WEBVTT

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 Starting in chapter 7, verse 15, we read,

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 In my thing life I have seen everything.

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 There is a righteous man who perished in his righteousness,

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 and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evil doing.

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 Be not overly righteous, and do not make yourself too wise.

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 Why should you destroy yourself?

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 Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool.

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 Why should you die before your time?

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 It's good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand,

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 for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them.

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 Wisdom gives strength to the wise men more than ten rulers who are in the city.

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 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

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 Do not take to heart all the things that people say,

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 lest you hear your servant cursing you.

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 Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.

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 All these I have tested by wisdom, I said, I'll be wise.

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 But it was far from me,

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 the which has been as far off and deep,

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 very deep.

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 Who can find it out?

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 I turn my heart to know and to search out

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 and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things,

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 and to know the wickedness of folly

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 and the foolishness that is madness.

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 And I find something more bitter than death.

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 The woman whose heart is snares and necks,

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 and whose hands are fetters,

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 he who pleases God escapes her,

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 but the sinner is taken by her.

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 Behold, this is what I find,

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 says the preacher,

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 while adding one thing to another

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 to find the scheme of things

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 which my soul has sought repeatedly,

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 but I have not found.

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 One man among a thousand I find,

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 but a woman among all these I have not found.

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 See this alone I found,

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 that God made man upright,

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 but they have sought out many schemes.

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 Who is like the wise,

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 and who knows the interpretation of a thing?

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 A man's wisdom makes his face shine,

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 and the hardness of his face is changed.

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 I say,

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 keep the king's command

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 because of God's off to him.

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 Be not hasty to go from his presence.

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 Do not take your stand in an evil course,

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 for he does whatever he pleases.

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 For the word of the king is supreme,

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 and who may say to him,

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 what are you doing?

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 Whoever keeps a command

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 will know no evil thing,

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 and the wise heart will know

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 the proper time and the just way.

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 For there is a time

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 and a way for everything.

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 Although man's trouble lies heavy on him,

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 for he does not know what is to be.

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 For who can tell him how it will be?

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 No man has power to retain the spirit

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 or power over the day of death.

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 There is no discharge from war,

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 nor will wickedness deliver those

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 who are given to it.

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 All this I observe while applying my heart

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 to all that is done under the sun,

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 when man had power over man to his hurt.

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 Then I saw the wicked buried.

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 They used to go in and out of the holy place

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 and were praised in the city

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 where they had done such things.

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 This also is vanity,

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 because the sentence against an evil deed

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 is not executed speedily.

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 The heart of the children of man

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 is fully set to do evil.

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 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times

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 and prolongs his life,

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 yet I know that it will be well

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 with those who fear God,

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 because they fear before him.

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 But it will not be well with the wicked,

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 neither will he prolong his days

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 like a shadow,

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 because he does not fear before God.

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 There is a vanity that takes place on earth,

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 that there are righteous people

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 to whom it happens according to the deeds

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 of the wicked,

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 and there are wicked people

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 to whom it happens according to the deeds

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 of the righteous.

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 I said that this also is vanity

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 and a combined joy,

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 for man has nothing better under the sun

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 but to eat and drink and be joyful,

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 for this will go with him in his toil

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 through the days of his life

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 that God has given him under the sun.

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 When I applied my heart to know wisdom

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 and to see the business that is done on earth,

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 how night or day or night

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 do one's eyes see sleep?

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 Then I saw all the work of God

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 that man cannot find out

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 the work that is done under the sun.

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 However much man may toil in seeking,

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 he will not find it out.

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 Even though a wise man claims to know,

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 he cannot find it out.

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 This is the word of God.

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 Great. Thank you so much, Joanne.

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 Well, good morning, everyone.

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 Let's pray together

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 as we look at this wonderful passage.

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 Heavenly Fathers, we come to your word this morning.

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 We really want to hear you.

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 We want to hear your word and your wisdom to us.

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 God, as Oscar reminded us this morning,

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 some of us are weary.

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 Some of us are anxious.

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 Some of us have been searching for the good life.

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 Some of us are discouraged.

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 God, we pray that your word will both provoke us,

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 but more than that will encourage us,

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 will draw us near to you.

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 God, this morning I pray as you draw near to us

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 and your word,

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 won't you help us by your spirit

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 to draw near to you,

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 to trust in you,

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 to hold on to you.

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 God, as we've prayed many times before,

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 even my words,

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 I pray if anything is not of you,

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 won't they fall on deaf ears.

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 God, we want to hear you speak to us this morning.

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 So come and help us, God.

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 Give me grace to open up your word

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 and so we can hear from you.

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 We pray this in your wonderful name.

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 Amen.

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 I wonder if you've ever found yourself

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 sinking in quicksand.

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 Maybe you haven't found yourself in mud,

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 but you've gone for a hike up a hill

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 and you find yourself in soft sand or shale

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 and you take one step forward

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 and it seems like you fall back three or four

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 and you're making negative ground.

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 I wonder if you've ever felt that

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 life is like grasping a handful of sand

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 that the more you try and grasp it

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 and hold on to it,

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 the more it slips through your fingers

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 and in the end you've got hold of almost nothing.

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 I wonder if you've ever found yourself

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 searching for answers

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 and the more you search,

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 the more questions you come up with

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 to your answers

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 and you find yourself even more lost

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 at the end of the search

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 than you were before.

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 I wonder how many of us feel frustrated

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 or maybe exasperated

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 by the lack of control we have over life.

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 It seems like so much of life

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 is really beyond our control.

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 Have you ever found yourself

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 being frustrated by the injustice of the world?

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 You find somebody who is honored

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 and esteemed and revered

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 and looked up to

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 and yet trailing behind him or her

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 is a trail of injustice and abuse

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 and yet an upstanding, good, righteous man or woman

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 just seems to be marginalized,

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 trodden over and ignored.

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 Today as we come to Ecclesiastes 7 and 8,

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 our teacher continues with his reflection

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 of life under the sun.

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 Remember Ecclesiastes,

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 there's two authors

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 and most of the book is written by this man

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 who observes life under the sun.

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 He knows there's a God out there

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 but it's not the God

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 that's the covenant-keeping God of Israel.

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 It's not the God that breaks in

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 and is involved in his life.

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 He observes life under the sun.

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 He's noticing and reflecting

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 what does life look like

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 if all you do is just observe

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 the world around you.

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 And today he's wrestling with these things

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 that leave him frustrated

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 and exasperated.

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 In his search for the good life,

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 the teacher, Kohileth,

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 has walked into three brick walls

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 that are in his path

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 and have stopped him finding

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 what he's looking for.

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 There's a constant refrain.

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 I don't know if you picked it up

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 when Joanne was reading to us.

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 It's the refrain,

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 I cannot find.

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 I cannot find.

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 He says it seven or eight times

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 in the passage.

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 But look at the final verse

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 of our passage.

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 8 verse 17.

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 He says,

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 Man cannot find out

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 the work that is done

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 under the sun.

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 However much man may toil in seeking,

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 he will not find it out.

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 Even though a wise man claims to know,

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 he cannot find it out.

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 And throughout our passage,

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 he keeps on saying,

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 he cannot find

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 what he's looking for.

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 You know where this is going, right?

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 If the theme song of Ecclesiastes chapter 3

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 is turn, turn, turn,

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 the theme song of Ecclesiastes 5 and 6 is,

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 I can't find no satisfaction,

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 rolling stones.

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 The theme song of chapter 7 and 8 is,

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 but I still haven't found

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 what I'm looking for, right?

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 You too.

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 That's what he's getting at today.

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 I cannot find.

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 I cannot find.

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 Everywhere I search and I look,

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 I still cannot find

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 what I'm looking for.

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 In this passage today,

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 the author is searching and longing

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 for three things,

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 three brick walls that he runs into.

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 The mystery of wisdom and righteousness,

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 the illusion of control,

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 and thirdly,

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 the yearning for justice.

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 Let's dive in.

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 Now, the first one's going to be the longest.

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 So, if you feel like after the first one,

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 boy, this is going to be a three-hour sermon,

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 don't worry, we'll come into land eventually.

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 So, firstly,

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 the search for wisdom and righteousness.

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 By the way,

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 if you need a Bible in front of you today,

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 or a bulletin,

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 we're going to be looking at a lot of the passages.

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 You're going to need it in front of you.

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 Now, in the first section,

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 chapter 7, verse 15 to 29,

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 he's going to talk a lot about this search

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 for wisdom and righteousness.

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 Wisdom and righteousness.

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 Now, in Hebrew thinking,

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 wisdom and righteousness

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 always are two sides of the same coin.

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 They always go hand in hand together.

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 And the reason is because they have their source

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 in the same being.

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 Wisdom and righteousness find their source

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 in God, God alone.

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 Wisdom, according to Hebrew Scripture,

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 is the skill of right living,

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 living life rightly.

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 And righteousness is loving what is right.

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 Okay?

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 So, wisdom and righteousness

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 always go together.

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 Do you remember how Proverbs says,

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 the beginning of wisdom

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 is the fear of the Lord.

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 That's where you start off with wisdom.

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 And the result of wisdom and righteousness

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 is prosperity, abundance, and life.

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 And conversely,

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 wickedness and foolishness

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 always go hand in hand together

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 because their origin,

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 their source,

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 is in the same source.

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 The rejection of God.

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 The rejection of God

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 as designer and creator of life.

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 Remember Psalm 14 says,

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 the fool says in his heart,

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 there is no God.

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 And the fruit of foolishness

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 or folly and wickedness

00:12:11.939 --> 00:12:14.939
 is death, destruction, ruin.

00:12:15.639 --> 00:12:17.339
 That's what the Bible constantly says.

00:12:17.340 --> 00:12:19.500
 Except our teacher,

00:12:19.899 --> 00:12:21.060
 when he looks at life,

00:12:21.139 --> 00:12:22.399
 that's not what he finds.

00:12:23.019 --> 00:12:24.899
 He finds it the other way around.

00:12:25.259 --> 00:12:27.080
 Look at verse 15 with me.

00:12:27.160 --> 00:12:27.460
 He says,

00:12:27.540 --> 00:12:28.580
 In my vain life,

00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:30.000
 I have seen everything.

00:12:30.560 --> 00:12:31.759
 There is a righteous man

00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:33.680
 who perishes in his righteousness.

00:12:34.200 --> 00:12:35.399
 There is a wicked man

00:12:35.399 --> 00:12:36.940
 who prolongs his life

00:12:36.940 --> 00:12:37.720
 and his evil doing.

00:12:38.379 --> 00:12:40.180
 He's grappling with the paradox

00:12:40.180 --> 00:12:41.300
 of life around him.

00:12:41.879 --> 00:12:42.639
 For him,

00:12:42.759 --> 00:12:43.980
 life is not working out

00:12:43.980 --> 00:12:45.100
 the way that it's meant to be.

00:12:45.320 --> 00:12:46.840
 Here is a righteous man

00:12:46.840 --> 00:12:48.600
 and he's dying.

00:12:49.120 --> 00:12:50.160
 Here is a wicked man

00:12:50.160 --> 00:12:51.300
 and he's prospering.

00:12:51.740 --> 00:12:52.139
 He's saying,

00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:53.780
 life is not working out

00:12:53.780 --> 00:12:54.740
 the way it's meant to be.

00:12:54.980 --> 00:12:55.720
 Life, for him,

00:12:55.860 --> 00:12:57.360
 wisdom is disappointing.

00:12:58.000 --> 00:12:59.540
 It doesn't turn out the way.

00:12:59.620 --> 00:13:00.519
 It doesn't deliver

00:13:00.519 --> 00:13:01.540
 what it promises.

00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:03.920
 Friends,

00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:04.940
 have you ever felt like this?

00:13:05.980 --> 00:13:06.940
 Maybe you're at the office

00:13:06.940 --> 00:13:08.000
 and you make a decision.

00:13:08.200 --> 00:13:09.560
 There's a difficult situation

00:13:09.560 --> 00:13:10.580
 and you choose

00:13:10.580 --> 00:13:12.200
 to take the ethical decision.

00:13:12.780 --> 00:13:13.980
 You're not going to do

00:13:13.980 --> 00:13:15.120
 what all your colleagues do.

00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:16.500
 You decide to do what's right.

00:13:16.840 --> 00:13:17.820
 And what happens?

00:13:18.180 --> 00:13:19.379
 You get sidelined

00:13:19.379 --> 00:13:20.120
 and marginalized.

00:13:20.899 --> 00:13:21.899
 And one of your colleagues

00:13:21.899 --> 00:13:23.600
 decides to cut corners,

00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:25.580
 fudge the truth a little bit,

00:13:25.680 --> 00:13:27.139
 not quite honest with your boss.

00:13:27.220 --> 00:13:27.800
 And what happens?

00:13:28.139 --> 00:13:29.019
 They get promoted.

00:13:29.960 --> 00:13:30.500
 And that's what

00:13:30.500 --> 00:13:31.940
 the teacher's grappling with.

00:13:32.259 --> 00:13:33.600
 What's his conclusion here?

00:13:33.980 --> 00:13:34.720
 Verse 16,

00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:55.340
 The teacher suggests,

00:13:55.700 --> 00:13:55.879
 listen,

00:13:55.879 --> 00:13:57.460
 if you want to make life work,

00:13:57.799 --> 00:13:59.039
 don't be too righteous.

00:13:59.179 --> 00:13:59.820
 Don't be too good.

00:13:59.919 --> 00:14:00.080
 I mean,

00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:01.799
 righteousness and wisdom is good.

