WEBVTT

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 Well, if you are new here, I met probably eight visitors today, and we'd like to welcome you to Watermark Community Church.

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 My name is Tobin. I'm one of the pastors here, and we have been going through the Book of Romans.

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 So you've stepped into something, and you're going to walk away going, what the heck is going on there?

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 And you've seen by the kids and everything else that we are a community church, and things are raw and out of control sometimes.

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 I was told not to use the word raw, I still use the word organic.

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 So we're very organic in everything we do here.

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 But we're going through the Book of Romans, and if you're here, you came in this passage today.

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 I think that we're going to be looking at probably one of the most precious promises that God has given to His people in all the Bible.

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 It might be, I think, maybe one of the promises that more people in the world cling to more than any other promise.

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 And you saw it read for you. It was in Romans 8, 28.

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 Can you read that with me? Let's look at that one more time.

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 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are according to His purposes.

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 That was terrible. Let's try it one more time, okay? Let's try it together, okay, okay.

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 Okay. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

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 Good. You know, I think some of us, we might read this, and we might say, wow, that is, that's right on.

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 That's great. Amen. I believe in that. I live by that. That's great.

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 But I think there's some of us here who might be saying things like, you know, that sounds good.

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 But functionally, I don't know if that's how I can live my life.

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 I mean, maybe I live my life differently.

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 Maybe I need to say something like, and we know that wealth causes all things to work together for good to those who love wealth.

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 And those who are called according to wealth's purposes.

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 Maybe we need to say something like, we know that comfort causes all things to work together for good to those who love comfort.

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 And those who are called according to comfort's purposes.

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 Maybe we need to add in there, family.

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 Family.

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 We know that family causes all things to work together for good to those who love family.

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 And those who are called according to family's purposes.

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 and you can add a ton of other things

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 you know one of the things I think that I probably add in there more often than not is

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 Tobin

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 you don't add Tobin because you're not Tobin you can add whoever you are

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 but I add Tobin and I say things like you know we know that Tobin

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 causes all things to work together for good

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 to those who love Tobin and to those who are called

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 according to Tobin's purposes

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 you know we look at this promise here and if we're honest with this promise

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 that God gives us we sometimes have a hard time with it

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 we don't know what to do with it we don't know how to handle it and how to

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 live it out and we add things in there and if we're real

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 and if we're honest and if we look at what we do with our hands

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 not what we say with our mouth

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 but often our hands show something different

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 and so the question comes if we add something in there like

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 comfort

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 and we lose our job

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 is the promise true

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 if we lose our health

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 and our God is

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 our family

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 or our job

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 does the promise still hold up as true

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 if we lose a kid

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 or a spouse

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 and we've put in there that we know that God causes

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 or family causes all things to work together

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 does the promise

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 hold up

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 is it true

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 does it last for us

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 does it give us meaning

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 does it help us in the difficult times

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 and I think that

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 for many of us we've never even thought of that

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 because we just

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 hold on to the promise

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 and not thinking about what it means later

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 you know as a young Christian

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 I was introduced to this promise

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 for the first time in my life

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 and I'm going to share a story

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 I don't know if I've ever shared this story

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 but we can keep it in here

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 because it's

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 a very personal story

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 I was a really young believer

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 and my family had called a family meeting

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 and we usually had family meetings on Friday night

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 when we needed to discuss important family things

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 and so this Friday

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 my mom and dad called a family meeting

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 and so we came into the family house

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 and I remember it as if it was

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 just yesterday

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 even though it was many many many years ago

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 my dad was here

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 my mom was here

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 my two younger sisters were here

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 my golden retriever Travis was here

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 and I was there

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 and so we had this family meeting

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 and in the middle of the family meeting

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 my dad stood up

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 and he said something that

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 I never expected anybody to say

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 in our family

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 or I could never imagine

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 one of my parents saying it

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 and my dad stood up

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 and he said

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 I no longer love your mother

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 and I think it's best

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 that I leave the family

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 I was watching

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 because I didn't know

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 if this was an act or a play

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 or they wanted to see

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 how I was going to react

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 and it was a joke

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 my mom was weeping

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 my sisters were weeping

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 the golden retriever was going crazy

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 because he just knew something was going on

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 so he was just licking everybody

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 he didn't know what to do right

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 and I just sat there kind of going

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 what is going on

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 this cannot be true

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 how could God allow

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 something like this

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 to happen

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 why would God

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 allow something like this

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 to happen

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 remember I was really really young

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 in my faith

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 and I was trying to process

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 this idea of God being loving

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 and God being in control

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 and God being there

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 and in the middle of this scene

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 my family ripped apart

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 and not knowing what to do

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 I remember I went on

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 this kind of vision quest

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 this journey to try to figure out

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 the why

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 and so I started to ask

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 the people in my world

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 and these were the typical responses

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 I got

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 for my friends who knew me

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 before the pre-Christian days

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 I would say to them the story

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 and their reaction usually was

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 bummer

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 stuff like that happens

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 you want a beer?

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 that was a typical response

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 to my friends

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 I remember the first Christian I asked

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 it was actually

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 it was a girl

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 that I thought was really cute

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 and I was trying to

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 to date her

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 and trying to get to know her

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 and she went to a different church

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 than I went to

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 and I said to her

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 I shared with her the story

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 and she said to me

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 you know

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 it could be your fault

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 are you praying?

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 are you walking with God?

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 I mean God says

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 if you are

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 he's going to bless you

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 and it doesn't look like

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 he's blessing you

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 so you must not be

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 walking with God

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 repent

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 and if you repent

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 and if you confess your sins

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 it's going to be okay

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 and if you pray hard enough

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 God's going to bring your parents

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 back together

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 if you pray hard enough

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 now I don't know

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 which response I like better

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 that my drunk friends

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 or the girl I was trying to date

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 needless to say

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 I never dated her

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 or I kind of walked away

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 after that

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 another of my Christian friends

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 said this

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 he said

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 you know it must be God's will

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 because you're a Christian

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 and everything

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 is God's will

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 and if it's God's will

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 it must be a good thing

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 and everything that happens

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 to God's children

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 is good

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 and so Tobin

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 you just have to find

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 the good in it

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 and if you can find

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 the good in it

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 then you can get your head

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 around it

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 and you're going to understand

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 why God allows those things

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 to happen

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 one of the people

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 who I consider my mentors

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 said this to me

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 actually they just

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 they just listened

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 they listened to me

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 share the story

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 and after that

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 they prayed with me

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 and they said

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 Toby?

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 now that's what everybody

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 called me before college

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 don't be calling me Toby

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 okay

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 but they said

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 Toby?

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 in a really good southern voice

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 you know God

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 God has a plan for you

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 his hands are on you

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 don't give up

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 God is for you

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 I thought about those responses

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 for a long time

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 how

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 how

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 how would you have answered me?

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 because I know that

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 there are a lot of us

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 in this room

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 who are going to face things

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 we have faced things like this

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 we are going to face things like this

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 we're going to face things

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 so much harder than this

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 and the question is

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 how do we answer

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 the why?

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 because we have this promise

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 in God's word

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 which is so beautiful

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 and so amazing

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 and the promise is this

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 is what Andy and Kay

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 said to me

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 God

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 is for you

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 do you believe that?

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 I mean

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 do you walk

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 every day of your life

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 as you walk through life

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 whatever comes in

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 God

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 is for me

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 God

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 is for me

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 I don't know

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 I have a hard time

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 I struggle with that

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 sometimes getting my head around that

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 in my head

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 I said yes

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 but in my heart

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 in my hands

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 sometimes

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 I don't live it out

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 and so what I want to do

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 is just

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 we're just going to look at

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 maybe one verse

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 or two verses

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 and we're going to come back

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 as we're finishing up Romans 8

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 and we're going to keep going back

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 through 6, 7 and 8

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 but I just want to look specifically

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 at what does it mean

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 that God is for us

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 remember we've been going through Romans

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 and we've looked at chapter 6

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 we've left actually chapter 1

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 to now

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 but in chapter 6 through 8

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 what we've said

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 is that Paul

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 has been sharing with all of us

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 what it means

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 to walk the life

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 of a follower of Christ

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 he's talking about

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 what it means to be on a journey with God

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 he's been telling us

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 what it looks like

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 to walk every day

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 and what he keeps telling us

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 is that

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 even after we come to Christ

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 we're walking with God

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 we're deeply

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 deeply

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 covered in God's grace

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 that God

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 pours his grace

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 out upon us

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 over and over

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 as we walk with him

00:10:27.860 --> 00:10:29.379
 remember the passage

00:10:29.379 --> 00:10:30.120
 in Romans says

00:10:30.120 --> 00:10:32.539
 that God is the initiator

00:10:32.539 --> 00:10:33.560
 God is the one

00:10:33.560 --> 00:10:34.279
 who acts first

00:10:34.279 --> 00:10:35.419
 and we respond

00:10:35.419 --> 00:10:36.500
 and so Paul is saying

00:10:36.500 --> 00:10:37.840
 in light of all that God

00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:38.799
 has done for us

00:10:38.799 --> 00:10:42.460
 how do we react

00:10:42.460 --> 00:10:43.220
 to the wise

00:10:43.220 --> 00:10:45.759
 I mean in chapter 7

00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:46.480
 he talked about

00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:47.320
 his internal struggle

00:10:47.320 --> 00:10:47.860
 with sin

00:10:47.860 --> 00:10:49.240
 and this indwelling sin

00:10:49.240 --> 00:10:50.159
 and the things he wants to do

00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:50.940
 that he doesn't want to do

00:10:50.940 --> 00:10:51.820
 and how those things

00:10:51.820 --> 00:10:52.500
 are pulling him down

00:10:52.500 --> 00:10:53.320
 and then chapter 8

00:10:53.320 --> 00:10:55.039
 he starts talking about

00:10:55.039 --> 00:10:55.720
 these trials

00:10:55.720 --> 00:10:56.560
 and these tribulations

00:10:56.560 --> 00:10:57.680
 and all these hard things

00:10:57.680 --> 00:10:58.340
 that he's going through

00:10:58.340 --> 00:10:59.800
 and he's talking about

00:10:59.800 --> 00:11:00.320
 his journey

00:11:00.320 --> 00:11:01.019
 but what he's really

00:11:01.019 --> 00:11:01.440
 trying to do

00:11:01.440 --> 00:11:02.100
 is he's trying to share

00:11:02.100 --> 00:11:02.519
 for us

00:11:02.519 --> 00:11:03.780
 for our journey

00:11:03.780 --> 00:11:05.320
 because he says

00:11:05.320 --> 00:11:06.160
 on your journey

00:11:06.160 --> 00:11:06.840
 someday

00:11:06.840 --> 00:11:07.899
 this is going to happen

00:11:07.899 --> 00:11:10.040
 on your journey

00:11:10.040 --> 00:11:11.040
 as you walk with God

00:11:11.040 --> 00:11:12.220
 you're going to face

00:11:12.220 --> 00:11:14.060
 the why

00:11:14.060 --> 00:11:17.360
 and you're going to wonder

00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:18.600
 if that promise is true

