WEBVTT

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 The scripture reading comes from Deuteronomy chapter 5.

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 Please follow along on the screen.

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 And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them,

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 Hear, O Israels, the statutes and the rules that I speak in your hearing today,

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 and you shall learn them and be careful to do them.

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 The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Herob,

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 not with our fathers did the Lord make this covenant,

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 but with us, who are all of us here alive today.

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 The Lord spoke with you face to face at the mountain,

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 out of the midst of the fire,

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 while I stood between the Lord and you at that time

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 to declare to you the word of the Lord.

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 For you were afraid because of the fire,

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 and you did not go up into the mountain.

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 He said, I'm the Lord your God,

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 who brought you out of the land of Egypt,

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 out of the house of slavery.

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 You shall have no other gods before me.

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 You shall not make for yourself a carved image

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 or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above

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 or that is in the earth beneath

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 or that is in the water under the earth.

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 You shall not bow down to them or serve them,

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 for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,

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 visiting the equities of the fathers on the children

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 to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,

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 but showing steadfast love to the thousands of those

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 who love me and keep my commandments.

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 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain,

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 for the Lord will not behold him guiltless

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 who takes his name in vain.

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 Observe the Sabbath to keep it holy

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 as the Lord your God commanded you.

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 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,

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 but the seventh is the Sabbath to the Lord your God.

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 On it you shall not do any work,

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 you or your son or your daughter

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 or your male servant or your female servant

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 or your ox or your donkey or any of your livestock

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 or the sojourner who is within your gates,

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 that your male servant and your female servant

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 may rest as well as you.

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 You shall remember that you were a slave

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 in the land of Egypt,

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 and the Lord your God brought you out from there

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 with mighty hand and an outstretched arm.

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 Therefore the Lord your God commanded you

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 to keep the Sabbath day.

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 Honor your father and your mother

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 as the Lord of your God commanded you,

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 that your days may be long

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 and that it may go well with you in the land

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 that the Lord your God has given you.

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 You shall not murder,

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 and you shall not commit adultery,

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 and you shall not steal,

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 and you shall not bear false witness

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 against your neighbor,

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 and you shall not covet your neighbor's wife,

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 and you shall not desire your neighbor's house,

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 his field,

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 or his male servant,

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 or his female servant,

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 his ox,

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 or his donkey,

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 or anything that is your neighbor's.

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 This is the word of God.

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 Great.

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 Thank you, Sylvie.

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 And good morning, Watermark Church.

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 It is great to be back with you,

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 I guess in a technological sense.

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 It's wonderful to be able to gather as a family

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 and around God's Word

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 and to praise Him

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 and to pray together as a church family.

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 We were so hoping to be back together this week,

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 but as Oscar said,

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 alas, not yet,

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 but hopefully soon,

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 we'll be back at Ebenezer together.

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 Just one last thing up front.

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 I hope that you were as encouraged

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 and edified as I was last week

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 by the One Church Hong Kong service.

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 It was so wonderful gathering

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 as a church across the city together

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 to celebrate what God is doing in our city,

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 and I hope you were encouraged.

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 It was a wonderful service for our city.

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 Will you join me as we pray?

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 Let's pray together,

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 commit our time before God,

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 and ask Him to speak to us from His Word,

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 and then we're going to dive into

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 the second of the Ten Commandments.

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 Let's pray together.

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 Lord Jesus Christ,

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 Sovereign Father,

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 Holy Spirit,

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 we come before you this morning,

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 this 10th of May,

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 to worship you and to praise you,

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 to give you the worship that you are due,

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 but also, Father,

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 to align our own hearts towards you.

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 God, as we look at your Word this morning,

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 we right up front need to acknowledge

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 that we are so often tempted

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 to stray and to put our hope and trust

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 in all sorts of false gods and idols

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 that really cannot satisfy.

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 But you, Christ, have the words of life.

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 You, Christ, are life.

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 You, Christ, are the life-giving,

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 life-breathing, sovereign God.

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 And as we come and align our hearts with you,

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 our own hearts and souls are filled with life.

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 God, we pray this morning, do that to us.

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 God, as we come back to you

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 and listen to your Word,

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 won't you breathe your life into us?

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 Won't you give us fresh life this morning?

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 God, give us fresh hope.

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 Give us fresh confidence.

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 Give us fresh security and peace in you.

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 God, open our eyes to see your majesty

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 and your glory.

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 Help us, God, to trust you.

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 We acknowledge, Father,

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 that we have so many doubts and questions at times.

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 God, open our eyes to see your glory.

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 Just as we sang that song a little while ago

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 about you deserve the greater glory,

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 I was just reminded,

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 God, I need to see your glory.

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 I want to see your glory.

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 God, do that for us this morning, we pray.

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 Not just this morning, this week.

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 Tomorrow, the rest of this week,

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 as we prepare for kids to go back to school

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 and offices to resume.

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 God, show us your glory.

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 Help us to see your majesty

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 and therefore to worship you.

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 We pray these things in your wonderful and powerful name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 As a church, we are looking at this extremely well-known passage of Scripture

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 in the Old Testament,

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 this set of instructions that has come to be known as the Ten Commandments.

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 But they're not commandments in any kind of arbitrary sense of the word,

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 like ten rules or ten pieces of legislation.

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 These are God's words that are given to us for our abundance,

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 for our flourishing,

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 and really intended for God's people to prosper.

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 Now, one of the great privileges that we have

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 is we get to see these ten words for abundant life

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 in the context, the historical context in which they're given.

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 And that's really important.

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 In fact, these ten words are given twice in the Old Testament.

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 The first time, they are given in Exodus chapter 20,

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 which happens right after Israel leaves Egypt.

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 They are saved by the blood of the Lamb.

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 They leave over Passover.

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 They pass through the waters,

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 and they enter into the wilderness.

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 And there they are constituted as the nation of Israel,

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 as God's people.

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 And God gives His people these words of instruction

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 for their flourishing and for abundant life.

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 And that's really important,

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 because what that tells us is that

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 these words aren't given in order that Israel might become God's people.

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 They're given because they are God's people.

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 These words aren't given in order that Israel might earn

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 or merit God's favor or His acceptance.

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 They're given because they already have His favor.

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 They already have His acceptance.

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 They already are His chosen people.

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 These words are intended for God's people

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 to become everything that He wished and wanted for them to become.

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 But then they're given a second time in Deuteronomy chapter 5,

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 and that's the passage that we're looking at in this series.

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 And what happens is that the book of Deuteronomy

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 serves as a kind of pivot or a hinge

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 between two sections in Israel's history.

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 The first section we've just spoken about,

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 they leave Egypt, they go into the wilderness.

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 And after the book of Deuteronomy,

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 Israel enters the second portion of their history,

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 which is when they go into the promised land,

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 they settle there, they establish the kingdom

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 under Saul and David,

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 and they really become the nation of Israel

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 in the promised land.

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 And in between these two sections of the history

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 lies the book of Deuteronomy.

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 And in the book of Deuteronomy,

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 Moses gives the sermon to the people of God,

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 reminding them of God's faithfulness,

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 His goodness, and His good words to them,

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 and encouraging them and urging them

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 that as they go into the promised land

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 to remember God's words,

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 to obey them, that they will prosper.

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 And the book of Deuteronomy is Moses' sermon,

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 his parting words before he dies,

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 to God's people saying,

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 as you go into the promised land,

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 remember your God and remember His words to you.

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 The question is,

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 how's Israel gonna respond?

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 Are they gonna obey God's word

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 and experience prosper and abundance and flourishing?

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 Or are they gonna reject it and experience demise?

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 And the rest of the Old Testament,

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 from Deuteronomy onwards,

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 really catalogues Israel's decisions

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 of how they respond to God and His word.

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 And that same question applies for us today.

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 For those of us that are part of God's people,

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 how are we gonna respond to God's word

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 and His track record of faithfulness?

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 Are we gonna trust Him and obey Him,

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 experience His flourishing and His abundance?

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 Or are we gonna reject it and experience demise?

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 Now today we get to the second of these 10 commandments.

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 And there's three things I want us to see in this passage.

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 What is the second commandment, firstly?

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 Secondly, how do we break it or why do we break it?

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 And thirdly, where do we find our hope?

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 Where do we find the solution?

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 So what is the commandment?

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 Why do we break it?

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 Where are we gonna find our hope?

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 So what is the second commandment?

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 Well, Sylvie read it to us, but this is what it says.

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 Do not make an idol for yourself in the shape of anything,

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 in the heavens above, the earth below,

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 or underneath the earth and the waters beneath the sea.

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 Do not bow down and worship them.

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 Do not serve them.

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 Because I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,

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 punishing the children for the father's iniquity

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 to the third and fourth generation for those who hate me,

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 but showing faithful, steadfast love

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 to a thousand generations of those who love me

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 and keep my commands.

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 Now, straight away, you should see

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 this very clear connection

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 between the first and the second commandment.

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 The first commandment we looked at two weeks ago,

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 you shall have no other gods before me.

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 And Moses is saying here that it's impossible

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 to break the second commandment

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 without breaking the first one.

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 You can't have other gods or idols in your life

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 without also, not, without breaking the first commandment

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 of having no other gods beside me.

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 In many ways, the first and second commandment

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 are two sides of the same coin.

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 They are intrinsically linked together.

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 When we worship or revere idols or false gods in our lives,

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 the one true God is no longer first in our heart.

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 He no longer has exclusive rights

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 to our affections and our devotions.

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 Now, in the second commandment,

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 there are actually two things that God is forbidding.

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 On the one hand, the second commandment

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 is regulating what we worship,

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 that we worship the one true God alone.

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 By forbidding idol worship,

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 God is forbidding His people

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 from coming to church on Sundays,

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 declaring their allegiance and their worship to God,

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 and yet on Monday to Friday,

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 going and finding our hope and our trust in other gods.

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 God is calling us to live all of our lives devoted to Him.

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 You see, we may functionally call ourselves Christians,

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 but actually, if our hope and our confidence

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 isn't something else, your children or your career,

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 that is functionally your God.

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 We could call ourselves atheists, agnostics,

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 worshipers of no God,

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 but actually, if our hope and trust is in our career,

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 our work, our money, our social approval,

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 what people think of us,

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 functionally, that is our God.

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 That is what we worship.

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 Now, I'm sure we realize that

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 whatever thing takes on a God-like status in our life,

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 whatever thing becomes our God

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 has its own version of the Ten Commandments.

00:12:51.180 --> 00:12:54.820
 For instance, picture your children

00:12:54.820 --> 00:12:57.420
 being the most important thing in your life,

00:12:57.500 --> 00:12:59.500
 the thing for which you live and exist,

00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:02.300
 the thing that gives you hope and security and peace.

00:13:02.800 --> 00:13:05.379
 Maybe some of your Ten Commandments might sound like this.

00:13:05.379 --> 00:13:09.200
 You shall have no other interests besides your children.

00:13:10.060 --> 00:13:12.800
 You shall make sure your child

00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:15.899
 has all the opportunities they can.

00:13:16.599 --> 00:13:18.000
 Maybe social approval,

00:13:18.519 --> 00:13:20.439
 society's approval of you,

00:13:20.679 --> 00:13:21.859
 is the most important thing.

00:13:22.039 --> 00:13:23.799
 Then the Ten Commandments might look like this.

