WEBVTT

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 Father God, we thank you for bringing us together.

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 We thank you for gifting us in different ways

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 and for the chance to serve one another when we gather like this.

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 Lord, I ask right now that you would speak, that it would be your words,

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 and that as we look at these passages in 1 Samuel,

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 that we would see you more clearly,

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 and the result would be we would love you rightly.

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 Amen.

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 Sometimes perception doesn't line up with reality.

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 And this can be sometimes in good ways and sometimes in bad ways.

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 It could be that you are driving and your perception is

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 that the gap is small enough for you to get through,

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 and reality may not be that.

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 It could be something more personal.

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 Your perception might be that you need to lose some weight

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 to be attractive to other people,

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 but the reality might be far from that.

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 Perception and reality don't always line up,

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 and that's a problem if it's true of how we see God.

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 If we are following a God who's more something that we've designed

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 in our own mind, a version of God, if you like,

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 than it is the God of the Bible,

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 then we set ourselves up for a fall.

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 In 1 Samuel, Israel has been told that judgment is coming

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 as we work through these first four chapters,

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 and we've seen the judgment in chapter 4 that we read last week

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 and in chapter 4.

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 They've been told God's not happy,

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 but if you get to just before the bit that Ali read out,

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 at the end of chapter 3,

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 even though they've been told judgment is coming,

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 from where they sit, their perspective is a little bit different.

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 Everything still seems to be going okay.

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 They're about to lose a significant battle,

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 but if you just, the day before the battle even,

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 they're living in the country they want to live in.

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 Hophni and Phinehas are eating well as priests.

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 They've got lots of girlfriends,

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 so they're happy with how things are going.

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 Everything seems fine,

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 and so they hear God, judgment's coming,

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 but their perspective is,

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 we don't actually believe you,

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 because life's good.

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 And so their perception and their reality don't line up.

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 Even though God's been revealing himself to Israel

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 right throughout their history,

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 instead of listening,

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 they've kind of modelled their own version of him.

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 They've come up with what they think he is like

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 and how they think he should act,

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 and what they've done

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 is they've made him accountable to them

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 instead of the other way around.

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 They've kind of set what they think should be his agenda,

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 and basically what they think God should do

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 is whatever they want and when they want it.

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 So if they want protection in a battle,

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 that's what God is required to do.

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 If they want food or riches,

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 that is what God is required to do.

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 And the result, of course,

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 of having that sort of a God

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 is they shout with confidence

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 when he enters the army's camp.

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 Even having lost battle,

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 they get very, very excited.

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 I remember when I was much younger,

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 and I really emphasise much younger

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 because this story's a little on the embarrassing side,

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 much younger,

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 I got invited to a formal with a girl that I kind of knew.

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 She was a fairly attractive girl,

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 but I didn't know her very well,

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 and so it struck me as a little bit strange

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 that she had invited me to her formal.

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 Now, the way my brain processed that was,

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 I must be a pretty attractive guy.

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 Attractive girl asked me to the formal,

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 I don't know her well,

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 so she doesn't know if I'm funny or interesting

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 or boring or arrogant, as the case was.

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 So, my conclusion was,

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 I must be attractive.

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 Now, what this did was

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 mean that I was very relaxed about the whole event.

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 I thought, she's so into me

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 that I don't have to put any effort into this formal,

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 I'll just rock up.

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 And so, the date of the formal came around,

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 and so to prepare myself,

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 aesthetically, I went for a surf.

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 And then I got out of the water

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 about 20 minutes before I had to be at her house,

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 went past a mate's place,

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 picked up a suit that sort of fit,

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 put a shirt on without a tie or a bow tie

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 or anything like that.

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 Didn't really feel like wearing leather shoes,

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 so I put my just skate shoes on,

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 on the bottom of the suit.

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 I thought, well, you know,

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 she's into me,

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 so it's not going to be an issue.

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 And I arrived at the front door of her house,

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 thinking she's just going to be so excited

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 that I'm here.

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 She's probably feeling really privileged,

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 she's probably been counting down the days,

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 she's probably got a calendar on a wall

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 with crosses through it.

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 And I walked in,

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 and she kind of looked at me,

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 didn't say anything,

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 and walked into the next room.

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 And I discovered that she had spent

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 three hours at the hairdresser,

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 had a headache because her hair

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 was a little bit too tight,

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 was looking amazing

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 in a fantastic formal dress

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 and other things.

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 And actually,

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 she wasn't that into me,

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 she just had a ticket,

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 and the guy she'd asked couldn't go,

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 and she thought,

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 why not ask Sam?

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 He seems nice enough.

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 The problem when we have a false perception

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 is that it leads to false confidence.

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 If we have an understanding

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 of something that is incorrect,

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 we can set ourselves up for a fall.

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 And in the same way,

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 Israel has this perception of God

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 that He needs them,

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 rather than the other way around.

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 They've kind of figured out

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 that God is somebody

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 who is as much dependent on them

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 as a country and on their army

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 as they are a nation

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 that's dependent on Him.

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 And so they set themselves up for a fall.

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 And what God does in this passage

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 is really important.

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 It's more than just judgment

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 on Hophni and Phinehas,

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 which we looked at a couple of weeks ago.

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 We see the true character of God

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 come out in these verses in chapter 4.

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 God would rather be shamed.

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 That's what's happening here.

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 Even though we know otherwise,

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 everybody who heard about this battle

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 would have assumed that God lost.

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 It's what the Philistines thought.

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 It's what the other nations around

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 would have thought.

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 God would rather be embarrassed

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 than confirm Israel

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 in their wrong perception of Him.

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 He could have won the battle

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 and everybody else would have

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 continued to think God was great,

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 but he was more interested

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 in correcting Israel's wrong perception

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 because God answers to no one.

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 He doesn't answer to Israel.

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 He doesn't answer to you.

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 He doesn't answer to me.

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 And He has His own agenda.

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 Just because we might think

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 we know what God wants

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 and we know when God's going to work

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 or how God's going to work,

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 He has His own agenda.

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 And it's been His agenda

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 since the beginning of creation

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 and it will be His agenda

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 until Jesus comes back.

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 It's this.

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 God wants to reveal His glory

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 and He wants to call people

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 into a relationship with Him.

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 A right relationship,

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 not a relationship

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 where we invent

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 what we think God is like,

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 a relationship where we know Him

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 and we worship Him

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 and we obey Him.

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 And if you're following

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 a version of God

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 that has more to do

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 with what you think

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 than it does to do

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 with what God

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 has shown Himself to be like,

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 then on one level

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 you're following a false God.

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 You could even say

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 you're not following any God at all.

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 And the problem with that is

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 a false God or a fake God

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 can't do anything for you.

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 There's this scary

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 but amazing passage

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 in the New Testament

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 where these people

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 are really confident

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 that they've been following God.

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 They talk about the miracles

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 they did in God's name.

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 They talk about

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 all the good deeds they did

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 and at the end of the passage

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 Jesus says,

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 get away from me,

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 I never knew you.

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 If you have a fake idea

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 of God

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 close enough

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 is not good enough.

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 There's great confidence

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 for those who know God

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 and His power in their life.

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 That's what we looked at last week.

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 At the confidence we have

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 with God's presence

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 and power working through us.

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 But there's only pain

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 and frustration

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 if instead of following

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 the God of Scripture

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 you're following some sort of God

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 that you have control over,

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 that you dictate to,

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 that you instruct.

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 We need to look to the reality

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 of who God is

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 as He has revealed Himself

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 not as we decide

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 or we make up.

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 The first danger

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 when perception and reality

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 are different

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 is that false perception

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 leads to false confidence

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 and false confidence

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 leads to disaster.

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 But the second danger

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 when we have perception

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 and reality

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 that don't line up

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 concerning God

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 is the issue

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 that the Philistines face

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 in chapter 5.

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 If your vision of God

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 is not the real vision of God,

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 is not true reality,

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 then you will end up

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 replacing God

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 with a cheap substitute.

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 The Philistines

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 had a vision of God

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 if you like,

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 a perception of Him

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 which assumed

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 that He had to defend Israel.

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 That was their understanding

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 of how God's work.

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 It's Israel's God

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 so He's bound,

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 He's like contractually obligated

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 to win the battle for them.

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 And so we know

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 they had a dodgy view of God

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 because just in the last chapter

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 they figured they could beat Him

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 just by manning up.

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 So granting them

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 a little bit of grace

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 that they're not very sharp,

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 they assumed

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 God's Israel

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 had to do certain things.

