WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.000
 Okay, boy do I feel overwhelmed today. I was on the way here and Zach said well if you're not overwhelmed by this then something would be wrong with your spirit.

00:00:11.000 --> 00:00:39.859
 So over the holiday we just had I had a chance to go on a five and a half hour car ride with my brother, my sister-in-law and my three nieces all in the same car and that's their seven, six and eleven months and the oldest one Addison she really talks a lot about God and always talks about what God is teaching her and telling me new memory verses.

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 And on the way down there to South Georgia she said where does God come from Uncle Clay? Who made God? And I was like whoa man.

00:00:53.979 --> 00:01:07.099
 And I just kind of didn't expect that to come from her and I kind of just said I tried to sound all theological and tried to let me come down to your level little girl kind of thing.

00:01:07.099 --> 00:01:17.459
 And I was just tongue tied. I couldn't even spit it out. But I basically said no one made God like you were made. God made you but no one made God.

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 And that's the best I could come up with. She went okay.

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 And like in that moment while my head is still spinning it made me realize that the very person of God is so simple that a seven year old can understand it.

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 And so absolutely complex that it's made the greatest theologians just go crazy because they can't really fully grasp who God is.

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 And so how we think about God will determine every other thing in life.

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 Most all the men in the past who have taught the word of God said that you have to start at the very beginning you have to start with who God is.

00:02:04.259 --> 00:02:07.179
 And then after that who man is in light of in light of that.

00:02:08.180 --> 00:02:11.439
 So how do you think of the living God?

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 And A.W. Tozer, he wrote,

00:02:15.340 --> 00:02:23.639
 When we are able to extract from any man a complete answer to the question, what comes into your mind when you think about God,

00:02:24.099 --> 00:02:29.620
 we might predict with certainty the spiritual future of that man.

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 Without doubt, the mightiest thought the mind can entertain is his thoughts of God.

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 And the weightiest word in the language is its word for God.

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 And so why is that true?

00:02:43.379 --> 00:02:49.379
 Because our thoughts and beliefs about God Almighty will affect every single area of our life,

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 public, private, who we are in front of people, who we are behind closed doors,

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 how we treat other people around us, those we love as well as those that we tend to hate.

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 It will affect not just our actions, but our motives behind actions.

00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:07.759
 It will impact every area of our life.

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 And how big or how little God is to you will determine the outcome of your life in a lot of ways.

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 So I definitely feel overwhelmed at this.

00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:24.560
 So my goal tonight is you're going to be lost.

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 Because I was lost all day and all day yesterday.

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 But I just hope you're not utterly lost.

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 I hope that you're able to grab a few things.

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 Because this is not the kind of stuff that you talk about typically with your friends.

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 I hope you do after this.

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 So Moses is called the greatest servant of God in the whole Bible.

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 He really is.

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 He's called that.

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 He had so much entrusted to him by God.

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 And on the mountain here, he experienced God's covenant faithfulness.

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 God is saying that,

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 I remember my covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

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 And I'm going to come down to deliver my people from slavery.

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 And it's a divine human interaction where it leaves Moses just shocked with the sheer reality of who God is.

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 He's terrified, in fact.

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 And the reality of God is so huge that no human terms can really grasp it.

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 And so a point where thinkers like me are forced to just say,

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 Oh well, you know, that when all our reason fails and our intellectual powers can't go any higher,

00:04:39.840 --> 00:04:44.680
 we just have to bow and humble adoration and worship of who God is.

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 John Calvin, definitely one of the greatest theologians for sure.

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 He wrote,

00:04:51.220 --> 00:04:56.360
 It is evident that man never attains to a true self-knowledge

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 until he has previously contemplated the face of God

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 and come down after such contemplation to look into himself.

00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:06.800
 Very powerful.

00:05:07.040 --> 00:05:10.100
 You have to first understand who you are after looking at God.

00:05:10.340 --> 00:05:11.780
 Because you think that you're awesome,

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 and you think that you're a good person,

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 and in the light of everybody else,

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 but then when you actually approach God,

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 you see that you're not.

00:05:20.860 --> 00:05:23.440
 And that's true for everybody,

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 and those in Scripture as well.

00:05:25.680 --> 00:05:29.540
 So, names are important in the Bible.

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 They don't just,

00:05:31.160 --> 00:05:33.060
 names always have intention in Scripture.

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 I don't know why your parents named you what they did.

00:05:38.260 --> 00:05:41.440
 I really do think the only reason my parents named me Clay

00:05:41.440 --> 00:05:42.880
 was they thought it was a cool Southern name.

00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:44.620
 That was really the only reason.

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 So, my brother's name is Lee,

00:05:47.219 --> 00:05:50.060
 so that also ties in with that idea.

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 So, but still,

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 in Scripture,

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 someone's name signifies their character,

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 their ability,

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 or their mission,

00:06:00.540 --> 00:06:00.980
 typically.

00:06:01.399 --> 00:06:03.899
 And especially when they're named by God Himself.

00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:05.959
 Adam named his wife Eve

00:06:05.959 --> 00:06:07.519
 because she was the mother of all life.

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 That's what her name means.

00:06:08.540 --> 00:06:11.280
 Abraham was,

00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:12.300
 Abram was named that

00:06:12.300 --> 00:06:13.960
 because he would be the father of all nations,

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 or many nations.

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 And Jesus named that

00:06:19.319 --> 00:06:20.760
 definitely an intentional name,

00:06:21.260 --> 00:06:22.780
 meaning that He would save His people.

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 He'd be the Savior.

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 So, names are given for a reason.

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 And the name that we read here,

00:06:29.840 --> 00:06:31.439
 that God actually tells Moses,

00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:34.060
 I was thinking,

00:06:34.279 --> 00:06:35.240
 probably pretty soon,

00:06:35.279 --> 00:06:36.160
 I want to show my niece,

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 the oldest two,

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 the Prince of Egypt movie,

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 so they could actually start to kind of understand

00:06:40.240 --> 00:06:41.779
 some of this stuff.

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 Pretty good movie to start off short with,

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 for sure.

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 But,

00:06:46.500 --> 00:06:47.379
 God's name,

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 the most common,

00:06:48.939 --> 00:06:51.339
 the most important name in the Old Testament,

00:06:51.879 --> 00:06:52.839
 is what we read here.

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 I am who I am.

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 And,

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 it is a Hebrew verb for,

00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:00.939
 to be,

00:07:01.799 --> 00:07:03.079
 or to exist.

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 And,

00:07:04.799 --> 00:07:05.679
 so simply put,

00:07:06.500 --> 00:07:08.259
 this is the simplest thing I could say.

00:07:08.339 --> 00:07:10.000
 We're going to talk about how complex it is

00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:10.739
 the rest of the night.

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 But,

00:07:11.399 --> 00:07:13.959
 the simplest way I could say it is that God was saying,

00:07:14.839 --> 00:07:16.399
 I will be who I will be.

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 That's what He was telling Moses

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 in the simplest sense,

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 I believe.

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 And,

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 that,

00:07:24.579 --> 00:07:27.899
 in our English translations of the Bible,

00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:28.759
 whenever you see,

00:07:29.259 --> 00:07:30.219
 like a capital,

00:07:31.120 --> 00:07:31.899
 all capitals,

00:07:32.019 --> 00:07:33.199
 L-O-R-D,

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 it's a substitute word,

00:07:35.560 --> 00:07:36.500
 a lot of the time,

00:07:37.399 --> 00:07:38.079
 for,

00:07:39.120 --> 00:07:40.719
 a four letter name,

00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:41.399
 in Hebrew,

00:07:42.159 --> 00:07:43.620
 Y-H-W-H,

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 and when you read it,

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 it sounds like,

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 Yahweh.

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 That's what it sounds like.

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 So,

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 we think it would be pronounced that way.

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 And,

00:07:51.579 --> 00:07:54.500
 the Hebrews regarded this name with such reverence and awe,

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 they didn't even speak it out loud,

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 because they were afraid that they would use it in a vain way,

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 and,

00:08:00.439 --> 00:08:01.920
 break the commandment.

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 So,

00:08:02.160 --> 00:08:02.540
 they only,

00:08:03.319 --> 00:08:05.120
 and usually they didn't really even write it either.

00:08:05.120 --> 00:08:08.360
 they had such fear and reverence for it.

00:08:08.360 --> 00:08:09.199
 And so,

00:08:09.399 --> 00:08:10.300
 so,

00:08:10.300 --> 00:08:12.019
 translators would actually,

00:08:12.720 --> 00:08:13.639
 write,

00:08:14.379 --> 00:08:14.980
 Adonai,

00:08:15.220 --> 00:08:15.540
 Lord,

00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:16.240
 my Lord.

00:08:17.060 --> 00:08:17.540
 And,

00:08:17.899 --> 00:08:20.280
 the English translations follow the same pattern.

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 that's why it's the capital L-O-R-D.

00:08:23.079 --> 00:08:23.419
 And,

00:08:23.459 --> 00:08:24.899
 it's really not a satisfactory,

00:08:25.939 --> 00:08:27.019
 when you really look at it,

00:08:27.739 --> 00:08:28.799
 way of interpreting that,

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 because,

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 it's very general.

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 Like,

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 names are supposed to be specific.

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 So,

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 not quite that satisfactory,

00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:37.220
 but the importance of this name,

00:08:37.320 --> 00:08:38.400
 that can't be underestimated,

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 it's used,

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 6,828 times in the Old Testament.

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 That's more than three times,

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 for the name Elohim,

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 which God has also called,

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 that's three times greater than that.

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 And,

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 it shows that,

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 that God does have a certain character,

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 a mission,

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 and aim,

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 for what he,

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 for who he is.

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 And,

00:08:59.639 --> 00:09:00.600
 even the word Jehovah,

00:09:01.399 --> 00:09:03.259
 originated as an attempt to pronounce,

00:09:03.480 --> 00:09:03.820
 you know,

00:09:04.039 --> 00:09:04.340
 um,

00:09:04.960 --> 00:09:06.679
 pronounce the consonants of Yahweh.

00:09:07.060 --> 00:09:07.179
 It,

00:09:07.700 --> 00:09:08.799
 where you hear the word Jehovah,

00:09:08.940 --> 00:09:09.379
 it was a,

00:09:09.740 --> 00:09:11.799
 they would say the vowels from the word Adonai,

00:09:12.360 --> 00:09:13.620
 and there really are no,

00:09:13.620 --> 00:09:14.060
 no,

00:09:14.899 --> 00:09:15.299
 uh,

00:09:15.299 --> 00:09:16.740
 no vowels in the Old Hebrew.

00:09:16.980 --> 00:09:17.159
 So,

00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:17.940
 like,

00:09:18.039 --> 00:09:18.220
 it,

00:09:18.759 --> 00:09:20.000
 so it comes out that way,

00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:20.600
 Jehovah.

00:09:21.000 --> 00:09:21.180
 So,

00:09:21.180 --> 00:09:22.039
 that's where they get that from.

00:09:22.180 --> 00:09:22.279
 So,

00:09:22.840 --> 00:09:23.539
 you can kind of like,

00:09:23.680 --> 00:09:24.860
 tell the witnesses that,

00:09:24.940 --> 00:09:25.740
 if they show up at your door,

00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:26.159
 that really,

00:09:26.259 --> 00:09:27.100
 that's not God's original,

00:09:27.120 --> 00:09:27.560
 original name.

00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:28.240
 That was a made up,

00:09:28.659 --> 00:09:30.460
 substitute name for who God was.

00:09:31.080 --> 00:09:31.360
 Um,

00:09:31.480 --> 00:09:31.840
 so,

00:09:32.460 --> 00:09:33.139
 really not.

00:09:34.039 --> 00:09:34.399
 Uh,

00:09:35.080 --> 00:09:36.500
 so when we think about this,

00:09:36.560 --> 00:09:37.460
 we're going to,

00:09:37.460 --> 00:09:37.940
 try to,

00:09:38.340 --> 00:09:39.259
 man,

00:09:39.679 --> 00:09:41.259
 everything we're going to talk about,

00:09:41.340 --> 00:09:41.740
 is all,

00:09:41.980 --> 00:09:43.620
 connected to the previous point,

00:09:43.679 --> 00:09:43.919
 okay?

00:09:44.799 --> 00:09:45.080
 Like,

00:09:45.179 --> 00:09:45.879
 it really is,

00:09:46.000 --> 00:09:46.539
 you know,

00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:48.700
 it's going to sound like I might even go over some of the same,

00:09:48.700 --> 00:09:49.779
 ground,

00:09:49.960 --> 00:09:50.259
 but,

00:09:50.340 --> 00:09:51.180
 that's not my intention.

00:09:51.899 --> 00:09:52.100
 So,

00:09:52.200 --> 00:09:54.159
 what is God trying to communicate to us,

00:09:54.200 --> 00:09:55.019
 through his name?

00:09:56.000 --> 00:09:56.360
 And,

00:09:56.360 --> 00:09:58.960
 I think I have five things,

00:09:59.399 --> 00:10:00.639
 but the first one is,

00:10:00.800 --> 00:10:02.800
 is that God is one.

00:10:03.580 --> 00:10:04.419
 God is one.

00:10:06.680 --> 00:10:07.000
 And,

00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:09.539
 I'll give you some ways to kind of explain this,

00:10:09.659 --> 00:10:09.820
 but,

00:10:10.419 --> 00:10:11.039
 it basically,

00:10:11.180 --> 00:10:13.300
 it means that God is unified in his being.

00:10:13.460 --> 00:10:13.580
 Like,

00:10:13.580 --> 00:10:14.500
 he is unified.

00:10:14.500 --> 00:10:14.700
 Unified.

00:10:15.419 --> 00:10:15.779
 And,

00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:16.320
 the old,

00:10:16.440 --> 00:10:17.700
 older theologians would say,

00:10:17.820 --> 00:10:18.259
 this is,

00:10:18.820 --> 00:10:20.639
 call it the simplicity of God.

00:10:21.840 --> 00:10:21.820
 Um,

00:10:21.940 --> 00:10:23.059
 they say unified today,

00:10:23.139 --> 00:10:23.659
 because simple,

00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:25.080
 sounds like,

00:10:25.200 --> 00:10:25.460
 duh,

00:10:25.600 --> 00:10:26.000
 kind of,

00:10:26.059 --> 00:10:26.659
 kind of thing,

00:10:26.720 --> 00:10:27.559
 but it doesn't mean,

00:10:28.019 --> 00:10:28.779
 quite that.

00:10:29.139 --> 00:10:29.360
 And,

00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:31.080
 but in the truest sense,

00:10:31.139 --> 00:10:32.480
 it means that God is without,

00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:34.720
 parts or sections.

00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:36.879
 Um,

00:10:36.879 --> 00:10:37.659
 at the same time,

00:10:37.720 --> 00:10:39.700
 we can see different parts of God's character,

00:10:40.039 --> 00:10:41.600
 emphasized at different times.

00:10:41.700 --> 00:10:44.019
 God is not chopped up and divided up.

00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:45.519
 He is one in his being,

00:10:45.879 --> 00:10:47.120
 at all times.

00:10:47.800 --> 00:10:48.879
 God is without,

00:10:48.879 --> 00:10:50.659
 like,

00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:51.759
 components.

00:10:52.300 --> 00:10:52.800
 He's not,

00:10:53.019 --> 00:10:53.399
 um,

00:10:54.120 --> 00:10:55.360
 he's completely God,

00:10:55.440 --> 00:10:56.220
 at all times.

00:10:56.920 --> 00:10:59.060
 And there is no potential in God.

00:10:59.160 --> 00:11:00.920
 God couldn't change anything about himself.

00:11:01.300 --> 00:11:03.399
 He couldn't improve anything about himself.

00:11:04.080 --> 00:11:04.480
 We all,

00:11:04.519 --> 00:11:06.100
 we all could have better potential,

00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:07.519
 or hopefully most of us,

00:11:07.820 --> 00:11:09.340
 could really work on who we are.

