WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.260 We're going to read now from Proverbs chapter 9. 00:00:04.580 --> 00:00:05.860 So it's Proverbs 9. 00:00:07.120 --> 00:00:08.880 Wisdom has built her house. 00:00:09.320 --> 00:00:10.939 She has hewn her seven pillars. 00:00:11.580 --> 00:00:14.419 She has slaughtered her beast and she has mixed her wine. 00:00:14.599 --> 00:00:16.059 She has also set her table. 00:00:17.059 --> 00:00:21.920 She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town. 00:00:22.839 --> 00:00:25.420 Whoever is simple, let him turn in here. 00:00:25.420 --> 00:00:28.100 To him who lacks sense, she says, 00:00:28.100 --> 00:00:32.060 Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. 00:00:32.700 --> 00:00:37.359 Leave your simple ways and live and walk in the way of insight. 00:00:38.439 --> 00:00:41.800 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse. 00:00:42.500 --> 00:00:45.900 And he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. 00:00:47.040 --> 00:00:49.960 Do not reprove a scoffer or he will hate you. 00:00:50.520 --> 00:00:52.880 Reprove a wise man and he will love you. 00:00:53.740 --> 00:00:57.900 Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser. 00:00:58.100 --> 00:01:02.219 Teach a righteous man and he will increase in learning. 00:01:02.980 --> 00:01:08.560 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. 00:01:09.659 --> 00:01:14.560 For by me your days will be multiplied and years will be added to your life. 00:01:15.500 --> 00:01:18.439 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. 00:01:18.939 --> 00:01:21.379 If you scoff, you alone will bear it. 00:01:21.379 --> 00:01:25.439 The woman folly is loud. 00:01:26.019 --> 00:01:28.259 She is seductive and knows nothing. 00:01:29.259 --> 00:01:31.179 She sits at the door of her house. 00:01:31.519 --> 00:01:34.219 She takes a seat on the highest places of the town. 00:01:34.939 --> 00:01:38.859 Calling to those who pass by who are going straight on their way. 00:01:40.259 --> 00:01:42.579 Whoever is simple, let him turn in here. 00:01:42.579 --> 00:01:50.539 And to him who lacks sense, she says, stolen water is sweet and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. 00:01:51.620 --> 00:01:57.340 But he does not know that the dead are there and her guests are in the depths of Sheol. 00:01:57.599 --> 00:01:58.079 Good morning. 00:01:58.079 --> 00:01:58.120 Good morning. 00:02:00.679 --> 00:02:02.900 Well, will you pray with me as we come to God's word? 00:02:03.299 --> 00:02:03.579 Let's pray. 00:02:04.420 --> 00:02:08.919 Yeah, Lord, we don't want to be wise in our own eyes. 00:02:09.020 --> 00:02:10.360 We want to actually be wise. 00:02:11.340 --> 00:02:18.800 So I pray that you would give us the posture of a learner sitting at your feet, 00:02:19.419 --> 00:02:22.500 always absorbing your words. 00:02:22.500 --> 00:02:27.099 Lord, I pray that you would lead us to the way of life. 00:02:28.360 --> 00:02:29.539 And I pray this in Jesus' name. 00:02:29.800 --> 00:02:30.020 Amen. 00:02:33.199 --> 00:02:36.360 Well, hopefully you agree with me. 00:02:36.759 --> 00:02:39.120 I obviously need to add some nuance to this. 00:02:39.280 --> 00:02:46.840 But Australian society, generally speaking, still very much believes in human rights, don't we? 00:02:47.360 --> 00:02:50.639 People talk about human rights all the time. 00:02:50.639 --> 00:02:55.299 Most people who don't believe in God still want to be treated with dignity 00:02:55.299 --> 00:02:57.979 and still think it's good to treat others with dignity. 00:02:59.000 --> 00:03:02.000 It's good to share our goods, give to charity. 00:03:02.299 --> 00:03:06.539 And when there's a disaster, we want to rally together and help each other out. 00:03:06.599 --> 00:03:08.399 That's still virtuous. 00:03:09.679 --> 00:03:12.599 That we not oppress people and exploit people. 00:03:12.599 --> 00:03:17.619 So people who don't believe in God still see all these virtues as good. 00:03:17.620 --> 00:03:28.000 I just want to take a moment and look at the basis for those virtues from a materialistic view of the world. 00:03:28.180 --> 00:03:33.840 So in someone who doesn't believe in God, there is nothing besides what we can see. 00:03:34.099 --> 00:03:35.219 So there is no soul. 00:03:35.879 --> 00:03:37.000 It's just cause and effect. 00:03:37.080 --> 00:03:37.759 There is no God. 00:03:38.400 --> 00:03:39.340 Everything is material. 00:03:39.340 --> 00:03:44.659 So that interpretation of the world, what's the basis for those virtues? 00:03:45.879 --> 00:03:51.599 I'm going to borrow an example illustration from Tim Keller. 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:55.560 So he read out this letter that was printed in the New York Times. 00:03:56.020 --> 00:03:59.159 It's just so short and gets to the point so quickly. 00:04:00.199 --> 00:04:01.599 I couldn't come up with a better example. 00:04:01.719 --> 00:04:02.219 So here we go. 00:04:03.099 --> 00:04:07.460 Here's what the New York Times printed just about five years ago. 00:04:07.460 --> 00:04:13.040 So someone wrote in, there are 30,000 galaxies. 00:04:13.900 --> 00:04:15.520 So we're talking about the night sky here. 00:04:15.640 --> 00:04:16.699 30,000 galaxies. 00:04:16.900 --> 00:04:19.360 I thought there was more than that, but someone can correct that later. 00:04:19.840 --> 00:04:24.879 That are over 13 billion years old with many trillions of stars. 00:04:25.060 --> 00:04:28.480 And around those stars, many more inferred planets. 00:04:29.079 --> 00:04:31.860 Like that's just, you can't even get your head around that, can you? 00:04:31.980 --> 00:04:33.360 Don't you love the night sky? 00:04:33.500 --> 00:04:35.280 You just, you can't get your head around that. 00:04:35.279 --> 00:04:39.059 Here's what this person concluded. 00:04:40.439 --> 00:04:44.000 So how significant are you as an individual? 00:04:45.519 --> 00:04:47.039 You are not special. 