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 They had an idea

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 of how God's worked,

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 they had an idea

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 of how their God's worked

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 and so they projected that

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 onto the God of Israel

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 and so when they win,

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 for them

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 that confirms everything.

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 Suddenly the God of Israel

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 Israel is pretty weak

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 because he's being beaten

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 by their God.

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 That's their process

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 and so they bring

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 the ark

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 which represents God,

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 they stick it in their God

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 Dagon's temple

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 almost like a trophy

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 to show off

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 how much better

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 their God is.

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 Now the problem

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 with having wrong perceptions

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 of God

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 is that

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 when He doesn't live up

00:09:44.580 --> 00:09:45.760
 to those expectations

00:09:45.760 --> 00:09:46.620
 that we have

00:09:46.620 --> 00:09:48.360
 which are wrong expectations,

00:09:49.460 --> 00:09:50.620
 then we start looking

00:09:50.620 --> 00:09:51.680
 somewhere else.

00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:52.779
 for somebody

00:09:52.779 --> 00:09:53.779
 to meet those needs.

00:09:54.679 --> 00:09:56.559
 But we somehow feel

00:09:56.559 --> 00:09:57.639
 like we've been let down

00:09:57.639 --> 00:09:58.379
 so we start looking

00:09:58.379 --> 00:09:59.039
 for something

00:09:59.039 --> 00:09:59.939
 or someone else

00:09:59.939 --> 00:10:00.919
 that we can trust in

00:10:00.919 --> 00:10:02.479
 and in the end

00:10:02.479 --> 00:10:03.819
 we settle for something

00:10:03.819 --> 00:10:04.939
 less than God,

00:10:06.059 --> 00:10:07.739
 something less powerful

00:10:07.739 --> 00:10:08.359
 than God,

00:10:09.459 --> 00:10:11.059
 something that is actually

00:10:11.059 --> 00:10:12.639
 unable to help us.

00:10:14.199 --> 00:10:15.139
 Now on one level

00:10:15.139 --> 00:10:15.979
 I want to be sympathetic

00:10:15.979 --> 00:10:16.939
 to the Philistines

00:10:16.939 --> 00:10:17.719
 in this passage

00:10:17.720 --> 00:10:18.639
 because

00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:20.820
 our perceptions of God

00:10:20.820 --> 00:10:22.080
 are not very dissimilar

00:10:22.080 --> 00:10:22.600
 to theirs.

00:10:23.200 --> 00:10:24.399
 When we started this series

00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:25.120
 in 1 Samuel

00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:26.200
 looking at chapter 1

00:10:26.200 --> 00:10:27.820
 we asked the question

00:10:27.820 --> 00:10:29.320
 where is God

00:10:29.320 --> 00:10:30.340
 when things go wrong

00:10:30.340 --> 00:10:30.980
 in my life?

00:10:31.560 --> 00:10:32.820
 That was our starting point

00:10:32.820 --> 00:10:33.740
 as we got into this book

00:10:33.740 --> 00:10:35.259
 and it resonates for us

00:10:35.259 --> 00:10:35.840
 because we know

00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:36.639
 when things are bad

00:10:36.639 --> 00:10:38.000
 we want to shake our fist

00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:38.340
 at God

00:10:38.340 --> 00:10:39.200
 and say fix it.

00:10:39.680 --> 00:10:40.700
 Say this isn't fair.

00:10:40.820 --> 00:10:41.399
 If you're God

00:10:41.399 --> 00:10:41.879
 and you're good

00:10:41.879 --> 00:10:42.540
 and you're powerful

00:10:42.539 --> 00:10:43.699
 fix this.

00:10:44.500 --> 00:10:45.599
 When life is hard

00:10:45.599 --> 00:10:46.219
 we're tempted

00:10:46.219 --> 00:10:48.059
 to look for something else

00:10:48.059 --> 00:10:49.059
 to satisfy us.

00:10:49.679 --> 00:10:50.299
 We're tempted

00:10:50.299 --> 00:10:51.980
 to find identity

00:10:51.980 --> 00:10:52.699
 in the job

00:10:52.699 --> 00:10:53.379
 that we have.

00:10:54.299 --> 00:10:54.860
 We're tempted

00:10:54.860 --> 00:10:55.699
 to be fulfilled

00:10:55.699 --> 00:10:56.639
 in relationships

00:10:56.639 --> 00:10:58.439
 or in significance

00:10:58.439 --> 00:10:59.360
 or in money

00:10:59.360 --> 00:11:00.219
 or in power.

00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:02.839
 When things aren't

00:11:02.839 --> 00:11:03.439
 going well

00:11:03.439 --> 00:11:04.379
 we sometimes think

00:11:04.379 --> 00:11:04.919
 alright God

00:11:04.919 --> 00:11:05.459
 you failed

00:11:05.459 --> 00:11:06.719
 I'll find something else.

00:11:07.659 --> 00:11:08.539
 And that is exactly

00:11:08.539 --> 00:11:09.679
 what Israel does.

00:11:10.099 --> 00:11:11.019
 Things have gone wrong

00:11:11.019 --> 00:11:12.740
 and so the Philistines

00:11:12.740 --> 00:11:14.220
 assume Israel's God

00:11:14.220 --> 00:11:15.699
 must be even lower

00:11:15.699 --> 00:11:16.679
 than their God

00:11:16.679 --> 00:11:17.199
 Dagon.

00:11:17.819 --> 00:11:18.819
 But look at how

00:11:18.819 --> 00:11:19.579
 God responds

00:11:19.579 --> 00:11:20.240
 in verse 1.

00:11:21.179 --> 00:11:22.460
 After the Philistines

00:11:22.460 --> 00:11:22.960
 had captured

00:11:22.960 --> 00:11:23.779
 the Ark of God

00:11:23.779 --> 00:11:24.360
 they took it

00:11:24.360 --> 00:11:25.079
 from Ebenezer

00:11:25.079 --> 00:11:25.779
 to Ashdod.

00:11:25.960 --> 00:11:26.759
 Then they carried

00:11:26.759 --> 00:11:27.159
 the Ark

00:11:27.159 --> 00:11:28.240
 into Dagon's temple

00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:28.840
 and set it

00:11:28.840 --> 00:11:29.539
 beside Dagon.

00:11:30.059 --> 00:11:30.740
 When the people

00:11:30.740 --> 00:11:31.379
 of Ashdod

00:11:31.379 --> 00:11:32.059
 rose early

00:11:32.059 --> 00:11:32.759
 the next day

00:11:32.759 --> 00:11:33.639
 there was Dagon

00:11:33.639 --> 00:11:34.799
 fall on his face

00:11:34.799 --> 00:11:35.500
 on the ground

00:11:35.500 --> 00:11:36.340
 before the Ark

00:11:36.340 --> 00:11:36.899
 of the Lord.

00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:38.340
 They took Dagon

00:11:38.340 --> 00:11:39.159
 and put him back

00:11:39.159 --> 00:11:39.899
 in his place.

00:11:39.899 --> 00:11:41.379
 But the following

00:11:41.379 --> 00:11:42.059
 morning when they

00:11:42.059 --> 00:11:42.340
 rose

00:11:42.340 --> 00:11:43.120
 there was Dagon

00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:44.179
 fallen on his face

00:11:44.179 --> 00:11:44.779
 on the ground

00:11:44.779 --> 00:11:45.539
 before the Ark

00:11:45.539 --> 00:11:46.100
 of the Lord.

00:11:46.459 --> 00:11:47.559
 His head and hands

00:11:47.559 --> 00:11:48.539
 had been broken off

00:11:48.539 --> 00:11:49.179
 and were lying

00:11:49.179 --> 00:11:50.019
 on the threshold

00:11:50.019 --> 00:11:51.240
 only his body

00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:51.860
 remained.

00:11:52.360 --> 00:11:53.120
 That's why to this

00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:53.959
 day neither the

00:11:53.959 --> 00:11:54.679
 priests of Dagon

00:11:54.679 --> 00:11:55.519
 nor any others

00:11:55.519 --> 00:11:55.959
 who entered

00:11:55.959 --> 00:11:56.720
 Dagon's temple

00:11:56.720 --> 00:11:57.319
 at Ashdod

00:11:57.319 --> 00:11:58.860
 step on the threshold.

00:11:59.620 --> 00:12:00.480
 God's response

00:12:00.480 --> 00:12:01.799
 to being put on par

00:12:01.799 --> 00:12:02.699
 in fact being put

00:12:02.699 --> 00:12:04.240
 under this God

00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:04.659
 Dagon

00:12:04.659 --> 00:12:06.720
 is that the people

00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:07.679
 wake and find Dagon

00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:08.579
 flat on his face.