00:11:09.720 --> 00:11:09.980
 But,

00:11:10.580 --> 00:11:12.340
 God couldn't change or improve anything.

00:11:12.440 --> 00:11:13.600
 He simply is.

00:11:14.200 --> 00:11:15.840
 He simply is God.

00:11:16.460 --> 00:11:17.840
 And he reveals himself,

00:11:17.960 --> 00:11:18.820
 in all his fullness,

00:11:19.560 --> 00:11:20.779
 in such a simple way.

00:11:21.279 --> 00:11:21.639
 Just saying,

00:11:21.639 --> 00:11:21.860
 like,

00:11:21.940 --> 00:11:22.500
 this is me.

00:11:23.040 --> 00:11:23.980
 This is who I am.

00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:24.940
 And it's supposed to be,

00:11:24.940 --> 00:11:27.380
 kind of an overwhelming thought.

00:11:28.400 --> 00:11:29.280
 And that,

00:11:29.760 --> 00:11:30.560
 um,

00:11:30.560 --> 00:11:31.520
 God is,

00:11:31.820 --> 00:11:33.600
 all that he is,

00:11:34.100 --> 00:11:35.180
 at all times.

00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:37.160
 At all times.

00:11:37.220 --> 00:11:38.260
 He doesn't cease to be,

00:11:38.260 --> 00:11:39.180
 good.

00:11:39.280 --> 00:11:40.260
 He doesn't cease to be,

00:11:40.260 --> 00:11:41.380
 loving at any moment.

00:11:41.520 --> 00:11:42.120
 He's always,

00:11:42.260 --> 00:11:43.300
 fully God,

00:11:43.400 --> 00:11:44.220
 at all times.

00:11:44.260 --> 00:11:45.180
 All of who he is.

00:11:45.940 --> 00:11:46.320
 And so,

00:11:46.400 --> 00:11:47.160
 it's supposed to be,

00:11:47.220 --> 00:11:48.820
 it's supposed to be a stunning idea,

00:11:48.940 --> 00:11:50.640
 that overwhelms the mind,

00:11:50.700 --> 00:11:51.000
 of like,

00:11:51.040 --> 00:11:51.600
 I can see,

00:11:52.120 --> 00:11:53.200
 the depth of this,

00:11:53.760 --> 00:11:54.200
 canyon,

00:11:54.200 --> 00:11:55.480
 but I can't reach the bottom,

00:11:55.600 --> 00:11:56.259
 kind of feeling,

00:11:56.360 --> 00:11:57.080
 when you actually,

00:11:57.080 --> 00:11:58.800
 ponder who God is.

00:11:59.480 --> 00:11:59.740
 So,

00:11:59.940 --> 00:12:01.060
 in relation to,

00:12:01.640 --> 00:12:02.780
 God's attributes,

00:12:03.320 --> 00:12:03.640
 okay,

00:12:04.600 --> 00:12:04.900
 um,

00:12:04.900 --> 00:12:06.160
 in relation to God's attributes,

00:12:06.360 --> 00:12:07.060
 when we say that,

00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:09.759
 how that relates to the simplicity of God,

00:12:09.840 --> 00:12:10.860
 or the unity of God,

00:12:11.580 --> 00:12:11.980
 um,

00:12:12.259 --> 00:12:13.180
 some of you may know,

00:12:13.259 --> 00:12:13.420
 but,

00:12:14.020 --> 00:12:16.400
 most people kind of divide God's attributes,

00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:16.840
 into like,

00:12:16.900 --> 00:12:18.320
 two different categories.

00:12:18.440 --> 00:12:19.300
 They say that he has,

00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:21.080
 communicable,

00:12:21.080 --> 00:12:22.160
 attributes,

00:12:22.160 --> 00:12:23.200
 which mean like,

00:12:23.660 --> 00:12:24.120
 love,

00:12:25.020 --> 00:12:25.540
 goodness,

00:12:26.400 --> 00:12:27.200
 kindness,

00:12:27.680 --> 00:12:28.600
 those kind of things,

00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:29.540
 mercy,

00:12:30.080 --> 00:12:30.920
 and they're communicable,

00:12:30.980 --> 00:12:31.660
 because we,

00:12:31.820 --> 00:12:32.600
 as humans,

00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:33.080
 can,

00:12:33.800 --> 00:12:35.300
 somewhat understand them,

00:12:35.720 --> 00:12:37.080
 and somewhat experience them.

00:12:37.740 --> 00:12:38.060
 Uh,

00:12:38.060 --> 00:12:38.920
 we can relate to them,

00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:39.660
 to some degree,

00:12:39.740 --> 00:12:40.460
 but not perfectly,

00:12:40.540 --> 00:12:41.120
 but we can.

00:12:41.660 --> 00:12:42.100
 And then,

00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:43.400
 the other category,

00:12:43.520 --> 00:12:44.740
 they put as attributes in,

00:12:45.180 --> 00:12:45.660
 are called,

00:12:45.860 --> 00:12:46.539
 incommunicable,

00:12:47.079 --> 00:12:48.539
 meaning that we have no idea,

00:12:49.219 --> 00:12:49.959
 what this is.

00:12:50.959 --> 00:12:50.559
 Um,

00:12:51.100 --> 00:12:51.980
 there are attributes like,

00:12:52.059 --> 00:12:52.740
 omnipotence,

00:12:52.860 --> 00:12:53.839
 God is all powerful,

00:12:54.679 --> 00:12:55.339
 omnipresence,

00:12:55.399 --> 00:12:55.980
 he can be at,

00:12:56.179 --> 00:12:57.339
 presently at all places,

00:12:57.339 --> 00:12:58.079
 at all time,

00:12:58.519 --> 00:12:59.639
 we have no idea,

00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:00.559
 what that's like.

00:13:01.219 --> 00:13:01.519
 So,

00:13:02.779 --> 00:13:04.539
 God in his attributes,

00:13:05.559 --> 00:13:05.959
 and so,

00:13:06.079 --> 00:13:06.939
 how does this relate,

00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:07.759
 to God's unity,

00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:08.139
 okay,

00:13:08.959 --> 00:13:10.159
 this is a big deal.

00:13:11.339 --> 00:13:12.620
 It basically means,

00:13:12.659 --> 00:13:13.079
 that,

00:13:14.120 --> 00:13:15.279
 the being of God,

00:13:15.659 --> 00:13:17.299
 and the attributes of God,

00:13:18.059 --> 00:13:19.120
 are one and the same.

00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:20.899
 And that,

00:13:21.459 --> 00:13:22.679
 they're so closely,

00:13:22.679 --> 00:13:23.620
 tied together,

00:13:24.459 --> 00:13:25.500
 that they act,

00:13:26.079 --> 00:13:26.879
 all at once.

00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:28.919
 And that,

00:13:29.839 --> 00:13:30.299
 um,

00:13:30.459 --> 00:13:31.899
 man,

00:13:31.980 --> 00:13:32.779
 even just to think about this,

00:13:32.819 --> 00:13:33.620
 just blows my mind,

00:13:34.379 --> 00:13:35.240
 that his character,

00:13:35.419 --> 00:13:36.379
 is one with his being,

00:13:36.439 --> 00:13:37.100
 in such a way,

00:13:37.240 --> 00:13:37.600
 that,

00:13:38.179 --> 00:13:38.579
 um,

00:13:39.019 --> 00:13:40.539
 he is his attributes.

00:13:42.100 --> 00:13:42.539
 Okay,

00:13:42.579 --> 00:13:43.100
 I'm going to give you,

00:13:43.199 --> 00:13:44.279
 an example of this.

00:13:44.939 --> 00:13:45.360
 Okay,

00:13:45.680 --> 00:13:46.019
 um,

00:13:47.379 --> 00:13:48.399
 it doesn't just mean,

00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:48.980
 that God,

00:13:49.620 --> 00:13:50.779
 has justice,

00:13:51.259 --> 00:13:52.360
 it means that he is,

00:13:52.440 --> 00:13:52.980
 just.

00:13:53.539 --> 00:13:53.779
 Like,

00:13:53.779 --> 00:13:54.899
 he is the very definition,

00:13:54.899 --> 00:13:55.460
 of these things.

00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:56.700
 Not that he has goodness,

00:13:57.200 --> 00:13:58.200
 it's that he is,

00:13:58.539 --> 00:13:58.820
 goodness.

00:13:59.539 --> 00:14:00.220
 See the difference?

00:14:00.340 --> 00:14:00.460
 Like,

00:14:00.500 --> 00:14:00.740
 we can,

00:14:00.800 --> 00:14:01.840
 we can do those things,

00:14:01.940 --> 00:14:02.860
 we can have those things,

00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:04.560
 but God fully is,

00:14:04.560 --> 00:14:05.200
 the definition,

00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:06.220
 of those things.

00:14:07.100 --> 00:14:07.539
 And,

00:14:07.620 --> 00:14:08.100
 that,

00:14:08.379 --> 00:14:08.720
 um,

00:14:09.240 --> 00:14:10.440
 at the end of the day,

00:14:10.580 --> 00:14:11.759
 you could almost just say,

00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:12.899
 uh,

00:14:12.899 --> 00:14:14.139
 that God's attributes,

00:14:14.139 --> 00:14:15.259
 are not chopped up,

00:14:15.259 --> 00:14:16.659
 into single little things.

00:14:17.080 --> 00:14:18.100
 They're not held together,

00:14:18.100 --> 00:14:19.720
 by some sort of,

00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:21.340
 divine glue.

00:14:21.980 --> 00:14:23.240
 He's all one.

00:14:23.740 --> 00:14:24.139
 And,

00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:25.240
 that,

00:14:25.240 --> 00:14:27.019
 the truth is,

00:14:27.080 --> 00:14:28.259
 why do we balance,

00:14:29.060 --> 00:14:29.639
 the attributes?

00:14:29.820 --> 00:14:30.379
 Why do we try,

00:14:30.460 --> 00:14:31.259
 to chop him up?

00:14:31.820 --> 00:14:32.419
 You ever done that?

00:14:32.440 --> 00:14:33.200
 When you read the Bible,

00:14:33.820 --> 00:14:34.159
 you said,

00:14:34.220 --> 00:14:34.539
 oh man,

00:14:34.620 --> 00:14:35.659
 God is being like,

00:14:35.779 --> 00:14:37.039
 wrathful right here.

00:14:37.500 --> 00:14:38.740
 He's being so just,

00:14:38.740 --> 00:14:39.039
 he's like,

00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:39.980
 pouring out his wrath,

00:14:40.019 --> 00:14:40.720
 on sin,

00:14:41.259 --> 00:14:41.840
 and evil.

00:14:41.899 --> 00:14:42.580
 And then you read,

00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:43.759
 a little later,

00:14:43.840 --> 00:14:43.899
 like,

00:14:43.940 --> 00:14:44.259
 oh man,

00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:45.680
 God is being so loving here.

00:14:46.659 --> 00:14:47.399
 You ever do that,

00:14:47.419 --> 00:14:48.080
 when you read the Word?

00:14:48.180 --> 00:14:48.320
 Like,

00:14:48.340 --> 00:14:48.820
 you see like,

00:14:48.860 --> 00:14:49.759
 that's what he's doing here,

00:14:50.139 --> 00:14:51.419
 and that's what he's doing here.

00:14:52.500 --> 00:14:52.860
 And,

00:14:53.019 --> 00:14:54.799
 it's okay to,

00:14:54.860 --> 00:14:55.539
 to do that,

00:14:55.600 --> 00:14:56.159
 to a degree,

00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:57.259
 but you need to understand,

00:14:57.360 --> 00:14:57.960
 when it comes to,

00:14:58.539 --> 00:14:59.980
 God is not thinking that way,

00:15:00.039 --> 00:15:01.019
 about himself at all.

00:15:01.580 --> 00:15:02.240
 He's not.

00:15:02.620 --> 00:15:03.019
 And,

00:15:03.700 --> 00:15:04.720
 in truth,

00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:05.220
 like,

00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:07.600
 we balance the attributes of God,

00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:08.580
 because we can't really,

00:15:08.580 --> 00:15:09.780
 understand who God is.

00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:10.780
 We,

00:15:10.840 --> 00:15:11.500
 we try to,

00:15:11.620 --> 00:15:12.820
 we have to chop him up,

00:15:12.900 --> 00:15:13.720
 to understand him.

00:15:14.259 --> 00:15:15.460
 And that's why we do that.

00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:16.600
 That's what we do,

00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:17.360
 when we read the Word.

00:15:18.139 --> 00:15:18.920
 We think that he's being,

00:15:18.920 --> 00:15:20.139
 good here,

00:15:20.320 --> 00:15:20.480
 and,

00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:21.800
 and just and wrathful here.

00:15:22.500 --> 00:15:22.879
 But,

00:15:23.720 --> 00:15:24.240
 why?

00:15:24.340 --> 00:15:24.800
 Because it's,

00:15:24.800 --> 00:15:25.759
 it's not possible,

00:15:26.520 --> 00:15:27.680
 for human beings,

00:15:27.680 --> 00:15:28.320
 like you and I,

00:15:28.360 --> 00:15:29.120
 to really bear,

00:15:29.980 --> 00:15:30.759
 on our souls,

00:15:30.860 --> 00:15:31.660
 the full weight,

00:15:31.660 --> 00:15:32.500
 of who God is.

00:15:32.580 --> 00:15:33.300
 We can't do it.

00:15:33.379 --> 00:15:34.120
 So we have to,

00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:35.400
 divide him up,

00:15:36.259 --> 00:15:36.800
 to like,

00:15:36.960 --> 00:15:37.660
 take him in,

00:15:37.740 --> 00:15:38.240
 if you want to,

00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:40.419
 think about it that way.

00:15:41.220 --> 00:15:41.480
 And,

00:15:41.560 --> 00:15:43.320
 and we can't take the full blast,

00:15:43.360 --> 00:15:44.080
 of who God is,

00:15:44.120 --> 00:15:44.919
 all at one time.

00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:46.320
 Later on,

00:15:47.080 --> 00:15:48.340
 in Exodus 33,

00:15:49.180 --> 00:15:50.139
 Moses says,

00:15:50.340 --> 00:15:50.980
 he's on the mountain,

00:15:51.060 --> 00:15:51.539
 and he says,

00:15:52.080 --> 00:15:52.419
 God,

00:15:52.500 --> 00:15:53.159
 show me,

00:15:53.799 --> 00:15:54.480
 your glory.

00:15:55.560 --> 00:15:55.960
 And,

00:15:56.159 --> 00:15:57.159
 some of you might remember,

00:15:58.159 --> 00:15:58.379
 but,

00:15:58.440 --> 00:15:59.080
 but God says,

00:15:59.159 --> 00:15:59.600
 Moses,

00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:00.500
 you know,

00:16:00.500 --> 00:16:01.759
 I will make my goodness,

00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:03.600
 pass before you.

00:16:04.139 --> 00:16:04.320
 And,

00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:04.960
 he hit him in like,

00:16:05.080 --> 00:16:05.879
 the cleft of the rock,

00:16:05.920 --> 00:16:06.220
 and he said,

00:16:06.259 --> 00:16:07.019
 I'll make my goodness,

00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:08.000
 pass before you.

00:16:08.800 --> 00:16:09.139
 He says,

00:16:09.180 --> 00:16:09.860
 but my face,

00:16:09.940 --> 00:16:10.820
 you cannot see,

00:16:11.440 --> 00:16:12.279
 because no man,

00:16:12.279 --> 00:16:13.100
 can see me,

00:16:13.139 --> 00:16:13.720
 and live.

00:16:13.820 --> 00:16:14.360
 He'll die,

00:16:14.440 --> 00:16:15.120
 if he sees me.

