WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.480
 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.

00:00:06.980 --> 00:00:10.620
 Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us.

00:00:12.859 --> 00:00:24.859
 Good morning. Greetings from Colorado. I fear that September 19, 2015 will not be a day that

00:00:24.859 --> 00:00:34.719
 many Alabama, Auburn fans remember, with fondness. But there was another date in reference to Ezekiel

00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:47.019
 and the passage this morning. The date was August 14, 586 B.C. August 14, 586 B.C. You see,

00:00:47.020 --> 00:00:56.760
 10 years earlier, about 10,000 Jews from Judah, and Ezekiel was one of them, were taken to Babylon

00:00:56.760 --> 00:01:05.859
 in exile. And for 10 years, false prophets had told those 10,000 people that it was going to be a short

00:01:05.859 --> 00:01:14.580
 exile. There's no way God will allow Jerusalem to fall. There's no way. Jerusalem is his city,

00:01:14.579 --> 00:01:25.759
 and we just need to wait, and God will restore us. The prophet Ezekiel, he was like a lone witness.

00:01:27.039 --> 00:01:32.939
 If you've ever read that book, you know that the dude was crazy. I mean, he would cut his hair off,

00:01:32.980 --> 00:01:38.659
 he would shave it, he'd put it in piles, he would burn it, he would cook his food over manure. He built

00:01:38.659 --> 00:01:48.519
 little models of a village. He was crazy, and he was the only one that gave the message of the word of the Lord.

00:01:49.420 --> 00:01:58.420
 He was the one that said, the exile is not going to be short. It's going to take a long time. He was the one

00:01:58.420 --> 00:02:04.120
 that said, don't put your faith or your trust in how you were born or your lineage, or don't put your faith

00:02:04.120 --> 00:02:15.319
 in Jerusalem. It will fall. And it happened on August 14th. And you can imagine those exiles

00:02:15.319 --> 00:02:25.879
 as they faced friends, relatives, their people coming into Babylon and realizing,

00:02:25.879 --> 00:02:36.359
 that crazy guy, I think he was telling the truth. Now, I chose Ezekiel 47 because a couple of years ago,

00:02:37.019 --> 00:02:42.919
 it seemed to me as a pastor that there were many in our church that were really frustrated with the

00:02:42.919 --> 00:02:51.859
 direction of our nation. There were many that dreamt of going back to yesterday, maybe a nation in the

00:02:51.860 --> 00:02:57.200
 50s. There were many who worried, what's going to happen to our nation? Can we even call it a

00:02:57.200 --> 00:03:03.400
 Christian nation? Is that a good thing for us? There were many that felt a real sense of despair.

00:03:04.240 --> 00:03:12.300
 And their tendency was to draw into themselves in a sense of protection, digging in.

00:03:13.960 --> 00:03:20.340
 Words of despair. And you've probably heard it. You've probably heard people comparing the United

00:03:20.340 --> 00:03:25.060
 States and saying, are we going to become like Europe? Are we going to have these beautiful

00:03:25.060 --> 00:03:32.560
 buildings like this that eventually are turned into office space or restaurants? That's what's

00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:41.420
 going to happen to the United States. And I thought of the prophet Ezekiel. Here he is speaking to a

00:03:41.420 --> 00:03:48.159
 people that claimed promises, promises from the Word of God, promises that dealt with who they were and

00:03:48.159 --> 00:03:55.159
 what they believed and how they were born and where they were raised. And yet in great despair,

00:03:55.879 --> 00:04:06.419
 as they would have seen their friends, their people. And you've probably watched it on TV,

00:04:06.539 --> 00:04:15.919
 the Syrian refugees. They're facing even worse. They were being carried away as slaves.

00:04:15.919 --> 00:04:23.800
 And yet what's beautiful about this prophet and what we read from Isaiah is the prophet always brings

00:04:23.800 --> 00:04:34.759
 the Word of the Lord for the conviction of the people of God. And he always holds out the grace of God.

00:04:35.779 --> 00:04:41.839
 It's not just something in the New Testament. The prophet Ezekiel, especially starting in chapter 47,

00:04:41.839 --> 00:04:47.719
 but even as far back as 37, you know, you know, the valley of the bones, the dry bones. And God is saying,

00:04:47.719 --> 00:04:56.399
 if Ezekiel, from these dry bones, I can create a nation, surely if my people return to me, I will

00:04:56.399 --> 00:05:06.539
 restore them. But he gives this beautiful picture in Ezekiel 47. It is the picture of a river. And if you've

00:05:06.540 --> 00:05:13.200
 ever flown west, if you've flown over New Mexico or Arizona, Colorado, and you look down at daylight,

00:05:13.480 --> 00:05:20.820
 you see, oftentimes you'll see those green circles, right? The green circles. And it's the irrigation

00:05:20.820 --> 00:05:26.220
 that's on that big wheel that comes around. And you see where water has been. Or you'll see those

00:05:26.220 --> 00:05:34.000
 fingers of a river. And it's all green in this barren land. And the river has been God's illustration

00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:44.980
 from Genesis 2 of life. We've sung about it. The water that brings life. And so Ezekiel picks up

00:05:44.980 --> 00:05:52.660
 that image. And we'll read about it. The word of the Lord from Ezekiel chapter 47. If you've wanted to

00:05:52.660 --> 00:06:00.980
 hear God speak to you, he does so in his word. And I would ask if you are able this morning to stand

00:06:00.980 --> 00:06:02.240
 for the reading of the word.

00:06:07.960 --> 00:06:16.540
 And then he brought me back to the door of the temple. And behold, water was issuing from below

00:06:16.540 --> 00:06:22.800
 the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the temple faced east. The water was flowing down

00:06:22.800 --> 00:06:28.759
 from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. Then he brought me out by

00:06:28.759 --> 00:06:34.120
 the way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the

00:06:34.120 --> 00:06:41.139
 east. And behold, the water was trickling out on the south side. Going on eastward with a measuring

00:06:41.139 --> 00:06:47.779
 line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits and then led me through the water. And it was ankle

00:06:47.779 --> 00:06:53.620
 deep. Again, he measured a thousand and led me through the water. And it was knee deep. Again, he measured a

00:06:53.620 --> 00:06:57.879
 thousand and led me through the water. And it was waist deep. And he measured a thousand. And it was a

00:06:57.879 --> 00:07:03.100
 river that I could not pass through. For the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river

00:07:03.100 --> 00:07:12.480
 that could not be passed through. And he said to me, son of man, have you seen this? And then he led me

00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:17.519
 back to the bank of the river. As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river, very many trees on the one

00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:23.799
 side and on the other. And he said to me, this water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into

00:07:23.799 --> 00:07:28.339
 the Arabah and enters the sea. When the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh.

00:07:28.879 --> 00:07:34.459
 And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live. And there will be very many

00:07:34.459 --> 00:07:42.299
 fish. For this water goes there that the waters of the sea may become fresh. Everything will live

00:07:42.300 --> 00:07:48.139
 where the river goes. Fishermen will stand beside the sea from En Gedi to Inglaim, and it will be a

00:07:48.139 --> 00:07:53.660
 place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the great sea.