00:14:02.360 --> 00:14:02.840
 But hey,

00:14:02.899 --> 00:14:04.220
 if you need to make life work,

00:14:04.279 --> 00:14:05.279
 if you need to get ahead in life,

00:14:05.320 --> 00:14:06.000
 you need to dabble

00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:07.240
 in a little bit of foolishness,

00:14:07.340 --> 00:14:07.899
 that's okay.

00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:09.700
 Just try and follow

00:14:09.700 --> 00:14:10.820
 the middle road somewhere.

00:14:11.820 --> 00:14:12.679
 Now remember,

00:14:13.259 --> 00:14:15.039
 the teacher is not giving us

00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:17.120
 orthodox biblical teaching.

00:14:17.220 --> 00:14:17.340
 Right?

00:14:17.519 --> 00:14:19.139
 He's describing life

00:14:19.139 --> 00:14:19.820
 under the sun.

00:14:19.940 --> 00:14:20.200
 He's saying,

00:14:20.520 --> 00:14:20.680
 listen,

00:14:20.800 --> 00:14:21.879
 I've observed life.

00:14:22.440 --> 00:14:23.660
 This is all I can see.

00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:25.140
 If you want to get a life,

00:14:25.600 --> 00:14:26.260
 be wise,

00:14:26.360 --> 00:14:26.860
 be righteous.

00:14:27.460 --> 00:14:28.500
 But don't be too wise.

00:14:28.600 --> 00:14:29.980
 Don't be too principled.

00:14:30.460 --> 00:14:31.540
 Sometimes you might just need

00:14:31.540 --> 00:14:32.460
 to take the middle road.

00:14:33.520 --> 00:14:33.900
 He's saying,

00:14:34.020 --> 00:14:37.020
 wisdom sometimes disappoints us.

00:14:37.680 --> 00:14:38.920
 It doesn't give us

00:14:38.920 --> 00:14:39.780
 what it promises.

00:14:39.980 --> 00:14:40.860
 It doesn't lead to

00:14:40.860 --> 00:14:41.800
 the abundant,

00:14:42.020 --> 00:14:42.560
 flourishing life

00:14:42.560 --> 00:14:43.600
 that I expected it to.

00:14:44.540 --> 00:14:45.800
 Look at the other brick wall

00:14:45.800 --> 00:14:46.580
 that he runs into.

00:14:46.700 --> 00:14:47.020
 He says,

00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:48.740
 wisdom is limited.

00:14:48.740 --> 00:14:50.759
 Sometimes it's beyond us.

00:14:51.600 --> 00:14:53.500
 Look at verse 19 to 21.

00:14:54.580 --> 00:14:54.860
 He says,

00:14:55.220 --> 00:14:55.980
 wisdom gives strength

00:14:55.980 --> 00:14:57.200
 to the wise man

00:14:57.200 --> 00:14:58.820
 more than ten rulers

00:14:58.820 --> 00:15:00.299
 to a city.

00:15:00.820 --> 00:15:01.539
 Okay, that's good.

00:15:02.100 --> 00:15:02.480
 So he's saying,

00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:03.700
 wisdom and righteousness

00:15:03.700 --> 00:15:05.100
 benefits a city.

00:15:05.180 --> 00:15:06.360
 It's a good thing for a city,

00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:07.500
 a civilization.

00:15:08.480 --> 00:15:09.419
 Oh, but there's a problem.

00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:11.259
 Because look at verse 20.

00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:13.120
 But surely there's not

00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:14.840
 one righteous man on earth,

00:15:14.919 --> 00:15:16.180
 one who does good

00:15:16.180 --> 00:15:17.560
 and never sins.

00:15:17.559 --> 00:15:19.239
 Here he's saying,

00:15:19.500 --> 00:15:20.459
 imagine a city

00:15:20.459 --> 00:15:21.839
 that is full of wise

00:15:21.839 --> 00:15:23.159
 and righteous people.

00:15:23.479 --> 00:15:24.959
 What a wonderful place

00:15:24.959 --> 00:15:25.439
 to live.

00:15:26.039 --> 00:15:26.159
 Right?

00:15:26.279 --> 00:15:27.259
 All you lawyers,

00:15:27.619 --> 00:15:27.959
 sorry,

00:15:28.059 --> 00:15:28.899
 you're out of a job.

00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:31.659
 There's no public prosecutors

00:15:31.659 --> 00:15:32.079
 anymore.

00:15:32.279 --> 00:15:33.339
 There's no more defenders.

00:15:34.619 --> 00:15:36.419
 A city's full of people

00:15:36.419 --> 00:15:37.759
 that are caring

00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:38.679
 and considerate.

00:15:39.019 --> 00:15:40.379
 Everyone's law abiding.

00:15:40.939 --> 00:15:41.959
 Everyone's a good neighbor.

00:15:42.259 --> 00:15:43.699
 Everyone is caring

00:15:43.699 --> 00:15:44.899
 towards their friends

00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:45.559
 and their neighbors.

00:15:46.179 --> 00:15:47.019
 Everyone's thoughtful

00:15:47.019 --> 00:15:47.620
 and wise.

00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:49.039
 What an amazing city

00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:49.639
 to live.

00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:51.480
 Oh, but the problem is

00:15:51.480 --> 00:15:53.379
 no such city exists.

00:15:54.199 --> 00:15:55.179
 Wherever there's people,

00:15:55.720 --> 00:15:56.319
 there's sinners,

00:15:56.459 --> 00:15:56.919
 he says.

00:15:57.319 --> 00:15:58.159
 Surely there's not

00:15:58.159 --> 00:15:59.559
 a righteous man on earth

00:15:59.559 --> 00:16:01.059
 who never sins

00:16:01.059 --> 00:16:02.279
 and always does good.

00:16:02.779 --> 00:16:04.039
 And how do you want to know?

00:16:04.299 --> 00:16:05.019
 If you want to know

00:16:05.019 --> 00:16:05.879
 that this is true,

00:16:05.980 --> 00:16:06.500
 how do you know

00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:07.100
 that it's true?

00:16:07.179 --> 00:16:08.179
 We'll look at verse 21.

00:16:08.179 --> 00:16:10.120
 Do not take to heart

00:16:10.120 --> 00:16:10.719
 all the things

00:16:10.719 --> 00:16:11.679
 that people say,

00:16:12.339 --> 00:16:13.139
 lest you hear

00:16:13.139 --> 00:16:14.479
 your servant cursing you.

00:16:14.539 --> 00:16:15.919
 He means slandering you,

00:16:16.099 --> 00:16:17.099
 gossiping about you.

00:16:17.479 --> 00:16:18.819
 For your heart knows

00:16:18.819 --> 00:16:19.819
 that many times

00:16:19.819 --> 00:16:21.019
 you've done that

00:16:21.019 --> 00:16:21.559
 to others.

00:16:21.639 --> 00:16:21.859
 Right?

00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:23.359
 So he's saying,

00:16:23.699 --> 00:16:24.759
 wisdom and righteousness,

00:16:25.299 --> 00:16:26.039
 right living,

00:16:26.539 --> 00:16:27.639
 good and rewarding.

00:16:28.239 --> 00:16:29.579
 Its benefit to society

00:16:29.579 --> 00:16:30.159
 is obvious.

00:16:30.919 --> 00:16:32.079
 Better a city

00:16:32.079 --> 00:16:33.419
 full of good citizens

00:16:33.419 --> 00:16:35.219
 than a city full of good

00:16:35.219 --> 00:16:36.339
 laws and regulations.

00:16:36.340 --> 00:16:38.120
 Laws and regulations

00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:39.440
 don't make a city prosper.

00:16:39.680 --> 00:16:40.340
 Wisdom does.

00:16:40.800 --> 00:16:41.280
 Righteousness.

00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:43.080
 How wonderful to have a city

00:16:43.080 --> 00:16:44.160
 that's full of good citizens.

00:16:44.340 --> 00:16:45.280
 Oh, the problem is

00:16:45.280 --> 00:16:47.399
 that city never really exists

00:16:47.399 --> 00:16:49.660
 because there is no city

00:16:49.660 --> 00:16:51.139
 that is full of perfect people.

00:16:52.220 --> 00:16:52.759
 Friends, can I say,

00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:53.899
 there's no church

00:16:53.899 --> 00:16:56.000
 that is full of perfect people.

00:16:56.680 --> 00:16:58.379
 Every church is full of sinners

00:16:58.379 --> 00:16:59.860
 that are broken like you

00:16:59.860 --> 00:17:00.639
 and like me.

00:17:01.100 --> 00:17:01.560
 And he says,

00:17:01.660 --> 00:17:02.759
 how do you know that?

00:17:03.139 --> 00:17:04.319
 Well, just consider the person

00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:05.220
 sitting next to you.

00:17:05.620 --> 00:17:06.319
 No, no, he doesn't say,

00:17:06.339 --> 00:17:08.500
 consider your own life, right?

00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:10.839
 None of us are perfect.

00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:13.000
 The problem is

00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:14.639
 who is completely wise?

00:17:15.220 --> 00:17:16.559
 Who is completely righteous?

00:17:17.319 --> 00:17:18.579
 Which city or society

00:17:18.579 --> 00:17:19.579
 has ever existed

00:17:19.579 --> 00:17:20.779
 full of people

00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:22.159
 that are completely wise

00:17:22.159 --> 00:17:22.679
 and righteous?

00:17:22.959 --> 00:17:23.619
 Surely there is

00:17:23.619 --> 00:17:25.419
 not a righteous man on earth

00:17:25.419 --> 00:17:26.579
 who does good

00:17:26.579 --> 00:17:28.179
 and never sins.

00:17:28.839 --> 00:17:30.399
 The limits of wisdom

00:17:30.399 --> 00:17:31.159
 and righteousness.

00:17:31.959 --> 00:17:33.159
 If only we could find

00:17:33.159 --> 00:17:33.819
 a place where

00:17:33.819 --> 00:17:35.059
 we could be like that.

00:17:35.059 --> 00:17:35.839
 But it's always

00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:36.960
 beyond our grasp.

00:17:37.159 --> 00:17:37.480
 Even,

00:17:37.899 --> 00:17:38.879
 the teacher says this,

00:17:38.940 --> 00:17:40.059
 the problem with wisdom

00:17:40.059 --> 00:17:40.639
 and righteousness

00:17:40.639 --> 00:17:41.500
 are twofold.

00:17:42.299 --> 00:17:42.779
 One,

00:17:43.500 --> 00:17:44.039
 he says,

00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:45.139
 is that it doesn't deliver

00:17:45.139 --> 00:17:45.839
 what it promises.

00:17:46.440 --> 00:17:47.059
 But two,

00:17:47.460 --> 00:17:48.559
 even if it did,

00:17:48.879 --> 00:17:49.559
 none of us

00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:50.500
 are completely wise

00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:51.000
 and right.

00:17:52.059 --> 00:17:53.359
 But look at the third thing

00:17:53.359 --> 00:17:54.099
 he says here.

00:17:54.599 --> 00:17:54.899
 He says,

00:17:54.940 --> 00:17:56.259
 the problem with wisdom,

00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:57.879
 it's evasive.

00:17:57.880 --> 00:18:00.540
 It's like trying to grasp

00:18:00.540 --> 00:18:02.340
 a cloud or a mist.

00:18:02.600 --> 00:18:03.820
 As soon as you grasp it,

00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:04.760
 it's out of your hand.

00:18:05.140 --> 00:18:07.120
 You can never quite find it.

00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:09.140
 What about the person

00:18:09.140 --> 00:18:10.740
 who truly seeks wisdom?

00:18:10.860 --> 00:18:12.800
 The person who truly seeks

00:18:12.800 --> 00:18:15.000
 the answers to life's big questions

00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:16.340
 and who's determined

00:18:16.340 --> 00:18:17.220
 to find them

00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:18.400
 and to live by them.

00:18:18.880 --> 00:18:19.540
 Someone who says,

00:18:19.660 --> 00:18:19.780
 okay,

00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:20.100
 fine,

00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:20.980
 everyone else,

00:18:21.260 --> 00:18:22.280
 they're a mess.

00:18:22.660 --> 00:18:23.640
 The rest of the city,

00:18:23.760 --> 00:18:23.920
 okay,

00:18:23.980 --> 00:18:24.760
 they can do what they want.

00:18:24.839 --> 00:18:25.759
 But as for me

00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:26.619
 and my household,

00:18:26.839 --> 00:18:28.539
 we are going to live rightly.

00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:29.500
 We are going to pursue

00:18:29.500 --> 00:18:30.879
 wisdom and righteousness.

00:18:32.039 --> 00:18:32.240
 Well,

00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:32.799
 look what he says

00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:33.799
 in verse 23.

00:18:35.319 --> 00:18:35.879
 He says,

00:18:35.900 --> 00:18:36.900
 all this I've tested

00:18:36.900 --> 00:18:38.019
 by my wisdom.

00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:39.500
 I said,

00:18:39.720 --> 00:18:41.180
 I will be wise,

00:18:41.640 --> 00:18:43.279
 but it was far from me.

00:18:44.059 --> 00:18:45.259
 That which has been

00:18:45.259 --> 00:18:46.519
 is far off

00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:47.279
 and deep,

00:18:47.500 --> 00:18:48.480
 very deep.

00:18:48.900 --> 00:18:50.440
 Who can find it?

00:18:52.259 --> 00:18:54.059
 The teacher is on a quest.

00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:55.599
 To find wisdom.

00:18:55.799 --> 00:18:57.180
 To find right living.