00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:16.639
 And,

00:16:17.480 --> 00:16:18.460
 as if he was saying,

00:16:18.540 --> 00:16:18.980
 to Moses,

00:16:19.220 --> 00:16:19.519
 like,

00:16:20.060 --> 00:16:21.100
 you are a creature,

00:16:21.940 --> 00:16:23.180
 and yet a sinful creature.

00:16:23.560 --> 00:16:24.639
 And if you encounter me,

00:16:24.680 --> 00:16:25.620
 for all who I am,

00:16:26.100 --> 00:16:27.240
 you'll be utterly destroyed.

00:16:27.540 --> 00:16:28.019
 Like that's,

00:16:28.700 --> 00:16:29.300
 just think about,

00:16:29.379 --> 00:16:30.200
 the way of that.

00:16:30.900 --> 00:16:31.540
 That God said,

00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:32.280
 I'll allow you,

00:16:32.360 --> 00:16:33.140
 I'll allow my goodness,

00:16:33.280 --> 00:16:34.220
 to pass before you,

00:16:34.800 --> 00:16:36.040
 but you fully cannot,

00:16:37.060 --> 00:16:37.860
 encounter,

00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:39.040
 who I am.

00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:39.920
 It's just not,

00:16:40.040 --> 00:16:40.640
 possible.

00:16:40.780 --> 00:16:41.580
 And if that happens,

00:16:41.680 --> 00:16:42.220
 you would be,

00:16:42.280 --> 00:16:43.140
 utterly consumed.

00:16:43.980 --> 00:16:44.259
 So,

00:16:45.259 --> 00:16:45.640
 throughout,

00:16:45.780 --> 00:16:46.480
 the whole scripture,

00:16:47.440 --> 00:16:48.740
 we see God,

00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:50.500
 accommodating us.

00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:53.080
 Like all the revelation of God,

00:16:53.800 --> 00:16:54.160
 is,

00:16:54.220 --> 00:16:55.420
 is accommodating,

00:16:55.580 --> 00:16:55.980
 to us,

00:16:56.060 --> 00:16:56.520
 as humans.

00:16:56.740 --> 00:16:57.200
 As humans.

00:16:58.140 --> 00:16:58.620
 Like,

00:16:59.180 --> 00:17:00.180
 like a ray of light,

00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:00.540
 light,

00:17:00.620 --> 00:17:00.920
 you know,

00:17:00.980 --> 00:17:01.400
 that we see,

00:17:01.480 --> 00:17:02.240
 come through the window,

00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:02.680
 or,

00:17:03.320 --> 00:17:05.100
 or the light that just comes from the sun,

00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:05.640
 in general.

00:17:06.340 --> 00:17:06.700
 We,

00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:09.000
 we cannot bear it,

00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:11.180
 unless it goes through that prism,

00:17:11.259 --> 00:17:11.460
 right?

00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:12.259
 And it breaks it down,

00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:12.819
 into colors,

00:17:12.900 --> 00:17:13.880
 and things for us to like,

00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:14.259
 see,

00:17:14.819 --> 00:17:15.480
 and comprehend.

00:17:16.680 --> 00:17:17.080
 And,

00:17:17.840 --> 00:17:18.840
 God is that way,

00:17:18.940 --> 00:17:19.299
 similarly.

00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:19.660
 He,

00:17:20.360 --> 00:17:20.660
 he,

00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:21.680
 he comes down,

00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:22.660
 after Mount Sinai,

00:17:23.240 --> 00:17:23.980
 Moses does,

00:17:24.120 --> 00:17:25.580
 and his face is lit up.

00:17:25.660 --> 00:17:26.100
 Remember that?

00:17:26.539 --> 00:17:26.779
 Like,

00:17:26.840 --> 00:17:27.480
 so lit up,

00:17:27.539 --> 00:17:29.720
 that the people can't even look at Moses' face.

00:17:30.200 --> 00:17:32.279
 And that was just for God showing him his goodness.

00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:34.160
 And they couldn't even look at Moses.

00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:35.580
 How much less could they really,

00:17:35.660 --> 00:17:35.960
 like,

00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:37.259
 encounter God?

00:17:38.140 --> 00:17:38.340
 It's,

00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:38.620
 uh,

00:17:39.319 --> 00:17:40.539
 we are creatures,

00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:41.720
 we are created things,

00:17:41.740 --> 00:17:42.059
 and we're,

00:17:42.259 --> 00:17:43.100
 we're sinful.

00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:43.960
 We can't bear,

00:17:43.960 --> 00:17:45.279
 on our souls,

00:17:45.380 --> 00:17:48.059
 the full weight of the person of God.

00:17:48.120 --> 00:17:49.340
 It would just wipe us out.

00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:50.200
 So,

00:17:50.259 --> 00:17:51.240
 it's a consistent thing,

00:17:51.299 --> 00:17:51.740
 that God is,

00:17:51.860 --> 00:17:51.920
 like,

00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:52.620
 graciously,

00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:54.519
 accommodating us,

00:17:55.220 --> 00:17:56.440
 breaking himself down,

00:17:57.019 --> 00:17:58.500
 in ways that we can understand.

00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:00.360
 Uh,

00:18:00.360 --> 00:18:02.640
 the tabernacle was a great example of that.

00:18:02.740 --> 00:18:03.039
 God said,

00:18:03.079 --> 00:18:03.819
 I'm going to come here,

00:18:04.299 --> 00:18:05.440
 I'm going to show you what this is like.

00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:05.960
 He kind of,

00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:07.579
 stepped down in a way,

00:18:07.640 --> 00:18:08.420
 to show us,

00:18:08.420 --> 00:18:09.640
 who he was.

00:18:10.460 --> 00:18:10.820
 So,

00:18:11.120 --> 00:18:13.080
 our finite minds,

00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:14.560
 with its limitations,

00:18:14.700 --> 00:18:16.740
 cannot grasp the full intensity of,

00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:18.600
 the person and character of God.

00:18:18.700 --> 00:18:19.240
 It's just not,

00:18:19.620 --> 00:18:20.140
 possible.

00:18:21.140 --> 00:18:22.100
 But I want to,

00:18:23.080 --> 00:18:24.340
 I just have a couple places for you to turn,

00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:25.259
 turn to Deuteronomy,

00:18:25.640 --> 00:18:27.200
 just a little lower from Exodus.

00:18:29.900 --> 00:18:30.380
 Deuteronomy,

00:18:30.500 --> 00:18:30.759
 uh,

00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:31.759
 chapter 29,

00:18:32.580 --> 00:18:34.180
 and go to verse 29.

00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:38.480
 So the temple,

00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:39.320
 the tabernacle,

00:18:39.319 --> 00:18:40.179
 all these things,

00:18:40.179 --> 00:18:41.079
 were like a prism,

00:18:41.720 --> 00:18:43.480
 of God's accommodating revelation,

00:18:43.639 --> 00:18:44.119
 to us.

00:18:44.460 --> 00:18:45.419
 He was stepping down,

00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:46.579
 to show us who he was.

00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:47.500
 So,

00:18:47.579 --> 00:18:49.039
 should this discourage us,

00:18:49.879 --> 00:18:50.079
 could I,

00:18:50.119 --> 00:18:51.419
 if I ask you the question,

00:18:52.819 --> 00:18:54.039
 can God be known?

00:18:55.299 --> 00:18:56.019
 Because you know how,

00:18:56.059 --> 00:18:56.740
 some of you are going to say that,

00:18:56.779 --> 00:18:56.859
 well,

00:18:56.899 --> 00:18:58.279
 God must just can't be known.

00:18:58.359 --> 00:18:59.000
 He's so grand,

00:18:59.059 --> 00:18:59.579
 and he's so,

00:18:59.939 --> 00:19:00.799
 out there,

00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:02.819
 we just can't understand anything about God.

00:19:03.379 --> 00:19:04.139
 Not true.

00:19:04.819 --> 00:19:06.099
 We can know God.

00:19:06.599 --> 00:19:07.480
 It's a true statement.

00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:07.919
 Okay?

00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:09.600
 But at the same time,

00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:11.660
 it is also true to say that we cannot fully,

00:19:12.140 --> 00:19:13.060
 or exhaustively,

00:19:13.180 --> 00:19:13.779
 know God.

00:19:14.180 --> 00:19:15.019
 It's not possible.

00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:16.660
 We don't even know ourselves,

00:19:17.140 --> 00:19:17.340
 or,

00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:18.960
 or our best friend,

00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:20.320
 or maybe a future spouse.

00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:20.500
 Like,

00:19:20.519 --> 00:19:20.940
 you would never,

00:19:21.080 --> 00:19:22.220
 you can't fully even know them.

00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:23.000
 So,

00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:24.339
 we just can't contain him.

00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:25.860
 But he can be known.

00:19:26.900 --> 00:19:27.120
 And so,

00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:28.259
 let this verse encourage us.

00:19:28.259 --> 00:19:29.640
 This is Deuteronomy 29,

00:19:30.140 --> 00:19:31.400
 verse 29.

00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:32.839
 It says,

00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:36.579
 The secret things belong to the Lord our God,

00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:40.980
 but the things that are revealed belong to us,

00:19:41.019 --> 00:19:42.200
 and to our children forever,

00:19:42.920 --> 00:19:44.920
 and we may do all the words of this law.

00:19:44.920 --> 00:19:45.980
 So,

00:19:46.060 --> 00:19:50.720
 there are some things that God has decided not to show us,

00:19:50.800 --> 00:19:51.460
 and at the same time,

00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:52.140
 we just can't.

00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:52.300
 Like,

00:19:52.320 --> 00:19:57.019
 we're not capable of comprehending certain things of God.

00:19:57.840 --> 00:19:59.180
 But don't be discouraged.

00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:01.680
 God has revealed all we need to know.

00:20:02.320 --> 00:20:03.279
 To know him,

00:20:03.420 --> 00:20:04.340
 to know about salvation,

00:20:04.539 --> 00:20:05.480
 to know about our need.

00:20:06.200 --> 00:20:06.500
 So,

00:20:06.660 --> 00:20:07.279
 do you get that?

00:20:07.320 --> 00:20:07.880
 It's like this,

00:20:07.900 --> 00:20:10.160
 this idea of how we can't fully,

00:20:10.300 --> 00:20:11.380
 exhaustively know God,

00:20:11.380 --> 00:20:13.280
 but he has given us all we need to know

00:20:13.280 --> 00:20:14.520
 to walk with him,

00:20:14.660 --> 00:20:16.700
 and to glorify him again.

00:20:18.080 --> 00:20:18.480
 Job,

00:20:19.360 --> 00:20:21.400
 who had a pretty crazy encounter with God,

00:20:22.360 --> 00:20:23.680
 this is something that he said,

00:20:24.320 --> 00:20:26.740
 after thinking about God,

00:20:26.820 --> 00:20:27.160
 he said,

00:20:27.980 --> 00:20:28.380
 Behold,

00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:31.600
 these are but the outskirts of his ways,

00:20:32.360 --> 00:20:35.240
 and how small a whisper do we hear of him,

00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:37.360
 but the thunder of his power,

00:20:37.460 --> 00:20:38.340
 who can understand?

00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:39.180
 Like,

00:20:39.180 --> 00:20:39.920
 even when we fully,

00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:42.519
 we think that we know a lot about God,

00:20:42.620 --> 00:20:43.920
 we can just at the end of the day,

00:20:44.039 --> 00:20:44.420
 just say,

00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:46.700
 these are just the outskirts of who he is.

00:20:46.980 --> 00:20:47.320
 We don't,

00:20:47.720 --> 00:20:49.140
 we can't fully dive into that.

00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:50.140
 So,

00:20:50.220 --> 00:20:51.019
 God is one.

00:20:52.120 --> 00:20:53.480
 You know the greatest commandment,

00:20:53.620 --> 00:20:55.000
 the love of the Lord your God,

00:20:55.100 --> 00:20:55.360
 the heart,

00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:55.560
 soul,

00:20:55.660 --> 00:20:55.860
 mind,

00:20:55.900 --> 00:20:56.380
 and strength.

00:20:56.900 --> 00:20:58.840
 That was quoted out of Deuteronomy 6,

00:20:58.880 --> 00:20:59.620
 and right before that,

00:20:59.700 --> 00:21:00.300
 Moses says,

00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:01.720
 Hear, O Israel,

00:21:01.860 --> 00:21:02.620
 the Lord your God,

00:21:02.660 --> 00:21:03.779
 the Lord is one.

00:21:03.940 --> 00:21:05.600
 That's what he was trying to say.

00:21:06.600 --> 00:21:07.000
 So,

00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:07.480
 secondly,

00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:10.140
 God is eternal.

00:21:12.180 --> 00:21:13.579
 The second thing from,

00:21:14.500 --> 00:21:15.279
 back from Exodus,

00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:16.160
 God is eternal.

00:21:16.839 --> 00:21:17.799
 He is forever.

00:21:18.660 --> 00:21:20.079
 I am who I am.

00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:22.279
 And in one sense,

00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:24.420
 he's saying that God is eternal.

00:21:25.099 --> 00:21:26.579
 That he always has been,

00:21:26.640 --> 00:21:27.940
 and that he always will be.

00:21:28.940 --> 00:21:29.299
 That

00:21:29.299 --> 00:21:30.860
 God

00:21:30.860 --> 00:21:32.720
 had no beginning,

00:21:32.839 --> 00:21:33.440
 no origin,

00:21:33.579 --> 00:21:34.240
 like we did.

00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:35.660
 So,

00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:38.099
 on the island of Patmos,

00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:39.140
 the apostle John,

00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:40.460
 when he wrote the book of Revelation,

00:21:41.019 --> 00:21:42.259
 at the very beginning of the book,

00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:43.220
 it says that God said,

00:21:44.099 --> 00:21:44.759
 I'm the Alpha,

00:21:45.359 --> 00:21:46.240
 and the Omega,

00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:47.400
 says the Lord God,

00:21:48.140 --> 00:21:48.819
 who was,

00:21:49.400 --> 00:21:49.859
 or excuse me,

00:21:49.880 --> 00:21:50.460
 who is,

00:21:50.980 --> 00:21:51.859
 who was,

00:21:52.620 --> 00:21:53.579
 and who is to come,

00:21:53.799 --> 00:21:54.319
 the Almighty.

00:21:56.400 --> 00:21:56.799
 Was,

00:21:57.160 --> 00:21:57.579
 is,

00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:58.380
 is to come,

00:21:58.880 --> 00:21:59.480
 the Almighty.

00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:01.160
 and,

00:22:01.160 --> 00:22:02.740
 you sorority,

00:22:02.839 --> 00:22:03.880
 fraternity people in here,

00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:04.240
 you know,

00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:04.640
 Alpha,

00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:05.180
 Omega,

00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:07.120
 the beginning,

00:22:07.720 --> 00:22:08.460
 and the end,

00:22:09.420 --> 00:22:09.880
 and,

00:22:10.019 --> 00:22:10.579
 the alphabet,

00:22:10.839 --> 00:22:11.160
 and Greek,

00:22:11.259 --> 00:22:11.440
 and that's,

00:22:11.559 --> 00:22:13.360
 so he encompasses all things.

00:22:14.140 --> 00:22:14.380
 So,

00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:15.140
 John is,

00:22:15.220 --> 00:22:16.900
 saying that the living,

00:22:16.900 --> 00:22:18.779
 living God encompasses all things.

00:22:18.860 --> 00:22:19.700
 He has no beginning,

00:22:20.059 --> 00:22:21.360
 and he will have no end.

00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:22.339
 Just,

00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:23.160
 pfff,

00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:24.700
 in your mind.

00:22:25.559 --> 00:22:26.259
 It means that,

00:22:26.380 --> 00:22:26.680
 also,

00:22:26.839 --> 00:22:29.099
 there are no successions of time with God.

00:22:29.480 --> 00:22:30.360
 You ever thought about that?

