WEBVTT

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 Well, good morning, brothers and sisters.

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 For those of you who don't know me, my name is Tyler.

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! I'm one of the lay elders here, and it's a joy for me to bring you God's Word this morning.

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 So before we dive in, let's go to the Lord together for help.

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 Father in heaven, Lord, would you help us?

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 Open our eyes to see wondrous things in your Word.

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 Incline our hearts to fear your great name.

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 Give us understanding.

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 Father, take these few loaves of bread and multiply them.

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 And would we richly feast this morning on your Word by faith?

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 Help me to declare the glories of your great name.

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 We pray this in our great Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ's name. Amen.

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 Tombstone Tourism.

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 I wonder if you've ever heard of that.

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 Tombstone Tourism.

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 A friend recently explained that his wife is a Tombstone Tourist.

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 traveling and blogging about her adventures, visiting cemeteries.

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 And cemeteries are richly furnished with stories to tell, architecture to see, people to remember, family histories to learn.

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 Tombstone Tourism.

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 Now, you might be one, too, a Tombstone Tourist, if you've ever looked forward to visiting the Arlington National Cemetery.

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 You know, for many, this is not just a visit to a cemetery, but a walk through history.

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 To remember and honor the courage and sacrifice of fallen American soldiers.

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 Each grave tells a story.

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 And it's to remember the history of a nation.

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 Now, we've had recently weddings that we've rejoiced over here as a church.

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 But, you know, it's a good thing from time to time to walk through a graveyard.

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 It's good to be reminded of Moses' words.

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 To teach us to number our days.

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 To get a heart of wisdom.

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 To remember Solomon's words.

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 That it is better to go to the house of mourning than go into the house of feasting.

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 To remember the clock is ticking on all of our lives.

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 And to remind ourselves that there will come a day where that second date will be etched onto our tombstone after our birthday.

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 This morning, the chronicler will be our guide as we tour a graveyard.

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 And he's going to point to an epitaph of King Amaziah.

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 And the epitaph could read something like this.

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 Here lies a person who has lost nothing by being buried.

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 For he is just as good a man underground as he was above.

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 And how tragic would it be to leave a legacy of failure.

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 A legacy of a wasted life.

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 And the story of King Amaziah is a warning to all of us.

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 About the dangers of human pride.

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 And you could be so close, yet so far away.

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 So let's turn to page 350 in the Pew Bible.

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 And if you're not familiar with the Bible, the big numbers are the chapter numbers.

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 And the smaller numbers are the verse numbers.

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 So it will be helpful to you to turn your Bible open to page 350 as we look at this together.

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 And we'll look at this story in three scenes.

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 First, the rising storm.

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 Second, the downward spiral.

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 And third, the supreme sovereign.

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 So let's read the first 16 verses together as we see a life that quickly unravels.

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 Amaziah was 25 years old when he began to reign.

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 And he reigned 29 years in Jerusalem.

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 His mother's name was Jehoadin of Jerusalem.

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 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.

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 Yet not with a whole heart.

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 And as soon as the royal power was firmly his,

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 he killed his servants who had struck down the king's father.

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 But he did not put their children to death according to what is written in the law in the book of Moses.

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 Where the Lord commanded,

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 Fathers shall not die because of their children,

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 nor children die because of their fathers.

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 But each one shall die for his own sin.

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 Then Amaziah assembled the men of Judah

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 and set them by fathers' houses

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 under commanders of thousands and of hundreds

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 for all Judah and Benjamin.

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 He mustered those 20 years old and upward

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 and found that there were 300,000 choice men

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 fit for war,

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 able to handle spear and shield.

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 He hired also 100,000 mighty men of valor from Israel

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 for 100 talents of silver.

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 But a man of God came to him and said,

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 O king,

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 do not let the army of Israel go with you,

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 for the Lord is not with Israel,

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 with all these Ephraimites.

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 But go, act, be strong for the battle.

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 Why should you suppose that God will cast you down

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 before the enemy?

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 For God has power to help

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 or to cast down.

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 And Amaziah said to the man of God,

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 But what shall we do about the 100 talents

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 that I have given to the army of Israel?

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 The man of God answered,

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 The Lord is able to give you much more than this.

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 Then Amaziah discharged the army

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 that had come to him from Ephraim

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 to go home again.

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 And they became very angry with Judah

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 and returned home in fierce anger.

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 But Amaziah took courage and let out his people

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 and went to the Valley of Salt

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 and struck down 10,000 men of Seir.

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 The men of Judah captured another 10,000 alive

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 and took them to the top of the rock

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 and threw them down from the top of the rock

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 and they were all dashed to pieces.

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 But the men of the army of Amaziah sent back,

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 not letting them go with him to battle,

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 raided the cities of Judah

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 from Samaria to Beth-horon

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 and struck down 3,000 people in them

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 and took much spoil.

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 After Amaziah came from striking down the Edomites,

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 he brought the gods of the men of Seir

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 and set them up as his gods

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 and worshiped them,

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 making offerings to them.

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 Therefore the Lord was angry with Amaziah

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 and sent to him a prophet who said to him,

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 Why have you sought the gods of a people

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 who did not deliver their people from your hands?

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 But as he was speaking,

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 the king said to him,

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 Have we made you a royal counselor?

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 Stop!

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 Why should you be struck down?

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 So the prophet stopped and said,

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 I know that God has determined to destroy you

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 because you have done this

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 and have not listened to my counsel.

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 This is God's word.

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 Well, the vast majority of the kings of Judah

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 were not good men.

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 Amaziah?

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 Well, he's no exception.

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 And verse 1 sets the stage for a rising storm.

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 Who was King Amaziah?

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 Well, he was the son and successor of King Joash.

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 Remember how the last chapter ended.

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 His father was murdered by a conspiracy.

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 And look down at verse 3.

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 The kingdom is now fully in his grasp.

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 The royal power is his.

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 He's now in charge.

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 In verses 1 to 4,

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 Amaziah avenges his father's death.

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 He executes judgment.

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 And his grievance would have been personal and emotional.

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 You killed my father.

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 Prepare to die.

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 Some of you got that reference.

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 Now, normal Near Eastern practice

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 would have been to completely annihilate

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 not only the threats,

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 but the threats of friends and family.

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 But Amaziah doesn't do that.

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 Notice his respect for the Mosaic law.

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 Verse 4.

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 But he did not put their children to death.

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 Why?

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 Because the law forbade it.

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 Quoted straight from the Mosaic law,

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 fathers shall not die because of their children,

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 nor children die because of their fathers.

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 But each one shall die for his own sin.

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 God's law protected against generational grievances.

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 The children are not to be put to death

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 because of the sins of their fathers.

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 And Amaziah is kept in check by the law of God

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 to the letter.

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 So far, so good.

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 Not so fast.

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 Notice verse 2.

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 At the very beginning,

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 the chronicler wants you to know something about Amaziah.

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 He did what was right,

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 meaning he walked in a straight path.

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 But here was the devastating assessment.

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 Not with a whole heart.

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 Verse 2 is a shadow that is cast over this entire chapter.

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 Half-heartedness.

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 And already you see the cracks in the foundation

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 which will lead to a great collapse.

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 A divided heart always leads to divided loyalties.

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 And his divided loyalty will lead to his downfall.

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 Now, brother and sister,

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 we understand that the tug of war

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 that exists within our own hearts,

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 we all have clay feet.

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 We understand this,

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 and we stumble in many ways.

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 We lack perfection,

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 and if we say we have no sin,

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 we are a liar,

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 and the truth is not in us.

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 This, in verse 2,

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 cannot mean sinless perfection.

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 David is said to have obeyed God with his whole heart.

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 But he certainly was not perfect.

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 So what's the difference?

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 Well, God draws near to the broken-hearted

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 and contrite in spirit.

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 A sincere heart is broken over their sin.

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 A divided heart remains a stone.

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 A divided heart is not poor in the spirit.

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 A divided heart is complacent.

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 For the true Christian,

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 sin has no happy home in our hearts.

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 A broken heart is a sweet perfume of flowers to God,

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 while a divided heart is a stench.

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 You see, the Lord is not pleased

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 by mere half-hearted actions.