00:07:53.780 --> 00:07:59.220
 But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh. They're to be left for salt. And on the banks,

00:08:00.420 --> 00:08:07.379
 on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither,

00:08:07.379 --> 00:08:16.240
 nor their fruit fail. But they will bear fresh fruit every month. This is important. He says,

00:08:16.420 --> 00:08:26.959
 because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. The fruit will be for food and their leaves

00:08:26.959 --> 00:08:29.300
 for healing. You may be seated.

00:08:29.300 --> 00:08:38.560
 The remainder of the book of Ezekiel, the Lord gives him a vision of a city and lands and temple.

00:08:40.279 --> 00:08:45.039
 But this morning, we'll look at this river, this river of life.

00:08:46.919 --> 00:08:54.019
 Psalm 46, we're told there is a river whose streams make glad the city of God. In Isaiah 33,

00:08:54.019 --> 00:09:02.319
 Zion is described as a place of broad rivers and streams. In Joel 3, we're told that stream beds flow

00:09:02.319 --> 00:09:08.179
 in the fountain from the house of the Lord. In Zechariah, he prophesies on the day,

00:09:08.279 --> 00:09:15.460
 living water shall flow out from Jerusalem. The river brings life.

00:09:15.460 --> 00:09:28.620
 This morning, I want to encourage you to think of yourself as a church and your place in the changing

00:09:28.620 --> 00:09:39.060
 of the world. Do you realize that what happens right here is essential for God's plan to change

00:09:39.059 --> 00:09:47.299
 the world? What happens in this sanctuary, what happens when God's people gather together to worship

00:09:47.299 --> 00:09:55.539
 him is designed not just to make you feel good or to teach you something new, but to change the world.

00:09:58.079 --> 00:10:05.559
 Now, the Lord gave Ezekiel all sorts of visions. And in chapter 8, he is told to make a hole in the

00:10:05.559 --> 00:10:12.019
 wall of the temple. And he looks inside the temple. And the text tells us that in there,

00:10:12.259 --> 00:10:22.919
 he sees all sorts of detestable things, grotesque images. Some of you have been overseas to Nepal or

00:10:22.919 --> 00:10:29.279
 India, and you see some of those idols, the pictures of the god Kali who is holding human skulls. And

00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:36.539
 I can only imagine that that's exactly what he saw as he looked in the holy place in the temple of

00:10:36.539 --> 00:10:44.459
 the Lord. In chapter 10, he has this terrible vision. It is the spirit of the Lord, the cloud that every

00:10:44.459 --> 00:10:50.299
 Israelite knew represented this presence of the God who is with us, the God who took us out of slavery,

00:10:50.579 --> 00:10:57.819
 the God who will lead us to the promised land. The cloud leaves the temple. He departs.

00:10:57.820 --> 00:11:07.800
 And Ezekiel tells the people he departs. And that's precisely why he departs. What was going

00:11:07.800 --> 00:11:19.620
 on in the temple was horrible in his sight. This morning, I want you to think about the origin and

00:11:19.620 --> 00:11:31.399
 the flow and the purpose of this river. The world needs a river just like this. Huntsville needs it.

00:11:32.100 --> 00:11:40.399
 Alabama, the Bible Belt, desperately needs it. And so first, I want to look at the origin of the river.

00:11:40.560 --> 00:11:46.480
 Verses 1 and 2 and the end of verse 12. The origin of the river. Where does it start? Where does it come

00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:52.800
 from? And I can tell you a few things. I can tell you where it doesn't come from. It doesn't come from

00:11:52.800 --> 00:11:58.779
 the palace. It doesn't come from Nebuchadnezzar's great and glorious reign and his rule and his

00:11:58.779 --> 00:12:06.120
 magnificent city. It doesn't come from the Senate. It doesn't come from the university. It doesn't come

00:12:06.120 --> 00:12:17.000
 from a great sports arena. It doesn't come from a mall. It doesn't come from the great outdoors or a

00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:22.960
 hospital or a wonderful community center or the Justice Department. It doesn't come from a brothel.

00:12:23.039 --> 00:12:30.120
 It doesn't come from a restaurant. It doesn't come from someone's nice dream home. It doesn't come from

00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:41.960
 the perfect spouse, friend, or lover. It comes from the altar. From what was going on in the temple.

00:12:43.799 --> 00:12:48.820
 From the altar in the center of the city. Daniel Block writes about this. He says,

00:12:49.340 --> 00:12:55.580
 the structure at the very center of the temple symbolizes God's desire to receive sinful humans

00:12:55.580 --> 00:13:05.180
 and his delight in their worship. I love what you say here about experiencing and expressing grace.

00:13:06.379 --> 00:13:13.759
 The Lord, when he set a temple, said, in the center of that temple will be a place where I will meet with

00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:24.800
 my people and blood will be sprinkled and sins will be atoned for. People will come in in great need

00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:34.679
 and great filth and great want and great hunger and unsatisfied. They will come in and they will receive grace

00:13:34.679 --> 00:13:36.319
 and mercy.

00:13:38.959 --> 00:13:39.979
 From the altar.

00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:47.519
 The other thing we notice about this is that it can't be stopped.

00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:55.779
 I mean, you've all had an overflowing sink. Hopefully not an overflowing toilet.

00:13:57.399 --> 00:13:59.639
 It's hard to stop water, isn't it?

00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:02.340
 It can't be stopped.

00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:06.500
 When what goes on amongst the people of God is right.

00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:14.460
 When his mercy and grace are not just preached, but received and acted upon.

00:14:14.460 --> 00:14:17.940
 Then the expression has to flow.

00:14:19.300 --> 00:14:22.960
 It cannot be stopped.

00:14:24.300 --> 00:14:25.379
 The influence

00:14:25.379 --> 00:14:28.460
 is unstoppable.

00:14:29.980 --> 00:14:31.960
 Now, it causes us to ask a few questions.

00:14:32.180 --> 00:14:35.340
 As the Lord would say that we are now,

00:14:35.400 --> 00:14:37.780
 those who put their faith and trust in Christ,

00:14:37.900 --> 00:14:39.940
 are now living temples.

00:14:39.940 --> 00:14:43.780
 It's not a tabernacle building.

00:14:43.960 --> 00:14:44.920
 It's not a sanctuary.

00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:47.120
 But the living God

00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:49.680
 inhabits the people of God.

00:14:49.740 --> 00:14:50.940
 And he lives in their temple.

00:14:51.240 --> 00:14:53.000
 It demands the question,

00:14:53.380 --> 00:14:54.000
 doesn't it,

00:14:54.300 --> 00:14:56.380
 of what's on the altar

00:14:56.380 --> 00:14:58.560
 in your heart?

00:15:00.560 --> 00:15:02.400
 What have you brought in?

00:15:03.660 --> 00:15:05.560
 In the meditation this morning,

00:15:05.559 --> 00:15:07.579
 it would appear that our enemy,

00:15:07.959 --> 00:15:10.579
 he is just as happy

00:15:10.579 --> 00:15:12.359
 to mix Christianity

00:15:12.359 --> 00:15:13.419
 with any other religion.

00:15:13.579 --> 00:15:16.000
 To add something to it.

00:15:17.459 --> 00:15:18.479
 And little by little,

00:15:18.539 --> 00:15:20.299
 that's exactly what the people of God did.