00:13:24.379 --> 00:13:26.919
 You shall always look your confident best.

00:13:27.719 --> 00:13:31.699
 You shall never make sure anybody sees any faults in you.

00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:34.819
 But hoping and trusting in anything

00:13:34.819 --> 00:13:36.500
 other than the sovereign God

00:13:36.500 --> 00:13:39.519
 always leads to our demise and our ruin.

00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:42.199
 But there's actually something else going on

00:13:42.199 --> 00:13:43.299
 in the Second Commandments here.

00:13:43.899 --> 00:13:48.279
 God is not only regulating what we worship,

00:13:48.519 --> 00:13:49.539
 Him, the one true God,

00:13:49.740 --> 00:13:52.179
 He's also regulating how we worship.

00:13:52.860 --> 00:13:54.419
 In other words, in the Second Commandment,

00:13:54.559 --> 00:13:56.519
 God is not only forbidding His people

00:13:56.519 --> 00:13:57.980
 from worshiping false gods,

00:13:58.319 --> 00:14:01.439
 He's also forbidding us from worshiping Him,

00:14:01.799 --> 00:14:03.019
 the one true God,

00:14:03.299 --> 00:14:05.779
 in a false or illegitimate way.

00:14:06.980 --> 00:14:07.860
 How so?

00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:10.700
 By creating objects or images

00:14:10.700 --> 00:14:13.419
 that we think represent God,

00:14:13.899 --> 00:14:17.139
 infusing them with special powers

00:14:17.139 --> 00:14:21.379
 or ascribing to them spiritual properties

00:14:21.379 --> 00:14:23.600
 and using them in our worship

00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:25.519
 through which we worship God.

00:14:26.200 --> 00:14:28.180
 It's not just that God is forbidding us

00:14:28.180 --> 00:14:29.519
 from worshiping false gods

00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:32.379
 like money or sex or career or power.

00:14:32.800 --> 00:14:35.139
 He's also instructing us not to worship Him

00:14:35.139 --> 00:14:37.360
 by taking some object, some image,

00:14:37.699 --> 00:14:38.879
 infusing it with power

00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:40.860
 and using it in our worship of Him.

00:14:42.279 --> 00:14:45.179
 In Exodus 32, there's this famous example of this.

00:14:45.299 --> 00:14:48.199
 And it actually happens while Moses is on the mountain

00:14:48.199 --> 00:14:49.799
 busy getting the Ten Commandments.

00:14:49.980 --> 00:14:52.840
 He's up there for about six weeks, 40 days.

00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:54.240
 The Israelites are below

00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:55.360
 and they feel like,

00:14:55.480 --> 00:14:56.460
 where's this Moses guy?

00:14:56.580 --> 00:14:58.059
 We haven't seen him for a long time.

00:14:58.179 --> 00:14:59.319
 Maybe he's died up there.

00:14:59.500 --> 00:15:00.759
 Maybe he's forgotten about us.

00:15:00.759 --> 00:15:03.519
 And so they come to Moses' brother, Aaron,

00:15:03.779 --> 00:15:04.460
 the high priest,

00:15:04.700 --> 00:15:05.319
 and they say,

00:15:05.419 --> 00:15:07.519
 Aaron, make a God for us

00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:09.019
 that will go before us.

00:15:09.819 --> 00:15:12.700
 And so Aaron makes this golden calf

00:15:12.700 --> 00:15:15.679
 and Moses comes down the mountain,

00:15:15.879 --> 00:15:17.059
 sees this golden calf

00:15:17.059 --> 00:15:18.779
 and completely freaks out.

00:15:19.460 --> 00:15:21.080
 But what's interesting is that

00:15:21.080 --> 00:15:23.620
 when Aaron makes this golden calf,

00:15:23.860 --> 00:15:25.559
 he's not suggesting that Israel

00:15:25.559 --> 00:15:27.179
 stop worshiping Yahweh

00:15:27.179 --> 00:15:28.939
 and now worship something else.

00:15:28.940 --> 00:15:30.680
 In fact, he says to them,

00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:32.120
 as he makes this calf,

00:15:32.180 --> 00:15:32.420
 he says,

00:15:32.500 --> 00:15:34.720
 Israel, here is your God.

00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:36.140
 Here are the gods

00:15:36.140 --> 00:15:37.660
 that have delivered you from Egypt.

00:15:38.160 --> 00:15:39.240
 And then he says this.

00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:39.780
 He says,

00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:41.860
 Tomorrow there will be a festival,

00:15:42.040 --> 00:15:43.880
 a celebration to Yahweh.

00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:45.480
 You see what he's doing there?

00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:47.700
 He's taking this golden calf

00:15:47.700 --> 00:15:48.080
 and he's saying,

00:15:48.200 --> 00:15:49.240
 here is Yahweh.

00:15:49.320 --> 00:15:50.520
 He's not urging them

00:15:50.520 --> 00:15:52.340
 to worship Baal or Melech

00:15:52.340 --> 00:15:53.260
 or some other god

00:15:53.260 --> 00:15:54.460
 of the nations around them.

00:15:54.760 --> 00:15:57.240
 But he's taken some physical thing

00:15:57.240 --> 00:15:59.700
 and he says this represents God.

00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:02.060
 Now why did the people of Israel want that?

00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:04.600
 Because as they go into the promised land,

00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:05.919
 they want some physical,

00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:06.860
 tangible thing

00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:07.940
 that they can look to,

00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:08.960
 hold on to,

00:16:09.340 --> 00:16:10.820
 something that will assure them

00:16:10.820 --> 00:16:11.940
 that God is with them,

00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:13.720
 that God's presence is with them.

00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:15.419
 As they journey on their way,

00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:16.180
 they want to know

00:16:16.180 --> 00:16:17.259
 that God is with them,

00:16:17.340 --> 00:16:18.500
 something they can look to

00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:19.279
 or hold on to

00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:20.820
 for that security

00:16:20.820 --> 00:16:21.799
 and that assurance

00:16:21.799 --> 00:16:23.379
 that everything is going to be fine

00:16:23.379 --> 00:16:24.799
 in the future.

00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:27.000
 Friends,

00:16:27.219 --> 00:16:28.519
 we actually find

00:16:28.519 --> 00:16:29.779
 that we do this all the time.

00:16:30.419 --> 00:16:31.419
 This thing of

00:16:31.419 --> 00:16:32.740
 finding some object

00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:34.759
 and ascribing deity to it

00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:35.459
 is more common

00:16:35.459 --> 00:16:36.279
 than we realize.

00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:38.120
 Maybe,

00:16:38.379 --> 00:16:39.819
 for some of us,

00:16:40.319 --> 00:16:41.379
 we have some

00:16:41.379 --> 00:16:43.019
 special object,

00:16:43.319 --> 00:16:44.639
 maybe a special ornament,

00:16:44.959 --> 00:16:45.479
 a pendant

00:16:45.479 --> 00:16:46.240
 that your mother

00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:47.579
 or your grandmother gave you

00:16:47.579 --> 00:16:48.599
 and when you hold it,

00:16:48.620 --> 00:16:49.899
 you feel closer to God.

00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:51.500
 You feel His presence.

00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:52.919
 For some people,

00:16:52.919 --> 00:16:54.120
 maybe a silver cross

00:16:54.120 --> 00:16:55.179
 that gives them comfort

00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:55.939
 while they pray.

00:16:56.379 --> 00:16:58.199
 They feel God is closer to them

00:16:58.199 --> 00:16:59.399
 as they hold this cross.

00:16:59.959 --> 00:17:00.620
 For some people,

00:17:00.699 --> 00:17:01.899
 maybe it's a certain person.

00:17:02.360 --> 00:17:03.479
 They spend time

00:17:03.479 --> 00:17:04.200
 with a priest

00:17:04.200 --> 00:17:05.259
 or a pastor.

00:17:05.639 --> 00:17:06.759
 They feel closer to God

00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:07.599
 like that person

00:17:07.599 --> 00:17:09.279
 has a direct connection to God

00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:10.059
 and can help them.

00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:11.200
 But friends,

00:17:11.319 --> 00:17:12.579
 all of that is infusing

00:17:12.579 --> 00:17:14.200
 in some created thing

00:17:14.200 --> 00:17:16.799
 divine and sacred properties

00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:18.599
 and treating them reverentially.

00:17:19.059 --> 00:17:19.559
 We're breaking

00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:20.599
 the second commandment.

00:17:20.599 --> 00:17:21.980
 Now,

00:17:22.019 --> 00:17:22.539
 we may think,

00:17:22.879 --> 00:17:23.500
 but hang on,

00:17:23.539 --> 00:17:24.319
 I don't do that.

00:17:24.639 --> 00:17:26.500
 I don't have any special pendants,

00:17:26.619 --> 00:17:27.359
 special ornaments.

00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:28.199
 I don't pray

00:17:28.199 --> 00:17:29.179
 with the silver cross

00:17:29.179 --> 00:17:29.740
 or beads.

00:17:30.119 --> 00:17:32.240
 I don't worship God

00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:32.919
 like this.

00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:34.439
 But what about

00:17:34.439 --> 00:17:35.779
 mental images of God?

00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:37.279
 How many of us

00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:38.059
 have created

00:17:38.059 --> 00:17:39.139
 an image of God

00:17:39.139 --> 00:17:40.079
 in our mind,

00:17:40.299 --> 00:17:42.000
 an image of who God is

00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:43.359
 and we worship

00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:44.019
 and adore

00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:45.399
 and revere that God

00:17:45.399 --> 00:17:46.179
 rather than

00:17:46.179 --> 00:17:47.000
 the one true God?

00:17:47.740 --> 00:17:48.919
 How often do we find

00:17:48.919 --> 00:17:49.779
 people saying,

00:17:49.779 --> 00:17:50.240
 well,

00:17:50.259 --> 00:17:51.259
 the God that I believe

00:17:51.259 --> 00:17:52.139
 in would never say

00:17:52.139 --> 00:17:53.039
 something like that

00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:54.680
 or the God that I believe

00:17:54.680 --> 00:17:55.639
 in would never allow

00:17:55.639 --> 00:17:56.339
 that to happen

00:17:56.339 --> 00:17:57.680
 or I don't believe

00:17:57.680 --> 00:17:58.160
 in a God

00:17:58.160 --> 00:17:59.200
 who does this

00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:00.319
 or who judges people.

00:18:00.779 --> 00:18:01.339
 My God

00:18:01.339 --> 00:18:02.319
 accepts everybody

00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:03.200
 unconditionally

00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:04.139
 just as they are.

00:18:04.680 --> 00:18:05.440
 What have we done?

00:18:05.899 --> 00:18:06.839
 We've created

00:18:06.839 --> 00:18:08.259
 a God in our minds

00:18:08.259 --> 00:18:09.500
 and we're worshiping

00:18:09.500 --> 00:18:10.240
 and bowing down

00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:11.480
 a created God,

00:18:11.819 --> 00:18:13.180
 a God that is no God

00:18:13.180 --> 00:18:14.099
 at all.