00:04:48.519 --> 00:04:53.819 You are just another piece of decaying matter on the compost pile of this world. 00:04:53.819 --> 00:05:05.920 Nothing of who you are or of what you do in the short time you are here will ever matter. 00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:11.899 Everything short of that realisation is vanity. 00:05:11.899 --> 00:05:17.739 Are you feeling empowered to live well? 00:05:21.500 --> 00:05:24.139 This guy's not being sarcastic. 00:05:24.399 --> 00:05:26.299 Let's take an honest view of reality. 00:05:26.979 --> 00:05:27.879 Here's his conclusion. 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:31.439 So, therefore, celebrate life. 00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:38.600 In every moment, admire its wonders and love people without reservation. 00:05:38.819 --> 00:05:39.319 Full stop. 00:05:46.100 --> 00:05:50.920 Do you see the logic between your life having no meaning, 00:05:51.759 --> 00:05:53.180 nothing you do will ever matter, 00:05:53.860 --> 00:05:55.480 no one will remember what you do, 00:05:55.480 --> 00:05:59.379 and you should love people without reservation. 00:05:59.800 --> 00:06:01.420 I don't see the link. 00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:02.540 I'm not sure if you can. 00:06:03.200 --> 00:06:04.660 It doesn't seem obvious. 00:06:04.860 --> 00:06:07.980 It seems like a very large leap of faith, 00:06:08.700 --> 00:06:09.900 a blind leap of faith. 00:06:11.040 --> 00:06:13.160 So I just want to make two points as we start. 00:06:13.160 --> 00:06:16.240 The first is, using this illustration, 00:06:16.480 --> 00:06:22.980 that science stopped when that person stopped describing what's in the night sky. 00:06:23.640 --> 00:06:24.860 As soon as they asked, 00:06:25.580 --> 00:06:27.140 so what does this mean for you, 00:06:27.700 --> 00:06:29.120 that's no longer science. 00:06:29.400 --> 00:06:31.820 That's going into a belief system. 00:06:33.100 --> 00:06:37.480 So someone with a materialistic view of the world has a belief. 00:06:38.400 --> 00:06:40.840 They can't prove their belief, 00:06:41.320 --> 00:06:42.480 but it is a belief. 00:06:42.480 --> 00:06:44.640 The second thing I want to point out is that 00:06:44.640 --> 00:06:49.780 to jump to the virtues of we should love one another without reservation, 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:52.180 that requires a lot of faith, doesn't it? 00:06:52.620 --> 00:06:55.140 To see the world as nothing you do matters, 00:06:55.720 --> 00:06:56.939 and therefore I should love you. 00:06:57.500 --> 00:06:58.460 I should serve you. 00:06:59.460 --> 00:07:01.060 What's the connection there? 00:07:03.100 --> 00:07:04.180 Does that work? 00:07:04.439 --> 00:07:06.379 Does this view of the world work? 00:07:06.379 --> 00:07:12.519 So I want to use that to lead into our question today. 00:07:12.680 --> 00:07:18.360 How do we as Christians live well in a post-Christian society? 00:07:18.519 --> 00:07:22.540 And in our society, the popular view is that materialistic view that... 00:07:22.540 --> 00:07:28.060 And therefore, because there is no grand purpose in life, 00:07:28.560 --> 00:07:29.960 no grand authority, 00:07:30.560 --> 00:07:33.500 it's the individual that creates their meaning. 00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:34.700 There is no grand meaning, 00:07:34.840 --> 00:07:37.420 so you create your own meaning and purpose, 00:07:37.580 --> 00:07:38.439 whatever you decide. 00:07:39.200 --> 00:07:40.400 That's the basis for it. 00:07:40.399 --> 00:07:42.839 How does a Christian live well in this society? 00:07:42.959 --> 00:07:45.219 It's a very different view of the world. 00:07:46.979 --> 00:07:47.959 To put it differently, 00:07:48.219 --> 00:07:50.539 what does Proverbs, the book of Proverbs, 00:07:50.739 --> 00:07:54.039 teach Christians about living well in a society that rejects God? 00:07:54.040 --> 00:07:59.260 Now, I could have looked at individual Proverbs 00:07:59.260 --> 00:08:01.379 and got advice from there. 00:08:01.520 --> 00:08:02.860 There's probably some benefit in that, 00:08:02.960 --> 00:08:06.820 but I'd like to take a big picture view of the whole book of Proverbs, 00:08:06.960 --> 00:08:09.460 which might be fitting that we've got one more. 00:08:09.900 --> 00:08:12.600 Marty's going to finish off the book of Proverbs next week, 00:08:12.660 --> 00:08:16.840 so it might be fitting for us to see where we've gone as well. 00:08:18.020 --> 00:08:20.259 So stepping back at the whole book of Proverbs, 00:08:20.259 --> 00:08:22.660 I want to make three points this morning, 00:08:22.660 --> 00:08:24.500 using chapter 9 as a platform. 00:08:25.780 --> 00:08:30.000 The first is that every person is putting their confidence 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:32.160 in something to give them life. 00:08:32.259 --> 00:08:34.580 Ever since ancient times when this was written, 00:08:34.940 --> 00:08:37.200 there's always been two fundamental choices, 00:08:37.720 --> 00:08:40.120 putting your confidence in God, in the Lord, 00:08:40.200 --> 00:08:42.220 to give you the best life or something else, 00:08:42.340 --> 00:08:45.120 something in creation that will give you life. 00:08:46.379 --> 00:08:50.420 So they're pictured as woman wisdom and woman folly, 00:08:50.419 --> 00:08:53.279 calling out, here, I've got the best life. 00:08:54.240 --> 00:08:55.500 It's always been the case. 00:08:55.620 --> 00:08:58.719 People were putting their faith in something to give them the best life. 00:09:00.099 --> 00:09:05.240 The second thing that Proverbs teaches us is that God's ways work, 00:09:05.319 --> 00:09:07.679 and there's a very good reason why they work. 00:09:08.059 --> 00:09:11.679 It's because God created the world through his wisdom. 00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:15.799 So living his way is in accord with reality. 