WEBVTT

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 Father, we ask that you would gently but deeply pour out the Holy Spirit upon us as we think upon your word.

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 We ask, Father, that your word would come into our hearts, into the center of who we are,

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 that your word would speak to us and draw us closer to you,

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 to know Jesus and what he has accomplished for us on the cross.

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 We ask this in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. Amen.

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 Please be seated.

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 So I'm going to begin with a bit of a confession.

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 I had a really hard time last week trying to work on my sermon.

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 And I'm not saying this so that afterwards it will come up and say,

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 Oh, George, that was a good sermon. I'm not saying it to look for a compliment.

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 But here was the problem as I was preparing the text.

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 So it was really easy to take that text that I preached on last Sunday

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 and make it into either a moralistic or a therapeutic sermon.

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 It would have been very easy to do.

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 And a moralistic sermon is a sermon where I basically use the scripture text to tell you how you should be a good person.

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 You need to do this to be a good person.

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 And a therapeutic sermon is where I use the scripture text to tell you how to be a better person or a more successful person.

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 And it would be very easy to use last week's sermon text.

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 Like I looked at it and I was thinking to myself,

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 I could do all of those things sort of effortlessly.

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 So the text that last week, the first little bit of it was how God calls this moon worshiper

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 who's unsuitable and unqualified and unworthy.

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 And he calls them and says,

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 Go to where you don't know where I'm going to go.

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 And I'm going to bless you.

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 You're going to be a great nation.

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 You're going to be a blessing that blesses others.

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 And then there's a, you know, he goes,

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 Abram goes and then he,

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 God gives him this other promise that there's going to be a mighty nation

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 and he's going to give him the land.

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 And then, you know, when there's a little bit of a problem,

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 Abram goes down to Egypt.

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 And as we talked about last week,

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 he makes these like really foolish and wrong things.

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 Him and his wife pretend they're brother and sister.

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 And his wife gets taken into Pharaoh's harem.

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 And it's just all a big mess.

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 Okay.

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 So I could have taken that sermon.

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 I could have said all of these things, you know,

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 and if I wanted to be a good person,

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 well, a good person prays.

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 And that's Abram's fault.

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 He didn't pray.

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 And so if you want to be a good person, you got to pray.

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 Or it could have been a bit of a therapeutic sermon

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 about how to be more successful.

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 Like if you don't want to get stuck into these types of things,

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 you know, you look before you leap,

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 think before you act, you know,

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 and I could have given you these little things

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 and little nostrums from the text.

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 And to be honest,

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 a lot of churches,

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 that's what people think a good sermon is.

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 That if I was just to say,

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 you know,

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 you got to pray more,

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 this story shows you got to pray more.

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 And this story shows you need to trust God more.

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 And this story shows you need to,

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 you know,

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 look before you leap,

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 you know,

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 think before you act,

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 and all of that type of stuff.

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 And a lot of churches afterwards

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 that people would come up and say,

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 way to go,

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 pastor,

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 way to go,

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 great sermon,

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 really needed that.

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 And that,

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 I mean,

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 and that of course is,

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 is very flattering to the ego.

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 But the problem is,

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 well,

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 there's lots of problems.

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 You know,

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 the first one is,

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 really,

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 we don't need more moral advice.

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 And,

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 you know,

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 sometimes,

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 and,

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 and,

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 you know,

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 my wife can tell you correctly,

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 all the things that I need to improve.

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 And,

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 and both in terms of how to,

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 how to improve and,

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 you know,

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 what to improve.

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 But,

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 you know,

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 and those things are very helpful.

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 We have to know them,

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 but often they end up beating us down.

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 Like,

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 you know,

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 it might give us a,

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 it's like eating candy and gives you like a quick rush,

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 but then there's the,

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 the,

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 the,

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 the,

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 the insulin kick in that comes,

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 or not insulin,

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 the other thing that kicks in and makes you down.

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 And it just,

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 we don't need more moralistic advice all the time.

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 It,

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 it weighs us down.

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 And it,

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 it can easily lead to play acting and pretend and,

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 and just making it look like we're way better than we are.

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 You see,

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 really a sermon,

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 like sometimes I try to think,

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 how would I describe a sermon to a non-Christian?

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 And,

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 and so one of the ways I would try to describe it,

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 if they ask,

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 like,

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 what,

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 what do we do?

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 I'd say something like,

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 well,

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 Christians believe that God wants us to be with others and be an

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 person,

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 to receive from him.

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 And,

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 and one of the things he wants us to receive from him is he wants us to hear him speak.

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 And,

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 and we hear him speak and,

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 and then respond to him in a way that's good.

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 And so you see,

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 really,

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 uh,

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 part of what a sermon should really be about is,

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 is helping,

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 uh,

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 helping us all to,

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 to hear the text and to understand the text and to see how the text connects to us.

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 But the sermon should do more than that.

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 You see,

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 it,

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 it should also help us to want to adore Christ.

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 Which just giving you five points to be,

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 know God's will for your life,

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 how to know God's will for your life better,

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 or four more reasons why you need to be more prayerful.

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 It might load us down with some guilt and it might even good grief,

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 give us a couple of helpful ideas,

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 but it doesn't actually help us to worship Christ.

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 And not only Christ,

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 like Christ and what he's done for us on the cross.

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 And,

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 and obviously part of that happening is just the work of the Holy spirit.

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 That's nothing that I can do or any,

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 any minister can do.

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 It's the work of the Holy spirit.

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 And that's one of the things you need to pray for is that it's not just that,

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 you know,

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 that that's the worship time over there where we sing.

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 And now this is sermon.

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 No,

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 that's the worship time.

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 And this is the worship time.

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 That's really what it should be.

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 It's all worship.

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 And,

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 and so you need to pray.

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 And if some of you are watching or some of you are here and you're non-Christian,

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 you might think,

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 well,

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 that sort of doesn't even make,

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 I don't know,

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 church,

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 that's never going to happen.

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 I'm not going to listen to your sermon.

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 I want to adore Christ.

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 Well,

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 I don't know.

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 You might be surprised,

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 but for a non-Christian,

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 it really,

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 I guess the hope would be that after hearing the text and seeing how the text is actually surprisingly relevant,

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 that it might make you want to at least wish that Christianity were true.

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 Or consider that Christianity is true.

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 And,

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 and I don't know how well a job I did on that last week.

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 And so one of the things you can do is we go through these very,

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 very,

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 very old stories,

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 stories of a man who lived 4,000 years ago and was probably written about 34,

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 or 3,500 years ago.

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 You can pray that that will happen,

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 not just here,

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 but when Daniel preaches that,

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 that you'll understand the story better,

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 see how it actually talks into your life.

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 But more importantly,

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 that as,

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 as we speak and spend time together,

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 that it causes you to want to adore Christ.

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 And I don't know how well I did that last week,

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 but I'm not asking for compliments.

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 But what happens after this story?

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 So,

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 as I said,

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 sort of describe what happened.

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 Um,

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 we're going to look at this story.

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 In fact,

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 actually the story that we're going to look at today is a story,

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 which is regularly used in a moralistic or therapeutic way,

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 like regularly used with telling you how to,

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 how to be a better person and the importance of being a better person and the

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 rewards of being a better person and,

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 and how to be a more successful person.

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 It's actually a,

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 almost like a proof text often for those types of purposes.

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 So let's,

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 let's look at the story.

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 It's Genesis chapter 13,

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 beginning at verse one.

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 If you have your own Bibles,

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 that would be the best.

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 If you don't,

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 uh,

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 the words will be up on the screen.

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 And here's this very famous story,

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 uh,

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 which we just read a tiny bit of it in the service.

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 And it begins like this.

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 So Abram went up from Egypt,

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 he and his wife and all that he had,

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 and Lot with him into the Negev.

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 So this is just,

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 in fact,

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 some people,

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 when they're putting the book together,

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 they would have included this verse with the last chapter.

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 Some people think that this chapter should really begin in a sense with verse two.

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 Um,

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 the,

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 the verses and all were added by,

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 uh,

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 uh,

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 a guy putting the Bible into print a long time ago.

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 It's not part of the original.

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 It's just to help us find things.

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 And so,

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 you know,

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 the,

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 the way the story ended was,

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 uh,

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 Abram and Sarah get themselves into this incredible mess,

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 uh,

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 because of their foolishness and,

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 uh,

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 and God intervenes.

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 And part of God's intervening is that Pharaoh kicks him out.

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 So what happens is the end of chapter 12 is basically it would,

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 it's as if the military or the police escort,

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 uh,

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 Abram and his party to the edge of the Egyptian border and make sure they cross the border,

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 telling them don't come back.

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 And so that's where verse one is.

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 Abram went up from Egypt,

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 he and his wife and all that he had,

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 uh,

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 and law with him into the Negev,

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 which is sort of a wilderness type area,

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 uh,

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 in Southern,

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 uh,

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 sort of,

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 uh,

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 uh,

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 Israel.

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 Verse two.

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 Now,

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 Abram was very rich in livestock,

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 in silver,

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 uh,

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 and in gold.

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 And he journeyed on from the Negev as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning between Bethel and A,

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 to the place where he had made an altar at the first.

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 And there Abram called upon the name of the Lord.

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 And we'll just sort of,

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 uh,

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 pause here for a second.

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 Um,

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 the language is a tiny bit confusing.

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 If you look at it very carefully,

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 you get to see it.

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 But basically,

00:09:45.139 --> 00:09:46.139
 uh,

00:09:46.240 --> 00:09:46.480
 what,

00:09:46.560 --> 00:09:47.320
 what Abram is doing,

00:09:47.360 --> 00:09:49.080
 he's not going back to the very first altar.

00:09:49.160 --> 00:09:55.379
 He's going in a sense back to that time when he had acted on God's invitation,

00:09:55.379 --> 00:09:56.600
 uh,

00:09:56.600 --> 00:09:57.400
 to be his,

00:09:57.400 --> 00:10:01.060
 and he'd heard God's blessing pronounced over him.

00:10:01.059 --> 00:10:04.319
 And the blessing pronounced not only that he would be a blessing,

00:10:04.439 --> 00:10:05.459
 that God was going to bless him,

00:10:06.019 --> 00:10:07.599
 that Abram was going to be a blessing,

00:10:07.739 --> 00:10:09.859
 was going to be blessed in a way that blessed others,

00:10:09.859 --> 00:10:10.839
 that,

00:10:10.959 --> 00:10:15.099
 that even though Abram is childless and past the age of childbearing,

00:10:15.219 --> 00:10:15.979
 that there'd be a,

00:10:15.979 --> 00:10:17.519
 an offspring that would come,

00:10:17.579 --> 00:10:18.319
 that would be a blessing,

00:10:18.319 --> 00:10:20.399
 that he'd have the land and he'd be a,

00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:21.059
 a mighty,

00:10:21.199 --> 00:10:22.059
 a mighty nation.

00:10:22.059 --> 00:10:22.699
 And,

00:10:22.699 --> 00:10:22.879
 and,

00:10:22.879 --> 00:10:26.799
 and Abram first responded by leaving where he was to,

00:10:26.879 --> 00:10:28.139
 to go on this journey,

00:10:28.139 --> 00:10:28.679
 uh,

00:10:28.679 --> 00:10:29.959
 to receive God's blessing.