00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:15.799
 Maybe the God

00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:16.539
 that you've created

00:18:16.539 --> 00:18:17.460
 in your mind

00:18:17.460 --> 00:18:17.980
 is a God

00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:18.779
 who is just

00:18:18.779 --> 00:18:19.579
 always loving,

00:18:19.940 --> 00:18:20.779
 always accepting

00:18:20.779 --> 00:18:21.860
 and will never judge

00:18:21.860 --> 00:18:22.400
 anybody

00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:23.299
 or hold anybody

00:18:23.299 --> 00:18:23.880
 accountable.

00:18:24.620 --> 00:18:25.339
 Well, look at what

00:18:25.339 --> 00:18:26.380
 our passage says here.

00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:27.559
 It actually says

00:18:27.559 --> 00:18:28.099
 very interesting.

00:18:28.259 --> 00:18:28.579
 God says,

00:18:28.660 --> 00:18:29.660
 I am the Lord your God,

00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:30.960
 I'm a jealous God,

00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:32.660
 visiting the iniquity

00:18:32.660 --> 00:18:33.460
 of the fathers

00:18:33.460 --> 00:18:34.279
 on the children

00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:35.000
 to the third

00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:35.920
 and fourth generation

00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:37.539
 of those who hate me.

00:18:38.299 --> 00:18:39.059
 Now, what's God

00:18:39.059 --> 00:18:39.599
 saying here?

00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:41.279
 Well, what he's not saying

00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:42.220
 is that there's such a thing

00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:43.740
 called generational curses.

00:18:44.120 --> 00:18:44.680
 He's not saying

00:18:44.680 --> 00:18:46.019
 that we need to repent

00:18:46.019 --> 00:18:46.640
 for the sins

00:18:46.640 --> 00:18:47.560
 of our ancestors,

00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:48.080
 the third

00:18:48.080 --> 00:18:48.980
 and fourth generation.

00:18:49.600 --> 00:18:50.460
 He's not saying

00:18:50.460 --> 00:18:52.539
 that if one generation sins,

00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:54.320
 well, sorry for the next generation,

00:18:54.480 --> 00:18:55.680
 you're just going to have to

00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:57.220
 bear the consequences

00:18:57.220 --> 00:18:58.320
 of your parents' sins.

00:18:58.740 --> 00:18:59.900
 In the book of Ezekiel,

00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:00.620
 chapter 18,

00:19:00.740 --> 00:19:01.820
 God is very clear

00:19:01.820 --> 00:19:03.660
 that he doesn't punish children

00:19:03.660 --> 00:19:04.360
 for the sins

00:19:04.360 --> 00:19:05.060
 of their parents.

00:19:05.560 --> 00:19:06.340
 But what he's saying

00:19:06.340 --> 00:19:07.940
 is that as one generation

00:19:07.940 --> 00:19:09.600
 rejects God

00:19:09.600 --> 00:19:10.680
 and worships idols

00:19:10.680 --> 00:19:11.560
 and false gods,

00:19:11.660 --> 00:19:12.740
 as the next generation

00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:14.100
 follow in the footsteps

00:19:14.099 --> 00:19:15.000
 of their parents,

00:19:15.139 --> 00:19:15.819
 they're going to bear

00:19:15.819 --> 00:19:16.939
 the same consequences.

00:19:17.579 --> 00:19:18.439
 You can't just say,

00:19:18.740 --> 00:19:19.219
 well, I'm sorry,

00:19:19.319 --> 00:19:20.139
 that's my upbringing.

00:19:20.419 --> 00:19:21.019
 That's the way

00:19:21.019 --> 00:19:22.059
 my parents taught me

00:19:22.059 --> 00:19:23.000
 how to behave.

00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:24.519
 You can't excuse

00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:25.480
 your disobedience

00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:27.199
 by pointing to your childhood

00:19:27.199 --> 00:19:28.759
 or your personal history.

00:19:29.740 --> 00:19:30.779
 What this means

00:19:30.779 --> 00:19:32.339
 is that as each generation

00:19:32.339 --> 00:19:33.399
 participates

00:19:33.399 --> 00:19:34.539
 or perpetuates

00:19:34.539 --> 00:19:36.139
 the sins of their parents,

00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:38.619
 they face the same consequences.

00:19:39.699 --> 00:19:41.059
 But the point is this.

00:19:41.139 --> 00:19:42.059
 How many people say,

00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:43.179
 well, God, I believe

00:19:43.180 --> 00:19:44.560
 and would never judge anybody.

00:19:45.120 --> 00:19:45.840
 I don't believe

00:19:45.840 --> 00:19:46.700
 in a God like that.

00:19:46.820 --> 00:19:47.580
 What have we done?

00:19:48.100 --> 00:19:48.940
 We've created

00:19:48.940 --> 00:19:50.080
 an image of God.

00:19:50.380 --> 00:19:51.299
 We've created

00:19:51.299 --> 00:19:52.200
 a God in our mind,

00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:53.340
 a God that we worship,

00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:54.799
 a God that is no God

00:19:54.799 --> 00:19:55.820
 at all.

00:19:56.580 --> 00:19:58.000
 Now, why do we do this?

00:19:59.000 --> 00:19:59.440
 Because,

00:19:59.840 --> 00:20:00.720
 like idols,

00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:02.160
 it's so much safer,

00:20:02.360 --> 00:20:03.279
 so much easier

00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:04.720
 to control

00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:05.920
 a God that is manageable,

00:20:06.200 --> 00:20:07.279
 a God that we imagine,

00:20:07.460 --> 00:20:09.140
 a God that suits our needs,

00:20:09.220 --> 00:20:10.160
 a God that never

00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:11.360
 disagrees with us

00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:12.619
 or contradicts us

00:20:12.619 --> 00:20:14.339
 or challenges us.

00:20:14.819 --> 00:20:15.799
 And so just like people

00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:16.759
 in the ancient world

00:20:16.759 --> 00:20:17.279
 would create

00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:17.919
 a physical,

00:20:18.099 --> 00:20:19.059
 material God

00:20:19.059 --> 00:20:19.599
 that they could

00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:21.179
 bring out and worship,

00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:23.000
 a God that would serve them,

00:20:23.319 --> 00:20:24.539
 a God that they could serve

00:20:24.539 --> 00:20:25.119
 in their own

00:20:25.119 --> 00:20:25.619
 comfortable,

00:20:25.859 --> 00:20:26.639
 convenient way,

00:20:27.199 --> 00:20:28.179
 so we do the same

00:20:28.179 --> 00:20:29.759
 with mental images of God.

00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:31.299
 We create a God

00:20:31.299 --> 00:20:31.919
 in our mind,

00:20:32.039 --> 00:20:33.339
 a God that is no God

00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:34.139
 at all.

00:20:34.679 --> 00:20:35.019
 And yet,

00:20:35.059 --> 00:20:35.959
 as Tony Reinke

00:20:35.959 --> 00:20:37.299
 reminds us,

00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:38.519
 there is nothing

00:20:38.519 --> 00:20:39.460
 more dangerous

00:20:39.460 --> 00:20:41.339
 than religious confidence

00:20:41.339 --> 00:20:42.559
 in a fake God

00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:43.819
 of our imagineering.

00:20:46.019 --> 00:20:47.139
 This is a problem.

00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:48.740
 Now,

00:20:48.899 --> 00:20:49.399
 as we said,

00:20:49.460 --> 00:20:50.460
 we may be tempted to think,

00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:51.740
 but I don't do this.

00:20:52.680 --> 00:20:53.659
 500 years ago,

00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:54.859
 a French pastor

00:20:54.859 --> 00:20:55.940
 by the name of John Kelvin,

00:20:56.099 --> 00:20:56.839
 very famous

00:20:56.839 --> 00:20:57.919
 and brilliant man,

00:20:58.039 --> 00:20:59.119
 very perceptively

00:20:59.119 --> 00:20:59.799
 said this,

00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:01.460
 this human heart

00:21:01.460 --> 00:21:03.079
 is an idol factory,

00:21:03.700 --> 00:21:05.279
 a perpetual creator

00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:06.700
 of God's.

00:21:07.299 --> 00:21:08.079
 And what he's saying here

00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:09.240
 is that every human being

00:21:09.240 --> 00:21:09.980
 from the time

00:21:09.980 --> 00:21:11.740
 the world was made

00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:13.200
 cannot help

00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:14.660
 but find things

00:21:14.660 --> 00:21:15.859
 to hold on to,

00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:16.859
 to look to,

00:21:17.019 --> 00:21:18.299
 to put our hope

00:21:18.299 --> 00:21:19.480
 and our confidence in,

00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:21.139
 things to trust,

00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:22.599
 things that we look to

00:21:22.599 --> 00:21:23.700
 to guarantee us

00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:24.279
 a secure

00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:25.379
 and prosperous future,

00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:27.240
 things that we worship.

00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:29.279
 John Kelvin shows us

00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:30.220
 that we actually

00:21:30.220 --> 00:21:31.259
 all look to things

00:21:31.259 --> 00:21:32.079
 to serve

00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:33.039
 with the hope

00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:34.200
 that it will serve us

00:21:34.200 --> 00:21:35.000
 in return.

00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:38.059
 Why do we do this?

00:21:38.720 --> 00:21:39.079
 Well,

00:21:39.240 --> 00:21:40.240
 here's a couple of reasons.

00:21:40.779 --> 00:21:41.720
 First reason is

00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:42.700
 because we're made

00:21:42.700 --> 00:21:43.779
 in the image of God.

00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:45.039
 As human beings,

00:21:45.139 --> 00:21:46.279
 we are made to worship.

00:21:46.420 --> 00:21:47.519
 It's part of our DNA.

00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:48.639
 We cannot help

00:21:48.639 --> 00:21:49.680
 but worship

00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:50.639
 because we're made

00:21:50.639 --> 00:21:51.160
 to worship

00:21:51.160 --> 00:21:52.200
 the one true God.

00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:53.200
 Now, of course,

00:21:53.339 --> 00:21:55.099
 the fall has distorted that

00:21:55.099 --> 00:21:55.879
 and so we worship

00:21:55.879 --> 00:21:57.079
 created things

00:21:57.079 --> 00:21:58.000
 rather than

00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:59.059
 the creator himself.

00:21:59.539 --> 00:22:00.579
 But part of our DNA,

00:22:00.740 --> 00:22:01.599
 our heart's wiring

00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:02.460
 is to worship.

00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:04.579
 El Mola said it like this,

00:22:04.579 --> 00:22:06.000
 the human soul

00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:06.960
 will find

00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:08.119
 an object of worship

00:22:08.119 --> 00:22:09.639
 whether on the shelf

00:22:09.639 --> 00:22:10.399
 in the store,

00:22:10.939 --> 00:22:12.159
 whether in our bank statements,

00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:13.419
 whether in the mirror

00:22:13.419 --> 00:22:14.399
 in front of us,

00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:15.879
 whether in the temple

00:22:15.879 --> 00:22:17.240
 or in the heavens,

00:22:17.439 --> 00:22:18.659
 we were created

00:22:18.659 --> 00:22:19.799
 to worship.

00:22:20.099 --> 00:22:21.299
 It's part of our DNA.

00:22:21.299 --> 00:22:23.259
 But here's another reason

00:22:23.259 --> 00:22:24.220
 why we do this.