00:18:57.599 --> 00:18:58.660
 He wants to find

00:18:58.660 --> 00:19:00.220
 the skill of living right

00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:01.180
 and he wants a heart

00:19:01.180 --> 00:19:02.900
 that loves what is right.

00:19:03.619 --> 00:19:04.480
 But the problem is,

00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:04.960
 he says,

00:19:05.559 --> 00:19:07.119
 I can't seem to find it.

00:19:08.420 --> 00:19:09.740
 The teacher is like

00:19:09.740 --> 00:19:11.119
 a deep sea diver

00:19:11.119 --> 00:19:12.839
 with his goggles

00:19:12.839 --> 00:19:13.799
 and his snorkel

00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:15.160
 that is diving deep

00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:16.579
 to try and find the Titanic

00:19:16.579 --> 00:19:17.839
 on the ocean floor.

00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:21.140
 And the deeper he dives,

00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:22.640
 the more disorientated

00:19:22.640 --> 00:19:24.400
 and lost he becomes.

00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:27.480
 Look at verse 25

00:19:27.480 --> 00:19:27.980
 and onwards.

00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:29.180
 He says,

00:19:29.220 --> 00:19:30.259
 I turned my heart

00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:30.920
 to know

00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:32.480
 and to search out

00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:33.480
 and to seek wisdom,

00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:35.579
 to find the scheme of things

00:19:35.579 --> 00:19:36.720
 and to know

00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:37.640
 and to understand

00:19:37.640 --> 00:19:38.259
 wickedness

00:19:38.259 --> 00:19:39.160
 and foolishness

00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:39.799
 and madness.

00:19:40.519 --> 00:19:41.799
 But I found something

00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:42.579
 more bitter

00:19:42.579 --> 00:19:43.660
 than death.

00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:44.980
 A woman

00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:46.599
 whose heart

00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:47.220
 is snares

00:19:47.220 --> 00:19:47.759
 and nets,

00:19:48.160 --> 00:19:48.759
 whose hands

00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:49.339
 are fetters.

00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:50.359
 Fetters means like

00:19:50.359 --> 00:19:51.200
 chains.

00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:53.279
 He who pleases God

00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:54.019
 escapes her,

00:19:54.180 --> 00:19:54.700
 but the sinner

00:19:54.700 --> 00:19:55.759
 is taken by her.

00:19:56.380 --> 00:19:56.620
 Behold,

00:19:56.680 --> 00:19:57.559
 this is what I found,

00:19:57.640 --> 00:19:58.220
 says the preacher,

00:19:58.340 --> 00:19:59.360
 while adding one thing

00:19:59.360 --> 00:19:59.960
 to another

00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:00.680
 to another

00:20:00.680 --> 00:20:02.019
 to find the scheme

00:20:02.019 --> 00:20:02.500
 of things,

00:20:02.700 --> 00:20:03.940
 that which my soul

00:20:03.940 --> 00:20:05.059
 has sought repeatedly,

00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:06.799
 but I could not find.

00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:08.860
 One man amongst a thousand

00:20:08.860 --> 00:20:09.500
 I found,

00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:11.360
 but a woman amongst all these

00:20:11.360 --> 00:20:12.960
 I have not found.

00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:14.920
 Now,

00:20:15.019 --> 00:20:15.600
 this passage

00:20:15.600 --> 00:20:17.100
 is very perplexing

00:20:17.100 --> 00:20:17.920
 and challenging,

00:20:18.140 --> 00:20:18.340
 right?

00:20:18.560 --> 00:20:19.539
 Look at what he says.

00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:20.539
 He says,

00:20:20.940 --> 00:20:21.900
 I sought for wisdom

00:20:21.900 --> 00:20:23.160
 and behold,

00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:23.800
 I found

00:20:23.800 --> 00:20:25.000
 a woman.

00:20:25.640 --> 00:20:26.920
 And how does he describe her?

00:20:27.300 --> 00:20:28.200
 More bitter

00:20:28.200 --> 00:20:29.080
 than death.

00:20:30.680 --> 00:20:31.860
 What's going on here?

00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:33.480
 Well,

00:20:34.300 --> 00:20:35.080
 it's a couple

00:20:35.080 --> 00:20:35.940
 of different things.

00:20:36.920 --> 00:20:38.320
 Some people suggested

00:20:38.320 --> 00:20:39.019
 the teacher

00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:39.840
 is clearly

00:20:39.840 --> 00:20:41.019
 a misogynist,

00:20:41.140 --> 00:20:41.340
 right?

00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:41.800
 Because,

00:20:42.200 --> 00:20:42.360
 I mean,

00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:43.940
 it's a thousand B.C.,

00:20:43.940 --> 00:20:45.039
 men didn't treat women

00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:45.700
 very well.

00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:46.519
 He's saying,

00:20:46.600 --> 00:20:46.800
 listen,

00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:47.840
 women are foolish,

00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:49.060
 and if you're going to,

00:20:49.220 --> 00:20:50.240
 all they're going to lead to

00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:50.940
 is just trouble

00:20:50.940 --> 00:20:52.120
 and difficulty in life,

00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:52.320
 right?

00:20:52.380 --> 00:20:52.600
 Men,

00:20:52.700 --> 00:20:53.560
 stay clear of women,

00:20:53.640 --> 00:20:54.680
 they're going to lead to problems.

00:20:56.160 --> 00:20:56.480
 Okay,

00:20:56.640 --> 00:20:56.920
 maybe,

00:20:57.160 --> 00:20:57.640
 maybe not.

00:20:58.259 --> 00:20:59.400
 Some people have said,

00:20:59.480 --> 00:20:59.600
 no,

00:20:59.640 --> 00:21:00.700
 he's warning us

00:21:00.700 --> 00:21:04.720
 against the sexually loose woman,

00:21:05.300 --> 00:21:06.019
 the lure

00:21:06.019 --> 00:21:07.759
 of the lustful woman,

00:21:07.800 --> 00:21:07.960
 right?

00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:08.940
 Because he describes her

00:21:08.940 --> 00:21:10.779
 as her heart is a net

00:21:10.779 --> 00:21:11.840
 and a trap.

00:21:12.340 --> 00:21:13.660
 Her hands are chains.

00:21:13.860 --> 00:21:15.259
 Don't be ensnared by her.

00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:17.440
 But I think that misses

00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:18.920
 the point altogether.

00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:20.319
 Remember,

00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:21.980
 the book of Ecclesiastes

00:21:21.980 --> 00:21:24.099
 is part of the Old Testament

00:21:24.099 --> 00:21:25.879
 Jewish wisdom literature.

00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:27.259
 There's five books in the Bible

00:21:27.259 --> 00:21:28.980
 that are part of wisdom literature.

00:21:29.579 --> 00:21:30.019
 Job,

00:21:30.460 --> 00:21:31.019
 Psalms,

00:21:31.440 --> 00:21:31.900
 Proverbs,

00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:32.859
 Ecclesiastes,

00:21:33.319 --> 00:21:34.519
 and Song of Songs.

00:21:35.099 --> 00:21:37.000
 And the pinnacle of wisdom literature

00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:38.640
 is the book of Proverbs,

00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:38.920
 right?

00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:39.819
 That's kind of like

00:21:39.819 --> 00:21:41.619
 the high point of wisdom literature.

00:21:41.619 --> 00:21:42.659
 Well,

00:21:42.679 --> 00:21:43.419
 in the book of Proverbs,

00:21:43.539 --> 00:21:45.219
 chapters 1 to 9,

00:21:45.979 --> 00:21:48.299
 personify wisdom

00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:49.559
 and foolishness

00:21:49.559 --> 00:21:50.539
 as two women.

00:21:51.139 --> 00:21:51.839
 It's kind of like,

00:21:51.879 --> 00:21:52.039
 you know,

00:21:52.079 --> 00:21:52.619
 in Central,

00:21:52.739 --> 00:21:53.479
 there's the statue

00:21:53.479 --> 00:21:54.539
 of Lady Justice.

00:21:54.939 --> 00:21:55.979
 She's blindfolded

00:21:55.979 --> 00:21:57.719
 and she holds the scales.

00:21:58.159 --> 00:21:59.379
 And it's a picture of

00:21:59.379 --> 00:22:01.759
 a personification of justice.

00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:02.679
 Well,

00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:03.919
 Proverbs says the same thing.

00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:05.399
 It personifies wisdom

00:22:05.399 --> 00:22:06.359
 and foolishness

00:22:06.359 --> 00:22:07.479
 as these two women.

00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:08.879
 Lady wisdom

00:22:08.879 --> 00:22:10.159
 and lady foolishness.

00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:12.300
 And Proverbs says

00:22:12.300 --> 00:22:13.640
 both of them stand

00:22:13.640 --> 00:22:14.620
 on the street corners,

00:22:14.800 --> 00:22:15.420
 lady wisdom

00:22:15.420 --> 00:22:16.400
 and lady foolishness,

00:22:16.460 --> 00:22:18.000
 and they call to passers-by

00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:19.320
 to come and dwell with them,

00:22:19.460 --> 00:22:20.759
 to come and live with them.

00:22:21.360 --> 00:22:22.240
 But the problem is

00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:23.279
 lady wisdom

00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:24.440
 and lady foolishness

00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:26.480
 have two very different characters

00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:27.620
 that lead to

00:22:27.620 --> 00:22:29.300
 two very different consequences.

00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:31.140
 And so the whole point

00:22:31.140 --> 00:22:32.380
 of Proverbs 1 to 9

00:22:32.380 --> 00:22:32.720
 is

00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:36.080
 beware of lady foolishness.

00:22:36.300 --> 00:22:37.259
 That's going to lead

00:22:37.259 --> 00:22:38.320
 to death and destruction.

00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:39.939
 Set your heart

00:22:39.939 --> 00:22:40.859
 on lady wisdom.

00:22:41.299 --> 00:22:41.519
 Okay?

00:22:41.879 --> 00:22:43.119
 So that's what's going on

00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:44.259
 in the background here.

00:22:44.659 --> 00:22:45.319
 So look at what

00:22:45.319 --> 00:22:46.339
 the teacher says here.

00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:48.039
 I turn my heart

00:22:48.039 --> 00:22:48.679
 to seek

00:22:48.679 --> 00:22:50.019
 and to find out

00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:51.159
 and to search for wisdom.

00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:52.439
 But what happens?

00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:54.039
 That which my soul

00:22:54.039 --> 00:22:54.939
 has thought

00:22:54.939 --> 00:22:56.019
 I could not find.

00:22:56.819 --> 00:22:58.139
 I have found one,

00:22:58.220 --> 00:22:59.000
 a man in a thousand,

00:22:59.220 --> 00:22:59.919
 but a woman

00:22:59.919 --> 00:23:00.960
 amongst all these

00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:01.939
 I have not found.

00:23:01.940 --> 00:23:03.500
 The teacher

00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:05.059
 is searching

00:23:05.059 --> 00:23:06.920
 for lady wisdom

00:23:06.920 --> 00:23:08.340
 but all he does

00:23:08.340 --> 00:23:09.279
 is he finds

00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:10.320
 lady foolishness

00:23:10.320 --> 00:23:11.180
 wherever he goes.

00:23:11.640 --> 00:23:12.620
 It's like a man

00:23:12.620 --> 00:23:13.559
 who knocks on

00:23:13.559 --> 00:23:14.779
 a hundred different doors

00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:15.680
 and every time

00:23:15.680 --> 00:23:16.519
 he knocks on the door

00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:17.620
 who opens the door?

00:23:18.140 --> 00:23:18.960
 Lady foolishness.

00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:19.980
 And he goes to another door

00:23:19.980 --> 00:23:20.779
 and he opens the door

00:23:20.779 --> 00:23:21.120
 and he says

00:23:21.120 --> 00:23:22.980
 maybe life and prosperity

00:23:22.980 --> 00:23:24.680
 and wisdom

00:23:24.680 --> 00:23:25.440
 is found here

00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:26.660
 and he opens the door.

00:23:27.120 --> 00:23:27.360
 No,

00:23:27.480 --> 00:23:28.420
 it leads to death.

00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:29.180
 And he says

00:23:29.180 --> 00:23:30.799
 maybe life and prosperity

00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:31.680
 and contentment

00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:32.560
 and abundant life

00:23:32.560 --> 00:23:33.360
 will be found here

00:23:33.360 --> 00:23:34.759
 and he opens the door

00:23:34.759 --> 00:23:36.019
 and all it is

00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:37.759
 is lady foolishness.

00:23:38.600 --> 00:23:39.259
 Look what he says

00:23:39.259 --> 00:23:40.080
 verse 27.

00:23:40.320 --> 00:23:41.160
 This I found

00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:42.340
 while adding one thing

00:23:42.340 --> 00:23:42.880
 to another

00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:44.299
 to find the scheme of things.

00:23:44.340 --> 00:23:45.000
 What he means is

00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:46.220
 by observation.

00:23:46.560 --> 00:23:47.279
 I looked here,

00:23:47.500 --> 00:23:48.340
 I searched there,

00:23:48.560 --> 00:23:49.160
 I searched there,

00:23:49.220 --> 00:23:50.940
 I've added all my observations

00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:51.480
 together

00:23:51.480 --> 00:23:53.019
 and what have I found?

00:23:53.600 --> 00:23:55.080
 I still haven't found

00:23:55.080 --> 00:23:56.640
 what I'm looking for.