00:09:17.179 --> 00:09:21.559 And the third thing I think Proverbs teaches us about living well in our society 00:09:21.559 --> 00:09:26.500 is that Proverbs exposes that we've actually been foolish, 00:09:27.019 --> 00:09:32.039 that following the guidance in this book isn't enough to live well. 00:09:32.199 --> 00:09:34.019 It actually exposes our foolishness. 00:09:34.159 --> 00:09:37.019 The book of Proverbs pushes us beyond Proverbs, 00:09:37.599 --> 00:09:38.679 that we need a saviour. 00:09:38.679 --> 00:09:42.879 So let's take a look at these few points. 00:09:44.759 --> 00:09:46.759 If you have your Bibles open to chapter 9, 00:09:46.859 --> 00:09:49.399 we'll be mainly in chapter 9 and a little bit of chapter 8. 00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:54.259 So chapter 9 is the turning point in the book. 00:09:54.379 --> 00:09:58.059 It's the climax of the first few chapters that have just been imploring you, 00:09:58.259 --> 00:09:59.679 choose wisdom. 00:10:00.439 --> 00:10:03.079 It gives you, it's more precious than jewels. 00:10:04.199 --> 00:10:05.179 Choose wisdom. 00:10:05.179 --> 00:10:08.039 If you go down the other path, it leads to death. 00:10:08.679 --> 00:10:13.539 It's just been nine chapters to try and convince us that we have a choice to make. 00:10:14.439 --> 00:10:18.839 Which should probably tell us straight away that we don't naturally choose wisdom. 00:10:18.979 --> 00:10:20.519 We actually need, it takes effort. 00:10:23.399 --> 00:10:27.659 And what we're presented with here is a metaphor, two metaphor, 00:10:27.839 --> 00:10:30.659 two metaphorical women presenting two ways to live. 00:10:31.079 --> 00:10:32.879 Woman wisdom calling out. 00:10:33.699 --> 00:10:35.359 Woman folly calling out. 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:36.419 So we're hearing. 00:10:37.100 --> 00:10:42.419 We're constantly hearing this choice and we've got to choose who we're going to listen to. 00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:44.940 Both have prepared a banquet. 00:10:46.019 --> 00:10:50.300 Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed, says woman wisdom. 00:10:50.539 --> 00:10:52.159 Leave your simple ways and live. 00:10:53.039 --> 00:10:54.560 And walk in the way of insight. 00:10:54.559 --> 00:10:59.459 I've killed the, what is it, the fattened ox. 00:10:59.959 --> 00:11:02.259 I've prepared a banquet for you. 00:11:02.359 --> 00:11:04.119 If you come in, you will be satisfied. 00:11:04.879 --> 00:11:07.579 It is, the drink is wonderful. 00:11:08.339 --> 00:11:09.259 It's a party. 00:11:09.619 --> 00:11:10.359 Come in. 00:11:11.719 --> 00:11:12.739 It'll be well. 00:11:12.799 --> 00:11:14.519 But then we've got another choice. 00:11:15.899 --> 00:11:19.359 Woman folly has also got a banquet for us. 00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:23.600 Stolen water is sweet and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. 00:11:25.399 --> 00:11:26.139 Come in. 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:28.480 You will be satisfied. 00:11:30.460 --> 00:11:33.440 So both are offering a satisfaction. 00:11:33.440 --> 00:11:40.260 One of them leads to life, but the other leads to ruin and misery. 00:11:40.460 --> 00:11:41.060 Verse 18. 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:50.220 Folly is calling out, but once you go in, you don't realise that in the basement is a pile of dead bodies. 00:11:53.080 --> 00:11:58.780 He does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol. 00:11:58.779 --> 00:12:03.120 So both women are inviting us to come into their house. 00:12:03.179 --> 00:12:04.439 So there's a choice to be made. 00:12:08.100 --> 00:12:11.659 If we step back and think about how the original audience would have heard this, 00:12:11.779 --> 00:12:16.839 how would an Israelite in ancient times, in the day of Solomon and the kings and afterwards, 00:12:16.980 --> 00:12:20.740 how would an Israelite have heard what chapter 9 is saying? 00:12:21.139 --> 00:12:24.339 They would have heard of it as a metaphor, as we should as well. 00:12:24.340 --> 00:12:29.600 They would have seen it as a choice between following Yahweh, like the law and the prophets say. 00:12:29.720 --> 00:12:31.820 If you follow Yahweh, it will lead to blessing. 00:12:32.540 --> 00:12:37.200 If you follow the gods of the world, it will not go well for you. 00:12:38.180 --> 00:12:40.980 So the gods of Baal in particular. 00:12:41.280 --> 00:12:47.379 So an ancient Israelite would have heard this as really representing God versus other gods of the world. 00:12:50.660 --> 00:12:53.480 An Israelite would have been confronted with the choice, 00:12:53.480 --> 00:12:57.620 am I in relationship with Yahweh or am I in relationship with Baal? 00:12:57.820 --> 00:12:59.899 Who do I think is giving the best life? 00:13:03.580 --> 00:13:07.620 This choice has been around since Adam and Eve, since the fall. 00:13:09.019 --> 00:13:11.820 The choice of disobeying God wasn't presented as, 00:13:11.960 --> 00:13:14.120 hey, do this and it will suck. 00:13:14.279 --> 00:13:15.980 It will lead you to ruin. 00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:18.300 It will really damage you. 00:13:18.920 --> 00:13:20.399 That's not how it was presented. 00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:22.440 It was presented, you'll be wise. 00:13:22.440 --> 00:13:24.140 You will have the best life. 00:13:24.200 --> 00:13:25.160 You'll be like God. 00:13:25.680 --> 00:13:27.240 It was presented as wisdom. 00:13:27.580 --> 00:13:29.040 It was a false wisdom. 00:13:30.200 --> 00:13:32.500 And it did end in death. 00:13:32.660 --> 00:13:34.300 Death to all of us. 00:13:36.040 --> 00:13:37.960 So this has always been the choice. 00:13:38.340 --> 00:13:43.200 It's not like a post-Christian problem is 10 or 20 years old. 00:13:43.280 --> 00:13:46.300 This has always been the fundamental choice. 00:13:46.299 --> 00:13:51.179 How do you live wise in a world where there's this choice all the time? 00:13:53.879 --> 00:13:58.879 Then the Son of God appears in Jesus and this choice becomes clearer. 