00:22:24.839 --> 00:22:25.819
 Because idols,

00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:26.859
 the false gods

00:22:26.859 --> 00:22:27.700
 that we create,

00:22:27.919 --> 00:22:28.819
 whether material

00:22:28.819 --> 00:22:29.680
 in front of us,

00:22:29.899 --> 00:22:31.259
 whether existential

00:22:31.259 --> 00:22:32.299
 or whether mental

00:22:32.299 --> 00:22:33.240
 images of God,

00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:34.899
 the idols that we

00:22:34.899 --> 00:22:36.539
 think represent God

00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:37.700
 and that we worship

00:22:37.700 --> 00:22:38.180
 and serve,

00:22:38.259 --> 00:22:38.740
 that we hope

00:22:38.740 --> 00:22:39.480
 and trust in,

00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:41.659
 always lie to us

00:22:41.659 --> 00:22:43.079
 about the ability

00:22:43.079 --> 00:22:44.240
 to give us life.

00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:45.440
 You see,

00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:46.619
 false gods and idols

00:22:46.619 --> 00:22:47.799
 always promise us

00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:49.079
 an abundant life,

00:22:49.079 --> 00:22:50.720
 a life full of joy

00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:51.460
 and prosperity

00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:52.259
 and peace.

00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:54.139
 Don Frame,

00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:55.859
 who's a brilliant theologian,

00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:56.819
 said it like this.

00:22:57.439 --> 00:22:57.699
 He said,

00:22:57.779 --> 00:22:59.379
 idols lie to us,

00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:00.879
 not because God

00:23:00.879 --> 00:23:01.519
 is invisible

00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:03.119
 and cannot be pictured,

00:23:03.639 --> 00:23:04.720
 but because idols

00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:05.699
 fail to picture

00:23:05.699 --> 00:23:07.019
 what is most important

00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:07.659
 about God,

00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:09.000
 His personality,

00:23:09.579 --> 00:23:10.220
 His ability

00:23:10.220 --> 00:23:10.899
 to see,

00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:11.980
 to hear,

00:23:12.339 --> 00:23:13.159
 to speak,

00:23:13.159 --> 00:23:14.139
 to interact

00:23:14.139 --> 00:23:14.939
 with His creatures.

00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:16.519
 Without personality,

00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:18.180
 God cannot judge,

00:23:18.599 --> 00:23:19.359
 which may seem

00:23:19.359 --> 00:23:19.920
 like good news

00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:20.700
 to hedonists,

00:23:20.940 --> 00:23:21.779
 but it's bad news

00:23:21.779 --> 00:23:22.879
 for the rest of the universe

00:23:22.879 --> 00:23:23.599
 or anyone

00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:24.819
 that's suffered injustice.

00:23:25.639 --> 00:23:26.700
 But without personality,

00:23:27.319 --> 00:23:28.799
 God also cannot love,

00:23:29.319 --> 00:23:30.379
 which is bad news

00:23:30.379 --> 00:23:31.920
 for all of us.

00:23:33.339 --> 00:23:33.859
 You see, friends,

00:23:34.019 --> 00:23:34.920
 lifeless idols

00:23:34.920 --> 00:23:36.940
 cannot impart life to us.

00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:38.879
 They promise us the world,

00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:41.500
 but they never deliver.

00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:43.339
 One of the distinctive things

00:23:43.339 --> 00:23:44.559
 about the God of the Bible

00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:45.799
 is that He's personable.

00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:46.839
 He's relatable

00:23:46.839 --> 00:23:48.659
 and He infuses us

00:23:48.659 --> 00:23:49.480
 with life

00:23:49.480 --> 00:23:50.919
 and fullness of life.

00:23:51.460 --> 00:23:53.079
 The one who knows us the best

00:23:53.079 --> 00:23:54.359
 and loves us the most,

00:23:54.419 --> 00:23:55.559
 as we worship Him

00:23:55.559 --> 00:23:56.879
 and come and serve Him,

00:23:57.299 --> 00:23:58.460
 we find that we become

00:23:58.460 --> 00:23:59.619
 more fully human.

00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:01.159
 We become like Him.

00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:02.359
 We become the people

00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:03.339
 that God's called us

00:24:03.339 --> 00:24:04.319
 and created us to be.

00:24:04.680 --> 00:24:07.599
 We experience fullness of life.

00:24:08.119 --> 00:24:08.960
 And on the contrary,

00:24:09.079 --> 00:24:09.940
 the false gods

00:24:09.940 --> 00:24:11.119
 that we are so tempted

00:24:11.119 --> 00:24:12.259
 to hope and trust in

00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:13.980
 are lifeless beings.

00:24:14.339 --> 00:24:15.559
 They promise us the world,

00:24:15.559 --> 00:24:16.159
 but actually,

00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:17.679
 they suck life out of us.

00:24:17.980 --> 00:24:19.419
 They suck joy out of us.

00:24:19.720 --> 00:24:21.339
 They suck hope out of us.

00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:23.079
 Just think about the person

00:24:23.079 --> 00:24:25.519
 that lives for the next promotion at work.

00:24:25.919 --> 00:24:28.940
 Someone who lives for advancing

00:24:28.940 --> 00:24:29.740
 in their career.

00:24:30.419 --> 00:24:31.799
 Are they more gracious?

00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:33.599
 More understanding?

00:24:34.099 --> 00:24:34.980
 More gentle?

00:24:35.639 --> 00:24:36.519
 More sympathetic?

00:24:37.019 --> 00:24:37.799
 More compassionate

00:24:37.799 --> 00:24:38.859
 with those around them?

00:24:39.399 --> 00:24:40.319
 Of course not.

00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:41.819
 Think about the person

00:24:41.819 --> 00:24:43.839
 that lives for their children's success.

00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:45.279
 That their very meaning

00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:47.539
 is found in their children

00:24:47.539 --> 00:24:49.960
 being successful and doing well.

00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:51.519
 Are they more gracious

00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:52.220
 and understanding

00:24:52.220 --> 00:24:53.519
 when their children make mistakes?

00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:55.059
 Are they more compassionate

00:24:55.059 --> 00:24:56.740
 when things don't go well?

00:24:57.379 --> 00:24:58.659
 Are they more forgiving

00:24:58.659 --> 00:24:59.539
 when things go wrong?

00:25:00.159 --> 00:25:00.919
 Of course not.

00:25:01.579 --> 00:25:03.039
 Idols promise us life

00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:04.200
 and joy and freedom,

00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:05.919
 but they do anything but that.

00:25:05.980 --> 00:25:07.779
 They suck life out of our lives.

00:25:07.779 --> 00:25:10.099
 Here's another reason.

00:25:11.099 --> 00:25:13.000
 Why do we find this so tempting?

00:25:13.639 --> 00:25:15.960
 Because idols promise us

00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:18.259
 the illusion of being in control.

00:25:19.700 --> 00:25:21.599
 The great temptation, of course,

00:25:21.660 --> 00:25:23.019
 of worshipping a false god

00:25:23.019 --> 00:25:24.200
 is that it promises us

00:25:24.200 --> 00:25:25.480
 that we can be in control.

00:25:26.139 --> 00:25:27.420
 Think about in the ancient days.

00:25:27.539 --> 00:25:28.819
 You carved this idol

00:25:28.819 --> 00:25:29.940
 out of a piece of wood

00:25:29.940 --> 00:25:31.339
 or silver or stone.

00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:33.460
 You can bring it in when you want,

00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:35.359
 but you can also put it away.

00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:36.619
 You can hide it

00:25:36.619 --> 00:25:37.500
 when it's inconvenient,

00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:38.940
 but you can also bring it out

00:25:38.940 --> 00:25:40.500
 when you want to show off to others.

00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:43.299
 You can worship it how you want,

00:25:43.660 --> 00:25:44.640
 when you want,

00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:46.839
 when it's convenient for you to worship

00:25:46.839 --> 00:25:48.779
 in a way that suits you.

00:25:49.720 --> 00:25:51.380
 Friends, the false gods

00:25:51.380 --> 00:25:52.940
 that we hope and trust in

00:25:52.940 --> 00:25:54.160
 are no different.

00:25:54.779 --> 00:25:56.039
 They promise us control,

00:25:56.400 --> 00:25:59.400
 but actually they take control from us.

00:26:00.420 --> 00:26:01.480
 Think of the person

00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:03.920
 for whom appearance and beauty

00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:06.180
 is the most important thing in life.

00:26:06.180 --> 00:26:07.279
 We might think,

00:26:07.360 --> 00:26:08.600
 it's not such a big deal.

00:26:08.820 --> 00:26:10.440
 I just want to take care of my body.

00:26:10.840 --> 00:26:12.380
 Nothing wrong with wanting to look good.

00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:14.900
 But scarcely can they walk past the mirror

00:26:14.900 --> 00:26:16.120
 without stopping and looking.

00:26:17.539 --> 00:26:18.440
 Almost all day,

00:26:18.560 --> 00:26:19.120
 you're thinking,

00:26:19.380 --> 00:26:20.500
 what do people think of me?

00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:21.519
 How do I look?

00:26:21.980 --> 00:26:23.940
 How am I perceived by those around me?

00:26:24.920 --> 00:26:25.820
 A few years ago,

00:26:25.860 --> 00:26:27.320
 I read a magazine article

00:26:27.320 --> 00:26:29.259
 in a British magazine

00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:30.580
 about a young lady

00:26:30.580 --> 00:26:31.860
 that grappled with this.

00:26:31.980 --> 00:26:33.460
 And listen to what she says.

00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:35.220
 She says,

00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:37.019
 sitting on my bed last December,

00:26:37.559 --> 00:26:39.600
 I stared at the stacks of makeup

00:26:39.600 --> 00:26:41.079
 scattered around my bedroom.

00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:44.920
 I'd counted 213 lipsticks,

00:26:45.640 --> 00:26:47.640
 130 eyeshadow palettes,

00:26:48.460 --> 00:26:50.180
 102 blushes,

00:26:50.860 --> 00:26:52.360
 65 eyeliners,

00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:53.779
 17 mascaras.

00:26:54.079 --> 00:26:55.500
 And that wasn't even all of it.

00:26:56.440 --> 00:26:58.460
 After doing some initial calculations,

00:26:58.460 --> 00:27:02.519
 I worked out I'd spent 15,000 pounds,

00:27:03.140 --> 00:27:05.140
 150,000 Hong Kong dollars,

00:27:05.400 --> 00:27:07.079
 in the last year alone.

00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:09.779
 I was buying makeup as a way

00:27:09.779 --> 00:27:11.100
 to improve my mood

00:27:11.100 --> 00:27:12.840
 when I was struggling with depression.

00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:15.100
 Buying makeup gave me a high,

00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:17.000
 a feeling of being happy and hopeful,

00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:18.059
 of being in control.

00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:20.079
 That made me feel better

00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:21.900
 after feeling low about my job

00:27:21.900 --> 00:27:23.519
 and my low self-worth.

00:27:23.980 --> 00:27:25.640
 The shocking numbers confirmed

00:27:25.640 --> 00:27:26.799
 what I'd been worried about.

00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:28.619
 My spending habit

00:27:28.619 --> 00:27:31.180
 had got seriously out of control.

00:27:32.139 --> 00:27:32.799
 You see that?

00:27:33.659 --> 00:27:35.279
 Idols promise us control,

00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:37.039
 but they take control from us.

00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:38.460
 Well, think about the person

00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:40.399
 for whom wealth and financial freedom

00:27:40.399 --> 00:27:42.440
 is the most important thing in our life.

