29:37.819
 and worship

00:29:37.819 --> 00:29:38.599
 the devil.

00:29:40.039 --> 00:29:41.240
 And notice this time,

00:29:41.399 --> 00:29:42.299
 Satan doesn't say,

00:29:42.799 --> 00:29:43.439
 if you are

00:29:43.439 --> 00:29:44.500
 the son of God.

00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:46.240
 Because he probably

00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:47.159
 knows that

00:29:47.159 --> 00:29:48.139
 Jesus' faith

00:29:48.139 --> 00:29:49.039
 is rock solid

00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:50.019
 in his own

00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:51.480
 God-given identity.

00:29:51.679 --> 00:29:52.119
 So Satan,

00:29:52.639 --> 00:29:53.579
 who Jesus calls

00:29:53.579 --> 00:29:54.019
 the ruler

00:29:54.019 --> 00:29:54.439
 and God

00:29:54.439 --> 00:29:54.959
 of this world,

00:29:55.539 --> 00:29:56.319
 he tempts Jesus

00:29:56.319 --> 00:29:56.939
 one last time

00:29:56.939 --> 00:29:57.099
 saying,

00:29:57.219 --> 00:29:57.659
 okay, fine.

00:29:58.339 --> 00:29:58.719
 Okay, fine.

00:29:58.919 --> 00:30:00.019
 You are the son of God

00:30:00.019 --> 00:30:01.299
 and thus you will

00:30:01.299 --> 00:30:01.919
 one day

00:30:01.919 --> 00:30:03.099
 inherit all the kingdoms

00:30:03.099 --> 00:30:03.819
 of the world.

00:30:03.899 --> 00:30:04.459
 This is all

00:30:04.459 --> 00:30:05.319
 going to be yours

00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:05.759
 at the end

00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:06.259
 of the age,

00:30:06.359 --> 00:30:06.579
 Jesus.

00:30:07.579 --> 00:30:08.179
 But hey man,

00:30:08.939 --> 00:30:09.559
 I've got a shortcut

00:30:09.559 --> 00:30:10.039
 for you.

00:30:10.740 --> 00:30:11.980
 I can give it to you

00:30:11.980 --> 00:30:13.019
 right now

00:30:13.019 --> 00:30:14.619
 if you'll bow down

00:30:14.619 --> 00:30:15.759
 and worship me.

00:30:17.139 --> 00:30:18.299
 And this must have been

00:30:18.299 --> 00:30:19.359
 the most tempting

00:30:19.359 --> 00:30:20.559
 temptation to Jesus

00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:21.159
 because you know

00:30:21.159 --> 00:30:22.179
 what this offer was?

00:30:22.879 --> 00:30:23.859
 It was the offer

00:30:23.859 --> 00:30:24.459
 of Jesus'

00:30:24.679 --> 00:30:26.219
 final and rightful

00:30:26.219 --> 00:30:27.099
 inheritance

00:30:27.099 --> 00:30:28.879
 yet without

00:30:28.879 --> 00:30:29.839
 suffering.

00:30:31.179 --> 00:30:31.819
 Yet without

00:30:31.819 --> 00:30:32.339
 the cross.

00:30:32.500 --> 00:30:33.099
 Satan offers

00:30:33.099 --> 00:30:33.519
 to Jesus

00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:34.099
 the crown

00:30:34.099 --> 00:30:34.759
 without the crown

00:30:34.759 --> 00:30:35.259
 of thorns.

00:30:35.779 --> 00:30:36.599
 The mountaintop

00:30:36.599 --> 00:30:37.139
 experience

00:30:37.139 --> 00:30:37.659
 without having

00:30:37.659 --> 00:30:38.159
 to go through

00:30:38.159 --> 00:30:38.659
 the valley

00:30:38.659 --> 00:30:39.399
 of the shadow

00:30:39.399 --> 00:30:39.839
 of death.

00:30:39.899 --> 00:30:40.379
 The kingdom

00:30:40.379 --> 00:30:41.819
 without the cross.

00:30:43.519 --> 00:30:43.720
 And man,

00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:44.179
 see the thing

00:30:44.179 --> 00:30:44.740
 about temptation

00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:45.740
 is that we aren't

00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:46.539
 tempted to eat

00:30:46.539 --> 00:30:47.299
 out of toilet bowls,

00:30:47.399 --> 00:30:47.559
 right?