00:11:18.600 --> 00:11:21.080
 or if it's false

00:11:21.080 --> 00:11:23.180
 and so what I want

00:11:23.180 --> 00:11:23.740
 to do today

00:11:23.740 --> 00:11:25.080
 what I hope to do today

00:11:25.080 --> 00:11:26.340
 what I intend to do today

00:11:26.340 --> 00:11:27.360
 is I want to look at

00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:28.519
 three things in this passage

00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:29.560
 in verse 28

00:11:29.560 --> 00:11:30.440
 I want to look at

00:11:30.440 --> 00:11:31.320
 how do we know

00:11:31.320 --> 00:11:32.560
 that God's promise is true

00:11:32.560 --> 00:11:33.899
 I want to know

00:11:33.899 --> 00:11:34.720
 what do we know

00:11:34.720 --> 00:11:36.019
 about God's promise to us

00:11:36.019 --> 00:11:37.240
 and I want to look at

00:11:37.240 --> 00:11:38.620
 how should this affect us today

00:11:38.620 --> 00:11:39.879
 okay so how do we know

00:11:39.879 --> 00:11:40.780
 God's promise is true

00:11:40.780 --> 00:11:41.980
 what do we know

00:11:41.980 --> 00:11:42.860
 about God's promise

00:11:42.860 --> 00:11:43.600
 as we read it out

00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:44.720
 and look at this passage

00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:45.500
 and the rest of scripture

00:11:45.500 --> 00:11:47.080
 and how should we allow

00:11:47.080 --> 00:11:48.379
 this promise to affect us today

00:11:48.379 --> 00:11:48.800
 you ready

00:11:48.800 --> 00:11:50.580
 come on

00:11:50.580 --> 00:11:51.040
 are you ready

00:11:51.040 --> 00:11:52.300
 okay good good

00:11:52.300 --> 00:11:53.440
 thanks Josh

00:11:53.440 --> 00:11:54.160
 you got the loud voice

00:11:54.159 --> 00:11:55.799
 okay so the first thing

00:11:55.799 --> 00:11:56.279
 he says here

00:11:56.279 --> 00:11:56.799
 is how do we know

00:11:56.799 --> 00:11:57.480
 this promise is true

00:11:57.480 --> 00:11:59.139
 because in verses 26 and 27

00:11:59.139 --> 00:12:00.159
 he's talking about

00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:00.839
 the tribulation

00:12:00.839 --> 00:12:01.439
 and the trials

00:12:01.439 --> 00:12:02.120
 and the hard things

00:12:02.120 --> 00:12:02.899
 happening to his life

00:12:02.899 --> 00:12:03.899
 and Paul says

00:12:03.899 --> 00:12:05.199
 that there are times

00:12:05.199 --> 00:12:05.759
 that you and I

00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:06.259
 don't even know

00:12:06.259 --> 00:12:06.839
 how to pray

00:12:06.839 --> 00:12:08.860
 that there are times

00:12:08.860 --> 00:12:09.579
 when things hit us

00:12:09.579 --> 00:12:10.399
 and they're so difficult

00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:11.399
 that we don't even know

00:12:11.399 --> 00:12:11.799
 how to pray

00:12:11.799 --> 00:12:12.319
 we don't even know

00:12:12.319 --> 00:12:12.919
 what to pray about

00:12:12.919 --> 00:12:13.559
 we don't even know

00:12:13.559 --> 00:12:14.319
 how to pray

00:12:14.319 --> 00:12:14.919
 and he says here

00:12:14.919 --> 00:12:15.899
 that when those times

00:12:15.899 --> 00:12:16.620
 come in our life

00:12:16.620 --> 00:12:17.899
 that God's spirit

00:12:17.899 --> 00:12:18.740
 stands before us

00:12:18.740 --> 00:12:19.419
 the Holy Spirit

00:12:19.419 --> 00:12:20.699
 the third person of Trinity

00:12:20.699 --> 00:12:21.699
 and he actually

00:12:21.699 --> 00:12:23.220
 he teaches us what to pray

00:12:23.220 --> 00:12:24.320
 he shows us what to pray

00:12:24.320 --> 00:12:25.580
 he stands before God

00:12:25.580 --> 00:12:26.399
 and he prays for us

00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:27.259
 and so the spirit

00:12:27.259 --> 00:12:27.700
 is praying

00:12:27.700 --> 00:12:28.320
 even when we don't

00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:28.920
 know what to do

00:12:28.920 --> 00:12:29.639
 but then he gets

00:12:29.639 --> 00:12:30.300
 to verse 28

00:12:30.300 --> 00:12:30.899
 and he goes

00:12:30.899 --> 00:12:33.080
 for sure

00:12:33.080 --> 00:12:35.100
 I know

00:12:35.100 --> 00:12:36.420
 for sure

00:12:36.420 --> 00:12:38.340
 this is true

00:12:38.340 --> 00:12:39.399
 confident

00:12:39.399 --> 00:12:40.320
 100%

00:12:40.320 --> 00:12:41.259
 I know

00:12:41.259 --> 00:12:42.200
 I know

00:12:42.200 --> 00:12:43.120
 I know

00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:44.700
 God is for you

00:12:44.700 --> 00:12:47.820
 God has a plan

00:12:47.820 --> 00:12:48.960
 in your life

00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:49.800
 he's not saying

00:12:49.800 --> 00:12:50.779
 I hope it's true

00:12:50.779 --> 00:12:51.800
 I think it's true

00:12:51.800 --> 00:12:52.759
 probably it's true

00:12:52.759 --> 00:12:53.519
 maybe it's true

00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:54.600
 but what Paul is saying

00:12:54.600 --> 00:12:55.980
 here is 100% sure

00:12:55.980 --> 00:12:56.720
 everything

00:12:56.720 --> 00:12:57.419
 even though it doesn't

00:12:57.419 --> 00:12:57.939
 look like it

00:12:57.939 --> 00:12:59.580
 we know for 100% true

00:12:59.580 --> 00:13:02.439
 that God has a promise

00:13:02.439 --> 00:13:02.939
 for you

00:13:02.939 --> 00:13:06.299
 and that he's for you

00:13:06.299 --> 00:13:09.899
 so the question

00:13:09.899 --> 00:13:10.539
 I have to ask us

00:13:10.539 --> 00:13:11.080
 is do we

00:13:11.080 --> 00:13:12.620
 do we know that

00:13:12.620 --> 00:13:17.019
 do we know that

00:13:17.019 --> 00:13:18.059
 God is for us

00:13:18.059 --> 00:13:20.259
 do we know that

00:13:20.259 --> 00:13:21.319
 he wants his best

00:13:21.320 --> 00:13:21.820
 our best

00:13:21.820 --> 00:13:22.440
 do we know that

00:13:22.440 --> 00:13:23.260
 he loves us

00:13:23.260 --> 00:13:24.200
 I mean we read the Bible

00:13:24.200 --> 00:13:25.040
 we go through the Bible

00:13:25.040 --> 00:13:25.620
 and the Old Testament

00:13:25.620 --> 00:13:27.100
 is full of these stories

00:13:27.100 --> 00:13:27.900
 and there's some amazing

00:13:27.900 --> 00:13:28.640
 stories of here

00:13:28.640 --> 00:13:29.840
 of how we know

00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:30.980
 I mean you read these stories

00:13:30.980 --> 00:13:32.000
 like Daniel

00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:33.220
 and he stood up

00:13:33.220 --> 00:13:34.040
 against his bosses

00:13:34.040 --> 00:13:34.860
 like some of us

00:13:34.860 --> 00:13:35.320
 are going to have to do

00:13:35.320 --> 00:13:36.240
 this week or this month

00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:37.480
 he stood up against his bosses

00:13:37.480 --> 00:13:38.440
 and they actually

00:13:38.440 --> 00:13:39.140
 threw him into this

00:13:39.140 --> 00:13:40.320
 pit of lions

00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:41.080
 where he's going to be

00:13:41.080 --> 00:13:41.720
 devoured

00:13:41.720 --> 00:13:43.080
 and God was for him

00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:43.740
 and stood before him

00:13:43.740 --> 00:13:44.800
 and Shadrach, Meshach

00:13:44.800 --> 00:13:45.220
 and Abednego

00:13:45.220 --> 00:13:46.920
 the same oppressive

00:13:46.920 --> 00:13:47.720
 government

00:13:47.720 --> 00:13:48.620
 like HSBC

00:13:48.620 --> 00:13:49.320
 or whatever those

00:13:49.320 --> 00:13:49.740
 things are

00:13:49.740 --> 00:13:51.299
 and they stand up

00:13:51.299 --> 00:13:52.200
 against their employers

00:13:52.200 --> 00:13:54.000
 and they get thrown

00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:54.700
 into this fire

00:13:54.700 --> 00:13:55.240
 and some of you

00:13:55.240 --> 00:13:55.679
 are going to feel

00:13:55.679 --> 00:13:56.480
 like that this week

00:13:56.480 --> 00:13:59.000
 some of us

00:13:59.000 --> 00:13:59.700
 are you going to be

00:13:59.700 --> 00:14:00.259
 put in positions

00:14:00.259 --> 00:14:01.399
 in your work

00:14:01.399 --> 00:14:02.179
 and in your school

00:14:02.179 --> 00:14:03.580
 and in your graduate work

00:14:03.580 --> 00:14:04.259
 and you're going to

00:14:04.259 --> 00:14:04.960
 stand up for God

00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:05.639
 and you're going to

00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:06.820
 be put into a fire

00:14:06.820 --> 00:14:10.080
 and the Old Testament

00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:10.840
 says that God

00:14:10.840 --> 00:14:12.960
 is with you

00:14:12.960 --> 00:14:15.039
 that he's with his people

00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:16.440
 we see stories of Job

00:14:16.440 --> 00:14:17.840
 and David

00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:19.080
 and Jonah

00:14:19.080 --> 00:14:20.580
 and Joseph

00:14:20.580 --> 00:14:22.800
 but most of all

00:14:22.800 --> 00:14:23.700
 what Paul says

00:14:23.700 --> 00:14:24.380
 in this passage

00:14:24.380 --> 00:14:25.040
 is

00:14:25.040 --> 00:14:26.860
 look at the cross

00:14:26.860 --> 00:14:30.780
 how do we know

00:14:30.780 --> 00:14:31.640
 the promise is true

00:14:31.640 --> 00:14:34.800
 look at the cross

00:14:34.800 --> 00:14:36.360
 look at what he says

00:14:36.360 --> 00:14:37.680
 in verses 31 and 32

00:14:37.680 --> 00:14:39.280
 what then shall we say

00:14:39.280 --> 00:14:40.060
 of these things

00:14:40.060 --> 00:14:41.760
 if God is for us

00:14:41.760 --> 00:14:42.600
 who is against us

00:14:42.600 --> 00:14:45.060
 he who did not

00:14:45.060 --> 00:14:45.840
 spare his own son

00:14:45.840 --> 00:14:46.460
 but delivered him

00:14:46.460 --> 00:14:47.580
 over for all of us

00:14:47.580 --> 00:14:48.780
 how will he not

00:14:48.780 --> 00:14:49.720
 also with him

00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:51.399
 freely give us

00:14:51.399 --> 00:14:52.920
 all things

00:14:52.920 --> 00:14:56.399
 whenever we're called

00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:56.820
 to doubt

00:14:56.820 --> 00:14:58.000
 whenever we're in the fire

00:14:58.000 --> 00:14:59.340
 whenever we're in the lion pen

00:14:59.340 --> 00:15:00.399
 whenever things are difficult

00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:01.220
 whenever things are out

