WEBVTT

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 Okay, let's pray, will we, as we come to God's word this morning.

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 Heavenly Father, we thank you that your word is living and active.

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 It is sharper than a double-edged sword.

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 And so, Father, thank you so much that you are a God who has revealed yourself.

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 Lord, we don't need to second guess who you are or what you're like.

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 Father, thank you that we have your inspired word.

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 And so, Father, we pray that your spirit would come this morning

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 and we pray that he would take this word

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 and that he would apply it deep into our hearts and into our lives.

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 Father, may we know something more of your greatness

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 and of your fatherly care for us this morning

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 as we look at your son, Jesus.

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 And it's in his name that we pray. Amen.

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 So with Genesis 31 open in front of us

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 and with the aim of trying to get us to the heart of the summons

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 that God will make to us through his word today,

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 let me just tell you about one of my,

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 or one of the strangest modern fads in the game of football,

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 which I find really, really strange.

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 Right? Do you know what it is?

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 It's when supporters purchase and then they wear

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 these things called half-and-half strips.

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 Right? Can't see that catching on in Glasgow anytime soon.

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 A half-and-a-half strip.

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 Just to prove the point, and I love seeing this photo this week,

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 here's a picture of a man who wore a half-and-half Rangers

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 and Celtic jersey and walked around the city centre of Glasgow.

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 And do you not just love the other man's puzzled

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 and slightly angry expression as he reacted to seeing it,

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 which kind of sums up the sentiments of an entire city.

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 But this is a helpful image to have in your mind

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 as we approach Genesis 31 this morning.

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 This idea of being half-and-half.

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 Right?

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 Being half-and-half.

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 Because Moses is going to challenge the whole idea

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 of trying to support two teams and cover your bases.

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 I think that's his aim here.

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 To convince us and to convince his readers

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 to ditch the half-and-the-half jersey

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 and go all in with trusting and walking in

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 and loving and obeying the Lord.

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 So this is a call this morning to put the Lord first in our lives.

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 And believe it or not, this chapter is supposed to read

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 like a bit of slapstick comedy.

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 And the key to getting the punchline

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 is seeing what Rachel is sitting on at verse 34.

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 If you've got it there, turn and read it.

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 What is she sitting on at verse 34?

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 You see, here's the question of the narrative

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 to Nick a line from 90s rapper Eminem.

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 Right?

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 Will the true God please stand up?

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 You see, Jacob at verse 17 has got his family

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 and he's got his possessions together

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 and he's going to follow God's call

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 to go back to the land of Canaan.

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 And Rachel, if you like,

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 she's done a bit of a last-minute grab

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 like you would do when you go on holiday.

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 You think, have I left anything?

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 Do I need anything?

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 And you make a grab for it, don't you?

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 She's done that.

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 And she's left her father's house.

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 Do you see what she's grabbed?

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 Verse 19, she's grabbed her father's household gods.

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 Now, we're not told explicitly why she did that.

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 It may well have been a case

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 that this is a one last attempt

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 to get your own back on your dad kind of thing.

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 But another possibility,

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 if you think about her life for a minute,

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 having grown up in and spent her whole life

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 living in Laban's worlds,

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 living according to his customs,

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 adopting his worldview, his way of life,

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 she's likely grabbed them

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 and she's taken them on the journey

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 as a kind of good luck thing.

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 Right?

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 I'd imagine this is similar

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 if you want to think about it

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 like many of us did when we were young.

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 Many of you, I imagine, may still do this.

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 You took a lucky mascot into an exam, right?

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 Remember this at school?

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 People plonked it right there on the desk.

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 It took up like a quarter of the desk.

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 I don't understand why people did it.

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 But they did it.

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 Because this thing was going to try

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 and bring us a little bit of extra luck

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 that we needed to get through the exam.

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 And that's the kind of thing

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 that Rachel's doing here.

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 It's the kind of thing

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 that Moses is presenting to his readers.

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 Spiritually speaking,

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 she's putting on the half and the half jersey.

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 She's trusting the Lord

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 and she's trusting the gods

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 that she grew up with.

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 And so here's the question.

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 Will the real God please stand up?

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 Meanwhile, if you go into the narrative,

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 it's reported back to Laban,

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 verse 22, that he's been tricked.

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 And he goes in hot pursuit of Jacob.

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 Do you see in the narrative here?

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 And you'd be backing Laban to win here,

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 right, for a number of reasons.

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 He's quicker.

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 He's bigger.

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 He's more familiar with the terrain.

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 But Laban hasn't counted on the fact

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 of what happens at verse 24.

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 As God meets him on this journey

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 and tells him not to harm Jacob.

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 So these two,

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 Laban's in hot pursuit,

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 Jacob's running away

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 and they both end up in these mountains.

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 Do you see?

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 And the kinsmen in this scene,

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 the kinsmen that kind of Laban

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 has brought along with him,

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 are almost meant to act

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 like the judge and the jury here.

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 So Laban has to make a plea

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 before his kinsmen

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 as to why he's in the right.

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 And Jacob is going to make a plea

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 to the kinsmen

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 as to why he's in the right.

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 And these kinsmen will make a decision

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 as to who is right

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 and who is wrong.

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 So both Laban and Jacob

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 make their pitches.

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 First Laban goes,

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 verse 26.

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 Why have you done this?

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 He says,

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 notice the smooth flattery

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 in his voice.

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 You,

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 talking about Jacob,

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 you prevented me

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 from kissing and saying goodbye

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 to my daughters

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 that one last time.

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 I would have sent you away

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 with tambourine.

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 Do you know,

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 I love the description.

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 Would have sent you away

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 with tambourines, right?

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 Would have thrown you

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 a massive goodbye party.

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 And you think,

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 that's nonsense

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 what we've read of this guy.

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 Right?

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 At it.

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 But what he's really miffed about,

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 what really ticks him off

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 in this scene,

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 is that somebody's nicked

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 his household gods.

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 And it's like a scene

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 from a movie.

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 Feel the tension build

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 as he makes his way

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 around the tents

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 trying to find them.

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 Did you sense it?

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 Is Esther ready?

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 Are they in Leah's tent?

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 They're not in Leah's tent.

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 Are they in Rachel's tent?

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 Goes into Rachel's tent.

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 Yes,

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 but he doesn't find them.

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 Phew.

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 But why doesn't he find them?

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 And this is the punchline

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 of the gag.

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 Why doesn't he find them?

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 Because

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 Rachel is sitting on them.

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 So,

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 will the real God

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 please stand up?

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 The irony is

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 that Laban's gods

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 can't stand up.

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 Why?

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 Because a human being

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 is sitting on them.

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 Not only can Laban's gods

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 be stolen,

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 but they can be sat on too.

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 And the icing on the cake here,

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 the comedy punchline,

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 is that,

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 do you see how Rachel says,

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 the way of woman

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 is with me.

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 Let the reader understand.

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 Right?

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 Which would have made

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 the Israelite readers

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 who'd be familiar

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 with the sacrificial system

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 and what it is to be

00:07:36.879 --> 00:07:38.120
 the unclean

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 as a person.

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 They would have understood

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 that there's an unclean person

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 sitting on Laban's household gods.

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 Do you see the point?

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 That these gods

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 really are useless

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 and they offer nothing

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 by way of protecting you

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 for this journey.

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 Whereas Jacob reports

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 verse 42

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 and take this in

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 I think it's the key.

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 He says,

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 if the God of my father,

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 the God of Abraham

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 and the fear of Isaac

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 had not been with me,

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 you would have surely

00:08:12.199 --> 00:08:13.620
 sent me away empty handed.

00:08:13.819 --> 00:08:14.639
 But God

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 has seen my hardship

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 and the toil of my hands

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 and last night

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 he rebuked you.

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 So don't skip over

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 the little word

00:08:22.259 --> 00:08:23.139
 that comes before

00:08:23.139 --> 00:08:24.180
 Isaac.

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 Not the God of Isaac.