00:22:30.440 --> 00:22:30.559
 Like,

00:22:30.599 --> 00:22:32.180
 God is not limited to time,

00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:33.279
 like we are.

00:22:33.360 --> 00:22:36.299
 Time is something that finite creatures deal with,

00:22:36.759 --> 00:22:37.640
 and,

00:22:37.660 --> 00:22:39.799
 he's not bound by time,

00:22:39.860 --> 00:22:40.660
 and that he sees,

00:22:41.180 --> 00:22:41.779
 the past,

00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:42.339
 present,

00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:43.440
 and future,

00:22:44.299 --> 00:22:44.680
 equally.

00:22:46.339 --> 00:22:46.700
 Like,

00:22:47.279 --> 00:22:47.599
 no.

00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:48.019
 Like,

00:22:48.099 --> 00:22:48.559
 we can only,

00:22:48.620 --> 00:22:48.779
 like,

00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:50.140
 comprehend the present,

00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:50.960
 somewhat.

00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:52.140
 It's kind of like,

00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:52.420
 if you go,

00:22:52.500 --> 00:22:52.559
 like,

00:22:52.579 --> 00:22:53.360
 to outer space,

00:22:53.620 --> 00:22:54.140
 you can,

00:22:54.299 --> 00:22:54.360
 like,

00:22:54.420 --> 00:22:55.700
 see a lot of the earth,

00:22:55.779 --> 00:22:56.019
 kind of like,

00:22:56.059 --> 00:22:56.640
 right before you,

00:22:56.680 --> 00:22:57.180
 but just here,

00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:58.180
 we can just see this room.

00:22:58.799 --> 00:22:59.059
 It's,

00:22:59.059 --> 00:22:59.980
 that's a lame analogy.

00:23:00.599 --> 00:23:00.720
 Now,

00:23:00.759 --> 00:23:02.720
 all analogies fall short of this,

00:23:03.319 --> 00:23:03.759
 but all,

00:23:04.159 --> 00:23:04.539
 everything,

00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:06.079
 of time,

00:23:06.259 --> 00:23:07.639
 is presently before God,

00:23:08.079 --> 00:23:08.679
 vividly,

00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:09.519
 like he sees it,

00:23:09.859 --> 00:23:10.220
 all,

00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:11.299
 at all times.

00:23:12.019 --> 00:23:12.460
 So,

00:23:13.379 --> 00:23:15.659
 there are no successions of moments with God.

00:23:16.440 --> 00:23:16.919
 So,

00:23:17.819 --> 00:23:19.980
 without understanding,

00:23:20.119 --> 00:23:20.319
 though,

00:23:21.059 --> 00:23:24.179
 we can rest and trust in him about where we are in life.

00:23:24.580 --> 00:23:25.720
 He's struggling with your past.

00:23:26.600 --> 00:23:27.640
 He knows about it.

00:23:27.640 --> 00:23:28.220
 And he's,

00:23:28.220 --> 00:23:28.560
 he's,

00:23:28.560 --> 00:23:29.640
 he's dealing with it.

00:23:30.080 --> 00:23:31.000
 He knows about your present.

00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:33.700
 Whether you come here and you're stressed out about something,

00:23:33.840 --> 00:23:35.820
 or you're just having a hard time,

00:23:36.320 --> 00:23:36.940
 he knows.

00:23:37.900 --> 00:23:40.560
 He knows what's going to happen to you in the future.

00:23:40.680 --> 00:23:41.600
 And if you belong to him,

00:23:41.620 --> 00:23:42.519
 you shouldn't have anything to fear.

00:23:42.600 --> 00:23:44.560
 Nothing catches God off guard,

00:23:45.140 --> 00:23:45.420
 right?

00:23:46.100 --> 00:23:46.779
 He's eternal.

00:23:46.779 --> 00:23:47.460
 And,

00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:50.200
 so,

00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:50.859
 when he answers,

00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:51.980
 I am who I am,

00:23:52.619 --> 00:23:54.299
 that nobody created me.

00:23:54.440 --> 00:23:54.539
 I,

00:23:54.579 --> 00:23:56.160
 I tried to tell my niece that,

00:23:56.660 --> 00:23:59.519
 or no one had the power to bring me into existence.

00:24:00.379 --> 00:24:02.339
 No one shaped who I was,

00:24:02.379 --> 00:24:03.160
 my personality.

00:24:03.819 --> 00:24:04.339
 I had,

00:24:04.460 --> 00:24:06.059
 I had no beginning.

00:24:07.319 --> 00:24:07.799
 So,

00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:09.359
 Psalm 90,

00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:11.680
 you can just make a note of this,

00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:12.539
 but Psalm 90,

00:24:12.599 --> 00:24:13.119
 verse 2,

00:24:13.720 --> 00:24:14.000
 says,

00:24:14.099 --> 00:24:15.619
 before the mountains were brought forth,

00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:16.559
 this is actually Moses,

00:24:17.160 --> 00:24:17.879
 same guy,

00:24:18.519 --> 00:24:20.359
 before the mountains were brought forth,

00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:22.740
 or ever you had formed the earth,

00:24:23.099 --> 00:24:23.799
 and the world,

00:24:24.399 --> 00:24:25.240
 from everlasting,

00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:27.000
 to everlasting,

00:24:27.819 --> 00:24:28.500
 you are God.

00:24:29.059 --> 00:24:29.980
 From everlasting,

00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:30.799
 to everlasting,

00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:31.559
 you are God.

00:24:32.200 --> 00:24:33.799
 God is eternal in his being.

00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:35.240
 So,

00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:37.500
 all these things,

00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:39.720
 couldn't be true if the other wasn't true.

00:24:39.879 --> 00:24:40.000
 You know,

00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:40.720
 God is one,

00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:41.920
 God is eternal,

00:24:42.200 --> 00:24:42.420
 like,

00:24:42.879 --> 00:24:43.779
 it's going to keep going.

00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:44.059
 So,

00:24:44.139 --> 00:24:44.720
 the third one,

00:24:45.299 --> 00:24:46.639
 third thing from this text is,

00:24:46.640 --> 00:24:47.259
 God is,

00:24:47.320 --> 00:24:47.940
 big word,

00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:49.220
 immutable.

00:24:50.040 --> 00:24:53.680
 I-M-M-U-T-A-B-L-E.

00:24:54.420 --> 00:24:54.820
 Immutable.

00:24:55.820 --> 00:24:56.100
 And,

00:24:56.780 --> 00:24:57.420
 simple terms,

00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:58.780
 it means that God is unchanging.

00:24:59.460 --> 00:25:00.380
 He's unchangeable.

00:25:00.380 --> 00:25:03.000
 I am who I am.

00:25:03.400 --> 00:25:04.300
 In another sense,

00:25:04.380 --> 00:25:05.320
 God is saying that,

00:25:05.840 --> 00:25:06.860
 I will not change.

00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:08.200
 I will never change.

00:25:08.820 --> 00:25:10.980
 God forever remains the same.

00:25:11.400 --> 00:25:12.880
 He remains the same in his nature,

00:25:13.040 --> 00:25:13.840
 in his attributes,

00:25:14.620 --> 00:25:15.800
 the same in his purposes,

00:25:16.460 --> 00:25:17.680
 and the same in his promises,

00:25:18.180 --> 00:25:19.020
 at all times.

00:25:19.060 --> 00:25:19.200
 Like,

00:25:19.220 --> 00:25:20.700
 nothing changes about God.

00:25:20.700 --> 00:25:20.779
 And,

00:25:21.220 --> 00:25:22.840
 I've heard someone say that,

00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:23.180
 man,

00:25:23.700 --> 00:25:24.840
 God changes his mind.

00:25:25.059 --> 00:25:25.059


00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:25.580
 like,

00:25:25.740 --> 00:25:26.480
 when they're reading the Bible,

00:25:26.600 --> 00:25:26.799
 I'm like,

00:25:26.840 --> 00:25:27.120
 whoa,

00:25:27.940 --> 00:25:28.299
 really?

00:25:28.660 --> 00:25:30.059
 God changes his mind about this?

00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.980
 You think this thing caught him off guard?

00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:33.340
 If he is,

00:25:33.360 --> 00:25:34.759
 he's not really a God worth worshipping.

00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:35.440
 If that's true,

00:25:36.080 --> 00:25:38.500
 he really does take away who God is.

00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:41.200
 So,

00:25:41.400 --> 00:25:44.220
 God cannot be anything other than he is.

00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:45.259
 In Malachi,

00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:46.759
 chapter 3,

00:25:46.819 --> 00:25:47.279
 verse 6,

00:25:47.380 --> 00:25:47.900
 God says,

00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:48.720
 for I am the Lord,

00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:49.960
 and I do not change.

00:25:51.860 --> 00:25:52.779
 In 2 Samuel,

00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:54.740
 I think it's David that says this,

00:25:55.120 --> 00:25:56.160
 or it might be the prophet Samuel,

00:25:56.600 --> 00:25:58.059
 he says that God is not a man

00:25:58.059 --> 00:25:59.360
 that he should change his mind,

00:25:59.900 --> 00:26:01.620
 or the son of man that he should repent.

00:26:02.240 --> 00:26:02.480
 Like,

00:26:02.519 --> 00:26:04.420
 God doesn't ever do that.

00:26:04.460 --> 00:26:05.500
 He doesn't have a need to.

00:26:06.559 --> 00:26:08.500
 There is no force or influence

00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:09.819
 upon the person of God

00:26:09.819 --> 00:26:11.420
 to change who he is.

00:26:11.420 --> 00:26:14.320
 He controls all things.

00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:16.000
 Psalm 102,

00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:17.000
 verse 27,

00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:18.100
 says,

00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:19.120
 you are the same,

00:26:19.640 --> 00:26:21.360
 and your years have no end.

00:26:22.600 --> 00:26:22.980
 So,

00:26:23.820 --> 00:26:24.820
 God is immutable,

00:26:24.980 --> 00:26:25.500
 unchangeable.

00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:26.120
 So,

00:26:26.220 --> 00:26:26.880
 how unlike,

00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:30.700
 unlike us completely,

00:26:30.920 --> 00:26:31.140
 right?

00:26:31.779 --> 00:26:32.200
 Man,

00:26:32.440 --> 00:26:34.620
 I think I've changed about four or five times a day,

00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:36.140
 at least.

00:26:36.800 --> 00:26:37.360
 So,

00:26:37.560 --> 00:26:39.580
 we often wake up on the wrong side of the bed,

00:26:39.579 --> 00:26:40.819
 and,

00:26:40.819 --> 00:26:42.799
 we have mood swings,

00:26:43.799 --> 00:26:44.039
 you know,

00:26:44.179 --> 00:26:45.339
 like we're really loving one minute,

00:26:45.419 --> 00:26:46.639
 very hateful the next minute.

00:26:47.699 --> 00:26:48.000
 And,

00:26:48.939 --> 00:26:51.419
 and think about,

00:26:51.559 --> 00:26:53.379
 in relationship to the attributes of God,

00:26:53.439 --> 00:26:54.639
 when we say that God is immutable,

00:26:55.539 --> 00:26:57.899
 it means that,

00:26:58.639 --> 00:27:00.679
 like,

00:27:00.740 --> 00:27:01.599
 you and I can,

00:27:01.699 --> 00:27:02.559
 can be good,

00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:04.240
 and be loving,

00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:06.880
 but God is loving,

00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:08.279
 or he is love,

00:27:08.640 --> 00:27:09.579
 and he is good.

00:27:09.660 --> 00:27:10.819
 He is his attributes.

00:27:10.940 --> 00:27:11.720
 I'm like us.

00:27:12.120 --> 00:27:13.759
 We change all the time.

00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:15.559
 You ever want someone to say,

00:27:15.700 --> 00:27:15.880
 like,

00:27:16.640 --> 00:27:18.539
 she used to be such a loving woman,

00:27:19.140 --> 00:27:20.740
 but then when her husband died,

00:27:20.819 --> 00:27:21.599
 she just turned into,

00:27:21.759 --> 00:27:21.819
 like,

00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:23.480
 a really cruel,

00:27:23.779 --> 00:27:24.460
 cold lady.

00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:25.559
 You see that?

00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:25.720
 Like,

00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:26.720
 something happens to us,

00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:27.380
 and we change,

00:27:27.500 --> 00:27:27.640
 but,

00:27:27.640 --> 00:27:29.200
 but God is not like that.

00:27:29.260 --> 00:27:30.120
 He doesn't have these,

00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:31.860
 these shifts in his character,

00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:32.820
 and who he is,

00:27:33.220 --> 00:27:33.740
 at all.

00:27:34.740 --> 00:27:35.020
 So,

00:27:36.940 --> 00:27:38.640
 and like I was saying just previously,

00:27:38.800 --> 00:27:39.420
 it's tied to the,

00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:40.700
 the previous thing we talked about,

00:27:41.100 --> 00:27:42.360
 is that in God's attributes,

00:27:43.020 --> 00:27:44.000
 it's not that he just,

00:27:44.500 --> 00:27:45.600
 ceases to be one,

00:27:45.660 --> 00:27:46.500
 and he's something else.

00:27:46.940 --> 00:27:47.220
 Like,

00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:48.300
 how many of you would look at,

00:27:48.820 --> 00:27:50.000
 some passages in the Old Testament,

00:27:50.120 --> 00:27:50.820
 or in Revelation,

00:27:50.960 --> 00:27:51.520
 in the New Testament,

00:27:52.020 --> 00:27:53.280
 where God is coming back to,

00:27:53.320 --> 00:27:53.960
 to judge,

00:27:54.600 --> 00:27:55.380
 and make war,

00:27:55.380 --> 00:27:56.880
 and he's going to destroy people?

00:27:57.380 --> 00:27:58.400
 How many of you would say,

00:27:58.940 --> 00:27:59.580
 that's,

00:27:59.860 --> 00:28:01.380
 that's the wrath of God,

00:28:01.460 --> 00:28:01.560
 like,

00:28:01.580 --> 00:28:03.240
 that is the just wrath of God?

00:28:04.100 --> 00:28:05.800
 Most of us would probably think of that,

00:28:06.100 --> 00:28:06.780
 and that's true,

00:28:07.300 --> 00:28:08.480
 but at the same time,

00:28:09.400 --> 00:28:10.900
 that is the act of a loving,

00:28:11.420 --> 00:28:12.120
 good God.

00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:13.100
 At the same time.

00:28:13.540 --> 00:28:13.860
 Why?

00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:14.280
 Because,

00:28:14.380 --> 00:28:14.520
 like,

00:28:14.540 --> 00:28:15.980
 to allow evil to thrive,

00:28:16.060 --> 00:28:16.600
 and destroy,

00:28:17.100 --> 00:28:18.120
 is not loving.

00:28:18.860 --> 00:28:19.760
 God is love.

00:28:19.840 --> 00:28:21.120
 He will destroy what's evil.

00:28:22.280 --> 00:28:23.500
 A good definition of,

00:28:23.780 --> 00:28:24.540
 perfect love,

00:28:24.600 --> 00:28:25.840
 is hatred of all evil.

00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:26.619
 So,

00:28:26.699 --> 00:28:27.779
 God doesn't cease to be,

00:28:27.839 --> 00:28:28.519
 one thing.

00:28:29.159 --> 00:28:30.339
 He's fully himself,

00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:31.240
 at all times.

00:28:32.220 --> 00:28:32.500
 So,

00:28:33.419 --> 00:28:34.480
 a crazy idea,

00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:35.259
 he's unchanging.