00:14:00.139 --> 00:14:04.259 Do you think Jesus offers the best life or something else? 00:14:05.259 --> 00:14:07.699 And that choice is ours today. 00:14:07.899 --> 00:14:09.459 That is still the choice today. 00:14:09.460 --> 00:14:12.580 Which do you think will satisfy you? 00:14:13.940 --> 00:14:16.740 Okay, so that so far, it's quite abstract, isn't it? 00:14:16.759 --> 00:14:17.280 It's a metaphor. 00:14:17.860 --> 00:14:19.500 But then Proverbs doesn't stay abstract. 00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:21.940 It goes very, very concrete, doesn't it? 00:14:22.040 --> 00:14:23.139 Chapter 10 onwards. 00:14:24.500 --> 00:14:26.920 We'll come back to this, but chapter 10, verse 1. 00:14:27.300 --> 00:14:32.280 A wise son makes a glad father, and a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother. 00:14:32.280 --> 00:14:35.019 This abstract just goes really concrete. 00:14:35.019 --> 00:14:37.340 There's a reason for that. 00:14:39.779 --> 00:14:44.159 Taken in isolation, these verses could be seen as magic. 00:14:44.639 --> 00:14:48.120 You plug it in, and your life will go well. 00:14:50.259 --> 00:14:52.819 Unfortunately, I think a lot of Christians treat Proverbs like that. 00:14:52.899 --> 00:14:58.679 We go, okay, I should treat my parents well, and it will go well for me. 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:01.399 Is that what Proverbs is doing? 00:15:01.399 --> 00:15:06.240 I want to kind of go yes and no, and we'll come to the yes later on. 00:15:06.919 --> 00:15:12.779 But Tremper Longman, a commentator, he really helps in understand what Proverbs is teaching us. 00:15:13.259 --> 00:15:21.079 He calls them a thermometer, a thermometer of one's relationship with woman wisdom, who is the Lord. 00:15:21.080 --> 00:15:40.560 So all these little pithy sayings, which cover a variety of topics, like friendship and speech and anger and justice in the courts and rulers and those who are being led and children and parents and your work and your rest. 00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:47.239 Your money, what you think will satisfy, like it just covers all these aspects of life. 00:15:47.359 --> 00:15:48.819 And isn't that what life is like? 00:15:49.379 --> 00:15:54.399 It's just all these different aspects that we are confronted with day in and day out. 00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:58.299 It's very ordinary stuff. 00:15:59.360 --> 00:16:01.199 Most of life is ordinary, isn't it? 00:16:02.679 --> 00:16:13.539 There's not many moments in life where it is a huge decision and you know that one is clearly honoring the Lord, one isn't, and it's going to have massive consequences for the rest of your life. 00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:19.019 There's a few of those moments in our lives, but most of our life is, it's rather ordinary, isn't it? 00:16:19.019 --> 00:16:26.559 Like, will I, I don't know, retaliate to that harsh word? 00:16:27.220 --> 00:16:30.059 It's a rather ordinary situation. 00:16:30.980 --> 00:16:36.299 And that's where Proverbs meets us, in the ordinary and shows that it's not just ordinary. 00:16:38.539 --> 00:16:40.519 They're a temperature of our hearts. 00:16:42.199 --> 00:16:48.779 Am I fearing the Lord in this moment or am I trusting in idols in this moment? 00:16:49.419 --> 00:16:54.980 So I'm going to borrow from Tremper Longman who uses chapter 10 verse 1 as an example of this. 00:16:55.419 --> 00:17:02.120 So a wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother. 00:17:03.819 --> 00:17:04.980 Here's what Longman says. 00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:13.579 The effect of this proverb and all the proverbs is to lead us to ponder our relationship with our parents. 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:16.900 If I bring joy to my parents, then I am wise. 00:17:16.900 --> 00:17:24.120 That means my behaviour reveals that I am in relationship with woman wisdom, which means I am a follower of Yahweh. 00:17:24.700 --> 00:17:31.280 As a Christian, it shows that I am aligned with the one who is the treasure of God's wisdom, namely Christ. 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:42.279 Or we might be forced to conclude, if I bring grief to my parents, then I demonstrate that I am in the arms of woman folly. 00:17:42.440 --> 00:17:46.339 With a New Testament reading, I am really in league with the devil. 00:17:46.339 --> 00:17:51.959 Do you see how the thermometer works? 00:17:52.399 --> 00:17:57.019 If you think about what kind of idols would lead you to grieve your parents? 00:17:57.079 --> 00:17:58.339 I could think of a few. 00:17:58.599 --> 00:17:59.559 You might be able to think of more. 00:17:59.679 --> 00:18:11.579 But I could imagine the idol of career and making a name for yourself, just consuming all your energies and therefore you basically cut off your parents. 00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:13.659 That could cause a grief. 00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:26.839 I could imagine that the idol of acceptance from peers would lead you to choices that don't please your parents. 00:18:27.919 --> 00:18:30.839 So you just must be accepted by your friends. 00:18:32.139 --> 00:18:36.059 That idol could make you grieve your parents. 00:18:36.059 --> 00:18:46.899 I could imagine a romantic partner slowly demanding that you cut ties with your parents for their sake, without good reason. 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:53.259 Maybe the idol of needing that relationship could cut you off from your parents. 00:18:53.419 --> 00:18:54.980 Or then there's the religious idols. 00:18:55.179 --> 00:19:04.419 Jesus comes down hard on the Pharisees because the Pharisees set up a rule that whatever money and care that you owe your parents, looking after them, 00:19:04.420 --> 00:19:08.940 as long as you give that to the church, that's okay. 00:19:09.740 --> 00:19:11.259 You've done your God-given duty. 00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:13.480 And Jesus slams the Pharisees. 