00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:43.659
 We tell ourselves,

00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:44.720
 I'm just being a good steward.

00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:46.079
 I'm taking care of my family.

00:27:46.159 --> 00:27:47.819
 I'm looking after my family's wealth.

00:27:48.339 --> 00:27:49.659
 But have we ever stopped to think

00:27:49.659 --> 00:27:50.940
 how much is enough?

00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:52.779
 And when we get there,

00:27:53.059 --> 00:27:53.700
 what happens?

00:27:54.079 --> 00:27:55.740
 We suddenly find it's not enough.

00:27:55.740 --> 00:27:57.480
 We have a figure in our mind

00:27:57.480 --> 00:27:58.259
 that if I get there,

00:27:58.299 --> 00:27:59.000
 I'll feel safe,

00:27:59.079 --> 00:27:59.839
 I'll feel secure,

00:28:00.180 --> 00:28:01.259
 only to get there

00:28:01.259 --> 00:28:02.660
 and not feel safe and secure

00:28:02.660 --> 00:28:04.480
 and need a whole lot more.

00:28:07.339 --> 00:28:08.880
 John Kelvin reminds us

00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:09.940
 that all of us,

00:28:10.019 --> 00:28:11.380
 our hearts are idle factories,

00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:13.120
 perpetually creating gods

00:28:13.120 --> 00:28:15.220
 that we hope and trust in.

00:28:16.380 --> 00:28:17.420
 Now you may say,

00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:19.039
 Kevin, speak for yourself.

00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:22.079
 I've grew up in a Christian family.

00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:24.119
 All I've ever done is worship God.

00:28:24.439 --> 00:28:26.619
 I've never worshiped false gods around me.

00:28:26.839 --> 00:28:27.659
 All my days,

00:28:27.720 --> 00:28:28.919
 since the day I can remember,

00:28:29.059 --> 00:28:31.339
 I've longed to live and worship God.

00:28:32.199 --> 00:28:33.859
 Maybe you're not religious at all

00:28:33.859 --> 00:28:34.419
 and you say,

00:28:34.659 --> 00:28:35.740
 I don't worship any God.

00:28:35.919 --> 00:28:36.980
 I'm a free thinker.

00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:39.819
 I'm free from all religious devotion

00:28:39.819 --> 00:28:40.579
 and delusion.

00:28:41.980 --> 00:28:43.139
 Well, in the New Testament,

00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:44.259
 in the book of Colossians,

00:28:44.460 --> 00:28:46.879
 the apostle Paul writes a fascinating thing.

00:28:47.139 --> 00:28:47.919
 In chapter three,

00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:49.179
 he writes this.

00:28:49.180 --> 00:28:50.039
 He says,

00:28:50.120 --> 00:28:51.920
 put to death what is earthly in you,

00:28:52.440 --> 00:28:53.799
 sexual immorality,

00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:56.860
 affairs, pornography, lust,

00:28:57.539 --> 00:28:59.480
 impurity, passions,

00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:01.140
 evil desires,

00:29:01.660 --> 00:29:02.940
 and covetousness,

00:29:03.240 --> 00:29:05.840
 all of which is idolatry.

00:29:06.759 --> 00:29:07.799
 And then he goes on

00:29:07.799 --> 00:29:08.700
 to speak about the way

00:29:08.700 --> 00:29:09.740
 that we use our mouths.

00:29:09.840 --> 00:29:10.100
 He says,

00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:12.740
 do not lie to one another,

00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:14.160
 speaking untruthfully.

00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:15.640
 Don't get angry.

00:29:15.640 --> 00:29:17.080
 Stop slandering

00:29:17.080 --> 00:29:19.900
 and speaking about people

00:29:19.900 --> 00:29:20.860
 behind their backs.

00:29:21.340 --> 00:29:22.720
 What's Paul saying here?

00:29:23.140 --> 00:29:23.640
 He's saying,

00:29:23.800 --> 00:29:24.740
 the things in our lives

00:29:24.740 --> 00:29:26.200
 that we're most ashamed about,

00:29:26.640 --> 00:29:28.420
 the vices that we try and hide

00:29:28.420 --> 00:29:30.200
 and don't really want anyone to see,

00:29:30.620 --> 00:29:32.120
 is actually located

00:29:32.120 --> 00:29:33.560
 in a deeper issue.

00:29:34.100 --> 00:29:35.220
 Those aren't just habits.

00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:36.500
 They're not just personality.

00:29:37.140 --> 00:29:38.280
 It's not just our upbringing.

00:29:38.940 --> 00:29:40.080
 There's something going on

00:29:40.080 --> 00:29:40.920
 in our hearts there.

00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:42.280
 There's something that we hope

00:29:42.279 --> 00:29:43.139
 and trust in

00:29:43.139 --> 00:29:44.519
 that is driving

00:29:44.519 --> 00:29:46.599
 and forming our behavior.

00:29:47.399 --> 00:29:48.420
 Why do we lie?

00:29:48.940 --> 00:29:49.639
 Maybe it's because

00:29:49.639 --> 00:29:50.839
 our image is threatened.

00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:52.559
 What people think of us

00:29:52.559 --> 00:29:53.339
 is under threat.

00:29:54.399 --> 00:29:55.440
 I wonder how many of us

00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:56.420
 can relate to this.

00:29:56.779 --> 00:29:57.899
 Your boss says to you,

00:29:58.099 --> 00:29:59.019
 have you got that report

00:29:59.019 --> 00:29:59.980
 I asked you to do

00:29:59.980 --> 00:30:01.859
 and you haven't quite finished it?

00:30:02.359 --> 00:30:03.200
 And so what do we say?

00:30:03.619 --> 00:30:04.240
 Yeah, I've done it.

00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:05.019
 As soon as I get back

00:30:05.019 --> 00:30:05.680
 to my computer,

00:30:05.879 --> 00:30:06.720
 I'll send it to you

00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:07.220
 straight away.

00:30:07.619 --> 00:30:08.859
 And then we run to our computer

00:30:08.859 --> 00:30:10.200
 and frantically type away.

00:30:10.700 --> 00:30:11.720
 What's going on there?

00:30:12.299 --> 00:30:13.180
 Our image,

00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:14.680
 our sense of having it all together,

00:30:14.860 --> 00:30:16.000
 being a good employee

00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:17.700
 is suddenly under threat.

00:30:18.160 --> 00:30:19.600
 And so what comes out of our mouth

00:30:19.600 --> 00:30:20.900
 is not quite the truth

00:30:20.900 --> 00:30:23.400
 because we need to protect our idol.

00:30:24.420 --> 00:30:24.799
 Friends,

00:30:25.160 --> 00:30:26.440
 why do we get angry

00:30:26.440 --> 00:30:27.579
 with our kids,

00:30:28.160 --> 00:30:29.220
 with our spouse,

00:30:29.720 --> 00:30:30.660
 with our boss,

00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:32.100
 with our colleagues,

00:30:32.620 --> 00:30:33.360
 with the government?

00:30:34.259 --> 00:30:35.160
 Is it not because

00:30:35.160 --> 00:30:37.240
 some idol is under threat?

00:30:37.700 --> 00:30:39.019
 Something that we hope

00:30:39.019 --> 00:30:39.740
 and trust in,

00:30:39.740 --> 00:30:41.079
 something that promises us

00:30:41.079 --> 00:30:43.140
 security and peace

00:30:43.140 --> 00:30:44.380
 is challenged.

00:30:45.120 --> 00:30:45.960
 We cannot help

00:30:45.960 --> 00:30:47.039
 but the anger

00:30:47.039 --> 00:30:47.740
 in our hearts

00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:48.920
 comes out.

00:30:49.819 --> 00:30:51.019
 Why do people steal money

00:30:51.019 --> 00:30:51.900
 and defraud others?

00:30:52.539 --> 00:30:53.440
 Very seldom is it

00:30:53.440 --> 00:30:54.480
 because they literally

00:30:54.480 --> 00:30:55.299
 have no food

00:30:55.299 --> 00:30:56.259
 to put on the table.

00:30:57.019 --> 00:30:57.940
 Often it's because

00:30:57.940 --> 00:30:59.859
 that sense of being in control,

00:31:00.039 --> 00:31:00.599
 the freedom

00:31:00.599 --> 00:31:01.599
 that money promises,

00:31:02.200 --> 00:31:03.380
 that millions promises,

00:31:04.380 --> 00:31:06.019
 is too alluring

00:31:06.019 --> 00:31:07.579
 and so people steal

00:31:07.579 --> 00:31:08.639
 and defraud others.

00:31:10.799 --> 00:31:11.240
 Friends,

00:31:11.480 --> 00:31:12.400
 the bad news is

00:31:12.400 --> 00:31:13.980
 we're all idol worshippers.

00:31:14.599 --> 00:31:15.960
 The heart is an idol factory,

00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:17.500
 a perpetual creator

00:31:17.500 --> 00:31:18.599
 of God's.

00:31:19.259 --> 00:31:20.220
 What I want to do now

00:31:20.220 --> 00:31:21.279
 is I want to ask us

00:31:21.279 --> 00:31:22.859
 just to take two minutes

00:31:22.859 --> 00:31:24.319
 and I've got a couple of questions

00:31:24.319 --> 00:31:25.359
 on the screen

00:31:25.359 --> 00:31:27.279
 and I would love us to,

00:31:27.879 --> 00:31:28.900
 if you're with somebody else,

00:31:28.980 --> 00:31:30.500
 to process these questions together.

00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:31.299
 Otherwise,

00:31:31.460 --> 00:31:32.279
 if you're on your own,

00:31:32.359 --> 00:31:33.240
 maybe take a journal

00:31:33.240 --> 00:31:34.960
 and just write some thoughts

00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:36.799
 as you process these questions.

00:31:36.980 --> 00:31:38.039
 Three questions for us.

00:31:38.680 --> 00:31:40.160
 What makes you feel secure

00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:40.960
 when you have it

00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:42.980
 and insecure when you don't?

00:31:44.480 --> 00:31:46.720
 What causes you extreme emotion,

00:31:47.240 --> 00:31:48.200
 extreme joy,

00:31:48.839 --> 00:31:51.900
 extreme despondency,

00:31:52.380 --> 00:31:53.319
 extreme anxiety?

00:31:54.420 --> 00:31:55.500
 What do you think

00:31:55.500 --> 00:31:57.160
 could possibly be an idol,

00:31:57.339 --> 00:31:58.059
 a false god,

00:31:58.579 --> 00:31:59.359
 in your life?

00:31:59.819 --> 00:32:00.880
 Let's take a couple of minutes

00:32:00.880 --> 00:32:01.900
 and think about that now.

00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:04.240
 Okay.

00:32:15.539 --> 00:32:16.940
 We've looked at the second command

00:32:16.940 --> 00:32:18.380
 and we've looked at the way

00:32:18.380 --> 00:32:19.480
 that all of us

00:32:19.480 --> 00:32:21.220
 break it.

00:32:21.839 --> 00:32:23.160
 So where do we find hope?

00:32:23.819 --> 00:32:24.779
 Where do we find hope

00:32:24.779 --> 00:32:25.799
 for idolaters

00:32:25.799 --> 00:32:26.680
 like myself

00:32:26.680 --> 00:32:27.980
 and like you?