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 Obedient actions that do not stem

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 from a desire to please God

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 actually is not obedience at all.

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 The greatest act of obedience

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 to give all you have to the poor,

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 to let your body be burned,

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 if it does not arise from love,

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 from a desire to please God,

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 they're but filthy rags.

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 They mean nothing.

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 God demands worship from the heart.

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 Now, many wonder why.

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 Why does God demand worship?

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 You know, He's not like a drill sergeant

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 arbitrarily barking orders.

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 Do this, do this, because I said so.

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 And God is not insecure,

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 craving compliments to boost His self-esteem.

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 No, there's another possibility.

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 Consider this.

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 His demand for worship

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 flows from His love for His creation.

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 And the best news is that there is no,

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 there is no conflict between

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 God's glory and your joy.

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 God's supreme regard for Himself

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 flows from the fact that He is infinitely worthy.

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 That's what you were created for,

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 to worship God.

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 Man's chief end is to glorify God

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 and enjoy Him forever.

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 To worship God is what you were created for.

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 And God demands that we serve Him

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 with a pure heart,

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 a whole heart,

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 complete loyalty.

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 And the Shema in Deuteronomy,

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 remember, Israel was to confess

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 not only that God is one,

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 but God, You are the only one.

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 The only one my heart desires.

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 To love You with everything inside of me.

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 A divided heart says,

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 I'll love You, God,

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 but isn't it okay if I also love Baal?

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 What's the big deal?

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 Verse 2 is the essence

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 of sin of idolatry.

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 See, sin is valuing things,

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 wanting things above God Himself.

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 Treating God like a vending machine.

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 God, I want what I want.

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 God, give me the family I want.

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 God, give me the job I want.

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 Give me the size church that I want.

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 Give me respect.

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 God is not our highest aim.

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 God is just a means to an end.

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 Frank, consider this a health check.

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 How is the health of your heart this morning?

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 Do you treat prayer like a ceremonial pitch

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 before a baseball game?

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 Something to do before getting to the main event?

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 Parroting words without a heart?

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 You know, coming to church is a habit?

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 Nothing more.

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 I mean, you love community, yes.

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 To a downward spiral.

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 Point number two, the downward spiral.

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 And there's three sub-points.

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 Amaziah's pride, one, leads to rash decisions.

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 Second, a rejection of God's Word.

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 And third, hitting rock bottom.

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 First, it's rash decisions in verses 5 to 13.

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 You get a section explaining what went wrong

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 with the Edomites.

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 First, just like David's sin,

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 he gathers together and numbers the people.

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 Whenever you see a king taking a sentence

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 to count his soldiers, it's always a bad sign.

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 Look at verse 5.

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 He counts and numbers 300 choice men.

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 And then he hires 100,000 mercenaries,

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 what the chronicler will call mighty men of valor.

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 Now, what is this telling us?

00:14:19.800 --> 00:14:21.899
 Well, notice he doesn't even consult the prophets

00:14:21.899 --> 00:14:25.500
 before he engages these mercenaries.

00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:26.840
 He doesn't consult the prophets

00:14:26.840 --> 00:14:28.419
 to see whether God is with him or not.

00:14:29.379 --> 00:14:31.200
 So rather than reliance on God,

00:14:31.419 --> 00:14:33.259
 he takes the matters into his own hands.

00:14:34.019 --> 00:14:36.300
 Rather than trusting God as a warrior,

00:14:36.680 --> 00:14:37.759
 a shield, and a help,

00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:40.039
 he makes the rash decision

00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:42.639
 by making an alliance with these mercenaries.

00:14:43.439 --> 00:14:45.659
 In verse 7, God in his mercy sends a messenger,

00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:47.879
 an unnamed prophet who says,

00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:49.980
 wait, wait, wait, wait, don't do it.

00:14:50.139 --> 00:14:51.220
 That is a bad idea.

00:14:51.539 --> 00:14:53.200
 The Lord is not with you in this army.

00:14:53.200 --> 00:14:55.919
 If you keep going, you're going to lose everything.

00:14:57.179 --> 00:14:59.039
 Verse 8, go, be strong for the battle.

00:14:59.039 --> 00:15:01.659
 Why should you suppose that God will cast you down

00:15:01.659 --> 00:15:02.339
 before the enemy?

00:15:03.480 --> 00:15:06.199
 For God has power to help or to cast down.

00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:09.599
 He's saying, do not be foolish.

00:15:10.459 --> 00:15:13.059
 Look to God as your source of strength.

00:15:13.740 --> 00:15:16.199
 He is a helper for those who trust in him.

00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:18.980
 Isn't that what we've seen so far in Chronicles?

00:15:18.980 --> 00:15:22.920
 Now, this exhortation is a good word for us.

00:15:23.639 --> 00:15:27.279
 It's a good word in a situation where you face uncertainty.

00:15:28.019 --> 00:15:30.200
 It's not literally fighting people with swords,

00:15:30.379 --> 00:15:34.779
 but maybe your situation feels frightening, daunting, scary.

00:15:35.820 --> 00:15:37.240
 Maybe it's a scary diagnosis.

00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:41.200
 Maybe it's uncertainty about your immigration status.

00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:44.340
 Maybe you recently lost a loved one

00:15:44.340 --> 00:15:46.800
 and you're facing an uncertain future.

00:15:47.740 --> 00:15:49.700
 An empty house where all your kids

00:15:49.700 --> 00:15:50.920
 have now moved away and you're alone.

00:15:52.160 --> 00:15:53.759
 Uncertainty about finding a job.

00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:56.220
 Maybe it's uncertainty of how you're going to get

00:15:56.220 --> 00:15:56.759
 through this sermon.

00:15:57.640 --> 00:15:59.980
 Be strong for the battle, brother and sister.

00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:02.480
 And he tells us why we can be strong.

00:16:02.600 --> 00:16:04.680
 God has the power to help.

00:16:05.580 --> 00:16:07.920
 The Hebrew word is ezer, helper.

00:16:08.600 --> 00:16:10.820
 God, you are my helper.

00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:14.180
 Now, not like elves, you know, Santa's helpers.

00:16:15.040 --> 00:16:17.480
 No, God is a warrior who fights for his people.

00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:19.400
 I lift up my eyes.

00:16:19.500 --> 00:16:21.320
 Where does my help come from?

00:16:21.900 --> 00:16:23.160
 My help comes from the Lord,

00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:24.340
 the maker of heaven and earth.

00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:26.340
 God, you are my azer.

00:16:26.680 --> 00:16:30.200
 He has unbounded power to help his people.

00:16:30.680 --> 00:16:34.379
 He's a protector, a preserver, a provider for his people.

00:16:34.800 --> 00:16:37.160
 God helps those who call out to him.

00:16:38.180 --> 00:16:40.080
 And he has no rivals.

00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:43.480
 He can take a few farmers with pitchforks and shovels

00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:46.280
 and topple Egypt, the most powerful nation on earth.

00:16:46.840 --> 00:16:49.560
 Hasn't he demonstrated his power to his people already?

00:16:49.559 --> 00:16:54.879
 What is Amaziah's response to the exhortation of verse 9?

00:16:55.839 --> 00:16:57.059
 Is it, you're right.

00:16:57.699 --> 00:16:59.019
 How could I have been so stupid?

00:16:59.799 --> 00:17:00.839
 No, look down at verse 9.

00:17:01.839 --> 00:17:04.740
 He says, what about all the money I paid to the mercenaries?

00:17:05.399 --> 00:17:08.339
 A modern translation would be, bro, what about the bag?

00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:11.599
 100 talents of silver, that's $2 million.

00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:14.759
 For you accountants in here,

00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:19.859
 his main reference for obedience is his return on his investment.

00:17:20.939 --> 00:17:23.240
 About taking a loss on the balance sheet.

00:17:23.879 --> 00:17:27.779
 The question itself shows how half-hearted he is.

00:17:28.059 --> 00:17:30.399
 He never even considered that he offended God.

00:17:31.000 --> 00:17:31.859
 This is not repentance.

00:17:31.859 --> 00:17:36.699
 The question is, what are you willing to give up

00:17:36.699 --> 00:17:38.179
 for the sake of wholehearted devotion?