00:15:01.220 --> 00:15:01.660
 of control

00:15:01.660 --> 00:15:03.060
 God says

00:15:03.060 --> 00:15:03.960
 Paul says

00:15:03.960 --> 00:15:04.580
 in his passage

00:15:04.580 --> 00:15:05.660
 that we know

00:15:05.660 --> 00:15:07.420
 the promise is true

00:15:07.420 --> 00:15:08.980
 that God is for us

00:15:08.980 --> 00:15:10.320
 and if we ever doubt it

00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:11.580
 if we ever wonder about it

00:15:11.580 --> 00:15:12.560
 if we ever think about it

00:15:12.560 --> 00:15:13.360
 look at the cross

00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:18.460
 because God gave

00:15:18.460 --> 00:15:19.340
 his most precious thing

00:15:19.340 --> 00:15:19.840
 for you

00:15:19.840 --> 00:15:23.340
 remember two weeks ago

00:15:23.340 --> 00:15:24.000
 we talked about

00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:24.399
 you know

00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:25.519
 Peter Jackson

00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:26.259
 and when he wants to make

00:15:26.259 --> 00:15:26.840
 the Hobbit movie

00:15:26.840 --> 00:15:27.560
 what was the first thing

00:15:27.560 --> 00:15:27.940
 he had to do

00:15:27.940 --> 00:15:28.580
 well the first thing

00:15:28.580 --> 00:15:28.860
 he had to do

00:15:28.860 --> 00:15:29.279
 is he had to buy

00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:30.080
 the rights to the film

00:15:30.080 --> 00:15:32.120
 before he could make

00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:33.360
 an amazing movie

00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:35.700
 and the Bible says

00:15:35.700 --> 00:15:36.220
 that God

00:15:36.220 --> 00:15:37.639
 bought

00:15:37.639 --> 00:15:39.300
 the rights

00:15:39.300 --> 00:15:39.980
 to your story

00:15:39.980 --> 00:15:43.240
 that God

00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:45.100
 paid the ultimate price

00:15:45.100 --> 00:15:48.080
 for your story

00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:51.259
 and so you should never worry

00:15:51.259 --> 00:15:52.539
 about whether he's good

00:15:52.539 --> 00:15:53.580
 you should never worry

00:15:53.580 --> 00:15:54.680
 about whether he's in control

00:15:54.680 --> 00:15:55.680
 you should never worry

00:15:55.680 --> 00:15:57.120
 about if he's for you

00:15:57.120 --> 00:16:00.340
 because he paid everything

00:16:00.340 --> 00:16:01.840
 for you

00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:05.779
 and surely he is going to write

00:16:05.779 --> 00:16:07.620
 an amazing

00:16:07.620 --> 00:16:10.059
 amazing story

00:16:10.059 --> 00:16:10.620
 in your life

00:16:10.620 --> 00:16:13.759
 do you believe it

00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:20.639
 this is more of a

00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:21.480
 self-confession

00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:21.860
 I think

00:16:21.860 --> 00:16:22.839
 than a sermon for me

00:16:22.839 --> 00:16:24.360
 because you know

00:16:24.360 --> 00:16:24.980
 sometimes I

00:16:24.980 --> 00:16:27.519
 I say I do

00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:30.000
 but I worry

00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:32.220
 I worry

00:16:32.220 --> 00:16:33.740
 I worry about things

00:16:33.740 --> 00:16:34.299
 they're not right

00:16:34.299 --> 00:16:34.939
 they're not ready

00:16:34.940 --> 00:16:35.740
 they're not in control

00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:37.480
 I worry about those things

00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:40.140
 do I believe it

00:16:40.140 --> 00:16:43.260
 I mean I say I do

00:16:43.260 --> 00:16:43.840
 but sometimes

00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:45.520
 I want to be in control

00:16:45.520 --> 00:16:48.900
 I really like control

00:16:48.900 --> 00:16:50.040
 I want to be in control

00:16:50.040 --> 00:16:50.780
 I mean control

00:16:50.780 --> 00:16:51.740
 is really really

00:16:51.740 --> 00:16:52.680
 important to me

00:16:52.680 --> 00:16:57.100
 do I believe it

00:16:57.100 --> 00:17:02.140
 for me what I've learned

00:17:02.140 --> 00:17:02.940
 is if I worry

00:17:02.940 --> 00:17:04.900
 or if I'm

00:17:04.900 --> 00:17:05.740
 under the stress

00:17:05.740 --> 00:17:06.680
 to be in control

00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:09.680
 I'm probably struggling

00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:11.299
 with the promise

00:17:11.299 --> 00:17:13.259
 that God is good

00:17:13.259 --> 00:17:15.920
 that God is for me

00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:18.160
 that God wants my best

00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:20.860
 because I don't believe that

00:17:20.860 --> 00:17:22.360
 because I want to control

00:17:22.360 --> 00:17:25.539
 maybe you have that problem too

00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:29.420
 the next thing we see

00:17:29.420 --> 00:17:29.940
 in this passage

00:17:29.940 --> 00:17:31.319
 is that what we know

00:17:31.319 --> 00:17:32.119
 about this passage

00:17:32.119 --> 00:17:32.619
 what we know

00:17:32.619 --> 00:17:33.740
 about this amazing promise

00:17:33.740 --> 00:17:34.639
 what we know

00:17:34.639 --> 00:17:35.139
 that when he says

00:17:35.139 --> 00:17:36.460
 that God causes all things

00:17:36.460 --> 00:17:37.299
 to work together for good

00:17:37.299 --> 00:17:38.000
 to those who love him

00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:38.659
 to those who are called

00:17:38.659 --> 00:17:39.839
 according to his purpose

00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:40.680
 and the first thing

00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:41.559
 we know already

00:17:41.559 --> 00:17:42.139
 is that he's

00:17:42.139 --> 00:17:43.379
 he's for us

00:17:43.379 --> 00:17:46.339
 that he's working

00:17:46.339 --> 00:17:47.680
 for us

00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:49.319
 he's doing an amazing thing

00:17:49.319 --> 00:17:50.559
 in our life

00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:52.480
 and the first thing

00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:53.059
 I look at here

00:17:53.059 --> 00:17:53.519
 in this verse

00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:54.659
 is well who's us

00:17:54.660 --> 00:17:57.040
 in the us

00:17:57.040 --> 00:17:57.540
 he says

00:17:57.540 --> 00:17:58.380
 is two things

00:17:58.380 --> 00:17:58.800
 you look at it

00:17:58.800 --> 00:17:59.019
 he says

00:17:59.019 --> 00:18:00.220
 the us is for those

00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:01.060
 who love God

00:18:01.060 --> 00:18:02.860
 and those who are called

00:18:02.860 --> 00:18:03.860
 according to his purpose

00:18:03.860 --> 00:18:05.800
 I mean the language

00:18:05.800 --> 00:18:07.220
 it's the same person

00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:08.759
 it's God's children

00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:11.360
 and he's describing us

00:18:11.360 --> 00:18:11.820
 from two different

00:18:11.820 --> 00:18:12.400
 points of view

00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:13.480
 the first one

00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:14.200
 is from our point of view

00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:14.860
 looking up to God

00:18:14.860 --> 00:18:16.040
 we're those who love God

00:18:16.040 --> 00:18:18.560
 the second point of view

00:18:18.560 --> 00:18:19.540
 is God looking down at us

00:18:19.540 --> 00:18:20.400
 and those who are called

00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:20.960
 by him

00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:22.940
 and verses 29 through 30

00:18:22.940 --> 00:18:24.400
 use these huge words

00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:25.220
 that we've been talking about

00:18:25.220 --> 00:18:25.720
 through Romans

00:18:25.720 --> 00:18:26.480
 you know

00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:27.180
 justification

00:18:27.180 --> 00:18:28.360
 and sanctification

00:18:28.360 --> 00:18:28.960
 and called

00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:30.400
 and basically what he said there

00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:31.800
 is from the beginning of time

00:18:31.800 --> 00:18:32.820
 eternity past

00:18:32.820 --> 00:18:34.259
 remember we talked about time

00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:36.120
 eternity past

00:18:36.120 --> 00:18:37.140
 creation

00:18:37.140 --> 00:18:38.240
 fall

00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:39.380
 redemption

00:18:39.380 --> 00:18:40.580
 restoration

00:18:40.580 --> 00:18:42.060
 eternity future

00:18:42.060 --> 00:18:43.540
 from the beginning of time

00:18:43.540 --> 00:18:44.460
 eternity past

00:18:44.460 --> 00:18:46.300
 God has known you

00:18:46.300 --> 00:18:47.440
 as his child

00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:49.940
 and he has called you

00:18:49.940 --> 00:18:51.620
 to be with him

00:18:51.619 --> 00:18:54.399
 the passage

00:18:54.399 --> 00:18:55.039
 is only

00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:56.459
 for those

00:18:56.459 --> 00:18:57.459
 who are God's people

00:18:57.459 --> 00:19:01.339
 so maybe I should ask

00:19:01.339 --> 00:19:01.879
 the question

00:19:01.879 --> 00:19:04.939
 do we love God

00:19:04.939 --> 00:19:10.439
 because it says

00:19:10.439 --> 00:19:11.059
 that's what's true

00:19:11.059 --> 00:19:11.539
 from those

00:19:11.539 --> 00:19:12.219
 from a human standpoint

00:19:12.219 --> 00:19:12.959
 looking up to God

00:19:12.959 --> 00:19:14.259
 we're those who love God

00:19:14.259 --> 00:19:15.299
 do we love God

00:19:15.299 --> 00:19:18.200
 what does it look like

00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:20.240
 for us

00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:20.700
 to

00:19:20.700 --> 00:19:22.220
 love God

00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:24.980
 what does it mean

00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:26.639
 that we love God

00:19:26.639 --> 00:19:29.759
 the passage

00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:30.180
 and the text

00:19:30.180 --> 00:19:30.579
 goes on

00:19:30.579 --> 00:19:30.940
 and it says

00:19:30.940 --> 00:19:32.099
 God causes

00:19:32.099 --> 00:19:33.419
 all things

00:19:33.419 --> 00:19:34.680
 there's a very special

00:19:34.680 --> 00:19:35.119
 words there

00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:35.460
 it means

00:19:35.460 --> 00:19:36.200
 all

00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:36.980
 things

00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:38.159
 it means complete