00:12:08.580 --> 00:12:10.220
 In fact

00:12:10.220 --> 00:12:11.220
 this powerful

00:12:11.220 --> 00:12:12.120
 victorious God

00:12:12.120 --> 00:12:12.440
 Dagon

00:12:12.440 --> 00:12:13.340
 needs his people

00:12:13.340 --> 00:12:14.400
 to lift him up

00:12:14.400 --> 00:12:15.200
 and put him back

00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:15.740
 where he's supposed

00:12:15.740 --> 00:12:16.160
 to be.

00:12:17.400 --> 00:12:18.160
 And just to make

00:12:18.160 --> 00:12:18.660
 sure that we're

00:12:18.660 --> 00:12:19.200
 really clear

00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:20.080
 the next day

00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:21.259
 he's not only

00:12:21.259 --> 00:12:22.080
 on his face

00:12:22.080 --> 00:12:22.500
 again

00:12:22.500 --> 00:12:23.600
 but he has no

00:12:23.600 --> 00:12:24.080
 hands

00:12:24.080 --> 00:12:24.840
 and no head.

00:12:26.280 --> 00:12:26.940
 God's making

00:12:26.940 --> 00:12:27.580
 an example

00:12:27.580 --> 00:12:28.520
 of this pathetic

00:12:28.520 --> 00:12:29.320
 other God

00:12:29.320 --> 00:12:30.560
 which literally

00:12:30.560 --> 00:12:31.639
 hours earlier

00:12:31.639 --> 00:12:32.879
 the Philistines

00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:33.300
 would have been

00:12:33.300 --> 00:12:33.980
 celebrating

00:12:33.980 --> 00:12:35.660
 confident in.

00:12:35.659 --> 00:12:38.240
 this Dagon

00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:38.679
 is now

00:12:38.679 --> 00:12:39.299
 headless

00:12:39.299 --> 00:12:40.439
 handless

00:12:40.439 --> 00:12:41.419
 and helpless.

00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:43.919
 He has no power.

00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:45.719
 He can't do

00:12:45.719 --> 00:12:46.179
 anything

00:12:46.179 --> 00:12:47.159
 he can't say

00:12:47.159 --> 00:12:47.639
 anything

00:12:47.639 --> 00:12:48.659
 and next to the

00:12:48.659 --> 00:12:49.319
 God of heaven

00:12:49.319 --> 00:12:50.100
 he's pathetic

00:12:50.100 --> 00:12:52.240
 he's just a statue.

00:12:53.299 --> 00:12:54.159
 The God of the Bible

00:12:54.159 --> 00:12:55.219
 is not like us

00:12:55.219 --> 00:12:56.419
 he doesn't think

00:12:56.419 --> 00:12:56.959
 like us

00:12:56.959 --> 00:12:57.719
 he's not accountable

00:12:57.719 --> 00:12:58.279
 to us

00:12:58.279 --> 00:12:59.339
 and he doesn't

00:12:59.339 --> 00:13:00.039
 always work

00:13:00.039 --> 00:13:00.539
 in the way

00:13:00.539 --> 00:13:00.939
 that we would

00:13:00.939 --> 00:13:01.740
 expect him to

00:13:01.740 --> 00:13:02.500
 but that doesn't

00:13:02.500 --> 00:13:03.220
 mean he stopped

00:13:03.220 --> 00:13:03.679
 working.