00:30:47.559 --> 00:30:48.279
 We are tempted

00:30:48.279 --> 00:30:49.519
 by good things,

00:30:49.819 --> 00:30:50.039
 right?

00:30:50.779 --> 00:30:51.659
 Bread is good.

00:30:52.579 --> 00:30:53.659
 Security from

00:30:53.659 --> 00:30:54.779
 angels is good.

00:30:54.859 --> 00:30:55.419
 All the kingdoms

00:30:55.419 --> 00:30:56.200
 of the world

00:30:56.200 --> 00:30:56.919
 and their glory,

00:30:57.019 --> 00:30:57.559
 that's good.

00:30:58.859 --> 00:30:59.819
 And not only that,

00:30:59.899 --> 00:31:00.700
 but Jesus as the

00:31:00.700 --> 00:31:01.200
 son of God,

00:31:01.200 --> 00:31:01.500
 man,

00:31:01.580 --> 00:31:02.120
 no one has

00:31:02.120 --> 00:31:02.759
 more right

00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:03.559
 to all of these

00:31:03.559 --> 00:31:04.920
 things than Jesus,

00:31:05.220 --> 00:31:05.460
 right?

00:31:06.019 --> 00:31:06.720
 And no one is

00:31:06.720 --> 00:31:07.759
 less deserving

00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:08.700
 of suffering

00:31:08.700 --> 00:31:09.600
 than Jesus,

00:31:09.799 --> 00:31:10.039
 right?

00:31:11.500 --> 00:31:12.100
 But do you know

00:31:12.100 --> 00:31:12.460
 what Satan

00:31:12.460 --> 00:31:13.539
 was subtly offering

00:31:13.539 --> 00:31:14.440
 to Jesus

00:31:14.440 --> 00:31:15.000
 when he offered

00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:15.620
 him the kingdom

00:31:15.620 --> 00:31:16.779
 without the cross?

00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:18.500
 He wasn't just

00:31:18.500 --> 00:31:19.279
 offering Jesus

00:31:19.279 --> 00:31:19.779
 the kingdom

00:31:19.779 --> 00:31:20.920
 without the cross,

00:31:21.080 --> 00:31:21.720
 he was also

00:31:21.720 --> 00:31:22.420
 offering Jesus

00:31:22.420 --> 00:31:23.180
 the kingdom

00:31:23.180 --> 00:31:25.200
 without its citizens.

00:31:26.100 --> 00:31:26.920
 The kingdom

00:31:26.920 --> 00:31:28.440
 without us.

00:31:28.440 --> 00:31:31.240
 Satan said,

00:31:31.660 --> 00:31:32.019
 take your

00:31:32.019 --> 00:31:33.240
 inheritance now.

00:31:33.940 --> 00:31:34.460
 Come into

00:31:34.460 --> 00:31:35.080
 your own

00:31:35.080 --> 00:31:36.539
 glory now.

00:31:37.660 --> 00:31:38.680
 But if Jesus

00:31:38.680 --> 00:31:39.460
 did so,

00:31:40.340 --> 00:31:40.980
 how could he

00:31:40.980 --> 00:31:41.860
 bring many

00:31:41.860 --> 00:31:42.779
 sons and

00:31:42.779 --> 00:31:43.140
 daughters

00:31:43.140 --> 00:31:44.180
 into glory?

00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:45.820
 How could he

00:31:45.820 --> 00:31:46.580
 make fellow

00:31:46.580 --> 00:31:47.320
 brothers and

00:31:47.320 --> 00:31:47.860
 sisters

00:31:47.860 --> 00:31:49.080
 partakers

00:31:49.080 --> 00:31:50.000
 in the kingdom

00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:50.660
 of life?

00:31:50.700 --> 00:31:51.100
 How could he

00:31:51.100 --> 00:31:52.019
 pay for our

00:31:52.019 --> 00:31:52.580
 sins and

00:31:52.580 --> 00:31:53.440
 remove our

00:31:53.440 --> 00:31:53.980
 curse

00:31:53.980 --> 00:31:55.420
 without the

00:31:55.420 --> 00:31:55.820
 cross?