00:32:29.579 --> 00:32:31.559
 In the person of Jesus Christ,

00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:32.879
 we have the hope

00:32:32.879 --> 00:32:34.000
 that we're looking for

00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:35.679
 because in the gospel,

00:32:35.859 --> 00:32:36.819
 we have the good news

00:32:36.819 --> 00:32:38.019
 that we don't need

00:32:38.019 --> 00:32:39.220
 to create a God.

00:32:39.539 --> 00:32:41.339
 We don't need to find a God.

00:32:41.679 --> 00:32:43.240
 We don't need to serve a God

00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:43.679
 in the hope

00:32:43.679 --> 00:32:45.279
 that maybe He will serve us.

00:32:45.619 --> 00:32:46.519
 In the gospel,

00:32:46.679 --> 00:32:47.419
 in Jesus Christ,

00:32:47.480 --> 00:32:48.940
 we have the one true God

00:32:48.940 --> 00:32:50.619
 who came to us

00:32:50.619 --> 00:32:51.859
 to show us

00:32:51.859 --> 00:32:53.419
 what God is really like,

00:32:53.559 --> 00:32:55.000
 that we may come to Him

00:32:55.000 --> 00:32:56.440
 and find the life

00:32:56.440 --> 00:32:57.539
 and the freedom

00:32:57.539 --> 00:32:59.740
 that we desperately long for

00:32:59.740 --> 00:33:01.380
 and we desperately need.

00:33:01.880 --> 00:33:03.079
 In Jesus Christ,

00:33:03.180 --> 00:33:04.339
 we have the hope

00:33:04.339 --> 00:33:05.599
 that our hearts long for.

00:33:06.920 --> 00:33:08.180
 In his book,

00:33:08.259 --> 00:33:08.980
 Counterfeit Gods,

00:33:09.120 --> 00:33:10.720
 Tim Keller has this amazing line

00:33:10.720 --> 00:33:11.859
 where he says,

00:33:12.259 --> 00:33:13.579
 in ancient times,

00:33:13.799 --> 00:33:15.400
 the gods were bloodthirsty

00:33:15.400 --> 00:33:17.380
 and hard to appease.

00:33:18.059 --> 00:33:19.339
 They demanded your all.

00:33:20.059 --> 00:33:21.259
 The gods of today

00:33:21.259 --> 00:33:22.759
 still are.

00:33:23.839 --> 00:33:24.240
 Friends,

00:33:24.299 --> 00:33:24.779
 in the gospel,

00:33:24.920 --> 00:33:25.880
 we are given the great news

00:33:25.880 --> 00:33:26.599
 that we don't need

00:33:26.599 --> 00:33:28.180
 to sacrifice our lives

00:33:28.180 --> 00:33:29.400
 because in the gospel,

00:33:29.560 --> 00:33:30.759
 we have a God who came

00:33:30.759 --> 00:33:32.240
 and He sacrificed Himself

00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:33.740
 for us

00:33:33.740 --> 00:33:35.160
 that we may find

00:33:35.160 --> 00:33:35.860
 His favor

00:33:35.860 --> 00:33:37.060
 and His blessing.

00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:38.860
 The gods that we look to

00:33:38.860 --> 00:33:40.380
 to save and rescue us,

00:33:40.920 --> 00:33:42.000
 to give us peace

00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:42.600
 and meaning

00:33:42.600 --> 00:33:43.920
 and security in life,

00:33:44.320 --> 00:33:45.480
 are bloodthirsty

00:33:45.480 --> 00:33:47.120
 and hard to appease.

00:33:47.519 --> 00:33:48.360
 But in the gospel,

00:33:48.500 --> 00:33:49.039
 we discover

00:33:49.039 --> 00:33:50.420
 the eternal God,

00:33:50.779 --> 00:33:52.019
 the uncreated one,

00:33:52.299 --> 00:33:53.920
 the one who doesn't demand

00:33:53.920 --> 00:33:54.299
 of us

00:33:54.299 --> 00:33:54.980
 our blood,

00:33:55.100 --> 00:33:55.640
 our sweat,

00:33:55.640 --> 00:33:56.460
 and our tears,

00:33:56.820 --> 00:33:58.360
 but the one who gave

00:33:58.360 --> 00:33:59.720
 of His own.

00:34:00.360 --> 00:34:00.780
 Friends,

00:34:00.860 --> 00:34:01.340
 don't you see

00:34:01.340 --> 00:34:01.900
 that we don't need

00:34:01.900 --> 00:34:03.080
 to create a God

00:34:03.080 --> 00:34:04.820
 because God has come to us.

00:34:05.259 --> 00:34:06.100
 He's come to show us

00:34:06.100 --> 00:34:07.240
 what He's really like.

00:34:07.620 --> 00:34:08.539
 He's come to free us

00:34:08.539 --> 00:34:09.360
 from the delusions

00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:11.079
 that false gods bring,

00:34:11.780 --> 00:34:13.079
 the half-truths

00:34:13.079 --> 00:34:14.480
 that we tempted to trust in.

00:34:14.800 --> 00:34:16.039
 He's come to bring us

00:34:16.039 --> 00:34:16.780
 the reality

00:34:16.780 --> 00:34:17.740
 of who God is.

00:34:18.019 --> 00:34:18.840
 But He's also come

00:34:18.840 --> 00:34:19.320
 to give us

00:34:19.320 --> 00:34:20.880
 the peace that we long for.

00:34:21.260 --> 00:34:22.640
 He's come to give us joy.

00:34:22.960 --> 00:34:24.000
 He's come to set us free

00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:24.659
 from shame.

00:34:25.059 --> 00:34:25.980
 He's come to give us

00:34:25.980 --> 00:34:26.460
 a hope,

00:34:26.539 --> 00:34:27.420
 a living hope

00:34:27.420 --> 00:34:28.760
 that can never perish

00:34:28.760 --> 00:34:30.579
 or spoil or fade.

00:34:30.920 --> 00:34:31.840
 He's come to give us

00:34:31.840 --> 00:34:33.760
 a rock-solid identity

00:34:33.760 --> 00:34:34.840
 as He says,

00:34:34.940 --> 00:34:35.519
 my sons,

00:34:35.659 --> 00:34:36.260
 my daughters,

00:34:36.360 --> 00:34:37.000
 I love you.

00:34:37.400 --> 00:34:38.440
 You are chosen in me.

00:34:39.840 --> 00:34:41.099
 In John's gospel,

00:34:41.739 --> 00:34:43.699
 John introduces Jesus

00:34:43.699 --> 00:34:45.480
 and he says that

00:34:45.480 --> 00:34:46.679
 He's the eternal,

00:34:47.079 --> 00:34:48.199
 uncreated God.

00:34:48.500 --> 00:34:49.300
 He's the one

00:34:49.300 --> 00:34:49.820
 through whom

00:34:49.820 --> 00:34:51.199
 everything exists.

00:34:51.480 --> 00:34:52.780
 Everything in this world

00:34:52.780 --> 00:34:54.640
 comes into existence

00:34:54.640 --> 00:34:55.540
 because of Jesus.

00:34:56.540 --> 00:34:58.040
 And then John introduces Jesus

00:34:58.040 --> 00:34:58.440
 and says,

00:34:58.640 --> 00:35:00.140
 in Him is life.

00:35:00.780 --> 00:35:02.180
 And the life that was in Him

00:35:02.180 --> 00:35:03.840
 is the light of the world,

00:35:03.960 --> 00:35:04.920
 the light of all mankind.

00:35:06.380 --> 00:35:07.180
 The false gods

00:35:07.180 --> 00:35:08.260
 that we so easily

00:35:08.260 --> 00:35:09.140
 tempted to hope

00:35:09.140 --> 00:35:09.740
 and trust in

00:35:09.740 --> 00:35:11.000
 promise us life,

00:35:11.220 --> 00:35:12.200
 but they deliver

00:35:12.200 --> 00:35:13.440
 anything but life.

00:35:13.920 --> 00:35:15.019
 They promise fullness

00:35:15.019 --> 00:35:15.480
 of life,

00:35:15.560 --> 00:35:16.820
 but actually they suck us

00:35:16.820 --> 00:35:17.480
 of life.

00:35:17.980 --> 00:35:19.260
 But in Jesus Christ,

00:35:19.380 --> 00:35:19.580
 friends,

00:35:19.640 --> 00:35:21.460
 we have true life.

00:35:21.460 --> 00:35:23.139
 Jesus came and He said,

00:35:23.400 --> 00:35:24.579
 I am the resurrection

00:35:24.579 --> 00:35:25.320
 and life.

00:35:25.720 --> 00:35:26.920
 John writes His gospel,

00:35:27.039 --> 00:35:27.220
 He says,

00:35:27.599 --> 00:35:28.440
 I write these things

00:35:28.440 --> 00:35:29.420
 that you may believe

00:35:29.420 --> 00:35:29.860
 in Him

00:35:29.860 --> 00:35:31.559
 and experience life.

00:35:31.980 --> 00:35:32.699
 Jesus says,

00:35:32.780 --> 00:35:34.400
 I am the bread of life.

00:35:34.980 --> 00:35:35.619
 Jesus came

00:35:35.619 --> 00:35:36.960
 and in John 17,

00:35:37.079 --> 00:35:37.679
 He's praying

00:35:37.679 --> 00:35:38.559
 to His Father

00:35:38.559 --> 00:35:39.039
 and He says,

00:35:39.400 --> 00:35:39.699
 Father,

00:35:39.880 --> 00:35:41.380
 this is eternal life

00:35:41.380 --> 00:35:43.199
 that they may know You

00:35:43.199 --> 00:35:44.240
 and the Christ

00:35:44.240 --> 00:35:45.280
 that You've sent.

00:35:45.960 --> 00:35:46.300
 Friends,

00:35:46.480 --> 00:35:46.820
 Jesus,

00:35:47.039 --> 00:35:48.260
 the author of life,

00:35:48.720 --> 00:35:49.800
 came to die,

00:35:49.800 --> 00:35:51.680
 to lay down His life

00:35:51.680 --> 00:35:54.060
 that we who deserve death

00:35:54.060 --> 00:35:56.300
 may find fullness of life.

00:35:57.840 --> 00:35:59.180
 But not only that,

00:35:59.560 --> 00:36:01.120
 John not only says

00:36:01.120 --> 00:36:02.160
 that in Jesus

00:36:02.160 --> 00:36:03.260
 do we find life,

00:36:03.960 --> 00:36:04.920
 fascinatingly,

00:36:05.080 --> 00:36:05.700
 he says,

00:36:05.820 --> 00:36:06.400
 in Jesus,

00:36:06.640 --> 00:36:08.140
 we also find grace

00:36:08.140 --> 00:36:09.300
 and truth.

00:36:10.160 --> 00:36:10.900
 In John chapter 1,

00:36:10.940 --> 00:36:11.220
 he says,

00:36:11.340 --> 00:36:12.580
 the law came through Moses,

00:36:12.820 --> 00:36:14.580
 but grace and truth

00:36:14.580 --> 00:36:15.980
 came through Jesus.