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 I mean,

00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:28.819
 that would have read

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 really nicely,

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 wouldn't it?

00:08:30.379 --> 00:08:30.980
 Slow down.

00:08:31.079 --> 00:08:31.740
 No, what does he say?

00:08:31.800 --> 00:08:32.639
 No, Jacob says

00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:34.860
 the fear of Isaac.

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 He's talking about his dad.

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 What Isaac had come to learn

00:08:39.519 --> 00:08:40.600
 about this holy,

00:08:40.860 --> 00:08:43.259
 about the omnipotent,

00:08:43.379 --> 00:08:43.539
 right?

00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:44.360
 Just one of these big words,

00:08:44.500 --> 00:08:44.879
 omni,

00:08:44.980 --> 00:08:45.779
 all potent,

00:08:45.939 --> 00:08:46.240
 powerful.

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 This all powerful God.

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 the Lord

00:08:50.080 --> 00:08:52.340
 is the first

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 and foremost,

00:08:53.899 --> 00:08:55.199
 he is exclusively

00:08:55.199 --> 00:08:55.960
 worthy

00:08:55.960 --> 00:08:57.199
 of our

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 worship

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 and trust.

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 And coupled with that,

00:09:01.259 --> 00:09:02.600
 the fact that by sheer grace,

00:09:02.759 --> 00:09:03.340
 Jacob is saying

00:09:03.340 --> 00:09:04.460
 that I've made it this far,

00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:07.460
 this God is for me,

00:09:08.580 --> 00:09:09.899
 then what on earth

00:09:09.899 --> 00:09:10.980
 could stand against me?

00:09:12.179 --> 00:09:12.819
 And you see,

00:09:12.899 --> 00:09:14.120
 that's what 20 years

00:09:14.120 --> 00:09:14.840
 in the wilderness

00:09:14.840 --> 00:09:17.040
 have taught Jacob

00:09:17.040 --> 00:09:17.940
 that no one else

00:09:17.940 --> 00:09:18.540
 can save

00:09:18.540 --> 00:09:19.500
 like the Lord can.

00:09:20.600 --> 00:09:21.280
 No one else

00:09:21.280 --> 00:09:22.480
 watches over his people

00:09:22.480 --> 00:09:23.139
 like the Lord.

00:09:23.519 --> 00:09:24.019
 No one else

00:09:24.019 --> 00:09:24.560
 has a heart

00:09:24.560 --> 00:09:25.200
 for his people

00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:25.920
 like the Lord.

00:09:26.259 --> 00:09:26.920
 No one else

00:09:26.920 --> 00:09:28.000
 can control

00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:29.399
 world events

00:09:29.399 --> 00:09:30.300
 like the Lord.

00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:34.340
 And so,

00:09:34.440 --> 00:09:35.280
 will the real God

00:09:35.280 --> 00:09:36.120
 please stand up?

00:09:38.060 --> 00:09:38.480
 And again,

00:09:38.660 --> 00:09:40.220
 understanding the first readers

00:09:40.220 --> 00:09:41.580
 of this Genesis passage

00:09:41.580 --> 00:09:42.480
 is crucial

00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:43.259
 for understanding

00:09:43.259 --> 00:09:43.920
 the message.

00:09:44.280 --> 00:09:45.320
 It's not just one person

00:09:45.320 --> 00:09:46.060
 who's the first

00:09:46.060 --> 00:09:47.120
 reader of this.

00:09:47.220 --> 00:09:49.000
 It's 400,000 odd people

00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:49.980
 who are the first readers

00:09:49.980 --> 00:09:50.480
 of this.

00:09:51.800 --> 00:09:52.960
 That generation

00:09:52.960 --> 00:09:53.680
 who are wandering

00:09:53.680 --> 00:09:54.360
 in the wilderness,

00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:55.980
 God has saved them

00:09:55.980 --> 00:09:57.080
 from Egypt.

00:09:58.120 --> 00:09:59.240
 Let my people go,

00:09:59.340 --> 00:09:59.840
 they're out,

00:10:00.220 --> 00:10:01.700
 and he's taking them

00:10:01.700 --> 00:10:02.520
 to the land

00:10:02.520 --> 00:10:04.259
 that he had promised them.

00:10:04.740 --> 00:10:04.900
 Right?

00:10:05.259 --> 00:10:05.700
 And so,

00:10:05.879 --> 00:10:07.120
 Israelites wandering,

00:10:08.160 --> 00:10:08.640
 thinking,

00:10:08.820 --> 00:10:09.340
 can our God

00:10:09.340 --> 00:10:09.960
 get us home?

00:10:10.120 --> 00:10:10.400
 Thinking,

00:10:10.560 --> 00:10:11.460
 is he worthy of trust?

00:10:11.580 --> 00:10:12.340
 More importantly,

00:10:12.500 --> 00:10:13.360
 thinking about the gods

00:10:13.360 --> 00:10:14.060
 of Egypt

00:10:14.060 --> 00:10:15.900
 that were impressive,

00:10:16.280 --> 00:10:17.200
 that looked great,

00:10:18.600 --> 00:10:19.259
 and thinking about

00:10:19.259 --> 00:10:20.520
 the gods up ahead

00:10:20.520 --> 00:10:22.900
 who will be in the land

00:10:22.900 --> 00:10:23.840
 surrounded by them,

00:10:23.879 --> 00:10:25.280
 the gods of the Canaanites.

00:10:26.340 --> 00:10:27.500
 Moses is saying

00:10:27.500 --> 00:10:29.480
 loud and clear

00:10:29.480 --> 00:10:30.340
 that as scary

00:10:30.340 --> 00:10:31.780
 as that journey may be,

00:10:32.220 --> 00:10:33.259
 as unknown

00:10:33.259 --> 00:10:34.460
 as that journey

00:10:34.460 --> 00:10:35.220
 will be,

00:10:35.460 --> 00:10:36.300
 the only God,

00:10:36.379 --> 00:10:37.160
 the true God,

00:10:37.259 --> 00:10:38.180
 the one who's worthy

00:10:38.180 --> 00:10:38.960
 of your trust

00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:39.640
 and your worship,

00:10:40.060 --> 00:10:41.080
 he alone is the one

00:10:41.080 --> 00:10:41.879
 that you need to put

00:10:41.879 --> 00:10:43.560
 your full confidence

00:10:43.560 --> 00:10:44.460
 in backing behind.

00:10:47.259 --> 00:10:48.220
 It's not the Lord

00:10:48.220 --> 00:10:48.980
 plus idols.

00:10:49.139 --> 00:10:50.560
 Ditch the 50-50 scarf.

00:10:50.980 --> 00:10:52.320
 It is put the Lord first.

00:10:52.780 --> 00:10:53.800
 Love him first.

00:10:54.860 --> 00:10:56.180
 Seek his kingdom first.

00:10:57.620 --> 00:10:57.960
 And do you know what?

00:10:57.980 --> 00:10:59.160
 That journey might be scary,

00:10:59.560 --> 00:11:00.840
 and you will likely

00:11:00.840 --> 00:11:01.879
 face opposition,

00:11:02.100 --> 00:11:02.660
 but if the Lord

00:11:02.660 --> 00:11:03.639
 has called you,

00:11:04.860 --> 00:11:06.460
 he'll provide for you.

00:11:06.460 --> 00:11:08.980
 If he's called you,

00:11:09.040 --> 00:11:10.280
 he will fulfill the promises

00:11:10.280 --> 00:11:10.940
 and the plans

00:11:10.940 --> 00:11:11.879
 that he has for you.

00:11:12.220 --> 00:11:12.580
 Now listen,

00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:13.400
 if you joined the dots,

00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:14.639
 it's exactly the same

00:11:14.639 --> 00:11:16.379
 call to us today.

00:11:18.280 --> 00:11:18.500
 Do you know,

00:11:18.540 --> 00:11:19.500
 I love the fact that

00:11:19.500 --> 00:11:20.580
 as I've been preaching

00:11:20.580 --> 00:11:21.160
 through this,

00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:22.580
 I haven't really seen it before.

