WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.440 Good morning. My name is Matthew Capone and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian 00:00:06.440 --> 00:00:12.040 Church and it's my joy to bring God's Word to you today. A special welcome if you're new or 00:00:12.040 --> 00:00:16.519 visiting with us. We're glad that you're here and we're glad that you're here not because we're 00:00:16.519 --> 00:00:23.379 trying to fill seats but because we're following Jesus together as one community and as we follow 00:00:23.379 --> 00:00:28.900 Jesus together we become convinced that there's no one so good they don't need God's grace and 00:00:28.899 --> 00:00:33.659 no one so bad that they can't have it which is why we come back week after week to hear what God has 00:00:33.659 --> 00:00:40.259 to say to us in his Word. We have taken a break from our series in the Gospel of Mark for the season of 00:00:40.259 --> 00:00:45.560 Advent. You'll remember that the season of Advent is a time when we celebrate Jesus coming or arriving 00:00:45.560 --> 00:00:51.239 here on earth and we do a couple things. First of all we celebrate what God has done in the past 00:00:51.239 --> 00:00:56.599 already by sending Christ and then we also look forward to what he's going to do in the future 00:00:56.600 --> 00:01:01.420 when we see Christ come again. And so as Christians we're always doing this. We're always looking back 00:01:01.420 --> 00:01:06.359 to what God has done in the past. We're looking forward to what he will do in the future and we 00:01:06.359 --> 00:01:13.060 use both of those things to keep going and to live faithfully now in the present. Last week we were in 00:01:13.060 --> 00:01:20.219 Genesis chapter 3 and we saw that Jesus is the one who's going to come and put an end to shame. He's going 00:01:20.219 --> 00:01:27.620 to be the one who comes and destroys and crushes evil forever. We saw that promise from chapter 3 00:01:27.620 --> 00:01:33.519 verse 15. He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel. Meaning that while Satan is going 00:01:33.519 --> 00:01:39.060 to be able to hurt Jesus he will not crush him. Jesus on the other hand will crush the head of the 00:01:39.060 --> 00:01:45.039 serpent. We're fast forwarding eight or nine chapters this morning all the way to Genesis chapter 12 and 00:01:45.040 --> 00:01:49.840 we're going to look not as Jesus is the one who ends shame but this morning Jesus is the one who brings 00:01:49.840 --> 00:01:55.140 the blessing to the nations. And so without further ado I'm going to invite you to turn with me now. You 00:01:55.140 --> 00:02:00.719 can turn near the end of your worship guide. You can also turn in your Bible or turn on your phone. 00:02:01.280 --> 00:02:06.480 No matter where you turn remember that this is God's word and God tells us that his word is a lamp to 00:02:06.480 --> 00:02:12.819 our feet and a light to our path which means that God has not left us to stumble alone in the dark 00:02:12.819 --> 00:02:20.900 but instead he's given us his word to show us the way to go. And so that's why we start now. Genesis chapter 11 00:02:20.900 --> 00:02:30.740 verse 27. Now these are the generations of Terah. Terah fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran. And Haran fathered 00:02:30.740 --> 00:02:37.120 Lot. Haran died in the presence of his father Terah in the land of his kindred in Ur of the Chaldeans. 00:02:37.120 --> 00:02:44.800 And Abram and Nahor took wives. The name of Abram's wife was Sarai and the name of Nahor's wife Milcah, 00:02:45.080 --> 00:02:51.340 the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah and Iscah. Now Sarai was barren. She had no children. 00:02:52.580 --> 00:02:57.599 Terah took Abram his son and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, 00:02:58.099 --> 00:03:03.240 his son Abram's wife. And they went forth together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan. 00:03:03.240 --> 00:03:10.200 But when they came to Haran, they settled there. The days of Terah were 205 years, and Terah died in 00:03:10.200 --> 00:03:17.680 Haran. Chapter 12. Now the Lord said to Abram, Go from your country and your kindred and your father's 00:03:17.680 --> 00:03:23.340 house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and 00:03:23.340 --> 00:03:29.260 make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who 00:03:29.259 --> 00:03:37.000 dishonors you, I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Verse 4. 