00:36:15.980 --> 00:36:17.559
 You see,

00:36:17.699 --> 00:36:18.559
 these false idols

00:36:18.559 --> 00:36:19.240
 and the gods

00:36:19.240 --> 00:36:19.880
 that we tempted

00:36:19.880 --> 00:36:20.599
 to trust in,

00:36:20.679 --> 00:36:21.639
 the images of God

00:36:21.639 --> 00:36:22.599
 that we make up,

00:36:22.940 --> 00:36:23.880
 they lie to us.

00:36:24.340 --> 00:36:25.480
 They promise us life,

00:36:25.880 --> 00:36:27.079
 but they take life.

00:36:27.639 --> 00:36:28.900
 They promise us control

00:36:28.900 --> 00:36:29.980
 and they end up

00:36:29.980 --> 00:36:30.880
 controlling us.

00:36:31.659 --> 00:36:32.880
 In Jesus Christ,

00:36:33.240 --> 00:36:34.280
 we have the truth.

00:36:35.159 --> 00:36:36.219
 Jesus came to show us

00:36:36.219 --> 00:36:37.440
 what God is truly like.

00:36:37.940 --> 00:36:38.900
 He came to reveal

00:36:38.900 --> 00:36:39.900
 the Father to us.

00:36:40.519 --> 00:36:40.840
 In John,

00:36:40.900 --> 00:36:41.360
 he says,

00:36:41.679 --> 00:36:43.099
 anyone that has seen me

00:36:43.099 --> 00:36:44.340
 has seen the Father.

00:36:44.340 --> 00:36:46.160
 We don't need to be deluded

00:36:46.160 --> 00:36:47.160
 by a false version

00:36:47.160 --> 00:36:48.019
 of who God is,

00:36:48.079 --> 00:36:49.240
 even a version

00:36:49.240 --> 00:36:50.620
 that is 70% true.

00:36:51.059 --> 00:36:52.220
 When we've seen Jesus,

00:36:52.360 --> 00:36:54.320
 we've seen the true reality

00:36:54.320 --> 00:36:55.320
 of who God is.

00:36:55.940 --> 00:36:57.519
 But Jesus doesn't only show us

00:36:57.519 --> 00:36:58.860
 the truth about who God is,

00:36:59.280 --> 00:37:00.120
 he also tells us

00:37:00.120 --> 00:37:01.280
 the truth about ourselves.

00:37:02.260 --> 00:37:03.200
 He tells us

00:37:03.200 --> 00:37:05.120
 that we are lost.

00:37:05.680 --> 00:37:06.260
 He tells us

00:37:06.260 --> 00:37:07.100
 that we're not really

00:37:07.100 --> 00:37:08.260
 in control of our lives.

00:37:08.960 --> 00:37:09.780
 Jesus tells us

00:37:09.780 --> 00:37:10.800
 that the more we think

00:37:10.800 --> 00:37:11.940
 we're in control of our lives,

00:37:11.940 --> 00:37:13.780
 the more lost we actually are.

00:37:14.340 --> 00:37:15.160
 Jesus comes

00:37:15.160 --> 00:37:16.500
 and he tells us the truth

00:37:16.500 --> 00:37:18.300
 that our sin is a problem.

00:37:18.780 --> 00:37:19.840
 A problem that is

00:37:19.840 --> 00:37:21.460
 going to cost us our lives.

00:37:22.180 --> 00:37:23.420
 Jesus tells us the truth

00:37:23.420 --> 00:37:25.039
 that our independence from him

00:37:25.039 --> 00:37:26.160
 is actually

00:37:26.160 --> 00:37:27.460
 an act of rebellion.

00:37:28.059 --> 00:37:28.820
 An act for which

00:37:28.820 --> 00:37:29.960
 we'll be held accountable.

00:37:30.780 --> 00:37:31.760
 An act for one day

00:37:31.760 --> 00:37:33.100
 which we're going to face judgment.

00:37:34.120 --> 00:37:35.500
 But Jesus doesn't only come

00:37:35.500 --> 00:37:36.360
 and bring us the truth.

00:37:36.800 --> 00:37:38.559
 He also brings us grace.

00:37:39.420 --> 00:37:39.620
 You see,

00:37:39.620 --> 00:37:40.940
 the problem with the false gods

00:37:40.940 --> 00:37:41.900
 that we attempted

00:37:41.900 --> 00:37:43.260
 to trust and hope in,

00:37:43.260 --> 00:37:45.800
 is that while they promise us

00:37:45.800 --> 00:37:46.320
 so much,

00:37:46.680 --> 00:37:48.200
 the moment we fail them,

00:37:48.840 --> 00:37:49.840
 they'll accuse you

00:37:49.840 --> 00:37:50.400
 and tell you

00:37:50.400 --> 00:37:51.600
 that you're a failure

00:37:51.600 --> 00:37:52.920
 and that you're miserable.

00:37:53.640 --> 00:37:54.760
 Just think about the person

00:37:54.760 --> 00:37:56.700
 that loves and serves

00:37:56.700 --> 00:37:57.860
 beyond all else,

00:37:57.920 --> 00:37:58.880
 that hopes and trusts

00:37:58.880 --> 00:38:00.200
 in their children's success.

00:38:00.760 --> 00:38:01.420
 That for them,

00:38:01.640 --> 00:38:02.820
 the success of their children

00:38:02.820 --> 00:38:03.700
 is their meaning

00:38:03.700 --> 00:38:04.740
 and purpose in life.

00:38:05.220 --> 00:38:05.800
 What happens

00:38:05.800 --> 00:38:06.840
 when your children rebel?

00:38:07.340 --> 00:38:07.920
 What happens

00:38:07.920 --> 00:38:08.540
 when your children

00:38:08.540 --> 00:38:09.700
 don't do what you want?

00:38:09.699 --> 00:38:10.699
 What happens

00:38:10.699 --> 00:38:11.339
 when your children

00:38:11.339 --> 00:38:12.219
 don't follow

00:38:12.219 --> 00:38:13.279
 your intended plan

00:38:13.279 --> 00:38:14.399
 and path for their lives?

00:38:14.939 --> 00:38:16.539
 You feel like a failure.

00:38:17.879 --> 00:38:18.579
 What happens

00:38:18.579 --> 00:38:19.659
 when your God

00:38:19.659 --> 00:38:20.619
 that you hope and trust

00:38:20.619 --> 00:38:22.000
 in is your career development,

00:38:22.159 --> 00:38:22.719
 your path,

00:38:22.759 --> 00:38:23.759
 and you lose your job?

00:38:24.259 --> 00:38:25.519
 You don't just feel bad.

00:38:25.599 --> 00:38:26.759
 You feel worthless.

00:38:27.419 --> 00:38:29.119
 You feel like a failure.

00:38:30.279 --> 00:38:30.559
 Friends,

00:38:30.639 --> 00:38:31.859
 Jesus says that all of us

00:38:31.859 --> 00:38:33.139
 fail Him from time to time.

00:38:33.699 --> 00:38:34.379
 We all sin.

00:38:34.460 --> 00:38:35.559
 We've all fallen short

00:38:35.559 --> 00:38:36.779
 of His standards of glory.

00:38:37.420 --> 00:38:38.320
 But Jesus Christ

00:38:38.320 --> 00:38:39.260
 doesn't point the finger

00:38:39.260 --> 00:38:40.519
 showing us what a failure we are.

00:38:41.060 --> 00:38:41.740
 Jesus comes

00:38:41.740 --> 00:38:42.680
 and He lifts us up.

00:38:43.280 --> 00:38:44.940
 And Jesus is not only truth

00:38:44.940 --> 00:38:46.260
 but grace.

00:38:46.980 --> 00:38:49.100
 Jesus came to die on the cross,

00:38:49.340 --> 00:38:51.660
 to have His hands smashed with nails,

00:38:51.860 --> 00:38:53.440
 to have blood and water

00:38:53.440 --> 00:38:54.440
 poured out of the side.

00:38:54.980 --> 00:38:56.560
 Jesus came to hang on the cross

00:38:56.560 --> 00:38:59.280
 to take our failures upon Himself.

00:39:00.120 --> 00:39:01.760
 Jesus came to take our death

00:39:01.760 --> 00:39:04.280
 that we may find life.

00:39:04.280 --> 00:39:06.080
 Friends,

00:39:06.180 --> 00:39:06.940
 Jesus is not only

00:39:06.940 --> 00:39:07.980
 the one true God,

00:39:08.360 --> 00:39:09.300
 the one by whom

00:39:09.300 --> 00:39:09.980
 and through whom

00:39:09.980 --> 00:39:10.840
 all things were made.

00:39:11.180 --> 00:39:11.840
 He's not only

00:39:11.840 --> 00:39:14.140
 the exact representation of God,

00:39:14.440 --> 00:39:15.720
 not only does He come

00:39:15.720 --> 00:39:17.400
 and give us life and truth,

00:39:17.940 --> 00:39:19.320
 He comes to give grace

00:39:19.320 --> 00:39:20.860
 to sinners like you and me,

00:39:21.420 --> 00:39:23.360
 to idolaters like us.

00:39:24.040 --> 00:39:24.320
 Friends,

00:39:24.380 --> 00:39:25.180
 in Jesus Christ

00:39:25.180 --> 00:39:26.380
 we have the one true God,

00:39:26.560 --> 00:39:27.660
 the eternal God,

00:39:27.960 --> 00:39:29.400
 the uncreated God,

00:39:29.720 --> 00:39:31.120
 the one who is sovereign

00:39:31.120 --> 00:39:31.780
 and majestic.

00:39:31.780 --> 00:39:34.140
 And yet Jesus didn't hold on

00:39:34.140 --> 00:39:35.140
 to His godliness.

00:39:35.640 --> 00:39:36.680
 He didn't grasp

00:39:36.680 --> 00:39:38.260
 at equality with God.

00:39:38.560 --> 00:39:39.560
 But He came

00:39:39.560 --> 00:39:41.019
 and He humbled Himself,

00:39:41.180 --> 00:39:42.060
 taking on the form

00:39:42.060 --> 00:39:42.760
 of a servant.

00:39:43.560 --> 00:39:44.380
 And being a servant,

00:39:44.540 --> 00:39:45.300
 what would He do?

00:39:45.700 --> 00:39:47.480
 He would lay down His life,

00:39:48.060 --> 00:39:49.480
 taking on death,

00:39:49.760 --> 00:39:50.920
 the excruciating death

00:39:50.920 --> 00:39:51.560
 of a cross,

00:39:52.080 --> 00:39:53.480
 for you and I,

00:39:53.580 --> 00:39:54.720
 that we might know Him,

00:39:55.100 --> 00:39:56.380
 that we might know His life,

00:39:56.780 --> 00:39:57.840
 that we might experience

00:39:57.840 --> 00:39:58.460
 His peace,

00:39:58.920 --> 00:39:59.660
 His freedom,

00:40:00.240 --> 00:40:00.820
 His joy.

00:40:00.820 --> 00:40:01.260
 Friends,

00:40:02.039 --> 00:40:03.559
 this Jesus Christ alone

00:40:03.559 --> 00:40:04.880
 is worthy of our worship,

00:40:05.140 --> 00:40:06.940
 indeed worthy of our very lives.

00:40:07.620 --> 00:40:09.200
 Do not make an idol for yourself

00:40:09.200 --> 00:40:10.580
 in the shape of anything,

00:40:10.680 --> 00:40:11.559
 in the heavens above,

00:40:11.920 --> 00:40:12.800
 the earth below,

00:40:13.120 --> 00:40:14.180
 or in the waters below.