00:11:24.360 --> 00:11:25.940
 How God is just teaching

00:11:25.940 --> 00:11:27.879
 Jacob things about himself

00:11:27.879 --> 00:11:29.360
 and about him,

00:11:29.560 --> 00:11:31.420
 about who he is

00:11:31.419 --> 00:11:33.659
 over the long term.

00:11:35.500 --> 00:11:35.740
 Right,

00:11:35.839 --> 00:11:36.039
 you know,

00:11:36.179 --> 00:11:37.360
 when we first moved

00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:38.240
 into our house,

00:11:40.179 --> 00:11:42.000
 at the bottom of our drive

00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:43.039
 is a bus stop.

00:11:44.299 --> 00:11:45.299
 And what we thought we'd do

00:11:45.299 --> 00:11:46.319
 is when we moved in here,

00:11:46.360 --> 00:11:47.279
 it was completely open.

00:11:47.339 --> 00:11:48.419
 We just planted a hedge.

00:11:49.559 --> 00:11:49.919
 Right,

00:11:50.019 --> 00:11:51.159
 just to give us a bit of privacy

00:11:51.159 --> 00:11:52.439
 to stop people looking in.

00:11:53.099 --> 00:11:54.360
 And we started with that hedge

00:11:54.360 --> 00:11:55.299
 about that size.

00:11:56.639 --> 00:11:57.759
 And over the four years

00:11:57.759 --> 00:11:58.360
 that we've been in there,

00:11:58.439 --> 00:11:59.159
 this hedge has grew

00:11:59.159 --> 00:12:00.099
 and grew and grew and grew.

00:12:00.179 --> 00:12:00.599
 And the thing is,

00:12:00.600 --> 00:12:02.000
 I see this hedge every day.

00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:03.399
 And to me,

00:12:03.460 --> 00:12:04.279
 it's the same size

00:12:04.279 --> 00:12:05.100
 as it was then.

00:12:06.120 --> 00:12:07.000
 But all it takes

00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:07.379
 is somebody

00:12:07.379 --> 00:12:08.120
 who's not seen us

00:12:08.120 --> 00:12:08.759
 for six months

00:12:08.759 --> 00:12:09.700
 to come to our house

00:12:09.700 --> 00:12:10.600
 and they always say,

00:12:10.740 --> 00:12:11.060
 my,

00:12:11.500 --> 00:12:12.820
 look at the size of that hedge.

00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:13.759
 Look how it's grown.

00:12:17.700 --> 00:12:19.240
 The Lord is teaching us things

00:12:19.240 --> 00:12:20.139
 over the long term.

00:12:20.680 --> 00:12:21.300
 Brothers and sisters,

00:12:21.300 --> 00:12:22.519
 do you see yourself

00:12:22.519 --> 00:12:23.240
 as you look back

00:12:23.240 --> 00:12:23.700
 on yourself

00:12:23.700 --> 00:12:24.100
 five,

00:12:24.200 --> 00:12:24.420
 10,

00:12:24.560 --> 00:12:24.860
 15,

00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:25.800
 20 years ago?

00:12:27.300 --> 00:12:28.600
 Do you see how patient

00:12:28.600 --> 00:12:29.540
 the Lord is with us?

00:12:30.600 --> 00:12:32.220
 Have you stopped

00:12:32.220 --> 00:12:33.460
 to consider the lessons

00:12:33.460 --> 00:12:34.500
 that he's taught you

00:12:34.500 --> 00:12:35.600
 over the years?

00:12:37.920 --> 00:12:39.460
 It's the same for our character.

00:12:39.620 --> 00:12:40.320
 God is in this

00:12:40.320 --> 00:12:41.279
 for the long term.

00:12:42.180 --> 00:12:42.980
 If he saved us,

00:12:43.019 --> 00:12:43.879
 he is in this

00:12:43.879 --> 00:12:45.139
 for the long haul.

00:12:45.139 --> 00:12:48.779
 as he weans us off

00:12:48.779 --> 00:12:50.279
 trusting in ourselves

00:12:50.279 --> 00:12:51.139
 and that comes

00:12:51.139 --> 00:12:52.879
 way too naturally

00:12:52.879 --> 00:12:54.699
 to me living in my world.

00:12:55.740 --> 00:12:57.000
 As he weans us off

00:12:57.000 --> 00:12:58.120
 trusting in ourselves

00:12:58.120 --> 00:13:00.080
 and he weans us on

00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:01.360
 to making much of

00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:02.360
 and trusting in Jesus

00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:03.319
 and who he is.

00:13:05.100 --> 00:13:06.360
 Do you see yourself

00:13:06.360 --> 00:13:07.039
 growing

00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:09.340
 in godly character?

00:13:09.460 --> 00:13:10.860
 Do you see the lessons

00:13:10.860 --> 00:13:12.179
 that the Lord is teaching you

00:13:12.179 --> 00:13:12.679
 over the years?

00:13:12.740 --> 00:13:12.879
 You know,

00:13:12.899 --> 00:13:13.700
 when we were in the States

00:13:13.700 --> 00:13:14.220
 last summer,

00:13:14.379 --> 00:13:15.540
 we got to know

00:13:15.540 --> 00:13:17.700
 a girl and her family

00:13:17.700 --> 00:13:18.560
 called Jonah.

00:13:19.879 --> 00:13:20.540
 I remember speaking

00:13:20.540 --> 00:13:21.060
 to Jonah

00:13:21.060 --> 00:13:21.940
 on the Sunday

00:13:21.940 --> 00:13:22.820
 at church.

00:13:22.920 --> 00:13:23.940
 I say I spoke to her.

00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:24.800
 It was more like

00:13:24.800 --> 00:13:25.600
 a game of charades

00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:26.440
 because her voice

00:13:26.440 --> 00:13:26.920
 had gone.

00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:28.600
 She just picked up

00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:30.140
 an affection.

00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:31.180
 She couldn't speak

00:13:31.180 --> 00:13:31.940
 and that was the Sunday.

00:13:32.060 --> 00:13:32.480
 We saw her,

00:13:32.580 --> 00:13:32.700
 I think,

00:13:32.800 --> 00:13:33.700
 later in the week

00:13:33.700 --> 00:13:34.560
 as we went to the park

00:13:34.560 --> 00:13:35.160
 with our kids

00:13:35.160 --> 00:13:35.800
 and we saw her

00:13:35.800 --> 00:13:36.320
 on the Wednesday

00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:36.920
 or the Thursday

00:13:36.920 --> 00:13:38.000
 and her voice was back.

00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:39.460
 And I was just saying,

00:13:39.540 --> 00:13:40.360
 how's your voice?

00:13:41.720 --> 00:13:42.060
 And do you know

00:13:42.060 --> 00:13:42.620
 what she said to me?

00:13:42.620 --> 00:13:42.899
 She said,

00:13:42.940 --> 00:13:43.460
 the first time

00:13:43.460 --> 00:13:44.340
 this happened to me

00:13:44.340 --> 00:13:45.860
 when it initially happened,

00:13:46.299 --> 00:13:47.200
 my first instinct

00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:47.779
 was to pray,

00:13:47.899 --> 00:13:48.120
 Lord,

00:13:48.200 --> 00:13:49.320
 what are you teaching me

00:13:49.320 --> 00:13:50.399
 in this inconvenience?

00:13:51.659 --> 00:13:52.620
 And I thought to myself,

00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:54.600
 I never asked that question.

00:13:55.460 --> 00:13:56.700
 I never stop

00:13:56.700 --> 00:13:58.100
 in the mundane,

00:13:58.360 --> 00:13:58.980
 everyday things

00:13:58.980 --> 00:13:59.620
 of my life

00:13:59.620 --> 00:13:59.960
 to say,

00:14:00.019 --> 00:14:00.220
 Lord,

00:14:00.279 --> 00:14:01.060
 what might you be

00:14:01.060 --> 00:14:02.060
 teaching me here?