00:03:37.679 --> 00:03:43.819 So Abram went as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was 75 years old when he departed 00:03:43.819 --> 00:03:49.759 from Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that 00:03:49.759 --> 00:03:54.659 they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran. And they set out to go to the 00:03:54.659 --> 00:04:00.340 land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the place 00:04:00.340 --> 00:04:06.460 at Shechem, to the oak of Morah. At that time, the Canaanites were in the land. Then the Lord appeared 00:04:06.460 --> 00:04:12.800 to Abram and said, To your offspring I will give this land. So he built there an altar to the Lord, 00:04:12.919 --> 00:04:18.839 who had appeared to him. From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel, and pitched his 00:04:18.839 --> 00:04:25.319 tent with Bethel on the west, and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord, and called 00:04:25.319 --> 00:04:32.539 upon the name of the Lord. And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negev. I invite you to pray 00:04:32.539 --> 00:04:39.719 with me as we come to this portion of God's Word. Our Father in heaven, we thank you again that you 00:04:39.719 --> 00:04:45.599 have given us your Word, not just in the New Testament, but in the Old Testament. And we ask 00:04:45.600 --> 00:04:53.400 that you would help us this morning to see your plan from the beginning of time, and that you would 00:04:53.400 --> 00:05:02.160 most of all set our eyes on Jesus, that we would see him as more beautiful and more glorious than we 00:05:02.160 --> 00:05:08.960 realized, that we would worship him, that we would serve him, that we would love him. We tell you this 00:05:08.960 --> 00:05:14.240 morning that we do love you, but we need your help, and so we ask that you would speak to us clearly 00:05:14.240 --> 00:05:19.560 in your Word. And we ask these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen. 00:05:22.259 --> 00:05:29.840 So we've skipped a lot of territory since we left off in Genesis chapter 3. Things only got worse 00:05:29.840 --> 00:05:36.240 and went downhill after Adam and Eve took part in the forbidden fruit. First of all, Genesis chapter 4, 00:05:36.340 --> 00:05:42.720 the very next chapter, we had the first murder when Cain kills Abel. And then in that same chapter, 00:05:42.720 --> 00:05:48.120 the first murderer starts the first city. Things continue to get bad, though. It's not just that 00:05:48.120 --> 00:05:54.180 there's one man who's a murderer, but we see in Genesis chapter 6 through 8 that the earth becomes 00:05:54.180 --> 00:06:01.040 so wicked that God decides he's going to wipe everything out with a flood. And so there's nothing 00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:08.900 left except for Noah and his family and two of every kind of animal. Now there's such a steep and rapid 00:06:08.899 --> 00:06:15.459 descent in the history of mankind that the flood itself is not enough. Wickedness continues. Chapter 00:06:15.459 --> 00:06:22.519 11, we get back to mankind abandoning God. They make this claim that they're going to make a name 00:06:22.519 --> 00:06:26.879 for themselves. And so they begin to build this tower, thinking that it's going to be able to reach up to 00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:32.359 the heavens. And we see God at that point bringing his judgment on them by scattering the nations and 00:06:32.359 --> 00:06:37.620 changing their languages. We're told in Genesis chapter 11 that everyone spoke the same language 00:06:37.620 --> 00:06:42.180 until God decided they were going to speak different languages. And of course, that it destroyed their 00:06:42.180 --> 00:06:48.399 ability to work together to build this great tower. And so the point is this. As we move on from Genesis 00:06:48.399 --> 00:06:55.280 chapter 3, we saw the beginning of shame and pain in the world. The story gets darker and darker. 00:06:56.420 --> 00:07:01.939 It gets more and more bleak. And so that's where we're at when we come here to chapters 11 and 12. 00:07:01.939 --> 00:07:06.899 You'll remember our paradigm from chapter 3 that there are these two offspring that are going to 00:07:06.899 --> 00:07:12.420 be battling it out. And there's a promise that one offspring is going to crush the other. And so I 00:07:12.420 --> 00:07:19.220 mentioned earlier, chapter 3, verse 15, this promise, or I guess a threat given to the serpent, 00:07:19.500 --> 00:07:24.639 he shall bruise your head, you shall bruise his heel. There's going to be two seeds that are going to 00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:29.779 compete against each other. One is going to win. One's going to be the one that bruises the head. 00:07:29.779 --> 00:07:36.079 And so it's with that that we come to this setting, this passage here in chapter 11 and 12, 00:07:36.219 --> 00:07:42.239 and things are not looking good. So as we ended chapter 11 here, we have this background of tragedy 00:07:42.239 --> 00:07:49.739 and barrenness. First of all, we have this tragedy. Chapter 11, verse 28, Haran dies. So Terah, 00:07:49.919 --> 00:07:56.419 who's continuing this seed, he's got three sons, only one grandson. His grandson Lot, who's the son of Terah, 00:07:56.420 --> 00:08:03.020 or the son of Haran. Haran dies, so he has only two sons and one