00:19:38.159 --> 00:19:38.980
 whole

00:19:38.980 --> 00:19:39.639
 everything

00:19:39.639 --> 00:19:40.799
 the passage is saying

00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:41.480
 that if you are

00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:42.180
 God's child

00:19:42.180 --> 00:19:43.099
 there's nothing

00:19:43.099 --> 00:19:44.119
 that comes into your life

00:19:44.119 --> 00:19:45.339
 positive or negative

00:19:45.339 --> 00:19:46.059
 there's nothing

00:19:46.059 --> 00:19:46.639
 that's going to happen

00:19:46.639 --> 00:19:47.240
 to you today

00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:47.879
 tomorrow

00:19:47.879 --> 00:19:48.519
 next week

00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:49.399
 there's nothing

00:19:49.399 --> 00:19:51.459
 that God

00:19:51.459 --> 00:19:52.240
 is not in control

00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:53.219
 of in your life

00:19:53.219 --> 00:19:55.500
 I mean

00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:56.019
 another way

00:19:56.019 --> 00:19:56.699
 to say it is this

00:19:56.699 --> 00:19:57.459
 maybe we can say it

00:19:57.459 --> 00:19:57.679
 this way

00:19:57.679 --> 00:19:58.439
 nothing

00:19:58.439 --> 00:19:59.379
 can change

00:19:59.379 --> 00:20:00.219
 God's promise

00:20:00.219 --> 00:20:00.759
 to you

00:20:00.759 --> 00:20:03.579
 nothing

00:20:03.579 --> 00:20:04.899
 can change

00:20:04.899 --> 00:20:06.539
 God's

00:20:06.539 --> 00:20:07.419
 promise

00:20:07.419 --> 00:20:08.939
 to you

00:20:08.939 --> 00:20:11.059
 God

00:20:11.059 --> 00:20:11.599
 is always

00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:12.659
 for you

00:20:12.660 --> 00:20:14.720
 God

00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:14.740
 God

00:20:14.740 --> 00:20:15.220
 always

00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:15.820
 loves

00:20:15.820 --> 00:20:16.100
 you

00:20:16.100 --> 00:20:18.300
 as his

00:20:18.300 --> 00:20:18.660
 child

00:20:18.660 --> 00:20:19.300
 he always

00:20:19.300 --> 00:20:19.759
 has a

00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:20.120
 plan

00:20:20.120 --> 00:20:21.200
 for you

00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:23.900
 the truth

00:20:23.900 --> 00:20:24.340
 doesn't

00:20:24.340 --> 00:20:24.880
 change

00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:26.060
 is God's

00:20:26.060 --> 00:20:26.500
 children

00:20:26.500 --> 00:20:28.360
 so what does

00:20:28.360 --> 00:20:28.779
 that mean

00:20:28.779 --> 00:20:30.420
 big things

00:20:30.420 --> 00:20:31.700
 little things

00:20:31.700 --> 00:20:32.840
 evil

00:20:32.840 --> 00:20:34.340
 stupid things

00:20:34.340 --> 00:20:34.740
 I do

00:20:34.740 --> 00:20:35.640
 bad choices

00:20:35.640 --> 00:20:36.120
 I make

00:20:36.120 --> 00:20:37.060
 other people's

00:20:37.060 --> 00:20:37.680
 bad choices

00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:38.420
 sin

00:20:38.420 --> 00:20:39.360
 good times

00:20:39.360 --> 00:20:39.980
 hard times

00:20:39.980 --> 00:20:40.519
 failures

00:20:40.519 --> 00:20:41.840
 things outside

00:20:41.840 --> 00:20:42.160
 of me

00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:43.300
 look at verse 38

00:20:43.300 --> 00:20:44.019
 we read it

00:20:44.019 --> 00:20:44.720
 already as a group

00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:45.759
 for I'm convinced

00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:46.400
 that neither death

00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:46.920
 nor life

00:20:46.920 --> 00:20:47.440
 nor angels

00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:48.100
 nor principalities

00:20:48.100 --> 00:20:48.660
 nor things present

00:20:48.660 --> 00:20:49.259
 nor things come

00:20:49.259 --> 00:20:50.180
 nor powers

00:20:50.180 --> 00:20:50.660
 nor height

00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:51.200
 nor depth

00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:51.840
 nor any other

00:20:51.840 --> 00:20:52.600
 thing created

00:20:52.600 --> 00:20:53.720
 are we created

00:20:53.720 --> 00:20:54.560
 yes we're created

00:20:54.560 --> 00:20:55.220
 so we cannot

00:20:55.220 --> 00:20:55.920
 separate ourselves

00:20:55.920 --> 00:20:56.640
 from God's love

00:20:56.640 --> 00:20:57.600
 we'll be able to

00:20:57.600 --> 00:20:58.120
 separate us from

00:20:58.120 --> 00:20:58.620
 the love of God

00:20:58.620 --> 00:20:59.380
 which is in Christ

00:20:59.380 --> 00:20:59.680
 Jesus

00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:00.580
 everything

00:21:00.580 --> 00:21:02.440
 there's nothing

00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:04.040
 that can separate

00:21:04.040 --> 00:21:04.360
 you

00:21:04.360 --> 00:21:05.200
 if you are

00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:05.980
 God's child

00:21:05.980 --> 00:21:07.580
 from the promise

00:21:07.579 --> 00:21:11.619
 do you believe

00:21:11.619 --> 00:21:11.919
 that

00:21:11.919 --> 00:21:16.139
 is that true

00:21:16.139 --> 00:21:16.799
 in your life

00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:18.679
 is that how you

00:21:18.679 --> 00:21:19.839
 live your life

00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:21.439
 I mean the passage

00:21:21.439 --> 00:21:22.139
 says that God

00:21:22.139 --> 00:21:23.279
 will never allow

00:21:23.279 --> 00:21:24.039
 things in there

00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:25.559
 he's never surprised

00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:26.299
 by things that happen

00:21:26.299 --> 00:21:26.779
 in your life

00:21:26.779 --> 00:21:27.679
 when we sin

00:21:27.679 --> 00:21:28.519
 when we make mistakes

00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:29.099
 God doesn't go

00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:29.439
 oh oh

00:21:29.439 --> 00:21:30.199
 Tobin sinned

00:21:30.199 --> 00:21:31.240
 that's terrible

00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:32.039
 I gotta rewrite

00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:32.500
 everything

00:21:32.500 --> 00:21:33.359
 I gotta do things

00:21:33.359 --> 00:21:33.699
 over again

00:21:33.700 --> 00:21:35.720
 God is in control

00:21:35.720 --> 00:21:38.240
 of everything

00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:42.880
 here's some thoughts

00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:43.720
 and listen carefully

00:21:43.720 --> 00:21:45.279
 because we're gonna

00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:45.759
 have a discussion

00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:46.600
 on this later on

00:21:46.600 --> 00:21:47.539
 we're setting up

00:21:47.539 --> 00:21:48.100
 this kind of

00:21:48.100 --> 00:21:48.819
 foundation

00:21:48.819 --> 00:21:50.039
 for our future

00:21:50.039 --> 00:21:50.799
 look into Romans

00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:53.299
 the Bible does not say

00:21:53.299 --> 00:21:55.700
 that everything

00:21:55.700 --> 00:21:56.299
 that happens

00:21:56.299 --> 00:21:56.819
 to Christians

00:21:56.819 --> 00:21:57.480
 is good

00:21:57.480 --> 00:22:00.440
 he doesn't say that

00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:00.960
 in the passage

00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:02.420
 I mean there

00:22:02.420 --> 00:22:03.000
 and this is what

00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:04.019
 the person told me

00:22:04.019 --> 00:22:05.240
 after I shared

00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:05.700
 my story

00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:06.299
 remember that

00:22:06.299 --> 00:22:08.559
 now I think about

00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:09.059
 I wonder if they're

00:22:09.059 --> 00:22:09.660
 more Islamic

00:22:09.660 --> 00:22:10.359
 than Christian

00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:11.279
 but they said

00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:11.700
 well God

00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:12.539
 does everything good

00:22:12.539 --> 00:22:13.660
 everything that happens

00:22:13.660 --> 00:22:14.180
 to you is good

00:22:14.180 --> 00:22:15.460
 God is good

00:22:15.460 --> 00:22:17.000
 but the Bible

00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:17.579
 doesn't say that

00:22:17.579 --> 00:22:18.259
 the Bible doesn't say

00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:18.940
 everything that happens

00:22:18.940 --> 00:22:19.700
 to us as Christians

00:22:19.700 --> 00:22:20.160
 is good

00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:22.059
 there are gonna be

00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:22.700
 many things

00:22:22.700 --> 00:22:23.519
 that are just evil

00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:25.700
 in our lives

00:22:25.700 --> 00:22:27.160
 crime

00:22:27.160 --> 00:22:28.259
 war

00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:29.640
 immorality

00:22:29.640 --> 00:22:31.119
 betrayal of spouses

00:22:31.119 --> 00:22:31.819
 and friends

00:22:31.819 --> 00:22:32.720
 abuse

00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:33.599
 injustice

00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:34.480
 gossip

00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:35.399
 selfishness

00:22:35.399 --> 00:22:35.939
 pride

00:22:35.939 --> 00:22:36.379
 anger

00:22:36.379 --> 00:22:37.079
 the Bible

00:22:37.079 --> 00:22:37.980
 never says

00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:38.399
 any of these

00:22:38.399 --> 00:22:38.899
 things are good

00:22:38.899 --> 00:22:41.519
 so don't be going

00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:42.480
 around telling people

00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:43.220
 well you know

00:22:43.220 --> 00:22:43.839
 those things

00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:44.659
 are all gonna be good

00:22:44.659 --> 00:22:45.519
 because God

00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:45.939
 wouldn't allow them

00:22:45.939 --> 00:22:46.299
 in your life

00:22:46.299 --> 00:22:46.919
 once they're good

00:22:46.919 --> 00:22:48.439
 they're not good

00:22:48.439 --> 00:22:48.839
 they're evil

00:22:48.839 --> 00:22:51.919
 they're not from God

00:22:51.919 --> 00:22:53.500
 the passage

00:22:53.500 --> 00:22:54.619
 also has to make us

00:22:54.619 --> 00:22:55.679
 redefine what good is

00:22:55.679 --> 00:22:56.379
 doesn't it

00:22:56.379 --> 00:22:58.299
 because if I were to

00:22:58.299 --> 00:22:58.839
 ask the question

00:22:58.839 --> 00:22:59.379
 before we started

00:22:59.379 --> 00:22:59.839
 what does it mean

00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:00.279
 to be good

00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:01.179
 for me

00:23:01.179 --> 00:23:01.699
 I would say

00:23:01.699 --> 00:23:02.240
 things like

00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:03.119
 well it's easy

00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:04.619
 convenient

00:23:04.619 --> 00:23:05.879
 comfortable

00:23:05.879 --> 00:23:07.019
 no stress

00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:07.980
 never lose a job

00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:08.659
 lots of money

00:23:08.659 --> 00:23:10.000
 never have kid problems

00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:10.959
 my kids get into Harvard