00:19:13.580 --> 00:19:14.400 That is not okay. 00:19:15.620 --> 00:19:19.160 Do you see how those idols could make us grieve our parents? 00:19:21.860 --> 00:19:27.880 So it's a thermometer of the heart, those ordinary situations where we live. 00:19:27.880 --> 00:19:35.740 Are we listening to God and trusting his ways or are we in the arms of an idol? 00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:38.740 But we've got to remember these aren't absolute. 00:19:40.380 --> 00:19:41.700 They're not magic. 00:19:41.840 --> 00:19:43.180 They're not absolute saying. 00:19:43.380 --> 00:19:48.980 So you could grieve your parents by becoming a Christian, giving your life to Christ. 00:19:49.100 --> 00:19:50.200 Maybe that grieves your parents. 00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:51.640 These aren't absolute. 00:19:51.640 --> 00:19:58.440 But generally speaking, they tell us, am I in relationship with the Lord or some idol? 00:20:01.800 --> 00:20:10.960 So why does understanding this fundamental choice in life that we are confronted with concretely, day in and day out, 00:20:11.040 --> 00:20:15.400 in the ordinary choices, how does that help us live in a world that rejects God? 00:20:15.400 --> 00:20:20.560 I think it helps us understand temptation to sin. 00:20:23.080 --> 00:20:29.360 Temptation to sin doesn't take willpower to choose what's right rather than doing what's wrong. 00:20:29.780 --> 00:20:36.400 What we're confronted with is two offers of satisfaction for our heart to decide. 00:20:36.940 --> 00:20:41.800 Which will satisfy you most, the Lord's way or the world's way? 00:20:41.799 --> 00:20:44.519 It's not just about willpower. 00:20:44.680 --> 00:20:46.859 It's a fight for the affections of your heart. 00:20:47.779 --> 00:20:50.519 So I think understanding this helps us understand temptation. 00:20:52.180 --> 00:20:57.740 I think it also helps us understand our neighbours who don't believe in God 00:20:57.740 --> 00:21:01.379 and helps us to have a positive witness to God's ways. 00:21:01.380 --> 00:21:11.840 It's not that I have faith as a Christian and someone with a materialistic view of the world doesn't have faith. 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:12.720 They've got science. 00:21:12.860 --> 00:21:14.340 That is not what's going on. 00:21:14.820 --> 00:21:17.000 What's going on is we both have faith. 00:21:17.340 --> 00:21:20.620 Just we are trusting in different banquets to satisfy. 00:21:22.320 --> 00:21:26.620 Christians, hopefully we're trusting in the Lord, relationship with the Lord to satisfy. 00:21:26.619 --> 00:21:33.299 And I suppose the materialistic view is you can do what you want. 00:21:35.459 --> 00:21:38.039 You can do whatever is right in your own eyes. 00:21:38.500 --> 00:21:40.119 Is that going to satisfy you? 00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:43.000 So it helps us understand our neighbours. 00:21:44.359 --> 00:21:47.459 We don't need to be defensive going, 00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:51.739 Oh, Christianity is right because of this, this and this. 00:21:51.779 --> 00:21:53.059 We don't have to be on the defensive. 00:21:53.059 --> 00:21:56.720 We can actually ask questions of our neighbours going, 00:21:56.859 --> 00:21:58.179 Why do you believe that? 00:21:59.899 --> 00:22:04.039 And just check if they understand the basis of why they believe what they believe. 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:05.839 If we ask that a few times, 00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:12.659 it might actually expose that maybe they don't have a good reason why they believe what they believe. 00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:14.259 Why do you believe in human rights? 00:22:15.139 --> 00:22:16.240 What's the basis for that? 00:22:17.980 --> 00:22:21.200 We don't always have to be on the defensive for Christianity. 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:24.140 We're both coming in with a belief system. 00:22:28.200 --> 00:22:31.420 But then it brings us to a positive way to be a witness. 00:22:32.100 --> 00:22:34.100 And that brings me to my second point, 00:22:34.259 --> 00:22:40.420 that we can be a witness for God by showing that God's way is best. 00:22:40.600 --> 00:22:41.200 God's way works. 00:22:42.660 --> 00:22:43.940 God's way is good. 00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:46.279 It is the most satisfying. 00:22:46.279 --> 00:22:50.339 That is how Proverbs appeals to us. 00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:51.680 It is the most satisfying. 00:22:52.099 --> 00:22:54.639 And that's how we can engage with our neighbours. 00:22:57.639 --> 00:23:01.559 Proverbs gives us a very good reason why God's ways work. 00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:04.579 And that's where we turn to chapter 8, if you want to flick over there. 00:23:08.180 --> 00:23:10.319 Proverbs says in chapter 8, 00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:13.839 So this is woman wisdom speaking. 00:23:14.579 --> 00:23:15.700 It's in her words. 00:23:15.859 --> 00:23:17.379 Picking up at verse 27. 00:23:17.380 --> 00:23:22.600 When he, God, established the heavens, I was there. 00:23:23.820 --> 00:23:25.900 When he drew a circle on the face of the deep. 00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:28.460 When he made firm the skies above. 00:23:28.580 --> 00:23:30.480 When he established the fountains of the deep. 00:23:30.600 --> 00:23:32.560 When he assigned to the sea its limit. 00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:36.080 So that the waters might not transgress his command. 00:23:37.020 --> 00:23:40.200 When he marked out the foundations of the earth. 00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:43.960 When I look at like Newcastle Beach. 00:23:44.420 --> 00:23:46.680 Or, or, uh, Nobby's Beach. 