00:15:20.359 --> 00:15:21.099
 They had the temple,

00:15:21.439 --> 00:15:22.319
 and you read,

00:15:22.419 --> 00:15:23.039
 they worship God,

00:15:23.099 --> 00:15:24.159
 but they also worship

00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:26.299
 the other idols of the nations

00:15:26.299 --> 00:15:27.399
 around them.

00:15:27.399 --> 00:15:31.559
 I think the way to find out

00:15:31.559 --> 00:15:32.319
 what's in there

00:15:32.319 --> 00:15:33.360
 is you ask yourself,

00:15:33.620 --> 00:15:35.179
 is the God that I serve,

00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:37.819
 is it giving me life?

00:15:39.699 --> 00:15:40.860
 Or is it demanding

00:15:40.860 --> 00:15:43.759
 and taking life?

00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:44.519
 I mean,

00:15:44.539 --> 00:15:45.179
 I had a whole list

00:15:45.179 --> 00:15:46.179
 that I just went over

00:15:46.179 --> 00:15:47.100
 of places

00:15:47.100 --> 00:15:48.939
 that the water doesn't come from.

00:15:49.079 --> 00:15:50.879
 Some of them are absolutely fine.

00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:52.659
 Some of them are right

00:15:52.659 --> 00:15:54.120
 and good institutions.

00:15:54.120 --> 00:15:56.919
 But if anything,

00:15:57.560 --> 00:15:58.399
 other than the grace

00:15:58.399 --> 00:15:59.600
 and the mercy of our Savior

00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:02.560
 inhabits the altar of your heart,

00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:04.580
 you're in great danger.

00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:07.659
 The worship of the living God

00:16:07.659 --> 00:16:12.360
 giving or taking life.

00:16:12.500 --> 00:16:12.759
 Secondly,

00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:16.379
 we see this flow of the river.

00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:16.799
 You see,

00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:17.899
 what had happened

00:16:17.899 --> 00:16:20.039
 at the altar in the temple

00:16:20.039 --> 00:16:21.500
 was the opposite

00:16:21.500 --> 00:16:23.039
 of what was supposed to happen.

00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:24.779
 Instead of the living water

00:16:24.779 --> 00:16:25.759
 flowing out,

00:16:26.079 --> 00:16:26.939
 the people of God

00:16:26.939 --> 00:16:28.259
 had brought in

00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:29.279
 what was wrong

00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:30.360
 and detestable,

00:16:30.500 --> 00:16:31.860
 but they had brought it in

00:16:31.860 --> 00:16:33.740
 in order to worship it.

00:16:35.579 --> 00:16:36.099
 Now,

00:16:36.959 --> 00:16:38.000
 in Missouri,

00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:40.179
 we had a really nice house.

00:16:40.819 --> 00:16:41.299
 In the basement,

00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:42.539
 as those of you

00:16:42.539 --> 00:16:43.059
 who have basements,

00:16:43.219 --> 00:16:44.059
 there was a drain

00:16:44.059 --> 00:16:44.819
 in the middle of it.

00:16:45.399 --> 00:16:46.219
 Nice, big,

00:16:46.319 --> 00:16:47.079
 I think it's about

00:16:47.079 --> 00:16:48.360
 a six-inch drain

00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:49.199
 in the middle of it.

00:16:49.699 --> 00:16:51.059
 And concrete around it.

00:16:51.059 --> 00:16:53.339
 And you know what it's for.

00:16:54.519 --> 00:16:55.739
 It's the clean-out.

00:16:55.939 --> 00:16:56.059
 You know,

00:16:56.239 --> 00:16:57.919
 it's where everything

00:16:57.919 --> 00:16:59.399
 that is gross and dirty

00:16:59.399 --> 00:17:00.179
 in the house

00:17:00.179 --> 00:17:01.619
 goes out to the street.

00:17:04.279 --> 00:17:05.940
 Except when it backs up.

00:17:07.859 --> 00:17:08.119
 Now,

00:17:08.159 --> 00:17:09.299
 I always tell my wife

00:17:09.299 --> 00:17:10.240
 that she is very much

00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:11.159
 like a potted plant

00:17:11.159 --> 00:17:11.919
 or a potpourri.

00:17:12.059 --> 00:17:12.839
 She brings beauty

00:17:12.839 --> 00:17:15.199
 and good smells

00:17:15.199 --> 00:17:16.559
 into the house of men

00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:17.480
 and stench.

00:17:19.199 --> 00:17:19.699
 And yet,

00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:20.819
 something wasn't right.

00:17:22.220 --> 00:17:23.459
 I walked into the house

00:17:23.459 --> 00:17:25.559
 and you could smell it

00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:27.199
 and maybe you've experienced it.

00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:31.039
 The flow going backward.

00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:34.119
 You see,

00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:38.420
 it's vitally important

00:17:38.420 --> 00:17:40.759
 that the mercy and grace

00:17:40.759 --> 00:17:41.960
 that you receive

00:17:41.960 --> 00:17:43.279
 is shared.

00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:47.339
 It is not just for us.

00:17:47.700 --> 00:17:50.279
 It has never been just for us.

00:17:50.279 --> 00:17:53.440
 It is to flow outward.

00:17:55.420 --> 00:17:56.940
 So what had happened there

00:17:56.940 --> 00:17:58.840
 is the accumulation

00:17:58.840 --> 00:18:01.240
 of other gods

00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:04.420
 that turned the whole flow

00:18:04.420 --> 00:18:05.380
 backwards.

00:18:06.660 --> 00:18:07.779
 But the flow

00:18:07.779 --> 00:18:09.360
 is to be out.

00:18:09.460 --> 00:18:10.120
 And what's amazing

00:18:10.120 --> 00:18:10.900
 about this passage

00:18:10.900 --> 00:18:13.779
 is that as it goes out,

00:18:14.700 --> 00:18:15.960
 it grows.

00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:18.420
 You know,

00:18:18.500 --> 00:18:18.680
 I mean,

00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:19.900
 it's not like

00:18:19.900 --> 00:18:20.840
 you receive

00:18:20.840 --> 00:18:22.500
 a certain dose of grace

00:18:22.500 --> 00:18:24.840
 and it's just enough for you.

00:18:24.839 --> 00:18:26.579
 And if you share that

00:18:26.579 --> 00:18:27.899
 with someone else

00:18:27.899 --> 00:18:29.619
 by taking upon you

00:18:29.619 --> 00:18:30.319
 something that doesn't

00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:31.359
 belong to you,

00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:32.839
 by not being offended

00:18:32.839 --> 00:18:33.839
 when you should be offended,

00:18:34.419 --> 00:18:36.220
 by giving when maybe

00:18:36.220 --> 00:18:37.579
 they don't deserve it,

00:18:38.399 --> 00:18:40.419
 it's not as if you lose it.

00:18:42.019 --> 00:18:43.519
 It's as if it grows.

00:18:45.079 --> 00:18:47.679
 And grace shared grows.

00:18:48.659 --> 00:18:50.279
 That's absolutely the picture

00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:51.679
 that he is showing us here.

00:18:51.819 --> 00:18:52.919
 As it flows out

00:18:52.919 --> 00:18:54.139
 and the further it goes,

00:18:54.140 --> 00:18:55.820
 it feeds everything.

00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:56.840
 And as it feeds everything,

00:18:56.940 --> 00:18:57.720
 it gets greater

00:18:57.720 --> 00:18:58.640
 and greater

00:18:58.640 --> 00:19:00.520
 and greater.