00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:05.019
 It doesn't

00:13:05.019 --> 00:13:05.419
 mean he has

00:13:05.419 --> 00:13:06.059
 lost power

00:13:06.059 --> 00:13:06.399
 it doesn't

00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:06.859
 mean he's

00:13:06.859 --> 00:13:07.279
 beaten

00:13:07.279 --> 00:13:08.299
 he doesn't

00:13:08.299 --> 00:13:09.179
 require an

00:13:09.179 --> 00:13:09.739
 army to

00:13:09.739 --> 00:13:10.359
 defend him

00:13:10.359 --> 00:13:12.159
 he doesn't

00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:12.719
 need to be

00:13:12.719 --> 00:13:13.239
 put back in

00:13:13.239 --> 00:13:13.779
 his place

00:13:13.779 --> 00:13:14.120
 when he

00:13:14.120 --> 00:13:14.719
 falls over

00:13:14.719 --> 00:13:15.939
 he doesn't

00:13:15.939 --> 00:13:16.259
 need his

00:13:16.259 --> 00:13:16.819
 people to

00:13:16.819 --> 00:13:17.219
 stroke his

00:13:17.219 --> 00:13:17.799
 ego so

00:13:17.799 --> 00:13:18.039
 that he

00:13:18.039 --> 00:13:18.419
 knows that

00:13:18.419 --> 00:13:18.620
 he's

00:13:18.620 --> 00:13:19.039
 loved

00:13:19.039 --> 00:13:21.719
 Israel's

00:13:21.719 --> 00:13:22.120
 God

00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:23.819
 our God

00:13:23.819 --> 00:13:25.459
 needs

00:13:25.459 --> 00:13:26.519
 nothing

00:13:26.519 --> 00:13:29.799
 even

00:13:29.799 --> 00:13:30.339
 without the

00:13:30.339 --> 00:13:30.899
 army he

00:13:30.899 --> 00:13:31.339
 is quite

00:13:31.339 --> 00:13:32.099
 capable of

00:13:32.099 --> 00:13:32.459
 defending

00:13:32.460 --> 00:13:32.980
 himself

00:13:32.980 --> 00:13:33.820
 look at

00:13:33.820 --> 00:13:34.379
 verse 6

00:13:34.379 --> 00:13:36.100
 the Lord's

00:13:36.100 --> 00:13:36.660
 hand was

00:13:36.660 --> 00:13:37.379
 heavy upon

00:13:37.379 --> 00:13:37.879
 the people

00:13:37.879 --> 00:13:38.440
 of Ashdod

00:13:38.440 --> 00:13:38.740
 and its

00:13:38.740 --> 00:13:39.139
 vicinity

00:13:39.139 --> 00:13:40.080
 he brought

00:13:40.080 --> 00:13:40.840
 devastation

00:13:40.840 --> 00:13:41.300
 upon them

00:13:41.300 --> 00:13:41.960
 and afflicted

00:13:41.960 --> 00:13:42.259
 them with

00:13:42.259 --> 00:13:42.639
 tumors

00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:43.780
 when the men

00:13:43.780 --> 00:13:44.360
 of Ashdod

00:13:44.360 --> 00:13:44.940
 saw what

00:13:44.940 --> 00:13:45.480
 was happening

00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:46.259
 they said

00:13:46.259 --> 00:13:47.139
 the ark

00:13:47.139 --> 00:13:47.460
 of the

00:13:47.460 --> 00:13:47.820
 God of

00:13:47.820 --> 00:13:48.100
 Israel

00:13:48.100 --> 00:13:48.840
 must not

00:13:48.840 --> 00:13:49.420
 stay here

00:13:49.420 --> 00:13:49.860
 with us

00:13:49.860 --> 00:13:50.240
 because

00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:51.600
 his hand

00:13:51.600 --> 00:13:52.660
 is heavy

00:13:52.660 --> 00:13:53.340
 upon us

00:13:53.340 --> 00:13:53.920
 and upon

00:13:53.920 --> 00:13:54.340
 Dagon

00:13:54.340 --> 00:13:55.040
 our God

00:13:55.040 --> 00:13:55.800
 so they

00:13:55.800 --> 00:13:56.480
 called together

00:13:56.480 --> 00:13:56.940
 all the

00:13:56.940 --> 00:13:57.400
 rulers of

00:13:57.400 --> 00:13:58.139
 the Philistines

00:13:58.139 --> 00:13:58.800
 and asked

00:13:58.800 --> 00:13:59.080
 them

00:13:59.080 --> 00:13:59.840
 what shall

00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:00.220
 we do

00:14:00.220 --> 00:14:00.540
 with the

00:14:00.540 --> 00:14:00.940
 ark of

00:14:00.940 --> 00:14:01.259
 the God

00:14:01.259 --> 00:14:01.800
 of Israel

00:14:01.799 --> 00:14:02.479
 and they

00:14:02.479 --> 00:14:02.839
 answered

00:14:02.839 --> 00:14:03.359
 have the

00:14:03.359 --> 00:14:03.779
 ark of

00:14:03.779 --> 00:14:04.139
 the God

00:14:04.139 --> 00:14:04.519
 of Israel

00:14:04.519 --> 00:14:05.059
 moved to

00:14:05.059 --> 00:14:05.339
 Gath

00:14:05.339 --> 00:14:06.000
 so they

00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:06.559
 moved the

00:14:06.559 --> 00:14:06.959
 ark of

00:14:06.959 --> 00:14:08.679
 the God

00:14:08.679 --> 00:14:09.740
 of Israel

00:14:09.740 --> 00:14:11.599
 now it

00:14:11.599 --> 00:14:12.419
 basically cycles

00:14:12.419 --> 00:14:12.699
 on

00:14:12.699 --> 00:14:13.359
 issues

00:14:13.359 --> 00:14:13.939
 bump it

00:14:13.939 --> 00:14:14.159
 to the

00:14:14.159 --> 00:14:14.699
 next town

00:14:14.699 --> 00:14:15.399
 more issues

00:14:15.399 --> 00:14:16.059
 bump it

00:14:16.059 --> 00:14:16.299
 to the

00:14:16.299 --> 00:14:16.819
 next town

00:14:16.819 --> 00:14:17.079
 but I

00:14:17.079 --> 00:14:17.299
 want to

00:14:17.299 --> 00:14:17.539
 show you

00:14:17.539 --> 00:14:17.799
 a couple

00:14:17.799 --> 00:14:18.099
 of things

00:14:18.099 --> 00:14:18.379
 really

00:14:18.379 --> 00:14:18.939
 importantly

00:14:18.939 --> 00:14:20.000
 Dagon

00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:20.779
 had no

00:14:20.779 --> 00:14:21.099
 head

00:14:21.099 --> 00:14:21.459
 and no

00:14:21.459 --> 00:14:21.959
 hands

00:14:21.959 --> 00:14:24.079
 and straight

00:14:24.079 --> 00:14:24.500
 away we

00:14:24.500 --> 00:14:24.919
 hear about

00:14:24.919 --> 00:14:25.399
 a God

00:14:25.399 --> 00:14:26.079
 who does

00:14:26.079 --> 00:14:26.379
 have the

00:14:26.379 --> 00:14:26.799
 power to

00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:27.179
 act

00:14:27.179 --> 00:14:27.819
 did you

00:14:27.819 --> 00:14:28.059
 notice

00:14:28.059 --> 00:14:28.379
 that

00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:29.879
 Dagon

00:14:29.879 --> 00:14:30.340
 has his

00:14:30.340 --> 00:14:30.539
 head

00:14:30.539 --> 00:14:30.939
 and hands

00:14:30.939 --> 00:14:31.279
 removed

00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:31.639
 and in

00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:32.139
 verse 6

00:14:32.139 --> 00:14:32.779
 the first

00:14:32.779 --> 00:14:33.299
 thing we

00:14:33.299 --> 00:14:33.720
 hear is

00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:33.980
 that the

00:14:33.980 --> 00:14:34.439
 Lord's

00:14:34.439 --> 00:14:35.279
 hand

00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:36.539
 is heavy

00:14:36.539 --> 00:14:37.100
 upon the

00:14:37.100 --> 00:14:37.460
 people

00:14:37.460 --> 00:14:38.460
 of Ashdod

00:14:38.460 --> 00:14:40.080
 the writer

00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:40.600
 sets this

00:14:40.600 --> 00:14:40.939
 up on

00:14:40.939 --> 00:14:41.240
 purpose

00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:41.679
 in one

00:14:41.679 --> 00:14:42.139
 corner we've

00:14:42.139 --> 00:14:42.840
 got headless

00:14:42.840 --> 00:14:43.460
 handless

00:14:43.460 --> 00:14:43.860
 Dagon

00:14:43.860 --> 00:14:44.779
 the cheap

00:14:44.779 --> 00:14:45.299
 substitute

00:14:45.299 --> 00:14:45.779
 God

00:14:45.779 --> 00:14:46.720
 and then on the

00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:47.399
 other side we have