grandson. So there's that tragedy, 00:08:03.160 --> 00:08:07.939 right? It's supposed to be sons who bury their fathers, not fathers who bury their sons. But to 00:08:07.939 --> 00:08:14.220 make things even worse, we find out here that Sarai, verse 30, is barren. And so as we're hoping that 00:08:14.220 --> 00:08:19.520 there's going to be this offspring, this seed that's going to crush the head of the serpent, things are 00:08:19.519 --> 00:08:26.979 not looking good. Things are not looking good for the family of Terah, and things are not looking good 00:08:26.979 --> 00:08:33.960 for humanity. We have this picture here of frailty and wickedness. That's the background we're given 00:08:33.960 --> 00:08:40.259 here in chapter 11, frailty and wickedness. That shouldn't surprise us, though, because Advent is 00:08:40.259 --> 00:08:45.220 about light in the darkness. That's what we looked at last week with our lighting of the Advent candle, 00:08:45.220 --> 00:08:52.279 Isaiah chapter 9. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those who dwelt in a land 00:08:52.279 --> 00:08:59.240 of deep darkness, on them has a light shown. And so our pattern that we saw in chapter 3 continues here 00:08:59.240 --> 00:09:07.740 in chapter 12, which is this. God still shows up as the light in the darkness. God still shows up as the 00:09:07.740 --> 00:09:14.960 light in the darkness. In this background of wickedness and human frailty, God has not given up on 00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:23.040 his promise. As things look bleak, he continues to show up and pursue his people. And so we see at the 00:09:23.040 --> 00:09:30.340 beginning of chapter 12 these promises that he makes to Abram. First, verse 1, he tells him to leave his 00:09:30.340 --> 00:09:38.920 country. And in verse 2, because of that, he's going to make him a great nation. And so we're supposed to 00:09:38.919 --> 00:09:45.479 feel the dissonance right away. His wife can't have children. God's going to make a great nation out of 00:09:45.479 --> 00:09:55.319 him. Okay? Then he continues, though, verse 3, in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 00:09:56.139 --> 00:10:00.699 And so we have this impossible scenario, this impossible situation where God has promised 00:10:00.699 --> 00:10:06.000 that he's going to bring his redemption to bear on the earth through a seed, and yet all evidence would 00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:11.500 be given to the contrary. This man, Terah, is not able to generate the offspring that he might like. 00:10:11.559 --> 00:10:17.080 His son has died. And the man that we're encountering here, who's promised to become a great nation, his wife, 00:10:17.360 --> 00:10:23.159 is not able to have children. It's against that backdrop that God shows up making this great 00:10:23.159 --> 00:10:30.419 and seemingly foolish promise to Abraham. Not only are you going to have many children, but you're going to 00:10:30.419 --> 00:10:35.519 become a great nation. And not only are you going to become a great nation, that nation is going to 00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:46.779 bless the entire world. You and your wife who can't have kids are going to affect the entire globe with 00:10:46.779 --> 00:10:51.899 your offspring. Now, if we're familiar with the story of the Bible, we just need to pause for a second and 00:10:51.899 --> 00:10:57.639 think about how ridiculous that is. Ridiculous first in the sense that he's going to have lots of children. 00:10:57.840 --> 00:11:02.439 Ridiculous second in the sense that they're going to affect the entire world. This world that's been 00:11:02.440 --> 00:11:06.540 scattered. Remember, people are speaking different languages now. They're not able to communicate with 00:11:06.540 --> 00:11:13.400 each other. And somehow, Abraham's line is going to be able to break through to that. Now, if we're 00:11:13.400 --> 00:11:18.280 Abram here... By the way, I'm using Abram and Abraham interchangeably, and I'm going to keep doing that 00:11:18.280 --> 00:11:24.580 because if you know the story, you know his name gets changed in Genesis chapter 17. Fun Cheyenne Mountain 00:11:24.580 --> 00:11:32.639 Trivia Fact, I preached on Genesis chapter 17 in April of 2017 when I came to candidate many, many years ago. 00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:39.580 So, I did preach to you on that, but very few of you were here back then. Anyway, his name gets changed, 00:11:39.639 --> 00:11:45.759 right? So, if I say Abraham or Abram, same person. This is the promise that's been made to him. He would 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:51.840 not have understood in what sense he was going to be a blessing to the entire nations. Some of the people 00:11:51.840 --> 00:11:56.519 reading the Old Testament before the time of Christ would not have understood exactly in what sense 00:11:56.519 --> 