00:23:57.960 --> 00:23:58.420
 Friends,

00:23:58.420 --> 00:24:00.039
 by searching for wisdom

00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:02.180
 with only human wisdom

00:24:02.180 --> 00:24:04.060
 and human observation,

00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:05.800
 what he finds

00:24:05.800 --> 00:24:06.680
 is the opposite

00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:08.120
 of what he's looking for.

00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:09.759
 He is searching

00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:10.800
 for lady wisdom

00:24:10.800 --> 00:24:12.320
 for life's answers

00:24:12.320 --> 00:24:13.220
 to questions

00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:15.180
 but all he finds

00:24:15.180 --> 00:24:16.320
 is more questions.

00:24:17.259 --> 00:24:19.600
 He finds foolishness.

00:24:21.500 --> 00:24:22.060
 Friends,

00:24:22.100 --> 00:24:23.100
 I wonder if you can relate

00:24:23.100 --> 00:24:24.580
 to the teacher.

00:24:25.840 --> 00:24:27.519
 Maybe you've been searching

00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.799
 for the good life.

00:24:29.519 --> 00:24:30.680
 You've been searching

00:24:30.680 --> 00:24:32.539
 for the answers to life.

00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:34.220
 Looking for contentment

00:24:34.220 --> 00:24:35.359
 and hope

00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:36.960
 and deep peace

00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:38.619
 and the abundant life.

00:24:39.799 --> 00:24:40.400
 Maybe you've gone

00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:41.039
 and you've knocked

00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:41.740
 on the door

00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:43.279
 of love and romance

00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:44.119
 and you've downloaded

00:24:44.119 --> 00:24:44.980
 the dating app

00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:46.480
 and you've tried one date

00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:47.680
 and you've tried another date

00:24:47.680 --> 00:24:48.920
 and you've tried another date

00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:50.700
 but all of them

00:24:50.700 --> 00:24:51.160
 have not,

00:24:51.320 --> 00:24:52.539
 you haven't found

00:24:52.539 --> 00:24:54.800
 the deep abundant life

00:24:54.800 --> 00:24:55.880
 that you've been looking for.

00:24:57.440 --> 00:24:57.720
 Friends,

00:24:57.759 --> 00:24:58.580
 maybe some of you

00:24:58.580 --> 00:24:59.180
 feel like

00:24:59.180 --> 00:24:59.960
 the problem

00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:01.060
 is not with those people

00:25:01.060 --> 00:25:01.400
 out there,

00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:02.620
 the problem is with me.

00:25:03.220 --> 00:25:04.480
 Maybe I'm the wrong gender.

00:25:04.620 --> 00:25:06.300
 Maybe if I change

00:25:06.300 --> 00:25:07.019
 my gender

00:25:07.019 --> 00:25:08.759
 that will be the answer

00:25:08.759 --> 00:25:10.000
 to deep contentment.

00:25:10.259 --> 00:25:11.580
 Then I'll find peace.

00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:13.160
 Then I'll find,

00:25:13.400 --> 00:25:15.259
 I'll finally be at peace.

00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:17.080
 And so maybe you've gone

00:25:17.079 --> 00:25:18.159
 a knocking on that door.

00:25:19.299 --> 00:25:20.679
 But as the door's open,

00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:21.679
 you haven't found

00:25:21.679 --> 00:25:22.579
 the contentment

00:25:22.579 --> 00:25:23.259
 or the peace

00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:24.240
 that you're looking for.

00:25:25.879 --> 00:25:26.740
 Whereas maybe some of us

00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:28.279
 have knocked on the door

00:25:28.279 --> 00:25:29.399
 of career success

00:25:29.399 --> 00:25:30.039
 and you think,

00:25:30.399 --> 00:25:31.119
 if I can get on

00:25:31.119 --> 00:25:32.779
 that management trainee program

00:25:32.779 --> 00:25:33.740
 and I can get

00:25:33.740 --> 00:25:35.000
 that extra qualification,

00:25:35.439 --> 00:25:36.879
 finally I'll make it

00:25:36.879 --> 00:25:37.579
 into the broad

00:25:37.579 --> 00:25:38.259
 and wide road

00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:39.179
 and then my life

00:25:39.179 --> 00:25:39.599
 will be set.

00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:41.139
 Then I can sit back

00:25:41.139 --> 00:25:43.019
 and life will finally be made.

00:25:43.859 --> 00:25:45.079
 And as you've progressed

00:25:45.079 --> 00:25:45.839
 through your career

00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:46.919
 one step into the other,

00:25:46.920 --> 00:25:48.440
 you still have not found

00:25:48.440 --> 00:25:49.500
 what you're looking for.

00:25:51.019 --> 00:25:52.140
 And the lesson

00:25:52.140 --> 00:25:52.960
 that the teacher

00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:54.320
 wants us to find is this.

00:25:54.380 --> 00:25:55.480
 If you go looking

00:25:55.480 --> 00:25:56.940
 for ultimate answers

00:25:56.940 --> 00:25:58.500
 to life's big questions

00:25:58.500 --> 00:26:00.779
 by your human understanding

00:26:00.779 --> 00:26:02.019
 and your wisdom alone,

00:26:02.140 --> 00:26:04.120
 you will tire yourself out.

00:26:04.620 --> 00:26:06.380
 Because you will never find

00:26:06.380 --> 00:26:07.000
 the answers

00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:08.019
 that you're looking for

00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:09.160
 by human wisdom.

00:26:10.180 --> 00:26:11.100
 The answers

00:26:11.100 --> 00:26:12.039
 that you're looking for,

00:26:12.120 --> 00:26:13.240
 the deep peace,

00:26:13.340 --> 00:26:14.400
 the deep contentment,

00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:15.460
 the abundant life

00:26:15.460 --> 00:26:16.220
 that you're looking for

00:26:16.220 --> 00:26:17.059
 is not found

00:26:17.059 --> 00:26:18.519
 by looking within yourself

00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:19.880
 and is not found

00:26:19.880 --> 00:26:20.740
 by exploring

00:26:20.740 --> 00:26:21.819
 all the things out there.

00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:22.799
 Those,

00:26:22.980 --> 00:26:23.519
 the answer,

00:26:23.640 --> 00:26:24.319
 the revelation

00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:25.420
 must come to you

00:26:25.420 --> 00:26:26.700
 from outside of yourself

00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:28.160
 but it's got to come to you.

00:26:29.299 --> 00:26:30.880
 The answer to life's questions

00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:32.039
 don't come from within,

00:26:32.539 --> 00:26:33.360
 they come from

00:26:33.360 --> 00:26:34.900
 another source to us.

00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:36.539
 And how do we know that?

00:26:36.600 --> 00:26:37.860
 Well, look at verse 29.

00:26:38.440 --> 00:26:39.360
 Because the preacher

00:26:39.360 --> 00:26:40.460
 doesn't find the answer

00:26:40.460 --> 00:26:41.140
 he's looking for

00:26:41.140 --> 00:26:42.060
 but he does find

00:26:42.060 --> 00:26:42.920
 something else.

00:26:43.900 --> 00:26:44.960
 He says this,

00:26:45.560 --> 00:26:47.120
 See this alone I have found

00:26:47.120 --> 00:26:49.000
 that God has made man upright

00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:50.640
 but they have sought out

00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:51.460
 many schemes.

00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:53.620
 The teacher has noticed

00:26:53.620 --> 00:26:55.140
 that God has designed

00:26:55.140 --> 00:26:57.080
 mankind with a moral compass.

00:26:57.900 --> 00:26:58.460
 He says that

00:26:58.460 --> 00:26:59.980
 there's a compass within us,

00:27:00.020 --> 00:27:01.780
 there's a navigation system

00:27:01.780 --> 00:27:03.120
 inside of us

00:27:03.120 --> 00:27:04.520
 that is meant to lead us

00:27:04.520 --> 00:27:05.240
 to the truth

00:27:05.240 --> 00:27:06.540
 but the problem is

00:27:06.540 --> 00:27:07.780
 our navigation system

00:27:07.780 --> 00:27:08.440
 is broken.

00:27:09.140 --> 00:27:10.220
 It's been corrupted.

00:27:10.220 --> 00:27:11.299
 There's something wrong.

00:27:11.420 --> 00:27:11.700
 He says,

00:27:12.440 --> 00:27:14.700
 God has made man upright,

00:27:14.819 --> 00:27:15.620
 that means virtuous,

00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:17.480
 but we have sought out

00:27:17.480 --> 00:27:18.420
 many schemes.

00:27:19.680 --> 00:27:21.039
 His searching has revealed

00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:21.819
 that the wisdom

00:27:21.819 --> 00:27:22.700
 and the righteousness,

00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:24.259
 the truth and the goodness

00:27:24.259 --> 00:27:25.620
 are not merely

00:27:25.620 --> 00:27:27.420
 social constructs,

00:27:27.579 --> 00:27:28.240
 they're not merely

00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:30.779
 tools of economic oppression

00:27:30.779 --> 00:27:31.799
 as Karl Marx

00:27:31.799 --> 00:27:32.579
 would have us believe.

00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:33.660
 They are lodged

00:27:33.660 --> 00:27:34.380
 deep within us,

00:27:34.420 --> 00:27:35.420
 they're part of our DNA,

00:27:35.579 --> 00:27:37.079
 they're hardwired into us.

00:27:37.660 --> 00:27:38.779
 But the problem is that

00:27:38.779 --> 00:27:40.460
 a corruption has set in

00:27:40.460 --> 00:27:41.899
 so we can't find

00:27:41.899 --> 00:27:43.000
 the way that we're meant to.

00:27:43.740 --> 00:27:44.559
 It's kind of like

00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:47.200
 he says the navigation tools

00:27:47.200 --> 00:27:47.960
 of our heart

00:27:47.960 --> 00:27:49.359
 are corrupted and broken.

00:27:50.579 --> 00:27:51.319
 The problem,

00:27:51.460 --> 00:27:52.139
 says the teacher,

00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:53.079
 is that mankind

00:27:53.079 --> 00:27:54.700
 keeps on missing wisdom

00:27:54.700 --> 00:27:56.460
 and he cannot find it out.

00:27:57.339 --> 00:27:59.319
 It's like the navigation systems

00:27:59.319 --> 00:27:59.940
 of our hearts

00:27:59.940 --> 00:28:00.720
 have gone wonky.

00:28:00.859 --> 00:28:02.259
 Imagine you're on your phone

00:28:02.259 --> 00:28:04.000
 and your GPS system

00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:05.079
 is broken down, right?

00:28:05.119 --> 00:28:06.039
 And you're trying to find

00:28:06.039 --> 00:28:06.980
 that place you go to.

00:28:06.980 --> 00:28:08.180
 So it says go one direction

00:28:08.180 --> 00:28:09.000
 and suddenly it says

00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:10.039
 go another direction

00:28:10.039 --> 00:28:11.400
 and suddenly you've got to turn.

00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:12.500
 You can't find

00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:13.460
 what you're looking for.

00:28:14.180 --> 00:28:15.480
 He says God has made man

00:28:15.480 --> 00:28:16.319
 upright virtuous.

00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:17.460
 He's made man

00:28:17.460 --> 00:28:18.700
 with an assistant

00:28:18.700 --> 00:28:20.339
 to find the right way to live

00:28:20.339 --> 00:28:21.960
 but the schemes of man

00:28:21.960 --> 00:28:22.839
 we've broken,

00:28:22.940 --> 00:28:24.200
 we can't find our way.

00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:26.039
 This I observe,

00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:27.360
 God has made man upright

00:28:27.360 --> 00:28:28.960
 but they have become corrupted

00:28:28.960 --> 00:28:30.720
 by seeking out many schemes.

00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:32.240
 And the teacher's

00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:33.000
 onto something here.

00:28:33.059 --> 00:28:33.779
 He says ultimately

00:28:33.779 --> 00:28:35.559
 the problem with our minds

00:28:35.559 --> 00:28:36.480
 is ultimately

00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:38.119
 a problem with our hearts.

00:28:39.480 --> 00:28:40.839
 He says that sin

00:28:40.839 --> 00:28:42.160
 has corrupted

00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:43.319
 the compass

00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:44.379
 of our hearts.

00:28:44.859 --> 00:28:46.519
 The reason we can't find,

00:28:46.720 --> 00:28:47.779
 we can't live right

00:28:47.779 --> 00:28:48.899
 is because we don't know

00:28:48.899 --> 00:28:49.940
 what is truly right.

00:28:50.460 --> 00:28:51.819
 The reason we can't find

00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:52.460
 ultimate truth

00:28:52.460 --> 00:28:53.339
 is because our hearts

00:28:53.339 --> 00:28:54.399
 have been magnetized

00:28:54.399 --> 00:28:54.980
 by sin.

00:28:55.480 --> 00:28:56.399
 You know if you have a compass

00:28:56.399 --> 00:28:57.539
 and you hold a magnet to it

00:28:57.539 --> 00:28:58.740
 it messes up the compass?

00:28:59.399 --> 00:29:00.220
 That's what sin

00:29:00.220 --> 00:29:01.259
 has done to our hearts.

00:29:01.259 --> 00:29:02.599
 And so just because

00:29:02.599 --> 00:29:04.039
 something feels right

00:29:04.039 --> 00:29:05.779
 doesn't mean it is right.

00:29:06.879 --> 00:29:08.079
 We long to do

00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:08.960
 what feels,

00:29:09.859 --> 00:29:10.859
 we long to,

00:29:10.960 --> 00:29:11.980
 we seek what we want

00:29:11.980 --> 00:29:12.640
 but we want

00:29:12.640 --> 00:29:13.640
 all the wrong things.