00:23:10.959 --> 00:23:12.220
 live on a peak

00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:13.639
 my car never breaks down

00:23:13.639 --> 00:23:14.240
 my credit cards

00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:14.859
 never get stolen

00:23:14.859 --> 00:23:16.000
 all these things

00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:16.419
 have been happening

00:23:16.419 --> 00:23:17.039
 to me this week

00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:17.819
 which has been amazing

00:23:17.819 --> 00:23:18.419
 it's interesting

00:23:18.419 --> 00:23:19.279
 when you preach a passage

00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:19.959
 God just kind of

00:23:19.959 --> 00:23:20.619
 puts stuff at you

00:23:20.619 --> 00:23:20.919
 and says okay

00:23:20.919 --> 00:23:21.639
 let's see how you do this

00:23:21.639 --> 00:23:22.500
 what do you think about this

00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:23.519
 and all these things

00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:24.740
 and you learn from those things

00:23:24.740 --> 00:23:26.319
 not my kids got into Harvard

00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:27.539
 that didn't happen

00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:29.440
 but the other things happen

00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:29.740
 so

00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:30.879
 but you know

00:23:30.879 --> 00:23:33.339
 what he's saying here

00:23:33.339 --> 00:23:34.460
 is that all these things

00:23:34.460 --> 00:23:35.019
 God is

00:23:35.019 --> 00:23:35.799
 he says

00:23:35.799 --> 00:23:37.079
 that's not how God

00:23:37.079 --> 00:23:37.799
 sees his good

00:23:37.799 --> 00:23:41.200
 what God calls his good

00:23:41.200 --> 00:23:42.240
 is things that make us

00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:43.079
 more like Jesus

00:23:43.079 --> 00:23:46.960
 what God calls his good

00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:48.019
 is experiences and things

00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:48.599
 that prepare us

00:23:48.599 --> 00:23:49.559
 for a real home heaven

00:23:49.559 --> 00:23:51.539
 I think sometimes

00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:52.659
 I get confused

00:23:52.659 --> 00:23:53.519
 because sometimes

00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:54.200
 I think

00:23:54.200 --> 00:23:55.500
 eternity past

00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:57.480
 creation

00:23:57.480 --> 00:23:58.220
 fall

00:23:58.220 --> 00:23:58.859
 redemption

00:23:58.859 --> 00:23:59.859
 restoration

00:23:59.859 --> 00:24:00.640
 eternity present

00:24:00.640 --> 00:24:01.720
 sometimes I get

00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:02.480
 caught in this thought

00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:02.960
 and I just think

00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:04.059
 right here is our home

00:24:04.059 --> 00:24:06.779
 and sometimes I forget

00:24:06.779 --> 00:24:07.900
 that our home

00:24:07.900 --> 00:24:08.900
 is actually heaven

00:24:08.900 --> 00:24:11.500
 you

00:24:11.500 --> 00:24:12.019
 you

00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:13.359
 you weren't made

00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:15.000
 to live on earth

00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:15.759
 forever right

00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:18.680
 your home is

00:24:18.680 --> 00:24:19.119
 heaven

00:24:19.119 --> 00:24:20.700
 with God

00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:24.299
 one of the things

00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:24.960
 I struggled with

00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:25.819
 in this whole process

00:24:25.819 --> 00:24:26.680
 of reading the passage

00:24:26.680 --> 00:24:27.460
 and thinking about it

00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:28.140
 and what things

00:24:28.140 --> 00:24:28.700
 I've been learning

00:24:28.700 --> 00:24:29.360
 through God's word

00:24:29.360 --> 00:24:29.500
 is

00:24:29.500 --> 00:24:31.799
 sometimes we give

00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:32.680
 information like

00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:33.100
 well you know

00:24:33.100 --> 00:24:34.039
 your girlfriend dumped you

00:24:34.039 --> 00:24:34.500
 but you're going to get

00:24:34.500 --> 00:24:35.039
 a better one

00:24:35.039 --> 00:24:37.039
 you know

00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:37.920
 your boyfriend dumped you

00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:38.340
 but you're going to get

00:24:38.340 --> 00:24:38.700
 a better one

00:24:38.700 --> 00:24:38.860
 you know

00:24:38.860 --> 00:24:39.840
 you lost that job

00:24:39.840 --> 00:24:40.340
 but God's going to

00:24:40.340 --> 00:24:41.059
 give you a better one

00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:41.500
 you know

00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:42.500
 God has a plan for you

00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:42.960
 he's going to give you

00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:43.420
 the best one

00:24:43.420 --> 00:24:43.779
 he's going to give you

00:24:43.779 --> 00:24:44.579
 something so much better

00:24:44.579 --> 00:24:45.720
 than what you had before

00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:46.299
 but you know

00:24:46.299 --> 00:24:47.559
 the scripture never says that

00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:51.340
 the Bible never says

00:24:51.340 --> 00:24:52.200
 that you're going to see

00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:53.200
 the good come

00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:54.140
 after things happen

00:24:54.140 --> 00:24:55.920
 I mean it's amazing

00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:56.920
 that we get to see it

00:24:56.920 --> 00:24:58.380
 and I think it's part

00:24:58.380 --> 00:24:59.160
 of God's grace

00:24:59.160 --> 00:24:59.720
 in our life

00:24:59.720 --> 00:25:00.720
 and his encouragement

00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:03.320
 but we might lose

00:25:03.320 --> 00:25:04.220
 things here

00:25:04.220 --> 00:25:05.259
 on earth

00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:05.820
 and we might not

00:25:05.820 --> 00:25:06.660
 ever see them

00:25:06.660 --> 00:25:07.220
 again

00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:08.880
 until we get to heaven

00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:12.020
 I mean just because

00:25:12.020 --> 00:25:13.400
 we lose this amazing job

00:25:13.400 --> 00:25:14.120
 doesn't mean that God

00:25:14.120 --> 00:25:15.160
 has another amazing job

00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:15.640
 for you

00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:17.820
 maybe God realizes

00:25:17.820 --> 00:25:18.740
 that this amazing job

00:25:18.740 --> 00:25:19.640
 is destroying you

00:25:19.640 --> 00:25:23.020
 is killing your family

00:25:23.020 --> 00:25:24.800
 and you're spending

00:25:24.800 --> 00:25:25.680
 more time at work

00:25:25.680 --> 00:25:26.700
 and studying

00:25:26.700 --> 00:25:27.580
 and all these other things

00:25:27.580 --> 00:25:27.900
 than you are

00:25:27.900 --> 00:25:28.600
 with the people of God

00:25:28.600 --> 00:25:29.320
 that God's put you

00:25:29.320 --> 00:25:30.220
 into your life

00:25:30.220 --> 00:25:30.660
 to shepherd

00:25:30.660 --> 00:25:32.520
 and so God's taking

00:25:32.520 --> 00:25:33.200
 that job away

00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:33.720
 because he knows

00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:34.320
 that you're destroying

00:25:34.320 --> 00:25:34.960
 yourself and you're

00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:35.460
 destroying the people

00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:35.920
 you love

00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:38.160
 maybe you're never

00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:39.040
 going to see that job

00:25:39.040 --> 00:25:39.480
 again

00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:41.360
 but what the passage

00:25:41.360 --> 00:25:42.280
 says is that we know

00:25:42.280 --> 00:25:43.259
 is that God is taking

00:25:43.259 --> 00:25:44.220
 all of those things

00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:45.000
 and he's doing

00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:45.780
 something amazing

00:25:45.780 --> 00:25:46.320
 in them

00:25:46.319 --> 00:25:49.359
 he's doing this amazing

00:25:49.359 --> 00:25:50.379
 thing in our life

00:25:50.379 --> 00:25:52.200
 he's making us more

00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:52.759
 like Christ

00:25:52.759 --> 00:25:53.480
 so that when we walk

00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:54.099
 on this earth

00:25:54.099 --> 00:25:55.299
 we reflect the image

00:25:55.299 --> 00:25:55.759
 of Christ

00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:56.859
 he's making us more

00:25:56.859 --> 00:25:57.399
 like Christ

00:25:57.399 --> 00:25:58.139
 so that we're like

00:25:58.139 --> 00:25:58.679
 this mirror

00:25:58.679 --> 00:25:59.779
 and we reflect God's

00:25:59.779 --> 00:26:00.939
 image to all of creation

00:26:00.939 --> 00:26:02.599
 he's making us more

00:26:02.599 --> 00:26:03.319
 like Christ

00:26:03.319 --> 00:26:04.659
 so that when we get

00:26:04.659 --> 00:26:05.019
 to heaven

00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:05.779
 we will see him

00:26:05.779 --> 00:26:06.879
 and we will be like him

00:26:06.879 --> 00:26:09.960
 that's what good

00:26:09.960 --> 00:26:10.960
 means

00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:13.279
 in God's terminology

00:26:13.279 --> 00:26:16.619
 I know I'm going

00:26:16.619 --> 00:26:17.379
 to bother some of you

00:26:17.379 --> 00:26:18.220
 when I say this one

00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:19.139
 and I've kind of prayed

00:26:19.139 --> 00:26:19.740
 about whether I should

00:26:19.740 --> 00:26:19.960
 do this

00:26:19.960 --> 00:26:20.379
 but you know

00:26:20.379 --> 00:26:21.480
 the passage never says

00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:22.660
 and the Bible never says

00:26:22.660 --> 00:26:24.279
 that God only works for you

00:26:24.279 --> 00:26:25.099
 if you're his child

00:26:25.099 --> 00:26:25.920
 if you're doing good

00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:28.240
 remember my friend

00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:28.700
 told me that

00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:29.440
 the first girl I wanted

00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:29.700
 to date

00:26:29.700 --> 00:26:30.319
 who was really cute

00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:30.740
 blonde

00:26:30.740 --> 00:26:32.420
 she said the reason

00:26:32.420 --> 00:26:33.019
 those things aren't

00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:33.599
 happening is because

00:26:33.599 --> 00:26:34.139
 you're not being good

00:26:34.139 --> 00:26:34.420
 enough

00:26:34.420 --> 00:26:36.119
 you're not praying

00:26:36.119 --> 00:26:36.339
 enough

00:26:36.339 --> 00:26:36.839
 you're not studying

00:26:36.839 --> 00:26:37.079
 enough

00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:37.460
 you're not doing

00:26:37.460 --> 00:26:37.819
 all the things

00:26:37.819 --> 00:26:38.399
 God wants you

00:26:38.399 --> 00:26:38.740
 maybe you're

00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:39.299
 disobeying him

00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:39.740
 but you know

00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:40.099
 the Bible

00:26:40.099 --> 00:26:41.759
 never ever says that

00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:42.460
 and this is the amazing

00:26:42.460 --> 00:26:43.340
 thing about grace

00:26:43.340 --> 00:26:45.160
 the Bible says

00:26:45.160 --> 00:26:46.600
 if you are God's child

00:26:46.600 --> 00:26:47.360
 and you're walking

00:26:47.360 --> 00:26:48.799
 and you're making mistakes

00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:49.840
 that God is taking