00:14:47.399 --> 00:14:47.939
 Yahweh

00:14:47.939 --> 00:14:48.799
 Israel's God

00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:49.600
 whose hand

00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:50.639
 is active

00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:51.439
 and heavy

00:14:51.439 --> 00:14:52.259
 and powerful

00:14:52.259 --> 00:14:52.820
 in judgment

00:14:52.820 --> 00:14:53.179
 on the

00:14:53.179 --> 00:14:53.840
 Philistines

00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:55.300
 the Philistines

00:14:55.300 --> 00:14:55.580
 are even

00:14:55.580 --> 00:14:56.200
 worried for

00:14:56.200 --> 00:14:56.560
 Dagon

00:14:56.560 --> 00:14:56.860
 now

00:14:56.860 --> 00:14:57.480
 quick send

00:14:57.480 --> 00:14:58.040
 God away

00:14:58.040 --> 00:14:58.820
 because Dagon

00:14:58.820 --> 00:14:59.560
 is struggling

00:14:59.560 --> 00:15:00.379
 while this

00:15:00.379 --> 00:15:00.840
 God is

00:15:00.840 --> 00:15:01.220
 around

00:15:01.220 --> 00:15:02.620
 God wins

00:15:02.620 --> 00:15:03.019
 the victory

00:15:03.019 --> 00:15:03.580
 that Israel

00:15:03.580 --> 00:15:04.019
 can't

00:15:04.019 --> 00:15:04.360
 he's not

00:15:04.360 --> 00:15:04.700
 just a

00:15:04.700 --> 00:15:05.060
 passive

00:15:05.060 --> 00:15:05.800
 bystander

00:15:05.800 --> 00:15:06.120
 while all

00:15:06.120 --> 00:15:06.420
 this is

00:15:06.420 --> 00:15:07.019
 going on

00:15:07.019 --> 00:15:08.399
 he used

00:15:08.399 --> 00:15:09.180
 the Philistines

00:15:09.180 --> 00:15:09.560
 to bring

00:15:09.560 --> 00:15:09.960
 judgment

00:15:09.960 --> 00:15:10.759
 on Israel

00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:12.139
 but now

00:15:12.139 --> 00:15:13.580
 he's showing

00:15:13.580 --> 00:15:14.280
 the Philistines

00:15:14.280 --> 00:15:14.879
 what true

00:15:14.879 --> 00:15:15.899
 reality is

00:15:15.899 --> 00:15:17.139
 just as he

00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:17.500
 would not

00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:17.980
 give in

00:15:17.980 --> 00:15:18.720
 to Israel's

00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:18.960
 false

00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:19.420
 perception

00:15:19.420 --> 00:15:20.540
 he will

00:15:20.540 --> 00:15:21.100
 not allow

00:15:21.100 --> 00:15:21.900
 the Philistines

00:15:21.900 --> 00:15:22.700
 to assume

00:15:22.700 --> 00:15:23.400
 that they

00:15:23.400 --> 00:15:23.720
 are more

00:15:23.720 --> 00:15:24.060
 powerful

00:15:24.060 --> 00:15:24.480
 than he

00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:24.820
 is

00:15:24.820 --> 00:15:25.860
 he will

00:15:25.860 --> 00:15:26.420
 not let

00:15:26.420 --> 00:15:26.980
 them think

00:15:26.980 --> 00:15:27.600
 that Dagon

00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:28.740
 is some

00:15:28.740 --> 00:15:29.340
 great and

00:15:29.340 --> 00:15:30.120
 mighty God

00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:31.620
 and so

00:15:31.620 --> 00:15:32.480
 true reality

00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:33.240
 in the words

00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:33.600
 of Hannah

00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:34.080
 from chapter

00:15:34.080 --> 00:15:34.460
 2

00:15:34.460 --> 00:15:35.820
 there is no

00:15:35.820 --> 00:15:36.860
 one holy

00:15:36.860 --> 00:15:37.720
 like the

00:15:37.720 --> 00:15:37.980
 Lord

00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:40.019
 there is no

00:15:40.019 --> 00:15:40.960
 one like

00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:41.540
 our God

00:15:41.540 --> 00:15:42.360
 all creation

00:15:42.360 --> 00:15:42.980
 is his

00:15:42.980 --> 00:15:44.220
 all creation

00:15:44.220 --> 00:15:44.920
 answers to

00:15:44.920 --> 00:15:45.460
 him and

00:15:45.460 --> 00:15:46.279
 not by

00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:46.840
 strength

00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:48.200
 will one

00:15:48.200 --> 00:15:48.639
 prevail

00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:50.600
 when our

00:15:50.600 --> 00:15:51.360
 perception of

00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:52.019
 God doesn't

00:15:52.019 --> 00:15:52.700
 line up with

00:15:52.700 --> 00:15:53.279
 reality

00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:54.419
 it's easy

00:15:54.419 --> 00:15:54.839
 to settle

00:15:54.839 --> 00:15:55.179
 for a

00:15:55.179 --> 00:15:55.360
 cheap

00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:55.860
 substitute

00:15:55.860 --> 00:15:57.220
 when we

00:15:57.220 --> 00:15:57.799
 put wrong

00:15:57.799 --> 00:15:58.579
 expectations

00:15:58.579 --> 00:15:59.159
 on God

00:15:59.159 --> 00:15:59.439
 and then

00:15:59.439 --> 00:15:59.799
 feel like

00:15:59.799 --> 00:16:00.120
 he's let

00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:00.559
 us down

00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:01.799
 we are

00:16:01.799 --> 00:16:02.360
 tempted to

00:16:02.360 --> 00:16:02.779
 look for

00:16:02.779 --> 00:16:03.220
 other

00:16:03.220 --> 00:16:04.959
 substitutes

00:16:04.959 --> 00:16:07.039
 but unfortunately

00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:07.899
 wherever we

00:16:07.899 --> 00:16:08.559
 look we get

00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:09.100
 disappointed

00:16:09.100 --> 00:16:10.939
 because all we

00:16:10.939 --> 00:16:11.439
 find are

00:16:11.439 --> 00:16:11.939
 headless

00:16:11.939 --> 00:16:12.839
 handless

00:16:12.839 --> 00:16:13.519
 helpless

00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:14.620
 powerless

00:16:14.620 --> 00:16:16.299
 cheap

00:16:16.299 --> 00:16:16.980
 imitations

00:16:16.980 --> 00:16:19.340
 if our

00:16:19.340 --> 00:16:20.019
 perception of

00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:20.519
 God is

00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:20.879
 wrong

00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:21.580
 then like

00:16:21.580 --> 00:16:21.960
 Israel

00:16:21.960 --> 00:16:22.440
 it starts

00:16:22.440 --> 00:16:22.960
 to damage

00:16:22.960 --> 00:16:23.299
 the way

00:16:23.299 --> 00:16:23.879
 we interact

00:16:23.879 --> 00:16:24.320
 with him

00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:25.340
 the relationship

00:16:25.340 --> 00:16:26.159
 gets distorted

00:16:26.159 --> 00:16:26.840
 if God is

00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:27.320
 somebody who

00:16:27.320 --> 00:16:27.840
 needs my

00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:28.200
 help

00:16:28.200 --> 00:16:29.480
 then serving

00:16:29.480 --> 00:16:29.940
 him as

00:16:29.940 --> 00:16:30.620
 part of a

00:16:30.620 --> 00:16:31.100
 ministry or

00:16:31.100 --> 00:16:31.679
 church in

00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:32.100
 my life

00:16:32.100 --> 00:16:32.779
 obeying him

00:16:32.779 --> 00:16:33.460
 becomes something

00:16:33.460 --> 00:16:34.019
 that I do

00:16:34.019 --> 00:16:34.700
 for his

00:16:34.700 --> 00:16:35.100
 benefit

00:16:35.100 --> 00:16:36.060
 as a

00:16:36.060 --> 00:16:36.560
 favour to

00:16:36.560 --> 00:16:37.100
 him because

00:16:37.100 --> 00:16:37.759
 I'm just

00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:38.120
 that kind

00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:38.680
 of person

00:16:38.679 --> 00:16:40.659
 if God

00:16:40.659 --> 00:16:41.079
 is someone

00:16:41.079 --> 00:16:41.799
 who needs

00:16:41.799 --> 00:16:42.419
 my help

00:16:42.419 --> 00:16:43.120
 then instead

00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:43.679
 of trusting

00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:44.179
 him with

00:16:44.179 --> 00:16:44.699
 my life

00:16:44.699 --> 00:16:45.399
 I'll look

00:16:45.399 --> 00:16:46.019
 after me

00:16:46.019 --> 00:16:46.519
 and then

00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:47.059
 once that's

00:16:47.059 --> 00:16:47.559
 done I'll

00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:47.939
 see what

00:16:47.939 --> 00:16:48.620
 God needs

00:16:48.620 --> 00:16:51.339
 but the

00:16:51.339 --> 00:16:51.959
 reality of

00:16:51.959 --> 00:16:52.439
 God is

00:16:52.439 --> 00:16:53.039
 shown here

00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:53.500
 again in

00:16:53.500 --> 00:16:54.159
 this passage

00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:55.279
 it's shown

00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:55.939
 over and

00:16:55.939 --> 00:16:56.500
 over through

00:16:56.500 --> 00:16:57.079
 all of

00:16:57.079 --> 00:16:57.459
 scriptures

00:16:57.459 --> 00:16:57.959
 and throughout

00:16:57.959 --> 00:16:58.819
 human history

00:16:58.819 --> 00:16:59.899
 God is in

00:16:59.899 --> 00:17:00.359
 control

00:17:00.359 --> 00:17:02.079
 God is

00:17:02.079 --> 00:17:02.519
 sovereign

00:17:02.519 --> 00:17:02.959
 he is

00:17:02.959 --> 00:17:03.779
 all powerful

00:17:03.779 --> 00:17:04.779
 all knowing

00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:05.440
 his love

00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:06.059
 is beyond

00:17:06.059 --> 00:17:06.480
 measure

00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:07.059
 and he is

00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:07.500
 good

00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:09.619
 and anything

00:17:09.619 --> 00:17:10.859
 that I offer

00:17:10.859 --> 00:17:11.380
 to God

00:17:11.380 --> 00:17:12.619
 any service

00:17:12.619 --> 00:17:13.539
 any obedience

00:17:13.539 --> 00:17:16.519
 is for my

00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:16.819
 sake

00:17:16.819 --> 00:17:18.079
 not for him

00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:20.480
 anything that

00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:21.079
 I do for

00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:21.700
 God is a

00:17:21.700 --> 00:17:22.460
 gift from

00:17:22.460 --> 00:17:23.359
 him for

00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:23.660
 me

00:17:23.660 --> 00:17:25.559
 the opportunity

00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:26.259
 to obey

00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:26.559
 him

00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:27.339
 the opportunity

00:17:27.339 --> 00:17:27.920
 to know

00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:28.119
 him

00:17:28.119 --> 00:17:28.640
 the opportunity

00:17:28.640 --> 00:17:29.220
 to serve

00:17:29.220 --> 00:17:29.380
 him

00:17:29.380 --> 00:17:29.839