00:12:01.940 this person was going to be a blessing to the entire nations. Brothers and sisters, we know this 00:12:01.940 --> 00:12:09.500 morning exactly in what sense this offspring of Abraham is going to be a blessing to the entire 00:12:09.500 --> 00:12:14.280 nations. And the reason that we know it is not just because of the time of history that we live in, 00:12:14.500 --> 00:12:19.840 but because the Apostle Paul spells it out for us clearly and directly. So, I'm going to invite you 00:12:19.840 --> 00:12:27.080 to turn with me in your worship guide to page 4. We read from Galatians chapter 3 where Paul explains 00:12:27.080 --> 00:12:33.340 to us exactly what is going on in Genesis and the exact way in which Abraham's seat is going to be a 00:12:33.340 --> 00:12:40.080 blessing to the nations. And so, track with me then here. Look at verse 8 first. The Scriptures foresee 00:12:40.080 --> 00:12:45.620 that God would justify the Gentiles by faith. Gentiles being a word here that means people who aren't Jews. 00:12:45.620 --> 00:12:50.820 When God chooses Abraham, He chooses a people. Throughout the Old Testament, what we see is God 00:12:50.820 --> 00:12:56.440 being gracious to the Jewish nation. However, the plan was always that it would extend to all the 00:12:56.440 --> 00:13:01.560 nations of the earth. And so, here's the plan given us. Verse 8, He would justify the Gentiles. He would 00:13:01.560 --> 00:13:07.000 take people who are not Jews and He would save them. Then we're told that God preached the gospel 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:13.799 beforehand to Abraham saying, in you shall all the nations be blessed. And so, we know clearly what it 00:13:13.799 --> 00:13:19.039 means here in Genesis chapter 12 that all the nations would be blessed. It's a way of God telling 00:13:19.039 --> 00:13:24.799 Abraham about the gospel. In other words, He is giving them the good news that even though humanity 00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:30.059 is caught up in this scheme of wickedness that we've seen in the preceding chapters of Genesis, 00:13:30.539 --> 00:13:37.379 God has not given up on His creation or His people. He is going to come and He's going to provide them 00:13:37.379 --> 00:13:43.220 salvation by a Redeemer, sending His Son, Jesus Christ, who's going to do a few important things. 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:47.860 First, He's going to live the perfect life that we should have lived but didn't. 00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:56.259 Second, He's going to die the death that we deserve to die on our behalf. In that sense, He is the 00:13:56.259 --> 00:14:03.039 blessing to the nations. And in that sense, God preached the gospel to Abraham. In other words, Abraham did 00:14:03.039 --> 00:14:09.399 not see clearly what we do now, which was that His seed that was going to crush the head of the serpent 00:14:09.399 --> 00:14:16.699 was going to come as one man, a person, Jesus Christ. And Jesus Christ, in His death and His resurrection, 00:14:16.699 --> 00:14:24.719 is going to destroy evil and wickedness forever. That is everything that was contained in these words 00:14:24.719 --> 00:14:30.659 when God spoke to Abraham. Abraham did not fully understand it. We now do. 00:14:30.659 --> 00:14:38.980 At the risk of being too obvious, the point is this. Jesus is the blessing to the nations. 00:14:40.679 --> 00:14:47.879 Jesus is the one who brings this salvation, not just for the Jews, but for everyone. We're given this 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:54.759 passage, this promise against the backdrop of seeing how bad the world is. We looked at some of this last 00:14:54.759 --> 00:15:00.639 week. It's so bad that God had to purge the entire earth with a flood. It's so bad that 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:06.159 all of mankind was united in rebellion against God, and He had to change their languages to confuse them. 00:15:06.559 --> 00:15:12.019 It is so bad that it's filled with the kind of tragedy that we saw at the end of chapter 11, 00:15:12.139 --> 00:15:16.720 that the fathers bury their sons rather than the sons burying their fathers. 00:15:18.539 --> 00:15:26.740 It is in that that there is only one kind of hope for God's people and for humanity. It is supernatural, 00:15:26.740 --> 00:15:35.180 divine intervention to come and save the world. And so that's what we see in verse 9 here of Galatians 3. 00:15:35.799 --> 00:15:41.519 So then those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. 00:15:42.919 --> 00:15:52.240 In other words, everyone who believes in Jesus Christ is included in this blessing. 00:15:52.240 --> 00:16:01.639 That is the blessing to the nations that is promised to Abraham. That is the blessing, 00:16:02.200 --> 00:16:10.700 brothers and sisters, that brings us here together this morning. Galatians 3 tells us, 00:16:10.740 --> 00:16:20.379 it explains for us exactly what's going on here. Chapter 12, blessing to the nations. Jesus is that blessing. 