00:29:14.339 --> 00:29:15.640
 And the reason we stumble

00:29:15.640 --> 00:29:16.319
 in our search

00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:17.160
 for what is true

00:29:17.160 --> 00:29:18.400
 and right and good

00:29:18.400 --> 00:29:20.140
 is because we cannot find

00:29:20.140 --> 00:29:20.640
 what's true

00:29:20.640 --> 00:29:21.619
 and right and good.

00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:23.740
 Because our truth seeking

00:29:23.740 --> 00:29:25.140
 instruments of our hearts

00:29:25.140 --> 00:29:26.539
 are off kilter.

00:29:27.799 --> 00:29:29.039
 And so the question is this,

00:29:29.119 --> 00:29:30.200
 where are we going to find

00:29:30.200 --> 00:29:31.640
 one who will bring us

00:29:31.640 --> 00:29:32.840
 wisdom and righteousness?

00:29:33.720 --> 00:29:34.900
 Where are we going to find

00:29:34.900 --> 00:29:36.799
 one who truly is

00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:37.640
 a righteous man?

00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:39.059
 Who never sins

00:29:39.059 --> 00:29:40.340
 and has done good on the earth?

00:29:41.019 --> 00:29:42.120
 Where are we going to find

00:29:42.120 --> 00:29:43.500
 that outside revelation

00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:44.460
 that's going to come in

00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:45.319
 and lead us back

00:29:45.319 --> 00:29:46.420
 onto the paths

00:29:46.420 --> 00:29:47.059
 of righteousness?

00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:49.799
 Well the answer is

00:29:49.799 --> 00:29:51.620
 Jesus Christ did come

00:29:51.620 --> 00:29:53.660
 and to be our wisdom

00:29:53.660 --> 00:29:55.000
 and to be our righteousness

00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:56.700
 and to lead us

00:29:56.700 --> 00:29:57.620
 and to be our redemption

00:29:57.620 --> 00:29:58.400
 to bring us onto

00:29:58.400 --> 00:29:59.539
 the paths of righteousness.

00:30:00.519 --> 00:30:01.579
 There's a fascinating verse

00:30:01.579 --> 00:30:02.500
 in the New Testament

00:30:02.500 --> 00:30:04.379
 in 1 Corinthians chapter 1

00:30:04.379 --> 00:30:05.920
 Paul writes and he says

00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:08.039
 the wisdom of God

00:30:08.039 --> 00:30:09.599
 is wiser than the foolish

00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:11.359
 no, let me get that right.

00:30:11.799 --> 00:30:13.200
 He says even the foolishness

00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:14.240
 of God is wiser

00:30:14.240 --> 00:30:15.299
 than the wisdom of man.

00:30:15.379 --> 00:30:16.539
 Even the weakness of God

00:30:16.539 --> 00:30:17.200
 is stronger than

00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:18.059
 the strength of man.

00:30:18.639 --> 00:30:19.259
 And he goes on and he says

00:30:19.259 --> 00:30:20.659
 God has made

00:30:20.659 --> 00:30:22.579
 God has shamed

00:30:22.579 --> 00:30:23.599
 the strong things

00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:24.159
 of this world

00:30:24.159 --> 00:30:25.200
 through his own weakness.

00:30:25.319 --> 00:30:25.839
 And he's talking about

00:30:25.839 --> 00:30:26.980
 Jesus' death on the cross.

00:30:27.059 --> 00:30:28.019
 And then he says this,

00:30:28.019 --> 00:30:30.119
 he says Jesus Christ

00:30:30.119 --> 00:30:32.180
 came to be our wisdom

00:30:32.180 --> 00:30:33.299
 and our righteousness

00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:34.480
 and our redemption.

00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:36.259
 Paul is saying this,

00:30:36.339 --> 00:30:37.779
 the way to true wisdom

00:30:37.779 --> 00:30:38.480
 and righteousness,

00:30:39.019 --> 00:30:40.619
 the way to find truth

00:30:40.619 --> 00:30:41.480
 and life,

00:30:41.940 --> 00:30:42.839
 the way to living

00:30:42.839 --> 00:30:43.740
 the right life

00:30:43.740 --> 00:30:45.660
 is not through self-discovery,

00:30:45.779 --> 00:30:47.059
 it's not by diving deep

00:30:47.059 --> 00:30:47.879
 into philosophy

00:30:47.879 --> 00:30:48.920
 and to the many things

00:30:48.920 --> 00:30:49.379
 of life,

00:30:49.799 --> 00:30:51.160
 it's not by searching out

00:30:51.160 --> 00:30:51.980
 wisdom and truth

00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:52.619
 on your own

00:30:52.619 --> 00:30:53.779
 by your own observation,

00:30:53.779 --> 00:30:53.839
 revelation,

00:30:54.339 --> 00:30:55.339
 it's found

00:30:55.339 --> 00:30:56.819
 in a person.

00:30:57.779 --> 00:30:59.039
 It's found in revelation

00:30:59.039 --> 00:31:00.299
 coming to us

00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:01.480
 from outside of us.

00:31:02.139 --> 00:31:02.980
 And what is the ultimate

00:31:02.980 --> 00:31:04.079
 revelation of God?

00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:05.799
 It's the person

00:31:05.799 --> 00:31:06.759
 of Jesus.

00:31:07.740 --> 00:31:09.079
 Jesus Christ came

00:31:09.079 --> 00:31:10.139
 to show us

00:31:10.139 --> 00:31:11.339
 wisdom and righteousness.

00:31:11.619 --> 00:31:12.819
 Jesus Christ came

00:31:12.819 --> 00:31:13.879
 to be for us

00:31:13.879 --> 00:31:14.799
 wisdom and righteousness.

00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:16.839
 Jesus Christ came to us

00:31:16.839 --> 00:31:18.160
 so that all those

00:31:18.160 --> 00:31:19.460
 who trust in him

00:31:19.460 --> 00:31:20.539
 and look to him

00:31:20.539 --> 00:31:21.759
 may not find

00:31:21.759 --> 00:31:23.039
 every answer in life,

00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:24.299
 but he will lead us

00:31:24.299 --> 00:31:25.240
 on the paths

00:31:25.240 --> 00:31:26.399
 of righteousness

00:31:26.399 --> 00:31:27.420
 and wisdom.

00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:31.079
 Psalm 119 says this,

00:31:31.420 --> 00:31:33.099
 Your word is a lamp

00:31:33.099 --> 00:31:34.099
 to my feet.

00:31:34.980 --> 00:31:35.819
 Well, Jesus Christ

00:31:35.819 --> 00:31:36.980
 is the ultimate word

00:31:36.980 --> 00:31:37.720
 made flesh.

00:31:38.399 --> 00:31:39.519
 Those who trust in him,

00:31:39.579 --> 00:31:40.579
 those who follow him,

00:31:41.000 --> 00:31:41.659
 will not find

00:31:41.659 --> 00:31:44.399
 every path lit up,

00:31:44.460 --> 00:31:45.559
 but they will find

00:31:45.559 --> 00:31:47.460
 the light to their feet

00:31:47.460 --> 00:31:48.059
 leading them

00:31:48.059 --> 00:31:48.700
 and guiding them.

00:31:49.259 --> 00:31:49.940
 Jesus said,

00:31:49.940 --> 00:31:51.139
 I am the way.

00:31:51.339 --> 00:31:52.460
 I am the truth.

00:31:52.460 --> 00:31:53.960
 I am the path

00:31:53.960 --> 00:31:54.720
 to life.

00:31:55.420 --> 00:31:55.860
 Friends,

00:31:55.960 --> 00:31:56.779
 Jesus doesn't promise

00:31:56.779 --> 00:31:57.700
 that if you follow him,

00:31:57.819 --> 00:31:59.480
 suddenly all your questions

00:31:59.480 --> 00:32:00.180
 will be answered.

00:32:01.180 --> 00:32:01.880
 Jesus doesn't say,

00:32:02.360 --> 00:32:02.600
 follow me

00:32:02.600 --> 00:32:03.559
 and I'll give you

00:32:03.559 --> 00:32:04.620
 the cheat sheet to life.

00:32:04.680 --> 00:32:04.980
 I'll give you

00:32:04.980 --> 00:32:05.920
 the secret code book

00:32:05.920 --> 00:32:06.380
 and you'll know

00:32:06.380 --> 00:32:07.460
 everything you need to know.

00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:09.259
 But he does promise you

00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:11.120
 to light up your path.

00:32:11.640 --> 00:32:12.279
 He does promise

00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:13.340
 to guide you

00:32:13.340 --> 00:32:14.240
 in the way of wisdom

00:32:14.240 --> 00:32:15.140
 and righteousness.

00:32:15.920 --> 00:32:17.299
 Jesus came to be

00:32:17.299 --> 00:32:18.100
 our wisdom,

00:32:18.319 --> 00:32:19.059
 our righteousness,

00:32:19.360 --> 00:32:20.059
 our redemption,

00:32:20.059 --> 00:32:21.679
 that those who trust

00:32:21.679 --> 00:32:22.159
 in him

00:32:22.159 --> 00:32:23.960
 are no longer left

00:32:23.960 --> 00:32:25.839
 floundering in the dark

00:32:25.839 --> 00:32:27.879
 looking for the answers

00:32:27.879 --> 00:32:28.559
 to life.

00:32:31.279 --> 00:32:32.240
 The teacher

00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:34.000
 is searching

00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:34.779
 for wisdom

00:32:34.779 --> 00:32:35.599
 and righteousness.

00:32:38.179 --> 00:32:38.720
 Okay,

00:32:38.779 --> 00:32:39.559
 does that make sense?

00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:41.319
 Okay,

00:32:41.639 --> 00:32:42.039
 thank you,

00:32:42.099 --> 00:32:42.279
 Oscar.

00:32:42.279 --> 00:32:44.859
 The second thing,

00:32:45.799 --> 00:32:46.899
 the second brick wall

00:32:46.899 --> 00:32:48.180
 that the teacher runs into

00:32:48.180 --> 00:32:49.399
 is the illusion

00:32:49.399 --> 00:32:50.220
 of control.

00:32:51.579 --> 00:32:52.460
 The teacher

00:32:52.460 --> 00:32:53.339
 wants to

00:32:53.339 --> 00:32:54.500
 find,

00:32:54.680 --> 00:32:55.420
 he walks into

00:32:55.420 --> 00:32:56.500
 the brick wall

00:32:56.500 --> 00:32:57.440
 of human control

00:32:57.440 --> 00:32:58.180
 and he discovers

00:32:58.180 --> 00:32:59.200
 that he's not quite

00:32:59.200 --> 00:33:00.420
 in control of his life

00:33:00.420 --> 00:33:01.299
 as he thought he was.

00:33:01.879 --> 00:33:02.980
 Look at chapter 8

00:33:02.980 --> 00:33:05.039
 verses 2 to 4.

00:33:05.720 --> 00:33:06.759
 He says here,

00:33:07.579 --> 00:33:08.399
 I say,

00:33:09.079 --> 00:33:10.279
 keep the king's command

00:33:10.279 --> 00:33:12.119
 because of God's oath

00:33:12.119 --> 00:33:12.500
 to him.

00:33:12.720 --> 00:33:13.559
 Do not be hasty

00:33:13.559 --> 00:33:14.740
 to go from his presence.

00:33:15.240 --> 00:33:16.480
 Do not take your stand

00:33:16.480 --> 00:33:17.240
 in an evil

00:33:17.240 --> 00:33:18.740
 or rebellious cause

00:33:18.740 --> 00:33:20.200
 for he does

00:33:20.200 --> 00:33:21.259
 whatever he pleases

00:33:21.259 --> 00:33:22.480
 for the word

00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:22.980
 of the king

00:33:22.980 --> 00:33:23.599
 is supreme

00:33:23.599 --> 00:33:24.639
 and who may say

00:33:24.639 --> 00:33:25.119
 to him,

00:33:25.639 --> 00:33:26.619
 what are you doing?

00:33:27.359 --> 00:33:27.799
 Now,

00:33:27.960 --> 00:33:29.339
 the basic idea here

00:33:29.339 --> 00:33:30.980
 is that all of us

00:33:30.980 --> 00:33:31.480
 are under

00:33:31.480 --> 00:33:33.059
 some kind of authority,

00:33:33.420 --> 00:33:34.599
 some kind of

00:33:34.599 --> 00:33:35.599
 authority

00:33:35.599 --> 00:33:36.720
 over our lives

00:33:36.720 --> 00:33:37.500
 that we are not

00:33:37.500 --> 00:33:38.099
 the supreme

00:33:38.099 --> 00:33:39.500
 authority of our lives.

00:33:39.500 --> 00:33:41.119
 the basic idea here

00:33:41.119 --> 00:33:42.279
 is that if you try

00:33:42.279 --> 00:33:43.119
 and bend

00:33:43.119 --> 00:33:44.339
 the authority

00:33:44.339 --> 00:33:45.480
 that you sit under

00:33:45.480 --> 00:33:47.480
 to your will,

00:33:47.960 --> 00:33:48.759
 you are going to

00:33:48.759 --> 00:33:49.500
 encounter some

00:33:49.500 --> 00:33:50.460
 strict limits

00:33:50.460 --> 00:33:51.259
 in your ability

00:33:51.259 --> 00:33:52.180
 to do that.

00:33:52.920 --> 00:33:53.519
 He says,

00:33:54.319 --> 00:33:56.319
 who can say

00:33:56.319 --> 00:33:56.759
 to the king,

00:33:56.859 --> 00:33:57.559
 what are you doing?