 the opportunity

00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:30.339
 to give

00:17:30.339 --> 00:17:31.119
 finances

00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:32.500
 all of it

00:17:32.500 --> 00:17:33.799
 is a gift

00:17:33.799 --> 00:17:35.079
 from God

00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:36.160
 for me

00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:37.580
 because our

00:17:37.580 --> 00:17:38.620
 God needs

00:17:38.620 --> 00:17:39.420
 nothing

00:17:39.420 --> 00:17:41.800
 all creation

00:17:41.800 --> 00:17:42.279
 is his

00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:42.700
 already

00:17:42.700 --> 00:17:43.920
 all creation

00:17:43.920 --> 00:17:44.400
 will answer

00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:44.759
 to him

00:17:44.759 --> 00:17:45.279
 ultimately

00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:47.259
 and so we

00:17:47.259 --> 00:17:47.860
 must not

00:17:47.860 --> 00:17:48.440
 let our

00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:49.060
 perceptions

00:17:49.060 --> 00:17:50.140
 block our

00:17:50.140 --> 00:17:50.820
 view of the

00:17:50.820 --> 00:17:51.540
 reality of

00:17:51.540 --> 00:17:51.880
 God

00:17:51.880 --> 00:17:53.340
 when we see

00:17:53.340 --> 00:17:53.700
 who he

00:17:53.700 --> 00:17:54.420
 really is

00:17:54.420 --> 00:17:54.980
 we get

00:17:54.980 --> 00:17:55.680
 released from

00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:56.400
 these delusions

00:17:56.400 --> 00:17:56.980
 of self

00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:57.480
 importance

00:17:57.480 --> 00:17:59.540
 and instead

00:17:59.540 --> 00:18:00.300
 we can replace

00:18:00.300 --> 00:18:00.940
 that with the

00:18:00.940 --> 00:18:01.980
 joy of security

00:18:01.980 --> 00:18:03.080
 in a God

00:18:03.080 --> 00:18:03.680
 who is good

00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:04.920
 and a God

00:18:04.920 --> 00:18:05.299
 who is in

00:18:05.299 --> 00:18:05.779
 control

00:18:05.779 --> 00:18:08.440
 when perception

00:18:08.440 --> 00:18:08.960
 and reality

00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:09.680
 don't line up

00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:10.120
 we get into

00:18:10.120 --> 00:18:10.519
 trouble

00:18:10.519 --> 00:18:12.759
 but that begs

00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:13.240
 the question

00:18:13.240 --> 00:18:14.420
 how do we

00:18:14.420 --> 00:18:14.840
 focus on

00:18:14.840 --> 00:18:15.299
 reality

00:18:15.299 --> 00:18:16.740
 how do we

00:18:16.740 --> 00:18:17.279
 avoid the

00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:17.740
 perceptions

00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:18.700
 which our

00:18:18.700 --> 00:18:19.360
 society is

00:18:19.360 --> 00:18:20.100
 filled with

00:18:20.100 --> 00:18:21.500
 well let me

00:18:21.500 --> 00:18:22.019
 suggest two

00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:22.420
 things

00:18:22.420 --> 00:18:23.840
 I'm sure that

00:18:23.840 --> 00:18:24.299
 many of you

00:18:24.299 --> 00:18:24.840
 are familiar

00:18:24.840 --> 00:18:25.259
 with the

00:18:25.259 --> 00:18:26.299
 story of

00:18:26.299 --> 00:18:26.660
 Troy

00:18:26.660 --> 00:18:27.740
 whether you're

00:18:27.740 --> 00:18:28.299
 familiar with

00:18:28.299 --> 00:18:29.140
 the mythology

00:18:29.140 --> 00:18:29.940
 version or the

00:18:29.940 --> 00:18:30.660
 Brad Pitt version

00:18:30.660 --> 00:18:31.140
 doesn't really

00:18:31.140 --> 00:18:31.400
 matter

00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:33.240
 the point

00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:33.920
 of it is

00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:35.340
 that the

00:18:35.340 --> 00:18:36.060
 Greeks are at

00:18:36.060 --> 00:18:36.780
 war with the

00:18:36.780 --> 00:18:37.560
 Trojans

00:18:37.560 --> 00:18:38.800
 and the

00:18:38.800 --> 00:18:39.300
 battle's been

00:18:39.300 --> 00:18:40.040
 raging and

00:18:40.040 --> 00:18:41.060
 raging and so

00:18:41.060 --> 00:18:41.519
 the Greeks

00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:42.120
 come up with a

00:18:42.120 --> 00:18:42.460
 plan

00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:43.960
 let's pretend

00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:44.540
 that we've

00:18:44.540 --> 00:18:44.880
 left

00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:46.480
 let's leave

00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:47.140
 this statue

00:18:47.140 --> 00:18:47.800
 of a horse

00:18:47.800 --> 00:18:48.460
 as like an

00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:48.900
 offering

00:18:48.900 --> 00:18:50.200
 and they

00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:51.100
 stick some

00:18:51.100 --> 00:18:52.000
 soldiers hiding

00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:52.620
 inside it

00:18:52.620 --> 00:18:52.920
 and the

00:18:52.920 --> 00:18:53.500
 Trojans come

00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:53.960
 down to the

00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:54.360
 beach the

00:18:54.360 --> 00:18:54.860
 next morning

00:18:54.860 --> 00:18:55.240
 and think

00:18:55.240 --> 00:18:56.019
 we've won

00:18:56.019 --> 00:18:56.820
 we're fantastic

00:18:56.820 --> 00:18:57.500
 let's take

00:18:57.500 --> 00:18:58.780
 this statue

00:18:58.780 --> 00:18:59.700
 up inside

00:18:59.700 --> 00:19:00.180
 our city

00:19:00.180 --> 00:19:00.640
 walls

00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:01.940
 and celebrate

00:19:01.940 --> 00:19:02.500
 this victory

00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:02.840
 that we've

00:19:02.840 --> 00:19:03.080
 had

00:19:03.080 --> 00:19:04.460
 and sure

00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:04.980
 enough that

00:19:04.980 --> 00:19:05.520
 night the

00:19:05.520 --> 00:19:06.220
 soldiers sneak

00:19:06.220 --> 00:19:06.940
 out open the

00:19:06.940 --> 00:19:07.420
 gates and the

00:19:07.420 --> 00:19:08.000
 entire Greek

00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:08.720
 army descends

00:19:08.720 --> 00:19:09.840
 on Troy and

00:19:09.840 --> 00:19:10.740
 destroys it

00:19:10.740 --> 00:19:13.020
 two things when

00:19:13.020 --> 00:19:13.580
 it comes to

00:19:13.580 --> 00:19:14.120
 focusing on

00:19:14.120 --> 00:19:15.580
 reality beware

00:19:15.580 --> 00:19:17.040
 false victory

00:19:17.040 --> 00:19:19.220
 just like the

00:19:19.220 --> 00:19:20.220
 Trojan Israelites

00:19:20.220 --> 00:19:21.200
 marched off into

00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:21.960
 battle in chapter

00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:23.280
 four assuming

00:19:23.280 --> 00:19:24.580
 that victory was

00:19:24.580 --> 00:19:24.880
 good

00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:26.680
 assuming that

00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:27.180
 victory was

00:19:27.180 --> 00:19:27.980
 guaranteed because

00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:28.500
 up to this

00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:29.800
 point life was

00:19:29.800 --> 00:19:30.420
 going fine

00:19:30.420 --> 00:19:32.039
 up to this

00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:32.519
 point nothing

00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:33.080
 bad had

00:19:33.080 --> 00:19:33.660
 happened and

00:19:33.660 --> 00:19:34.019
 so they

00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:34.779
 assumed that

00:19:34.779 --> 00:19:35.800
 meant God

00:19:35.800 --> 00:19:36.660
 endorsed the

00:19:36.660 --> 00:19:37.060
 way they were

00:19:37.060 --> 00:19:38.180
 living they

00:19:38.180 --> 00:19:38.680
 assumed that

00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:39.200
 meant everything

00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:40.019
 was fine it's

00:19:40.019 --> 00:19:40.480
 the same with

00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:41.160
 the Philistines

00:19:41.160 --> 00:19:42.060
 they win a

00:19:42.060 --> 00:19:42.740
 battle against

00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:43.580
 Israel and

00:19:43.580 --> 00:19:44.200
 they assume

00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:44.920
 that means

00:19:44.920 --> 00:19:45.759
 Dagon is

00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:46.720
 equally powerful

00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:47.720
 with Israel's

00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:49.160
 God but

00:19:49.160 --> 00:19:50.800
 both times the

00:19:50.800 --> 00:19:51.620
 victories proved

00:19:51.620 --> 00:19:52.360
 to be false

00:19:52.360 --> 00:19:53.460
 proved to be

00:19:53.460 --> 00:19:54.060
 short-lived

00:19:54.060 --> 00:19:55.940
 Israel's confidence

00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:57.240
 is defeated by

00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:58.060
 the Philistines

00:19:58.059 --> 00:19:59.559
 and in turn the

00:19:59.559 --> 00:20:00.759
 Philistines are

00:20:00.759 --> 00:20:01.579
 afflicted by

00:20:01.579 --> 00:20:01.960
 God

00:20:01.960 --> 00:20:04.440
 beware false

00:20:04.440 --> 00:20:05.079
 victories

00:20:05.079 --> 00:20:07.259
 so often in our

00:20:07.259 --> 00:20:08.319
 lives and in the

00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:08.799
 lives of those

00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:09.899
 around us we

00:20:09.899 --> 00:20:10.559
 let our

00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:11.399
 situation and

00:20:11.399 --> 00:20:12.319
 our circumstance

00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:14.159
 dictate our

00:20:14.159 --> 00:20:14.779
 perception of

00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:15.059
 God

00:20:15.059 --> 00:20:17.519
 so if life is

00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:18.659
 good that means

00:20:18.659 --> 00:20:19.299
 God's good

00:20:19.299 --> 00:20:20.579
 that means God's

00:20:20.579 --> 00:20:21.299
 happy with me

00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:22.679
 if life's bad

00:20:22.679 --> 00:20:23.299
 either God's

00:20:23.299 --> 00:20:24.259
 powerless to fix

00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:25.599
 it or he's not

00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:26.199
 good or he

00:20:26.199 --> 00:20:26.919
 doesn't care

00:20:26.919 --> 00:20:28.519
 and so our

00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:30.079
 situation dictates