00:16:20.379 --> 00:16:27.600 Now there's sort of a cognitive dissonance we're meant to experience here as we read these words, 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:31.960 and we know that Jesus is a blessing to the nations because what has just happened? 00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:36.899 We've seen not a blessing of the nations, but a scattering of the nations. 00:16:38.279 --> 00:16:42.279 Remember mankind's rebellion at the Tower of Babel? God scatters them across the earth. 00:16:42.659 --> 00:16:47.700 He changes their languages. And so it seems like God is talking out both sides of His mouth here. 00:16:47.700 --> 00:16:53.620 On the one hand, He's scattering people. On the other hand, He's pursuing them with His grace. 00:16:53.800 --> 00:16:59.820 On the one hand, He's scattering them in punishment. On the other hand, He says that He's going to bless them. 00:17:00.060 --> 00:17:02.200 How are we supposed to reconcile these things? 00:17:02.860 --> 00:17:06.380 How do we make sense of this God who's doing both at the same time? 00:17:06.380 --> 00:17:11.960 Well, the answer is we make sense of it in God's grace. 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:19.460 God's scattering people everywhere. He's sending grace to people everywhere. 00:17:20.420 --> 00:17:25.140 His grace looks like this. Yes, He sent the nations all over the world. 00:17:26.080 --> 00:17:31.720 And simultaneously, at the same time, He is acting to pursue and save the nations. 00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:34.700 He has a plan, and He is executing it. 00:17:34.900 --> 00:17:37.940 This is the same thing we saw in the garden in Genesis chapter 3, 00:17:38.039 --> 00:17:42.759 as God pursued Adam and Eve as they were hiding from Him, naked and ashamed. 00:17:43.120 --> 00:17:46.940 God continues here His constant, relentless pursuit in His grace. 00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:51.600 God, yes, brings punishment and judgment, 00:17:51.860 --> 00:17:55.980 and at the same time, He is coming to save and redeem. 00:17:55.980 --> 00:18:00.940 What we saw in Genesis 3 is true here in Genesis 12 as well. 00:18:01.420 --> 00:18:05.220 And ultimately, we know what Paul tells us in Galatians 3, 00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:09.220 that His pursuit of them culminates in the coming of Jesus Christ. 00:18:10.620 --> 00:18:12.559 That is why we sing, 00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:14.620 Joy to the world, the Lord has come. 00:18:15.120 --> 00:18:18.120 That is why we celebrate the season of Advent, 00:18:18.259 --> 00:18:21.319 because these two things, God's scattering of the nations 00:18:21.319 --> 00:18:23.460 and His grace that He sends out to them, 00:18:23.460 --> 00:18:27.140 make sense together when we see Jesus on the cross. 00:18:28.340 --> 00:18:31.579 They make sense as we see Jesus, on the one hand, 00:18:31.660 --> 00:18:34.180 receiving the judgments that the nations deserve, 00:18:34.500 --> 00:18:37.519 and on the other hand, providing the grace that is needed 00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:41.400 to save people of every language, nation, tribe, and tongue, 00:18:41.600 --> 00:18:44.660 every language that God created at the Tower of Babel. 00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:48.039 They make sense there. 00:18:48.140 --> 00:18:51.960 They make sense as we see Jesus coming as a baby in a manger. 00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:54.819 They make sense as we see Jesus living His life, 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:56.100 as we've looked at in Mark. 00:18:56.140 --> 00:19:00.180 And they make sense as we see Jesus die and rise again from the dead. 00:19:01.559 --> 00:19:05.400 That is where we see the scattering and the grace come together. 00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:08.180 And so, brothers and sisters, 00:19:08.360 --> 00:19:10.519 we are here together this morning 00:19:10.519 --> 00:19:13.680 because of God's promise to Abraham to bless the nations. 00:19:13.680 --> 00:19:19.980 That is why God has brought this group of people together right now 00:19:19.980 --> 00:19:22.220 on December 5th, 2021. 00:19:23.180 --> 00:19:25.480 Few, if any of us, are Jews. 00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:27.900 We're different people. 00:19:28.860 --> 00:19:31.259 We come from a variety of countries. 00:19:32.259 --> 00:19:35.320 For some of us, English is our first language. 00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:39.759 For others of us, English is not our first language. 00:19:40.919 --> 00:19:42.939 We are here together 00:19:42.939 --> 00:19:46.240 because God promised to Abraham to bless the nations. 