00:19:04.040 --> 00:19:04.520
 Lastly,

00:19:04.600 --> 00:19:05.660
 we see this function

00:19:05.660 --> 00:19:07.220
 here

00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:09.200
 of the river.

00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:12.360
 Verses 6 to 12

00:19:12.360 --> 00:19:15.400
 tells us that this river

00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:18.040
 gives trees and plants

00:19:18.040 --> 00:19:20.080
 for food.

00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:22.060
 It makes salt water fresh,

00:19:22.059 --> 00:19:25.399
 provides fish to eat,

00:19:26.099 --> 00:19:27.279
 employment for fishermen,

00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:28.940
 it leaves salt

00:19:28.940 --> 00:19:30.139
 that is necessary,

00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:32.240
 it grows the trees

00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:32.740
 that are just like

00:19:32.740 --> 00:19:34.159
 the tree of life

00:19:34.159 --> 00:19:34.859
 that you read about

00:19:34.859 --> 00:19:35.480
 in Revelation.

00:19:36.139 --> 00:19:37.259
 The fruit to eat

00:19:37.259 --> 00:19:38.559
 and every month

00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:39.480
 bears its fruit

00:19:39.480 --> 00:19:40.139
 and leaves

00:19:40.139 --> 00:19:41.779
 for healing.

00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:43.700
 It spreads

00:19:43.700 --> 00:19:45.879
 and brings life

00:19:45.879 --> 00:19:47.500
 to everything.

00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:50.240
 So quite simply,

00:19:50.359 --> 00:19:50.700
 Southwood,

00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:51.559
 what's the function

00:19:51.559 --> 00:19:52.900
 and what goes on here

00:19:52.900 --> 00:19:55.339
 matters.

00:19:56.380 --> 00:19:57.660
 What's your job

00:19:57.660 --> 00:19:59.460
 as the people of God?

00:19:59.559 --> 00:19:59.720
 Well,

00:19:59.819 --> 00:20:01.160
 it's absolutely

00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:04.039
 to invite the unclean

00:20:04.039 --> 00:20:05.880
 into the presence of God.

00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:09.160
 To invite the unclean

00:20:09.160 --> 00:20:10.480
 and the outcast

00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:11.599
 to bring them

00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:12.859
 as you yourself

00:20:12.859 --> 00:20:13.859
 have come

00:20:13.859 --> 00:20:15.179
 in desperation

00:20:15.179 --> 00:20:16.679
 and need.

00:20:18.179 --> 00:20:19.219
 That's your job.

00:20:21.539 --> 00:20:22.539
 It's to worship

00:20:22.539 --> 00:20:23.559
 the living God.

00:20:25.859 --> 00:20:27.199
 Worship is not

00:20:27.199 --> 00:20:27.879
 just something

00:20:27.879 --> 00:20:28.799
 that is done

00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:30.039
 for our own edification.

00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:31.899
 Worship is formational.

00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:34.159
 And there are many

00:20:34.159 --> 00:20:35.159
 in our reformed circles

00:20:35.159 --> 00:20:36.719
 that have not grasped that.

00:20:36.859 --> 00:20:38.240
 We tend to believe

00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:39.439
 that the human being

00:20:39.439 --> 00:20:39.659
 is,

00:20:39.839 --> 00:20:40.419
 we could kind of

00:20:40.419 --> 00:20:41.319
 boil down a human being

00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:42.519
 to a brain on a stick

00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:43.599
 and if we teach them

00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:44.359
 what's right,

00:20:44.420 --> 00:20:45.359
 if people know

00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:46.059
 what's right,

00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:47.539
 they will do it.

00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:49.420
 Just,

00:20:49.639 --> 00:20:50.819
 just have a kid

00:20:50.819 --> 00:20:51.920
 if you believe that.

00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:57.779
 As a youth pastor,

00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:58.920
 often parents would say,

00:20:59.000 --> 00:20:59.660
 have you taught

00:20:59.660 --> 00:21:01.240
 on children

00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:02.160
 obey your parents?

00:21:03.539 --> 00:21:04.519
 And I would look at them

00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:04.980
 and I'd say,

00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:05.839
 yes,

00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:06.460
 I've taught.

00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:08.079
 And quite honestly,

00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:09.079
 if I did everything

00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:09.759
 that I taught,

00:21:09.859 --> 00:21:10.720
 I would be perfect.

00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:12.039
 It's not just

00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:12.720
 the knowing.

00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:14.379
 And it's a frustrating

00:21:14.379 --> 00:21:15.279
 thing for us,

00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:15.659
 isn't it?

00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:16.680
 When the heart wants

00:21:16.680 --> 00:21:17.599
 what the heart wants

00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:18.319
 and we know

00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:19.180
 something is not right

00:21:19.180 --> 00:21:19.639
 and we know

00:21:19.639 --> 00:21:20.619
 something will not fulfill

00:21:20.619 --> 00:21:22.619
 and we still long for it

00:21:22.619 --> 00:21:23.619
 and worship

00:21:23.619 --> 00:21:24.759
 is formational

00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:26.980
 in our affections.

00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:30.819
 Do you not see that

00:21:30.819 --> 00:21:31.619
 on a Saturday?

00:21:34.460 --> 00:21:35.559
 I guarantee you,

00:21:35.639 --> 00:21:36.379
 if you're an alien

00:21:36.379 --> 00:21:37.339
 from another planet

00:21:37.339 --> 00:21:38.019
 and you came

00:21:38.019 --> 00:21:39.259
 and landed on a Saturday

00:21:39.259 --> 00:21:40.440
 in SEC country,

00:21:40.440 --> 00:21:41.720
 you would say,

00:21:42.120 --> 00:21:43.320
 these humans,

00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:44.660
 they worship

00:21:44.660 --> 00:21:46.519
 this leather

00:21:46.519 --> 00:21:48.980
 pigskin thing.

00:21:49.620 --> 00:21:50.460
 They gather.

00:21:51.259 --> 00:21:52.860
 Sometimes they're so excited

00:21:52.860 --> 00:21:53.279
 they're there

00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:54.580
 hours beforehand.

00:21:55.900 --> 00:21:57.019
 And they sing

00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:58.180
 these same songs

00:21:58.180 --> 00:21:58.799
 and some of them

00:21:58.799 --> 00:22:00.340
 are absolutely ridiculous.

00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:01.420
 You should see

00:22:01.420 --> 00:22:02.660
 what they wear.

00:22:02.660 --> 00:22:06.500
 And what goes on

00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:07.340
 in there

00:22:07.340 --> 00:22:09.060
 has this amazing

00:22:09.060 --> 00:22:09.680
 power

00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:10.779
 to bind

00:22:10.779 --> 00:22:11.880
 people together.

00:22:11.880 --> 00:22:14.740
 Oh, my wife and I

00:22:14.740 --> 00:22:15.100
 were there

00:22:15.100 --> 00:22:15.860
 when John Elway

00:22:15.860 --> 00:22:16.480
 had one of his

00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:17.260
 great drives.

00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:19.140
 I mean,

00:22:19.160 --> 00:22:19.940
 it was amazing.

00:22:21.280 --> 00:22:22.200
 And what happened?