00:28:35.659 --> 00:28:36.740
 He doesn't get depressed,

00:28:37.220 --> 00:28:38.159
 and get angry,

00:28:38.399 --> 00:28:38.799
 and like,

00:28:38.819 --> 00:28:39.639
 we're having like a thunder,

00:28:40.399 --> 00:28:40.659
 you know,

00:28:40.659 --> 00:28:41.759
 and a storm in our world,

00:28:41.819 --> 00:28:42.819
 because God's upset,

00:28:42.959 --> 00:28:43.159
 you know,

00:28:43.199 --> 00:28:43.319
 like,

00:28:43.339 --> 00:28:43.459
 he,

00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:44.579
 he is,

00:28:45.439 --> 00:28:46.720
 completely who he is,

00:28:46.740 --> 00:28:47.399
 at all times.

00:28:47.879 --> 00:28:48.159
 So,

00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:49.480
 we have no reason to fear that,

00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:49.699
 right?

00:28:49.740 --> 00:28:50.779
 That God is going to change.

00:28:51.419 --> 00:28:52.179
 How many of you have,

00:28:52.179 --> 00:28:53.139
 broken your word,

00:28:53.140 --> 00:28:54.500
 or had someone break their word,

00:28:54.860 --> 00:28:55.320
 to you?

00:28:55.440 --> 00:28:55.580
 Like,

00:28:55.600 --> 00:28:56.500
 it's not going to happen,

00:28:57.060 --> 00:28:57.460
 with God.

00:28:57.520 --> 00:28:58.080
 God finishes,

00:28:58.820 --> 00:28:59.540
 what he starts.

00:29:00.320 --> 00:29:00.520
 So,

00:29:00.620 --> 00:29:00.759
 when you,

00:29:00.840 --> 00:29:01.860
 we're here reading the New Testament,

00:29:02.600 --> 00:29:03.280
 I'm confident,

00:29:03.420 --> 00:29:04.820
 that he who began a good work in you,

00:29:04.900 --> 00:29:05.720
 will complete it.

00:29:06.480 --> 00:29:07.580
 God's not going to change.

00:29:07.700 --> 00:29:07.820
 Like,

00:29:07.820 --> 00:29:08.580
 he's going to finish,

00:29:08.640 --> 00:29:09.480
 the work he began,

00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:10.480
 in you.

00:29:11.360 --> 00:29:11.720
 So,

00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:13.340
 James,

00:29:13.339 --> 00:29:16.259
 chapter 1,

00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:16.859
 verse 7,

00:29:16.959 --> 00:29:17.659
 says this,

00:29:18.399 --> 00:29:19.399
 every good gift,

00:29:19.480 --> 00:29:20.659
 and every perfect gift,

00:29:21.220 --> 00:29:21.919
 is from above,

00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:23.759
 coming down from the Father of lights,

00:29:24.579 --> 00:29:26.399
 with whom there is no variation,

00:29:27.099 --> 00:29:27.859
 or changed,

00:29:28.159 --> 00:29:29.459
 or shadow due to change.

00:29:30.119 --> 00:29:30.500
 He doesn't,

00:29:30.500 --> 00:29:31.159
 doesn't shift,

00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:31.879
 he doesn't change,

00:29:31.939 --> 00:29:32.539
 he's the same,

00:29:33.159 --> 00:29:33.859
 at all times.

00:29:33.980 --> 00:29:34.439
 God is,

00:29:34.959 --> 00:29:35.480
 immutable.

00:29:37.119 --> 00:29:37.599
 Fourthly,

00:29:38.779 --> 00:29:39.639
 we've got two more,

00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:40.179
 hang in there,

00:29:40.179 --> 00:29:41.459
 if your mind's not sparing already.

00:29:41.460 --> 00:29:43.240
 God is,

00:29:43.240 --> 00:29:44.559
 independent.

00:29:45.819 --> 00:29:46.600
 God is,

00:29:46.680 --> 00:29:47.299
 independent.

00:29:49.180 --> 00:29:49.660
 And,

00:29:50.240 --> 00:29:51.559
 another term we can say,

00:29:51.700 --> 00:29:52.319
 is that God is,

00:29:52.700 --> 00:29:53.920
 self-existing.

00:29:54.740 --> 00:29:55.539
 Self-existing.

00:29:57.039 --> 00:29:57.480
 That,

00:29:58.079 --> 00:29:59.600
 it means that God doesn't,

00:30:00.420 --> 00:30:01.180
 need us,

00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:02.799
 or any of the rest of his creation,

00:30:03.340 --> 00:30:03.860
 at all.

00:30:04.799 --> 00:30:05.319
 But,

00:30:05.460 --> 00:30:06.500
 yet at the same time,

00:30:06.559 --> 00:30:07.539
 we can glorify him,

00:30:07.579 --> 00:30:08.380
 and bring him joy.

00:30:09.340 --> 00:30:09.660
 Okay?

00:30:10.660 --> 00:30:11.140
 So,

00:30:11.140 --> 00:30:12.320
 I am who I am.

00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:13.560
 Nothing,

00:30:13.920 --> 00:30:14.540
 that God,

00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:16.400
 when he said that to Moses,

00:30:16.540 --> 00:30:17.060
 there's nothing,

00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:18.180
 he was in the burning,

00:30:18.740 --> 00:30:20.120
 the idea of the burning bush.

00:30:21.000 --> 00:30:22.100
 That was probably like,

00:30:22.140 --> 00:30:23.100
 the best analogy,

00:30:24.160 --> 00:30:24.620
 that,

00:30:24.860 --> 00:30:26.740
 God could probably give us,

00:30:26.860 --> 00:30:27.660
 of who he is.

00:30:28.340 --> 00:30:28.620
 It's,

00:30:28.660 --> 00:30:29.100
 it's a,

00:30:29.860 --> 00:30:30.759
 pure fire.

00:30:31.420 --> 00:30:33.120
 A fire that's not made out of,

00:30:33.560 --> 00:30:34.160
 components,

00:30:34.380 --> 00:30:34.600
 right?

00:30:34.700 --> 00:30:35.420
 God is one.

00:30:36.140 --> 00:30:37.020
 It's not dependent,

00:30:37.360 --> 00:30:38.380
 on the bush,

00:30:38.900 --> 00:30:39.720
 for his existence.

00:30:39.720 --> 00:30:40.660
 It's just there.

00:30:40.839 --> 00:30:41.700
 It's just a fire.

00:30:42.420 --> 00:30:43.019
 A fire,

00:30:43.019 --> 00:30:43.579
 of,

00:30:43.579 --> 00:30:45.039
 fires.

00:30:46.220 --> 00:30:46.680
 And so,

00:30:47.480 --> 00:30:47.779
 huh,

00:30:48.700 --> 00:30:49.019
 well,

00:30:49.120 --> 00:30:49.980
 I just keep thinking,

00:30:50.180 --> 00:30:50.779
 about all this.

00:30:52.140 --> 00:30:53.220
 It's not dependent,

00:30:53.220 --> 00:30:53.839
 on anything.

00:30:54.839 --> 00:30:55.279
 And that,

00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:56.220
 if that's true,

00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:56.779
 that,

00:30:56.779 --> 00:30:58.839
 God has his own power,

00:30:58.940 --> 00:30:59.339
 and source,

00:30:59.440 --> 00:31:00.059
 in himself,

00:31:00.680 --> 00:31:02.339
 and that God is all his other things,

00:31:03.119 --> 00:31:05.160
 what happened?

00:31:05.319 --> 00:31:05.500
 Like,

00:31:05.559 --> 00:31:06.000
 Moses,

00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:08.319
 couldn't fully take in who he was.

00:31:08.379 --> 00:31:09.119
 He was overwhelmed.

00:31:09.220 --> 00:31:10.019
 He was terrified,

00:31:10.379 --> 00:31:11.279
 and looking at this,

00:31:11.339 --> 00:31:11.680
 it's like,

00:31:11.740 --> 00:31:12.480
 it shocked him,

00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:14.359
 made him tremble.

00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:14.779
 He said,

00:31:14.839 --> 00:31:15.279
 take the,

00:31:15.279 --> 00:31:16.859
 the sandals off your feet,

00:31:16.940 --> 00:31:17.940
 you're on holy ground.

00:31:18.759 --> 00:31:19.119
 So,

00:31:19.119 --> 00:31:20.919
 people are,

00:31:21.419 --> 00:31:23.139
 very man-centered,

00:31:23.399 --> 00:31:24.439
 and not really thinking,

00:31:24.559 --> 00:31:25.339
 clearly about God.

00:31:25.659 --> 00:31:26.299
 I mean,

00:31:26.359 --> 00:31:27.299
 I used to say this,

00:31:27.679 --> 00:31:28.319
 so I'm guilty,

00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:29.839
 but don't ever say,

00:31:29.939 --> 00:31:30.519
 I used to say this,

00:31:30.559 --> 00:31:31.279
 a long time ago,

00:31:31.419 --> 00:31:31.919
 I will say,

00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:32.839
 but,

00:31:33.099 --> 00:31:33.439
 is that,

00:31:34.379 --> 00:31:34.619
 man,

00:31:34.699 --> 00:31:35.859
 God created you,

00:31:36.439 --> 00:31:38.119
 because he really wanted you,

00:31:38.179 --> 00:31:39.099
 and really needed you,

00:31:39.179 --> 00:31:39.839
 to be with him.

00:31:40.399 --> 00:31:41.319
 And that he was lonely,

00:31:41.439 --> 00:31:42.500
 and he'd rather have you,

00:31:43.000 --> 00:31:44.419
 in his life,

00:31:44.420 --> 00:31:45.640
 and so he made you,

00:31:45.860 --> 00:31:46.779
 for that reason,

00:31:46.880 --> 00:31:48.279
 like lovey-dovey,

00:31:48.539 --> 00:31:49.900
 fuzzy kind of stuff.

00:31:50.340 --> 00:31:51.080
 Not true.

00:31:51.420 --> 00:31:52.440
 Not true at all.

00:31:53.060 --> 00:31:54.039
 God did not make us,

00:31:54.080 --> 00:31:55.180
 because he needed us,

00:31:55.220 --> 00:31:55.660
 at all.

00:31:56.400 --> 00:31:57.779
 He was perfectly satisfied,

00:31:58.060 --> 00:31:58.500
 and joyful,

00:31:58.620 --> 00:31:59.580
 in who he was,

00:31:59.940 --> 00:32:00.800
 for all eternity.

00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:02.120
 And,

00:32:03.080 --> 00:32:03.600
 turn here,

00:32:03.680 --> 00:32:04.519
 Acts 17,

00:32:05.220 --> 00:32:05.800
 real quick.

00:32:09.420 --> 00:32:10.560
 God is telling Moses,

00:32:10.680 --> 00:32:12.080
 only I can fully know,

00:32:12.200 --> 00:32:12.820
 who I am.

00:32:14.420 --> 00:32:16.180
 And I didn't create you,

00:32:16.300 --> 00:32:17.220
 because I was lonely,

00:32:17.500 --> 00:32:17.960
 and bored.

00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:20.759
 So,

00:32:20.860 --> 00:32:22.060
 this is the Apostle Paul,

00:32:22.259 --> 00:32:22.800
 in Greece,

00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:24.080
 Athens,

00:32:24.860 --> 00:32:26.200
 verse 24,

00:32:26.320 --> 00:32:27.140
 Acts 17,

00:32:27.580 --> 00:32:28.680
 verse 24,

00:32:31.600 --> 00:32:34.060
 Acts 17,

00:32:34.140 --> 00:32:34.759
 verse 24,

00:32:35.380 --> 00:32:36.100
 The God,

00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:37.160
 who made the world,

00:32:37.279 --> 00:32:38.300
 and everything in it,

00:32:38.900 --> 00:32:40.240
 being Lord of heaven,

00:32:40.340 --> 00:32:41.080
 and earth,

00:32:41.539 --> 00:32:42.700
 does not live,

00:32:42.700 --> 00:32:43.259
 in temples,

00:32:43.380 --> 00:32:44.220
 made by man,

00:32:44.880 --> 00:32:45.860
 nor is he served,

00:32:45.940 --> 00:32:46.860
 by human hands,

00:32:46.920 --> 00:32:47.820
 as though he needed,

00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:48.900
 anything,

00:32:49.820 --> 00:32:51.100
 since he himself,

00:32:51.259 --> 00:32:52.340
 gives to all mankind,

00:32:52.680 --> 00:32:53.019
 life,

00:32:53.660 --> 00:32:54.019
 breath,

00:32:54.160 --> 00:32:54.840
 and everything.

00:32:55.840 --> 00:32:56.560
 Let that verse,

00:32:56.680 --> 00:32:58.019
 just blow your mind,

00:32:58.080 --> 00:32:59.060
 he doesn't need anything.

00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:00.980
 We need so much,

00:33:01.100 --> 00:33:01.460
 we do,

00:33:01.539 --> 00:33:01.980
 every day,

00:33:02.039 --> 00:33:02.700
 we need a lot.

00:33:03.420 --> 00:33:03.960
 We're dependent,

00:33:04.080 --> 00:33:05.000
 on so many things,

00:33:05.060 --> 00:33:06.080
 but God is completely,

00:33:06.759 --> 00:33:07.360
 solitarily,

00:33:07.640 --> 00:33:08.080
 independent.

00:33:08.080 --> 00:33:08.960
 He doesn't need,

00:33:09.019 --> 00:33:09.980
 anything.

00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:10.420
 So,

00:33:11.059 --> 00:33:12.519
 you may ask the question then,

00:33:12.599 --> 00:33:12.740
 like,

00:33:12.799 --> 00:33:14.319
 why did God make us then?

00:33:14.500 --> 00:33:14.680
 So,

00:33:15.360 --> 00:33:18.099
 I'm going to let somebody else,

00:33:18.160 --> 00:33:18.779
 answer that.

00:33:21.259 --> 00:33:21.740
 So,

00:33:22.259 --> 00:33:23.420
 for all eternity,

00:33:23.500 --> 00:33:23.799
 the Father,

00:33:23.960 --> 00:33:24.180
 Son,

00:33:24.279 --> 00:33:24.880
 Holy Spirit,

00:33:25.620 --> 00:33:26.039
 complete,

00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:27.319
 joyful union,

00:33:27.819 --> 00:33:28.500
 as one,

00:33:28.599 --> 00:33:29.220
 the Godhead.

00:33:29.839 --> 00:33:30.700
 in John 17,

00:33:31.660 --> 00:33:32.480
 Jesus said,

00:33:32.600 --> 00:33:32.819
 Father,

00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:33.819
 I pray that,

00:33:34.380 --> 00:33:35.799
 those whom you have given me,

00:33:36.460 --> 00:33:37.880
 may be with me where I am,

00:33:38.180 --> 00:33:40.279
 may be with me where I am,

00:33:40.339 --> 00:33:40.759
 in heaven,

00:33:40.839 --> 00:33:41.500
 he's talking about,

00:33:42.059 --> 00:33:43.579
 to see my glory,

00:33:44.400 --> 00:33:45.980
 the glory that I had with you,

00:33:46.480 --> 00:33:47.660
 before the world existed.

00:33:47.839 --> 00:33:48.259
 See that?

00:33:49.380 --> 00:33:49.799
 The Father,

00:33:49.799 --> 00:33:50.120
 Father,

00:33:50.279 --> 00:33:50.460
 Son,

00:33:50.559 --> 00:33:51.019
 Holy Spirit,

00:33:51.079 --> 00:33:52.180
 before the world was made,

00:33:52.279 --> 00:33:53.860
 complete union,

00:33:54.100 --> 00:33:54.579
 and joy,

00:33:54.880 --> 00:33:55.600
 and satisfaction.

00:33:56.579 --> 00:33:56.880
 So,

00:33:57.220 --> 00:33:59.039
 God didn't create us,

00:33:59.039 --> 00:34:00.420
 because he lacked anything,

00:34:01.019 --> 00:34:01.579
 but rather,

00:34:02.299 --> 00:34:03.740
 his creation was an expression,

00:34:03.740 --> 00:34:04.559
 of his glory,

00:34:04.659 --> 00:34:05.299
 and his excellence.