00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:30.779
 what we think

00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:31.519
 God is like

00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:32.419
 but learn the

00:20:32.419 --> 00:20:32.919
 lesson from

00:20:32.919 --> 00:20:34.359
 Israel beware of

00:20:34.359 --> 00:20:35.539
 false victories

00:20:35.539 --> 00:20:37.559
 don't let the

00:20:37.559 --> 00:20:38.579
 situation dictate

00:20:38.579 --> 00:20:39.299
 your circumstance

00:20:39.299 --> 00:20:40.059
 there is another

00:20:40.059 --> 00:20:41.480
 parable that Jesus

00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:42.559
 tells in Luke 16

00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:43.539
 about a rich man

00:20:43.539 --> 00:20:44.119
 and a beggar

00:20:44.119 --> 00:20:45.740
 the rich man is

00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:47.000
 wealthy and the

00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:47.819
 story describes him

00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:48.519
 as being someone who

00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:50.139
 enjoys fine foods

00:20:50.139 --> 00:20:51.199
 and fine things in

00:20:51.199 --> 00:20:52.119
 all of his life

00:20:52.119 --> 00:20:53.639
 and Lazarus is a

00:20:53.639 --> 00:20:54.339
 beggar who sits

00:20:54.339 --> 00:20:55.199
 outside this rich

00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:55.940
 man's house

00:20:55.940 --> 00:20:57.200
 begging for

00:20:57.200 --> 00:20:58.039
 anything even the

00:20:58.039 --> 00:20:58.759
 scraps from this

00:20:58.759 --> 00:20:59.620
 rich man's table

00:20:59.620 --> 00:21:00.640
 and to look at the

00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:01.220
 two it would be

00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:02.660
 easy to guess that

00:21:02.660 --> 00:21:03.799
 maybe God is happier

00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:05.160
 with the rich man

00:21:05.160 --> 00:21:06.120
 than he is with

00:21:06.120 --> 00:21:06.700
 this beggar

00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:08.000
 even the dogs

00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:09.000
 lick the sores of

00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:09.640
 Lazarus

00:21:09.640 --> 00:21:11.640
 and then it fast

00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:12.340
 forwards to the

00:21:12.340 --> 00:21:12.700
 end

00:21:12.700 --> 00:21:14.840
 Lazarus sits in

00:21:14.840 --> 00:21:15.640
 heaven with God

00:21:15.640 --> 00:21:16.840
 and the rich man

00:21:16.840 --> 00:21:17.440
 is in hell

00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:18.920
 begging for

00:21:18.920 --> 00:21:19.380
 relief

00:21:19.380 --> 00:21:22.480
 God is good

00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:24.160
 God is powerful

00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:25.519
 and he is

00:21:25.519 --> 00:21:26.440
 fulfilling his

00:21:26.440 --> 00:21:28.040
 plan whether it

00:21:28.040 --> 00:21:28.820
 looks like that to

00:21:28.820 --> 00:21:29.800
 us or not

00:21:29.800 --> 00:21:31.800
 his will of

00:21:31.800 --> 00:21:32.720
 revealing himself

00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:33.740
 and calling people

00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:34.680
 into a relationship

00:21:34.680 --> 00:21:35.480
 with himself

00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:38.060
 will not fail

00:21:38.060 --> 00:21:40.240
 no matter how

00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:40.759
 it looks

00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:42.580
 we must be

00:21:42.580 --> 00:21:43.019
 careful

00:21:43.019 --> 00:21:44.800
 not to be

00:21:44.800 --> 00:21:45.519
 convinced by

00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:46.740
 false victory

00:21:46.740 --> 00:21:49.240
 even as Israel

00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:50.220
 fails to be the

00:21:50.220 --> 00:21:50.880
 instrument that

00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:52.400
 reveals God to

00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:53.299
 the nations around

00:21:53.299 --> 00:21:54.640
 he is still

00:21:54.640 --> 00:21:55.099
 revealed

00:21:55.099 --> 00:21:56.940
 we finished last

00:21:56.940 --> 00:21:57.759
 week with a sad

00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:58.759
 conclusion from the

00:21:58.759 --> 00:21:59.620
 woman giving birth

00:21:59.620 --> 00:22:00.900
 that the glory has

00:22:00.900 --> 00:22:01.880
 departed Israel

00:22:01.880 --> 00:22:03.120
 just a couple of

00:22:03.120 --> 00:22:03.880
 verses later we

00:22:03.880 --> 00:22:05.519
 find that glory being

00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:06.339
 revealed in the

00:22:06.339 --> 00:22:07.220
 temple at Ashdod

00:22:07.220 --> 00:22:09.099
 God reveals that he

00:22:09.099 --> 00:22:10.519
 is still in control

00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:11.940
 he is still more

00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:12.620
 powerful than

00:22:12.620 --> 00:22:13.859
 whatever else anyone

00:22:13.859 --> 00:22:14.859
 may put their trust

00:22:14.859 --> 00:22:16.919
 in regardless of

00:22:16.919 --> 00:22:17.699
 how it might look

00:22:17.699 --> 00:22:19.059
 God is fulfilling

00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:20.299
 his plan and

00:22:20.299 --> 00:22:22.359
 purpose and even

00:22:22.359 --> 00:22:23.859
 in our world which

00:22:23.859 --> 00:22:24.839
 denies that God is

00:22:24.839 --> 00:22:26.259
 even there God

00:22:26.259 --> 00:22:27.099
 will have his way

00:22:27.099 --> 00:22:29.219
 even in a world

00:22:29.219 --> 00:22:30.339
 full of wrong

00:22:30.339 --> 00:22:31.279
 perceptions about

00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:33.659
 God eventually all

00:22:33.659 --> 00:22:35.699
 will see him all

00:22:35.699 --> 00:22:37.019
 will recognize him

00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:38.259
 all will bow before

00:22:38.259 --> 00:22:39.779
 his majesty and

00:22:39.779 --> 00:22:40.379
 his holiness

00:22:40.380 --> 00:22:42.680
 how do we focus on

00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:44.480
 reality we beware of

00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:45.320
 false victories

00:22:45.320 --> 00:22:48.760
 and secondly we look

00:22:48.760 --> 00:22:49.580
 to the place where

00:22:49.580 --> 00:22:50.340
 God has revealed

00:22:50.340 --> 00:22:53.000
 himself we look to

00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:55.360
 Jesus in Hebrews

00:22:55.360 --> 00:22:56.720
 chapter 1 says that

00:22:56.720 --> 00:22:57.680
 in the past God

00:22:57.680 --> 00:22:58.260
 spoke to our

00:22:58.260 --> 00:22:59.140
 ancestors through the

00:22:59.140 --> 00:22:59.940
 prophets at many

00:22:59.940 --> 00:23:01.000
 times and in various

00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:02.060
 ways but in these

00:23:02.060 --> 00:23:03.280
 last days he's spoken

00:23:03.280 --> 00:23:04.500
 to us by his son

00:23:04.500 --> 00:23:05.700
 whom he appointed

00:23:05.700 --> 00:23:06.680
 heir of all things

00:23:06.680 --> 00:23:07.640
 and through whom he

00:23:07.640 --> 00:23:08.480
 made the universe

00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:09.900
 the sun is the

00:23:09.900 --> 00:23:11.019
 radiance of God's

00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:12.799
 glory and the exact

00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:14.640
 representation of his

00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:15.039
 being

00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:16.299
 Colossians 1

00:23:16.299 --> 00:23:17.620
 the sun is the

00:23:17.620 --> 00:23:18.819
 image of the

00:23:18.819 --> 00:23:19.779
 invisible God

00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:20.819
 John 1

00:23:20.819 --> 00:23:21.860
 no one has ever

00:23:21.860 --> 00:23:23.079
 seen God but the

00:23:23.079 --> 00:23:24.360
 one and only son who

00:23:24.360 --> 00:23:26.019
 is himself God and

00:23:26.019 --> 00:23:26.680
 is in closest

00:23:26.680 --> 00:23:27.779
 relationship with the

00:23:27.779 --> 00:23:28.839
 father has made him

00:23:28.839 --> 00:23:29.160
 known

00:23:29.160 --> 00:23:31.920
 in Jesus you see God

00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:33.180
 shining brightest

00:23:33.180 --> 00:23:35.039
 if you want to see

00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:36.079
 the reality of God

00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:37.099
 there is only one

00:23:37.099 --> 00:23:37.900
 place to look and

00:23:37.900 --> 00:23:38.560
 that is where God

00:23:38.560 --> 00:23:39.580
 has shown himself

00:23:39.580 --> 00:23:40.720
 and that is in

00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:42.660
 Jesus his power

00:23:42.660 --> 00:23:43.860
 his love his

00:23:43.860 --> 00:23:44.860
 righteous judgment

00:23:44.860 --> 00:23:45.920
 his patience with

00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:47.160
 sinful people his