00:10:29.959 --> 00:10:31.539
 And then when he gets to the promised land,

00:10:31.539 --> 00:10:31.719
 he,

00:10:31.839 --> 00:10:33.199
 he creates a,

00:10:33.559 --> 00:10:33.679
 he,

00:10:33.739 --> 00:10:34.739
 he makes an altar.

00:10:35.059 --> 00:10:36.399
 He doesn't just sort of borrow.

00:10:36.759 --> 00:10:36.859
 He,

00:10:36.859 --> 00:10:41.219
 he doesn't very specifically borrow an altar that's made to one of the Canaanite gods.

00:10:41.339 --> 00:10:44.259
 He makes his own altar and it's an altar to the Lord.

00:10:44.500 --> 00:10:44.939
 And,

00:10:44.979 --> 00:10:45.419
 and when it,

00:10:45.500 --> 00:10:46.159
 he says here,

00:10:46.239 --> 00:10:48.479
 calls out on the name of the Lord and with the altar,

00:10:48.479 --> 00:10:49.500
 it's,

00:10:49.619 --> 00:10:49.939
 um,

00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:51.379
 he's,

00:10:51.379 --> 00:10:51.839
 um,

00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:59.440
 basically what we see is he's returning to the life where in a sense his,

00:10:59.500 --> 00:11:01.060
 his walk with God began.

00:11:03.200 --> 00:11:06.040
 And this just at a very simple level level is a,

00:11:06.160 --> 00:11:09.120
 is a very comforting story for Christians.

00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:10.620
 I don't know about you,

00:11:10.680 --> 00:11:11.560
 but some Christians,

00:11:11.639 --> 00:11:12.080
 some of you,

00:11:12.240 --> 00:11:15.300
 some of us have maybe left the faith for a season.

00:11:15.820 --> 00:11:16.300
 Uh,

00:11:16.300 --> 00:11:17.900
 maybe we've left the faith,

00:11:18.100 --> 00:11:19.019
 not just for a season,

00:11:19.019 --> 00:11:21.360
 but for a year or five years or 10 years.

00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:24.139
 And then we come back and it's very comforting thing.

00:11:24.220 --> 00:11:28.039
 The flow of the story shows that Abram's done the right thing and that God accepts him.

00:11:29.159 --> 00:11:31.340
 That we're always welcomed back.

00:11:31.519 --> 00:11:35.800
 If we have given our life to Christ and then we wander far from him,

00:11:35.800 --> 00:11:37.919
 he always welcomes us back.

00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:42.019
 You see how that story works very simply.

00:11:42.099 --> 00:11:43.559
 He always welcomes us back.

00:11:45.240 --> 00:11:46.879
 So he,

00:11:47.019 --> 00:11:47.279
 um,

00:11:47.579 --> 00:11:48.399
 and,

00:11:48.459 --> 00:11:49.519
 and actually when it says here,

00:11:49.599 --> 00:11:51.179
 build an altar and called on his name,

00:11:51.299 --> 00:11:51.639
 like,

00:11:51.699 --> 00:11:52.019
 uh,

00:11:52.079 --> 00:11:54.679
 this doesn't mean that he just sort of goes to the altar,

00:11:55.139 --> 00:11:58.459
 does a bit of worship and homage and then goes on with his life.

00:11:58.460 --> 00:11:59.460
 It really,

00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:00.000
 what he's done,

00:12:00.060 --> 00:12:00.879
 it would be as if,

00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:01.460
 uh,

00:12:01.540 --> 00:12:01.660
 you,

00:12:01.820 --> 00:12:04.460
 let's say we're all Iranians and,

00:12:04.500 --> 00:12:04.740
 uh,

00:12:04.740 --> 00:12:06.060
 Persians or Iranians,

00:12:06.060 --> 00:12:08.080
 or maybe we're all Saudi Arabians.

00:12:08.340 --> 00:12:09.660
 And we hear that,

00:12:09.660 --> 00:12:09.980
 um,

00:12:10.220 --> 00:12:10.540
 that,

00:12:10.540 --> 00:12:10.879
 um,

00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:10.920
 that I,

00:12:11.139 --> 00:12:11.360
 the,

00:12:11.360 --> 00:12:15.800
 the Ayatollah in Iran has allowed there to be a church in Tehran.

00:12:16.359 --> 00:12:17.120
 And that if,

00:12:17.199 --> 00:12:18.899
 if we go to that church,

00:12:18.899 --> 00:12:20.539
 we'll be able to worship.

00:12:21.539 --> 00:12:21.740
 Uh,

00:12:21.859 --> 00:12:23.379
 and we're allowed to build a church.

00:12:23.419 --> 00:12:24.659
 And if we go to and use that church,

00:12:24.699 --> 00:12:25.679
 we're allowed to worship.

00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:26.919
 And so we returned to,

00:12:26.919 --> 00:12:27.500
 to,

00:12:27.500 --> 00:12:27.819
 to,

00:12:27.819 --> 00:12:31.079
 to Tehran and we not only build the church,

00:12:31.079 --> 00:12:36.579
 but because the church is the place where we'll meet regularly and where we'll have our small groups and,

00:12:36.579 --> 00:12:37.219
 and where we'll,

00:12:37.219 --> 00:12:38.219
 um,

00:12:38.519 --> 00:12:38.979
 have,

00:12:39.120 --> 00:12:39.620
 you know,

00:12:39.719 --> 00:12:43.479
 friendship conversations and communal meals and have youth group and,

00:12:43.879 --> 00:12:44.559
 and all of that.

00:12:44.559 --> 00:12:44.759
 We,

00:12:44.759 --> 00:12:45.639
 we also want to live.

00:12:45.859 --> 00:12:50.379
 We want to live near it because that's the place where we gather to be in God's presence.

00:12:50.379 --> 00:12:51.959
 And that's what you see here.

00:12:52.779 --> 00:12:52.979
 The,

00:12:53.019 --> 00:12:53.879
 the place where,

00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:54.500
 uh,

00:12:54.500 --> 00:12:57.119
 Abram begins his walk with God,

00:12:57.119 --> 00:12:58.359
 uh,

00:12:58.359 --> 00:13:00.599
 in response to God's promise to bless him.

00:13:01.339 --> 00:13:03.059
 He's now back at the place.

00:13:03.379 --> 00:13:10.059
 And so he's there so he can use the altar regularly to pay homage to the Lord and call on the name of the Lord regularly.

00:13:10.779 --> 00:13:11.299
 He's,

00:13:11.359 --> 00:13:12.439
 he's settled there to,

00:13:12.539 --> 00:13:13.699
 to go back after his,

00:13:13.700 --> 00:13:14.800
 his foolishness.

00:13:16.820 --> 00:13:17.220
 And,

00:13:17.320 --> 00:13:17.600
 um,

00:13:18.520 --> 00:13:21.580
 just,

00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:22.480
 just the other day,

00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:24.560
 um,

00:13:24.920 --> 00:13:26.020
 within the last couple of weeks,

00:13:26.020 --> 00:13:30.060
 I was talking to a person and they were sharing with me how shocked they were.

00:13:30.780 --> 00:13:31.100
 Uh,

00:13:31.100 --> 00:13:31.879
 somebody that,

00:13:31.980 --> 00:13:32.220
 uh,

00:13:32.220 --> 00:13:33.520
 was quite a bit older than him,

00:13:33.580 --> 00:13:37.240
 like my age or even a bit older that they'd always looked up to.

00:13:37.240 --> 00:13:39.299
 And it had been very important in the church.

00:13:39.299 --> 00:13:39.620
 Uh,

00:13:39.620 --> 00:13:43.240
 they had just heard that their marriage after 40 years had broken up.

00:13:44.259 --> 00:13:44.700
 And,

00:13:44.759 --> 00:13:47.060
 and my friend was really bothered by this.

00:13:47.059 --> 00:13:48.239
 And he said,

00:13:48.279 --> 00:13:48.479
 you know,

00:13:48.559 --> 00:13:48.879
 George,

00:13:48.959 --> 00:13:49.159
 it's,

00:13:49.239 --> 00:13:56.500
 you sort of hope that you reach a certain point in time in your life or you reach a certain point in time in your marriage where things like that don't happen.

00:13:56.500 --> 00:13:58.340
 It's as if you,

00:13:58.340 --> 00:13:59.120
 you pass a,

00:13:59.120 --> 00:14:00.259
 a point and,

00:14:00.340 --> 00:14:01.100
 and now you're,

00:14:01.259 --> 00:14:02.379
 it's just not going to happen.

00:14:02.840 --> 00:14:08.960
 And so it was very unsettling for him to think that something like that could happen at any point in time.

00:14:10.019 --> 00:14:10.379
 And,

00:14:10.440 --> 00:14:11.120
 and so here,

00:14:11.220 --> 00:14:12.919
 if the story just ended here,

00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:14.179
 it still would be a good story.

00:14:14.179 --> 00:14:16.519
 And I haven't turned it into one where you'd want to adore Christ.

00:14:16.559 --> 00:14:17.360
 It's just like,

00:14:17.379 --> 00:14:18.539
 it's been a comforting thought,

00:14:18.539 --> 00:14:18.779
 but,

00:14:18.899 --> 00:14:20.779
 but actually what happens is here,

00:14:20.860 --> 00:14:22.700
 Abram's back with all of his family.

00:14:22.860 --> 00:14:24.420
 He's back at the beginning of his journey.

00:14:24.540 --> 00:14:25.759
 He's reconnected to the Lord.

00:14:25.879 --> 00:14:27.960
 The Lord has accepted him and,

00:14:28.040 --> 00:14:28.920
 and he's doing very,

00:14:29.060 --> 00:14:29.560
 very well.

00:14:29.620 --> 00:14:31.440
 But now problems come.

00:14:32.500 --> 00:14:37.600
 Like a very deep and real problem comes and affects Abram and his party.

00:14:38.120 --> 00:14:39.000
 And look what it says.

00:14:39.080 --> 00:14:39.860
 It's verse five.

00:14:41.080 --> 00:14:41.920
 And Lot,

00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:43.000
 who went with Abram,

00:14:43.100 --> 00:14:52.680
 also had flocks and herds and tents so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together for their possessions were so great that they could not be able to do it.

00:14:52.700 --> 00:15:00.960
 And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock.

00:15:01.680 --> 00:15:02.400
 At that time,

00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:05.640
 the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land.

00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:06.180
 Now,

00:15:06.259 --> 00:15:07.020
 just a bit of an aside.

00:15:07.200 --> 00:15:07.640
 Canaanites,

00:15:08.020 --> 00:15:08.600
 that part of it,

00:15:08.660 --> 00:15:11.960
 they want to let you know why there's some scarce resources,

00:15:11.960 --> 00:15:14.440
 because it's not that they're the only people in the land.

00:15:14.940 --> 00:15:21.640
 And Canaanites probably mean people who lived in the villages and Perizzites probably mean people who lived on the land outside of the walled villages.

00:15:21.639 --> 00:15:23.159
 But here's the thing.

00:15:24.379 --> 00:15:24.799
 And it's,

00:15:24.899 --> 00:15:25.399
 in a sense,

00:15:25.460 --> 00:15:25.860
 a very,

00:15:25.960 --> 00:15:29.539
 very shocking problem to Canadians.

00:15:30.519 --> 00:15:33.120
 What causes the problem is prosperity.

00:15:35.179 --> 00:15:37.740
 What causes the problem is prosperity.