00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:43.179
 Would you give up $2 million for the sake of obedience to God's word?

00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:46.359
 What cost is too high?

00:17:47.619 --> 00:17:48.759
 What about your reputation?

00:17:50.639 --> 00:17:54.419
 Give up your money, your prestige, your popularity, pleasure.

00:17:55.740 --> 00:17:58.899
 What if the world started to call you intellectually benighted

00:17:58.900 --> 00:18:00.380
 and bigoted for following Christ?

00:18:01.860 --> 00:18:03.440
 Would you follow him even then?

00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:05.740
 To lose your status?

00:18:07.820 --> 00:18:09.920
 Ah, but friend, the prophet responds with a word

00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:11.340
 that has encouraged many a very saint.

00:18:11.540 --> 00:18:15.380
 In verse 9, the Lord is able to give you much more than this.

00:18:16.320 --> 00:18:18.880
 You'll gain much more if you obey God

00:18:18.880 --> 00:18:20.580
 than what it would have cost you otherwise.

00:18:21.900 --> 00:18:25.420
 Oh, this is a call in confidence in God's goodness.

00:18:25.420 --> 00:18:29.420
 Paul would say all these things are rubbish.

00:18:29.940 --> 00:18:34.060
 They're trash in comparison to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.

00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:37.080
 These are nothing compared to God.

00:18:38.060 --> 00:18:40.400
 So, brother and sister, rest assured in this,

00:18:41.060 --> 00:18:44.759
 that losses that you suffer for the Lord's sake are not losses.

00:18:45.860 --> 00:18:49.720
 Even in this life, the Lord will give you much more than you will ever lose.

00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:54.160
 Of Jim Elliot, he is no fool to give what he cannot keep,

00:18:54.620 --> 00:18:56.059
 to gain what he cannot lose.

00:18:57.500 --> 00:18:59.339
 Friend, is God calling you to give up sin?

00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:01.620
 Much more will he give you.

00:19:02.059 --> 00:19:03.779
 So much more joy and delight.

00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:05.519
 He gives you himself.

00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:09.360
 Friend, are you facing rejection from friends and family

00:19:09.360 --> 00:19:10.480
 for your devotion to Christ?

00:19:11.140 --> 00:19:12.860
 He provides abundantly.

00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:13.980
 So much more.

00:19:14.259 --> 00:19:15.539
 He gives you himself.

00:19:15.940 --> 00:19:17.480
 He gives you the communion of saints.

00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:20.000
 Jesus, a new family across the world.

00:19:21.059 --> 00:19:22.819
 Jesus would say in Mark 10, verse 30,

00:19:23.259 --> 00:19:26.740
 anyone who leaves behind possessions or relationships for my sake

00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:29.500
 will receive a hundredfold return in this life

00:19:29.500 --> 00:19:31.480
 and eternal life in the world to come.

00:19:32.660 --> 00:19:34.180
 Now, if you can go back to the year 1980,

00:19:34.839 --> 00:19:38.759
 and you were given the opportunity to purchase shares in the startup Apple,

00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:40.259
 knowing what you know now,

00:19:40.900 --> 00:19:43.839
 a company that has returned more than 2,000 times

00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:45.759
 the original investments,

00:19:46.699 --> 00:19:48.339
 how much more, how much would you give away?

00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:49.539
 A dollar?

00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:51.099
 Ten?

00:19:51.939 --> 00:19:52.759
 A hundred dollars?

00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:55.439
 No, you'd give away everything.

00:19:56.659 --> 00:19:59.759
 How much more will Christ return for those who give their lives to him?

00:20:01.859 --> 00:20:03.379
 Now, at this point in verse 10,

00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:05.980
 Amaziah sends the soldiers off.

00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:09.440
 But again, his obedience is fool's gold.

00:20:09.579 --> 00:20:10.599
 Yes, he checks the box,

00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:13.920
 but it appears he is more out for immediate material gain

00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:16.279
 rather than a desire to please God.

00:20:17.099 --> 00:20:20.400
 And notice his rashness in hiring mercenaries causes a problem.

00:20:21.700 --> 00:20:22.200
 In verse 10,

00:20:22.460 --> 00:20:24.360
 The army was very angry.

00:20:24.539 --> 00:20:25.120
 Fierce anger.

00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:26.579
 Why?

00:20:27.220 --> 00:20:31.019
 Well, it seems this army had lost their opportunity for the real prophet.

00:20:31.579 --> 00:20:33.860
 The real prophet was plundering the people.

00:20:33.859 --> 00:20:38.379
 Their wages were nothing in comparison to the spoils of plundering the people.

00:20:38.879 --> 00:20:41.259
 If you look down at verse 13, that's exactly what they do.

00:20:41.879 --> 00:20:45.399
 Plundering and killing Amaziah's own people.

00:20:48.579 --> 00:20:50.599
 Amaziah's sin risked the lives of his people

00:20:50.599 --> 00:20:53.059
 due to the rashness of his decision.

00:20:54.339 --> 00:20:56.119
 You know, the effects of sin in our life are terrible.

00:20:57.059 --> 00:20:58.159
 Sin darkens our minds.

00:20:59.179 --> 00:21:01.139
 But, you know, sin doesn't just affect you.

00:21:01.140 --> 00:21:03.920
 Sin affects those around you.

00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:04.840
 Spouses.

00:21:05.860 --> 00:21:06.280
 Children.

00:21:07.300 --> 00:21:08.040
 Fellow church members.

00:21:09.160 --> 00:21:12.740
 Leaders, it affects the people whom God has put into your care.

00:21:13.800 --> 00:21:15.380
 Whom God has called you to protect.

00:21:16.460 --> 00:21:19.820
 Amaziah's people are reaping the consequences for his disobedience.

00:21:21.140 --> 00:21:23.680
 And meanwhile, look at the bloodthirsty treatment of the Edomites.

00:21:24.040 --> 00:21:24.440
 Verse 12.

00:21:24.780 --> 00:21:27.060
 These Edomites are thrown off the cliffs.

00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:29.539
 One commentator said this.

00:21:29.619 --> 00:21:32.299
 What they should have done is thrown their idols off the cliffs.

00:21:33.500 --> 00:21:35.299
 Because as we'll see, these become a snare.

00:21:36.220 --> 00:21:37.960
 So first were his rash decisions,

00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:41.119
 but the downward spiral continues by his rejection of God's word.

00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:43.119
 In verses 14 to 16,

00:21:43.579 --> 00:21:46.359
 he does something mind-blowingly stupid.

00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:49.919
 Lukewarmness always leads to false religion.

00:21:50.480 --> 00:21:50.839
 Look down.

00:21:51.059 --> 00:21:55.519
 A conquering king worships the idols of a defeated nation.

00:21:55.519 --> 00:21:57.259
 How stupid.

00:21:58.359 --> 00:22:00.099
 It was the Lord who gave him victory.

00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:02.559
 Yet he thinks these idols can help him?

00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:06.160
 This is like getting on a lightning rod in the middle of a thunderstorm,

00:22:06.539 --> 00:22:07.779
 cursing God to his face.

00:22:08.879 --> 00:22:11.839
 This shows how low sin drags us down.

00:22:12.579 --> 00:22:13.639
 It darkens our judgments.

00:22:14.339 --> 00:22:16.180
 You know, there is a way that seems right to a man,

00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:18.599
 but in the end, it leads to death.

00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:21.500
 You know, how often do we turn to other gods?

00:22:22.259 --> 00:22:24.019
 Though you and I know they make empty promises.

00:22:24.019 --> 00:22:26.460
 And they will ultimately fail us.

00:22:27.059 --> 00:22:29.599
 How often do we treat idols like our Messiah?

00:22:30.259 --> 00:22:31.139
 They'll protect you.

00:22:31.259 --> 00:22:32.000
 They'll save you.

00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:33.960
 They'll give you that feeling that you can't live without.

00:22:34.619 --> 00:22:36.299
 We know they make empty promises,

00:22:36.440 --> 00:22:37.980
 but we continue to go back.

00:22:38.759 --> 00:22:41.240
 You know, sin is actually really irrational.