00:31:55.819 --> 00:31:57.980
 And see,

00:31:58.059 --> 00:31:58.480
 this is the

00:31:58.480 --> 00:31:58.879
 gospel.

00:32:00.419 --> 00:32:01.139
 That when

00:32:01.139 --> 00:32:01.539
 Satan

00:32:01.539 --> 00:32:02.759
 offered,

00:32:03.259 --> 00:32:03.480
 fine,

00:32:04.099 --> 00:32:04.619
 be the

00:32:04.619 --> 00:32:04.879
 son of

00:32:04.879 --> 00:32:05.159
 God,

00:32:05.779 --> 00:32:06.319
 take your

00:32:06.319 --> 00:32:06.659
 kingdom

00:32:06.659 --> 00:32:07.859
 without your

00:32:07.859 --> 00:32:08.359
 cross,

00:32:08.879 --> 00:32:09.539
 all you have

00:32:09.539 --> 00:32:09.919
 to do is

00:32:09.919 --> 00:32:10.200
 bow.

00:32:11.359 --> 00:32:11.899
 Jesus said,

00:32:12.419 --> 00:32:12.599
 no.

00:32:13.460 --> 00:32:14.200
 Away from

00:32:14.200 --> 00:32:14.480
 me,

00:32:14.559 --> 00:32:14.879
 Satan,

00:32:15.919 --> 00:32:16.700
 for it is

00:32:16.700 --> 00:32:17.119
 written,

00:32:17.819 --> 00:32:18.359
 worship the

00:32:18.359 --> 00:32:18.879
 Lord your

00:32:18.879 --> 00:32:20.319
 God and

00:32:20.319 --> 00:32:20.919
 serve him

00:32:20.919 --> 00:32:21.639
 only.

00:32:22.939 --> 00:32:23.359
 And Jesus

00:32:23.359 --> 00:32:23.639
 said,

00:32:23.759 --> 00:32:24.259
 and I intend

00:32:24.259 --> 00:32:24.879
 to do that.

00:32:25.819 --> 00:32:26.480
 I intend

00:32:26.480 --> 00:32:26.799
 to,

00:32:27.359 --> 00:32:27.939
 even if it

00:32:27.939 --> 00:32:28.619
 means hungering

00:32:28.619 --> 00:32:28.879
 in the

00:32:28.879 --> 00:32:30.480
 wilderness and

00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:32.079
 dying upon a

00:32:32.079 --> 00:32:32.759
 bloody cross.

00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:34.779
 I choose to

00:32:34.779 --> 00:32:36.259
 suffer and I

00:32:36.259 --> 00:32:36.980
 choose to die

00:32:36.980 --> 00:32:38.240
 not in spite of

00:32:38.240 --> 00:32:38.720
 being my

00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:39.539
 father's beloved

00:32:39.539 --> 00:32:40.439
 and well-pleasing

00:32:40.439 --> 00:32:42.139
 son, but

00:32:42.139 --> 00:32:43.359
 precisely as

00:32:43.359 --> 00:32:44.439
 the son of

00:32:44.439 --> 00:32:44.799
 God,

00:32:45.919 --> 00:32:46.819
 precisely as

00:32:46.819 --> 00:32:48.179
 a child of

00:32:48.179 --> 00:32:48.559
 God.

00:32:49.960 --> 00:32:50.359
 And verse

00:32:50.359 --> 00:32:50.960
 11 says,

00:32:51.079 --> 00:32:51.539
 the angels,

00:32:51.819 --> 00:32:52.399
 they came,

00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:53.200
 they came to

00:32:53.200 --> 00:32:53.879
 minister to him,

00:32:54.439 --> 00:32:55.259
 not by his

00:32:55.259 --> 00:32:55.720
 command,

00:32:55.839 --> 00:32:56.299
 but by his

00:32:56.299 --> 00:32:56.960
 father's.

00:32:57.460 --> 00:32:58.180
 His father's

00:32:58.180 --> 00:32:58.940
 word was

00:32:58.940 --> 00:32:59.400
 true.