00:15:39.580 --> 00:15:39.799
 Now,

00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:40.799
 this is actually,

00:15:41.319 --> 00:15:42.620
 if you think about it a second,

00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:43.039
 a very,

00:15:43.159 --> 00:15:44.939
 very unsettling issue,

00:15:44.940 --> 00:15:46.460
 because fundamentally,

00:15:46.640 --> 00:15:49.680
 we as Canadians think that prosperity solves problems.

00:15:50.940 --> 00:15:51.360
 In fact,

00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:51.620
 I mean,

00:15:51.660 --> 00:15:52.280
 we live in Ottawa,

00:15:52.520 --> 00:15:54.620
 and some of you have worked on Parliament Hill,

00:15:54.680 --> 00:15:55.460
 and I can't remember who,

00:15:55.540 --> 00:15:56.860
 one of you were once telling me

00:15:56.860 --> 00:15:59.360
 that in politics,

00:15:59.760 --> 00:16:01.920
 the hardest cabinet positions

00:16:01.920 --> 00:16:04.620
 are ones that either deal with veterans affairs

00:16:04.620 --> 00:16:07.260
 or deal with health care.

00:16:08.460 --> 00:16:09.700
 What was the third one?

00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:10.300
 Veterans,

00:16:10.299 --> 00:16:10.639
 anyway,

00:16:10.759 --> 00:16:13.079
 maybe it was First Nations issues.

00:16:13.599 --> 00:16:13.879
 Anyway,

00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:15.819
 the problem with these portfolios is

00:16:15.819 --> 00:16:17.120
 you can never give enough money.

00:16:18.699 --> 00:16:18.919
 Like,

00:16:18.939 --> 00:16:20.279
 you can never give enough money.

00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:22.339
 Give an extra $5 billion,

00:16:22.519 --> 00:16:24.319
 people will still complain they don't have enough money.

00:16:25.039 --> 00:16:26.539
 How do you solve a problem in Canada?

00:16:26.859 --> 00:16:27.559
 More money.

00:16:28.099 --> 00:16:30.219
 Because more money is going to solve the problem.

00:16:31.319 --> 00:16:31.599
 And,

00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:32.039
 you know,

00:16:32.079 --> 00:16:33.159
 the fact of the matter is,

00:16:33.240 --> 00:16:33.479
 is,

00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:33.839
 you know,

00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:34.779
 we just had a government,

00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:35.299
 and I'm,

00:16:35.339 --> 00:16:35.719
 this is not,

00:16:35.839 --> 00:16:36.879
 I'm not making any anti,

00:16:37.339 --> 00:16:37.679
 I mean,

00:16:37.740 --> 00:16:38.179
 good grief.

00:16:38.179 --> 00:16:38.819
 We've all,

00:16:39.439 --> 00:16:42.139
 the only difference between the parties

00:16:42.139 --> 00:16:43.079
 was whether it be like,

00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:43.399
 I don't know,

00:16:43.439 --> 00:16:45.159
 a gazillion billion dollars

00:16:45.159 --> 00:16:47.139
 or a gazillion minus $10 billion.

00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:48.359
 So it's not like,

00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:49.559
 this isn't a political comment,

00:16:49.699 --> 00:16:49.919
 right?

00:16:50.459 --> 00:16:52.299
 But we've given piles of money,

00:16:52.479 --> 00:16:54.939
 and it hasn't stopped the problems in the country,

00:16:54.939 --> 00:16:56.120
 and people aren't happier.

00:16:57.279 --> 00:16:58.359
 And it's not even clear

00:16:58.359 --> 00:16:59.399
 that we're going to be richer

00:16:59.399 --> 00:17:01.479
 after the end of all this money being spent.

00:17:01.599 --> 00:17:02.919
 But how do we as Canadians,

00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:05.019
 like we as Canadians fundamentally think

00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:07.059
 that money solves problems.

00:17:08.180 --> 00:17:11.220
 But here,

00:17:11.380 --> 00:17:12.580
 money has caused the problem.

00:17:14.580 --> 00:17:14.980
 So,

00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:15.660
 in a sense,

00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:17.000
 what's this text going to tell us?

00:17:17.100 --> 00:17:17.860
 Is it going to tell us,

00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:18.080
 well,

00:17:18.580 --> 00:17:20.220
 what they've just decided is,

00:17:20.299 --> 00:17:21.120
 we're going to solve this

00:17:21.120 --> 00:17:22.880
 by having a management team,

00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:27.019
 and not only are we going to manage these resources,

00:17:27.180 --> 00:17:28.779
 we're going to buy more resources to be,

00:17:28.820 --> 00:17:28.960
 no,

00:17:29.019 --> 00:17:29.100
 no,

00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:29.880
 what happens?

00:17:30.440 --> 00:17:31.660
 It goes in a very,

00:17:31.660 --> 00:17:33.799
 very un-Canadian way of solving

00:17:33.799 --> 00:17:35.940
 the problem of prosperity.

00:17:35.940 --> 00:17:38.480
 Look what happens in verse 8.

00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:41.440
 Then Abram said to Lot,

00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:45.080
 let there be no strife between you and me,

00:17:45.620 --> 00:17:47.820
 and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen,

00:17:48.220 --> 00:17:49.299
 for we are kinsmen.

00:17:50.100 --> 00:17:52.160
 Is not the whole land before you?

00:17:52.740 --> 00:17:53.980
 Separate yourself from me.

00:17:54.519 --> 00:17:55.860
 If you take the left hand,

00:17:56.220 --> 00:17:57.279
 then I will go to the right.

00:17:57.860 --> 00:17:59.380
 Or if you take the right hand,

00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:00.980
 then I will go to the left.

00:18:00.980 --> 00:18:04.180
 Lot lifted up his eyes

00:18:04.180 --> 00:18:06.860
 and saw that the Jordan Valley,

00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:08.019
 sort of a rift valley,

00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:10.299
 was well watered everywhere,

00:18:10.440 --> 00:18:11.640
 like the garden of the Lord,

00:18:12.299 --> 00:18:13.599
 like the land of Egypt,

00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:15.140
 in the direction of Zoar.

00:18:16.360 --> 00:18:16.559
 Now,

00:18:16.660 --> 00:18:18.000
 a bit of an ominous note

00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:19.660
 about things that are going to happen

00:18:19.660 --> 00:18:20.720
 in the following chapters.

00:18:21.480 --> 00:18:24.319
 This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.

00:18:26.860 --> 00:18:28.759
 We'll talk about that in a couple of weeks.

00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:30.160
 So Lot,

00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:31.599
 and this is very significant,

00:18:31.859 --> 00:18:33.779
 Lot chose for himself

00:18:33.779 --> 00:18:35.779
 all the Jordan Valley,

00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:37.660
 and Lot journeyed east.

00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:39.019
 Thus they,

00:18:39.160 --> 00:18:40.200
 that's Lot and Abram,

00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:41.640
 separated from each other.

00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:44.339
 Abram settled in the land of Canaan,

00:18:44.900 --> 00:18:47.539
 while Lot settled among the cities of the valley

00:18:47.539 --> 00:18:49.900
 and moved his tent as far as Sodom.

00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:52.000
 Now the men of Sodom,

00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:53.720
 here's another sort of dark note,

00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:55.900
 now the men of Sodom were wicked,

00:18:56.400 --> 00:18:57.059
 great sinners,

00:18:57.599 --> 00:18:58.420
 against the Lord.

00:18:58.759 --> 00:19:00.660
 Now,

00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:03.180
 what Abram does here,

00:19:03.460 --> 00:19:04.460
 to create peace,

00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:05.859
 so first of all,

00:19:05.900 --> 00:19:06.680
 what Lot does is,

00:19:06.680 --> 00:19:08.519
 he chooses the area where the river is,

00:19:08.579 --> 00:19:10.059
 where there's all the streams and the brooks,

00:19:10.539 --> 00:19:12.259
 he leaves to Abram,

00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:13.240
 in a sense,

00:19:13.460 --> 00:19:15.700
 there's just a steady water supply there,

00:19:15.940 --> 00:19:17.460
 and he's left to Abram,

00:19:17.859 --> 00:19:18.859
 the highland,

00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:21.599
 and the highland depends upon the rain.

00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:22.039
 So,

00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:23.000
 so,

00:19:23.339 --> 00:19:23.879
 in a sense,

00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:25.699
 you can pick the security of the river,

00:19:26.019 --> 00:19:27.339
 or depending upon the rain,

00:19:27.399 --> 00:19:28.859
 and he chooses security of the river,

00:19:28.919 --> 00:19:30.519
 he goes down to where it's very prosperous.

00:19:30.879 --> 00:19:31.699
 But here's the thing,

00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:32.339
 which is very,

00:19:32.419 --> 00:19:33.559
 very counterintuitive.

00:19:34.279 --> 00:19:34.519
 So,

00:19:34.599 --> 00:19:35.599
 imagine for a moment,

00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:38.219
 that some of you are in the civil servants,

00:19:38.599 --> 00:19:39.559
 civil service,

00:19:39.919 --> 00:19:41.219
 and you get to go on a plane,

00:19:41.619 --> 00:19:42.919
 with the deputy minister,

00:19:43.600 --> 00:19:45.240
 and there's eight of you,

00:19:45.580 --> 00:19:45.740
 and,

00:19:45.820 --> 00:19:46.360
 you know,

00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:47.960
 everything from people who are,

00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:48.779
 I don't know,

00:19:48.800 --> 00:19:50.180
 maybe assistant deputy minister,

00:19:50.180 --> 00:19:50.960
 all the way down,

00:19:51.080 --> 00:19:52.019
 and they bring in a,

00:19:52.440 --> 00:19:53.660
 maybe a student intern,

00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:54.759
 or something like that,

00:19:54.840 --> 00:19:55.340
 who's just,

00:19:55.700 --> 00:19:57.200
 just on an internship thing,

00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:58.460
 and they're all going to go on a plane,

00:19:58.880 --> 00:20:00.000
 and before you get in the plane,

00:20:00.080 --> 00:20:01.279
 there's only one first class,

00:20:01.320 --> 00:20:02.340
 or business class ticket,

00:20:02.440 --> 00:20:04.300
 which of course is the deputy ministers,

00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:05.340
 and everybody else,

00:20:05.380 --> 00:20:06.259
 the other nine people,

00:20:06.340 --> 00:20:08.660
 are going to sit in working class,

00:20:09.060 --> 00:20:10.680
 and the deputy minister says,

00:20:10.759 --> 00:20:11.480
 to the student intern,

00:20:11.560 --> 00:20:12.480
 I'd let you pick the seat,

00:20:12.920 --> 00:20:13.840
 pick the seat first,

00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:18.140
 like that's not how,

00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:19.279
 the real world works,

00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:21.039
 like nobody would even be bothered,

00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:22.500
 if the fact that the deputy minister,

00:20:22.500 --> 00:20:24.200
 just goes and sits in first class,

00:20:24.300 --> 00:20:25.779
 and everybody else sits in working class,

00:20:25.860 --> 00:20:26.860
 like that wouldn't bother anybody,

00:20:26.940 --> 00:20:27.580
 that would just be,

00:20:28.080 --> 00:20:29.120
 understood that the way,

00:20:29.640 --> 00:20:30.259
 things work,

00:20:30.600 --> 00:20:32.080
 or if you're the owner of a company,

00:20:32.840 --> 00:20:33.279
 and you're,

00:20:33.860 --> 00:20:34.259
 you know,

00:20:34.460 --> 00:20:35.580
 there's something similar,

00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:36.700
 and you let the janitor,