00:22:22.520 --> 00:22:23.500
 All these people,

00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:24.460
 black and white,

00:22:24.560 --> 00:22:25.660
 people we didn't even know,

00:22:25.760 --> 00:22:26.500
 what are we doing?

00:22:26.700 --> 00:22:27.960
 We're hugging each other.

00:22:29.660 --> 00:22:30.800
 I'm letting some other man,

00:22:30.860 --> 00:22:31.420
 I don't know,

00:22:31.600 --> 00:22:32.400
 hug my wife.

00:22:32.540 --> 00:22:32.860
 Why?

00:22:33.100 --> 00:22:33.640
 Because Elway

00:22:33.640 --> 00:22:34.340
 threw a touchdown.

00:22:34.339 --> 00:22:42.500
 Worship is

00:22:42.500 --> 00:22:44.079
 formational.

00:22:45.539 --> 00:22:47.159
 I think our advertisers

00:22:47.159 --> 00:22:48.220
 have figured that out.

00:22:49.899 --> 00:22:50.819
 Some of you have probably

00:22:50.819 --> 00:22:51.899
 seen the Nike commercial

00:22:51.899 --> 00:22:53.139
 that shows a football stadium

00:22:53.139 --> 00:22:54.099
 and it just says the word,

00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:54.500
 worship,

00:22:55.459 --> 00:22:56.539
 with a Nike swoosh.

00:22:58.439 --> 00:23:00.000
 Our advertisers know that.

00:23:00.099 --> 00:23:00.579
 It used to be,

00:23:00.659 --> 00:23:01.299
 when I was a kid,

00:23:01.339 --> 00:23:02.220
 it would be nine out of ten

00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:03.359
 dentists recommend it.

00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:03.799
 Now,

00:23:04.099 --> 00:23:04.799
 the right toothpaste

00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:05.879
 gives you friends.

00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:08.119
 The right tablet

00:23:08.119 --> 00:23:08.919
 puts you in a whole

00:23:08.919 --> 00:23:09.839
 community of people

00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:10.740
 that love you.

00:23:13.019 --> 00:23:14.399
 Worship is formational.

00:23:15.899 --> 00:23:17.299
 And it must be right.

00:23:18.879 --> 00:23:20.539
 It must be Christ-centered.

00:23:21.479 --> 00:23:22.619
 It must celebrate

00:23:22.619 --> 00:23:24.859
 this work that God has done,

00:23:25.139 --> 00:23:26.740
 this call to a people

00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:29.159
 to be His own possession.

00:23:30.579 --> 00:23:32.099
 We invite the unclean

00:23:32.099 --> 00:23:32.819
 to be clean.

00:23:33.359 --> 00:23:34.679
 We worship God

00:23:34.679 --> 00:23:36.139
 and then we leave

00:23:36.139 --> 00:23:37.899
 those rivers

00:23:37.899 --> 00:23:39.179
 of grace.

00:23:40.479 --> 00:23:41.019
 I mean,

00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:42.119
 you can almost envision

00:23:42.119 --> 00:23:43.159
 that in Huntsville,

00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:43.939
 can't you?

00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:45.339
 As you will go back

00:23:45.339 --> 00:23:46.039
 to your places

00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:46.939
 of work.

00:23:47.939 --> 00:23:48.879
 What does it mean

00:23:48.879 --> 00:23:49.500
 that you're filled

00:23:49.500 --> 00:23:49.959
 by grace?

00:23:50.019 --> 00:23:50.479
 It means

00:23:50.479 --> 00:23:51.799
 at the office

00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:53.659
 you don't have to

00:23:53.659 --> 00:23:54.719
 always defend yourself.

00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:55.319
 You don't always

00:23:55.319 --> 00:23:56.799
 have to be right.

00:23:56.799 --> 00:24:00.019
 it means that you can be

00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:00.700
 a neighbor

00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:02.680
 that even though

00:24:02.680 --> 00:24:03.480
 your other neighbor

00:24:03.480 --> 00:24:04.559
 is so offensive.

00:24:05.460 --> 00:24:06.339
 I had one that

00:24:06.339 --> 00:24:07.240
 every Saturday night

00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:08.119
 I swear

00:24:08.119 --> 00:24:09.159
 he would do something

00:24:09.159 --> 00:24:09.879
 to his dog

00:24:09.879 --> 00:24:10.659
 so it would cry

00:24:10.659 --> 00:24:11.259
 all night

00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:12.240
 to keep me from sleeping

00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:13.000
 so I couldn't preach

00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:13.539
 on Sunday.

00:24:13.539 --> 00:24:15.359
 I had visions

00:24:15.359 --> 00:24:15.899
 of shaving

00:24:15.899 --> 00:24:16.559
 that dog

00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:18.700
 doing other things

00:24:18.700 --> 00:24:19.519
 to that dog.

00:24:21.019 --> 00:24:21.519
 An instrument

00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:22.039
 of grace

00:24:22.039 --> 00:24:22.579
 means

00:24:22.579 --> 00:24:23.740
 we're able

00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.539
 to treat others

00:24:24.539 --> 00:24:26.220
 simply the way

00:24:26.220 --> 00:24:26.920
 Christ

00:24:26.920 --> 00:24:28.519
 has treated

00:24:28.519 --> 00:24:29.900
 us.

00:24:31.160 --> 00:24:31.580
 And so

00:24:31.580 --> 00:24:32.019
 when we come

00:24:32.019 --> 00:24:32.680
 to the New Testament

00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:33.580
 and we see Jesus

00:24:33.580 --> 00:24:34.460
 entering in his

00:24:34.460 --> 00:24:35.340
 triumphal entry

00:24:35.340 --> 00:24:36.220
 what does he do?

00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:37.180
 He goes to the temple

00:24:37.180 --> 00:24:39.759
 and gentle Jesus

00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:40.500
 meek and mild

00:24:40.500 --> 00:24:41.960
 look upon the little child

00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:42.680
 what does he do?

00:24:42.920 --> 00:24:43.880
 He fashions

00:24:43.880 --> 00:24:44.840
 a whip

00:24:44.840 --> 00:24:47.600
 and he says

00:24:47.600 --> 00:24:48.720
 get out

00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:50.460
 of my father's house.

00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:52.140
 You have

00:24:52.140 --> 00:24:53.440
 turned it in

00:24:53.440 --> 00:24:55.340
 to a den

00:24:55.340 --> 00:24:56.600
 of robbers

00:24:56.599 --> 00:24:57.939
 get out

00:24:57.939 --> 00:25:00.059
 of my father's house.

00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:03.480
 There wasn't

00:25:03.480 --> 00:25:03.980
 living water

00:25:03.980 --> 00:25:04.439
 going on

00:25:04.439 --> 00:25:04.980
 in that temple

00:25:04.980 --> 00:25:05.279
 either.

00:25:07.219 --> 00:25:08.159
 Jesus promises

00:25:08.159 --> 00:25:08.839
 that those

00:25:08.839 --> 00:25:10.019
 who receive

00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:11.019
 him by faith

00:25:11.019 --> 00:25:11.659
 become

00:25:11.659 --> 00:25:13.319
 in themselves

00:25:13.319 --> 00:25:15.240
 dispensers

00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:16.000
 of grace.