00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:03.639
 And she proceeded

00:14:03.639 --> 00:14:04.220
 to tell me

00:14:04.220 --> 00:14:04.679
 what the Lord

00:14:04.679 --> 00:14:05.320
 had taught her.

00:14:05.379 --> 00:14:05.740
 She said,

00:14:05.799 --> 00:14:06.519
 as a mom

00:14:06.519 --> 00:14:07.019
 with kids

00:14:07.019 --> 00:14:08.180
 the same age as ours,

00:14:08.180 --> 00:14:08.840
 young kids,

00:14:08.840 --> 00:14:09.500
 she said,

00:14:09.740 --> 00:14:11.360
 what wasn't an option

00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:11.879
 for her

00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:13.160
 was yelling their names.

00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:14.420
 Right?

00:14:14.519 --> 00:14:15.320
 When it's dinner time,

00:14:15.420 --> 00:14:16.000
 kids come down,

00:14:16.060 --> 00:14:17.040
 she couldn't do it anymore.

00:14:17.460 --> 00:14:17.960
 So she said,

00:14:18.019 --> 00:14:18.879
 what it taught me

00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:20.240
 was that I had to go over

00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:21.060
 to my kids

00:14:21.060 --> 00:14:22.460
 and I had to speak

00:14:22.460 --> 00:14:23.480
 to them really quietly.

00:14:23.560 --> 00:14:23.840
 And she said,

00:14:23.860 --> 00:14:24.899
 I've never had so much

00:14:24.899 --> 00:14:25.560
 eye contact

00:14:25.560 --> 00:14:26.360
 with my kids.

00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:28.960
 I learned what they were

00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:29.780
 doing in their day.

00:14:29.920 --> 00:14:31.220
 I learned what makes them tick.

00:14:31.800 --> 00:14:33.480
 Spent time with them.

00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:33.860
 And she said,

00:14:33.900 --> 00:14:34.980
 how often I just resort

00:14:34.980 --> 00:14:35.860
 to calling names

00:14:35.860 --> 00:14:36.720
 and expecting things

00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:37.180
 to happen.

00:14:37.800 --> 00:14:38.700
 And she said as well,

00:14:38.740 --> 00:14:39.460
 it taught me about

00:14:39.460 --> 00:14:43.120
 my gut instinct

00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:43.879
 just to shout

00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:45.180
 and to react to things.

00:14:45.220 --> 00:14:45.659
 And she said,

00:14:45.700 --> 00:14:46.879
 the Lord slowed me down

00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:47.680
 and realizing that

00:14:47.680 --> 00:14:48.940
 when I had to take a minute

00:14:48.940 --> 00:14:49.940
 to go and find

00:14:49.940 --> 00:14:51.200
 one of my children,

00:14:52.779 --> 00:14:53.919
 actually how his grace

00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:54.460
 is sufficient

00:14:54.460 --> 00:14:55.539
 in that moment for me.

00:14:56.480 --> 00:14:57.000
 And I thought,

00:14:57.080 --> 00:14:57.779
 I just never asked

00:14:57.779 --> 00:14:58.279
 that question.

00:14:58.340 --> 00:14:59.300
 It's never on my radar.

00:14:59.460 --> 00:15:00.180
 What is the Lord

00:15:00.180 --> 00:15:01.180
 teaching me

00:15:01.180 --> 00:15:02.680
 about himself

00:15:02.680 --> 00:15:03.519
 and about myself

00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:05.360
 in the moment?

00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:06.659
 He is committed

00:15:06.659 --> 00:15:07.539
 to teaching us

00:15:07.539 --> 00:15:09.100
 lessons in the everyday

00:15:09.100 --> 00:15:10.539
 trenches of our lives.

00:15:12.419 --> 00:15:13.539
 It takes the pressure

00:15:13.539 --> 00:15:16.360
 of us having to be

00:15:16.360 --> 00:15:17.940
 on it all the time

00:15:17.940 --> 00:15:19.800
 because we know

00:15:19.800 --> 00:15:21.120
 the one who is on it

00:15:21.120 --> 00:15:22.060
 all the time.

00:15:22.740 --> 00:15:23.240
 And we know

00:15:23.240 --> 00:15:24.279
 his heart for us.

00:15:24.340 --> 00:15:24.899
 And we know

00:15:24.899 --> 00:15:25.940
 his love for us.

00:15:26.440 --> 00:15:27.000
 And we know

00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:27.639
 his sovereignty

00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:29.259
 over every single angle

00:15:29.259 --> 00:15:30.879
 of our lives.

00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:31.420
 Can I just give you

00:15:31.420 --> 00:15:32.220
 two quick questions

00:15:32.220 --> 00:15:33.279
 maybe to tease this out?

00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:35.279
 Here's number one.

00:15:36.360 --> 00:15:36.639
 Friends,

00:15:36.680 --> 00:15:37.340
 are we growing

00:15:37.340 --> 00:15:38.080
 in our awareness

00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:38.940
 of his presence?

00:15:41.340 --> 00:15:42.440
 That's what Jacob

00:15:42.440 --> 00:15:43.500
 has increasingly

00:15:43.500 --> 00:15:44.960
 come to see here.

00:15:45.320 --> 00:15:46.060
 Just reflect

00:15:46.060 --> 00:15:47.460
 on what he said there.

00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:48.700
 Not only his escape

00:15:48.700 --> 00:15:49.279
 from,

00:15:49.940 --> 00:15:51.139
 but his protection

00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:52.919
 in Laban's presence

00:15:52.919 --> 00:15:54.159
 was only possible

00:15:54.159 --> 00:15:54.919
 by the grace

00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:55.899
 of God to him

00:15:55.899 --> 00:15:57.680
 and the presence

00:15:57.680 --> 00:15:58.279
 of God

00:15:58.279 --> 00:15:59.420
 with him.

00:15:59.419 --> 00:16:01.500
 Now you might be

00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:02.139
 sitting there today

00:16:02.139 --> 00:16:02.419
 and say,

00:16:02.500 --> 00:16:03.360
 that would be great

00:16:03.360 --> 00:16:04.579
 if I was Jacob.

00:16:04.740 --> 00:16:05.879
 God spoke directly

00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:06.500
 to Jacob.

00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:07.439
 I'd love that.

00:16:09.139 --> 00:16:10.039
 But let me just say,

00:16:10.099 --> 00:16:10.639
 if you're a believer

00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:11.199
 here today

00:16:11.199 --> 00:16:11.860
 because of where

00:16:11.860 --> 00:16:13.179
 we stand in history

00:16:13.179 --> 00:16:14.679
 and what God's

00:16:14.679 --> 00:16:15.779
 done for us,

00:16:16.839 --> 00:16:18.039
 the Jesus who came,

00:16:18.159 --> 00:16:18.559
 who lived,

00:16:18.659 --> 00:16:19.399
 who died,

00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:20.379
 who rose,

00:16:20.459 --> 00:16:21.219
 who ascended,

00:16:21.220 --> 00:16:23.300
 because he has

00:16:23.300 --> 00:16:24.540
 sent the Spirit,

00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:26.060
 we can know

00:16:26.060 --> 00:16:27.220
 the presence of God

00:16:27.220 --> 00:16:28.600
 in a more fuller way

00:16:28.600 --> 00:16:29.120
 than Jacob

00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:30.200
 could ever dream of.

00:16:31.940 --> 00:16:33.279
 Love it in John 14

00:16:33.279 --> 00:16:34.340
 as Jesus explains

00:16:34.340 --> 00:16:35.100
 to his disciples

00:16:35.100 --> 00:16:36.120
 that he's leaving them.

00:16:36.200 --> 00:16:36.980
 And I cannot think

00:16:36.980 --> 00:16:39.060
 I'm more of a bombshell

00:16:39.060 --> 00:16:40.120
 to drop on his disciples

00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:40.800
 at that point

00:16:40.800 --> 00:16:41.300
 in the game.