00:20:36.840 --> 00:20:38.080
 be the one who picks first,

00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:39.259
 you see that,

00:20:39.360 --> 00:20:40.519
 the thing which is going on here,

00:20:40.539 --> 00:20:41.100
 in the text,

00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:42.560
 is there's a vast difference,

00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:43.919
 between Abram and Lot,

00:20:44.819 --> 00:20:46.099
 Abram is the patriarch,

00:20:46.940 --> 00:20:48.460
 he is the head of the clan,

00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:49.220
 so to speak,

00:20:49.279 --> 00:20:50.519
 he's the head of the tribe,

00:20:51.419 --> 00:20:51.859
 Lot,

00:20:52.119 --> 00:20:53.099
 is only,

00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:53.879
 in a sense,

00:20:54.619 --> 00:20:55.000
 welcomed,

00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:56.480
 into Abram's,

00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:57.279
 tribe,

00:20:57.419 --> 00:20:58.159
 or clan,

00:20:58.559 --> 00:20:59.859
 as an act of grace,

00:21:00.259 --> 00:21:00.839
 by Abram,

00:21:00.919 --> 00:21:02.440
 because Abram's an orphan,

00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:03.119
 I mean,

00:21:03.159 --> 00:21:03.299
 sorry,

00:21:03.599 --> 00:21:04.619
 Lot is an orphan,

00:21:04.619 --> 00:21:06.719
 and Lot is an orphan,

00:21:06.719 --> 00:21:07.859
 and brought in,

00:21:08.399 --> 00:21:09.839
 to Abram's tribe,

00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:11.219
 under Abram's leadership,

00:21:11.339 --> 00:21:12.000
 and protection,

00:21:12.779 --> 00:21:13.159
 purely,

00:21:13.319 --> 00:21:13.599
 and utterly,

00:21:13.779 --> 00:21:14.519
 out of just a,

00:21:14.619 --> 00:21:15.239
 filial,

00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:15.599
 like,

00:21:15.659 --> 00:21:16.439
 familial,

00:21:16.859 --> 00:21:17.719
 affection,

00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:19.279
 and generosity,

00:21:19.459 --> 00:21:20.059
 on Abram,

00:21:20.539 --> 00:21:22.179
 all of Lot's wealth,

00:21:22.619 --> 00:21:23.239
 is because,

00:21:23.399 --> 00:21:24.000
 he's in a sense,

00:21:24.239 --> 00:21:25.599
 under Abram's,

00:21:25.599 --> 00:21:26.419
 tribe,

00:21:26.500 --> 00:21:27.000
 and clan,

00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:28.439
 and so,

00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:29.099
 Abram,

00:21:29.240 --> 00:21:29.899
 should be the one,

00:21:29.959 --> 00:21:30.399
 who chooses,

00:21:30.699 --> 00:21:31.179
 and usually,

00:21:31.299 --> 00:21:31.639
 in the world,

00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:32.679
 that wouldn't even be viewed,

00:21:32.679 --> 00:21:33.039
 as being,

00:21:33.459 --> 00:21:34.480
 as being,

00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:36.279
 like,

00:21:36.619 --> 00:21:37.079
 surprising,

00:21:37.179 --> 00:21:37.619
 or shocking,

00:21:38.099 --> 00:21:38.599
 obviously,

00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:39.379
 that guy,

00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:40.480
 makes a decision,

00:21:41.199 --> 00:21:42.019
 the person,

00:21:42.379 --> 00:21:44.059
 who just gets invited in,

00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:46.159
 under the boss's protection,

00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:47.559
 doesn't get to make the decision,

00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:49.980
 so Abram does something,

00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:52.019
 which is,

00:21:52.059 --> 00:21:54.199
 counterintuitive,

00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:57.539
 it's counterintuitive,

00:21:57.640 --> 00:21:58.860
 and it goes against the grain,

00:21:58.880 --> 00:21:59.640
 about the way,

00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:01.299
 that we fundamentally work,

00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:02.799
 like,

00:22:03.019 --> 00:22:03.220
 you know,

00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:04.259
 in hierarchies,

00:22:04.360 --> 00:22:04.980
 I'm not saying,

00:22:05.080 --> 00:22:06.000
 that everybody in a hierarchy,

00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:06.720
 is like this,

00:22:06.819 --> 00:22:07.299
 but the goal,

00:22:07.380 --> 00:22:08.580
 is to climb the greasy pole,

00:22:10.059 --> 00:22:11.220
 and if somebody else,

00:22:11.259 --> 00:22:12.500
 there's only so many positions,

00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:13.220
 to move up,

00:22:13.420 --> 00:22:13.940
 and I'm not saying,

00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:14.819
 everybody who moves up,

00:22:14.880 --> 00:22:15.700
 does this by the way,

00:22:15.819 --> 00:22:16.019
 it's,

00:22:16.180 --> 00:22:16.900
 that would be terrible,

00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:17.860
 if that was the only way,

00:22:17.960 --> 00:22:18.880
 that things work,

00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:20.799
 just as,

00:22:21.059 --> 00:22:21.860
 it's not the case,

00:22:21.940 --> 00:22:22.680
 that people,

00:22:22.980 --> 00:22:23.340
 who make,

00:22:23.339 --> 00:22:25.099
 good money in business,

00:22:25.179 --> 00:22:25.699
 do it because,

00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:26.799
 they're terrible people,

00:22:26.879 --> 00:22:27.579
 and they oppress,

00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:28.240
 that's not,

00:22:28.339 --> 00:22:29.079
 that's not the way,

00:22:29.139 --> 00:22:29.879
 the world works,

00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:31.519
 sometimes,

00:22:31.819 --> 00:22:32.599
 you do just,

00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:33.240
 you do,

00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:34.259
 do these things,

00:22:34.299 --> 00:22:34.720
 just because,

00:22:34.819 --> 00:22:35.699
 you're good at what you do,

00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:36.399
 and you're successful,

00:22:36.399 --> 00:22:37.099
 at what you do,

00:22:38.379 --> 00:22:38.859
 but,

00:22:39.139 --> 00:22:39.339
 you know,

00:22:39.459 --> 00:22:40.319
 the basic,

00:22:40.679 --> 00:22:41.019
 in a sense,

00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:41.659
 inclination,

00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:42.359
 of the,

00:22:42.359 --> 00:22:44.240
 of the Canadian way,

00:22:44.980 --> 00:22:46.379
 is you take your break,

00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:48.779
 snooze,

00:22:48.839 --> 00:22:49.439
 you lose,

00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:51.980
 if somebody makes,

00:22:51.980 --> 00:22:52.519
 a bit of a,

00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:53.880
 like an odd thing,

00:22:53.980 --> 00:22:54.240
 like that,

00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:54.960
 that they shouldn't do,

00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:55.840
 you take advantage,

00:22:55.840 --> 00:22:56.700
 of the situation,

00:22:56.700 --> 00:22:57.279
 for your,

00:22:57.400 --> 00:22:58.440
 your own betterment,

00:22:58.519 --> 00:22:59.340
 and your own type,

00:22:59.380 --> 00:22:59.960
 of advancement,

00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:00.700
 and afterwards,

00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:01.660
 you and your friends,

00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:02.180
 will all sort of,

00:23:02.200 --> 00:23:02.980
 have a bit of a chuckle,

00:23:03.019 --> 00:23:03.539
 about the fact,

00:23:03.620 --> 00:23:04.940
 that the other person,

00:23:04.980 --> 00:23:06.059
 who should have made the decision,

00:23:06.220 --> 00:23:07.640
 and made a bit of a slip up,

00:23:07.720 --> 00:23:08.600
 that they allowed you,

00:23:08.600 --> 00:23:09.720
 to do an in run around them,

00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:10.180
 and in a sense,

00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:10.840
 get ahead of them,

00:23:11.240 --> 00:23:12.120
 and you all sort of chuckle,

00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:12.740
 but you might even go out,

00:23:12.740 --> 00:23:13.220
 and celebrate,

00:23:13.420 --> 00:23:13.559
 you know,

00:23:13.600 --> 00:23:14.580
 buy expensive steak,

00:23:14.660 --> 00:23:15.779
 have some expensive cigars,

00:23:15.900 --> 00:23:16.920
 have some expensive wine,

00:23:16.920 --> 00:23:18.340
 to celebrate the fact,

00:23:18.420 --> 00:23:19.820
 that you've been successful,

00:23:19.940 --> 00:23:20.900
 at these types of things,

00:23:21.000 --> 00:23:22.480
 so Abram does something,

00:23:22.580 --> 00:23:24.779
 which is counter intuitive,

00:23:25.880 --> 00:23:28.660
 and not the way,

00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:30.759
 that people would normally act,

00:23:31.539 --> 00:23:32.620
 so what does God say,

00:23:32.700 --> 00:23:33.240
 about this,

00:23:33.800 --> 00:23:34.460
 what does God say,

00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:35.039
 about this,

00:23:35.800 --> 00:23:36.340
 does God,

00:23:36.420 --> 00:23:37.160
 going to say to Abram,

00:23:37.220 --> 00:23:37.820
 that you should have,

00:23:37.900 --> 00:23:39.039
 exercised your authority,

00:23:39.140 --> 00:23:40.000
 you should have exercised,

00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:40.400
 your right,

00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:41.279
 you should have exercised,

00:23:41.360 --> 00:23:42.039
 your prerogatives,

00:23:42.840 --> 00:23:44.600
 next time smarten up,

00:23:44.660 --> 00:23:45.480
 was this another type,

00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:46.099
 of mistake,

00:23:46.220 --> 00:23:47.299
 that Abram had made,

00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:49.220
 just as he had made a mistake,

00:23:49.279 --> 00:23:50.099
 when he went into Egypt,

00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:51.559
 well the text tells us,

00:23:51.620 --> 00:23:52.640
 look at what the text says,

00:23:52.700 --> 00:23:53.519
 in verse 14,

00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:55.920
 the Lord said to Abram,

00:23:56.259 --> 00:23:58.160
 after Lot had separated from him,

00:24:00.120 --> 00:24:00.819
 okay what's the Lord,

00:24:00.900 --> 00:24:01.360
 going to say,

00:24:02.180 --> 00:24:03.339
 lift up your eyes,

00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:04.400
 and look from the place,

00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:05.000
 where you are,

00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:06.200
 northward,

00:24:06.279 --> 00:24:06.900
 and southward,

00:24:06.980 --> 00:24:07.460
 and eastward,

00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:08.140
 and westward,

00:24:08.420 --> 00:24:09.680
 for all the land,

00:24:09.799 --> 00:24:10.240
 that you see,

00:24:10.339 --> 00:24:11.240
 I will give to you,

00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:12.000
 and to your offspring,

00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:12.579
 forever,

00:24:12.579 --> 00:24:15.119
 just,

00:24:15.879 --> 00:24:16.939
 I will make,

00:24:17.259 --> 00:24:18.059
 your offspring,

00:24:18.379 --> 00:24:19.659
 as the dust of the earth,

00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:21.659
 so that if one can count,

00:24:21.779 --> 00:24:22.819
 the dust of the earth,

00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:24.019
 your offspring,

00:24:24.220 --> 00:24:25.419
 also can be counted,

00:24:26.039 --> 00:24:26.679
 arise,

00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:28.299
 walk through the length,