00:22:42.200 --> 00:22:42.579
 Always.

00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:46.639
 You know what else is irrational?

00:22:48.059 --> 00:22:49.299
 Owning a wolf dog.

00:22:49.299 --> 00:22:51.480
 Have you heard about these animals?

00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:52.700
 A wolf dog?

00:22:53.539 --> 00:22:55.759
 These aren't huskies, which are great dogs.

00:22:56.879 --> 00:22:57.960
 Bulldogs are okay, too.

00:22:58.779 --> 00:22:59.940
 He who has ears, let him hear.

00:23:00.700 --> 00:23:03.079
 Wolf dogs are like 80% wolf.

00:23:04.059 --> 00:23:07.339
 And when these wolf dogs are young, they look cute.

00:23:07.339 --> 00:23:08.699
 So what do people do?

00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:10.379
 They'll adopt them as pets.

00:23:11.339 --> 00:23:12.659
 You know, people say they're misunderstood,

00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:16.740
 marginalized even by the prejudices and misinformation out there.

00:23:17.459 --> 00:23:19.359
 And so they bring the wolf dog into their home.

00:23:19.819 --> 00:23:20.980
 But then something happens.

00:23:21.619 --> 00:23:24.859
 Around two years old, these wolf dogs start to behave differently.

00:23:25.699 --> 00:23:27.119
 They start to behave as predators.

00:23:28.219 --> 00:23:30.879
 At two years old, these wolves begin to challenge their owner,

00:23:31.339 --> 00:23:33.659
 asserting their dominance in the house as the alpha.

00:23:34.699 --> 00:23:36.419
 And at that point, the owners realize

00:23:36.419 --> 00:23:39.779
 they've invited a vicious predator to live inside their house.

00:23:40.339 --> 00:23:41.500
 You don't own the wolf.

00:23:41.639 --> 00:23:43.399
 The wolf owns you.

00:23:44.159 --> 00:23:46.359
 Many are maimed and killed by their wolf dogs.

00:23:46.899 --> 00:23:48.559
 Friend, isn't that how sin works?

00:23:49.459 --> 00:23:52.919
 Our desires are wolves so often clothed in sheep's clothing.

00:23:52.920 --> 00:23:57.340
 And sometimes we wrongly think sin is a domesticated pet that we can control.

00:23:58.360 --> 00:24:03.100
 But in Romans 6, Paul writes that sin is a slave master seeking to enslave you.

00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:08.380
 As John Owen said, be killing sin or sin will be killing you.

00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:11.860
 And sin provokes God's anger in verse 15.

00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:13.500
 A man of God approaches him.

00:24:13.900 --> 00:24:16.180
 Verse 15, why have you sought these gods out?

00:24:16.420 --> 00:24:17.880
 They never gave you the victory.

00:24:19.960 --> 00:24:22.620
 Now, Amaziah does something even more irrational.

00:24:23.720 --> 00:24:24.519
 What does he do?

00:24:24.820 --> 00:24:27.640
 He scoffs and mocks God's messenger.

00:24:28.279 --> 00:24:30.560
 He says, who made you a royal counselor?

00:24:31.160 --> 00:24:31.920
 The answer is God.

00:24:32.800 --> 00:24:36.680
 He is now standing in judgment above God's word.

00:24:38.140 --> 00:24:40.400
 And standing above in judgment of God's word

00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:43.320
 is the clear sign of God's judgment over you.

00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:47.400
 The prophet responds, I know that God has determined to destroy you

00:24:47.400 --> 00:24:50.140
 because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.

00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:55.360
 Now, teenagers, your parents are not perfect.

00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:58.500
 They're not authoritative like the word of God.

00:24:58.960 --> 00:25:02.080
 But when they bring the word of God to you, listen to them.

00:25:03.080 --> 00:25:06.519
 The path to apostasy is paved by apathy toward God's word.

00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:09.560
 Listen to your parents when they bring you the word.

00:25:10.560 --> 00:25:15.360
 After rejecting God's word, pride now leads him to hit rock bottom.

00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:17.159
 Let's pick up the story in verse 17.

00:25:17.160 --> 00:25:20.940
 Then Amaziah, king of Judah, took counsel

00:25:20.940 --> 00:25:26.620
 and sent Joash, the son of Jehoiaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying,

00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:28.720
 Come, let us look one another in the face.

00:25:29.600 --> 00:25:32.700
 And Joash, the king of Israel, sent word to Amaziah, king of Judah,

00:25:32.700 --> 00:25:36.140
 a thistle on Lebanon, sent to a cedar on Lebanon, saying,

00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:38.600
 Give your daughter to my son for a wife.

00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:42.920
 And a wild beast of Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thistle.

00:25:43.480 --> 00:25:45.360
 You say, See, I have struck down Edom,

00:25:45.460 --> 00:25:47.259
 and your heart has lifted you up in boastfulness.

00:25:47.880 --> 00:25:48.740
 But now stay at home.

00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:51.480
 Why should you provoke trouble so that you fall,

00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:53.279
 you and Judah with you?

00:25:54.680 --> 00:25:56.539
 But Amaziah would not listen,

00:25:57.580 --> 00:25:58.539
 for it was of God,

00:25:58.539 --> 00:26:01.700
 in order that he might give them into the hand of their enemies,

00:26:02.420 --> 00:26:04.579
 because they had sought the gods of Edom.

00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:06.799
 So Joash, king of Israel, went up,

00:26:07.339 --> 00:26:08.980
 and he and Amaziah, king of Judah,

00:26:09.099 --> 00:26:11.899
 faced one another in battle at Beth Shemesh,

00:26:12.180 --> 00:26:13.200
 which belonged to Judah.

00:26:13.639 --> 00:26:15.379
 And Judah was defeated by Israel,

00:26:15.379 --> 00:26:16.899
 and every man fled to his home.

00:26:17.819 --> 00:26:18.879
 And Joash, king of Israel,

00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:20.420
 captured Amaziah, king of Judah,

00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:22.940
 the son of Joash, son of Ahaziah,

00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:24.480
 at Beth Shemesh,

00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:25.740
 and brought him to Jerusalem

00:26:25.740 --> 00:26:27.220
 and broke down the wall of Jerusalem

00:26:27.220 --> 00:26:28.940
 for 400 cubits,

00:26:29.220 --> 00:26:31.059
 from the Ephraim gate to the corner gate.

00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:33.360
 And he seized all the gold and silver

00:26:33.360 --> 00:26:35.000
 and all the vessels that were found

00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:35.920
 in the house of God

00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:37.779
 in the care of Obed-Edom.

00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:40.779
 He seized also the treasuries of the king's house

00:26:40.779 --> 00:26:42.339
 and also hostages.

00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:43.880
 He returned to Samaria.

00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:46.420
 Amaziah, the son of Joash, king of Judah,

00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:50.279
 lived 15 years after the death of Joash,

00:26:50.319 --> 00:26:52.539
 the son of Jehoaz, king of Israel.

00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:55.059
 Now the rest of the deeds of Amaziah

00:26:55.059 --> 00:26:56.019
 from first to last,

00:26:56.379 --> 00:26:57.839
 are they not written in the book

00:26:57.839 --> 00:26:59.680
 of the kings of Judah in Israel?

00:27:00.539 --> 00:27:02.299
 From the time when he turned away from the Lord,

00:27:02.379 --> 00:27:04.579
 they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem.

00:27:05.119 --> 00:27:06.740
 And he fled to Lachish.

00:27:07.079 --> 00:27:09.539
 But they sent after him to Lachish

00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:11.379
 and put him to death there.

00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:13.119
 And they brought him upon horses,

00:27:13.220 --> 00:27:14.319
 and he was buried with his fathers

00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:16.139
 in the city of David.

00:27:17.639 --> 00:27:19.539
 Pride leads him to hit rock bottom.

00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:23.779
 By verse 17, Amaziah says to the northern kingdom,

00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:25.859
 let us look one another in the face.

00:27:26.859 --> 00:27:29.240
 In other words, he's saying, let's face off.

00:27:30.039 --> 00:27:31.859
 See you at noon on the playground.