00:33:00.400 --> 00:33:00.900
 And another

00:33:00.900 --> 00:33:01.259
 day would

00:33:01.259 --> 00:33:02.059
 come again

00:33:02.059 --> 00:33:02.680
 in his life

00:33:02.680 --> 00:33:03.180
 when he

00:33:03.180 --> 00:33:03.440
 could have

00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:03.819
 commanded

00:33:03.819 --> 00:33:05.039
 legions of

00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:05.539
 angels to

00:33:05.539 --> 00:33:06.200
 deliver him

00:33:06.200 --> 00:33:06.680
 from his

00:33:06.680 --> 00:33:07.440
 Roman cross.

00:33:08.299 --> 00:33:09.099
 But no,

00:33:10.180 --> 00:33:10.879
 even unto

00:33:10.879 --> 00:33:11.819
 death on a

00:33:11.819 --> 00:33:12.240
 cross,

00:33:12.859 --> 00:33:13.579
 he continued

00:33:13.579 --> 00:33:14.619
 to put his

00:33:14.619 --> 00:33:16.440
 faith in

00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:16.920
 the word of

00:33:16.920 --> 00:33:17.240
 God,

00:33:17.920 --> 00:33:18.720
 spoken from

00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:19.240
 the heavens,

00:33:19.900 --> 00:33:20.559
 declaring who

00:33:20.559 --> 00:33:21.059
 he was,

00:33:21.160 --> 00:33:22.019
 a well-pleasing

00:33:22.019 --> 00:33:23.019
 and beloved

00:33:23.019 --> 00:33:24.119
 son of God.

00:33:25.259 --> 00:33:26.160
 And rising

00:33:26.160 --> 00:33:26.619
 again,

00:33:26.960 --> 00:33:27.240
 he was

00:33:27.240 --> 00:33:27.779
 vindicated,

00:33:28.220 --> 00:33:28.960
 declared once

00:33:28.960 --> 00:33:29.460
 and for all

00:33:29.460 --> 00:33:30.220
 to be the

00:33:30.220 --> 00:33:30.839
 son of God

00:33:30.839 --> 00:33:32.140
 in power

00:33:32.140 --> 00:33:33.059
 to all

00:33:33.059 --> 00:33:33.859
 the world.

00:33:35.379 --> 00:33:35.779
 And friends,

00:33:35.900 --> 00:33:36.779
 this is the

00:33:36.779 --> 00:33:37.680
 victorious story

00:33:37.680 --> 00:33:38.379
 of the son of

00:33:38.379 --> 00:33:38.720
 God,

00:33:39.220 --> 00:33:40.339
 who against all

00:33:40.339 --> 00:33:41.220
 odds trusted

00:33:41.220 --> 00:33:42.259
 what his

00:33:42.259 --> 00:33:42.920
 father said.

00:33:44.400 --> 00:33:45.180
 And this

00:33:45.180 --> 00:33:46.039
 can be our

00:33:46.039 --> 00:33:46.799
 story too.

00:33:47.619 --> 00:33:48.299
 This can be

00:33:48.299 --> 00:33:49.259
 our victory

00:33:49.259 --> 00:33:49.759
 too,

00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:51.059
 if we

00:33:51.059 --> 00:33:51.359
 will just

00:33:51.359 --> 00:33:52.819
 trust what

00:33:52.819 --> 00:33:53.299
 this father

00:33:53.299 --> 00:33:53.740
 in heaven

00:33:53.740 --> 00:33:55.319
 says about

00:33:55.319 --> 00:33:55.740
 who we

00:33:55.740 --> 00:33:56.039
 are.

00:33:57.119 --> 00:33:57.740
 You can

00:33:57.740 --> 00:33:58.200
 be a child

00:33:58.200 --> 00:33:58.700
 of God.

00:33:59.279 --> 00:33:59.859
 Yet to all

00:33:59.859 --> 00:34:00.519
 who received

00:34:00.519 --> 00:34:00.900
 him and

00:34:00.900 --> 00:34:01.359
 believed in

00:34:01.359 --> 00:34:01.839
 his name,

00:34:02.359 --> 00:34:02.879
 he has given

00:34:02.879 --> 00:34:03.259
 them the

00:34:03.259 --> 00:34:03.539
 right,

00:34:03.599 --> 00:34:04.019
 it says,

00:34:04.519 --> 00:34:04.879
 to be

00:34:04.879 --> 00:34:05.400
 children of

00:34:05.400 --> 00:34:05.720
 God.