00:24:28.379 --> 00:24:29.579
 and breadth of the land,

00:24:30.179 --> 00:24:30.839
 for I,

00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:31.919
 will give it,

00:24:32.279 --> 00:24:32.699
 to you,

00:24:33.159 --> 00:24:35.500
 so if you go back,

00:24:35.559 --> 00:24:36.039
 and you read,

00:24:36.659 --> 00:24:37.859
 Genesis chapter 12,

00:24:37.960 --> 00:24:38.960
 verses 2 and 3,

00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:40.220
 and then you read verse 7,

00:24:40.220 --> 00:24:41.960
 the original promises,

00:24:42.200 --> 00:24:42.579
 the place,

00:24:42.680 --> 00:24:42.779
 right,

00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:43.579
 Abram's return,

00:24:43.660 --> 00:24:44.720
 to the place of blessing,

00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:45.700
 the place of,

00:24:46.180 --> 00:24:47.700
 where God first spoke to him,

00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:48.860
 and made these profound,

00:24:49.079 --> 00:24:50.160
 acts of grace,

00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:51.440
 of blessing to him,

00:24:51.640 --> 00:24:53.180
 and God's response,

00:24:53.440 --> 00:24:54.920
 to what has just happened,

00:24:55.720 --> 00:24:56.200
 is to,

00:24:56.380 --> 00:24:56.799
 in a sense,

00:24:56.880 --> 00:24:57.559
 expand,

00:24:57.700 --> 00:24:58.200
 and deepen,

00:24:58.519 --> 00:24:59.500
 and double down,

00:24:59.620 --> 00:25:01.039
 on those original promises,

00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:02.039
 of blessing,

00:25:02.140 --> 00:25:02.920
 that God had made,

00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:03.940
 to Abram,

00:25:03.940 --> 00:25:06.900
 now,

00:25:07.620 --> 00:25:10.539
 here's where moralism,

00:25:10.640 --> 00:25:11.799
 and therapeutic preaching,

00:25:11.960 --> 00:25:12.539
 comes in,

00:25:13.340 --> 00:25:16.559
 and this is where,

00:25:17.360 --> 00:25:18.880
 our natural heart,

00:25:18.980 --> 00:25:20.080
 gets the story wrong,

00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:22.660
 because I can say to you,

00:25:23.019 --> 00:25:23.279
 aha,

00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:24.920
 this just shows,

00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:26.400
 if you're humble,

00:25:26.920 --> 00:25:28.100
 God will exalt you,

00:25:28.380 --> 00:25:29.600
 if you're generous,

00:25:30.080 --> 00:25:31.400
 God will make you rich,

00:25:31.400 --> 00:25:36.800
 there's whole churches,

00:25:36.800 --> 00:25:37.960
 based on those types,

00:25:38.019 --> 00:25:38.720
 of ideas,

00:25:39.540 --> 00:25:40.820
 just look at the text,

00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:43.560
 Abraham was humble,

00:25:43.800 --> 00:25:44.480
 and now he's going,

00:25:44.540 --> 00:25:45.259
 to be even greater,

00:25:45.380 --> 00:25:46.580
 just look at the text,

00:25:47.380 --> 00:25:48.740
 he took the position,

00:25:48.740 --> 00:25:49.840
 of being generous,

00:25:49.900 --> 00:25:50.740
 towards Lot,

00:25:50.860 --> 00:25:51.680
 to make peace,

00:25:52.100 --> 00:25:52.759
 and now,

00:25:53.240 --> 00:25:53.759
 Abram's going,

00:25:53.780 --> 00:25:54.580
 to even be richer,

00:25:55.080 --> 00:25:55.480
 go thou,

00:25:55.560 --> 00:25:56.240
 and do likewise,

00:25:57.740 --> 00:25:58.780
 and in the right type,

00:25:58.820 --> 00:25:59.140
 of church,

00:25:59.220 --> 00:25:59.560
 you all say,

00:25:59.640 --> 00:26:00.320
 way to go George,

00:26:00.380 --> 00:26:01.140
 that was a really helpful,

00:26:01.140 --> 00:26:01.840
 type of sermon,

00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:03.740
 but the problem is,

00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:05.300
 here's the problem,

00:26:06.900 --> 00:26:08.980
 well first of all,

00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:09.700
 it's not true,

00:26:10.380 --> 00:26:12.420
 it's just not true,

00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:16.280
 just ask anybody,

00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:17.440
 who's always humble,

00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:18.400
 if that always means,

00:26:18.520 --> 00:26:19.440
 they get the promotions,

00:26:20.020 --> 00:26:21.660
 doesn't work that way,

00:26:22.420 --> 00:26:23.660
 just ask anybody,

00:26:23.660 --> 00:26:24.660
 who gives their money,

00:26:24.840 --> 00:26:25.560
 to churches,

00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:26.220
 or charity,

00:26:26.280 --> 00:26:27.060
 all the time,

00:26:27.160 --> 00:26:28.240
 and whether they're way richer,

00:26:28.440 --> 00:26:29.220
 I mean you might find,

00:26:29.340 --> 00:26:30.460
 some people that it works on,

00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:31.259
 and they have,

00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:32.360
 they have their 1-800 number,

00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:33.340
 they have their Instagram,

00:26:33.559 --> 00:26:33.980
 their Twitter,

00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:34.420
 the,

00:26:34.819 --> 00:26:35.559
 all those TikTok,

00:26:35.840 --> 00:26:36.500
 and everything else,

00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:37.039
 the Facebook,

00:26:37.259 --> 00:26:38.039
 and they promote it,

00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:38.960
 and all of that type of stuff,

00:26:39.019 --> 00:26:39.759
 but for most people,

00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:40.460
 it doesn't work,

00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:42.360
 but here's the fundamental problem,

00:26:42.460 --> 00:26:43.500
 and this is one of the reasons,

00:26:43.620 --> 00:26:43.900
 you see,

00:26:43.980 --> 00:26:44.220
 why,

00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:45.539
 in our culture,

00:26:45.660 --> 00:26:46.799
 there is a profound,

00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:48.000
 rejection of religion,

00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:49.420
 because Canadians,

00:26:49.420 --> 00:26:50.339
 Canadians on one level,

00:26:50.460 --> 00:26:51.819
 understand that religious,

00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:52.579
 and spiritual,

00:26:52.839 --> 00:26:53.220
 religion,

00:26:53.420 --> 00:26:54.000
 being religious,

00:26:54.180 --> 00:26:55.119
 and being spiritual,

00:26:55.519 --> 00:26:57.920
 is basically just a form of this,

00:26:58.180 --> 00:26:58.980
 and that is,

00:26:59.259 --> 00:27:02.079
 that that advice promotes selfishness,

00:27:02.720 --> 00:27:03.839
 and narcissism,

00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:05.460
 and self-centeredness,

00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:07.000
 why,

00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:07.059
 why,

00:27:07.059 --> 00:27:07.079
 why,

00:27:07.079 --> 00:27:07.140
 why,

00:27:07.140 --> 00:27:09.440
 well,

00:27:10.579 --> 00:27:13.380
 if I tell you,

00:27:13.500 --> 00:27:15.039
 that by being humble,

00:27:15.180 --> 00:27:16.039
 you'll be great,

00:27:16.600 --> 00:27:18.700
 you're not humble to be humble,

00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:20.400
 you're humble to be great,

00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:23.819
 you're actually just seeking greatness,

00:27:24.620 --> 00:27:26.680
 you're actually just seeking,

00:27:26.680 --> 00:27:27.940
 to be over everybody,

00:27:27.940 --> 00:27:30.559
 like,

00:27:30.640 --> 00:27:31.799
 if I told you,

00:27:32.120 --> 00:27:32.779
 that you know what,

00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:33.259
 if you gave,

00:27:33.799 --> 00:27:35.120
 a thousand dollars,

00:27:35.340 --> 00:27:35.980
 to the poor,

00:27:36.380 --> 00:27:37.080
 God's going to give you,

00:27:37.160 --> 00:27:38.120
 ten thousand dollars,

00:27:38.220 --> 00:27:39.460
 you don't really care about the poor,

00:27:39.539 --> 00:27:41.100
 you care about the ten thousand dollars,

00:27:41.180 --> 00:27:41.519
 don't you,

00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:44.299
 if I tell you,

00:27:44.299 --> 00:27:45.620
 that being self-effacing,

00:27:45.740 --> 00:27:46.660
 gives you the promotion,

00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:48.660
 you don't care about being self-effacing,

00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:49.840
 you care about the promotion,

00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:51.740
 all you're doing,

00:27:51.820 --> 00:27:53.279
 is trying to give yourself a gift,

00:27:53.620 --> 00:27:54.400
 and be superior,

00:27:55.120 --> 00:27:56.840
 and you see,

00:27:56.980 --> 00:27:57.680
 at the heart,

00:27:57.680 --> 00:27:58.560
 that's the problem,

00:27:58.740 --> 00:27:58.980
 with most,

00:27:59.259 --> 00:28:00.120
 with religion,

00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:00.980
 and with spirituality,

00:28:01.420 --> 00:28:02.580
 and that's one of the reasons,

00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:04.620
 why so many Canadians,

00:28:04.900 --> 00:28:05.740
 are rejecting,

00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:07.320
 religion and spirituality,

00:28:07.620 --> 00:28:08.740
 in all of its forms,

00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:10.019
 because they have this,

00:28:10.700 --> 00:28:11.259
 some of them,

00:28:11.320 --> 00:28:12.380
 just because they've been burned,

00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:13.340
 and some of them,

00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:14.200
 for other reasons,

00:28:14.400 --> 00:28:14.920
 and some of them,

00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:16.620
 for a bit of an intuition about it,

00:28:17.160 --> 00:28:18.279
 that at the end of the day,

00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:20.140
 that's why people go into these things,

00:28:20.200 --> 00:28:20.920
 and on one hand,

00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:22.100
 it just doesn't work,

00:28:22.860 --> 00:28:23.860
 you can give all your money,

00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:24.519
 to the church,

00:28:24.560 --> 00:28:25.460
 you don't get richer,

00:28:25.640 --> 00:28:26.940
 all you are is poorer,

00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:29.340
 and you just listen to your advice,

00:28:29.380 --> 00:28:30.279
 and it doesn't work,

00:28:30.400 --> 00:28:31.279
 and on the other hand,

00:28:31.360 --> 00:28:33.220
 do we really just want to be more selfish,

00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:34.880
 and narcissistic,

00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:36.620
 and at the same time,

00:28:36.680 --> 00:28:37.240
 you're selfish,

00:28:37.360 --> 00:28:38.140
 and narcissistic,

00:28:38.140 --> 00:28:39.180
 in a way that makes you,

00:28:39.180 --> 00:28:40.140
 self-satisfied,

00:28:40.340 --> 00:28:40.940
 and superior,

00:28:41.180 --> 00:28:41.700
 against other,

00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:42.680
 towards other people,

00:28:42.840 --> 00:28:44.200
 and that's very,

00:28:44.340 --> 00:28:45.420
 very unattractive,

00:28:46.420 --> 00:28:48.680
 so is that what's really,

00:28:48.900 --> 00:28:49.960
 going on in the story here,

00:28:49.960 --> 00:28:52.200
 no,

00:28:52.279 --> 00:28:53.180
 it's not what's going on,

00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:54.039
 in the story at all,