00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:16.939
 John 4

00:25:16.939 --> 00:25:18.179
 as he talks

00:25:18.179 --> 00:25:19.539
 to the woman

00:25:19.539 --> 00:25:20.099
 at the well

00:25:20.099 --> 00:25:20.699
 and many of you

00:25:20.699 --> 00:25:21.699
 know her story.

00:25:22.279 --> 00:25:22.539
 She had

00:25:22.539 --> 00:25:23.339
 drunk from

00:25:23.339 --> 00:25:24.379
 every possible

00:25:24.379 --> 00:25:25.179
 well.

00:25:26.599 --> 00:25:27.079
 longing

00:25:27.079 --> 00:25:27.899
 to be

00:25:27.899 --> 00:25:29.019
 loved

00:25:29.019 --> 00:25:29.980
 accepted

00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:31.439
 cared for

00:25:31.439 --> 00:25:32.099
 significant.

00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:33.759
 He tells her

00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:34.240
 everyone who

00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:34.839
 drinks of this

00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:35.480
 water will be

00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:36.439
 thirsty again.

00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:37.799
 But whoever

00:25:37.799 --> 00:25:38.480
 drinks of the

00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:39.159
 water that I

00:25:39.159 --> 00:25:39.740
 will give him

00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.219
 will never

00:25:40.219 --> 00:25:40.799
 be thirsty

00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:41.259
 again.

00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:42.059
 The water

00:25:42.059 --> 00:25:42.379
 that I

00:25:42.379 --> 00:25:42.980
 will give him

00:25:42.980 --> 00:25:43.399
 will become

00:25:43.399 --> 00:25:43.799
 in him a

00:25:43.799 --> 00:25:44.579
 spring of water

00:25:44.579 --> 00:25:45.119
 welling up

00:25:45.119 --> 00:25:45.599
 to eternal

00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:45.959
 life.

00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:46.480
 the woman

00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:47.000
 said to him

00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:47.620
 sir give

00:25:47.620 --> 00:25:48.480
 me this

00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:49.400
 water so

00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:49.880
 that I

00:25:49.880 --> 00:25:50.240
 will not

00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:50.840
 be thirsty

00:25:50.840 --> 00:25:51.920
 or have

00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:52.420
 to come

00:25:52.420 --> 00:25:53.440
 here to

00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:54.039
 draw

00:25:54.039 --> 00:25:55.100
 water.

00:25:55.220 --> 00:25:56.059
 In John 7

00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:56.799
 Jesus says

00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:57.680
 whoever believes

00:25:57.680 --> 00:25:58.220
 in me

00:25:58.220 --> 00:25:59.200
 as the

00:25:59.200 --> 00:25:59.720
 scriptures

00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:00.440
 said

00:26:00.440 --> 00:26:02.660
 out of

00:26:02.660 --> 00:26:03.160
 his heart

00:26:03.160 --> 00:26:04.779
 will flow

00:26:04.779 --> 00:26:05.240
 rivers

00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:06.740
 of living

00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:07.420
 water.

00:26:08.539 --> 00:26:09.400
 Well I've

00:26:09.400 --> 00:26:09.620
 got

00:26:09.620 --> 00:26:12.380
 six things

00:26:12.380 --> 00:26:13.039
 for you to

00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:13.640
 take away.

00:26:13.640 --> 00:26:14.820
 I only

00:26:14.820 --> 00:26:15.140
 have one

00:26:15.140 --> 00:26:15.980
 week so

00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:16.220
 I'm going

00:26:16.220 --> 00:26:16.460
 to try

00:26:16.460 --> 00:26:16.960
 to squeeze

00:26:16.960 --> 00:26:18.140
 six things.

00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:19.780
 First

00:26:19.780 --> 00:26:20.840
 you've got to

00:26:20.840 --> 00:26:21.420
 understand that

00:26:21.420 --> 00:26:21.860
 the final

00:26:21.860 --> 00:26:22.560
 existence of

00:26:22.560 --> 00:26:23.340
 human beings

00:26:23.340 --> 00:26:24.880
 it's not in

00:26:24.880 --> 00:26:25.360
 some

00:26:25.360 --> 00:26:27.040
 disembodied

00:26:27.040 --> 00:26:29.580
 spiritual

00:26:29.580 --> 00:26:30.400
 collective

00:26:30.400 --> 00:26:32.220
 but the

00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:32.920
 final existence

00:26:32.920 --> 00:26:33.380
 of human

00:26:33.380 --> 00:26:34.020
 beings as he

00:26:34.020 --> 00:26:34.360
 has pointed

00:26:34.360 --> 00:26:34.960
 out here as

00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:35.560
 you see in

00:26:35.560 --> 00:26:37.000
 Revelation 22

00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:38.440
 is a physical

00:26:38.440 --> 00:26:39.640
 spiritual life

00:26:39.640 --> 00:26:41.180
 with God

00:26:41.180 --> 00:26:42.020
 and with other

00:26:42.020 --> 00:26:42.759
 human beings.

00:26:43.640 --> 00:26:44.200
 Secondly

00:26:44.200 --> 00:26:45.020
 before anything

00:26:45.020 --> 00:26:45.900
 or anyone

00:26:45.900 --> 00:26:46.840
 is used

00:26:46.840 --> 00:26:47.400
 of God

00:26:47.400 --> 00:26:49.460
 they must

00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:50.500
 first be

00:26:50.500 --> 00:26:51.520
 cleansed.

00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:53.320
 And probably

00:26:53.320 --> 00:26:54.060
 you here know

00:26:54.060 --> 00:26:54.620
 that and you're

00:26:54.620 --> 00:26:55.220
 saying duh

00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:56.259
 we know that

00:26:56.259 --> 00:26:57.000
 but you know

00:26:57.000 --> 00:26:57.680
 that most of

00:26:57.680 --> 00:26:57.980
 the world

00:26:57.980 --> 00:26:58.600
 outside the

00:26:58.600 --> 00:26:59.300
 doors of

00:26:59.300 --> 00:27:00.340
 the church

00:27:00.340 --> 00:27:01.180
 maybe this

00:27:01.180 --> 00:27:01.680
 church

00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:03.020
 they don't

00:27:03.020 --> 00:27:03.660
 think that.

00:27:05.240 --> 00:27:05.680
 I mean I'm a

00:27:05.680 --> 00:27:06.320
 pastor so when

00:27:06.320 --> 00:27:06.900
 people meet me

00:27:06.900 --> 00:27:07.380
 that's what they

00:27:07.380 --> 00:27:08.220
 talk about.

00:27:08.320 --> 00:27:08.700
 They ask

00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:09.520
 questions about

00:27:09.520 --> 00:27:10.200
 God and the

00:27:10.200 --> 00:27:11.000
 Da Vinci Code.

00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:14.000
 and they

00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:16.259
 think that in

00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:17.019
 order to be

00:27:17.019 --> 00:27:17.740
 accepted by

00:27:17.740 --> 00:27:18.599
 God you

00:27:18.599 --> 00:27:19.339
 clean yourself

00:27:19.339 --> 00:27:19.640
 up.

00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:21.940
 And that's

00:27:21.940 --> 00:27:22.279
 what they

00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:22.779
 tell me.