00:34:07.079 --> 00:34:07.559
 Let's come

00:34:07.559 --> 00:34:07.839
 home.

00:34:08.480 --> 00:34:09.039
 Let's come

00:34:09.039 --> 00:34:09.360
 home to him.

00:34:09.400 --> 00:34:10.039
 Let's believe

00:34:10.039 --> 00:34:10.940
 who we are

00:34:10.940 --> 00:34:12.019
 in Christ.

00:34:13.059 --> 00:34:13.460
 And then and

00:34:13.460 --> 00:34:14.019
 only then will

00:34:14.019 --> 00:34:14.840
 we conquer.

00:34:15.880 --> 00:34:16.199
 Then and

00:34:16.199 --> 00:34:17.400
 only then will

00:34:17.400 --> 00:34:18.880
 we be

00:34:18.880 --> 00:34:19.760
 delivered from

00:34:19.760 --> 00:34:20.320
 the schemes

00:34:20.320 --> 00:34:21.680
 of the devil.

00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:23.300
 Do you

00:34:23.300 --> 00:34:24.240
 believe who

00:34:24.240 --> 00:34:24.680
 God says

00:34:24.680 --> 00:34:25.139
 you are?

00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:27.019
 Do you

00:34:27.019 --> 00:34:27.420
 believe?

00:34:28.579 --> 00:34:28.980
 He wants

00:34:28.980 --> 00:34:29.400
 you to know

00:34:29.400 --> 00:34:30.519
 you can be

00:34:30.519 --> 00:34:31.099
 my child,

00:34:32.200 --> 00:34:32.680
 the one in

00:34:32.680 --> 00:34:32.980
 whom I'm

00:34:32.980 --> 00:34:33.579
 well pleased,

00:34:34.539 --> 00:34:34.980
 the one who

00:34:34.980 --> 00:34:35.460
 I love,

00:34:36.360 --> 00:34:36.720
 the one who

00:34:36.720 --> 00:34:37.059
 I give

00:34:37.059 --> 00:34:37.980
 everything for.

00:34:38.960 --> 00:34:39.460
 And we

00:34:39.460 --> 00:34:39.840
 know this

00:34:39.840 --> 00:34:41.119
 here because

00:34:41.119 --> 00:34:41.660
 of what Christ

00:34:41.660 --> 00:34:42.119
 has done.

00:34:43.139 --> 00:34:43.380
 Will you

00:34:43.380 --> 00:34:43.700
 pray with

00:34:43.700 --> 00:34:43.880
 me?

00:34:47.400 --> 00:34:51.139
 God,

00:34:51.180 --> 00:34:51.380
 would we

00:34:51.380 --> 00:34:51.840
 be so

00:34:51.840 --> 00:34:52.519
 convinced of

00:34:52.519 --> 00:34:52.840
 what you

00:34:52.840 --> 00:34:53.920
 say to

00:34:53.920 --> 00:34:54.360
 us?

00:34:56.000 --> 00:34:56.599
 Would you

00:34:56.599 --> 00:34:57.119
 make us a

00:34:57.119 --> 00:34:57.599
 people of

00:34:57.599 --> 00:34:58.019
 the word?

00:34:58.780 --> 00:34:59.079
 Would you

00:34:59.079 --> 00:34:59.460
 make this

00:34:59.460 --> 00:34:59.940
 church a

00:34:59.940 --> 00:35:01.579
 church that

00:35:01.579 --> 00:35:02.480
 is committed

00:35:02.480 --> 00:35:03.160
 to the word

00:35:03.160 --> 00:35:03.720
 of God?

00:35:04.619 --> 00:35:05.460
 Not as some

00:35:05.460 --> 00:35:06.019
 intellectual

00:35:06.019 --> 00:35:06.820
 exercise,

00:35:07.380 --> 00:35:07.980
 but because we

00:35:07.980 --> 00:35:08.539
 know that we

00:35:08.539 --> 00:35:09.340
 cannot live by

00:35:09.340 --> 00:35:09.840
 bread alone,

00:35:09.940 --> 00:35:10.820
 but by every

00:35:10.820 --> 00:35:11.260
 word that

00:35:11.260 --> 00:35:12.059
 comes from

00:35:12.059 --> 00:35:12.840
 your mouth.