00:28:54.840 --> 00:28:57.400
 you see,

00:28:57.480 --> 00:28:58.840
 what goes on in the text,

00:28:59.319 --> 00:29:00.799
 is that it isn't,

00:29:01.120 --> 00:29:02.299
 that being humble,

00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:03.640
 gets you blessing,

00:29:04.279 --> 00:29:04.880
 or it isn't,

00:29:04.940 --> 00:29:05.920
 that being generous,

00:29:06.259 --> 00:29:07.600
 means that you're going to be blessed,

00:29:08.259 --> 00:29:09.640
 but it's because,

00:29:10.299 --> 00:29:11.799
 Abraham is gripped,

00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:13.319
 and believes the blessing,

00:29:13.819 --> 00:29:14.720
 that he's freed up,

00:29:14.799 --> 00:29:15.380
 to be humble,

00:29:15.380 --> 00:29:16.940
 it's because,

00:29:17.320 --> 00:29:18.520
 he is in the place,

00:29:19.220 --> 00:29:19.320
 where,

00:29:19.500 --> 00:29:21.120
 and he believes those promises,

00:29:21.400 --> 00:29:22.720
 he believes the promises,

00:29:22.720 --> 00:29:23.600
 that God,

00:29:23.720 --> 00:29:24.480
 is going to make,

00:29:25.120 --> 00:29:26.040
 him a blessing,

00:29:26.640 --> 00:29:28.680
 God is going to give him the land,

00:29:29.280 --> 00:29:31.140
 God is going to give him the offspring,

00:29:31.820 --> 00:29:33.220
 and he is at the altar,

00:29:33.460 --> 00:29:34.900
 calling on the name of the Lord,

00:29:35.100 --> 00:29:35.960
 and it's because,

00:29:36.080 --> 00:29:37.020
 he is believing,

00:29:37.620 --> 00:29:39.120
 that promise of blessing,

00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:40.960
 that he is freed up,

00:29:41.220 --> 00:29:41.820
 to be humble,

00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:43.140
 it is because,

00:29:43.760 --> 00:29:44.640
 he believes,

00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:45.980
 the promise of blessing,

00:29:45.980 --> 00:29:46.720
 from God,

00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:48.140
 that he is freed up,

00:29:48.220 --> 00:29:48.900
 to be generous,

00:29:49.940 --> 00:29:51.120
 it is because,

00:29:51.600 --> 00:29:52.920
 he is freed up,

00:29:53.460 --> 00:29:55.120
 by the blessing,

00:29:55.280 --> 00:29:56.060
 to be generous,

00:29:56.540 --> 00:29:57.280
 that he's able,

00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:58.280
 to make peace,

00:29:59.420 --> 00:30:03.040
 you see,

00:30:03.160 --> 00:30:03.920
 that's what's going on,

00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:04.400
 in the text,

00:30:04.520 --> 00:30:05.100
 that's why,

00:30:05.820 --> 00:30:06.480
 it's as if,

00:30:07.160 --> 00:30:07.900
 the problem is,

00:30:07.980 --> 00:30:08.440
 that religion,

00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:09.160
 and all,

00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:10.240
 they want to keep,

00:30:10.500 --> 00:30:11.580
 they want to forget,

00:30:11.720 --> 00:30:12.200
 the fact that,

00:30:12.280 --> 00:30:13.560
 that there's this profound,

00:30:13.560 --> 00:30:14.480
 blessing that God,

00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:15.660
 gives the unworthy,

00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:16.860
 and undeserving,

00:30:17.819 --> 00:30:18.819
 and unqualified,

00:30:19.079 --> 00:30:19.500
 Abram,

00:30:19.940 --> 00:30:23.339
 and what's going on,

00:30:23.400 --> 00:30:23.940
 in the text,

00:30:24.160 --> 00:30:24.559
 is there's,

00:30:24.819 --> 00:30:25.259
 in a sense,

00:30:25.420 --> 00:30:26.900
 an entry into,

00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:28.620
 see,

00:30:28.940 --> 00:30:30.079
 like what's humility,

00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:32.099
 normally,

00:30:32.240 --> 00:30:33.220
 when we think of humility,

00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:34.160
 we think of people,

00:30:34.259 --> 00:30:35.620
 who don't have any self-esteem,

00:30:36.420 --> 00:30:37.860
 we think of people,

00:30:38.039 --> 00:30:38.299
 who,

00:30:38.299 --> 00:30:41.639
 have a real problem,

00:30:41.639 --> 00:30:41.879
 I mean,

00:30:41.960 --> 00:30:42.539
 from our outside,

00:30:42.659 --> 00:30:43.359
 we look at them,

00:30:43.779 --> 00:30:44.559
 they look as if,

00:30:44.639 --> 00:30:45.919
 they have a great problem,

00:30:46.220 --> 00:30:46.720
 with negative,

00:30:46.879 --> 00:30:48.200
 like bad self-talk,

00:30:48.299 --> 00:30:48.440
 they,

00:30:48.919 --> 00:30:49.259
 they,

00:30:49.319 --> 00:30:50.259
 they say to themselves,

00:30:50.259 --> 00:30:51.000
 I'm ugly,

00:30:51.119 --> 00:30:51.799
 I'm stupid,

00:30:51.799 --> 00:30:54.180
 I'm a bad person,

00:30:54.859 --> 00:30:56.559
 if people got to know me better,

00:30:56.659 --> 00:30:57.740
 they wouldn't like me,

00:30:58.200 --> 00:30:59.399
 the more they get to know me,

00:30:59.460 --> 00:31:00.559
 they won't like me,

00:31:00.980 --> 00:31:02.639
 and,

00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:05.720
 and,

00:31:05.819 --> 00:31:06.119
 and I,

00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:07.240
 because I'm a bad person,

00:31:07.299 --> 00:31:08.619
 I deserve to have bad things,

00:31:08.619 --> 00:31:09.399
 happen to me,

00:31:10.399 --> 00:31:10.680
 and,

00:31:10.740 --> 00:31:11.899
 and so we talk like that,

00:31:11.980 --> 00:31:12.559
 to ourselves,

00:31:12.559 --> 00:31:12.919
 and,

00:31:12.980 --> 00:31:13.960
 and we come across,

00:31:14.139 --> 00:31:14.200
 as,

00:31:14.299 --> 00:31:15.980
 as not being very self-assertive,

00:31:15.980 --> 00:31:16.700
 we come across,

00:31:16.799 --> 00:31:17.539
 as being humble,

00:31:18.399 --> 00:31:19.379
 but if all of,

00:31:19.460 --> 00:31:20.759
 all of humility is,

00:31:20.819 --> 00:31:22.700
 is just learning how to say,

00:31:22.779 --> 00:31:22.940
 very,

00:31:23.059 --> 00:31:24.519
 very bad things to ourselves,

00:31:24.680 --> 00:31:25.480
 over and over,

00:31:25.579 --> 00:31:26.279
 and over again,

00:31:26.339 --> 00:31:27.720
 and often acting out of it,

00:31:28.379 --> 00:31:29.319
 and on one hand,

00:31:29.420 --> 00:31:30.000
 believing it,

00:31:30.059 --> 00:31:30.740
 on the other hand,

00:31:30.839 --> 00:31:32.539
 just being ripped up with sorrow,

00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:33.960
 that that's true about us,

00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:34.839
 because on one hand,

00:31:35.339 --> 00:31:36.579
 we say it over and over,

00:31:36.680 --> 00:31:37.299
 to ourselves,

00:31:37.420 --> 00:31:38.500
 that we're a bad person,

00:31:38.619 --> 00:31:39.879
 we're an unworthy person,

00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:41.099
 we're an ugly person,

00:31:41.659 --> 00:31:41.960
 and,

00:31:41.960 --> 00:31:42.700
 and on one hand,

00:31:42.779 --> 00:31:43.539
 we say it and believe it,

00:31:43.559 --> 00:31:43.899
 on the other hand,

00:31:43.920 --> 00:31:44.920
 it breaks our heart,

00:31:45.019 --> 00:31:45.819
 that why is it,

00:31:45.839 --> 00:31:46.740
 that I'm such a bad,

00:31:46.799 --> 00:31:47.339
 and unworthy,

00:31:47.339 --> 00:31:48.599
 and a lovely person,

00:31:48.659 --> 00:31:49.759
 and a stupid person,

00:31:50.019 --> 00:31:51.759
 and I wish I wasn't like that,

00:31:51.779 --> 00:31:52.319
 and why is it,

00:31:52.339 --> 00:31:53.399
 that other people are seeing,

00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:54.240
 and they don't even look like,