00:27:32.779 --> 00:27:34.819
 And at this point, he thinks he is it.

00:27:35.379 --> 00:27:36.259
 He's the boss.

00:27:36.319 --> 00:27:37.339
 He's a pretty big deal.

00:27:37.639 --> 00:27:39.079
 He's the next Alexander the Great,

00:27:39.879 --> 00:27:40.779
 conquering the world.

00:27:41.819 --> 00:27:43.019
 But in response,

00:27:43.500 --> 00:27:45.099
 what does the king of Israel say to him?

00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:47.719
 Well, he begins to wax poetically.

00:27:48.539 --> 00:27:50.719
 What's with the marriage metaphor?

00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:53.819
 I think Joash is saying,

00:27:53.959 --> 00:27:55.500
 I know you're trying to get the upper hand,

00:27:55.779 --> 00:27:57.279
 but here's what's about to happen.

00:27:57.699 --> 00:28:00.939
 The small thistle is about to be trampled down.

00:28:01.819 --> 00:28:04.079
 He's saying, Amaziah, stay at home.

00:28:04.919 --> 00:28:06.059
 Don't embarrass yourself.

00:28:06.339 --> 00:28:07.419
 When you come over here,

00:28:07.419 --> 00:28:09.279
 you'll find out we're not like the Edomites.

00:28:09.980 --> 00:28:11.299
 You're a big shot on the playground,

00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:13.139
 but you're about to step into the ring

00:28:13.139 --> 00:28:13.859
 with Mike Tyson.

00:28:14.299 --> 00:28:15.000
 Stay at home.

00:28:15.259 --> 00:28:16.179
 Don't embarrass yourself.

00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:18.719
 What happens?

00:28:19.439 --> 00:28:20.980
 Well, pride comes before the fall.

00:28:21.339 --> 00:28:23.259
 Literally, Amaziah does not listen.

00:28:23.539 --> 00:28:24.859
 Verse 21, he goes up.

00:28:25.099 --> 00:28:26.959
 By verse 22, he is trampled down.

00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:28.500
 End of verse 23,

00:28:28.619 --> 00:28:29.899
 the wall of the city is exposed.

00:28:30.619 --> 00:28:32.639
 Now the people are exposed and defenseless.

00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:34.240
 The king is taken captive.

00:28:34.659 --> 00:28:35.899
 Treasury is seized.

00:28:36.179 --> 00:28:37.139
 Hostages taken.

00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:38.439
 The king is assassinated.

00:28:38.539 --> 00:28:39.279
 In verse 27.

00:28:41.439 --> 00:28:42.839
 Amaziah thought these idols

00:28:42.839 --> 00:28:45.240
 were a good deal,

00:28:45.240 --> 00:28:47.819
 but sin hides the price tag.

00:28:48.619 --> 00:28:49.619
 Look what he had to pay

00:28:49.619 --> 00:28:52.459
 rather than listening to God's word in obedience.

00:28:53.379 --> 00:28:54.220
 Point number two is the rising,

00:28:54.500 --> 00:28:55.779
 point one is the rising storm.

00:28:56.179 --> 00:28:56.659
 Point number two,

00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:57.699
 the downward spiral.

00:28:57.919 --> 00:28:58.819
 Point number three,

00:28:59.240 --> 00:29:00.959
 the supreme sovereign.

00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:02.860
 Now verse 20,

00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:04.680
 we are essentially taking,

00:29:04.779 --> 00:29:05.279
 if you will,

00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:06.920
 behind the scenes

00:29:06.920 --> 00:29:07.860
 of what is happening here.

00:29:07.859 --> 00:29:11.819
 Joash attempted to talk Amaziah

00:29:11.819 --> 00:29:12.679
 out of such a fight,

00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:13.879
 but we are told very clearly

00:29:13.879 --> 00:29:14.479
 in verse 20

00:29:14.479 --> 00:29:16.539
 that Amaziah would not listen.

00:29:17.459 --> 00:29:18.199
 He gives a reason.

00:29:18.359 --> 00:29:18.619
 Why?

00:29:19.219 --> 00:29:21.219
 For it was from God

00:29:21.219 --> 00:29:22.639
 that he might deliver them

00:29:22.639 --> 00:29:23.639
 into the hand of Joash.

00:29:24.339 --> 00:29:26.339
 This is Pharaoh 2.0.

00:29:26.779 --> 00:29:27.859
 The king of Judah

00:29:27.859 --> 00:29:28.839
 has become a Pharaoh

00:29:28.839 --> 00:29:30.259
 that God will now destroy.

00:29:31.039 --> 00:29:31.439
 Remember,

00:29:31.740 --> 00:29:32.719
 God can help

00:29:32.719 --> 00:29:34.779
 or he can cast down,

00:29:34.959 --> 00:29:36.159
 and God has now chosen

00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:37.259
 to cast down.

00:29:38.060 --> 00:29:39.220
 If you were to ask Amaziah

00:29:39.220 --> 00:29:39.740
 the question,

00:29:40.060 --> 00:29:41.060
 whose idea was it

00:29:41.060 --> 00:29:42.240
 to reject the prophet's warning?

00:29:42.620 --> 00:29:43.120
 He would say,

00:29:43.259 --> 00:29:44.160
 it's my idea.

00:29:44.500 --> 00:29:45.720
 No one controls me.

00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:47.940
 But look at verse 20 again.

00:29:48.779 --> 00:29:49.420
 It was of God.

00:29:50.860 --> 00:29:52.300
 Amaziah did not listen

00:29:52.300 --> 00:29:53.180
 because God

00:29:53.180 --> 00:29:54.580
 had determined it to be so.

00:29:56.259 --> 00:29:57.640
 It's mysterious, isn't it?

00:29:58.440 --> 00:29:59.460
 Human responsibility

00:29:59.460 --> 00:30:01.640
 and divine sovereignty.

00:30:02.920 --> 00:30:03.860
 Now some people think

00:30:03.860 --> 00:30:04.779
 human history

00:30:04.779 --> 00:30:06.120
 is all about human.

00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:08.060
 destiny determined

00:30:08.060 --> 00:30:09.580
 by our decisions.

00:30:10.380 --> 00:30:11.019
 But the chronicler

00:30:11.019 --> 00:30:12.380
 rejects any human-centered

00:30:12.380 --> 00:30:13.040
 view of history.

00:30:13.779 --> 00:30:14.700
 This is a God

00:30:14.700 --> 00:30:15.820
 who lifts up kings

00:30:15.820 --> 00:30:17.440
 and brings them down.

00:30:18.120 --> 00:30:18.920
 Proverbs 21,

00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:20.420
 the king's heart

00:30:20.420 --> 00:30:21.380
 is a stream of water

00:30:21.380 --> 00:30:22.380
 in the hand of the Lord.

00:30:22.740 --> 00:30:23.519
 He turns it

00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:24.400
 wherever he will.

00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:27.180
 He exercises sovereignty

00:30:27.180 --> 00:30:28.160
 over nations.

00:30:29.700 --> 00:30:30.259
 And has God

00:30:30.259 --> 00:30:31.220
 stopped being sovereign

00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:31.940
 since the time

00:30:31.940 --> 00:30:32.560
 of the chronicler?

00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:36.519
 friend, God governs

00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:37.419
 governance.

00:30:37.940 --> 00:30:40.319
 He is infinitely supreme,

00:30:40.619 --> 00:30:42.399
 always in control.

00:30:43.139 --> 00:30:44.019
 He is powerful

00:30:44.019 --> 00:30:45.220
 over Israel's prophets

00:30:45.220 --> 00:30:46.259
 and priests and kings.

00:30:46.619 --> 00:30:47.659
 He is powerful

00:30:47.659 --> 00:30:48.899
 over current presidents.

00:30:49.399 --> 00:30:50.059
 He is powerful

00:30:50.059 --> 00:30:51.419
 over planets.

00:30:52.419 --> 00:30:52.960
 Psalm 2,

00:30:53.059 --> 00:30:54.240
 the rulers rage,

00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:55.480
 the people plot in vain.

00:30:55.679 --> 00:30:56.539
 And what does God do?