00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:43.019
 Jesus says

00:16:43.019 --> 00:16:43.960
 he is leaving them,

00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:44.840
 but he says,

00:16:45.139 --> 00:16:45.480
 he says,

00:16:45.560 --> 00:16:46.600
 I will not leave you

00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:47.360
 as orphans.

00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:50.440
 I will come to you.

00:16:51.740 --> 00:16:52.840
 Because as he ascends

00:16:52.840 --> 00:16:54.360
 to the Father,

00:16:54.500 --> 00:16:56.740
 he sends the Holy Spirit,

00:16:56.840 --> 00:16:58.100
 he sends the helper

00:16:58.100 --> 00:17:00.320
 to be with his disciples,

00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:01.300
 with his people.

00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:03.800
 That Jesus would send

00:17:03.800 --> 00:17:05.740
 the very Spirit of God,

00:17:05.860 --> 00:17:07.079
 the third person

00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:08.079
 of the Trinity,

00:17:08.680 --> 00:17:11.039
 to live in the heart

00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:13.440
 of every single believer.

00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:15.620
 And because of his

00:17:15.620 --> 00:17:16.640
 indwelling presence,

00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:17.800
 Jesus can say,

00:17:17.940 --> 00:17:18.759
 and we're going to come back

00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:19.720
 to this later in the year

00:17:19.720 --> 00:17:20.300
 when we get back

00:17:20.300 --> 00:17:21.180
 into John's Gospel,

00:17:21.300 --> 00:17:22.140
 he could say

00:17:22.140 --> 00:17:25.780
 that I will be in you

00:17:25.780 --> 00:17:28.600
 and you will be in me.

00:17:32.180 --> 00:17:32.460
 You know,

00:17:32.480 --> 00:17:33.540
 to say that God is with us,

00:17:33.560 --> 00:17:34.340
 it can so often

00:17:34.340 --> 00:17:35.320
 become a cliche

00:17:35.320 --> 00:17:36.360
 that just trips off

00:17:36.360 --> 00:17:36.820
 our lips,

00:17:36.900 --> 00:17:37.259
 can't it?

00:17:37.280 --> 00:17:37.960
 Like something that

00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:39.040
 Clinton Cards would put

00:17:39.040 --> 00:17:39.640
 in the back

00:17:39.640 --> 00:17:40.500
 of one of their

00:17:40.500 --> 00:17:41.440
 sympathy cards.

00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:44.340
 But it's a wonderful

00:17:44.340 --> 00:17:45.540
 liberating truth.

00:17:45.539 --> 00:17:46.639
 having the Spirit

00:17:46.639 --> 00:17:47.500
 of God

00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:49.519
 residing in our lives

00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:51.159
 is the greatest gift

00:17:51.159 --> 00:17:52.240
 that the risen Jesus

00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:53.539
 could give to his people.

00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:56.159
 It's that Spirit,

00:17:56.500 --> 00:17:57.759
 he brings a flood

00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:58.500
 of relief

00:17:58.500 --> 00:17:59.339
 and comfort

00:17:59.339 --> 00:18:00.420
 to the souls

00:18:00.420 --> 00:18:01.420
 of his people

00:18:01.420 --> 00:18:02.339
 who are suffering

00:18:02.339 --> 00:18:03.960
 and who are sick

00:18:03.960 --> 00:18:05.399
 and who are struggling

00:18:05.399 --> 00:18:08.180
 by persuading them

00:18:08.180 --> 00:18:09.279
 and reminding them

00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:10.799
 of the unending,

00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:12.359
 unchanging heart

00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:14.079
 and love of God,

00:18:14.159 --> 00:18:14.919
 their Heavenly Father

00:18:14.919 --> 00:18:16.119
 for his people.

00:18:17.099 --> 00:18:17.859
 And so it's a wonderful

00:18:17.859 --> 00:18:18.439
 thing today,

00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:19.740
 if you are struggling

00:18:19.740 --> 00:18:21.039
 of words to articulate

00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:22.240
 how you want to pray

00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:23.319
 for a brother and sister

00:18:23.319 --> 00:18:24.159
 in the congregation,

00:18:26.419 --> 00:18:26.919
 God, remember

00:18:26.919 --> 00:18:27.859
 that the Holy Spirit

00:18:27.859 --> 00:18:28.759
 is a much better

00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:29.819
 pastor and preacher

00:18:29.819 --> 00:18:30.459
 than anyone

00:18:30.459 --> 00:18:31.719
 who will ever sit up here

00:18:31.719 --> 00:18:32.419
 and stand up here.

00:18:33.779 --> 00:18:34.259
 Pray

00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:35.859
 that the Spirit

00:18:35.859 --> 00:18:36.619
 would be at work

00:18:36.619 --> 00:18:37.679
 bringing the truth

00:18:37.679 --> 00:18:38.459
 of the Gospel

00:18:38.460 --> 00:18:41.140
 to bear on the life

00:18:41.140 --> 00:18:41.620
 of your brother

00:18:41.620 --> 00:18:42.180
 and sister.

00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:44.840
 He knows

00:18:44.840 --> 00:18:45.660
 what you're going through

00:18:45.660 --> 00:18:48.120
 and he really

00:18:48.120 --> 00:18:48.860
 is with you

00:18:48.860 --> 00:18:49.720
 in all your hardships

00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:50.579
 and all your struggles.

00:18:51.840 --> 00:18:52.960
 What a wonderful thing

00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:54.220
 to be reminded of

00:18:54.220 --> 00:18:56.039
 that that's the reality

00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:56.680
 that each of us

00:18:56.680 --> 00:18:57.279
 have today

00:18:57.279 --> 00:18:58.360
 if our trust

00:18:58.360 --> 00:18:59.240
 is in this Jesus.

00:19:01.220 --> 00:19:02.600
 Here's the second question.

00:19:03.880 --> 00:19:04.460
 Are we walking

00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:05.160
 with integrity

00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:06.440
 in his presence?

00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:07.960
 Are we aware

00:19:07.960 --> 00:19:08.960
 of his presence?

00:19:09.120 --> 00:19:09.680
 Are we walking

00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:10.360
 with integrity

00:19:10.360 --> 00:19:11.240
 in his presence?

00:19:11.340 --> 00:19:11.740
 You know what really

00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:12.299
 struck me

00:19:12.299 --> 00:19:13.279
 both this week

00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:13.900
 and last week

00:19:13.900 --> 00:19:15.019
 is how often

00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:16.100
 Jacob draws

00:19:16.100 --> 00:19:17.380
 Laban's attention

00:19:17.380 --> 00:19:18.600
 to how he's conducted

00:19:18.600 --> 00:19:19.220
 himself

00:19:19.220 --> 00:19:20.340
 while he's been with him.

00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:21.059
 Have you noticed that

00:19:21.059 --> 00:19:21.960
 over the last couple of weeks?

00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:24.519
 Do you see it

00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:25.200
 in verse 36?

00:19:25.460 --> 00:19:25.700
 He says,

00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:26.840
 What is my offense?

00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:28.720
 I've looked after your flocks.

00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:30.019
 I haven't stolen anything.

00:19:30.420 --> 00:19:31.240
 Now hang on a minute.

00:19:32.460 --> 00:19:34.120
 This is the same guy

00:19:34.119 --> 00:19:36.739
 who back at chapter 27

00:19:36.739 --> 00:19:39.639
 wasn't the slightest bit fussed

00:19:39.639 --> 00:19:41.159
 when he lied to his dad

00:19:41.159 --> 00:19:42.239
 and he cheated his brother.

00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:44.539
 And now all of a sudden

00:19:44.539 --> 00:19:46.039
 just a few chapters later

00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:48.319
 character really matters

00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:48.979
 to Jacob.