00:27:23.900 --> 00:27:25.460
 Well I'll get

00:27:25.460 --> 00:27:26.059
 to church and

00:27:26.059 --> 00:27:26.460
 I'd love to

00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:26.940
 join a church

00:27:26.940 --> 00:27:27.259
 but there's

00:27:27.259 --> 00:27:27.579
 just some

00:27:27.579 --> 00:27:28.019
 things I've

00:27:28.019 --> 00:27:28.559
 got to fix

00:27:28.559 --> 00:27:28.980
 first.

00:27:29.640 --> 00:27:30.160
 And I look

00:27:30.160 --> 00:27:30.539
 at them and

00:27:30.539 --> 00:27:31.319
 I say you

00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:31.640
 know what

00:27:31.640 --> 00:27:32.200
 that's like

00:27:32.200 --> 00:27:33.079
 saying I've

00:27:33.079 --> 00:27:33.700
 got to cure

00:27:33.700 --> 00:27:34.440
 my cancer

00:27:34.440 --> 00:27:35.319
 before I go

00:27:35.319 --> 00:27:35.680
 see the

00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:36.079
 doctor.

00:27:36.079 --> 00:27:39.000
 Before anyone

00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:40.220
 is used of

00:27:40.220 --> 00:27:40.740
 God they

00:27:40.740 --> 00:27:42.039
 must be

00:27:42.039 --> 00:27:42.519
 cleansed.

00:27:42.639 --> 00:27:43.159
 Third the

00:27:43.159 --> 00:27:43.960
 stewardship and

00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:44.419
 the renewal

00:27:44.419 --> 00:27:46.119
 of all things

00:27:46.119 --> 00:27:46.779
 is God's

00:27:46.779 --> 00:27:47.159
 work.

00:27:48.379 --> 00:27:48.699
 The renewal

00:27:48.699 --> 00:27:49.000
 of the

00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:49.399
 environment,

00:27:49.559 --> 00:27:49.899
 the renewal

00:27:49.899 --> 00:27:50.819
 of industry,

00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:51.319
 the renewal

00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:51.699
 of the

00:27:51.699 --> 00:27:52.299
 university.

00:27:54.099 --> 00:27:55.259
 It's God's

00:27:55.259 --> 00:27:55.599
 work.

00:27:55.819 --> 00:27:56.500
 It's the

00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:57.000
 flow of

00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:57.460
 grace from

00:27:57.460 --> 00:27:57.899
 the people

00:27:57.899 --> 00:27:58.319
 of God

00:27:58.319 --> 00:27:59.480
 that should

00:27:59.480 --> 00:28:00.299
 affect every

00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:01.319
 area of

00:28:01.319 --> 00:28:01.740
 human

00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:02.619
 flourishing.

00:28:04.019 --> 00:28:04.619
 Fifthly,

00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:05.159
 God's

00:28:05.159 --> 00:28:05.699
 concern.

00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:07.000
 for his

00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:07.659
 holiness and

00:28:07.659 --> 00:28:08.359
 his purity

00:28:08.359 --> 00:28:10.399
 is matched

00:28:10.399 --> 00:28:10.939
 by his

00:28:10.939 --> 00:28:13.039
 desire to

00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:13.679
 bless human

00:28:13.679 --> 00:28:14.199
 beings.

00:28:15.319 --> 00:28:15.519
 I mean,

00:28:15.639 --> 00:28:16.319
 you see that

00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:16.599
 in the

00:28:16.599 --> 00:28:17.079
 cross.

00:28:18.500 --> 00:28:18.939
 God's

00:28:18.939 --> 00:28:19.519
 absolute

00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:20.659
 purity

00:28:20.659 --> 00:28:23.159
 matched to

00:28:23.159 --> 00:28:23.819
 his desire

00:28:23.819 --> 00:28:24.159
 to be

00:28:24.159 --> 00:28:25.779
 merciful to

00:28:25.779 --> 00:28:26.500
 human beings.

00:28:28.619 --> 00:28:29.379
 Lastly,

00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:29.759
 it's the

00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:30.199
 new temple

00:28:30.199 --> 00:28:30.779
 of God.

00:28:32.359 --> 00:28:33.039
 The church

00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:34.579
 is his

00:28:34.579 --> 00:28:35.279
 change agent.

00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:36.799
 for the

00:28:36.799 --> 00:28:37.119
 world.

00:28:38.059 --> 00:28:38.919
 So I know

00:28:38.919 --> 00:28:39.240
 that there

00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:39.619
 are probably

00:28:39.619 --> 00:28:40.299
 many here

00:28:40.299 --> 00:28:40.740
 that have

00:28:40.740 --> 00:28:41.539
 felt really

00:28:41.539 --> 00:28:42.059
 discouraged

00:28:42.059 --> 00:28:42.779
 the last

00:28:42.779 --> 00:28:43.779
 few years.

00:28:44.740 --> 00:28:45.179
 Maybe it's

00:28:45.179 --> 00:28:45.599
 politically,

00:28:45.859 --> 00:28:46.279
 maybe it's

00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:46.699
 the laws

00:28:46.699 --> 00:28:47.079
 that we've

00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:47.519
 passed,

00:28:47.939 --> 00:28:48.439
 maybe it's

00:28:48.439 --> 00:28:49.059
 the polls

00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:49.500
 that come

00:28:49.500 --> 00:28:49.859
 out and

00:28:49.859 --> 00:28:50.319
 you feel

00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:51.339
 like we're

00:28:51.339 --> 00:28:51.659
 losing.

00:28:52.879 --> 00:28:53.339
 Let me

00:28:53.339 --> 00:28:53.759
 just tell

00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:54.159
 you too,

00:28:54.439 --> 00:28:55.119
 exiles,

00:28:56.539 --> 00:28:57.419
 defeated and

00:28:57.419 --> 00:28:58.000
 carried away

00:28:58.000 --> 00:28:58.819
 into slavery,

00:28:59.279 --> 00:28:59.839
 God gives

00:28:59.839 --> 00:29:00.419
 this picture.

00:29:00.420 --> 00:29:02.720
 God says,

00:29:02.779 --> 00:29:03.220
 this is what

00:29:03.220 --> 00:29:03.560
 I'm going

00:29:03.560 --> 00:29:03.940
 to do.

00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:07.000
 And you

00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:08.880
 come to

00:29:08.880 --> 00:29:09.100
 me.

00:29:10.620 --> 00:29:11.320
 Come to

00:29:11.320 --> 00:29:13.039
 me and

00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:13.720
 receive mercy

00:29:13.720 --> 00:29:14.400
 and grace

00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:16.120
 and leave

00:29:16.120 --> 00:29:17.600
 as rivers

00:29:17.600 --> 00:29:18.200
 of grace.

00:29:19.860 --> 00:29:20.420
 Experience

00:29:20.420 --> 00:29:22.100
 my grace,

00:29:23.220 --> 00:29:23.740
 express

00:29:23.740 --> 00:29:25.580
 my grace.

00:29:25.579 --> 00:29:26.720
 let's pray.

00:29:26.819 --> 00:29:27.220
 Father, we

00:29:27.220 --> 00:29:27.559
 thank you

00:29:27.559 --> 00:29:27.939
 for your

00:29:27.939 --> 00:29:28.279
 word,

00:29:29.099 --> 00:29:29.419
 that it

00:29:29.419 --> 00:29:30.299
 is always

00:29:30.299 --> 00:29:31.199
 true.