00:34:06.200 --> 00:34:06.440
 Okay?

00:34:07.399 --> 00:34:07.700
 So,

00:34:07.819 --> 00:34:08.199
 I'll let,

00:34:08.239 --> 00:34:10.199
 St. Augustine,

00:34:10.840 --> 00:34:11.719
 speak on that.

00:34:11.820 --> 00:34:12.099
 He says,

00:34:12.840 --> 00:34:14.619
 when we have been,

00:34:15.480 --> 00:34:16.199
 excuse me,

00:34:16.219 --> 00:34:16.840
 he's talking to God,

00:34:16.920 --> 00:34:17.179
 he says,

00:34:17.880 --> 00:34:19.699
 what would have been lacking,

00:34:19.699 --> 00:34:20.779
 in your goodness,

00:34:21.400 --> 00:34:22.719
 which you yourself are,

00:34:23.559 --> 00:34:24.920
 if even these things,

00:34:24.980 --> 00:34:25.619
 of creation,

00:34:26.380 --> 00:34:27.500
 had never been made,

00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:28.460
 or never,

00:34:28.460 --> 00:34:30.240
 or had remained unformed.

00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:32.099
 You didn't create them,

00:34:32.119 --> 00:34:33.019
 out of any lack,

00:34:33.539 --> 00:34:34.579
 but out of the abundance,

00:34:34.800 --> 00:34:35.420
 of your goodness.

00:34:36.099 --> 00:34:37.199
 You ordered them,

00:34:37.280 --> 00:34:38.280
 and turned them toward,

00:34:39.340 --> 00:34:40.000
 you,

00:34:40.599 --> 00:34:41.480
 but not because,

00:34:41.579 --> 00:34:42.460
 your joy had to be,

00:34:42.500 --> 00:34:43.420
 perfected by them.

00:34:44.079 --> 00:34:44.579
 Hear that?

00:34:44.699 --> 00:34:45.320
 That's really good.

00:34:45.380 --> 00:34:46.079
 You didn't create them,

00:34:46.159 --> 00:34:46.860
 out of any lack,

00:34:47.159 --> 00:34:47.679
 lack,

00:34:47.760 --> 00:34:48.900
 but out of the abundance,

00:34:48.900 --> 00:34:49.659
 of your goodness.

00:34:50.099 --> 00:34:51.260
 And you ordered them,

00:34:51.320 --> 00:34:52.059
 and turned them,

00:34:52.579 --> 00:34:54.220
 turned them into form,

00:34:54.659 --> 00:34:55.440
 but not because,

00:34:55.440 --> 00:34:56.300
 your joy had to be,

00:34:56.300 --> 00:34:57.260
 perfected by them.

00:34:57.980 --> 00:34:58.900
 Really powerful light.

00:34:58.960 --> 00:34:59.660
 So God created,

00:34:59.780 --> 00:35:00.860
 as an expression,

00:35:01.660 --> 00:35:02.260
 an overflow,

00:35:02.519 --> 00:35:03.180
 of his greatness,

00:35:03.360 --> 00:35:03.840
 and glory.

00:35:04.600 --> 00:35:05.539
 That's why you're here.

00:35:06.340 --> 00:35:07.140
 Why I'm here.

00:35:07.900 --> 00:35:08.539
 So fifthly,

00:35:09.440 --> 00:35:10.400
 and lastly,

00:35:11.300 --> 00:35:11.940
 God is,

00:35:12.039 --> 00:35:12.680
 from this text,

00:35:12.760 --> 00:35:13.360
 back in Exodus,

00:35:14.000 --> 00:35:14.600
 I learned that God,

00:35:14.680 --> 00:35:15.260
 is the creator,

00:35:15.380 --> 00:35:16.080
 and the sustainer,

00:35:16.140 --> 00:35:16.720
 of all things.

00:35:17.860 --> 00:35:18.560
 I am,

00:35:18.620 --> 00:35:19.200
 who I am.

00:35:20.180 --> 00:35:20.780
 God is,

00:35:21.380 --> 00:35:22.440
 an inexhaustible,

00:35:22.440 --> 00:35:23.420
 source of power.

00:35:23.420 --> 00:35:23.740
 Remember,

00:35:23.860 --> 00:35:24.519
 like the flame,

00:35:25.139 --> 00:35:26.240
 wasn't dependent,

00:35:26.400 --> 00:35:26.820
 on anything.

00:35:27.300 --> 00:35:28.320
 Not a combustion,

00:35:28.460 --> 00:35:29.519
 of other energy sources,

00:35:29.659 --> 00:35:30.900
 like a lot of fire is.

00:35:31.519 --> 00:35:32.340
 It was just him.

00:35:32.400 --> 00:35:32.980
 He wasn't dependent,

00:35:32.980 --> 00:35:33.539
 on anything.

00:35:34.720 --> 00:35:35.200
 He's,

00:35:35.240 --> 00:35:37.059
 all powerful.

00:35:37.320 --> 00:35:38.019
 Like he has a,

00:35:38.019 --> 00:35:38.980
 a never ending,

00:35:39.159 --> 00:35:39.880
 source of energy,

00:35:39.940 --> 00:35:40.380
 and power,

00:35:40.460 --> 00:35:41.340
 within himself.

00:35:41.820 --> 00:35:42.800
 And it never ends.

00:35:43.559 --> 00:35:44.780
 So any power,

00:35:44.900 --> 00:35:45.680
 that you and I have,

00:35:46.380 --> 00:35:47.180
 like even me,

00:35:47.280 --> 00:35:48.099
 just doing this,

00:35:49.099 --> 00:35:49.599
 and,

00:35:50.240 --> 00:35:50.960
 to you actually,

00:35:51.220 --> 00:35:52.240
 breathing right now,

00:35:52.239 --> 00:35:53.639
 that's all like,

00:35:53.739 --> 00:35:54.319
 delegated,

00:35:54.799 --> 00:35:55.439
 by God.

00:35:56.279 --> 00:35:57.319
 Even Satan's power.

00:35:57.899 --> 00:35:58.619
 And at any moment,

00:35:58.699 --> 00:35:59.279
 he could take it.

00:35:59.339 --> 00:35:59.679
 Like he,

00:35:59.899 --> 00:36:00.939
 you would cease to be,

00:36:01.199 --> 00:36:02.059
 without him,

00:36:02.819 --> 00:36:03.299
 completely.

00:36:04.439 --> 00:36:05.459
 Turn to,

00:36:06.059 --> 00:36:07.079
 Isaiah 40,

00:36:07.879 --> 00:36:08.699
 real fast.

00:36:13.439 --> 00:36:15.119
 And if God is all powerful,

00:36:15.259 --> 00:36:16.379
 it means he is not threatened,

00:36:16.379 --> 00:36:17.419
 by anything,

00:36:18.079 --> 00:36:18.779
 at all.

00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:20.839
 Nothing gives him power.

00:36:20.840 --> 00:36:20.880
 power.

00:36:21.460 --> 00:36:22.380
 He's the source,

00:36:22.420 --> 00:36:23.100
 of all power,

00:36:23.240 --> 00:36:23.740
 in existence.

00:36:25.019 --> 00:36:25.320
 So,

00:36:25.600 --> 00:36:26.360
 Isaiah 40,

00:36:26.460 --> 00:36:27.300
 verse 28.

00:36:31.579 --> 00:36:32.579
 This whole chapter,

00:36:32.800 --> 00:36:33.380
 is kind of about,

00:36:33.519 --> 00:36:34.420
 the subject we're on.

00:36:35.019 --> 00:36:36.000
 But Isaiah 40,

00:36:36.079 --> 00:36:36.760
 verse 28,

00:36:37.760 --> 00:36:38.880
 says,

00:36:39.840 --> 00:36:40.740
 have you not known,

00:36:41.740 --> 00:36:42.740
 have you not heard,

00:36:43.900 --> 00:36:44.539
 Yahweh,

00:36:44.860 --> 00:36:45.460
 it's that word,

00:36:45.579 --> 00:36:45.860
 see it,

00:36:46.800 --> 00:36:48.420
 is the everlasting God,

00:36:48.420 --> 00:36:49.860
 the creator,

00:36:49.860 --> 00:36:49.880
 the creator,

00:36:50.119 --> 00:36:51.200
 of the ends of the earth.

00:36:51.780 --> 00:36:52.940
 He does not faint,

00:36:53.119 --> 00:36:53.740
 or grow weary.

00:36:54.639 --> 00:36:55.539
 His understanding,

00:36:55.860 --> 00:36:56.800
 is unsearchable.

00:36:57.980 --> 00:36:58.920
 He gives power,

00:36:59.119 --> 00:36:59.680
 to the faint.

00:37:00.320 --> 00:37:00.900
 And to him,

00:37:01.000 --> 00:37:01.820
 who has no might,

00:37:01.900 --> 00:37:02.980
 he increases strength.

00:37:03.820 --> 00:37:04.460
 See all that?

00:37:04.539 --> 00:37:05.019
 It's everything,

00:37:05.200 --> 00:37:06.099
 we've talked about tonight,

00:37:06.200 --> 00:37:07.099
 in this one verse.

00:37:07.760 --> 00:37:08.920
 Is that God is eternal,

00:37:09.059 --> 00:37:09.700
 he's everlasting,

00:37:10.260 --> 00:37:11.119
 he's the creator,

00:37:11.260 --> 00:37:12.019
 of all things.

00:37:12.019 --> 00:37:12.460
 He is,

00:37:12.460 --> 00:37:14.500
 he is,

00:37:14.739 --> 00:37:15.940
 a never ending power,

00:37:16.179 --> 00:37:17.139
 source in himself,

00:37:17.320 --> 00:37:18.159
 he doesn't grow weary.

00:37:19.000 --> 00:37:19.659
 And that he knows,

00:37:19.699 --> 00:37:20.219
 all things,

00:37:20.360 --> 00:37:20.679
 he's,

00:37:21.019 --> 00:37:21.719
 his understanding,

00:37:21.860 --> 00:37:22.440
 is unsearchable,

00:37:22.519 --> 00:37:23.059
 his knowledge,

00:37:23.199 --> 00:37:23.619
 is infinite.

00:37:24.559 --> 00:37:24.840
 Right?

00:37:25.759 --> 00:37:26.860
 And he gives power,

00:37:26.980 --> 00:37:27.380
 to us,

00:37:27.480 --> 00:37:27.820
 weak,

00:37:28.480 --> 00:37:28.840
 feeble,

00:37:29.559 --> 00:37:29.900
 creatures.

00:37:31.219 --> 00:37:31.639
 And so,

00:37:31.820 --> 00:37:33.059
 if God is that way,

00:37:34.179 --> 00:37:36.019
 he's the creator,

00:37:36.099 --> 00:37:36.719
 of all things,

00:37:36.800 --> 00:37:37.159
 visible,

00:37:37.420 --> 00:37:37.980
 and invisible,

00:37:38.599 --> 00:37:39.360
 that's,

00:37:39.500 --> 00:37:40.460
 what a lot of people,

00:37:40.579 --> 00:37:40.880
 would say,

00:37:40.880 --> 00:37:42.160
 it encompasses all things,

00:37:42.220 --> 00:37:42.440
 really.

00:37:43.200 --> 00:37:43.619
 Then,

00:37:44.420 --> 00:37:45.579
 as John Piper said,

00:37:45.660 --> 00:37:46.760
 everything in the universe,

00:37:46.900 --> 00:37:47.940
 plugs into him,

00:37:48.940 --> 00:37:50.740
 and if he ever shuts down,

00:37:51.400 --> 00:37:51.820
 there would be,

00:37:51.820 --> 00:37:52.980
 absolute nothingness.

00:37:53.680 --> 00:37:54.400
 Like everything,

00:37:54.579 --> 00:37:55.380
 comes out of him,

00:37:55.420 --> 00:37:55.960
 he's the creator,

00:37:56.099 --> 00:37:56.800
 and sustainer,

00:37:57.119 --> 00:37:58.160
 of all things.

00:37:58.860 --> 00:37:59.440
 He is an,

00:37:59.440 --> 00:38:01.000
 an absolute reality.

00:38:02.340 --> 00:38:02.660
 Okay?

00:38:04.099 --> 00:38:04.579
 So,

00:38:04.680 --> 00:38:05.960
 I could go on about that,

00:38:06.019 --> 00:38:06.860
 but we'll move on.

00:38:07.640 --> 00:38:07.880
 So,

00:38:08.059 --> 00:38:09.140
 some quick application,

00:38:09.619 --> 00:38:09.940
 quick,

00:38:10.059 --> 00:38:10.619
 quick,

00:38:10.880 --> 00:38:11.500
 application.

00:38:12.720 --> 00:38:12.920
 Right?

00:38:15.960 --> 00:38:17.440
 Tying this back into the beginning,

00:38:17.539 --> 00:38:19.140
 when I said that your thoughts about God,

00:38:19.700 --> 00:38:20.720
 are going to determine,

00:38:20.940 --> 00:38:22.079
 a lot of your life,

00:38:22.780 --> 00:38:24.480
 there's going to be a time in your life,

00:38:24.539 --> 00:38:25.460
 where you're going to really wish,

00:38:25.539 --> 00:38:26.539
 that God was big.

00:38:27.079 --> 00:38:27.280
 Like,

00:38:27.300 --> 00:38:28.280
 you're going to wish that,

00:38:28.940 --> 00:38:29.900
 a little puny,

00:38:30.320 --> 00:38:31.360
 tiny God,

00:38:31.420 --> 00:38:32.539
 is not going to help you at all.

00:38:32.640 --> 00:38:32.820
 Like,

00:38:32.820 --> 00:38:33.519
 you're going to be saying,

00:38:33.599 --> 00:38:33.720
 like,

00:38:33.720 --> 00:38:34.260
 I wish,

00:38:34.900 --> 00:38:35.460
 there was,

00:38:35.460 --> 00:38:36.599
 a huge God,

00:38:37.000 --> 00:38:37.980
 in my situation,

00:38:38.079 --> 00:38:38.500
 right now.

00:38:38.500 --> 00:38:40.119
 And,

00:38:40.119 --> 00:38:41.940
 in 2006,

00:38:42.659 --> 00:38:44.199
 I was in the hospital,

00:38:44.340 --> 00:38:44.860
 in Atlanta,

00:38:45.440 --> 00:38:45.900
 and I,

00:38:45.900 --> 00:38:46.940
 I just received,

00:38:47.159 --> 00:38:48.079
 word,

00:38:48.179 --> 00:38:48.800
 that I was like,

00:38:48.880 --> 00:38:49.800
 a lot sicker,

00:38:49.860 --> 00:38:50.800
 than I thought it was.

00:38:50.920 --> 00:38:52.699
 They had been doing some of my tests wrong.

00:38:53.659 --> 00:38:54.179
 And,

00:38:54.179 --> 00:38:56.019
 I was definitely,

00:38:56.299 --> 00:38:56.679
 like,

00:38:57.219 --> 00:38:57.539
 like,

00:38:57.619 --> 00:38:58.159
 devastated.

00:38:58.299 --> 00:38:58.379
 And,

00:38:58.440 --> 00:38:59.239
 I realized that,

00:38:59.679 --> 00:39:00.619
 that death,

00:39:00.839 --> 00:39:01.199
 and,

00:39:02.039 --> 00:39:02.759
 lung transplant,

00:39:03.059 --> 00:39:03.739
 and things like that,

00:39:03.779 --> 00:39:04.139
 were like,

00:39:04.219 --> 00:39:04.940
 very close,

00:39:05.039 --> 00:39:05.659
 very close.

00:39:06.359 --> 00:39:07.739
 A lot closer than I thought.