00:26:49.840 --> 00:26:50.559
 all those things

00:26:50.559 --> 00:26:50.960
 and he's doing

00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:51.660
 something amazing

00:26:51.660 --> 00:26:52.360
 in your life

00:26:52.360 --> 00:26:53.740
 and he's

00:26:53.740 --> 00:26:54.779
 the first guy

00:26:54.779 --> 00:26:55.420
 who discipled me

00:26:55.420 --> 00:26:56.200
 basically said this

00:26:56.200 --> 00:26:56.519
 Tobin

00:26:56.519 --> 00:26:58.480
 you have 100%

00:26:58.480 --> 00:26:59.840
 and every time you sin

00:26:59.840 --> 00:27:01.700
 you get less than 100%

00:27:01.700 --> 00:27:02.420
 and so

00:27:02.420 --> 00:27:03.420
 you got to be careful

00:27:03.420 --> 00:27:04.019
 because when you get

00:27:04.019 --> 00:27:05.319
 down to the 50-40 range

00:27:05.319 --> 00:27:06.039
 God's not going to

00:27:06.039 --> 00:27:06.700
 be able to use you

00:27:06.700 --> 00:27:09.519
 that's not what

00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:10.360
 scripture says

00:27:10.359 --> 00:27:12.019
 but I know

00:27:12.019 --> 00:27:12.740
 there's a lot of us

00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:13.719
 in here who believe that

00:27:13.719 --> 00:27:16.039
 there's a lot of us

00:27:16.039 --> 00:27:16.579
 in here who believe

00:27:16.579 --> 00:27:17.659
 because I messed up

00:27:17.659 --> 00:27:18.399
 because I did this thing

00:27:18.399 --> 00:27:18.619
 wrong

00:27:18.619 --> 00:27:19.779
 God can never use me

00:27:19.779 --> 00:27:22.159
 there's a lot of us

00:27:22.159 --> 00:27:23.099
 here who walk around

00:27:23.099 --> 00:27:24.199
 with incredible amount

00:27:24.199 --> 00:27:24.599
 of guilt

00:27:24.599 --> 00:27:25.399
 and shame

00:27:25.399 --> 00:27:26.959
 and just fear

00:27:26.959 --> 00:27:27.559
 in our life

00:27:27.559 --> 00:27:28.399
 and we're afraid

00:27:28.399 --> 00:27:29.479
 of doing the wrong thing

00:27:29.479 --> 00:27:30.359
 because we're worried

00:27:30.359 --> 00:27:30.699
 that we're going to

00:27:30.699 --> 00:27:31.679
 get below that 50%

00:27:31.679 --> 00:27:32.500
 and if we get below

00:27:32.500 --> 00:27:33.179
 that 50%

00:27:33.179 --> 00:27:34.079
 God's never going

00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:34.859
 to be able to use us

00:27:34.859 --> 00:27:38.399
 it's something

00:27:38.399 --> 00:27:39.219
 interesting in us

00:27:39.219 --> 00:27:39.519
 isn't it

00:27:39.519 --> 00:27:40.799
 that we come to church

00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:41.079
 and we say

00:27:41.079 --> 00:27:41.939
 oh yeah God

00:27:41.939 --> 00:27:43.159
 yeah we come to faith

00:27:43.159 --> 00:27:43.740
 by God

00:27:43.740 --> 00:27:44.379
 by grace

00:27:44.379 --> 00:27:45.500
 it's all Jesus Christ

00:27:45.500 --> 00:27:46.279
 nothing to do with me

00:27:46.279 --> 00:27:47.219
 but then after we walk

00:27:47.219 --> 00:27:47.619
 out that door

00:27:47.619 --> 00:27:49.339
 it's me me me me me me

00:27:49.339 --> 00:27:49.579
 me

00:27:49.579 --> 00:27:53.319
 I got to do

00:27:53.319 --> 00:27:53.879
 I got to be

00:27:53.879 --> 00:27:54.659
 I got to do these things

00:27:54.659 --> 00:27:55.240
 if I do these things

00:27:55.240 --> 00:27:55.859
 I'll get them all right

00:27:55.859 --> 00:27:56.719
 and God will have favor

00:27:56.719 --> 00:27:57.019
 on me

00:27:57.019 --> 00:27:57.759
 and everything's great

00:27:57.759 --> 00:27:59.839
 but what the passage

00:27:59.839 --> 00:28:00.500
 says is that

00:28:00.500 --> 00:28:01.639
 God's grace

00:28:01.639 --> 00:28:02.159
 and mercy

00:28:02.159 --> 00:28:03.299
 are poured out

00:28:03.299 --> 00:28:04.039
 upon us

00:28:04.039 --> 00:28:07.000
 so even when

00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:08.159
 we're not doing well

00:28:08.159 --> 00:28:11.420
 even when we make

00:28:11.420 --> 00:28:12.539
 bad mistakes

00:28:12.539 --> 00:28:15.480
 he never forsakes you

00:28:15.480 --> 00:28:19.339
 he never gives up on you

00:28:19.339 --> 00:28:22.059
 he never stops

00:28:22.059 --> 00:28:23.740
 his plan for you

00:28:23.740 --> 00:28:25.980
 he never stops

00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:26.680
 the good

00:28:26.680 --> 00:28:27.960
 that he wants to do

00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:28.700
 in your life

00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:30.359
 the scripture says

00:28:30.359 --> 00:28:30.899
 that God

00:28:30.899 --> 00:28:31.920
 if you're his child

00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:33.440
 he's always working

00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:34.559
 he's always building

00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:35.759
 he's always doing

00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:36.700
 an amazing thing

00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:37.519
 you know I don't

00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:38.279
 understand it

00:28:38.279 --> 00:28:40.640
 I used to think

00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:41.360
 I was kind of smart

00:28:41.360 --> 00:28:41.880
 until I started reading

00:28:41.880 --> 00:28:42.240
 the Bible

00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:42.700
 and then I'm like

00:28:42.700 --> 00:28:43.620
 oh you know

00:28:43.620 --> 00:28:44.620
 you have God

00:28:44.620 --> 00:28:45.240
 and his sovereignty

00:28:45.240 --> 00:28:46.680
 and you have my free will

00:28:46.680 --> 00:28:47.759
 and now how do I

00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:48.759
 these things work together

00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:49.320
 I don't know

00:28:49.320 --> 00:28:50.759
 because if I make a choice

00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:51.660
 do I mess up God

00:28:51.660 --> 00:28:52.320
 maybe not

00:28:52.320 --> 00:28:52.860
 maybe God

00:28:52.860 --> 00:28:53.720
 just doing all these things

00:28:53.720 --> 00:28:54.400
 I'm just a robot

00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:56.259
 and the scripture says

00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:56.799
 that somehow

00:28:56.799 --> 00:28:58.180
 in God's infinite wisdom

00:28:58.180 --> 00:28:59.580
 you and I can't understand it

00:28:59.580 --> 00:29:00.120
 because if we could

00:29:00.120 --> 00:29:00.720
 we were God

00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:02.700
 but what the Bible says

00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:03.160
 is somehow

00:29:03.160 --> 00:29:04.980
 and he's working

00:29:04.980 --> 00:29:05.480
 him out

00:29:05.480 --> 00:29:08.400
 for our good

00:29:08.400 --> 00:29:14.839
 he has a plan for you

00:29:14.839 --> 00:29:18.079
 he never gives up on you

00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:20.259
 I don't understand it

00:29:20.259 --> 00:29:21.579
 because I've failed

00:29:21.579 --> 00:29:23.000
 so many times

00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:25.480
 but the passage says

00:29:25.480 --> 00:29:26.940
 we can know

00:29:26.940 --> 00:29:29.740
 that God is always for you

00:29:29.740 --> 00:29:31.940
 he's always at work

00:29:31.940 --> 00:29:32.660
 in your lives

00:29:32.660 --> 00:29:34.299
 he's always doing

00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:35.019
 a good thing

00:29:35.019 --> 00:29:37.140
 the future is assured

00:29:37.140 --> 00:29:39.600
 God never wastes anything

00:29:39.600 --> 00:29:40.480
 even when evil

00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:41.160
 or bad things

00:29:41.160 --> 00:29:41.759
 come in your life

00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:43.240
 he's taking all those things

00:29:43.240 --> 00:29:44.519
 he's working them together

00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:45.880
 and he's changing you

00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:46.640
 and making you

00:29:46.640 --> 00:29:48.360
 into something amazing

00:29:48.359 --> 00:29:56.919
 I don't know

00:29:56.919 --> 00:29:57.619
 how to explain it

00:29:57.619 --> 00:30:00.139
 we had

00:30:00.139 --> 00:30:01.779
 three birthdays

00:30:01.779 --> 00:30:02.419
 this week

00:30:02.419 --> 00:30:04.740
 I mean we had

00:30:04.740 --> 00:30:05.619
 ten little girls

00:30:05.619 --> 00:30:06.119
 sleeping over

00:30:06.119 --> 00:30:06.559
 at our house

00:30:06.559 --> 00:30:07.079
 last night

00:30:07.079 --> 00:30:08.539
 I was like thinking

00:30:08.539 --> 00:30:09.399
 what the heck

00:30:09.399 --> 00:30:10.019
 am I doing

00:30:10.019 --> 00:30:11.539
 I gotta get up

00:30:11.539 --> 00:30:11.839
 I gotta

00:30:11.839 --> 00:30:13.179
 it's like herding cats

00:30:13.179 --> 00:30:13.479
 right

00:30:13.479 --> 00:30:14.859
 I had five little

00:30:14.859 --> 00:30:15.740
 seven year olds

00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:16.919
 and I had five little

00:30:16.919 --> 00:30:17.719
 eleven year olds

00:30:17.720 --> 00:30:18.400
 I don't know which ones

00:30:18.400 --> 00:30:18.839
 are worse

00:30:18.839 --> 00:30:19.819
 but you're just trying

00:30:19.819 --> 00:30:20.400
 to okay guys

00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:20.860
 let's go

00:30:20.860 --> 00:30:21.680
 get these things

00:30:21.680 --> 00:30:22.339
 get these things

00:30:22.339 --> 00:30:22.940
 and I was thinking

00:30:22.940 --> 00:30:23.620
 what the heck

00:30:23.620 --> 00:30:23.860
 are we doing

00:30:23.860 --> 00:30:25.279
 but the reason

00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:25.759
 I'm sharing this

00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:26.400
 is because Christina

00:30:26.400 --> 00:30:27.299
 made a lot of cakes

00:30:27.299 --> 00:30:29.420
 and what I realized

00:30:29.420 --> 00:30:30.100
 as I watched her

00:30:30.100 --> 00:30:30.680
 making cakes

00:30:30.680 --> 00:30:31.220
 is our life

00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:31.779
 is kind of like

00:30:31.779 --> 00:30:32.600
 cakes

00:30:32.600 --> 00:30:35.819
 and God's pouring

00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:36.440
 these ingredients