00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:51.359
 You know,

00:19:51.399 --> 00:19:52.799
 I heard a quote recently

00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:54.399
 from the atheist philosopher

00:19:54.399 --> 00:19:55.439
 A.C. Grayling

00:19:55.439 --> 00:19:57.439
 once speaking at down

00:19:57.439 --> 00:19:58.419
 at Oxford University

00:19:58.419 --> 00:19:59.199
 and he said,

00:19:59.359 --> 00:19:59.699
 he said,

00:19:59.700 --> 00:20:00.960
 people in the olden days

00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:02.360
 they used to believe in God

00:20:02.360 --> 00:20:03.779
 but now today

00:20:03.779 --> 00:20:05.299
 people don't believe in God.

00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:05.920
 There's a God

00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:06.880
 that could see everything.

00:20:07.600 --> 00:20:07.940
 And he said,

00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:08.420
 if you want to know

00:20:08.420 --> 00:20:09.259
 the proof of that,

00:20:09.580 --> 00:20:10.180
 the proof of it

00:20:10.180 --> 00:20:10.819
 is that today

00:20:10.819 --> 00:20:12.580
 that we have CCTV cameras

00:20:12.580 --> 00:20:13.080
 everywhere.

00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:16.160
 And it's kind of true,

00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:16.420
 isn't it,

00:20:16.420 --> 00:20:17.000
 if you think about it,

00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:17.480
 our world.

00:20:18.059 --> 00:20:19.059
 Nobody thinks about

00:20:19.059 --> 00:20:19.620
 that there might be

00:20:19.620 --> 00:20:20.180
 an all-seeing

00:20:20.180 --> 00:20:21.080
 and all-knowing God

00:20:21.080 --> 00:20:21.960
 watching everything

00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:23.920
 and who one day

00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:26.360
 will make every wrong right.

00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:27.080
 People today

00:20:27.080 --> 00:20:27.660
 is thinking,

00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:28.019
 isn't it,

00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:28.700
 as long as it's not

00:20:28.700 --> 00:20:29.600
 hurting anyone,

00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:31.259
 then it's kind of

00:20:31.259 --> 00:20:31.920
 fair game.

00:20:32.420 --> 00:20:33.259
 But the person

00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:34.519
 who fears the Lord,

00:20:35.400 --> 00:20:36.900
 who loves Him,

00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:38.600
 who wants to serve Him,

00:20:39.600 --> 00:20:40.740
 always behaves

00:20:40.740 --> 00:20:41.700
 like there's a divine

00:20:41.700 --> 00:20:43.059
 CCTV camera

00:20:43.059 --> 00:20:44.940
 who's watching everything.

00:20:45.340 --> 00:20:46.220
 That there really is

00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:47.640
 a God who sees

00:20:47.640 --> 00:20:48.500
 and who knows

00:20:48.500 --> 00:20:49.640
 and who cares.

00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:51.980
 And do you know

00:20:51.980 --> 00:20:52.539
 what that means?

00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:54.180
 It means that every moment

00:20:54.180 --> 00:20:55.380
 is a worship moment.

00:20:56.600 --> 00:20:57.559
 Every moment

00:20:57.559 --> 00:20:58.680
 is a worship moment.

00:20:58.680 --> 00:21:00.160
 changing nappies,

00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:00.920
 trying to get into

00:21:00.920 --> 00:21:01.860
 our weeks, right?

00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:03.019
 Changing nappies,

00:21:03.779 --> 00:21:05.380
 sending emails at work,

00:21:05.840 --> 00:21:06.840
 being hospitable

00:21:06.840 --> 00:21:07.380
 and kind

00:21:07.380 --> 00:21:08.140
 to your fellow

00:21:08.140 --> 00:21:08.900
 road user.

00:21:09.860 --> 00:21:11.560
 All these little things

00:21:11.560 --> 00:21:13.259
 are chances

00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:14.180
 that we have

00:21:14.180 --> 00:21:14.680
 to worship

00:21:14.680 --> 00:21:15.960
 the living God.

00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:17.560
 Remember when I was

00:21:17.560 --> 00:21:18.080
 a student,

00:21:19.380 --> 00:21:20.259
 I had a friend

00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:20.960
 called Rab.

00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:22.960
 Rab was slightly

00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:23.680
 younger than me,

00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:24.440
 but he'd been a Christian

00:21:24.440 --> 00:21:25.500
 for way longer

00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:25.900
 than me.

00:21:25.980 --> 00:21:26.340
 Remember having

00:21:26.340 --> 00:21:27.000
 a conversation

00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:28.180
 with him one Friday night

00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:29.420
 and telling him

00:21:29.420 --> 00:21:30.299
 about how many people

00:21:30.299 --> 00:21:31.299
 in my generation

00:21:31.299 --> 00:21:32.519
 that were into this thing,

00:21:33.080 --> 00:21:34.200
 a 90s kid here,

00:21:34.980 --> 00:21:35.740
 this thing called

00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:36.860
 copying CDs,

00:21:38.420 --> 00:21:38.600
 right?

00:21:39.120 --> 00:21:40.100
 Not just copying them,

00:21:40.140 --> 00:21:40.680
 but sharing them

00:21:40.680 --> 00:21:41.539
 with their friends.

00:21:41.900 --> 00:21:42.500
 Remember telling him

00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:43.259
 about this and thinking,

00:21:43.320 --> 00:21:44.140
 isn't this a great thing

00:21:44.140 --> 00:21:44.960
 that we can do?

00:21:45.240 --> 00:21:46.039
 Never thought anything

00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:46.400
 of it.

00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:47.100
 And he said to me,

00:21:47.140 --> 00:21:47.620
 do you know what,

00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:49.100
 Shanksie?

00:21:50.259 --> 00:21:50.860
 He said,

00:21:50.920 --> 00:21:51.620
 God has called us

00:21:51.620 --> 00:21:52.140
 and saved us

00:21:52.140 --> 00:21:53.080
 to be better than that.

00:21:54.440 --> 00:21:58.000
 And he was right.

00:21:59.539 --> 00:22:00.460
 The faithfulness

00:22:00.460 --> 00:22:01.160
 on the journey

00:22:01.160 --> 00:22:02.200
 in the smallest

00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:03.080
 little things,

00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:05.200
 it matters to the Lord.

00:22:06.340 --> 00:22:07.400
 And we can worship him

00:22:07.400 --> 00:22:08.500
 with every single moment,

00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:09.380
 no matter what's going on

00:22:09.380 --> 00:22:09.980
 in your life,

00:22:10.340 --> 00:22:10.580
 friends,

00:22:10.660 --> 00:22:11.539
 the Lord sees it.

00:22:11.820 --> 00:22:12.460
 He sees it.

00:22:13.640 --> 00:22:14.840
 And it's a challenge,

00:22:14.940 --> 00:22:15.920
 but it's also a comfort

00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:18.420
 that as scary

00:22:18.420 --> 00:22:19.440
 as the journey may be,

00:22:19.559 --> 00:22:20.039
 this God,

00:22:20.120 --> 00:22:21.240
 the only real God,

00:22:22.080 --> 00:22:22.920
 he's with you.

00:22:22.920 --> 00:22:24.840
 He's with you.

00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:26.220
 So ditch the half

00:22:26.220 --> 00:22:27.060
 and half scarf

00:22:27.060 --> 00:22:29.460
 and go all in

00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:31.019
 with the Lord.

00:22:31.800 --> 00:22:32.700
 This chance to,

00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:34.279
 this call rather,

00:22:34.380 --> 00:22:35.539
 to seek him first.

00:22:35.660 --> 00:22:35.779
 You know,

00:22:35.840 --> 00:22:36.620
 my favorite promise

00:22:36.620 --> 00:22:37.140
 of Jesus,

00:22:37.340 --> 00:22:38.200
 and we read it earlier,

00:22:38.680 --> 00:22:39.620
 and the thing that I found

00:22:39.620 --> 00:22:40.519
 to be the best bit

00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:41.519
 of life advice

00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:42.920
 when it comes

00:22:42.920 --> 00:22:43.860
 to making decisions

00:22:43.860 --> 00:22:45.400
 is what Jesus says

00:22:45.400 --> 00:22:46.620
 in Matthew 6.