00:39:08.799 --> 00:39:09.199
 And,

00:39:09.879 --> 00:39:10.799
 and in that moment,

00:39:10.879 --> 00:39:11.419
 I needed,

00:39:11.519 --> 00:39:12.219
 like a big,

00:39:12.819 --> 00:39:13.460
 glorious,

00:39:13.619 --> 00:39:14.259
 sovereign God.

00:39:14.339 --> 00:39:15.059
 I didn't need a little,

00:39:15.799 --> 00:39:16.440
 pansy,

00:39:16.699 --> 00:39:17.839
 man-like God.

00:39:17.840 --> 00:39:18.000
 And,

00:39:18.880 --> 00:39:20.680
 Martin Luther,

00:39:20.840 --> 00:39:21.960
 told one of his opponents,

00:39:22.740 --> 00:39:23.579
 in the Reformation,

00:39:23.920 --> 00:39:24.559
 Roman,

00:39:24.640 --> 00:39:25.620
 Roman theologian,

00:39:26.300 --> 00:39:26.539
 he,

00:39:26.600 --> 00:39:27.100
 he told him,

00:39:27.180 --> 00:39:28.079
 your thoughts of God,

00:39:28.140 --> 00:39:28.820
 are too human.

00:39:29.539 --> 00:39:30.180
 That's what he said.

00:39:30.220 --> 00:39:30.460
 That was like,

00:39:30.480 --> 00:39:31.140
 his whole argument.

00:39:31.300 --> 00:39:31.420
 Like,

00:39:31.440 --> 00:39:32.120
 you think of God,

00:39:32.180 --> 00:39:33.500
 too much in a man-centered way,

00:39:34.019 --> 00:39:34.519
 you try to,

00:39:34.519 --> 00:39:35.640
 pack him in,

00:39:35.680 --> 00:39:36.420
 into your pocket.

00:39:37.480 --> 00:39:37.880
 And,

00:39:39.000 --> 00:39:40.039
 in those moments,

00:39:40.500 --> 00:39:41.680
 you're going to really want,

00:39:41.760 --> 00:39:42.400
 like a big God.

00:39:42.480 --> 00:39:42.980
 And what's really,

00:39:43.079 --> 00:39:43.780
 the good news is,

00:39:43.840 --> 00:39:44.340
 that God is,

00:39:45.059 --> 00:39:46.160
 far bigger than you could,

00:39:46.240 --> 00:39:46.840
 ever imagine.

00:39:46.840 --> 00:39:48.400
 And far greater than you could,

00:39:48.460 --> 00:39:49.300
 want him to be.

00:39:50.220 --> 00:39:50.460
 So,

00:39:51.200 --> 00:39:51.620
 so,

00:39:51.780 --> 00:39:52.820
 two things real fast.

00:39:53.720 --> 00:39:55.120
 Strive to know God.

00:39:56.460 --> 00:39:57.600
 Strive to know God.

00:39:58.920 --> 00:40:00.079
 Unless I'm mistaken,

00:40:00.880 --> 00:40:03.000
 our pastor here,

00:40:03.440 --> 00:40:04.320
 if any of you are going to do this,

00:40:04.980 --> 00:40:05.440
 he's going to,

00:40:05.519 --> 00:40:06.160
 we're possibly,

00:40:06.519 --> 00:40:07.320
 we're going to do this,

00:40:07.380 --> 00:40:08.300
 on the attributes?

00:40:09.800 --> 00:40:09.940
 No.

00:40:10.480 --> 00:40:11.140
 On the attributes?

00:40:12.680 --> 00:40:13.079
 Okay,

00:40:13.180 --> 00:40:13.780
 stop in the air.

00:40:14.579 --> 00:40:14.800
 Okay,

00:40:14.900 --> 00:40:15.039
 well,

00:40:15.120 --> 00:40:16.500
 I won't talk about it then.

00:40:17.200 --> 00:40:17.420
 But,

00:40:17.740 --> 00:40:18.720
 you should,

00:40:18.760 --> 00:40:20.519
 you should study the attributes of God.

00:40:20.640 --> 00:40:20.840
 Okay?

00:40:21.559 --> 00:40:22.059
 We've,

00:40:22.059 --> 00:40:23.100
 we've thought about doing,

00:40:23.519 --> 00:40:24.280
 that here,

00:40:24.440 --> 00:40:24.640
 but,

00:40:25.400 --> 00:40:26.300
 two very good books,

00:40:26.400 --> 00:40:27.420
 Our Great God and Savior.

00:40:27.740 --> 00:40:28.600
 You can come look at these later.

00:40:29.579 --> 00:40:30.340
 And then,

00:40:30.880 --> 00:40:31.900
 the attributes of God,

00:40:32.680 --> 00:40:33.240
 Arthur Pink,

00:40:33.300 --> 00:40:34.039
 really good books.

00:40:34.420 --> 00:40:35.039
 They'll kind of,

00:40:35.400 --> 00:40:36.300
 blow your mind,

00:40:36.440 --> 00:40:37.280
 and increase your,

00:40:37.820 --> 00:40:38.940
 view of who God is,

00:40:39.039 --> 00:40:39.460
 biblically.

00:40:40.300 --> 00:40:40.680
 So,

00:40:41.000 --> 00:40:42.340
 strive to know God.

00:40:43.019 --> 00:40:43.320
 Okay?

00:40:43.320 --> 00:40:45.140
 Strive to know God for who He is.

00:40:45.700 --> 00:40:46.460
 Who He is,

00:40:46.480 --> 00:40:47.559
 and who He says He is,

00:40:47.680 --> 00:40:48.500
 through the Word.

00:40:49.240 --> 00:40:50.539
 God is an objective,

00:40:50.820 --> 00:40:51.640
 living reality.

00:40:51.780 --> 00:40:51.920
 Okay?

00:40:52.059 --> 00:40:52.220
 Like,

00:40:52.260 --> 00:40:52.559
 He's,

00:40:53.019 --> 00:40:53.420
 He's,

00:40:53.500 --> 00:40:55.440
 our personal thoughts,

00:40:55.519 --> 00:40:55.980
 and opinions,

00:40:56.160 --> 00:40:56.559
 and feelings,

00:40:56.660 --> 00:40:57.460
 don't really matter,

00:40:58.019 --> 00:40:58.480
 at all,

00:40:58.740 --> 00:40:59.580
 when it comes to God.

00:41:00.140 --> 00:41:01.280
 And that should be a good thing.

00:41:02.220 --> 00:41:03.420
 God is who He is.

00:41:03.420 --> 00:41:03.760
 And so,

00:41:03.860 --> 00:41:04.579
 it causes us to,

00:41:04.659 --> 00:41:04.720
 like,

00:41:04.780 --> 00:41:05.260
 humbly,

00:41:05.840 --> 00:41:06.840
 we need to strive to,

00:41:06.860 --> 00:41:07.039
 like,

00:41:07.260 --> 00:41:08.700
 conform our views of God,

00:41:08.780 --> 00:41:10.039
 to what God says about Himself.

00:41:10.680 --> 00:41:11.260
 You have to really,

00:41:11.820 --> 00:41:13.360
 really fight for that.

00:41:14.420 --> 00:41:14.780
 And,

00:41:15.360 --> 00:41:17.180
 to meditate on the person of God.

00:41:18.039 --> 00:41:18.639
 And I think,

00:41:19.639 --> 00:41:20.559
 yep,

00:41:21.480 --> 00:41:24.400
 the last thing I wanted you to look at,

00:41:24.440 --> 00:41:25.500
 was Isaiah 6,

00:41:26.159 --> 00:41:26.840
 real quick.

00:41:26.840 --> 00:41:32.039
 So,

00:41:32.280 --> 00:41:33.559
 strive to know God.

00:41:34.559 --> 00:41:35.420
 Isaiah 6.

00:41:35.440 --> 00:41:36.700
 I could have tied this in anywhere,

00:41:36.840 --> 00:41:37.079
 really,

00:41:37.660 --> 00:41:38.079
 tonight.

00:41:39.519 --> 00:41:40.380
 Verse 1.

00:41:47.920 --> 00:41:49.640
 The psalm that Wes sang earlier,

00:41:49.760 --> 00:41:50.000
 holy,

00:41:50.120 --> 00:41:50.320
 holy,

00:41:50.440 --> 00:41:50.680
 holy,

00:41:50.760 --> 00:41:51.600
 is kind of a,

00:41:51.600 --> 00:41:54.000
 a picture of what this passage is,

00:41:54.079 --> 00:41:54.260
 but,

00:41:55.300 --> 00:41:56.600
 this is the prophet Isaiah,

00:41:56.599 --> 00:41:56.940
 he says,

00:41:57.000 --> 00:41:58.799
 in the year that the king Uzziah died,

00:41:59.839 --> 00:42:02.059
 I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne,

00:42:02.920 --> 00:42:03.980
 high and lifted up,

00:42:04.079 --> 00:42:05.920
 and the train of His robe filled the temple.

00:42:06.900 --> 00:42:09.299
 And above Him stood the seraphim.

00:42:10.179 --> 00:42:11.539
 Each had six wings.

00:42:12.219 --> 00:42:13.440
 With two they covered their face,

00:42:13.500 --> 00:42:14.679
 with two they covered their feet,

00:42:14.739 --> 00:42:15.679
 and with two they flew.

00:42:17.159 --> 00:42:17.599
 Seraphim,

00:42:17.799 --> 00:42:18.079
 I think,

00:42:18.139 --> 00:42:18.920
 literally means,

00:42:18.920 --> 00:42:19.279
 like,

00:42:19.880 --> 00:42:20.819
 flaming ones,

00:42:21.059 --> 00:42:21.219
 like,

00:42:21.339 --> 00:42:22.460
 almost like so bright,

00:42:23.099 --> 00:42:23.539
 flaming,

00:42:23.759 --> 00:42:24.860
 majestic beings.

00:42:26.599 --> 00:42:28.279
 And they were flying with two,

00:42:28.400 --> 00:42:30.179
 they were covering their face,

00:42:30.980 --> 00:42:33.299
 so they couldn't actually look upon God,

00:42:33.339 --> 00:42:34.659
 when they came toward God.

00:42:36.819 --> 00:42:37.699
 Very reverent.

00:42:37.759 --> 00:42:38.319
 And it says that,

00:42:38.320 --> 00:42:39.420
 one called to another,

00:42:39.559 --> 00:42:39.880
 saying,

00:42:40.620 --> 00:42:40.940
 holy,

00:42:41.120 --> 00:42:41.360
 holy,

00:42:41.480 --> 00:42:41.760
 holy,

00:42:41.760 --> 00:42:41.800
 holy,

00:42:41.800 --> 00:42:43.260
 there's the Trinitarian idea,

00:42:43.860 --> 00:42:45.059
 is the Lord of hosts.

00:42:45.720 --> 00:42:47.860
 The whole earth is full of His glory.

00:42:48.519 --> 00:42:50.519
 And the foundation of a threshold shook,

00:42:50.980 --> 00:42:52.320
 and the voice of Him who called,

00:42:52.440 --> 00:42:53.900
 and the house was filled with smoke.

00:42:54.440 --> 00:42:55.340
 And I said,

00:42:55.519 --> 00:42:55.940
 Isaiah,

00:42:55.940 --> 00:42:57.740
 woe is me,

00:42:58.420 --> 00:42:59.539
 for I am lost,

00:42:59.619 --> 00:43:02.039
 for I am a man of unclean lips,

00:43:02.280 --> 00:43:05.619
 and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips,

00:43:06.159 --> 00:43:08.119
 for my eyes have seen the King,

00:43:08.780 --> 00:43:10.039
 the Lord of hosts.

00:43:11.039 --> 00:43:13.960
 So after this intense encounter with God,

00:43:14.679 --> 00:43:16.119
 for the rest of the book of Isaiah,

00:43:16.220 --> 00:43:18.559
 there's a name that really comes out a lot,

00:43:18.679 --> 00:43:19.860
 that Isaiah brings up.

00:43:20.220 --> 00:43:22.240
 He calls Him the Holy One of Israel,

00:43:22.380 --> 00:43:23.960
 as a result of this encounter.

00:43:24.519 --> 00:43:25.820
 He says this over and over.

00:43:26.400 --> 00:43:28.019
 And the experience was so intense,

00:43:28.079 --> 00:43:29.300
 that it nearly killed Him.

00:43:30.059 --> 00:43:31.079
 It nearly killed Him.

00:43:31.940 --> 00:43:33.500
 But it transformed Him, right?

00:43:33.599 --> 00:43:34.320
 Into a humble,

00:43:35.000 --> 00:43:36.679
 faithful servant.

00:43:36.780 --> 00:43:39.240
 A bold man who spoke the Word of God,

00:43:39.240 --> 00:43:40.559
 in a broken, sinful world.

00:43:41.659 --> 00:43:42.320
 And then He later,

00:43:42.500 --> 00:43:43.260
 the same prophet,

00:43:43.460 --> 00:43:44.780
 foretold of the Messiah coming,

00:43:45.699 --> 00:43:46.099
 Jesus.

00:43:47.179 --> 00:43:47.559
 So,

00:43:48.300 --> 00:43:49.780
 there's a lot of things,

00:43:49.880 --> 00:43:51.420
 that we all like to boast about, right?

00:43:52.220 --> 00:43:53.800
 Most of us in here,

00:43:53.800 --> 00:43:54.400
 could boast,

00:43:54.960 --> 00:43:56.180
 or we like to boast,

00:43:56.240 --> 00:43:57.200
 in one of these areas.

00:43:57.900 --> 00:43:59.740
 You would like to probably boast in,

00:44:00.780 --> 00:44:01.860
 your strength,

00:44:01.960 --> 00:44:02.600
 like if you really,

00:44:03.240 --> 00:44:03.960
 go to the gym,

00:44:04.060 --> 00:44:04.660
 like you're at the school,

00:44:04.820 --> 00:44:05.600
 kind of pumping iron,

00:44:05.720 --> 00:44:06.360
 and you just want to,

00:44:06.720 --> 00:44:07.680
 look in the mirror like,

00:44:08.539 --> 00:44:09.480
 every angle,

00:44:09.700 --> 00:44:10.880
 guys do that all the time.

00:44:12.240 --> 00:44:13.120
 Flexing in every way.

00:44:13.640 --> 00:44:14.480
 You think you're,

00:44:14.480 --> 00:44:15.519
 awesome,

00:44:15.640 --> 00:44:16.280
 you're really not.

00:44:17.039 --> 00:44:17.500
 Those of you,

00:44:17.580 --> 00:44:18.480
 you don't like the gym,

00:44:19.260 --> 00:44:19.640
 those of you,

00:44:19.640 --> 00:44:20.560
 you don't like the gym,

00:44:20.559 --> 00:44:21.320
 you like to kind of,

00:44:21.340 --> 00:44:22.119
 work out your brain,

00:44:22.219 --> 00:44:22.400
 like,

00:44:22.719 --> 00:44:23.380
 I'm smart,

00:44:23.539 --> 00:44:24.320
 I'm really intelligent.

00:44:25.019 --> 00:44:25.679
 Sit in the library,

00:44:25.799 --> 00:44:26.579
 and read books all day.

00:44:28.480 --> 00:44:28.799
 Then,

00:44:29.320 --> 00:44:30.440
 another area is like,

00:44:31.079 --> 00:44:31.480
 wealth,

00:44:31.619 --> 00:44:31.820
 you know,

00:44:31.880 --> 00:44:32.639
 that's the other area,

00:44:32.739 --> 00:44:33.139
 people are like,

00:44:33.179 --> 00:44:33.259
 man,

00:44:33.259 --> 00:44:33.820
 I got a lot of,

00:44:34.239 --> 00:44:34.900
 if I got money,

00:44:35.000 --> 00:44:35.639
 I got power,

00:44:35.719 --> 00:44:36.320
 and I got pleasure.

00:44:36.820 --> 00:44:37.119
 So,

00:44:37.199 --> 00:44:38.239
 they boast about that.