00:35:15.139 --> 00:35:15.619
 Lord,

00:35:15.619 --> 00:35:16.920
 show us

00:35:16.920 --> 00:35:17.500
 how much

00:35:17.500 --> 00:35:17.920
 we need

00:35:17.920 --> 00:35:18.519
 your word.

00:35:20.179 --> 00:35:20.880
 Show us

00:35:20.880 --> 00:35:21.400
 how much

00:35:21.400 --> 00:35:21.880
 we need

00:35:21.880 --> 00:35:22.599
 to hear you

00:35:22.599 --> 00:35:23.059
 say that

00:35:23.059 --> 00:35:23.500
 you love

00:35:23.500 --> 00:35:23.940
 us,

00:35:24.420 --> 00:35:24.719
 that you

00:35:24.719 --> 00:35:25.259
 care for

00:35:25.259 --> 00:35:25.519
 us,

00:35:25.579 --> 00:35:25.799
 that you

00:35:25.799 --> 00:35:26.420
 are good.

00:35:29.839 --> 00:35:30.319
 God,

00:35:30.400 --> 00:35:30.859
 make us a

00:35:30.859 --> 00:35:31.619
 people of

00:35:31.619 --> 00:35:32.159
 your word.

00:35:33.679 --> 00:35:34.380
 Reading it

00:35:34.380 --> 00:35:34.719
 daily,

00:35:34.940 --> 00:35:35.559
 joining in our

00:35:35.559 --> 00:35:36.159
 scripture reading

00:35:36.159 --> 00:35:36.579
 plan,

00:35:37.739 --> 00:35:38.679
 memorizing it

00:35:38.679 --> 00:35:39.380
 together,

00:35:40.440 --> 00:35:41.259
 meditating upon

00:35:41.259 --> 00:35:42.219
 it day and

00:35:42.219 --> 00:35:42.719
 night so that

00:35:42.719 --> 00:35:43.380
 we might be

00:35:43.380 --> 00:35:44.319
 like trees

00:35:44.319 --> 00:35:44.920
 planted by

00:35:44.920 --> 00:35:45.440
 streams of

00:35:45.440 --> 00:35:46.159
 water which

00:35:46.159 --> 00:35:46.840
 yield fruit

00:35:46.840 --> 00:35:47.940
 in season and

00:35:47.940 --> 00:35:48.539
 whose leaves

00:35:48.539 --> 00:35:49.480
 do not

00:35:49.480 --> 00:35:50.180
 wither.

00:35:52.139 --> 00:35:52.800
 Make us

00:35:52.800 --> 00:35:53.280
 those kinds

00:35:53.280 --> 00:35:53.720
 of people.

00:35:54.619 --> 00:35:54.960
 Make us

00:35:54.960 --> 00:35:55.400
 like your

00:35:55.400 --> 00:35:56.139
 son.

00:35:57.139 --> 00:35:57.619
 The eternal

00:35:57.619 --> 00:35:58.300
 word become

00:35:58.300 --> 00:35:58.820
 flesh,

00:35:59.539 --> 00:35:59.920
 poured out

00:35:59.920 --> 00:36:00.539
 for us,

00:36:01.360 --> 00:36:01.619
 that we

00:36:01.619 --> 00:36:02.039
 might know

00:36:02.039 --> 00:36:03.280
 you and

00:36:03.280 --> 00:36:03.840
 love you

00:36:03.840 --> 00:36:05.099
 and serve

00:36:05.099 --> 00:36:05.539
 this world

00:36:05.539 --> 00:36:06.119
 with power

00:36:06.119 --> 00:36:07.220
 and in

00:36:07.220 --> 00:36:07.940
 faithfulness.

00:36:09.079 --> 00:36:09.539
 Do that,

00:36:09.659 --> 00:36:09.820
 God,

00:36:09.900 --> 00:36:10.619
 here we pray.

00:36:10.700 --> 00:36:11.019
 In the name

00:36:11.019 --> 00:36:11.460
 of Jesus,

00:36:12.420 --> 00:36:12.639
 amen.