00:33:58.119 --> 00:33:58.819
 The king is

00:33:58.819 --> 00:34:00.059
 an authority over you.

00:34:00.559 --> 00:34:01.299
 So for instance,

00:34:01.539 --> 00:34:03.019
 if your boss

00:34:03.019 --> 00:34:03.759
 has rejected

00:34:03.759 --> 00:34:04.740
 your proposal

00:34:04.740 --> 00:34:05.319
 to him

00:34:05.319 --> 00:34:06.500
 and you keep

00:34:06.500 --> 00:34:07.500
 on harping on

00:34:07.500 --> 00:34:08.599
 about that proposal,

00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:10.139
 it's not going to

00:34:10.139 --> 00:34:11.079
 serve you very well

00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.579
 in the long haul.

00:34:11.679 --> 00:34:12.460
 Sometimes you just

00:34:12.460 --> 00:34:13.260
 got to realize

00:34:13.260 --> 00:34:14.900
 he's the authority

00:34:14.900 --> 00:34:15.400
 and I've got to

00:34:15.400 --> 00:34:16.019
 listen to him.

00:34:16.619 --> 00:34:17.679
 If you argue

00:34:17.679 --> 00:34:18.519
 with the traffic

00:34:18.519 --> 00:34:19.019
 officer

00:34:19.019 --> 00:34:20.420
 about the laws

00:34:20.420 --> 00:34:21.360
 of parking

00:34:21.360 --> 00:34:22.159
 in Hong Kong,

00:34:22.820 --> 00:34:23.519
 you can argue

00:34:23.519 --> 00:34:24.239
 as much as you want

00:34:24.239 --> 00:34:24.820
 but that's not going

00:34:24.820 --> 00:34:25.360
 to change

00:34:25.360 --> 00:34:26.119
 your illegal

00:34:26.119 --> 00:34:26.960
 parking ticket

00:34:26.960 --> 00:34:27.539
 that you just

00:34:27.539 --> 00:34:28.000
 received,

00:34:28.059 --> 00:34:28.320
 right?

00:34:28.820 --> 00:34:29.900
 If you argue

00:34:29.900 --> 00:34:30.599
 with the judge

00:34:30.599 --> 00:34:31.340
 about the outcome

00:34:31.340 --> 00:34:32.059
 of the case,

00:34:32.440 --> 00:34:33.219
 it doesn't matter

00:34:33.219 --> 00:34:34.179
 how much you tell

00:34:34.179 --> 00:34:34.639
 the judge

00:34:34.639 --> 00:34:35.299
 whether you like

00:34:35.299 --> 00:34:35.799
 his ruling

00:34:35.799 --> 00:34:36.259
 or not,

00:34:36.619 --> 00:34:37.579
 he is the judge

00:34:37.579 --> 00:34:38.480
 and you are not.

00:34:39.019 --> 00:34:39.839
 There are certain

00:34:39.839 --> 00:34:41.019
 limits to your

00:34:41.019 --> 00:34:42.059
 authority or your

00:34:42.059 --> 00:34:43.460
 ability to control

00:34:43.460 --> 00:34:45.039
 the outcome of life

00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:46.179
 according to your will.

00:34:46.460 --> 00:34:47.299
 Does that make sense?

00:34:47.819 --> 00:34:48.359
 So he's saying

00:34:48.359 --> 00:34:49.279
 you are not

00:34:49.279 --> 00:34:50.179
 sovereign in life.

00:34:50.460 --> 00:34:51.039
 You are not

00:34:51.039 --> 00:34:52.159
 ultimate authority

00:34:52.159 --> 00:34:53.019
 in what happens.

00:34:53.259 --> 00:34:54.319
 You are under

00:34:54.319 --> 00:34:55.879
 authority in this life.

00:34:56.839 --> 00:34:57.379
 But now,

00:34:58.279 --> 00:34:59.019
 he says the word

00:34:59.019 --> 00:34:59.400
 of the king

00:34:59.400 --> 00:34:59.960
 is supreme.

00:35:00.279 --> 00:35:01.099
 Kicking against

00:35:01.099 --> 00:35:01.879
 the limitations

00:35:01.880 --> 00:35:03.079
 of human sovereignty

00:35:03.079 --> 00:35:04.960
 is like punching

00:35:04.960 --> 00:35:05.780
 a brick wall.

00:35:06.119 --> 00:35:07.019
 Only one of you

00:35:07.019 --> 00:35:07.559
 are going to come

00:35:07.559 --> 00:35:08.480
 off second best

00:35:08.480 --> 00:35:09.160
 and it's not going

00:35:09.160 --> 00:35:10.059
 to be the brick wall.

00:35:11.039 --> 00:35:11.840
 But you ask,

00:35:12.019 --> 00:35:12.539
 but what about

00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:13.079
 the king?

00:35:13.880 --> 00:35:14.680
 Is the king

00:35:14.680 --> 00:35:15.740
 under any authority?

00:35:16.019 --> 00:35:16.200
 I mean,

00:35:16.240 --> 00:35:16.640
 especially,

00:35:16.780 --> 00:35:16.960
 you know,

00:35:17.019 --> 00:35:17.820
 1000 BC,

00:35:18.000 --> 00:35:18.920
 the king is supreme,

00:35:19.059 --> 00:35:19.220
 right?

00:35:19.280 --> 00:35:20.140
 His word goes.

00:35:20.240 --> 00:35:21.079
 Whatever he says

00:35:21.079 --> 00:35:21.480
 happens.

00:35:22.340 --> 00:35:23.000
 So what about

00:35:23.000 --> 00:35:23.539
 the king?

00:35:23.900 --> 00:35:24.360
 What about

00:35:24.360 --> 00:35:25.059
 billionaires?

00:35:25.180 --> 00:35:25.500
 What about

00:35:25.500 --> 00:35:26.579
 those world leaders

00:35:26.579 --> 00:35:27.420
 that sit on top

00:35:27.420 --> 00:35:28.019
 of the world?

00:35:28.420 --> 00:35:28.640
 I mean,

00:35:28.660 --> 00:35:29.000
 they are not

00:35:29.000 --> 00:35:29.660
 subject to any

00:35:29.660 --> 00:35:30.000
 authority.

00:35:30.140 --> 00:35:30.660
 Surely they can

00:35:30.660 --> 00:35:31.300
 do whatever they

00:35:31.300 --> 00:35:31.740
 want.

00:35:32.880 --> 00:35:33.200
 Well,

00:35:33.220 --> 00:35:34.160
 look at verse 8.

00:35:35.039 --> 00:35:35.380
 He says,

00:35:35.500 --> 00:35:36.700
 no man has power

00:35:36.700 --> 00:35:38.360
 to retain the spirit

00:35:38.360 --> 00:35:40.019
 or power over

00:35:40.019 --> 00:35:41.059
 the day of death.

00:35:41.680 --> 00:35:41.920
 He says,

00:35:41.960 --> 00:35:42.820
 you think of yourself

00:35:42.820 --> 00:35:43.740
 as all power

00:35:43.740 --> 00:35:45.340
 without any constraints?

00:35:45.880 --> 00:35:46.539
 You're destined

00:35:46.539 --> 00:35:47.500
 to be disappointed

00:35:47.500 --> 00:35:48.940
 because no matter

00:35:48.940 --> 00:35:49.940
 how much power

00:35:49.940 --> 00:35:50.960
 or how much authority

00:35:50.960 --> 00:35:51.579
 you possess

00:35:51.579 --> 00:35:52.400
 in this life,

00:35:52.840 --> 00:35:53.820
 there are some things

00:35:53.820 --> 00:35:54.660
 that even kings

00:35:54.660 --> 00:35:55.760
 and billionaires

00:35:55.760 --> 00:35:57.300
 have no control over.

00:35:57.680 --> 00:35:58.720
 The most powerful

00:35:58.720 --> 00:35:59.559
 leaders in the world,

00:35:59.559 --> 00:36:00.340
 they've got control

00:36:00.340 --> 00:36:01.460
 over nuclear bombs

00:36:01.460 --> 00:36:02.820
 and military arsenals

00:36:02.820 --> 00:36:04.639
 and economic levers

00:36:04.639 --> 00:36:05.840
 and parliaments

00:36:05.840 --> 00:36:06.980
 and political powers.

00:36:07.440 --> 00:36:08.340
 Even dictators

00:36:08.340 --> 00:36:09.139
 have great power.

00:36:09.340 --> 00:36:10.619
 There are some things

00:36:10.619 --> 00:36:11.880
 that even the most

00:36:11.880 --> 00:36:12.820
 powerful dictators

00:36:12.820 --> 00:36:13.519
 in the world

00:36:13.519 --> 00:36:15.099
 have no control over,

00:36:15.740 --> 00:36:16.619
 like the day

00:36:16.619 --> 00:36:17.920
 of their death.

00:36:19.960 --> 00:36:21.220
 No man has power

00:36:21.220 --> 00:36:22.420
 to retain the spirit

00:36:22.420 --> 00:36:23.519
 or the day

00:36:23.519 --> 00:36:24.320
 of his death.

00:36:24.880 --> 00:36:25.740
 Look at the second

00:36:25.740 --> 00:36:26.619
 half of verse 8.

00:36:26.619 --> 00:36:28.359
 there is no discharge

00:36:28.359 --> 00:36:29.159
 from war.

00:36:29.779 --> 00:36:30.219
 He says,

00:36:30.299 --> 00:36:31.500
 when that final battle

00:36:31.500 --> 00:36:32.699
 comes that each one

00:36:32.699 --> 00:36:33.199
 of us are going

00:36:33.199 --> 00:36:34.000
 to have to fight,

00:36:34.500 --> 00:36:35.859
 you can't call in sick

00:36:35.859 --> 00:36:36.400
 on that day.

00:36:36.480 --> 00:36:37.420
 There's no sick leave

00:36:37.420 --> 00:36:38.679
 on the final battle

00:36:38.679 --> 00:36:39.599
 that you've got to fight.

00:36:40.059 --> 00:36:40.859
 You can't call in

00:36:40.859 --> 00:36:41.739
 the substitutes.

00:36:42.159 --> 00:36:43.239
 You can't say to your coach,

00:36:43.359 --> 00:36:43.940
 hey, I'm injured,

00:36:44.079 --> 00:36:45.039
 call in the subs.

00:36:45.599 --> 00:36:46.699
 You can't tap out

00:36:46.699 --> 00:36:47.699
 of that final battle.

00:36:47.880 --> 00:36:49.000
 There is no discharge

00:36:49.000 --> 00:36:49.599
 from war,

00:36:49.699 --> 00:36:50.199
 he says,

00:36:50.579 --> 00:36:52.059
 nor will the wickedness

00:36:52.059 --> 00:36:52.960
 deliver those

00:36:52.960 --> 00:36:55.079
 who are given to it.

00:36:55.079 --> 00:36:55.940
 He says,

00:36:56.019 --> 00:36:56.920
 even those who thought

00:36:56.920 --> 00:36:57.699
 that they could strike

00:36:57.699 --> 00:36:58.779
 a deal with the devil

00:36:58.779 --> 00:37:00.219
 will not be delivered

00:37:00.219 --> 00:37:01.059
 from that day.

00:37:02.199 --> 00:37:02.679
 Ultimately,

00:37:02.920 --> 00:37:03.139
 he says,

00:37:03.340 --> 00:37:05.019
 every human being,

00:37:05.719 --> 00:37:07.340
 sovereignty is limited.

00:37:08.259 --> 00:37:09.860
 You are not God,

00:37:10.059 --> 00:37:10.719
 he says.

00:37:11.559 --> 00:37:12.360
 And the point

00:37:12.360 --> 00:37:12.960
 that the teacher

00:37:12.960 --> 00:37:13.840
 is making this is,

00:37:13.960 --> 00:37:14.840
 think of yourself

00:37:14.840 --> 00:37:16.360
 as sovereign over your life,

00:37:16.400 --> 00:37:17.019
 as the captain

00:37:17.019 --> 00:37:17.719
 of your fate,

00:37:18.019 --> 00:37:19.420
 the master of your destiny.

00:37:19.860 --> 00:37:21.000
 That's an illusion

00:37:21.000 --> 00:37:21.659
 that is soon

00:37:21.659 --> 00:37:22.460
 going to be shattered.

00:37:23.159 --> 00:37:24.679
 You are not in control

00:37:24.679 --> 00:37:25.460
 of your life

00:37:25.460 --> 00:37:26.839
 any more than you

00:37:26.839 --> 00:37:27.379
 are in control

00:37:27.379 --> 00:37:28.059
 of the weather

00:37:28.059 --> 00:37:29.039
 or the wind.

00:37:30.259 --> 00:37:30.659
 Friends,

00:37:30.699 --> 00:37:31.599
 I wonder how many of us

00:37:31.599 --> 00:37:32.899
 can relate to that.

00:37:33.779 --> 00:37:34.379
 How many of us

00:37:34.379 --> 00:37:35.279
 feel frustrated

00:37:35.279 --> 00:37:36.699
 by our lack of control

00:37:36.699 --> 00:37:37.199
 in life?