00:29:33.059 --> 00:29:33.419
 That your

00:29:33.419 --> 00:29:34.379
 word comes

00:29:34.379 --> 00:29:35.799
 as a fresh

00:29:35.799 --> 00:29:36.539
 river of

00:29:36.539 --> 00:29:37.359
 life to a

00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:37.720
 people.

00:29:38.879 --> 00:29:39.379
 A people

00:29:39.379 --> 00:29:40.079
 that should

00:29:40.079 --> 00:29:40.619
 have known

00:29:40.619 --> 00:29:41.159
 better that

00:29:41.159 --> 00:29:41.599
 all of their

00:29:41.599 --> 00:29:42.639
 culture pointed

00:29:42.639 --> 00:29:43.539
 to a

00:29:43.539 --> 00:29:44.539
 wonderful God

00:29:44.539 --> 00:29:44.980
 who out of

00:29:44.980 --> 00:29:45.299
 his own

00:29:45.299 --> 00:29:45.919
 love and

00:29:45.919 --> 00:29:46.759
 grace saved

00:29:46.759 --> 00:29:47.339
 a people from

00:29:47.339 --> 00:29:48.139
 slavery and

00:29:48.139 --> 00:29:48.659
 brought them

00:29:48.659 --> 00:29:49.259
 to a promised

00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:49.639
 land.

00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:51.099
 A God who

00:29:51.099 --> 00:29:51.740
 gave them a

00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:52.460
 prophet that

00:29:52.460 --> 00:29:53.899
 spoke his

00:29:53.899 --> 00:29:55.039
 direct word

00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:55.740
 to them.

00:29:56.740 --> 00:29:57.399
 Even in the

00:29:57.399 --> 00:29:58.039
 midst of their

00:29:58.039 --> 00:29:58.619
 rebellion, in

00:29:58.619 --> 00:29:59.099
 the midst,

00:29:59.299 --> 00:29:59.659
 Father, of

00:29:59.659 --> 00:30:00.539
 their idolatry

00:30:00.539 --> 00:30:01.440
 and fornicating

00:30:01.440 --> 00:30:02.039
 with false

00:30:02.039 --> 00:30:02.819
 gods that

00:30:02.819 --> 00:30:04.440
 you promise

00:30:04.440 --> 00:30:05.619
 them, as

00:30:05.619 --> 00:30:07.379
 always, you

00:30:07.379 --> 00:30:08.200
 will receive

00:30:08.200 --> 00:30:08.960
 the humble,

00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:11.319
 the broken

00:30:11.319 --> 00:30:12.339
 you receive,

00:30:13.440 --> 00:30:14.319
 and the proud

00:30:14.319 --> 00:30:15.139
 you turn away.

00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:17.099
 We pray for

00:30:17.099 --> 00:30:17.740
 your blessing

00:30:17.740 --> 00:30:19.420
 upon your

00:30:19.420 --> 00:30:20.279
 people, upon

00:30:20.279 --> 00:30:20.980
 your church,

00:30:21.099 --> 00:30:21.599
 upon this

00:30:21.599 --> 00:30:23.220
 city, that

00:30:23.220 --> 00:30:23.779
 this place

00:30:23.779 --> 00:30:24.619
 would be known

00:30:24.619 --> 00:30:26.179
 as this

00:30:26.179 --> 00:30:27.119
 fountain of

00:30:27.119 --> 00:30:27.659
 life.

00:30:28.879 --> 00:30:29.399
 That those

00:30:29.399 --> 00:30:30.139
 who enter

00:30:30.139 --> 00:30:32.879
 would experience

00:30:32.879 --> 00:30:33.459
 the cleansing

00:30:33.459 --> 00:30:34.079
 work of

00:30:34.079 --> 00:30:34.859
 Jesus Christ,

00:30:36.019 --> 00:30:36.579
 oh, not just

00:30:36.579 --> 00:30:37.339
 the first time,

00:30:37.399 --> 00:30:37.839
 but Father,

00:30:37.959 --> 00:30:39.000
 every week

00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:40.919
 be renewed

00:30:40.919 --> 00:30:41.799
 and filled

00:30:41.799 --> 00:30:44.059
 and sent

00:30:44.059 --> 00:30:44.939
 as agents

00:30:44.939 --> 00:30:45.579
 of your grace

00:30:45.579 --> 00:30:46.139
 and mercy.

00:30:47.399 --> 00:30:48.539
 We ask this

00:30:48.539 --> 00:30:49.199
 in the matchless

00:30:49.199 --> 00:30:49.699
 name of our

00:30:49.699 --> 00:30:50.299
 Lord and Savior,

00:30:50.419 --> 00:30:51.119
 Jesus Christ.

00:30:51.719 --> 00:30:52.059
 Amen.

00:30:52.059 --> 00:30:52.179
 Amen.

00:30:52.179 --> 00:30:52.239
 Amen.

00:30:52.239 --> 00:30:52.259
 Amen.

00:30:52.259 --> 00:30:52.279
 Amen.

00:30:52.279 --> 00:30:52.299
 Amen.

00:30:52.299 --> 00:30:52.319
 Amen.

00:30:52.319 --> 00:30:52.339
 Amen.

00:30:52.339 --> 00:30:52.359
 Amen.

00:30:52.359 --> 00:30:52.379
 Amen.

00:30:52.379 --> 00:30:52.879
 Amen.

00:30:52.879 --> 00:30:53.339
 Amen.

00:30:53.339 --> 00:30:54.079
 Amen.

00:30:54.079 --> 00:30:56.519
 Amen.

00:30:56.699 --> 00:30:56.779
 Amen.

00:30:56.839 --> 00:30:57.339
 Amen.

00:30:57.399 --> 00:30:57.779
 Amen.

00:30:57.779 --> 00:30:57.980
 Amen.

00:30:58.460 --> 00:30:59.159
 Amen.

00:31:01.720 --> 00:31:01.859
 Amen.

00:31:02.059 --> 00:31:02.399
 Amen.

00:31:02.859 --> 00:31:03.019
 Amen.

00:31:03.059 --> 00:31:04.199
 Amen.

00:31:04.199 --> 00:31:05.359
 Amen.

00:31:05.419 --> 00:31:05.819
 Amen.

00:31:05.819 --> 00:31:06.179
 Amen.

00:31:06.679 --> 00:31:07.720
 Amen.

00:31:07.740 --> 00:31:07.819
 Amen.

00:31:08.179 --> 00:31:09.159
 Amen.

00:31:10.179 --> 00:31:10.699
 Amen.

00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:10.819
 Amen.

00:31:10.819 --> 00:31:11.419
 Amen.

00:31:11.419 --> 00:31:12.379
 Amen.

00:31:12.379 --> 00:31:12.480
 Amen.

00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:13.460
 Amen.

00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:17.259
 Amen.

00:31:17.259 --> 00:31:17.960
 Amen.

00:31:19.599 --> 00:31:20.419
 Amen.

00:31:20.419 --> 00:31:20.859
 Amen.

00:31:20.859 --> 00:31:21.539
 Amen.

00:31:21.539 --> 00:31:21.980
 Amen.

00:31:21.980 --> 00:31:22.419
 Amen.

00:31:22.419 --> 00:31:23.059
 Amen.

00:31:23.059 --> 00:31:23.799
 Amen.

00:31:23.799 --> 00:31:24.039
 Amen.