00:40:14.780 --> 00:40:15.900
 Turn to Jesus,

00:40:16.280 --> 00:40:17.360
 the one true God,

00:40:17.740 --> 00:40:18.760
 and find your hope

00:40:18.760 --> 00:40:19.660
 in Him.

00:40:20.260 --> 00:40:21.280
 Let's pray together.

00:40:21.280 --> 00:40:21.380
 Father,

00:40:22.180 --> 00:40:25.700
 oh Jesus,

00:40:25.900 --> 00:40:27.680
 we come before You

00:40:27.680 --> 00:40:28.660
 this morning

00:40:28.660 --> 00:40:30.980
 because You,

00:40:31.180 --> 00:40:31.580
 God,

00:40:32.019 --> 00:40:33.180
 have life

00:40:33.180 --> 00:40:35.660
 because we so need You.

00:40:38.660 --> 00:40:39.160
 Father,

00:40:39.260 --> 00:40:40.380
 just a few minutes ago,

00:40:41.040 --> 00:40:42.440
 we reflected

00:40:42.440 --> 00:40:43.380
 on the things

00:40:43.380 --> 00:40:44.180
 that we are tempted

00:40:44.180 --> 00:40:45.420
 to hope and trust in.

00:40:45.420 --> 00:40:48.360
 the things

00:40:48.360 --> 00:40:49.220
 that promise us

00:40:49.220 --> 00:40:49.980
 security,

00:40:51.340 --> 00:40:52.119
 the things

00:40:52.119 --> 00:40:53.619
 that promise us

00:40:53.619 --> 00:40:54.800
 joy and peace.

00:40:57.360 --> 00:40:57.900
 Father,

00:40:57.960 --> 00:40:58.519
 we want to bring

00:40:58.519 --> 00:40:58.960
 those things

00:40:58.960 --> 00:40:59.680
 before You

00:40:59.680 --> 00:41:00.460
 this morning.

00:41:02.200 --> 00:41:03.139
 We want to

00:41:03.139 --> 00:41:04.079
 acknowledge them,

00:41:04.639 --> 00:41:06.380
 but we also

00:41:06.380 --> 00:41:07.380
 want to repent of them.

00:41:08.659 --> 00:41:09.700
 We want to turn

00:41:09.700 --> 00:41:10.539
 from those things

00:41:10.539 --> 00:41:11.519
 and turn to You.

00:41:11.519 --> 00:41:14.619
 Father,

00:41:14.679 --> 00:41:15.619
 in my own life,

00:41:15.759 --> 00:41:16.980
 I am so aware

00:41:16.980 --> 00:41:20.460
 that people's approval

00:41:20.460 --> 00:41:21.539
 and what people

00:41:21.539 --> 00:41:22.340
 think of me

00:41:22.340 --> 00:41:23.739
 is often

00:41:23.739 --> 00:41:24.619
 the driving force

00:41:24.619 --> 00:41:25.259
 in my life.

00:41:26.840 --> 00:41:27.280
 God,

00:41:27.340 --> 00:41:27.800
 so often,

00:41:27.880 --> 00:41:28.719
 I love the glory

00:41:28.719 --> 00:41:29.699
 that comes from man

00:41:29.699 --> 00:41:30.500
 more than the glory

00:41:30.500 --> 00:41:31.280
 that comes from You.

00:41:31.980 --> 00:41:33.159
 I love the praise

00:41:33.159 --> 00:41:33.980
 and the affirmation

00:41:33.980 --> 00:41:34.840
 from people

00:41:34.840 --> 00:41:36.860
 more than the affirmation

00:41:36.860 --> 00:41:37.699
 that comes from You.

00:41:40.000 --> 00:41:40.440
 Father,

00:41:40.539 --> 00:41:40.960
 I acknowledge

00:41:40.960 --> 00:41:43.300
 that I feel

00:41:43.300 --> 00:41:44.539
 safe and secure

00:41:44.539 --> 00:41:46.059
 if I think people

00:41:46.059 --> 00:41:47.019
 are pleased with me

00:41:47.019 --> 00:41:48.780
 rather than knowing

00:41:48.780 --> 00:41:49.579
 my security

00:41:49.579 --> 00:41:51.000
 is in You.

00:41:54.280 --> 00:41:54.720
 Father,

00:41:54.820 --> 00:41:55.480
 in my life

00:41:55.480 --> 00:41:56.659
 and in all of our lives,

00:41:56.800 --> 00:41:58.579
 there are deep-seated

00:41:58.579 --> 00:42:00.380
 things that we hope

00:42:00.380 --> 00:42:01.119
 and trust in.

00:42:04.440 --> 00:42:04.880
 Christ,

00:42:04.960 --> 00:42:05.639
 won't You come

00:42:05.639 --> 00:42:07.199
 and deliver us

00:42:07.199 --> 00:42:07.980
 from those things?

00:42:07.980 --> 00:42:10.920
 won't You come

00:42:10.920 --> 00:42:11.740
 and save us?

00:42:13.119 --> 00:42:13.740
 Won't You come

00:42:13.740 --> 00:42:14.539
 and set us free?

00:42:19.079 --> 00:42:19.440
 Father,

00:42:19.519 --> 00:42:19.940
 this morning,

00:42:20.039 --> 00:42:20.719
 we want to turn

00:42:20.719 --> 00:42:21.460
 from those things

00:42:21.460 --> 00:42:22.340
 and turn to You.

00:42:24.179 --> 00:42:24.900
 We confess

00:42:24.900 --> 00:42:25.480
 that sometimes

00:42:25.480 --> 00:42:26.179
 we don't even know

00:42:26.179 --> 00:42:26.800
 how to do it

00:42:26.800 --> 00:42:27.860
 and so the first step,

00:42:28.019 --> 00:42:28.139
 God,

00:42:28.199 --> 00:42:28.740
 is to

00:42:28.740 --> 00:42:30.159
 confess

00:42:30.159 --> 00:42:30.820
 and repent.

00:42:30.820 --> 00:42:35.720
 Father,

00:42:35.840 --> 00:42:36.460
 forgive us.

00:42:40.420 --> 00:42:41.080
 Forgive us,

00:42:41.180 --> 00:42:41.400
 God.

00:42:43.440 --> 00:42:43.840
 Father,

00:42:43.900 --> 00:42:44.400
 we ask that You

00:42:44.400 --> 00:42:45.300
 don't just forgive us,

00:42:45.360 --> 00:42:46.380
 You also change us,

00:42:46.480 --> 00:42:46.740
 God.

00:42:48.160 --> 00:42:49.260
 You change us,

00:42:49.360 --> 00:42:49.539
 Lord.

00:42:53.220 --> 00:42:53.620
 God,

00:42:53.680 --> 00:42:54.300
 won't You make us

00:42:54.300 --> 00:42:54.940
 more like You?

00:42:56.680 --> 00:42:58.240
 Won't the life of God,

00:42:58.239 --> 00:42:59.239
 the life of heaven

00:42:59.239 --> 00:43:00.739
 infuse our souls

00:43:00.739 --> 00:43:01.419
 and our bodies

00:43:01.419 --> 00:43:02.179
 and our hearts,

00:43:02.319 --> 00:43:02.559
 God.

00:43:10.559 --> 00:43:10.959
 God,

00:43:11.000 --> 00:43:11.679
 won't You break

00:43:11.679 --> 00:43:12.339
 the power

00:43:12.339 --> 00:43:14.359
 of sin and darkness

00:43:14.359 --> 00:43:15.399
 as we sang earlier,

00:43:15.619 --> 00:43:16.500
 break the power

00:43:16.500 --> 00:43:17.399
 of these idols

00:43:17.399 --> 00:43:18.099
 in our life

00:43:18.099 --> 00:43:19.779
 and set us free,

00:43:19.939 --> 00:43:20.139
 God.

00:43:21.319 --> 00:43:22.039
 Set us free.

00:43:22.139 --> 00:43:22.279
 God,

00:43:22.319 --> 00:43:23.619
 I pray that for some of us,

00:43:24.119 --> 00:43:25.199
 even right now,

00:43:25.279 --> 00:43:26.099
 we'll experience

00:43:26.099 --> 00:43:27.199
 a freedom in our life.

00:43:27.199 --> 00:43:28.239
 that,

00:43:28.359 --> 00:43:28.460
 God,

00:43:28.519 --> 00:43:29.199
 this afternoon,

00:43:29.359 --> 00:43:30.480
 we'll be a different person

00:43:30.480 --> 00:43:31.179
 to who we were

00:43:31.179 --> 00:43:31.779
 this morning

00:43:31.779 --> 00:43:33.199
 because that which

00:43:33.199 --> 00:43:34.339
 has controlled our life

00:43:34.339 --> 00:43:35.019
 will be set free,

00:43:35.099 --> 00:43:35.279
 God.

00:43:35.339 --> 00:43:35.819
 I pray,

00:43:36.000 --> 00:43:36.099
 Father,

00:43:36.159 --> 00:43:36.659
 for freedom.

00:43:37.619 --> 00:43:37.819
 God,

00:43:37.859 --> 00:43:38.919
 as we turn from these things

00:43:38.919 --> 00:43:39.279
 to You,

00:43:39.359 --> 00:43:39.500
 God,

00:43:39.539 --> 00:43:40.539
 won't You change us?

00:43:42.699 --> 00:43:43.059
 God,

00:43:43.139 --> 00:43:44.139
 come and bring freedom now,

00:43:44.259 --> 00:43:44.480
 Lord.

00:43:45.659 --> 00:43:46.500
 As we repent

00:43:46.500 --> 00:43:47.519
 and turn from these things

00:43:47.519 --> 00:43:48.239
 and turn to You,

00:43:48.299 --> 00:43:48.559
 God,

00:43:49.199 --> 00:43:50.319
 we pray for Your freedom.

00:43:50.480 --> 00:43:51.460
 We pray for Your joy.

00:43:52.299 --> 00:43:52.779
 We pray,

00:43:52.899 --> 00:43:53.039
 God,

00:43:53.099 --> 00:43:53.960
 for anxiety

00:43:53.960 --> 00:43:55.019
 and despondency

00:43:55.019 --> 00:43:56.159
 to flee

00:43:56.159 --> 00:43:58.239
 and pray for joyness

00:43:58.239 --> 00:43:59.039
 and fullness of life

00:43:59.039 --> 00:43:59.519
 to come.

00:44:05.139 --> 00:44:05.539
 Christ,

00:44:05.599 --> 00:44:06.319
 come and have Your way.

00:44:07.960 --> 00:44:09.179
 Come and be our God.

00:44:10.139 --> 00:44:10.539
 God,

00:44:10.599 --> 00:44:11.960
 come and be our real God,

00:44:12.039 --> 00:44:12.920
 not just in word,

00:44:13.059 --> 00:44:14.379
 but reality in our hearts.

00:44:14.920 --> 00:44:16.259
 Come and be our only God.

00:44:18.199 --> 00:44:18.879
 We pray.

00:44:19.960 --> 00:44:20.940
 We pray these things

00:44:20.940 --> 00:44:21.519
 in Your name.

00:44:21.519 --> 00:44:23.199
 Amen.