00:31:54.259 --> 00:31:55.199
 they're better than me yet,

00:31:56.119 --> 00:31:56.299
 and,

00:31:56.399 --> 00:31:56.959
 and so,

00:31:57.639 --> 00:31:57.899
 for,

00:31:58.119 --> 00:31:58.259
 for,

00:31:58.259 --> 00:31:59.240
 in our culture,

00:31:59.559 --> 00:32:00.199
 that's,

00:32:00.199 --> 00:32:01.819
 how we tend to see humility,

00:32:02.139 --> 00:32:03.139
 and everything about it,

00:32:03.199 --> 00:32:04.379
 just is unattractive,

00:32:04.439 --> 00:32:04.859
 and wrong,

00:32:05.759 --> 00:32:08.279
 but we can learn,

00:32:08.539 --> 00:32:09.980
 about humility better,

00:32:10.099 --> 00:32:11.119
 if we look at children,

00:32:11.839 --> 00:32:12.619
 young children,

00:32:12.619 --> 00:32:16.179
 I was,

00:32:16.179 --> 00:32:17.279
 coming back,

00:32:17.399 --> 00:32:18.239
 from Charlottetown,

00:32:18.819 --> 00:32:19.639
 and,

00:32:19.699 --> 00:32:20.859
 I was in a seat,

00:32:20.959 --> 00:32:21.959
 and there was an empty seat,

00:32:22.019 --> 00:32:22.479
 beside me,

00:32:22.500 --> 00:32:23.079
 and there was a mom,

00:32:23.159 --> 00:32:24.039
 with a young kid,

00:32:24.379 --> 00:32:25.639
 probably about a year and a half,

00:32:26.359 --> 00:32:26.579
 and,

00:32:26.639 --> 00:32:26.679
 you know,

00:32:26.699 --> 00:32:27.119
 one of the things,

00:32:27.219 --> 00:32:28.379
 about those young kids,

00:32:29.019 --> 00:32:29.359
 is,

00:32:29.359 --> 00:32:31.240
 they can have a toy,

00:32:31.359 --> 00:32:32.439
 or they can see something,

00:32:32.740 --> 00:32:33.740
 and you can just see,

00:32:33.879 --> 00:32:34.579
 that for a moment,

00:32:34.779 --> 00:32:35.819
 they're transfixed,

00:32:35.919 --> 00:32:37.059
 by what they're looking at,

00:32:38.699 --> 00:32:39.099
 like,

00:32:39.179 --> 00:32:40.279
 they're just transfixed,

00:32:40.500 --> 00:32:40.799
 by it,

00:32:41.259 --> 00:32:43.659
 and as they're transfixed,

00:32:43.759 --> 00:32:44.059
 by it,

00:32:44.119 --> 00:32:44.740
 this picture,

00:32:44.919 --> 00:32:45.639
 this toy,

00:32:46.779 --> 00:32:47.000
 I mean,

00:32:47.079 --> 00:32:47.759
 it wasn't a puppy,

00:32:47.799 --> 00:32:48.299
 on the plane,

00:32:48.379 --> 00:32:49.159
 but you see it,

00:32:49.279 --> 00:32:49.339
 if,

00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:49.819
 you know,

00:32:49.859 --> 00:32:50.979
 you have a little child,

00:32:51.079 --> 00:32:51.359
 come in,

00:32:51.399 --> 00:32:52.059
 where there's a puppy,

00:32:52.119 --> 00:32:53.319
 and they're just transfixed,

00:32:53.319 --> 00:32:53.779
 by it,

00:32:53.899 --> 00:32:54.919
 and you can tell,

00:32:55.019 --> 00:32:56.139
 that when they're transfixed,

00:32:56.139 --> 00:32:57.079
 by that puppy,

00:32:57.159 --> 00:32:57.740
 or that thing,

00:32:57.879 --> 00:32:58.039
 that,

00:32:58.039 --> 00:32:59.539
 that delightful thing,

00:32:59.599 --> 00:33:00.379
 or that the face,

00:33:00.420 --> 00:33:01.059
 of a person,

00:33:01.700 --> 00:33:02.359
 that it's as if,

00:33:02.399 --> 00:33:03.839
 they forget that they exist,

00:33:04.339 --> 00:33:05.899
 but not in a bad way,

00:33:06.619 --> 00:33:08.579
 you see,

00:33:08.639 --> 00:33:09.920
 here's what humility is,

00:33:10.940 --> 00:33:11.420
 humility,

00:33:11.420 --> 00:33:12.299
 is not self,

00:33:12.619 --> 00:33:13.700
 trash talk,

00:33:14.440 --> 00:33:14.720
 healing,

00:33:14.920 --> 00:33:15.319
 humility,

00:33:15.319 --> 00:33:16.420
 is a type of,

00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:17.279
 healing,

00:33:17.680 --> 00:33:19.000
 self forgetfulness,

00:33:19.220 --> 00:33:20.339
 that ennobles you,

00:33:21.819 --> 00:33:23.099
 biblical humility,

00:33:23.099 --> 00:33:23.559
 humility,

00:33:23.559 --> 00:33:24.460
 is a type of,

00:33:24.619 --> 00:33:25.019
 healing,

00:33:25.619 --> 00:33:26.879
 self forgetfulness,

00:33:26.880 --> 00:33:28.740
 that ennobles you,

00:33:29.220 --> 00:33:31.720
 and it's,

00:33:31.760 --> 00:33:33.620
 it's a self forgetfulness,

00:33:34.340 --> 00:33:36.340
 by looking at something,

00:33:36.880 --> 00:33:41.200
 that's good,

00:33:41.340 --> 00:33:41.960
 that's beautiful,

00:33:42.320 --> 00:33:43.120
 that's true,

00:33:43.380 --> 00:33:44.580
 that's blessing,

00:33:44.900 --> 00:33:46.020
 that's grace,

00:33:46.700 --> 00:33:50.160
 and as we look,

00:33:50.160 --> 00:33:53.040
 and think upon that,

00:33:53.040 --> 00:33:54.040
 which is grace,

00:33:54.540 --> 00:33:56.000
 which is beautiful,

00:33:56.500 --> 00:33:57.420
 which is good,

00:33:57.779 --> 00:33:58.759
 which is lovely,

00:33:59.340 --> 00:34:00.279
 which is true,

00:34:01.100 --> 00:34:04.019
 there can be moments,

00:34:04.180 --> 00:34:05.040
 even in our fallen,

00:34:05.140 --> 00:34:06.360
 fallen lives,

00:34:06.440 --> 00:34:07.759
 where we almost forget,

00:34:08.019 --> 00:34:08.380
 that we,

00:34:09.380 --> 00:34:09.680
 exist,

00:34:10.840 --> 00:34:12.159
 and that's humility,

00:34:12.159 --> 00:34:17.899
 and so,

00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:18.679
 what we see here,