00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:51.099 And so, He brings that type of people together 00:19:51.099 --> 00:19:53.919 every Sunday around the world. 00:19:53.920 --> 00:20:00.259 There was a trend on Twitter 00:20:00.259 --> 00:20:03.200 that started in September of 2020. 00:20:04.060 --> 00:20:05.320 And the trend was called 00:20:05.320 --> 00:20:07.920 How It Started, How It's Going. 00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:12.100 And people would post these pictures side by side 00:20:12.100 --> 00:20:14.279 to show how something had progressed over time. 00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:15.759 So, you'd see things like this. 00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:17.920 If someone switched political candidates, 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:20.019 they'd have a picture of them 00:20:20.019 --> 00:20:21.420 wearing the shirt for one candidate, 00:20:21.420 --> 00:20:22.779 how it started, 00:20:23.580 --> 00:20:24.380 how it's going. 00:20:24.440 --> 00:20:25.039 On the other side, 00:20:25.100 --> 00:20:26.620 they'd be wearing a shirt for the other candidate 00:20:26.620 --> 00:20:27.420 that they switched to. 00:20:28.259 --> 00:20:29.960 Some people would do it for their fitness journeys. 00:20:30.080 --> 00:20:32.100 They'd show a picture of them out of shape, 00:20:32.320 --> 00:20:32.920 how it started. 00:20:33.400 --> 00:20:34.740 And they'd have a picture of them 00:20:34.740 --> 00:20:36.660 looking in amazing shape, 00:20:36.800 --> 00:20:37.100 ripped, 00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:38.440 how it's going. 00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:41.800 Some people might have a puppy picture, 00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:42.820 how it started. 00:20:43.779 --> 00:20:45.320 And you have a full-grown dog picture, 00:20:45.420 --> 00:20:45.980 how it's going. 00:20:46.759 --> 00:20:47.940 This trend, however, 00:20:47.940 --> 00:20:49.519 focused and started 00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:51.980 with romantic stories. 00:20:52.819 --> 00:20:53.940 And so, most often, 00:20:54.019 --> 00:20:54.859 what you would see is this, 00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:55.579 how it started. 00:20:56.059 --> 00:20:57.500 The first time someone slipped 00:20:57.500 --> 00:20:59.019 into someone else's direct messages, 00:20:59.160 --> 00:21:00.440 the first time they texted them, 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:01.480 how it's going, 00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:02.940 a picture of them at their wedding. 00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:05.039 You might see how it started, 00:21:05.139 --> 00:21:06.220 a picture of them at their wedding, 00:21:06.500 --> 00:21:07.259 how it's going, 00:21:07.339 --> 00:21:08.900 a picture of them with their nine kids. 00:21:09.740 --> 00:21:09.980 Okay? 00:21:10.920 --> 00:21:12.639 You might see a first date picture, 00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:14.160 and then them with their family 00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:15.039 and all their pets. 00:21:15.579 --> 00:21:16.440 The point is to show 00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:17.339 that there's these things 00:21:17.339 --> 00:21:18.480 that have changed over time. 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:20.099 We have things that start small 00:21:20.099 --> 00:21:21.380 and go big. 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:26.299 As we look at Genesis chapter 12, 00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:28.980 we get to see how it started, 00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:32.079 and we know how it's going. 00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:33.519 Okay? 00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:35.420 How it started, 00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:38.120 there's a 75-year-old man 00:21:38.120 --> 00:21:40.019 who has an infertile wife 00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:41.259 who's also his sister. 00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:44.400 Think about that. 00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:44.579 Okay? 00:21:44.620 --> 00:21:45.120 How it started. 00:21:45.200 --> 00:21:45.819 I'm going to say that again. 00:21:45.819 --> 00:21:47.480 You have a 75-year-old man 00:21:47.480 --> 00:21:49.079 with an infertile wife 00:21:49.079 --> 00:21:50.659 who's also his sister. 00:21:50.659 --> 00:21:51.639 How it's going, 00:21:51.740 --> 00:21:54.359 there's estimated 2.5 billion Christians 00:21:54.359 --> 00:21:55.799 around the world today, 00:21:55.919 --> 00:21:57.779 more than any other world religion. 