00:44:39.159 --> 00:44:39.440
 So,

00:44:39.679 --> 00:44:40.219
 intelligence,

00:44:40.480 --> 00:44:40.820
 strength,

00:44:40.880 --> 00:44:41.320
 and wealth.

00:44:42.599 --> 00:44:42.960
 I'll,

00:44:43.059 --> 00:44:44.860
 I'll read this to you,

00:44:44.900 --> 00:44:45.679
 just really quick,

00:44:45.759 --> 00:44:46.699
 Jeremiah 9,

00:44:46.699 --> 00:44:48.699
 verse 23,

00:44:48.879 --> 00:44:49.619
 says this,

00:44:50.539 --> 00:44:51.219
 let not,

00:44:52.079 --> 00:44:52.960
 the wise man,

00:44:53.039 --> 00:44:53.899
 boast in his wisdom,

00:44:54.619 --> 00:44:55.939
 let not the mighty man,

00:44:56.199 --> 00:44:57.259
 boast in his might,

00:44:57.819 --> 00:44:59.119
 let not the rich man,

00:44:59.199 --> 00:44:59.939
 boast in his riches,

00:45:00.719 --> 00:45:02.000
 but let him who boasts,

00:45:02.099 --> 00:45:02.879
 boast in this,

00:45:03.419 --> 00:45:04.539
 that he understands,

00:45:04.719 --> 00:45:05.699
 and knows me,

00:45:06.439 --> 00:45:07.579
 that I am the Lord,

00:45:08.259 --> 00:45:08.659
 Yahweh,

00:45:08.759 --> 00:45:09.139
 the same,

00:45:09.299 --> 00:45:09.919
 same word.

00:45:10.519 --> 00:45:10.699
 So,

00:45:10.699 --> 00:45:10.899
 like,

00:45:10.980 --> 00:45:11.559
 the true boast,

00:45:11.619 --> 00:45:11.859
 is like,

00:45:11.899 --> 00:45:12.779
 I know who God is,

00:45:12.799 --> 00:45:13.619
 I know God.

00:45:14.199 --> 00:45:14.379
 Like,

00:45:14.399 --> 00:45:15.299
 that's the greatest boast,

00:45:15.379 --> 00:45:15.919
 you could have.

00:45:16.699 --> 00:45:18.659
 So,

00:45:19.219 --> 00:45:20.219
 so,

00:45:20.359 --> 00:45:21.739
 what is the greatest way,

00:45:21.819 --> 00:45:23.059
 that God has accommodated,

00:45:23.679 --> 00:45:24.099
 us?

00:45:24.219 --> 00:45:24.759
 Remember that?

00:45:25.279 --> 00:45:26.719
 God has to break himself down,

00:45:26.819 --> 00:45:27.699
 for us to understand,

00:45:28.419 --> 00:45:29.480
 come down to our level,

00:45:30.559 --> 00:45:30.919
 well,

00:45:31.980 --> 00:45:33.299
 it's in the person of Christ.

00:45:33.919 --> 00:45:34.139
 So,

00:45:34.219 --> 00:45:35.879
 strive to know Christ.

00:45:36.960 --> 00:45:37.539
 One day,

00:45:37.619 --> 00:45:38.839
 Jesus encountered that,

00:45:39.179 --> 00:45:40.179
 hostile crowd,

00:45:40.179 --> 00:45:40.799
 in Jerusalem,

00:45:41.879 --> 00:45:42.719
 and this is,

00:45:43.339 --> 00:45:44.259
 you can write this down,

00:45:44.359 --> 00:45:44.919
 John 8,

00:45:45.559 --> 00:45:46.579
 verse 57,

00:45:47.339 --> 00:45:47.960
 but it says,

00:45:48.219 --> 00:45:49.279
 the Jews said to him,

00:45:49.980 --> 00:45:51.739
 you are not 50 years old,

00:45:51.779 --> 00:45:53.879
 and you have claimed to seen Abraham,

00:45:54.899 --> 00:45:55.719
 their forefather.

00:45:56.599 --> 00:45:57.739
 And Jesus said to them,

00:45:57.819 --> 00:45:58.079
 truly,

00:45:58.239 --> 00:45:58.519
 truly,

00:45:59.159 --> 00:46:00.139
 I say to you,

00:46:00.679 --> 00:46:02.099
 before Abraham was,

00:46:02.679 --> 00:46:03.480
 I am.

00:46:03.559 --> 00:46:03.719
 Like,

00:46:03.719 --> 00:46:04.179
 he says,

00:46:04.659 --> 00:46:05.539
 that's me.

00:46:05.719 --> 00:46:05.899
 Like,

00:46:05.960 --> 00:46:07.199
 I am Yahweh.

00:46:07.279 --> 00:46:08.559
 He says the name right there,

00:46:08.679 --> 00:46:08.839
 like,

00:46:09.239 --> 00:46:10.639
 before Abraham ever existed,

00:46:10.639 --> 00:46:12.359
 that was me,

00:46:12.519 --> 00:46:12.679
 like,

00:46:12.759 --> 00:46:13.739
 way back before.

00:46:14.879 --> 00:46:15.659
 He says,

00:46:15.759 --> 00:46:16.739
 he claims to be God,

00:46:17.079 --> 00:46:17.779
 and as a result,

00:46:17.879 --> 00:46:18.759
 they try to stone him,

00:46:19.480 --> 00:46:19.759
 right?

00:46:19.819 --> 00:46:20.719
 They try to stone him,

00:46:21.460 --> 00:46:22.059
 but it's not yet,

00:46:22.159 --> 00:46:23.440
 it's not yet his time,

00:46:23.500 --> 00:46:24.539
 so he's kind of smoking mirrors,

00:46:25.000 --> 00:46:25.679
 off the scene,

00:46:25.779 --> 00:46:25.980
 you know,

00:46:26.039 --> 00:46:26.980
 like how he tends to do that.

00:46:26.980 --> 00:46:29.340
 So,

00:46:29.599 --> 00:46:31.219
 he claims to be God,

00:46:31.320 --> 00:46:31.519
 so,

00:46:31.920 --> 00:46:32.340
 Jesus says,

00:46:32.440 --> 00:46:33.639
 I am Yahweh,

00:46:35.219 --> 00:46:35.599
 Jesus,

00:46:35.800 --> 00:46:36.420
 the God man,

00:46:36.500 --> 00:46:37.340
 like he says that,

00:46:37.800 --> 00:46:39.719
 God was made flesh,

00:46:39.780 --> 00:46:40.019
 right?

00:46:40.240 --> 00:46:41.559
 And he walked among us,

00:46:41.579 --> 00:46:43.199
 that's John chapter 1,

00:46:43.300 --> 00:46:43.920
 chapter 2.

00:46:45.039 --> 00:46:45.480
 And so,

00:46:45.639 --> 00:46:46.800
 in the best sense,

00:46:47.340 --> 00:46:49.019
 John said in chapter 1,

00:46:49.099 --> 00:46:51.059
 we have seen his glory,

00:46:51.219 --> 00:46:51.519
 right?

00:46:52.159 --> 00:46:52.880
 In Jesus,

00:46:53.019 --> 00:46:54.099
 in the person of Jesus,

00:46:55.039 --> 00:46:55.599
 and that,

00:46:55.599 --> 00:46:57.819
 when we say to God,

00:46:58.579 --> 00:46:58.860
 you know,

00:46:58.920 --> 00:47:00.039
 when we sing these songs,

00:47:00.159 --> 00:47:01.559
 like these praise and worship songs,

00:47:01.719 --> 00:47:03.159
 and songs in general,

00:47:03.500 --> 00:47:03.759
 like,

00:47:04.360 --> 00:47:04.839
 you ever heard,

00:47:04.880 --> 00:47:05.019
 like,

00:47:05.039 --> 00:47:05.639
 anything say,

00:47:05.739 --> 00:47:06.639
 show me your glory,

00:47:07.079 --> 00:47:07.980
 show me your glory,

00:47:08.219 --> 00:47:08.880
 like when we,

00:47:08.880 --> 00:47:10.259
 we cry out for God

00:47:10.259 --> 00:47:11.799
 to reveal himself to us,

00:47:12.639 --> 00:47:14.199
 we kind of do it

00:47:14.199 --> 00:47:14.839
 in like a flippant

00:47:14.839 --> 00:47:16.039
 kind of way,

00:47:16.579 --> 00:47:18.619
 that is not,

00:47:18.619 --> 00:47:19.940
 at all,

00:47:20.079 --> 00:47:20.739
 like the testimony

00:47:20.739 --> 00:47:21.819
 of scripture,

00:47:22.139 --> 00:47:22.699
 at all,

00:47:23.380 --> 00:47:23.960
 at all,

00:47:24.139 --> 00:47:24.539
 like,

00:47:24.539 --> 00:47:25.820
 to,

00:47:25.940 --> 00:47:28.320
 to see the glory of God

00:47:28.320 --> 00:47:29.480
 is so overpowering

00:47:29.480 --> 00:47:30.099
 that it leaves you

00:47:30.099 --> 00:47:30.860
 in utter terror,

00:47:31.619 --> 00:47:31.820
 like,

00:47:31.840 --> 00:47:32.820
 that's what it does.

00:47:33.860 --> 00:47:34.300
 So,

00:47:34.420 --> 00:47:35.139
 when we say that,

00:47:35.199 --> 00:47:36.480
 we have to stop and think,

00:47:37.119 --> 00:47:37.440
 Matthew,

00:47:37.619 --> 00:47:37.980
 Mark,

00:47:38.880 --> 00:47:39.420
 or excuse me,

00:47:39.480 --> 00:47:39.800
 Matthew,

00:47:39.940 --> 00:47:40.199
 Mark,

00:47:40.259 --> 00:47:40.739
 and Luke,

00:47:40.800 --> 00:47:42.000
 who wrote in the Gospels,

00:47:42.519 --> 00:47:43.579
 they wrote about this,

00:47:44.099 --> 00:47:45.480
 remember the transfiguration

00:47:45.480 --> 00:47:46.360
 where they're on the mountain

00:47:46.360 --> 00:47:46.860
 with Jesus,

00:47:46.940 --> 00:47:47.800
 and Jesus all of a sudden

00:47:47.800 --> 00:47:48.599
 lights up,

00:47:49.320 --> 00:47:49.699
 and,

00:47:49.800 --> 00:47:50.980
 and in great glory,

00:47:50.980 --> 00:47:53.119
 and Moses and Elijah

00:47:53.119 --> 00:47:53.840
 kind of appear

00:47:53.840 --> 00:47:54.860
 and they're having a conversation,

00:47:55.659 --> 00:47:56.119
 and,

00:47:56.219 --> 00:47:57.920
 there are several things

00:47:57.920 --> 00:47:58.400
 that happen,

00:47:59.320 --> 00:47:59.780
 but it all,

00:47:59.920 --> 00:48:00.559
 they all say,

00:48:00.679 --> 00:48:00.860
 well,

00:48:01.019 --> 00:48:02.059
 Matthew and Mark say it,

00:48:02.079 --> 00:48:02.920
 they were terrified

00:48:02.920 --> 00:48:04.240
 when that happened.

00:48:04.480 --> 00:48:04.820
 Not like,

00:48:05.340 --> 00:48:05.719
 ooh,

00:48:05.840 --> 00:48:06.519
 that's cool.

00:48:06.719 --> 00:48:07.099
 They weren't,

00:48:07.740 --> 00:48:07.980
 wow,

00:48:08.019 --> 00:48:08.539
 that's cool,

00:48:08.639 --> 00:48:08.880
 Jesus,

00:48:09.039 --> 00:48:09.880
 that's a cool dude,

00:48:09.960 --> 00:48:10.199
 man,

00:48:10.639 --> 00:48:11.559
 that's our bro.

00:48:11.900 --> 00:48:12.139
 They don't,

00:48:12.619 --> 00:48:13.400
 they're terrified.

00:48:14.240 --> 00:48:15.659
 And then Luke actually says

00:48:15.659 --> 00:48:17.099
 they fell into deep sleep.

00:48:17.799 --> 00:48:18.500
 When you really look

00:48:18.500 --> 00:48:19.380
 at the language there,

00:48:20.019 --> 00:48:21.559
 it really kind of ties in

00:48:21.559 --> 00:48:22.299
 to this idea

00:48:22.299 --> 00:48:23.299
 that they were terrified.

00:48:23.920 --> 00:48:24.759
 They were terrified

00:48:24.759 --> 00:48:26.819
 to such exhaustion

00:48:26.819 --> 00:48:28.480
 that they were overtaken

00:48:28.480 --> 00:48:29.819
 and they lost all their strength.

00:48:30.420 --> 00:48:30.920
 You see that?

00:48:31.059 --> 00:48:31.519
 They were just like,

00:48:32.440 --> 00:48:32.880
 they,

00:48:32.960 --> 00:48:34.059
 they couldn't even take it,

00:48:34.099 --> 00:48:34.579
 so they were,

00:48:34.739 --> 00:48:35.679
 they fell asleep.

00:48:36.039 --> 00:48:37.000
 They passed out.

00:48:37.940 --> 00:48:38.239
 You know,

00:48:38.380 --> 00:48:38.739
 so,

00:48:39.659 --> 00:48:40.880
 the sheer exhaustion of that,

00:48:40.880 --> 00:48:41.279
 and so,

00:48:42.000 --> 00:48:43.360
 before the crucifixion,

00:48:44.099 --> 00:48:44.860
 in John 17,

00:48:44.980 --> 00:48:46.199
 Jesus comforts himself

00:48:46.199 --> 00:48:47.899
 with the very reality

00:48:47.899 --> 00:48:48.619
 that he is one

00:48:48.619 --> 00:48:49.199
 with the Father,

00:48:49.299 --> 00:48:49.599
 doesn't he?

00:48:50.159 --> 00:48:50.439
 Like he,

00:48:50.759 --> 00:48:51.639
 like that's how he,

00:48:51.759 --> 00:48:52.980
 he's afraid.

00:48:53.119 --> 00:48:53.539
 He's like,

00:48:54.259 --> 00:48:54.939
 nervous,

00:48:55.199 --> 00:48:55.539
 fearful,

00:48:55.719 --> 00:48:56.619
 and he comforts himself

00:48:56.619 --> 00:48:57.239
 by saying,

00:48:57.559 --> 00:48:59.099
 I am one with the Father.

00:48:59.579 --> 00:49:00.619
 The Father is not

00:49:00.619 --> 00:49:02.119
 going to desert me.

00:49:02.960 --> 00:49:04.619
 So strive to know Christ.

00:49:04.859 --> 00:49:04.939
 And,

00:49:05.480 --> 00:49:06.500
 in the very end

00:49:06.500 --> 00:49:07.039
 of the Gospel

00:49:07.039 --> 00:49:07.679
 in Matthew,

00:49:08.819 --> 00:49:09.639
 he calls them

00:49:09.639 --> 00:49:10.259
 to go out,

00:49:10.379 --> 00:49:10.679
 you know,

00:49:11.199 --> 00:49:11.839
 and he says,

00:49:11.919 --> 00:49:13.859
 the power of Yahweh,

00:49:14.699 --> 00:49:15.539
 the power of the Father,

00:49:15.639 --> 00:49:15.839
 Son,

00:49:15.840 --> 00:49:16.559
 and the Holy Spirit.

00:49:17.760 --> 00:49:18.140
 So,

00:49:18.920 --> 00:49:20.180
 so strive to know Christ.

00:49:20.940 --> 00:49:21.700
 So let's just,

00:49:21.960 --> 00:49:22.820
 I'll pray for us,

00:49:22.880 --> 00:49:23.160
 and Wes,

00:49:23.180 --> 00:49:24.640
 if you want to come on up,

00:49:25.559 --> 00:49:27.019
 and we'll have some discussion

00:49:27.019 --> 00:49:27.720
 after this.