00:30:57.039 --> 00:30:58.419
 Is he pacing back and forth

00:30:58.419 --> 00:30:59.519
 in his heavenly throne room

00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:00.799
 wondering what he's going to do?

00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:01.440
 No.

00:31:01.779 --> 00:31:03.200
 God sits in heavens

00:31:03.200 --> 00:31:04.059
 and laughs

00:31:04.059 --> 00:31:04.919
 and he does all

00:31:04.919 --> 00:31:05.539
 that he pleases.

00:31:06.460 --> 00:31:08.139
 See, the most cataclysmic event

00:31:08.139 --> 00:31:09.359
 is like a butterfly

00:31:09.359 --> 00:31:10.960
 landing on Mount Everest.

00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:13.039
 God is immovable.

00:31:14.319 --> 00:31:15.319
 Do you think the creature

00:31:15.319 --> 00:31:17.039
 can limit the creator's

00:31:17.039 --> 00:31:17.940
 sovereign power?

00:31:18.879 --> 00:31:19.720
 That is not the story

00:31:19.720 --> 00:31:21.099
 you see in Chronicles.

00:31:21.539 --> 00:31:22.659
 And if we go behind

00:31:22.659 --> 00:31:23.180
 the curtain,

00:31:23.879 --> 00:31:26.019
 not only with Amaziah,

00:31:26.099 --> 00:31:27.559
 but all of human history,

00:31:28.339 --> 00:31:29.099
 will we not expect

00:31:29.099 --> 00:31:30.579
 to find the same truth?

00:31:30.899 --> 00:31:32.819
 It was of God.

00:31:34.299 --> 00:31:36.039
 Now, for all you news junkies

00:31:36.039 --> 00:31:36.980
 out in here,

00:31:37.079 --> 00:31:37.939
 I know there are some of you.

00:31:38.899 --> 00:31:39.299
 Stop.

00:31:40.379 --> 00:31:41.959
 But I don't know how you do it.

00:31:42.379 --> 00:31:43.259
 But if you can't,

00:31:43.599 --> 00:31:44.419
 here's a piece of advice

00:31:44.419 --> 00:31:45.159
 that Amanda gave.

00:31:45.679 --> 00:31:46.980
 Every time you read an article,

00:31:47.259 --> 00:31:48.399
 at the end of each headline,

00:31:48.519 --> 00:31:48.719
 write,

00:31:49.079 --> 00:31:49.699
 it was of God.

00:31:50.980 --> 00:31:52.119
 And surely it must be so.

00:31:52.919 --> 00:31:54.399
 There's only two alternatives.

00:31:54.980 --> 00:31:56.419
 Either God must reign

00:31:56.420 --> 00:31:57.800
 or he must be ruled.

00:31:58.180 --> 00:31:59.320
 And the emphatic witness

00:31:59.320 --> 00:31:59.860
 of the scripture

00:31:59.860 --> 00:32:01.920
 is that God is reigning.

00:32:06.220 --> 00:32:07.200
 You know, the cancer

00:32:07.200 --> 00:32:09.580
 in Amaziah's heart

00:32:09.580 --> 00:32:10.580
 disguised itself

00:32:10.580 --> 00:32:11.920
 and it's spread

00:32:11.920 --> 00:32:12.680
 like a predator.

00:32:14.120 --> 00:32:14.960
 And this church

00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:15.600
 is a hospital.

00:32:16.880 --> 00:32:17.820
 And there's honesty

00:32:17.820 --> 00:32:18.500
 at a hospital.

00:32:19.180 --> 00:32:20.080
 And the truth

00:32:20.080 --> 00:32:21.140
 must be told.

00:32:21.779 --> 00:32:22.460
 Because you see,

00:32:22.519 --> 00:32:24.140
 the sad story of us

00:32:24.140 --> 00:32:25.640
 is we are naturally

00:32:25.640 --> 00:32:26.920
 like Amaziah.

00:32:28.660 --> 00:32:30.020
 Half-hearted obedience

00:32:30.020 --> 00:32:31.580
 means nothing to God.

00:32:32.400 --> 00:32:33.620
 We are apathetic

00:32:33.620 --> 00:32:34.180
 to God

00:32:34.180 --> 00:32:35.240
 and his word.

00:32:36.660 --> 00:32:37.300
 We don't,

00:32:37.640 --> 00:32:38.900
 we cannot reach up to God.

00:32:39.340 --> 00:32:40.280
 We're like the paralyzed

00:32:40.280 --> 00:32:41.660
 man on the side

00:32:41.660 --> 00:32:42.320
 of the road.

00:32:42.860 --> 00:32:43.560
 We can do nothing.

00:32:45.840 --> 00:32:46.640
 But the good news,

00:32:47.060 --> 00:32:47.480
 my friends,

00:32:47.600 --> 00:32:48.720
 is that God

00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:49.759
 has reached down to us.

00:32:50.120 --> 00:32:50.920
 God hasn't just

00:32:50.920 --> 00:32:51.740
 sent us a prophet.

00:32:51.740 --> 00:32:52.920
 He has sent us

00:32:52.920 --> 00:32:54.160
 his own son.

00:32:54.759 --> 00:32:55.720
 And this is the message

00:32:55.720 --> 00:32:56.319
 of the gospel.

00:32:57.039 --> 00:32:57.259
 You see,

00:32:57.339 --> 00:32:59.000
 God made you

00:32:59.000 --> 00:33:01.380
 to bear his image.

00:33:01.980 --> 00:33:02.620
 And because of that,

00:33:02.680 --> 00:33:03.940
 he has authority over you.

00:33:04.299 --> 00:33:05.079
 He demands

00:33:05.079 --> 00:33:06.700
 full worship

00:33:06.700 --> 00:33:08.000
 in your heart.

00:33:08.940 --> 00:33:09.839
 And he is good

00:33:09.839 --> 00:33:10.920
 and he must

00:33:10.920 --> 00:33:12.240
 punish sin.

00:33:12.319 --> 00:33:13.079
 He will not brush

00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:14.279
 your sin under the rug.

00:33:14.980 --> 00:33:15.720
 And by nature,

00:33:15.920 --> 00:33:16.819
 we rebel.

00:33:17.299 --> 00:33:17.880
 By nature,

00:33:18.019 --> 00:33:19.160
 we are God-ignoring

00:33:19.160 --> 00:33:20.160
 and God-belittling.

00:33:20.160 --> 00:33:21.340
 By nature,

00:33:21.480 --> 00:33:22.580
 we deserve God's

00:33:22.580 --> 00:33:23.779
 wrath.

00:33:24.880 --> 00:33:25.360
 Friend,

00:33:25.420 --> 00:33:26.380
 do not be deceived.

00:33:26.840 --> 00:33:27.740
 Outside of Christ,

00:33:28.080 --> 00:33:28.840
 you do stand

00:33:28.840 --> 00:33:30.180
 under God's judgment.

00:33:31.279 --> 00:33:32.060
 God can help

00:33:32.060 --> 00:33:33.420
 or he can cast

00:33:33.420 --> 00:33:34.279
 down.

00:33:34.860 --> 00:33:35.480
 And the good news

00:33:35.480 --> 00:33:35.880
 is this,

00:33:36.120 --> 00:33:37.080
 God is a helper

00:33:37.080 --> 00:33:37.880
 to those who call

00:33:37.880 --> 00:33:38.420
 out to him.

00:33:38.880 --> 00:33:39.900
 Because even though

00:33:39.900 --> 00:33:40.640
 he is surrounded

00:33:40.640 --> 00:33:41.900
 by idolaters,

00:33:42.300 --> 00:33:43.300
 his heart is filled

00:33:43.300 --> 00:33:44.320
 with steadfast love.

00:33:44.779 --> 00:33:45.680
 We are filled

00:33:45.680 --> 00:33:46.300
 with hatred,

00:33:46.660 --> 00:33:47.140
 his heart

00:33:47.140 --> 00:33:48.040
 filled with mercy.

00:33:48.039 --> 00:33:49.839
 And God sovereignly

00:33:49.839 --> 00:33:50.920
 works out his plan

00:33:50.920 --> 00:33:51.899
 by sending his son.