00:21:59.379 --> 00:22:00.460 How it started, 00:22:00.579 --> 00:22:02.419 in the desert of the ancient Near East. 00:22:03.399 --> 00:22:04.539 How it's going, 00:22:04.700 --> 00:22:05.899 all around the world. 00:22:06.679 --> 00:22:07.240 By the way, 00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:08.159 the ancient Near East 00:22:08.159 --> 00:22:09.720 is not the geographic base 00:22:09.720 --> 00:22:10.740 of Christianity anymore. 00:22:10.859 --> 00:22:12.439 The geographic base of Christianity 00:22:12.440 --> 00:22:14.200 is now the global south. 00:22:15.400 --> 00:22:16.259 How it started. 00:22:17.059 --> 00:22:18.779 Abraham abandoning his homeland, 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:19.960 becoming a nomad, 00:22:20.080 --> 00:22:21.380 picking up all his possessions, 00:22:21.580 --> 00:22:23.059 and leaving everything that he knew. 00:22:24.320 --> 00:22:25.340 Some of you, by the way, 00:22:25.380 --> 00:22:26.279 know something about that. 00:22:27.880 --> 00:22:28.900 How it's going. 00:22:29.580 --> 00:22:30.279 Jesus promised 00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:34.000 that his people will inherit the earth. 00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:36.460 How it started. 00:22:36.920 --> 00:22:38.340 Jesus called to Abraham 00:22:38.340 --> 00:22:39.559 to give up everything 00:22:39.559 --> 00:22:40.679 and leave his homeland. 00:22:41.339 --> 00:22:42.440 How it's going. 00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:45.339 Jesus called to us 00:22:45.339 --> 00:22:46.839 that we've seen in the Gospel of Mark 00:22:46.839 --> 00:22:47.859 to follow me. 00:22:53.480 --> 00:22:54.619 In other words, 00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:58.419 we see now 00:22:58.419 --> 00:23:02.099 how much power God has. 00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:04.779 We see what Abraham 00:23:04.779 --> 00:23:06.940 could only hope in by faith. 00:23:06.940 --> 00:23:09.660 that God was going to spread 00:23:09.660 --> 00:23:10.680 his grace 00:23:10.680 --> 00:23:12.559 around the entire world. 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:14.860 We know and understand 00:23:14.860 --> 00:23:16.660 the plan that God had 00:23:16.660 --> 00:23:17.799 in a way that Abraham 00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:18.980 could only guess at, 00:23:19.019 --> 00:23:20.279 that he was going to send 00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:22.120 his one and only son 00:23:22.120 --> 00:23:23.080 as a sacrifice. 00:23:24.660 --> 00:23:26.000 And how did we get 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:27.180 from how it started 00:23:27.180 --> 00:23:27.980 to how it's going? 00:23:28.519 --> 00:23:29.759 We got there 00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:31.259 because Jesus is the one 00:23:31.259 --> 00:23:32.279 who has come 00:23:32.279 --> 00:23:33.480 and he is the one 00:23:33.480 --> 00:23:34.320 who is coming. 00:23:34.660 --> 00:23:35.480 We got there 00:23:35.480 --> 00:23:36.940 because Jesus is the one 00:23:36.940 --> 00:23:38.259 who comes and fulfills 00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:39.759 and completes the promise. 00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:40.700 We got there 00:23:40.700 --> 00:23:41.640 because he is going 00:23:41.640 --> 00:23:42.740 to heal the world 00:23:42.740 --> 00:23:44.480 far as the curse 00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:45.400 is found. 00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:46.779 We got here 00:23:46.779 --> 00:23:48.200 because Jesus came 00:23:48.200 --> 00:23:49.160 for the salvation 00:23:49.160 --> 00:23:50.500 of the world. 00:23:51.759 --> 00:23:52.839 That is why 00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:53.940 we're able to look 00:23:53.940 --> 00:23:54.860 at Genesis 12 00:23:54.860 --> 00:23:56.059 and say how it started 00:23:56.059 --> 00:23:57.460 and look at what God 00:23:57.460 --> 00:23:58.099 has given us 00:23:58.099 --> 00:23:58.880 here this morning 00:23:58.880 --> 00:23:59.599 at Cheyenne Mountain 00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:00.599 Presbyterian Church 00:24:00.599 --> 00:24:01.279 and the fellowship 00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:02.019 that we have 00:24:02.019 --> 00:24:02.940 with Christians 00:24:02.940 --> 00:24:04.120 around the world 00:24:04.119 --> 00:24:05.159 and throughout time 00:24:05.159 --> 00:24:05.939 and say 00:24:05.939 --> 00:24:07.659 this is how it's going. 00:24:09.799 --> 00:24:11.500 That is what we celebrate 00:24:11.500 --> 00:24:13.179 here at Advent. 00:24:13.619 --> 00:24:14.619 The promise 00:24:14.619 --> 00:24:16.359 from Habakkuk 2 00:24:16.359 --> 00:24:17.519 we begin to see 00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:18.979 how it's going to happen. 