00:37:38.159 --> 00:37:38.819
 Maybe you're here

00:37:38.819 --> 00:37:39.339
 in Hong Kong

00:37:39.339 --> 00:37:40.159
 and you've got parents

00:37:40.159 --> 00:37:40.859
 that are abroad

00:37:40.859 --> 00:37:41.539
 and they're sick

00:37:41.539 --> 00:37:42.859
 and you desperately

00:37:42.859 --> 00:37:43.980
 want to go visit them

00:37:43.980 --> 00:37:45.500
 and COVID hits

00:37:45.500 --> 00:37:46.359
 and regulations

00:37:46.359 --> 00:37:47.460
 and quarantines

00:37:47.460 --> 00:37:48.859
 and you're stuck here

00:37:48.859 --> 00:37:49.619
 and you want to get

00:37:49.619 --> 00:37:51.139
 to go see elderly parents

00:37:51.139 --> 00:37:52.339
 but you just cannot

00:37:52.339 --> 00:37:53.480
 get to them.

00:37:53.480 --> 00:37:55.000
 Friends,

00:37:55.059 --> 00:37:55.599
 maybe you've got

00:37:55.599 --> 00:37:56.539
 a career path

00:37:56.539 --> 00:37:57.039
 for yourself

00:37:57.039 --> 00:37:57.480
 and you think

00:37:57.480 --> 00:37:58.320
 I'm going to do this,

00:37:58.639 --> 00:37:59.260
 I'm going to study,

00:37:59.380 --> 00:38:00.219
 I'm going to go abroad,

00:38:00.300 --> 00:38:00.699
 I'm going to get

00:38:00.699 --> 00:38:01.340
 some experience,

00:38:01.440 --> 00:38:01.920
 I'm going to jump

00:38:01.920 --> 00:38:02.800
 on that management path

00:38:02.800 --> 00:38:03.740
 and my career

00:38:03.740 --> 00:38:04.480
 is going to be set.

00:38:05.059 --> 00:38:05.840
 And every step

00:38:05.840 --> 00:38:06.159
 of the way

00:38:06.159 --> 00:38:07.079
 there's one setback

00:38:07.079 --> 00:38:07.760
 after another

00:38:07.760 --> 00:38:08.340
 after another

00:38:08.340 --> 00:38:08.920
 and your life

00:38:08.920 --> 00:38:10.400
 just can't get moving.

00:38:11.860 --> 00:38:12.260
 Friends,

00:38:12.340 --> 00:38:13.440
 maybe you have a child

00:38:13.440 --> 00:38:15.579
 and you hear of

00:38:15.579 --> 00:38:16.179
 and your child

00:38:16.179 --> 00:38:17.639
 is sick with COVID

00:38:17.639 --> 00:38:18.980
 and you think

00:38:18.980 --> 00:38:19.940
 I don't care

00:38:19.940 --> 00:38:20.760
 what they say,

00:38:20.860 --> 00:38:22.440
 I will not be separated

00:38:22.440 --> 00:38:23.360
 from my child

00:38:23.360 --> 00:38:24.280
 when I go to hospital

00:38:24.280 --> 00:38:25.920
 and you go to hospital

00:38:25.920 --> 00:38:26.740
 and you just realize

00:38:26.740 --> 00:38:28.079
 there's just a limit

00:38:28.079 --> 00:38:28.920
 to how much

00:38:28.920 --> 00:38:30.159
 you can put your foot down.

00:38:31.619 --> 00:38:31.880
 Friends,

00:38:31.920 --> 00:38:32.500
 you see what the Bible

00:38:32.500 --> 00:38:33.079
 is telling us?

00:38:33.179 --> 00:38:34.200
 You are not in control

00:38:34.200 --> 00:38:34.840
 of your life.

00:38:35.460 --> 00:38:36.019
 It doesn't matter

00:38:36.019 --> 00:38:37.880
 how much authority

00:38:37.880 --> 00:38:38.340
 you have,

00:38:38.400 --> 00:38:39.059
 how much power

00:38:39.059 --> 00:38:39.400
 you have,

00:38:39.460 --> 00:38:40.059
 how much money

00:38:40.059 --> 00:38:40.559
 you have,

00:38:40.720 --> 00:38:41.559
 the limits

00:38:41.559 --> 00:38:42.440
 of your sovereignty

00:38:42.440 --> 00:38:43.539
 will eventually,

00:38:43.679 --> 00:38:44.240
 you will run

00:38:44.240 --> 00:38:45.159
 into that brick wall.

00:38:46.740 --> 00:38:47.539
 And so what is

00:38:47.539 --> 00:38:48.139
 the resolution?

00:38:48.139 --> 00:38:51.599
 there is one

00:38:51.599 --> 00:38:53.019
 who is truly sovereign.

00:38:53.799 --> 00:38:55.179
 There is truly one

00:38:55.179 --> 00:38:55.839
 who is Lord

00:38:55.839 --> 00:38:56.960
 of all creation,

00:38:57.179 --> 00:38:58.179
 who lives beyond

00:38:58.179 --> 00:38:58.799
 the limits

00:38:58.799 --> 00:39:00.460
 of time and space,

00:39:01.099 --> 00:39:01.719
 the limitations

00:39:01.719 --> 00:39:02.400
 of our world.

00:39:03.039 --> 00:39:03.679
 There is one

00:39:03.679 --> 00:39:04.639
 who Isaiah says,

00:39:05.079 --> 00:39:05.579
 for him,

00:39:05.699 --> 00:39:06.980
 the nations of the world

00:39:06.980 --> 00:39:07.859
 are like dust

00:39:07.859 --> 00:39:08.519
 on a scale.

00:39:08.679 --> 00:39:09.519
 One breath

00:39:09.519 --> 00:39:11.079
 and they're all gone.

00:39:12.079 --> 00:39:12.920
 There is one

00:39:12.920 --> 00:39:14.480
 who truly brings

00:39:14.480 --> 00:39:16.119
 galaxies and stars

00:39:16.119 --> 00:39:17.019
 and universes

00:39:17.019 --> 00:39:18.199
 and multiple universes

00:39:18.199 --> 00:39:19.239
 into existence

00:39:19.239 --> 00:39:19.859
 and being.

00:39:20.579 --> 00:39:21.019
 Friends,

00:39:21.119 --> 00:39:21.779
 there is one

00:39:21.779 --> 00:39:22.900
 who sets up kings

00:39:22.900 --> 00:39:23.819
 and removes kingdoms,

00:39:23.960 --> 00:39:25.099
 who sets up empires

00:39:25.099 --> 00:39:26.039
 and can blow them

00:39:26.039 --> 00:39:26.880
 over in a day.

00:39:27.960 --> 00:39:28.779
 There is one

00:39:28.779 --> 00:39:29.960
 who is truly sovereign

00:39:29.960 --> 00:39:31.639
 over all creation.

00:39:32.599 --> 00:39:32.900
 Do you remember

00:39:32.900 --> 00:39:33.920
 the words of the disciples

00:39:33.920 --> 00:39:34.839
 when they're in the boat

00:39:34.839 --> 00:39:35.380
 with Jesus?

00:39:36.239 --> 00:39:36.579
 They said,

00:39:36.679 --> 00:39:37.559
 who is this man

00:39:37.559 --> 00:39:38.539
 that even the wind

00:39:38.539 --> 00:39:39.400
 and the waves

00:39:39.400 --> 00:39:40.500
 obey his voice?

00:39:41.719 --> 00:39:42.039
 Friends,

00:39:42.139 --> 00:39:42.839
 there is one

00:39:42.839 --> 00:39:43.880
 who is sovereign

00:39:43.880 --> 00:39:45.319
 even over the grave,

00:39:45.420 --> 00:39:46.059
 over life,

00:39:46.119 --> 00:39:47.139
 and death

00:39:47.139 --> 00:39:48.519
 because the tomb

00:39:48.519 --> 00:39:49.579
 that he was put into

00:39:49.579 --> 00:39:50.940
 2,000 years ago

00:39:50.940 --> 00:39:52.139
 stands empty

00:39:52.139 --> 00:39:53.440
 and he lives

00:39:53.440 --> 00:39:54.319
 and he reigns.

00:39:54.759 --> 00:39:55.219
 And he says

00:39:55.219 --> 00:39:55.880
 that for those

00:39:55.880 --> 00:39:56.619
 who trust him,

00:39:56.679 --> 00:39:57.500
 those who come to him,

00:39:57.539 --> 00:39:58.420
 those who surrender

00:39:58.420 --> 00:39:58.819
 to him,

00:39:59.259 --> 00:40:00.880
 even the final,

00:40:01.679 --> 00:40:02.420
 the one thing

00:40:02.420 --> 00:40:02.980
 that is beyond

00:40:02.980 --> 00:40:04.179
 all of our control,

00:40:04.400 --> 00:40:05.099
 death itself,

00:40:05.359 --> 00:40:06.579
 even that he has

00:40:06.579 --> 00:40:07.559
 conquered and mastered.

00:40:08.579 --> 00:40:09.539
 And so the apostle Paul

00:40:09.539 --> 00:40:10.279
 writes in Corinthians

00:40:10.279 --> 00:40:10.619
 and says,

00:40:10.759 --> 00:40:11.019
 death,

00:40:11.239 --> 00:40:12.299
 where is your sting?

00:40:12.960 --> 00:40:13.279
 Death,

00:40:13.440 --> 00:40:14.519
 where is your victory?

00:40:14.519 --> 00:40:16.480
 Even the one battle

00:40:16.480 --> 00:40:17.340
 that none of us

00:40:17.340 --> 00:40:17.980
 can beat,

00:40:18.400 --> 00:40:19.619
 it has been beaten

00:40:19.619 --> 00:40:21.440
 because there is one

00:40:21.440 --> 00:40:22.619
 who is truly sovereign

00:40:22.619 --> 00:40:23.579
 and Lord of will.

00:40:23.960 --> 00:40:25.059
 There is one king

00:40:25.059 --> 00:40:26.559
 to whom every king

00:40:26.559 --> 00:40:27.219
 and empire

00:40:27.219 --> 00:40:28.000
 and dictator

00:40:28.000 --> 00:40:28.820
 and sovereign

00:40:28.820 --> 00:40:29.780
 will one day

00:40:29.780 --> 00:40:30.500
 bow the knee.

00:40:31.360 --> 00:40:32.199
 Jesus Christ

00:40:32.199 --> 00:40:33.360
 is truly sovereign

00:40:33.360 --> 00:40:34.559
 and Lord.

00:40:35.440 --> 00:40:36.000
 And so friends,

00:40:36.099 --> 00:40:36.860
 when you run

00:40:36.860 --> 00:40:37.800
 to the brick wall

00:40:37.800 --> 00:40:38.699
 of time limits

00:40:38.699 --> 00:40:39.239
 and the limits

00:40:39.239 --> 00:40:39.940
 of your authority

00:40:39.940 --> 00:40:40.599
 and your autonomy,

00:40:40.599 --> 00:40:41.699
 when you come

00:40:41.699 --> 00:40:42.199
 to the end

00:40:42.199 --> 00:40:42.839
 of yourself

00:40:42.839 --> 00:40:44.059
 and you can do

00:40:44.059 --> 00:40:44.679
 no more,

00:40:45.339 --> 00:40:46.059
 Jesus Christ

00:40:46.059 --> 00:40:46.619
 stands ready

00:40:46.619 --> 00:40:46.980
 and saying,

00:40:47.099 --> 00:40:48.139
 come and turn to me.

00:40:48.619 --> 00:40:49.799
 Come and trust me.

00:40:50.559 --> 00:40:51.739
 Jesus doesn't promise

00:40:51.739 --> 00:40:52.699
 that he will make you

00:40:52.699 --> 00:40:53.199
 sovereign.

00:40:53.339 --> 00:40:54.019
 He doesn't promise

00:40:54.019 --> 00:40:55.079
 that he will overcome

00:40:55.079 --> 00:40:55.960
 all the limitations

00:40:55.960 --> 00:40:56.699
 of your life.

00:40:57.279 --> 00:40:58.219
 Jesus doesn't promise

00:40:58.219 --> 00:40:59.639
 to give you every answer

00:40:59.639 --> 00:41:00.219
 and to solve

00:41:00.219 --> 00:41:00.980
 every frustration.

00:41:01.699 --> 00:41:02.619
 But he does promise

00:41:02.619 --> 00:41:03.860
 that if you come to him,

00:41:04.460 --> 00:41:05.659
 he will give you a peace.

00:41:06.139 --> 00:41:07.159
 He will give you a wisdom.

00:41:07.839 --> 00:41:08.420
 He will give you

00:41:08.420 --> 00:41:09.039
 an understanding

00:41:09.039 --> 00:41:10.440
 that will transcend

00:41:10.440 --> 00:41:11.820
 even the roadblocks

00:41:11.820 --> 00:41:12.639
 of this life.

00:41:14.720 --> 00:41:15.559
 Come to him.

00:41:16.480 --> 00:41:16.940
 Now friends,

00:41:17.000 --> 00:41:17.720
 the third part

00:41:17.720 --> 00:41:18.460
 of our passage,

00:41:18.860 --> 00:41:19.800
 I'm going to skip over,

00:41:19.880 --> 00:41:20.619
 we're not going to get to it.

00:41:20.659 --> 00:41:21.420
 It's the yearning

00:41:21.420 --> 00:41:22.079
 for justice.

00:41:22.440 --> 00:41:23.619
 And in this passage

00:41:23.619 --> 00:41:24.200
 he says,

00:41:24.720 --> 00:41:25.619
 I went to a funeral

00:41:25.619 --> 00:41:27.099
 and I saw this man

00:41:27.099 --> 00:41:28.059
 and everyone honored him

00:41:28.059 --> 00:41:28.900
 and esteemed him

00:41:28.900 --> 00:41:29.900
 and praised him

00:41:29.900 --> 00:41:30.700
 and everyone said

00:41:30.700 --> 00:41:31.500
 about what a wonderful

00:41:31.500 --> 00:41:32.200
 man he was,

00:41:32.500 --> 00:41:33.300
 but actually he was

00:41:33.300 --> 00:41:33.800
 a scoundrel.