00:23:46.840 --> 00:23:49.299 Like, it's just, wow. 00:23:49.460 --> 00:23:50.600 That is such power. 00:23:52.259 --> 00:23:54.920 When God was marking out that territory. 00:23:55.620 --> 00:23:56.600 Wisdom was there. 00:23:57.819 --> 00:24:00.299 Then I was beside him like a master workman. 00:24:01.240 --> 00:24:02.720 And I was daily his delight. 00:24:02.840 --> 00:24:04.400 Rejoicing before him always. 00:24:04.580 --> 00:24:07.220 Rejoicing in his inhabited world. 00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:09.319 And delighting in the children of man. 00:24:09.319 --> 00:24:11.519 And now, O sons, listen to me. 00:24:11.619 --> 00:24:13.299 Blessed are those who keep my ways. 00:24:14.119 --> 00:24:16.200 Hear instruction and be wise. 00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:17.220 And do not neglect it. 00:24:18.099 --> 00:24:19.960 Blessed is the one who listens to me. 00:24:20.059 --> 00:24:21.500 Watching daily at my gates. 00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:22.659 Waiting beside my doors. 00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:24.919 For whoever finds me finds life. 00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:27.119 And obtains favour from the Lord. 00:24:27.179 --> 00:24:29.319 But he who fails to find me injures himself. 00:24:30.379 --> 00:24:32.579 All who hate me love death. 00:24:34.379 --> 00:24:37.439 Do you see the reason why God's way works? 00:24:37.440 --> 00:24:41.080 It works because wisdom was how God created the world. 00:24:42.440 --> 00:24:45.980 If you want to be living in accord with reality. 00:24:46.320 --> 00:24:47.240 Which I hope you do. 00:24:47.400 --> 00:24:51.400 And like, I don't know if you just want to be living a fantasy life. 00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:53.960 But if you want to live in accord with reality. 00:24:55.720 --> 00:24:57.720 God's ways is the way. 00:24:57.860 --> 00:25:00.640 Because wisdom was the one who created it. 00:25:00.640 --> 00:25:03.000 Or God created it through wisdom. 00:25:06.920 --> 00:25:10.500 Now, I've got a pretty hard task right now. 00:25:10.680 --> 00:25:12.840 And trying to convince you that God's ways are best. 00:25:13.100 --> 00:25:14.500 And I don't actually think I can. 00:25:15.340 --> 00:25:19.200 So I'm kind of stuck here. 00:25:20.040 --> 00:25:24.680 Like, I've heard of the medical benefits of being the Christian lifestyle. 00:25:24.680 --> 00:25:28.480 Like, apparently you live longer if you live in community. 00:25:28.660 --> 00:25:29.620 Like a church. 00:25:30.640 --> 00:25:31.440 You live longer. 00:25:31.539 --> 00:25:32.259 So we can put it up. 00:25:33.160 --> 00:25:34.019 A sign out front. 00:25:34.100 --> 00:25:34.640 Come to church. 00:25:34.759 --> 00:25:35.279 You live longer. 00:25:37.880 --> 00:25:39.400 I was tempted to go down that route. 00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:41.120 But to be honest, I can't convince you. 00:25:41.180 --> 00:25:43.340 And I know I can't convince you that God's way works. 00:25:44.039 --> 00:25:45.000 So I'm going to try something. 00:25:45.000 --> 00:25:48.460 I'd like you to use your imagination. 00:25:48.880 --> 00:25:50.539 I want you to picture your life. 00:25:51.400 --> 00:25:53.599 I'm just going to mention an aspect of life. 00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:55.359 And then I'm going to read a proverb. 00:25:56.119 --> 00:25:58.259 And I just want you to have a think. 00:25:58.740 --> 00:26:05.619 Would that aspect of your life be better if you and those around you believed what God says? 00:26:07.180 --> 00:26:08.059 So here we go. 00:26:09.299 --> 00:26:10.339 Use your imagination. 00:26:11.779 --> 00:26:13.640 Imagine you're in a courtroom. 00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:17.039 And you're before a judge and a jury. 00:26:18.039 --> 00:26:21.119 And you're on trial for something you know you didn't do. 00:26:23.920 --> 00:26:27.900 Would you want people to believe Proverbs 14, 25? 00:26:27.900 --> 00:26:32.859 A truthful witness saves lives. 00:26:33.859 --> 00:26:37.519 But one who breathes out lies is deceitful. 00:26:41.960 --> 00:26:43.000 I sure would. 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:52.200 Imagine you're having a drink with a friend and they confide in you something really personal. 00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:58.480 Would this help your friendship if you believe Proverbs 11, 13? 00:26:58.480 --> 00:27:05.880 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets. 00:27:06.579 --> 00:27:10.720 But he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered. 00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:22.579 Imagine you're feeling convicted of your sin before God and you wonder if you could ever be accepted. 00:27:22.579 --> 00:27:23.779 Would Proverbs 14, 9? 00:27:23.779 --> 00:27:26.439 Would Proverbs 14, 9 comfort you? 00:27:28.119 --> 00:27:32.699 Fools mock at the guilt offering, the sacrifice. 00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:36.139 But the upright and joy acceptance. 00:27:41.240 --> 00:27:43.919 Imagine you're in a heated argument with a loved one. 00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:49.080 Would it help if you both believed Proverbs 15, 1? 00:27:49.080 --> 00:27:51.080 A soft answer turns away wrath. 00:27:51.720 --> 00:27:53.840 But a harsh word stirs up anger. 00:27:58.320 --> 00:28:02.720 As you weigh up the values in your family, what will give the best life to your family? 00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:05.460 Do you believe Proverbs 15, 17? 00:28:05.460 --> 00:28:13.779 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it. 00:28:17.779 --> 00:28:22.960 When you're going through a really hard time, like one of the worst seasons of your life, 00:28:23.539 --> 00:28:26.940 would you want your friends to believe Proverbs 17, 17? 