00:22:47.120 --> 00:22:48.140
 When he says

00:22:48.140 --> 00:22:49.080
 to his disciples,

00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:49.519
 he says,

00:22:49.620 --> 00:22:50.180
 don't worry.

00:22:50.180 --> 00:22:52.299
 Don't worry.

00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:54.160
 And he says,

00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:54.940
 take a look around

00:22:54.940 --> 00:22:55.580
 at nature.

00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:56.600
 Look at the flowers

00:22:56.600 --> 00:22:57.400
 in the fields.

00:22:57.620 --> 00:22:57.740
 Right?

00:22:57.779 --> 00:22:58.880
 We went to the zoo yesterday

00:22:58.880 --> 00:22:59.460
 as a family,

00:22:59.560 --> 00:23:00.380
 tried to do this.

00:23:02.460 --> 00:23:03.779
 See how God cares

00:23:03.779 --> 00:23:04.440
 for these things.

00:23:04.560 --> 00:23:05.480
 See how God provides

00:23:05.480 --> 00:23:06.420
 for these things.

00:23:07.880 --> 00:23:08.600
 And see how your

00:23:08.600 --> 00:23:09.519
 heavenly Father

00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:11.019
 feeds them.

00:23:12.560 --> 00:23:13.019
 You know,

00:23:13.060 --> 00:23:13.940
 someone said to me recently,

00:23:14.019 --> 00:23:14.500
 have you noticed

00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:15.640
 how much of an outdoors

00:23:15.640 --> 00:23:16.740
 book the Bible is?

00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:18.180
 It's true.

00:23:18.840 --> 00:23:19.279
 Read it.

00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:20.099
 That's why

00:23:20.099 --> 00:23:21.680
 famous English pastor

00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:22.440
 John Stott

00:23:22.440 --> 00:23:23.579
 said that bird watching

00:23:23.579 --> 00:23:24.799
 was something that he did

00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:26.299
 that was good for his soul.

00:23:29.180 --> 00:23:30.119
 Jesus says,

00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:31.200
 don't worry.

00:23:31.899 --> 00:23:33.240
 Don't worry about tomorrow.

00:23:33.420 --> 00:23:33.879
 It's interesting,

00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:34.379
 isn't it?

00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:36.440
 One of the marks

00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:37.799
 of our generation today,

00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:39.019
 and you have to say,

00:23:39.139 --> 00:23:40.539
 is chronic anxiety.

00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:40.859
 You know,

00:23:40.879 --> 00:23:41.559
 I was hearing on

00:23:41.559 --> 00:23:43.839
 social media recently,

00:23:43.940 --> 00:23:44.379
 and I don't know

00:23:44.379 --> 00:23:45.160
 whether this is true,

00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:45.680
 but this is what

00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:46.700
 the person was reporting,

00:23:46.700 --> 00:23:48.019
 that my generation

00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:50.080
 is almost so scared

00:23:50.080 --> 00:23:50.980
 to have children

00:23:50.980 --> 00:23:52.319
 because they don't want

00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:52.900
 to bring them

00:23:52.900 --> 00:23:53.580
 into this world

00:23:53.580 --> 00:23:54.600
 that's full of crippling

00:23:54.600 --> 00:23:55.680
 anxiety about what

00:23:55.680 --> 00:23:57.299
 the future might hold.

00:23:58.380 --> 00:23:59.100
 And you have to say,

00:23:59.200 --> 00:24:00.640
 if atheist A.C. Grayling

00:24:00.640 --> 00:24:01.140
 was right,

00:24:01.240 --> 00:24:02.240
 that we don't believe in God,

00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:03.519
 we've got CTV cameras,

00:24:03.600 --> 00:24:04.460
 we've moved on from that,

00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:05.299
 we have to say

00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:07.460
 that the lack of anxiety

00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:08.360
 that's supposed to come

00:24:08.360 --> 00:24:08.840
 with that

00:24:08.840 --> 00:24:10.120
 is not just materializing

00:24:10.120 --> 00:24:10.779
 in our age.

00:24:10.779 --> 00:24:13.279
 Jesus says,

00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:13.859
 don't worry.

00:24:15.980 --> 00:24:16.519
 He says,

00:24:16.579 --> 00:24:17.000
 don't worry.

00:24:18.359 --> 00:24:19.420
 And he doesn't just say,

00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:20.319
 don't do something.

00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:21.339
 Right?

00:24:21.420 --> 00:24:22.899
 Any gardener

00:24:22.899 --> 00:24:23.539
 with their salt

00:24:23.539 --> 00:24:24.059
 will tell you

00:24:24.059 --> 00:24:25.099
 that weeding without seeding

00:24:25.099 --> 00:24:26.059
 is a terrible idea.

00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:27.720
 He doesn't just say,

00:24:27.819 --> 00:24:28.740
 don't do something.

00:24:28.819 --> 00:24:29.200
 He says,

00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:29.819
 do something.

00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:32.200
 He doesn't just say,

00:24:32.259 --> 00:24:32.680
 don't worry.

00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:33.059
 He says,

00:24:33.059 --> 00:24:34.599
 seek your father.

00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:36.299
 Pray to him.

00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:38.920
 Seek the kingdom first.

00:24:40.779 --> 00:24:42.819
 And the fact that this father

00:24:42.819 --> 00:24:44.099
 is this kind of father

00:24:44.099 --> 00:24:45.059
 who knows us

00:24:45.059 --> 00:24:47.359
 and he knows our needs

00:24:47.359 --> 00:24:48.559
 should free us to be those

00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:49.180
 who seek first

00:24:49.180 --> 00:24:50.119
 the kingdom of God.

00:24:51.579 --> 00:24:52.779
 Be all in with trust

00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:53.279
 in the Lord.

00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:54.879
 And I love it,

00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:55.319
 dear friends,

00:24:55.359 --> 00:24:56.160
 just to encourage you,

00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:57.539
 I see many of you right now,

00:24:58.319 --> 00:24:59.460
 you're making big decisions

00:24:59.460 --> 00:25:00.379
 about your future.

00:25:01.299 --> 00:25:02.619
 Some of you are at a crossroads

00:25:02.619 --> 00:25:03.180
 in your life.

00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:03.839
 Some of you are thinking

00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:05.279
 about university.

00:25:05.579 --> 00:25:06.000
 Some of you are thinking

00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:07.500
 about serving different ways.

00:25:07.819 --> 00:25:09.160
 And I see you growing

00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:09.859
 in this area.

00:25:09.859 --> 00:25:11.839
 I see you wanting

00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:13.539
 to make godly decisions.

00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:14.500
 Remember we thought

00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:15.240
 about ages ago

00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:15.759
 the fact that

00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:16.539
 one of our questions

00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:17.439
 when making decisions

00:25:17.439 --> 00:25:18.399
 isn't primarily

00:25:18.399 --> 00:25:19.439
 what should I do?

00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:22.319
 But as Jen Wilkin puts it,

00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:24.219
 rather the question is

00:25:24.219 --> 00:25:25.019
 who should I be?

00:25:26.099 --> 00:25:27.019
 As we make decisions

00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:28.119
 that glorify the Lord,

00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:28.979
 put him first.

00:25:29.459 --> 00:25:29.659
 Listen,

00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:30.619
 our time is gone

00:25:30.619 --> 00:25:31.819
 but I want to finish

00:25:31.819 --> 00:25:32.419
 with this

00:25:32.419 --> 00:25:34.759
 just to massage home

00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:35.319
 the point.

00:25:36.579 --> 00:25:37.679
 Because it's August

00:25:37.679 --> 00:25:38.479
 in Edinburgh

00:25:38.479 --> 00:25:38.759
 and

00:25:39.859 --> 00:25:40.519
 and I want to tell you

00:25:40.519 --> 00:25:41.299
 about my favourite

00:25:41.299 --> 00:25:43.240
 festival act

00:25:43.240 --> 00:25:44.240
 from the last few years.