00:33:52.359 --> 00:33:53.099
 Fully God

00:33:53.099 --> 00:33:54.200
 and fully man.

00:33:54.599 --> 00:33:55.720
 And unlike Amaziah,

00:33:55.980 --> 00:33:57.119
 he was the perfectly

00:33:57.119 --> 00:33:59.240
 righteous king.

00:34:00.039 --> 00:34:01.319
 He obeyed God

00:34:01.319 --> 00:34:02.799
 not with a half heart

00:34:02.799 --> 00:34:03.799
 or divided heart.

00:34:03.960 --> 00:34:04.839
 He obeyed God

00:34:04.839 --> 00:34:06.039
 with his entire heart.

00:34:06.480 --> 00:34:07.539
 And he came down

00:34:07.539 --> 00:34:08.500
 and lived the perfect

00:34:08.500 --> 00:34:09.719
 life of obedience

00:34:09.719 --> 00:34:11.019
 that we should have lived.

00:34:11.420 --> 00:34:12.719
 But despite never sinning,

00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:14.119
 he goes to a cross.

00:34:14.880 --> 00:34:15.800
 And isn't the cross

00:34:15.800 --> 00:34:17.760
 the greatest mystery

00:34:17.760 --> 00:34:19.060
 of divine sovereignty

00:34:19.060 --> 00:34:20.240
 and human responsibility?

00:34:21.560 --> 00:34:22.200
 After all,

00:34:22.440 --> 00:34:23.860
 who sent Christ

00:34:23.860 --> 00:34:24.539
 to the cross?

00:34:26.100 --> 00:34:27.420
 Jesus was carried away,

00:34:27.580 --> 00:34:28.640
 maybe against his will,

00:34:29.220 --> 00:34:29.940
 to be tortured,

00:34:30.140 --> 00:34:30.720
 to be killed,

00:34:31.080 --> 00:34:32.320
 to be crucified.

00:34:33.400 --> 00:34:34.300
 And humanly speaking,

00:34:35.720 --> 00:34:36.360
 didn't Judas

00:34:36.360 --> 00:34:37.539
 send Christ to the cross?

00:34:39.000 --> 00:34:39.800
 Humanly speaking,

00:34:40.060 --> 00:34:41.120
 wasn't it the chief priests,

00:34:41.220 --> 00:34:41.840
 the scribes,

00:34:41.860 --> 00:34:42.600
 and the Pharisees,

00:34:43.060 --> 00:34:44.100
 plotting and scheming

00:34:44.099 --> 00:34:45.579
 to publicly shame

00:34:45.579 --> 00:34:47.219
 and execute this Jesus?

00:34:48.219 --> 00:34:48.839
 Humanly speaking,

00:34:49.139 --> 00:34:50.299
 didn't Pontius Pilate

00:34:50.299 --> 00:34:51.119
 and Herod

00:34:51.119 --> 00:34:52.519
 send him to the cross?

00:34:53.799 --> 00:34:54.599
 Humanly speaking,

00:34:54.699 --> 00:34:55.519
 didn't the people

00:34:55.519 --> 00:34:56.199
 who yelled,

00:34:56.319 --> 00:34:57.079
 crucify him,

00:34:57.159 --> 00:34:57.980
 crucify him,

00:34:58.599 --> 00:34:59.599
 didn't they send him

00:34:59.599 --> 00:35:00.159
 to the cross?

00:35:01.619 --> 00:35:02.099
 Friends,

00:35:02.460 --> 00:35:03.699
 higher above them all,

00:35:04.380 --> 00:35:05.179
 it was of God.

00:35:05.880 --> 00:35:06.779
 Who sent Christ

00:35:06.779 --> 00:35:07.400
 to the cross?

00:35:07.940 --> 00:35:09.279
 The Father sent him

00:35:09.279 --> 00:35:10.819
 in his great love.

00:35:11.619 --> 00:35:13.099
 Sends him to die.

00:35:13.099 --> 00:35:13.500
 Why?

00:35:14.019 --> 00:35:14.980
 So he could be

00:35:14.980 --> 00:35:15.900
 our substitute,

00:35:16.400 --> 00:35:17.279
 bearing God's

00:35:17.279 --> 00:35:18.380
 white-hot wrath

00:35:18.380 --> 00:35:19.000
 against sin

00:35:19.000 --> 00:35:20.119
 for all who had returned

00:35:20.119 --> 00:35:20.799
 from their sin

00:35:20.799 --> 00:35:21.880
 and put their trust

00:35:21.880 --> 00:35:23.179
 in Christ alone.

00:35:23.779 --> 00:35:24.799
 And on the third day,

00:35:25.179 --> 00:35:27.079
 Jesus rose from the dead.

00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:29.579
 And now Jesus stands

00:35:29.579 --> 00:35:29.960
 and says,

00:35:30.039 --> 00:35:31.179
 there are two possibilities.

00:35:31.860 --> 00:35:33.480
 Either I will be your help

00:35:33.480 --> 00:35:34.759
 or I will cast you down

00:35:34.759 --> 00:35:35.319
 in judgment.

00:35:36.480 --> 00:35:37.339
 And that hope

00:35:37.339 --> 00:35:38.659
 is held out to you today.

00:35:39.679 --> 00:35:40.559
 He promises

00:35:40.559 --> 00:35:41.900
 that he will remove

00:35:41.900 --> 00:35:42.840
 your heart of stone

00:35:42.840 --> 00:35:43.699
 and give you

00:35:43.699 --> 00:35:45.079
 a new heart of flesh.

00:35:46.119 --> 00:35:47.059
 He will give you

00:35:47.059 --> 00:35:47.739
 a new heart

00:35:47.739 --> 00:35:49.239
 by his Holy Spirit.

00:35:51.139 --> 00:35:51.539
 Friend,

00:35:51.619 --> 00:35:52.239
 if you are here

00:35:52.239 --> 00:35:53.079
 and you are not a Christian,

00:35:54.259 --> 00:35:55.719
 consider this chapter.

00:35:56.500 --> 00:35:57.480
 Consider what it means

00:35:57.480 --> 00:35:58.420
 for our lives.

00:35:59.099 --> 00:35:59.340
 You know,

00:35:59.380 --> 00:36:00.559
 in our proud hearts,

00:36:01.079 --> 00:36:02.079
 people tend to think

00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:03.059
 better of themselves

00:36:03.059 --> 00:36:04.659
 than what God thinks

00:36:04.659 --> 00:36:04.980
 of them.

00:36:04.980 --> 00:36:07.280
 You know,

00:36:07.340 --> 00:36:08.139
 and we tend to think

00:36:08.139 --> 00:36:09.059
 that Christianity

00:36:09.059 --> 00:36:11.519
 is an unnatural way

00:36:11.519 --> 00:36:12.199
 to live.

00:36:13.240 --> 00:36:14.579
 We've got it backwards.

00:36:15.440 --> 00:36:15.659
 You see,

00:36:15.760 --> 00:36:16.539
 Jesus lived

00:36:16.539 --> 00:36:18.519
 the most natural life.

00:36:18.740 --> 00:36:19.840
 He never bowed down

00:36:19.840 --> 00:36:20.480
 before idols.

00:36:21.000 --> 00:36:21.599
 You and I

00:36:21.599 --> 00:36:22.300
 and our sin

00:36:22.300 --> 00:36:23.519
 are the abnormal ones.

00:36:24.119 --> 00:36:24.280
 See,

00:36:24.340 --> 00:36:25.599
 we are slowly dying,

00:36:26.260 --> 00:36:26.619
 hopeless,

00:36:27.039 --> 00:36:27.780
 on our knees,

00:36:27.940 --> 00:36:29.000
 bowing before idols.

00:36:30.139 --> 00:36:31.059
 Treating career

00:36:31.059 --> 00:36:32.280
 and cars

00:36:32.280 --> 00:36:32.960
 and cash

00:36:32.960 --> 00:36:34.880
 as our functional gods.

00:36:35.380 --> 00:36:36.360
 We are on our knees,

00:36:36.460 --> 00:36:37.340
 bowing before idols

00:36:37.340 --> 00:36:38.679
 and this one comes

00:36:38.679 --> 00:36:40.059
 to offer us life,

00:36:40.500 --> 00:36:42.260
 water to the thirsty soul

00:36:42.260 --> 00:36:43.000
 and what do we do?