00:41:33.940 --> 00:41:35.059
 Where is justice?

00:41:36.119 --> 00:41:36.720
 And then ultimately

00:41:36.720 --> 00:41:37.139
 he says,

00:41:37.220 --> 00:41:37.940
 oh, there is one

00:41:37.940 --> 00:41:38.599
 who has got to bring

00:41:38.599 --> 00:41:39.860
 justice to bear.

00:41:41.000 --> 00:41:41.440
 Friends,

00:41:41.500 --> 00:41:42.019
 in this world

00:41:42.019 --> 00:41:42.900
 of paradox,

00:41:43.039 --> 00:41:44.220
 searching and injustice,

00:41:44.420 --> 00:41:45.380
 you may never find

00:41:45.380 --> 00:41:45.860
 the answers

00:41:45.860 --> 00:41:46.760
 to your questions.

00:41:47.400 --> 00:41:48.200
 But there is one

00:41:48.200 --> 00:41:49.079
 who has true wisdom,

00:41:49.760 --> 00:41:50.740
 who has true righteousness,

00:41:51.220 --> 00:41:52.340
 who is truly sovereign,

00:41:52.480 --> 00:41:53.460
 who truly administers

00:41:53.460 --> 00:41:54.700
 justice and mercy,

00:41:55.099 --> 00:41:56.139
 who truly holds

00:41:56.139 --> 00:41:57.200
 the keys to righteousness,

00:41:57.599 --> 00:41:59.320
 who has come

00:41:59.320 --> 00:42:00.619
 that we may no longer

00:42:00.619 --> 00:42:01.280
 need to walk

00:42:01.280 --> 00:42:02.000
 in our own wisdom.

00:42:02.720 --> 00:42:03.039
 Friends,

00:42:03.039 --> 00:42:03.639
 this week

00:42:03.639 --> 00:42:04.440
 you will run

00:42:04.440 --> 00:42:05.760
 into the brick wall

00:42:05.760 --> 00:42:06.960
 of your wisdom

00:42:06.960 --> 00:42:07.519
 and righteousness.

00:42:07.740 --> 00:42:08.199
 You will come

00:42:08.199 --> 00:42:08.639
 to the end

00:42:08.639 --> 00:42:09.099
 of yourself.

00:42:09.780 --> 00:42:10.639
 And when that happens,

00:42:10.800 --> 00:42:11.659
 turn to Jesus,

00:42:11.760 --> 00:42:12.960
 the one who is wisdom

00:42:12.960 --> 00:42:13.980
 and is righteousness

00:42:13.980 --> 00:42:16.420
 and who is justice.

00:42:16.900 --> 00:42:17.199
 Friends,

00:42:17.260 --> 00:42:17.679
 this week

00:42:17.679 --> 00:42:18.320
 you will run

00:42:18.320 --> 00:42:19.199
 into the brick wall

00:42:19.199 --> 00:42:20.039
 of your sovereignty

00:42:20.039 --> 00:42:21.019
 and your control

00:42:21.019 --> 00:42:22.179
 over matters of life.

00:42:22.659 --> 00:42:23.699
 And when that happens,

00:42:23.900 --> 00:42:24.760
 turn to Jesus,

00:42:24.880 --> 00:42:25.679
 the one who truly

00:42:25.679 --> 00:42:26.240
 is sovereign

00:42:26.240 --> 00:42:27.320
 and truly is control.

00:42:28.019 --> 00:42:28.320
 Friends,

00:42:28.360 --> 00:42:28.800
 this week

00:42:28.800 --> 00:42:29.519
 you will run

00:42:29.519 --> 00:42:30.380
 into the brick wall

00:42:30.380 --> 00:42:31.019
 of injustice

00:42:31.019 --> 00:42:32.059
 and things will happen

00:42:32.059 --> 00:42:32.559
 and you will think,

00:42:32.679 --> 00:42:33.400
 where is the justice

00:42:33.400 --> 00:42:33.900
 in that?

00:42:33.900 --> 00:42:35.480
 And when that happens,

00:42:36.000 --> 00:42:36.800
 turn to the one

00:42:36.800 --> 00:42:37.900
 who truly brings

00:42:37.900 --> 00:42:38.480
 righteousness

00:42:38.480 --> 00:42:39.360
 and justice

00:42:39.360 --> 00:42:40.880
 and mercy to it.

00:42:41.039 --> 00:42:42.099
 The one who will come

00:42:42.099 --> 00:42:43.340
 and judge the living

00:42:43.340 --> 00:42:43.880
 and the dead.

00:42:44.400 --> 00:42:44.680
 Friends,

00:42:44.760 --> 00:42:45.720
 don't trust in yourself.

00:42:46.440 --> 00:42:47.619
 Don't trust in your ability

00:42:47.619 --> 00:42:48.559
 to find the answers

00:42:48.559 --> 00:42:49.039
 in life.

00:42:49.579 --> 00:42:50.840
 Don't trust in your ability

00:42:50.840 --> 00:42:52.079
 to make it in life.

00:42:52.619 --> 00:42:53.980
 Don't trust in your ability

00:42:53.980 --> 00:42:55.019
 to get through life.

00:42:55.180 --> 00:42:56.079
 Turn to Jesus,

00:42:56.660 --> 00:42:57.519
 the one who came

00:42:57.519 --> 00:42:58.820
 from outside of this world

00:42:58.820 --> 00:42:59.780
 into this world

00:42:59.780 --> 00:43:00.940
 to save us,

00:43:01.139 --> 00:43:02.099
 to rescue us,

00:43:02.420 --> 00:43:03.619
 to give us what we need.

00:43:03.619 --> 00:43:04.839
 And to lead us

00:43:04.839 --> 00:43:05.900
 on the paths

00:43:05.900 --> 00:43:06.619
 of righteousness.

00:43:07.279 --> 00:43:08.279
 Let's pray together.

00:43:09.500 --> 00:43:10.659
 Lord Jesus Christ,

00:43:10.759 --> 00:43:12.319
 this passage is challenging,

00:43:12.599 --> 00:43:13.739
 but it's inviting.

00:43:14.679 --> 00:43:15.279
 God,

00:43:15.380 --> 00:43:16.639
 you confront us

00:43:16.639 --> 00:43:19.440
 with our own limitations.

00:43:20.519 --> 00:43:21.619
 The limitations

00:43:21.619 --> 00:43:22.460
 of our own wisdom.

00:43:23.359 --> 00:43:24.019
 The limitations

00:43:24.019 --> 00:43:26.019
 of our own control

00:43:26.019 --> 00:43:26.559
 of life.

00:43:27.539 --> 00:43:28.019
 But God,

00:43:28.119 --> 00:43:28.960
 that confrontation

00:43:28.960 --> 00:43:29.940
 invites us

00:43:29.940 --> 00:43:30.699
 to come to you.

00:43:32.059 --> 00:43:32.559
 God,

00:43:32.619 --> 00:43:33.039
 I pray

00:43:33.039 --> 00:43:34.860
 for my friends,

00:43:34.960 --> 00:43:35.800
 my brothers and sisters,

00:43:35.900 --> 00:43:36.659
 I pray for myself.

00:43:36.759 --> 00:43:36.920
 Lord,

00:43:36.960 --> 00:43:38.079
 I pray that this week,

00:43:38.179 --> 00:43:38.340
 God,

00:43:38.380 --> 00:43:39.219
 when we run

00:43:39.219 --> 00:43:40.199
 into the brick wall

00:43:40.199 --> 00:43:41.279
 of our own limitations,

00:43:42.380 --> 00:43:43.539
 may we in that moment

00:43:43.539 --> 00:43:44.519
 turn to you.

00:43:49.380 --> 00:43:49.779
 God,

00:43:49.840 --> 00:43:50.420
 may we come

00:43:50.420 --> 00:43:51.340
 and bow our knee

00:43:51.340 --> 00:43:52.759
 to you.

00:43:52.820 --> 00:43:53.719
 May we surrender

00:43:53.719 --> 00:43:54.320
 freshly

00:43:54.320 --> 00:43:55.840
 to you.

00:43:55.840 --> 00:43:56.840
 God,

00:43:56.840 --> 00:43:58.000
 may we

00:43:58.000 --> 00:43:58.019
 for you.

00:43:58.019 --> 00:43:59.420
 Maybe this morning

00:43:59.420 --> 00:44:00.400
 you feel

00:44:00.400 --> 00:44:01.360
 the frustration

00:44:01.360 --> 00:44:02.680
 and the exasperation

00:44:02.680 --> 00:44:03.380
 of having run

00:44:03.380 --> 00:44:04.360
 into one brick wall

00:44:04.360 --> 00:44:04.840
 of another.

00:44:05.640 --> 00:44:06.200
 Maybe you've

00:44:06.200 --> 00:44:06.760
 knocked on

00:44:06.760 --> 00:44:08.340
 a hundred different doors

00:44:08.340 --> 00:44:09.740
 looking for the answers

00:44:09.740 --> 00:44:10.220
 to life,

00:44:10.340 --> 00:44:11.780
 looking for

00:44:11.780 --> 00:44:13.400
 the answers

00:44:13.400 --> 00:44:14.120
 to right living.

00:44:14.300 --> 00:44:15.039
 And every time

00:44:15.039 --> 00:44:16.140
 the door's been opened

00:44:16.140 --> 00:44:17.420
 and it hasn't satisfied,

00:44:17.640 --> 00:44:18.800
 it hasn't given you

00:44:18.800 --> 00:44:19.340
 the answer

00:44:19.340 --> 00:44:20.160
 that you're looking for.

00:44:21.140 --> 00:44:21.460
 Friends,

00:44:21.539 --> 00:44:22.180
 why don't you freshly

00:44:22.180 --> 00:44:23.100
 come to King Jesus

00:44:23.099 --> 00:44:23.679
 this morning?

00:44:24.639 --> 00:44:25.139
 Why don't you come

00:44:25.139 --> 00:44:26.019
 and surrender to Him

00:44:26.019 --> 00:44:26.599
 and hand over

00:44:26.599 --> 00:44:27.319
 your life to Him?

00:44:28.579 --> 00:44:28.860
 Friends,

00:44:28.920 --> 00:44:29.679
 maybe you're a Christian

00:44:29.679 --> 00:44:30.199
 this morning,

00:44:30.299 --> 00:44:30.699
 but actually,

00:44:30.799 --> 00:44:31.279
 if you're honest,

00:44:31.380 --> 00:44:31.799
 you've lived

00:44:31.799 --> 00:44:32.599
 like an agnostic.

00:44:34.480 --> 00:44:35.039
 You've lived

00:44:35.039 --> 00:44:35.940
 by your own wisdom

00:44:35.940 --> 00:44:37.099
 and your own understanding.

00:44:38.279 --> 00:44:38.819
 Why don't today

00:44:38.819 --> 00:44:39.739
 you change that?

00:44:40.940 --> 00:44:41.500
 Why don't today

00:44:41.500 --> 00:44:42.319
 you freshly come

00:44:42.319 --> 00:44:42.799
 and surrender

00:44:42.799 --> 00:44:43.579
 to King Jesus?

00:44:44.940 --> 00:44:45.339
 Friends,

00:44:45.420 --> 00:44:45.799
 maybe you're here

00:44:45.799 --> 00:44:46.219
 this morning

00:44:46.219 --> 00:44:46.980
 and you're not a Christian.

00:44:48.219 --> 00:44:49.299
 Jesus Christ says

00:44:49.299 --> 00:44:50.119
 He came

00:44:50.119 --> 00:44:50.860
 to this earth

00:44:50.860 --> 00:44:52.179
 to die on the cross

00:44:52.179 --> 00:44:53.079
 and to rise again.

00:44:53.099 --> 00:44:54.619
 so that you don't

00:44:54.619 --> 00:44:55.659
 need to save yourself,

00:44:55.819 --> 00:44:56.500
 that you don't need

00:44:56.500 --> 00:44:57.360
 to have all the answers

00:44:57.360 --> 00:44:58.079
 for your own life.

00:44:58.960 --> 00:44:59.639
 Jesus came

00:44:59.639 --> 00:45:01.219
 to bring ultimate truth

00:45:01.219 --> 00:45:01.739
 and revelation

00:45:01.739 --> 00:45:02.519
 and wisdom

00:45:02.519 --> 00:45:04.119
 to save you.

00:45:04.940 --> 00:45:05.699
 Come and bow down

00:45:05.699 --> 00:45:06.440
 to Him this morning.

00:45:08.799 --> 00:45:09.500
 Lord Jesus,

00:45:09.639 --> 00:45:10.420
 come and have Your way

00:45:10.420 --> 00:45:11.000
 in our lives,

00:45:11.059 --> 00:45:11.400
 we pray.

00:45:12.279 --> 00:45:12.679
 Today,

00:45:12.819 --> 00:45:13.000
 God,

00:45:13.079 --> 00:45:13.900
 come and have Your way.

00:45:15.860 --> 00:45:17.339
 We hand over our lives.

00:45:17.819 --> 00:45:18.679
 We surrender.

00:45:19.199 --> 00:45:20.199
 We bow down to You.

00:45:20.940 --> 00:45:21.779
 In Your wonderful name

00:45:21.780 --> 00:45:22.240
 we pray.

00:45:23.240 --> 00:45:23.540
 Amen.

00:45:23.540 --> 00:45:23.760
 Amen.