00:30:36.440 --> 00:30:37.059
 in there

00:30:37.059 --> 00:30:38.819
 right

00:30:38.819 --> 00:30:40.279
 I mean there's one time

00:30:40.279 --> 00:30:41.519
 Christina made a cake

00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:44.160
 and she put salt

00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:45.240
 in it instead of sugar

00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:45.620
 right

00:30:45.620 --> 00:30:47.279
 and we had company

00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:47.500
 over

00:30:47.500 --> 00:30:48.019
 I think Jay

00:30:48.019 --> 00:30:48.559
 was with us

00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:49.059
 and we ate this

00:30:49.059 --> 00:30:49.599
 and we said

00:30:49.599 --> 00:30:50.899
 hey so try this cake

00:30:50.899 --> 00:30:51.500
 what do you think

00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:52.599
 and I ate it

00:30:52.599 --> 00:30:52.920
 and I'm like

00:30:52.920 --> 00:30:54.220
 and then she asked

00:30:54.220 --> 00:30:54.759
 you the question

00:30:54.759 --> 00:30:55.519
 all husbands hate

00:30:55.519 --> 00:30:55.819
 right

00:30:55.819 --> 00:30:57.339
 how's it taste

00:30:57.339 --> 00:30:58.500
 it's kind of like

00:30:58.500 --> 00:30:58.940
 does this dress

00:30:58.940 --> 00:30:59.660
 make me look fat

00:30:59.660 --> 00:31:00.259
 you know

00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:00.899
 and you're like

00:31:00.899 --> 00:31:01.980
 I'm like

00:31:01.980 --> 00:31:06.059
 it's not too good

00:31:06.059 --> 00:31:07.160
 what

00:31:07.160 --> 00:31:09.660
 something's wrong

00:31:09.660 --> 00:31:11.039
 and she tasted

00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:11.779
 oh man

00:31:11.779 --> 00:31:12.680
 I put salt

00:31:12.680 --> 00:31:13.200
 instead of sugar

00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:13.519
 in it

00:31:13.519 --> 00:31:13.740
 oh

00:31:13.740 --> 00:31:15.359
 we'll have to mix

00:31:15.359 --> 00:31:15.759
 another one

00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:16.660
 but I think our lives

00:31:16.660 --> 00:31:17.279
 are kind of like that

00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:17.460
 right

00:31:17.460 --> 00:31:18.559
 that God takes

00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:19.180
 the salt

00:31:19.180 --> 00:31:21.359
 and the pain

00:31:21.359 --> 00:31:23.359
 and the hurt

00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:25.579
 and our mistakes

00:31:25.579 --> 00:31:28.140
 and other people's mistakes

00:31:28.140 --> 00:31:30.720
 and he takes mercy

00:31:30.720 --> 00:31:32.440
 and grace

00:31:32.440 --> 00:31:34.759
 and blessings

00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:38.180
 and he mixes all those things together

00:31:38.180 --> 00:31:41.440
 and he makes something amazing

00:31:41.440 --> 00:31:45.240
 does that make sense

00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:49.580
 I got

00:31:49.580 --> 00:31:51.140
 it's kind of like

00:31:51.140 --> 00:31:51.860
 those new watches

00:31:51.860 --> 00:31:52.340
 you know

00:31:52.340 --> 00:31:53.539
 I don't have a watch

00:31:53.539 --> 00:31:54.640
 that new one

00:31:54.640 --> 00:31:55.059
 my wife

00:31:55.059 --> 00:31:55.320
 you know

00:31:55.320 --> 00:31:55.940
 we have this rule

00:31:55.940 --> 00:31:56.640
 every 10 years

00:31:56.640 --> 00:31:57.559
 I can get a new watch

00:31:57.559 --> 00:31:58.860
 but those new watches

00:31:58.860 --> 00:31:59.100
 you know

00:31:59.100 --> 00:31:59.700
 those new watches

00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:00.960
 that have the open back on them

00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:02.700
 life is kind of like that

00:32:02.700 --> 00:32:04.039
 you look at that back

00:32:04.039 --> 00:32:05.240
 and when you look at that

00:32:05.240 --> 00:32:06.080
 it looks crazy

00:32:06.080 --> 00:32:07.580
 there's some wheels

00:32:07.580 --> 00:32:08.259
 going this way

00:32:08.259 --> 00:32:08.880
 and some wheels

00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:09.620
 going that way

00:32:09.620 --> 00:32:10.140
 and some wheels

00:32:10.140 --> 00:32:10.920
 going counter ways

00:32:10.920 --> 00:32:12.180
 and some wheels are big

00:32:12.180 --> 00:32:12.940
 and some wheels are small

00:32:12.940 --> 00:32:13.620
 and some wheels are gold

00:32:13.620 --> 00:32:15.160
 and some wheels are bronze

00:32:15.160 --> 00:32:15.519
 and there's little

00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:17.120
 but it doesn't make any sense

00:32:17.120 --> 00:32:17.900
 when you look at it

00:32:17.900 --> 00:32:18.840
 you can't

00:32:18.840 --> 00:32:19.740
 when you're looking at the back

00:32:19.740 --> 00:32:20.160
 of the watch

00:32:20.160 --> 00:32:20.860
 you have no idea

00:32:20.860 --> 00:32:21.440
 what's going on

00:32:21.440 --> 00:32:22.360
 but when you turn around

00:32:22.360 --> 00:32:22.920
 you see

00:32:22.920 --> 00:32:24.259
 time

00:32:24.259 --> 00:32:28.200
 and the passage says

00:32:28.200 --> 00:32:29.580
 that's kind of like our lives

00:32:29.580 --> 00:32:32.320
 and the thing we need to know

00:32:32.320 --> 00:32:32.480
 is

00:32:32.480 --> 00:32:33.900
 at the end of it

00:32:33.900 --> 00:32:37.140
 with all these things happening

00:32:37.140 --> 00:32:38.700
 God is doing something amazing

00:32:38.700 --> 00:32:40.039
 he's changing us

00:32:40.039 --> 00:32:40.839
 he's making us more

00:32:40.839 --> 00:32:41.500
 like his son

00:32:41.500 --> 00:32:44.519
 and we can trust him

00:32:44.519 --> 00:32:49.279
 we can trust him

00:32:49.279 --> 00:32:56.139
 so how should we live

00:32:56.139 --> 00:32:57.759
 in regards to this truth

00:32:57.759 --> 00:32:58.440
 and this knowledge

00:32:58.440 --> 00:32:59.000
 that it's true

00:32:59.000 --> 00:32:59.639
 and it's real

00:32:59.639 --> 00:33:01.420
 and we have choices

00:33:01.420 --> 00:33:03.319
 well for me

00:33:03.319 --> 00:33:03.799
 this passage

00:33:03.799 --> 00:33:04.700
 just keeps reminding me

00:33:04.700 --> 00:33:05.420
 of God's mercy

00:33:05.420 --> 00:33:06.359
 and God's grace

00:33:06.359 --> 00:33:07.879
 it reminds me

00:33:07.879 --> 00:33:09.039
 that God is in control

00:33:09.039 --> 00:33:10.319
 that he causes all things

00:33:10.319 --> 00:33:10.939
 to work together

00:33:10.939 --> 00:33:12.000
 that word is synergy

00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:13.039
 it means that

00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:14.399
 the sum

00:33:14.399 --> 00:33:16.099
 is less than

00:33:16.099 --> 00:33:16.479
 I mean

00:33:16.479 --> 00:33:17.679
 the total

00:33:17.679 --> 00:33:18.819
 is less than the parts

00:33:18.819 --> 00:33:19.799
 that all these things

00:33:19.799 --> 00:33:20.319
 are happening

00:33:20.319 --> 00:33:21.379
 and at the end

00:33:21.379 --> 00:33:21.959
 he's going to do

00:33:21.959 --> 00:33:23.339
 something amazing

00:33:23.339 --> 00:33:25.599
 through all these experiences

00:33:25.599 --> 00:33:26.339
 in our life

00:33:26.339 --> 00:33:28.539
 the passage reminds me

00:33:28.539 --> 00:33:29.519
 that in the deepest pit

00:33:29.519 --> 00:33:30.379
 in the darkest hour

00:33:30.379 --> 00:33:30.959
 when I feel like

00:33:30.959 --> 00:33:31.500
 I've blown it

00:33:31.500 --> 00:33:32.579
 the most

00:33:32.579 --> 00:33:33.259
 when I feel like

00:33:33.259 --> 00:33:35.299
 no one is for me

00:33:35.299 --> 00:33:37.599
 have you ever felt that way

00:33:37.599 --> 00:33:40.879
 I feel that way

00:33:40.879 --> 00:33:45.339
 no one's for me

00:33:45.339 --> 00:33:47.859
 I've really blown it

00:33:47.859 --> 00:33:48.279
 this time

00:33:48.279 --> 00:33:51.039
 what am I going to do

00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:54.240
 the passage says

00:33:54.240 --> 00:33:54.920
 when we feel that way

00:33:54.920 --> 00:33:56.160
 God is there

00:33:56.160 --> 00:33:59.539
 and he's working

00:33:59.539 --> 00:34:00.220
 and he's moving

00:34:00.220 --> 00:34:01.079
 and he's changing

00:34:01.079 --> 00:34:02.720
 and he's making us

00:34:02.720 --> 00:34:03.900
 something amazing

00:34:04.440 --> 00:34:04.480
 to you

00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:05.220
 you know

00:34:05.259 --> 00:34:07.960
 many of you

00:34:07.960 --> 00:34:08.400
 have already

00:34:08.400 --> 00:34:09.579
 why am I saying that

00:34:09.579 --> 00:34:10.139
 many have already

00:34:10.139 --> 00:34:10.920
 left for vacation

00:34:10.920 --> 00:34:11.679
 so you're not even

00:34:11.679 --> 00:34:12.199
 hearing this

00:34:12.199 --> 00:34:13.199
 many of you

00:34:13.199 --> 00:34:13.699
 are visiting

00:34:13.699 --> 00:34:15.099
 many of us

00:34:15.099 --> 00:34:15.539
 are going to leave

00:34:15.539 --> 00:34:16.199
 for vacation

00:34:16.199 --> 00:34:18.260
 many of us

00:34:18.260 --> 00:34:18.699
 are going to miss

00:34:18.699 --> 00:34:19.199
 airplanes

00:34:19.199 --> 00:34:21.240
 many of us

00:34:21.240 --> 00:34:21.880
 are going to miss

00:34:21.880 --> 00:34:23.099
 lose things

00:34:23.099 --> 00:34:23.619
 many of us

00:34:23.619 --> 00:34:24.039
 are going to have

00:34:24.039 --> 00:34:25.639
 things stolen

00:34:25.639 --> 00:34:26.619
 bad things happen

00:34:26.619 --> 00:34:27.039
 many of us

00:34:27.039 --> 00:34:27.420
 are going to get

00:34:27.420 --> 00:34:28.119
 do's that we

00:34:28.119 --> 00:34:29.000
 don't like to hear

00:34:29.000 --> 00:34:30.300
 many of us

00:34:30.300 --> 00:34:30.740
 are going to get

00:34:30.740 --> 00:34:31.440
 health issues

00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:31.900
 many of us

00:34:31.900 --> 00:34:32.360
 are going to face

00:34:32.360 --> 00:34:39.340
 crazy in-laws. I love you, honey. Many of us are going to experience divorced parents.