00:34:18.799 --> 00:34:19.420
 with Abram,

00:34:20.199 --> 00:34:22.319
 is that,

00:34:22.819 --> 00:34:24.440
 after the,

00:34:24.940 --> 00:34:26.139
 bad time,

00:34:26.500 --> 00:34:27.539
 his screwing up,

00:34:27.819 --> 00:34:29.019
 by going into Egypt,

00:34:29.539 --> 00:34:31.299
 he's made the very long journey,

00:34:31.299 --> 00:34:31.940
 to go back,

00:34:32.079 --> 00:34:33.119
 to where grace is,

00:34:33.239 --> 00:34:34.159
 where blessing is,

00:34:34.940 --> 00:34:37.199
 and he goes back,

00:34:37.259 --> 00:34:38.219
 to that place of grace,

00:34:38.219 --> 00:34:38.819
 and blessing,

00:34:38.820 --> 00:34:40.760
 and he's thinking,

00:34:40.940 --> 00:34:41.320
 and looking,

00:34:41.440 --> 00:34:41.900
 in a sense,

00:34:42.080 --> 00:34:43.200
 in his mind's eye,

00:34:43.580 --> 00:34:44.660
 he's captivated,

00:34:44.660 --> 00:34:45.420
 with the blessing,

00:34:46.300 --> 00:34:48.280
 and as he's captivated,

00:34:48.280 --> 00:34:49.120
 with the blessing,

00:34:50.240 --> 00:34:51.220
 he is enabled,

00:34:51.820 --> 00:34:52.780
 he's freed up,

00:34:53.320 --> 00:34:54.500
 to be generous,

00:34:55.500 --> 00:34:57.880
 to be humble,

00:34:59.120 --> 00:34:59.840
 you see,

00:35:00.600 --> 00:35:01.860
 in Canada,

00:35:02.000 --> 00:35:02.680
 we think money,

00:35:02.680 --> 00:35:03.620
 will make peace,

00:35:04.500 --> 00:35:05.340
 and money,

00:35:05.519 --> 00:35:06.300
 doesn't make peace,

00:35:06.300 --> 00:35:08.760
 in the story,

00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:09.340
 we see,

00:35:11.220 --> 00:35:12.180
 the generosity,

00:35:15.460 --> 00:35:16.500
 self-effacingness,

00:35:16.560 --> 00:35:17.060
 and humility,

00:35:17.340 --> 00:35:18.500
 that's what creates peace,

00:35:18.560 --> 00:35:19.380
 in this situation,

00:35:20.180 --> 00:35:21.760
 and it flows,

00:35:22.760 --> 00:35:24.519
 out of a trust,

00:35:24.620 --> 00:35:25.280
 and a confidence,

00:35:25.920 --> 00:35:26.720
 and being gripped,

00:35:27.100 --> 00:35:27.720
 by the grace,

00:35:27.820 --> 00:35:28.340
 and the blessing,

00:35:29.620 --> 00:35:35.200
 but there's something,

00:35:35.200 --> 00:35:35.920
 deeper here,

00:35:35.920 --> 00:35:36.740
 which this story,

00:35:36.880 --> 00:35:37.559
 is forming us,

00:35:37.659 --> 00:35:38.300
 to receive,

00:35:40.340 --> 00:35:40.840
 you know,

00:35:40.960 --> 00:35:42.079
 I like watching movies,

00:35:42.200 --> 00:35:43.079
 I like reading books,

00:35:43.440 --> 00:35:44.360
 if you just,

00:35:44.579 --> 00:35:45.440
 if you were to look,

00:35:45.519 --> 00:35:46.000
 at Netflix,

00:35:46.180 --> 00:35:47.119
 or Amazon Prime,

00:35:47.220 --> 00:35:47.860
 and watch most,

00:35:47.880 --> 00:35:48.340
 of the things,

00:35:48.440 --> 00:35:49.300
 that they provide,

00:35:49.480 --> 00:35:49.900
 you would ever,

00:35:50.019 --> 00:35:50.500
 you would think,

00:35:50.619 --> 00:35:51.019
 that nobody,

00:35:51.019 --> 00:35:51.780
 in North America,

00:35:51.780 --> 00:35:52.820
 ever prays,

00:35:53.240 --> 00:35:55.260
 that nobody,

00:35:55.340 --> 00:35:55.940
 in North America,

00:35:55.940 --> 00:35:56.820
 ever goes to church,

00:35:56.900 --> 00:35:57.300
 that nobody,

00:35:57.300 --> 00:35:57.980
 in North America,

00:35:57.980 --> 00:35:58.940
 ever reads the Bible,

00:35:59.159 --> 00:35:59.380
 ever,

00:35:59.380 --> 00:35:59.880
 prayer,

00:35:59.880 --> 00:36:02.820
 and in some ways,

00:36:02.920 --> 00:36:04.019
 that helps to form us,

00:36:04.140 --> 00:36:05.140
 to why would we pray,

00:36:05.340 --> 00:36:06.300
 why would we read the Bible,

00:36:06.400 --> 00:36:07.440
 why would we go to church,

00:36:07.660 --> 00:36:09.160
 the stories of the world,

00:36:09.700 --> 00:36:11.119
 show that,

00:36:11.119 --> 00:36:12.660
 things happen in ways,

00:36:12.740 --> 00:36:13.460
 that those things,

00:36:13.519 --> 00:36:14.079
 are completely,

00:36:14.240 --> 00:36:15.079
 and utterly irrelevant,

00:36:15.079 --> 00:36:17.539
 this story,

00:36:17.539 --> 00:36:18.179
 forms us,

00:36:18.259 --> 00:36:18.960
 and prepares us,

00:36:19.059 --> 00:36:19.559
 for something,

00:36:19.639 --> 00:36:20.739
 which is very profound,

00:36:21.539 --> 00:36:23.319
 you see,

00:36:24.019 --> 00:36:25.400
 in the scripture readings,

00:36:26.079 --> 00:36:27.759
 I read the words,

00:36:27.860 --> 00:36:28.460
 of Jesus,

00:36:29.119 --> 00:36:29.940
 where Jesus says,

00:36:30.039 --> 00:36:30.940
 I am the good shepherd,

00:36:32.139 --> 00:36:32.500
 and the G,

00:36:32.619 --> 00:36:33.860
 and Jesus says,

00:36:33.960 --> 00:36:34.819
 amongst other things,

00:36:35.099 --> 00:36:36.360
 I am the good shepherd,

00:36:36.880 --> 00:36:38.380
 and I know my sheep,

00:36:38.579 --> 00:36:39.559
 my sheep know my name,

00:36:39.639 --> 00:36:41.000
 and I lay down,

00:36:41.159 --> 00:36:42.440
 my life for the sheep,

00:36:43.440 --> 00:36:44.679
 and on one hand,

00:36:44.679 --> 00:36:45.419
 we know that's not,

00:36:45.500 --> 00:36:46.579
 the way the world works,

00:36:48.539 --> 00:36:49.179
 shepherds,

00:36:49.699 --> 00:36:50.480
 shear the sheep,

00:36:50.739 --> 00:36:51.519
 and then eat them,

00:36:52.119 --> 00:36:54.440
 why,

00:36:54.579 --> 00:36:54.940
 because,

00:36:55.239 --> 00:36:55.859
 I'm a shepherd,

00:36:55.960 --> 00:36:56.639
 I'm a human being,

00:36:57.919 --> 00:36:59.059
 the sheep is a sheep,

00:37:03.059 --> 00:37:04.259
 Abraham is the greater,

00:37:05.480 --> 00:37:07.039
 and he sets aside,

00:37:07.199 --> 00:37:08.139
 his prerogatives,

00:37:08.919 --> 00:37:10.379
 and his power,

00:37:11.339 --> 00:37:13.779
 and his rights,

00:37:14.679 --> 00:37:16.839
 for the good,

00:37:17.539 --> 00:37:18.779
 of peace,

00:37:19.279 --> 00:37:22.339
 and that prepares us,

00:37:22.339 --> 00:37:23.859
 for Jesus to say,

00:37:24.899 --> 00:37:25.259
 I,

00:37:25.980 --> 00:37:26.500
 the shepherd,

00:37:26.940 --> 00:37:27.559
 will lay down,

00:37:27.679 --> 00:37:28.739
 my life for sheep,

00:37:29.259 --> 00:37:30.419
 and it prepares us,

00:37:30.419 --> 00:37:31.099
 to understand,

00:37:31.279 --> 00:37:31.919
 that the difference,

00:37:32.000 --> 00:37:32.519
 between,

00:37:32.699 --> 00:37:34.000
 God,

00:37:34.059 --> 00:37:34.719
 and me,

00:37:34.819 --> 00:37:35.339
 is bigger,

00:37:35.460 --> 00:37:36.039
 than the difference,

00:37:36.119 --> 00:37:36.659
 between me,

00:37:36.699 --> 00:37:37.319
 and a sheep,

00:37:37.320 --> 00:37:39.300
 and if there's anyone,

00:37:39.300 --> 00:37:39.860
 that,

00:37:40.180 --> 00:37:40.420
 that,

00:37:40.420 --> 00:37:41.300
 like,

00:37:42.500 --> 00:37:43.400
 why would God,

00:37:43.539 --> 00:37:45.120
 set aside his prerogatives,

00:37:45.480 --> 00:37:46.240
 why would he,

00:37:46.500 --> 00:37:47.860
 set aside his rights,

00:37:48.220 --> 00:37:49.280
 why would he,

00:37:49.400 --> 00:37:51.100
 set any of those things aside,

00:37:52.100 --> 00:37:54.220
 and in humility,

00:37:54.920 --> 00:37:56.400
 do something for me,

00:37:56.400 --> 00:37:59.760
 and that's what this story,

00:37:59.760 --> 00:38:00.860
 prepares us for,

00:38:01.300 --> 00:38:02.900
 for us to hear,

00:38:02.960 --> 00:38:03.760
 the words of Jesus,

00:38:03.960 --> 00:38:04.380
 and to know,

00:38:04.539 --> 00:38:05.280
 that they are true,

00:38:05.420 --> 00:38:06.619
 that he is the good shepherd,

00:38:06.740 --> 00:38:07.320
 and he lays down,

00:38:07.400 --> 00:38:08.380
 his life for the sheep,

00:38:08.920 --> 00:38:11.260
 you see,

00:38:11.360 --> 00:38:12.000
 in the gospel,

00:38:12.139 --> 00:38:13.240
 we have this profound,

00:38:13.240 --> 00:38:14.400
 gift of grace,

00:38:14.800 --> 00:38:15.980
 this profound,

00:38:15.980 --> 00:38:16.820
 blessing,

00:38:16.820 --> 00:38:19.420
 that we are,

00:38:19.539 --> 00:38:20.840
 at enmity with God,

00:38:21.019 --> 00:38:22.380
 at enmity with ourselves,

00:38:22.680 --> 00:38:24.019
 at enmity with each other,

00:38:24.160 --> 00:38:24.820
 and at enmity,

00:38:25.019 --> 00:38:25.760
 not always,

00:38:26.940 --> 00:38:28.580
 but at enmity with creation,

00:38:28.960 --> 00:38:30.320
 and we want to be first,

00:38:30.559 --> 00:38:32.019
 and we can't fix this,

00:38:33.000 --> 00:38:35.019
 and God sets aside his prerogatives,

00:38:35.200 --> 00:38:36.600
 and God humbles himself,

00:38:36.840 --> 00:38:38.039
 and God is generous,

00:38:38.680 --> 00:38:39.720
 and God does,

00:38:39.720 --> 00:38:41.240
 what we cannot do for ourselves,

00:38:41.400 --> 00:38:41.960
 and God,

00:38:42.360 --> 00:38:43.420
 in the person of his son,

00:38:44.140 --> 00:38:45.740
 makes the way of peace,

00:38:45.739 --> 00:38:47.739
 that we can,

00:38:49.039 --> 00:38:50.119
 if we receive it,

00:38:50.859 --> 00:38:51.739
 know the blessing,

00:38:52.679 --> 00:38:54.919
 of his love for us,

00:38:55.239 --> 00:38:56.439
 the blessing,

00:38:57.099 --> 00:39:00.559
 of his desire to be with us,

00:39:01.439 --> 00:39:02.179
 the blessing,

00:39:03.259 --> 00:39:04.839
 of not just being his sheep,

00:39:04.959 --> 00:39:05.979
 that he will care for,

00:39:07.199 --> 00:39:08.619
 but that we can be his sons,

00:39:08.619 --> 00:39:09.179
 and daughters,

00:39:09.319 --> 00:39:10.019
 and his friends,

00:39:11.019 --> 00:39:14.079
 and so,

00:39:14.779 --> 00:39:15.279
 Christ,

00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:16.719
 invites us,

00:39:17.039 --> 00:39:18.199
 to be once again,

00:39:18.939 --> 00:39:21.759
 enraptured,

00:39:21.979 --> 00:39:23.879
 have our eyes fixed on,

00:39:24.619 --> 00:39:26.579
 to understand grace,

00:39:27.219 --> 00:39:29.039
 because,

00:39:29.279 --> 00:39:30.539
 as that is what,

00:39:30.539 --> 00:39:31.919
 grips our heart,

00:39:32.000 --> 00:39:33.000
 at a deeper level,

00:39:33.619 --> 00:39:35.519
 what happens is,

00:39:35.879 --> 00:39:36.879
 that we are freed up,

00:39:36.959 --> 00:39:37.679
 to be generous,

00:39:38.799 --> 00:39:39.559
 we are freed up,

00:39:39.619 --> 00:39:40.159
 to be humble,

00:39:41.259 --> 00:39:42.059
 we are freed up,

00:39:42.119 --> 00:39:43.079
 to be peacemakers,

00:39:43.079 --> 00:39:46.639
 the humble,

00:39:46.639 --> 00:39:47.179
 are lighter,

00:39:47.539 --> 00:39:48.219
 than the proud,

00:39:50.319 --> 00:39:52.000
 the generous,

00:39:52.539 --> 00:39:53.059
 are lighter,

00:39:53.059 --> 00:39:53.719
 than the greedy,

00:39:54.279 --> 00:39:56.119
 and the peacemakers,

00:39:56.420 --> 00:39:57.279
 are lighter,

00:39:57.400 --> 00:39:58.059
 and more beautiful,

00:39:58.599 --> 00:39:59.139
 than the ones,

00:39:59.219 --> 00:39:59.799
 who make war,

00:39:59.800 --> 00:40:04.440
 and Christ,

00:40:04.539 --> 00:40:05.220
 is calling you,

00:40:06.100 --> 00:40:06.680
 to come back,

00:40:06.740 --> 00:40:07.480
 to that place,

00:40:08.480 --> 00:40:10.300
 to be,

00:40:10.300 --> 00:40:11.600
 gripped by the gospel,

00:40:12.920 --> 00:40:13.740
 let's stand,

00:40:13.739 --> 00:40:32.059
 father,

00:40:32.059 --> 00:40:33.059
 we very simply,

00:40:33.059 --> 00:40:33.440
 we very simply ask,

00:40:33.440 --> 00:40:34.279
 that you would make us,

00:40:34.279 --> 00:40:35.259
 disciples of Jesus,

00:40:35.400 --> 00:40:35.880
 who are gripped,

00:40:35.980 --> 00:40:36.639
 by the gospel,

00:40:37.579 --> 00:40:38.779
 that you would make us,

00:40:38.900 --> 00:40:39.619
 people who are,

00:40:40.099 --> 00:40:40.599
 once again,

00:40:41.039 --> 00:40:42.019
 we come together,

00:40:42.579 --> 00:40:43.759
 to hear your word,

00:40:44.480 --> 00:40:45.299
 to hear of,

00:40:45.440 --> 00:40:46.059
 how your son,

00:40:46.139 --> 00:40:46.960
 humbled himself,

00:40:47.400 --> 00:40:48.119
 even to the point,

00:40:48.119 --> 00:40:48.480
 of death,

00:40:48.480 --> 00:40:49.199
 on the cross,

00:40:49.199 --> 00:40:51.119
 so that we might be free,

00:40:51.739 --> 00:40:52.900
 that we might live,

00:40:53.599 --> 00:40:54.679
 that we might be free,

00:40:54.799 --> 00:40:55.159
 in you,

00:40:55.679 --> 00:40:56.460
 that we might live,

00:40:56.539 --> 00:40:57.199
 in your blessing,

00:40:57.639 --> 00:40:58.759
 a blessing,

00:40:58.900 --> 00:40:59.339
 that begins,

00:40:59.339 --> 00:41:00.460
 on this side of death,

00:41:00.539 --> 00:41:01.639
 and will progress,

00:41:01.819 --> 00:41:02.460
 day by day,

00:41:02.639 --> 00:41:04.099
 and till that day,

00:41:04.619 --> 00:41:05.719
 when our eyes close,

00:41:05.799 --> 00:41:06.259
 in death,

00:41:07.119 --> 00:41:08.539
 but open in your presence,

00:41:08.960 --> 00:41:09.980
 and you welcome us,

00:41:10.339 --> 00:41:11.139
 into your kingdom,

00:41:11.279 --> 00:41:11.819
 in the new heaven,

00:41:11.859 --> 00:41:12.420
 in the new earth,

00:41:12.519 --> 00:41:12.799
 forever,

00:41:13.480 --> 00:41:15.420
 in a redeemed creation,

00:41:16.159 --> 00:41:16.679
 with all,

00:41:16.799 --> 00:41:17.480
 who are redeemed,

00:41:17.480 --> 00:41:19.300
 and we ask Lord,

00:41:19.380 --> 00:41:20.719
 that you would grip us afresh,

00:41:21.360 --> 00:41:23.099
 with the wonder of grace,

00:41:24.420 --> 00:41:25.960
 so that we might be freed up,

00:41:27.519 --> 00:41:28.639
 to be generous,

00:41:29.199 --> 00:41:29.920
 to be humble,

00:41:30.599 --> 00:41:31.599
 to make peace,

00:41:31.760 --> 00:41:32.219
 where we are,

00:41:33.340 --> 00:41:34.300
 for the good of people,

00:41:34.880 --> 00:41:35.840
 for the good of the city,

00:41:36.719 --> 00:41:37.539
 for our good,

00:41:38.519 --> 00:41:39.240
 and your glory,

00:41:40.000 --> 00:41:41.500
 and we ask all this,

00:41:41.579 --> 00:41:42.340
 in the name of Jesus,

00:41:42.519 --> 00:41:42.880
 your son,

00:41:42.960 --> 00:41:43.500
 and our savior,

00:41:44.360 --> 00:41:44.740
 amen.