00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:33.900 A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity. 00:28:35.880 --> 00:28:37.120 Or 1824. 00:28:37.600 --> 00:28:38.240 He who... 00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:39.080 Oh, that's not right. 00:28:39.320 --> 00:28:41.100 A man of many companions... 00:28:41.100 --> 00:28:42.500 I've got this wrong. 00:28:43.840 --> 00:28:44.700 No, I don't have it wrong. 00:28:44.880 --> 00:28:47.080 A man of many companions may come to ruin, 00:28:47.740 --> 00:28:50.120 but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. 00:28:52.480 --> 00:28:54.480 Would you want that when you're going through a hard time? 00:28:55.519 --> 00:28:56.120 I would. 00:28:56.940 --> 00:29:01.820 And I particularly like 16, 31. 00:29:03.360 --> 00:29:05.460 Grey hair is a crown of glory. 00:29:06.279 --> 00:29:08.120 It is gained in a righteous life. 00:29:09.940 --> 00:29:11.640 Proverbs is true, my friends. 00:29:11.720 --> 00:29:12.380 It's true. 00:29:15.820 --> 00:29:19.779 There's a very good reason why God's ways work. 00:29:20.420 --> 00:29:22.320 That's because it's God's world. 00:29:24.519 --> 00:29:26.759 He created the world through wisdom. 00:29:26.940 --> 00:29:28.000 His ways work. 00:29:28.700 --> 00:29:33.519 And of course there's Proverbs in here that we've actually just got to take at face value 00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:35.220 and give it a go. 00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:39.639 Otherwise, we've just got to trust him to see that it works. 00:29:39.640 --> 00:29:42.400 I think as Christians we can think... 00:29:42.400 --> 00:29:49.560 We can be afraid or ashamed of our Christian beliefs and the implications for how we ought to live. 00:29:50.360 --> 00:29:53.600 Other times we might be seduced by the ways of the worlds, 00:29:53.700 --> 00:29:55.860 but we've got to remember what Proverbs teaches us. 00:29:55.940 --> 00:29:57.500 This is God's world. 00:29:57.600 --> 00:29:58.900 His ways are best for us. 00:29:58.980 --> 00:30:00.840 His ways are best for our neighbours. 00:30:00.839 --> 00:30:03.839 We don't need to be ashamed. 00:30:05.639 --> 00:30:07.299 We don't need to be seduced. 00:30:11.059 --> 00:30:13.699 And I think if they don't seem to be working as Christians, 00:30:13.819 --> 00:30:15.740 we can look to the resurrection of Jesus. 00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:22.220 The resurrection, the glory Jesus has now, the joy he has now, 00:30:23.660 --> 00:30:29.640 that is a huge statement that God's ways work and they work forever. 00:30:29.640 --> 00:30:38.120 God doesn't promise a pain-free life, but he does offer the best life. 00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:45.940 So to live well in God's world, we actually need to listen to what he says. 00:30:47.040 --> 00:30:50.400 The posture of someone who trusts God's ways work 00:30:50.400 --> 00:30:54.920 is someone who is constantly listening to what God says. 00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:58.900 And that brings us back to chapter 9, verses 7 to 10. 00:30:59.640 --> 00:31:05.800 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, 00:31:05.980 --> 00:31:11.000 and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. 00:31:11.940 --> 00:31:15.280 Do not reprove a scoffer or he will hate you. 00:31:16.520 --> 00:31:21.840 Reprove a wise man and he will love you. 00:31:23.280 --> 00:31:27.500 Give instruction to a wise man, he will be wiser still. 00:31:27.500 --> 00:31:33.019 Teach a righteous man and he will increase in learning. 00:31:33.220 --> 00:31:35.720 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom 00:31:35.720 --> 00:31:39.519 and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. 00:31:40.900 --> 00:31:43.660 To trust that God's way works is to listen to God. 00:31:43.920 --> 00:31:46.079 It's that posture Alex was talking about. 00:31:46.339 --> 00:31:47.799 We sit under God's word. 00:31:47.799 --> 00:31:49.180 We believe his word. 00:31:50.500 --> 00:31:53.159 We need it every step of our lives. 00:31:55.099 --> 00:32:00.559 So when we come to God's word, we're not coming to God's word over the top of it to analyse it. 00:32:01.099 --> 00:32:04.319 We're not coming to God's word beside it to have a discussion. 00:32:04.799 --> 00:32:05.919 Okay, God, you think this? 00:32:06.079 --> 00:32:07.519 Well, I kind of think this. 00:32:07.720 --> 00:32:08.899 I'll take and leave that. 00:32:09.799 --> 00:32:10.579 Here's my opinion. 00:32:10.579 --> 00:32:13.579 That's not a wise posture. 00:32:14.159 --> 00:32:16.359 The wise posture is under God's word. 00:32:17.960 --> 00:32:19.319 Ready to be corrected. 00:32:19.720 --> 00:32:20.859 Ready to be instructed. 00:32:23.259 --> 00:32:25.259 So I suppose I want to put it to you. 00:32:25.339 --> 00:32:27.059 Do you believe God's ways work? 00:32:27.199 --> 00:32:28.759 That he has created the world? 00:32:28.839 --> 00:32:33.619 If you do, you'll be sitting with the posture of someone soaking in God's word. 00:32:33.619 --> 00:32:40.139 So how are you listening like a child to your father? 00:32:40.699 --> 00:32:42.559 Ready to be corrected and instructed. 00:32:43.279 --> 00:32:46.159 Is the Sunday sermon the only thing you're listening to? 00:32:50.019 --> 00:32:53.259 Do you seek out the advice of mature Christians? 00:32:56.419 --> 00:32:57.979 Or think a small group. 00:32:57.980 --> 00:33:04.920 Do you find it awkward when someone corrects someone's comment about what the Bible passage is saying or how they're living? 00:33:05.279 --> 00:33:06.680 It's a bit awkward, isn't it? 00:33:07.980 --> 00:33:09.339 That's a bit confrontational. 00:33:09.839 --> 00:33:16.319 Isn't that a wonderful thing to have brothers and sisters who will gently correct us and go, 00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:17.980 no, no, no, this is what God is like. 00:33:18.059 --> 00:33:19.299 This is the best way to live. 00:33:19.559 --> 00:33:20.640 That is a wonderful thing. 