00:34:40.860 --> 00:34:46.840
 Many of us are going to experience poor choices, missed desires, missed expectations.

00:34:48.240 --> 00:34:55.579
 But Romans tells us that in the midst of all of that, God is working and he's changing us.

00:34:55.579 --> 00:35:08.279
 And he's for us. And that he loves us. And we can trust him because he's good.

00:35:10.920 --> 00:35:17.659
 No matter what happens. No matter what we do. No matter what we face.

00:35:17.659 --> 00:35:27.799
 When I was, what I meant to do when you came in here, put a little card on your table, on your chair.

00:35:29.920 --> 00:35:33.319
 What I was going to ask you to do, the first thing was I was going to ask you to write on the back of it,

00:35:33.920 --> 00:35:39.799
 what is the worst experience you've ever had? Hopefully it's not sitting in a sermon.

00:35:39.800 --> 00:35:59.080
 And on the front, what I wanted you to write is, God is for Mike, or Tobin, or Christina, or Jesse,

00:35:59.960 --> 00:36:09.480
 or David, or John Paul, or Simon, or Jay, or Bernard, whatever your name is.

00:36:09.800 --> 00:36:14.300
 I'd love for you to carry this around. This is my gift for you for the summer.

00:36:16.039 --> 00:36:17.539
 I'd love for you to carry it around your wallet.

00:36:19.340 --> 00:36:25.700
 Whenever things get hard, whenever things get difficult, whenever things don't go your way,

00:36:26.780 --> 00:36:32.019
 whenever you wonder, I've blown it so badly right now, God cannot be for me.

00:36:33.980 --> 00:36:35.120
 I want you to pull this out.

00:36:37.560 --> 00:36:39.440
 If you're like me, you're going to be pulling it out every week.

00:36:39.800 --> 00:36:41.480
 Maybe every day.

00:36:43.480 --> 00:36:48.100
 And realize that God is for you.

00:36:50.240 --> 00:36:51.300
 Because he gave his son.

00:36:53.780 --> 00:36:54.900
 And you can trust him.

00:36:56.960 --> 00:36:58.000
 And you can trust him.

00:36:59.940 --> 00:37:00.620
 How are we doing?

00:37:00.619 --> 00:37:05.440
 I don't know why God does the things he does.

00:37:06.699 --> 00:37:10.819
 For 30 years, I've been trying to figure out why my parents got divorced.

00:37:12.239 --> 00:37:13.219
 But I don't know.

00:37:13.759 --> 00:37:14.900
 I'm 51 years old.

00:37:16.099 --> 00:37:20.739
 You know, I'm 51 years old, and my parents' divorce 40 years ago still affects me.

00:37:20.739 --> 00:37:22.959
 Is that crazy?

00:37:22.959 --> 00:37:23.000
 Is that crazy?

00:37:24.719 --> 00:37:31.239
 To see how sin, and it wasn't my fault, comes in and affects us?

00:37:33.459 --> 00:37:34.679
 I don't know why.

00:37:34.679 --> 00:37:40.619
 I look back now, and I think, well, maybe one of the reasons is, is I'm here.

00:37:43.719 --> 00:37:50.219
 Because I'm pretty sure that if my parents were still together, I'd be a doctor in America.

00:37:51.219 --> 00:37:54.719
 Or a flight surgeon on an aircraft carrier flying fighter jets.

00:37:54.719 --> 00:37:57.519
 Now, is that the whole reason it happened?

00:37:58.159 --> 00:37:58.939
 I don't know.

00:38:00.139 --> 00:38:07.000
 But looking at just a small glimpse of time now, I realize that God is taking something terrible.

00:38:10.439 --> 00:38:14.799
 And in his children's lives, making something amazing.

00:38:19.339 --> 00:38:20.259
 God is for you.

00:38:22.139 --> 00:38:23.039
 He loves you.

00:38:23.039 --> 00:38:24.779
 He cares for you.

00:38:25.619 --> 00:38:29.119
 There's nothing that ever can separate you from his love and his relationship.

00:38:30.500 --> 00:38:32.099
 He sent a son to die on the cross.

00:38:33.559 --> 00:38:37.779
 May we be a church that holds tightly to that.

00:38:39.619 --> 00:38:46.940
 When the doubt and the shame and the guilt and the heartache and the death comes,

00:38:48.539 --> 00:38:49.300
 you know.

00:38:51.259 --> 00:38:52.159
 You have a Savior.

00:38:53.039 --> 00:38:55.360
 He died on the cross.

00:38:57.779 --> 00:38:58.980
 So that we can come back to God.

00:39:01.259 --> 00:39:02.360
 Father, we thank you for this day.

00:39:02.440 --> 00:39:04.340
 We thank you for your mercy and your grace in our life.

00:39:04.420 --> 00:39:06.500
 We thank you that you are awesome.

00:39:06.500 --> 00:39:18.019
 We thank you for your word that is living and active and way beyond our understanding in so many ways as you live out and work out your will.

00:39:18.019 --> 00:39:23.280
 Lord, I pray for those in our church family right now.

00:39:23.280 --> 00:39:26.119
 I know that there are some of us here.

00:39:26.119 --> 00:39:33.359
 When they read that passage, they put in things like money works out all good things.

00:39:33.360 --> 00:39:33.980
 And I pray for them.

00:39:33.980 --> 00:39:34.680
 I pray for them.

00:39:34.680 --> 00:39:34.740
 I pray for them.

00:39:34.740 --> 00:39:47.880
 I pray that you would open their eyes to your son, Jesus.

00:39:47.880 --> 00:39:52.260
 pray that they would see that the things that they cling to

00:39:52.260 --> 00:39:54.519
 will ultimately fail them

00:39:54.519 --> 00:39:58.820
 and there's only one thing that we can cling to that will not fail us

00:39:58.820 --> 00:40:00.240
 and it's your son Jesus Christ

00:40:00.240 --> 00:40:05.420
 pray that they would ask questions of the people that came with church today

00:40:05.420 --> 00:40:09.079
 and that those people would share with them the gospel

00:40:09.079 --> 00:40:12.180
 and grace

00:40:12.180 --> 00:40:17.760
 Father I pray for the rest of us in here who struggle

00:40:17.760 --> 00:40:19.520
 as your children

00:40:19.520 --> 00:40:25.380
 we become so easily distracted by the world around us

00:40:25.380 --> 00:40:29.220
 by our desires and we grab onto control

00:40:29.220 --> 00:40:32.220
 and we have fear and we have doubt and we have shame

00:40:32.220 --> 00:40:33.740
 and we worry

00:40:33.740 --> 00:40:37.840
 I know you're looking at us going guys

00:40:37.840 --> 00:40:40.940
 chill out

00:40:40.940 --> 00:40:44.300
 I'm in control

00:40:44.300 --> 00:40:48.420
 I'm working through all these things

00:40:48.420 --> 00:40:51.920
 you can trust me

00:40:51.920 --> 00:40:54.380
 I gave you my son

00:40:54.380 --> 00:40:57.320
 there's nothing else I can give you

00:40:57.320 --> 00:41:01.480
 I'm not going to ruin your life script and story

00:41:01.480 --> 00:41:04.460
 there's something amazing coming

00:41:04.460 --> 00:41:07.740
 because one day we're going to be home

00:41:07.740 --> 00:41:11.139
 Father pray for us

00:41:11.139 --> 00:41:14.559
 pray that if the rest of us are like me

00:41:14.559 --> 00:41:15.920
 that we need people in our lives to

00:41:15.920 --> 00:41:17.880
 continually, continually, continually

00:41:17.880 --> 00:41:19.800
 share these things to us over and over

00:41:19.800 --> 00:41:20.880
 and encourage us

00:41:20.880 --> 00:41:22.960
 and ask us

00:41:22.960 --> 00:41:24.460
 and exhort us

00:41:24.460 --> 00:41:25.360
 and convict us

00:41:25.360 --> 00:41:27.139
 when we've lost our way

00:41:27.139 --> 00:41:28.440
 and we've lost our focus

00:41:28.440 --> 00:41:33.200
 Father we thank you that you

00:41:33.200 --> 00:41:35.260
 are the God of second chances

00:41:35.260 --> 00:41:39.119
 and that your word as we read today

00:41:39.119 --> 00:41:41.200
 says that you never give up on your children

00:41:41.200 --> 00:41:45.740
 and what I pray for this church here

00:41:45.740 --> 00:41:47.059
 we know that you put us here

00:41:47.059 --> 00:41:48.000
 in this part of Hong Kong

00:41:48.000 --> 00:41:48.659
 on this island

00:41:48.659 --> 00:41:49.700
 on this western part

00:41:49.700 --> 00:41:52.360
 to not just come and be a club for ourselves

00:41:52.360 --> 00:41:53.400
 but you brought us here

00:41:53.400 --> 00:41:54.960
 so that we could reach out to the people

00:41:54.960 --> 00:41:56.960
 who do not yet know your son

00:41:56.960 --> 00:42:00.619
 the people who are clinging to other things

00:42:00.619 --> 00:42:02.920
 for significance and security and hope

00:42:02.920 --> 00:42:04.000
 and they have other promises

00:42:04.000 --> 00:42:04.900
 that they hold on to

00:42:04.900 --> 00:42:07.340
 Lord help us to remember

00:42:07.340 --> 00:42:08.019
 what it was like

00:42:08.019 --> 00:42:09.280
 when we held on to a promise

00:42:09.280 --> 00:42:10.059
 that wasn't real

00:42:10.059 --> 00:42:13.199
 give us the courage

00:42:13.199 --> 00:42:14.619
 to love those around us

00:42:14.619 --> 00:42:16.720
 to speak to our neighbors

00:42:16.720 --> 00:42:17.780
 and to our classmates

00:42:17.780 --> 00:42:18.940
 and to our colleagues

00:42:18.940 --> 00:42:19.940
 and to our bosses

00:42:19.940 --> 00:42:22.380
 all the while realizing

00:42:22.380 --> 00:42:23.139
 that you're there

00:42:23.139 --> 00:42:26.260
 and you're doing an amazing thing

00:42:26.260 --> 00:42:27.740
 no matter what comes into our life

00:42:27.740 --> 00:42:31.000
 and we can trust you

00:42:31.000 --> 00:42:33.600
 because you're good

00:42:33.600 --> 00:42:38.080
 because you're good

00:42:38.080 --> 00:42:41.560
 Father we love you

00:42:41.560 --> 00:42:44.180
 we pray these things in your son Jesus name

00:42:44.180 --> 00:42:45.300
 Amen

00:42:45.300 --> 00:42:49.840
 Amen

00:42:49.840 --> 00:42:51.840
 Amen

00:42:51.840 --> 00:42:52.860
 Amen

00:42:52.860 --> 00:42:53.880
 Amen

00:42:53.880 --> 00:42:58.200
 Amen