00:25:44.319 --> 00:25:44.779
 Is that okay?

00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:45.779
 Just as we close?

00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:47.559
 Some of you would have seen

00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:48.479
 this guy on the news

00:25:48.479 --> 00:25:48.939
 recently.

00:25:49.959 --> 00:25:50.819
 He is

00:25:50.819 --> 00:25:52.259
 what is

00:25:52.259 --> 00:25:52.979
 called

00:25:52.979 --> 00:25:54.240
 a festival legend.

00:25:55.839 --> 00:25:56.419
 And he'll be loving

00:25:56.419 --> 00:25:57.599
 this bit of free publicity

00:25:57.599 --> 00:25:58.179
 I'm giving him.

00:25:58.240 --> 00:25:59.179
 It's a Scottish comedian

00:25:59.179 --> 00:26:00.939
 called Robin Granger.

00:26:01.419 --> 00:26:02.559
 And he became famous

00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:03.439
 because a number

00:26:03.439 --> 00:26:04.259
 of years ago

00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:06.980
 he did his first ever

00:26:06.980 --> 00:26:07.819
 Friday night gig

00:26:07.819 --> 00:26:09.920
 and he was really nervous

00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:10.720
 and he asked

00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:11.379
 his manager

00:26:11.379 --> 00:26:12.279
 to poke his head out

00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:13.140
 and see how many people

00:26:13.140 --> 00:26:13.759
 had come to his

00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:14.500
 Friday night gig.

00:26:15.059 --> 00:26:15.359
 Do you know how many

00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:15.839
 people came?

00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:19.539
 One.

00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:22.740
 One person came.

00:26:24.220 --> 00:26:24.779
 And so his manager

00:26:24.779 --> 00:26:25.819
 pokes his head

00:26:25.819 --> 00:26:27.140
 back in

00:26:27.140 --> 00:26:27.420
 and says

00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:27.900
 do you still want

00:26:27.900 --> 00:26:28.379
 to go ahead?

00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:29.259
 Give the guy a refund

00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:29.599
 if you want.

00:26:29.640 --> 00:26:30.099
 Do you want to still

00:26:30.099 --> 00:26:30.500
 go ahead?

00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:30.900
 And he said

00:26:30.900 --> 00:26:31.440
 no come on

00:26:31.440 --> 00:26:32.320
 if this guy's

00:26:32.320 --> 00:26:32.880
 paid the money

00:26:32.880 --> 00:26:33.600
 if he's

00:26:33.600 --> 00:26:34.660
 shown his face

00:26:34.660 --> 00:26:35.180
 if he's happy

00:26:35.180 --> 00:26:35.720
 to sit in

00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:36.580
 the audience

00:26:36.580 --> 00:26:37.980
 let's go for it.

00:26:39.259 --> 00:26:40.120
 And so here he is

00:26:40.120 --> 00:26:41.259
 this is Mike

00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:41.960
 from Leicester

00:26:41.960 --> 00:26:43.560
 who he performed for

00:26:43.560 --> 00:26:44.400
 but I love that

00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:45.820
 attitude

00:26:45.820 --> 00:26:48.940
 of one person

00:26:48.940 --> 00:26:49.400
 in mind

00:26:49.400 --> 00:26:51.519
 of an audience

00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:52.000
 of one

00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:53.460
 of

00:26:53.460 --> 00:26:55.019
 only having

00:26:55.019 --> 00:26:55.640
 eyes

00:26:55.640 --> 00:26:58.060
 for one person

00:26:58.060 --> 00:26:58.759
 and that is what

00:26:58.759 --> 00:26:59.740
 Jesus is calling us

00:26:59.740 --> 00:27:00.580
 here to today.

00:27:01.380 --> 00:27:02.220
 The audience

00:27:02.220 --> 00:27:02.700
 of one

00:27:02.700 --> 00:27:04.640
 living for God's

00:27:04.640 --> 00:27:05.340
 glory alone

00:27:05.340 --> 00:27:06.519
 that is the aftertaste

00:27:06.519 --> 00:27:07.640
 I think Genesis 31

00:27:07.640 --> 00:27:08.320
 is meant to put

00:27:08.320 --> 00:27:09.720
 in our mouths

00:27:09.720 --> 00:27:11.400
 to ditch in the

00:27:11.400 --> 00:27:12.340
 half and a half jersey

00:27:12.340 --> 00:27:14.460
 and be all in

00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:15.900
 with eyes only

00:27:15.900 --> 00:27:17.400
 trusting and walking

00:27:17.400 --> 00:27:18.060
 with the Lord.

00:27:18.920 --> 00:27:19.759
 Listen let me pray

00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:22.160
 and let me just

00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:22.900
 encourage you in the

00:27:22.900 --> 00:27:24.019
 quiet as God's

00:27:24.019 --> 00:27:24.880
 word has gone forth

00:27:24.880 --> 00:27:25.500
 this morning

00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:26.880
 whatever is going on

00:27:26.880 --> 00:27:27.400
 in your life

00:27:27.400 --> 00:27:28.340
 friends bring it to him

00:27:28.340 --> 00:27:29.840
 know that he knows

00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:31.459
 know that he cares

00:27:31.459 --> 00:27:33.119
 and know that he loves

00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:34.459
 and then we'll

00:27:34.459 --> 00:27:35.539
 finish in prayer.

00:27:38.639 --> 00:27:39.179
 And so Father

00:27:39.179 --> 00:27:40.039
 I pray that you would

00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:41.079
 convince us deeply

00:27:41.079 --> 00:27:41.599
 today

00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:44.319
 as we respond

00:27:44.319 --> 00:27:45.000
 to your word

00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.819
 that there is truly

00:27:45.819 --> 00:27:46.839
 none like you

00:27:46.839 --> 00:27:48.599
 there is no God

00:27:48.599 --> 00:27:49.179
 as mighty

00:27:49.179 --> 00:27:49.759
 as you

00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:51.419
 there is no God

00:27:51.419 --> 00:27:52.059
 as delightful

00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:52.759
 as you

00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:54.439
 because we see

00:27:54.440 --> 00:27:55.240
 that as we

00:27:55.240 --> 00:27:57.120
 stare at your

00:27:57.120 --> 00:27:57.840
 son Jesus

00:27:57.840 --> 00:28:00.279
 and so Father

00:28:00.279 --> 00:28:00.940
 I pray that your

00:28:00.940 --> 00:28:01.960
 spirit would come

00:28:01.960 --> 00:28:03.100
 the great

00:28:03.100 --> 00:28:03.940
 comforter

00:28:03.940 --> 00:28:05.600
 and would he

00:28:05.600 --> 00:28:06.779
 deeply impress

00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:07.860
 on each of our

00:28:07.860 --> 00:28:08.480
 souls

00:28:08.480 --> 00:28:10.380
 those truths

00:28:10.380 --> 00:28:10.799
 that we've been

00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:11.820
 thinking about today

00:28:11.820 --> 00:28:13.080
 that you are

00:28:13.080 --> 00:28:13.480
 worthy

00:28:13.480 --> 00:28:15.000
 of our

00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:16.259
 first and foremost

00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:16.940
 attention

00:28:16.940 --> 00:28:18.779
 and so Lord

00:28:18.779 --> 00:28:19.240
 I pray that you

00:28:19.240 --> 00:28:19.759
 would help us

00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:20.400
 to live for those

00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:21.180
 words that Jesus

00:28:21.180 --> 00:28:21.680
 said

00:28:21.680 --> 00:28:23.400
 well done

00:28:23.400 --> 00:28:24.080
 good and faithful

00:28:24.080 --> 00:28:24.580
 servant

00:28:24.580 --> 00:28:26.420
 Father thank you

00:28:26.420 --> 00:28:27.340
 for your love for us

00:28:27.340 --> 00:28:28.799
 and we pray these

00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:30.000
 things in Jesus

00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:30.960
 worthy name

00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:32.120
 Amen