00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:23.839 It's a bit awkward, but I reckon we should love it. 00:33:25.700 --> 00:33:27.279 It's part of God's means of grace. 00:33:27.980 --> 00:33:31.980 So living God's world, believing that this is God's word. 00:33:32.720 --> 00:33:34.019 I can't get my words right. 00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:40.839 Believing this is God's world and that his ways of work mean we have a posture of listening ready for correction. 00:33:42.160 --> 00:33:44.599 So how are you practically having that posture? 00:33:50.519 --> 00:33:52.000 So we need to be corrected. 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:56.940 And I think that brings us to the third point I want to draw out of Proverbs. 00:33:57.980 --> 00:34:03.039 I think the book of Proverbs teaches us that the book of Proverbs isn't enough. 00:34:03.039 --> 00:34:08.059 Does that kind of make sense or is that a tautology? 00:34:08.259 --> 00:34:08.480 I don't know. 00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:20.099 The book of Proverbs pushes us out of the book of Proverbs because it presents us two ways to live in relationship with the Lord or idols. 00:34:20.099 --> 00:34:27.579 It gives us concrete ways to measure whether we're trusting in the Lord or leaning on our own understanding, trusting idols. 00:34:28.460 --> 00:34:29.980 So we've got a thermometer for that. 00:34:31.420 --> 00:34:32.460 And yet here's the problem. 00:34:32.559 --> 00:34:33.699 We've got a clear choice. 00:34:34.179 --> 00:34:36.039 We can clearly see which way is good. 00:34:36.039 --> 00:34:40.539 And yet if you're like me, so often I make the foolish choice. 00:34:41.059 --> 00:34:45.460 Proverbs exposes that I'm a fool a lot of the time. 00:34:48.460 --> 00:34:55.480 I deserve the shield, the death that is in the fool's house. 00:34:55.480 --> 00:35:05.280 To be wise, I've got to admit that I'm actually a fool and I deserve the consequences of a fool. 00:35:05.280 --> 00:35:17.500 My foolish choices, other people's foolish choices, just the brokenness of this world, it all cries out for a saviour. 00:35:17.640 --> 00:35:21.360 And I think Proverbs pushes us to go, I need a saviour. 00:35:24.460 --> 00:35:31.200 It pushes us to be ready for Jesus, that he is the one who took the misery that my foolishness deserves. 00:35:31.680 --> 00:35:32.700 He took that himself. 00:35:32.699 --> 00:35:45.019 It pushes us to Jesus, that he is the one who, like a faithful son to his father, trusted God every step of the way, that his ways were right. 00:35:46.699 --> 00:35:55.299 It pushes us to the resurrection, that we do have forgiveness and that his ways do work and do lead to life. 00:35:59.219 --> 00:36:02.559 Encounter our materialistic friends. 00:36:02.699 --> 00:36:06.539 We have those who believe that there is no purpose in life. 00:36:07.119 --> 00:36:07.960 Far from that. 00:36:08.739 --> 00:36:12.319 We're told that my choices are far from ordinary and mundane. 00:36:12.480 --> 00:36:14.759 They show whether I'm trusting the Lord or not. 00:36:16.059 --> 00:36:17.919 Far from my life having no meaning. 00:36:19.439 --> 00:36:21.279 I am known by the Lord. 00:36:21.399 --> 00:36:23.099 I'm put here by the Lord. 00:36:24.299 --> 00:36:25.659 Far from being a nobody. 00:36:26.159 --> 00:36:27.199 The Lord knows me. 00:36:27.199 --> 00:36:29.500 Far from having no hope. 00:36:30.939 --> 00:36:34.899 We have the resurrection that there is life to come. 00:36:36.779 --> 00:36:38.599 Far from my choices not mattering. 00:36:40.519 --> 00:36:42.399 There will be judgment of my life. 00:36:42.819 --> 00:36:43.739 My choices do matter. 00:36:43.739 --> 00:36:48.799 My foolish choices will be covered in Jesus' blood. 00:36:49.579 --> 00:36:58.859 My good choices will be the praise of Jesus' grace that his love produced the wise choice. 00:36:58.860 --> 00:37:03.620 It pushes us to Jesus that we need a saviour. 00:37:03.619 --> 00:37:14.259 So can I finish with an appeal to those of you who might be listening today who are still exploring Christianity? 00:37:14.260 --> 00:37:21.820 If there's even a hint of God's ways working, can I encourage you to explore that further? 00:37:23.160 --> 00:37:27.700 You might just find that there's something better than doing whatever you want. 00:37:28.060 --> 00:37:30.320 And that is a God who loves you. 00:37:31.300 --> 00:37:32.780 And his way is giving you blessing. 00:37:32.780 --> 00:37:39.540 And can I finish with the encouragement for my Christian brothers and sisters? 00:37:40.300 --> 00:37:43.400 I don't think we need to be ashamed of God's ways. 00:37:46.600 --> 00:37:47.940 Because his ways work. 00:37:48.040 --> 00:37:48.980 His ways are best. 00:37:50.820 --> 00:37:55.140 But we also should be humble because Proverbs humbles us that we are fools. 00:37:56.780 --> 00:38:02.120 But it also pushes us to Christ that we can have confidence that we are forgiven. 00:38:02.780 --> 00:38:08.340 And that in his strength, by the Spirit's help, we can choose the wise path. 00:38:09.180 --> 00:38:17.700 I think it gives us encouragement that we can show the world that God's way is better in the ordinary things we do. 00:38:18.040 --> 00:38:21.140 In our friendships, in our work, in our play, with our money. 00:38:21.640 --> 00:38:23.380 Those are not meaningless. 00:38:23.700 --> 00:38:28.280 They can show that you are trusting the Lord and his ways are best. 00:38:28.280 --> 00:38:33.920 Because this is God's world. 00:38:38.780 --> 00:38:39.920 Will you pray with me? 00:38:40.160 --> 00:38:40.480 Let's pray. 00:38:40.480 --> 00:38:58.219 Father, I pray that you would convince each of our hearts that you are good. 00:38:58.219 --> 00:39:16.159 Lord, I pray that you would convince us of this. 00:39:17.500 --> 00:39:22.519 For our sake and for the honour of your name in our society. 00:39:22.519 --> 00:39:24.340 In Jesus' name I pray. 00:39:24.579 --> 00:39:24.840 Amen.