00:23:47.160 --> 00:23:48.000
 provision his

00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:49.560
 faithfulness it's all

00:23:49.560 --> 00:23:50.820
 on display in Jesus

00:23:50.820 --> 00:23:52.440
 life and death on

00:23:52.440 --> 00:23:55.220
 the cross now for

00:23:55.220 --> 00:23:56.140
 everyone else the

00:23:56.140 --> 00:23:56.880
 cross looks like the

00:23:56.880 --> 00:23:57.600
 moment where God

00:23:57.600 --> 00:23:59.560
 loses for the

00:23:59.560 --> 00:24:00.460
 Romans at that point

00:24:00.460 --> 00:24:01.080
 that was where they

00:24:01.080 --> 00:24:01.940
 stamped out this

00:24:01.940 --> 00:24:03.060
 annoying little sect

00:24:03.060 --> 00:24:03.880
 that was starting up

00:24:03.880 --> 00:24:04.740
 this new church this

00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:06.100
 new religion for the

00:24:06.100 --> 00:24:06.920
 Jewish leaders they

00:24:06.920 --> 00:24:07.840
 finally got rid of

00:24:07.840 --> 00:24:09.800
 the competition for

00:24:09.800 --> 00:24:11.600
 Satan he thought he'd

00:24:11.600 --> 00:24:14.660
 won as Jesus hung

00:24:14.660 --> 00:24:16.820
 there dying it looked

00:24:16.820 --> 00:24:17.800
 like God was either

00:24:17.800 --> 00:24:20.039
 powerless or he didn't

00:24:20.039 --> 00:24:24.000
 care but beware false

00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:27.539
 victory in the empty

00:24:27.539 --> 00:24:29.620
 tomb God is vindicated

00:24:29.620 --> 00:24:32.420
 not even death can stop

00:24:32.420 --> 00:24:34.440
 God's plan not

00:24:34.440 --> 00:24:35.420
 not soldiers not

00:24:35.420 --> 00:24:36.880
 plotting politicians

00:24:36.880 --> 00:24:38.300
 not rebellious people

00:24:38.300 --> 00:24:39.800
 nothing can stop the

00:24:39.800 --> 00:24:40.460
 will of God

00:24:40.460 --> 00:24:42.060
 nothing can stop what

00:24:42.060 --> 00:24:42.900
 he is doing and his

00:24:42.900 --> 00:24:44.279
 will is that all

00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:46.180
 might see his glory and

00:24:46.180 --> 00:24:47.960
 honor him as God

00:24:47.960 --> 00:24:50.080
 that is his plan that is

00:24:50.080 --> 00:24:51.920
 his desire and the joy

00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:53.820
 for us is that the

00:24:53.820 --> 00:24:55.500
 reality of who God is

00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:57.180
 far exceeds any

00:24:57.180 --> 00:24:58.060
 perception that we

00:24:58.060 --> 00:25:00.180
 might invent God is

00:25:00.180 --> 00:25:01.740
 more loving than we

00:25:01.740 --> 00:25:03.380
 hope God is more

00:25:03.380 --> 00:25:04.940
 powerful than we

00:25:04.940 --> 00:25:06.680
 imagine God is more

00:25:06.680 --> 00:25:07.820
 in control than we

00:25:07.820 --> 00:25:08.860
 can begin to

00:25:08.860 --> 00:25:10.120
 understand our false

00:25:10.120 --> 00:25:11.100
 perceptions of God

00:25:11.100 --> 00:25:13.019
 fall so far short of

00:25:13.019 --> 00:25:15.660
 who he really is the

00:25:15.660 --> 00:25:16.720
 watered-down versions

00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:17.779
 miss out on so much

00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:19.440
 goodness and holiness

00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:24.660
 and love and mercy if

00:25:24.660 --> 00:25:26.120
 your perception of God

00:25:26.120 --> 00:25:27.720
 doesn't drive you to

00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:28.980
 your knees in humble

00:25:28.980 --> 00:25:30.000
 dependence on his

00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:32.019
 power while at the

00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:33.360
 same time drive you

00:25:33.360 --> 00:25:34.640
 into the air leaping

00:25:34.640 --> 00:25:35.680
 for joy and singing

00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:36.839
 with thankfulness in

00:25:36.839 --> 00:25:37.980
 light of his unfailing

00:25:37.980 --> 00:25:40.380
 love then look again

00:25:40.380 --> 00:25:43.860
 look again at Jesus

00:25:43.860 --> 00:25:45.799
 look again at the

00:25:45.799 --> 00:25:46.819
 empty cross and the

00:25:46.819 --> 00:25:48.559
 empty tomb look again

00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:50.779
 at the risen Savior look

00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:53.720
 again at God because

00:25:54.319 --> 00:25:55.720
 the reality far exceeds

00:25:55.720 --> 00:25:57.799
 any perception that we

00:25:57.799 --> 00:26:00.339
 could invent far exceeds

00:26:00.339 --> 00:26:01.480
 any vision we might

00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:07.360
 hope for look again at

00:26:07.360 --> 00:26:07.819
 Jesus

00:26:07.819 --> 00:26:12.360
 Father God we thank and

00:26:12.360 --> 00:26:13.680
 praise you that you

00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:14.980
 have chosen to reveal

00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:15.920
 yourself that we don't

00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:17.039
 have to guess at what

00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:18.960
 you're like but God we

00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:20.140
 want to confess that when

00:26:20.140 --> 00:26:21.339
 things don't go our way

00:26:21.339 --> 00:26:22.700
 when things aren't

00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:23.779
 exactly the way we want

00:26:23.779 --> 00:26:25.000
 them to be that so often

00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:26.119
 we begin to doubt you

00:26:26.119 --> 00:26:28.480
 God help us to see in

00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:30.740
 Jesus the limitless love

00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:31.940
 that you have for us

00:26:31.940 --> 00:26:33.960
 help us to trust your

00:26:33.960 --> 00:26:35.279
 goodness and your power

00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:36.180
 and your sovereignty

00:26:36.180 --> 00:26:38.519
 God if there are blind

00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:39.660
 spots in our vision of

00:26:39.660 --> 00:26:41.619
 you if there are things

00:26:41.619 --> 00:26:42.680
 that are wrong about the

00:26:42.680 --> 00:26:43.680
 way that we see you and

00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:44.619
 the way that we love you

00:26:44.619 --> 00:26:45.160
 and the way that we

00:26:45.160 --> 00:26:47.960
 follow you show us

00:26:47.960 --> 00:26:50.900
 Jesus help us to see you

00:26:50.900 --> 00:26:52.759
 clearly so that we might

00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:54.039
 love you as you deserve

00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:55.440
 and so that we might

00:26:55.440 --> 00:26:56.559
 know the joy that is

00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:58.660
 only found in the one

00:26:58.660 --> 00:26:59.700
 true God

00:26:59.700 --> 00:27:02.279
 Father we thank you that

00:27:02.279 --> 00:27:03.259
 in Jesus we pray

00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:03.940
 confident

00:27:03.940 --> 00:27:07.220
 in Jesus we know that it

00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:07.720
 is done

00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:10.180
 in Jesus our hope is

00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:10.640
 secure

00:27:10.640 --> 00:27:13.900
 Father open our eyes

00:27:13.900 --> 00:27:15.220
 help us to look again

00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:16.900
 Amen

00:27:16.900 --> 00:27:17.000
 Amen

00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:19.740
 God right

00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:20.180
 Amen

00:27:20.819 --> 00:27:21.740
 Amen

00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:25.680
 Amen

00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:25.920
 Amen

00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:26.799
 Amen

00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:28.619
 Amen

00:27:30.539 --> 00:27:30.839
 Amen

00:27:30.839 --> 00:27:32.140
 Amen

00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:33.519
 Amen

00:27:33.519 --> 00:27:34.240
 Amen

00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:34.980
 Amen

00:27:34.980 --> 00:27:35.079
 Amen

00:27:35.079 --> 00:27:35.200
 Amen

00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:35.980
 Amen

00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:36.220
 Amen

00:27:36.220 --> 00:27:38.019
 Amen

00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:38.460
 Amen

00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:38.960
 Amen

00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:39.500
 Amen

00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:40.799
 Amen

00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:41.980
 Amen

00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:43.480
 Amen

00:27:43.480 --> 00:27:43.519
 Amen

00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:44.099
 Amen

00:27:44.099 --> 00:27:44.200
 Amen

00:27:44.200 --> 00:27:45.039
 Amen

00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:45.079
 Amen

00:27:45.079 --> 00:27:46.599
 Amen