00:36:43.159 --> 00:36:44.039
 We belittle him.

00:36:45.280 --> 00:36:46.480
 Our entire life

00:36:46.480 --> 00:36:47.000
 is backwards

00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:48.039
 when we reject Christ.

00:36:48.840 --> 00:36:49.559
 God destroys

00:36:49.559 --> 00:36:50.679
 the wisdom of this world.

00:36:51.059 --> 00:36:51.599
 There are only

00:36:51.599 --> 00:36:52.559
 two possibilities.

00:36:53.519 --> 00:36:54.240
 He will help

00:36:54.240 --> 00:36:56.199
 or he will cast down.

00:36:56.539 --> 00:36:56.740
 Friend,

00:36:56.900 --> 00:36:58.340
 do not be deceived.

00:36:58.900 --> 00:37:00.260
 Your sin blinds you

00:37:00.260 --> 00:37:01.920
 to who Jesus is.

00:37:02.480 --> 00:37:02.699
 Friend,

00:37:02.760 --> 00:37:03.679
 don't be blind to Jesus.

00:37:04.339 --> 00:37:05.539
 Don't be like Amaziah,

00:37:05.839 --> 00:37:06.799
 so close

00:37:06.799 --> 00:37:08.019
 yet so far away.

00:37:08.639 --> 00:37:09.339
 Look at Jesus.

00:37:10.000 --> 00:37:10.879
 Look at his works.

00:37:11.219 --> 00:37:11.919
 Look at his miracles.

00:37:12.159 --> 00:37:12.799
 Look at his words.

00:37:12.899 --> 00:37:13.419
 Look at his deeds.

00:37:13.519 --> 00:37:14.139
 Look at his actions.

00:37:14.739 --> 00:37:15.679
 Look at him being raised

00:37:15.679 --> 00:37:16.299
 from the dead

00:37:16.299 --> 00:37:17.419
 in history.

00:37:17.960 --> 00:37:18.960
 The very thing

00:37:18.960 --> 00:37:20.199
 God has been making clear

00:37:20.199 --> 00:37:21.219
 since the dawn

00:37:21.219 --> 00:37:22.159
 of creation.

00:37:22.679 --> 00:37:23.399
 He has been saying

00:37:23.399 --> 00:37:23.940
 all along,

00:37:24.239 --> 00:37:25.940
 look for this one.

00:37:27.199 --> 00:37:27.980
 Don't be blind

00:37:27.980 --> 00:37:28.519
 to Jesus.

00:37:28.519 --> 00:37:31.059
 what happens

00:37:31.059 --> 00:37:32.159
 when you go to Christ.

00:37:32.980 --> 00:37:33.920
 Immediate forgiveness.

00:37:34.840 --> 00:37:35.519
 I'll repeat that.

00:37:35.920 --> 00:37:37.119
 Immediate forgiveness

00:37:37.119 --> 00:37:38.659
 and intimate fellowship.

00:37:39.380 --> 00:37:40.099
 True grace

00:37:40.099 --> 00:37:41.400
 reaches the bottom

00:37:41.400 --> 00:37:42.000
 of your heart

00:37:42.000 --> 00:37:43.420
 and God can take

00:37:43.420 --> 00:37:44.980
 your ruined life

00:37:44.980 --> 00:37:45.780
 and make something

00:37:45.780 --> 00:37:47.420
 brand new.

00:37:49.039 --> 00:37:49.460
 Oh, but friend,

00:37:49.500 --> 00:37:50.119
 if you are here

00:37:50.119 --> 00:37:50.840
 and you're a Christian,

00:37:52.179 --> 00:37:53.780
 Jesus Christ is the same

00:37:53.780 --> 00:37:54.119
 yesterday,

00:37:54.420 --> 00:37:54.659
 today,

00:37:54.659 --> 00:37:55.320
 and tomorrow.

00:37:55.820 --> 00:37:57.220
 He is your Azir.

00:37:58.140 --> 00:37:59.280
 And if he is sovereign

00:37:59.280 --> 00:38:00.080
 to cast down,

00:38:00.160 --> 00:38:00.600
 do you not see

00:38:00.600 --> 00:38:01.360
 that he is sovereign

00:38:01.360 --> 00:38:02.220
 to be your helper?

00:38:02.960 --> 00:38:05.320
 He is your sovereign helper,

00:38:05.400 --> 00:38:06.160
 the maker of heaven

00:38:06.160 --> 00:38:06.780
 and earth.

00:38:07.360 --> 00:38:08.300
 He neither sleeps

00:38:08.300 --> 00:38:09.220
 nor slumbers.

00:38:10.300 --> 00:38:11.160
 Rest in everything

00:38:11.160 --> 00:38:12.200
 that he has done for you.

00:38:12.820 --> 00:38:13.539
 That is a pillow

00:38:13.539 --> 00:38:14.580
 to lay your head on

00:38:14.580 --> 00:38:14.940
 at night.

00:38:15.580 --> 00:38:16.760
 And we have no reason

00:38:16.760 --> 00:38:17.700
 to boast in ourselves.

00:38:18.320 --> 00:38:19.460
 It's all of grace.

00:38:19.700 --> 00:38:20.640
 It's all of God.

00:38:20.740 --> 00:38:21.840
 All to his glory.

00:38:21.840 --> 00:38:22.620
 Today he says

00:38:22.620 --> 00:38:23.300
 the same to you.

00:38:23.620 --> 00:38:25.100
 I will be your help.

00:38:25.320 --> 00:38:26.800
 And I will never fail you.

00:38:28.039 --> 00:38:28.660
 And to close,

00:38:29.600 --> 00:38:30.559
 during an interview

00:38:30.559 --> 00:38:31.760
 of the late Christian scholar

00:38:31.760 --> 00:38:32.780
 Carl F. Henry,

00:38:33.380 --> 00:38:34.160
 who at the time

00:38:34.160 --> 00:38:35.120
 was in his 70s,

00:38:35.140 --> 00:38:35.519
 was asked

00:38:35.519 --> 00:38:36.559
 how he managed

00:38:36.559 --> 00:38:37.660
 to remain so humble

00:38:37.660 --> 00:38:39.240
 for so many decades.

00:38:40.059 --> 00:38:41.220
 Dr. Henry replied,

00:38:42.320 --> 00:38:43.059
 how can anyone

00:38:43.059 --> 00:38:43.700
 be arrogant

00:38:43.700 --> 00:38:45.120
 when he stands

00:38:45.120 --> 00:38:46.220
 beside the cross?

00:38:47.080 --> 00:38:47.600
 Amen.

00:38:47.740 --> 00:38:48.400
 Let's pray, friends.

00:38:49.160 --> 00:38:49.960
 Father in heaven,

00:38:50.019 --> 00:38:51.559
 we pray that we would

00:38:51.559 --> 00:38:53.160
 stand at the foot

00:38:53.160 --> 00:38:53.760
 of the cross.

00:38:53.760 --> 00:38:55.160
 and Father,

00:38:55.740 --> 00:38:57.680
 we would boast

00:38:57.680 --> 00:38:59.340
 only in the cross.

00:38:59.740 --> 00:38:59.960
 Father,

00:39:00.000 --> 00:39:00.640
 we pray that

00:39:00.640 --> 00:39:01.940
 Christ would be a magnet

00:39:01.940 --> 00:39:02.920
 drawing all people

00:39:02.920 --> 00:39:03.500
 to himself.

00:39:04.300 --> 00:39:04.540
 And Lord,

00:39:04.600 --> 00:39:05.100
 that you would get

00:39:05.100 --> 00:39:06.280
 all glory and honor

00:39:06.280 --> 00:39:07.860
 and that we would serve you

00:39:07.860 --> 00:39:08.760
 with our whole hearts.

00:39:09.540 --> 00:39:10.400
 Pray this in Jesus' name.

00:39:10.820 --> 00:39:11.040
 Amen.

00:39:11.039 --> 00:39:11.920
 Amen.

00:39:11.920 --> 00:39:11.920


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