00:24:19.079 --> 00:24:20.219 The earth will be filled 00:24:20.219 --> 00:24:20.959 with the knowledge 00:24:20.959 --> 00:24:22.139 of the glory of the Lord 00:24:22.139 --> 00:24:23.500 as the waters 00:24:23.500 --> 00:24:24.599 cover the sea. 00:24:26.419 --> 00:24:27.759 Jesus is the one 00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:28.439 who comes 00:24:28.439 --> 00:24:29.339 as the blessing 00:24:29.339 --> 00:24:30.599 to the nations. 00:24:30.599 --> 00:24:33.959 and he comes 00:24:33.959 --> 00:24:36.439 unlike any other religion 00:24:36.439 --> 00:24:38.419 not tied 00:24:38.419 --> 00:24:39.959 to a geographic place 00:24:39.959 --> 00:24:41.299 but someone 00:24:41.299 --> 00:24:41.799 who's come 00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:42.639 for the whole world. 00:24:43.779 --> 00:24:44.699 In his book 00:24:44.699 --> 00:24:45.240 on Mark 00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:47.259 called Jesus the King 00:24:47.259 --> 00:24:47.799 Tim Keller 00:24:47.799 --> 00:24:48.519 talks about 00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:49.299 this reality 00:24:49.299 --> 00:24:50.480 of Christianity 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:52.379 being a worldwide religion 00:24:52.379 --> 00:24:53.579 and he tells 00:24:53.579 --> 00:24:54.319 about an interview 00:24:54.319 --> 00:24:55.539 with a man 00:24:55.539 --> 00:24:56.459 named Andrew Wells 00:24:56.459 --> 00:24:57.099 who noted that 00:24:57.099 --> 00:24:58.000 wherever the other 00:24:58.000 --> 00:24:59.159 great world religions 00:24:59.159 --> 00:24:59.639 began 00:24:59.640 --> 00:25:01.180 that is still 00:25:01.180 --> 00:25:02.300 their center today. 00:25:03.140 --> 00:25:04.140 Islam started 00:25:04.140 --> 00:25:04.660 in Arabia 00:25:04.660 --> 00:25:05.300 at Mecca 00:25:05.300 --> 00:25:06.580 and the Middle East 00:25:06.580 --> 00:25:07.240 is still 00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:07.700 the center 00:25:07.700 --> 00:25:08.580 of Islam today. 00:25:09.300 --> 00:25:09.560 Buddhism 00:25:09.560 --> 00:25:10.940 started in the Far East 00:25:10.940 --> 00:25:11.740 and that's still 00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:12.740 the center of Buddhism. 00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:14.000 So too 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:14.780 with Hinduism. 00:25:15.560 --> 00:25:16.040 Christianity 00:25:16.040 --> 00:25:17.340 is the exception. 00:25:18.340 --> 00:25:19.200 Christianity's center 00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:20.500 is always moving 00:25:20.500 --> 00:25:21.540 always 00:25:21.540 --> 00:25:22.700 on a pilgrimage. 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:24.460 He listed 00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:25.220 it was in Jerusalem 00:25:25.220 --> 00:25:25.920 at one point 00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:26.500 it moved 00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:27.340 to the Hellenistic 00:25:27.340 --> 00:25:28.500 and Mediterranean world 00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:29.660 then for a while 00:25:29.660 --> 00:25:30.599 the center of Christianity 00:25:30.599 --> 00:25:31.700 was in Northern Europe. 00:25:32.259 --> 00:25:33.480 In the 20th century 00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:34.680 North America 00:25:34.680 --> 00:25:35.640 became the center. 00:25:36.700 --> 00:25:37.039 Meanwhile 00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:38.400 in Latin America 00:25:38.400 --> 00:25:39.500 Asia and Africa 00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:40.960 it has been growing 00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:42.079 at up to 10 times 00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:42.859 the population 00:25:42.859 --> 00:25:43.579 growth rate. 00:25:44.420 --> 00:25:45.079 In the past decade 00:25:45.079 --> 00:25:45.500 it has returned 00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:47.180 more than 50% 00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:47.940 of Christians 00:25:47.940 --> 00:25:48.640 in the world 00:25:48.640 --> 00:25:49.480 now live 00:25:49.480 --> 00:25:50.500 in the southern hemisphere. 00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:53.579 And we're not surprised 00:25:53.579 --> 00:25:54.240 because Jesus 00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:54.940 has come 00:25:54.940 --> 00:25:56.000 as the blessing 00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:57.180 to the nations. 00:25:58.460 --> 00:25:59.799 In the year 1900 00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:00.940 Africa was only 00:26:00.940 --> 00:26:01.859 1% Christian. 00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:03.299 Now Christians 00:26:03.299 --> 00:26:04.480 make up nearly half 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:05.839 the African population. 00:26:06.980 --> 00:26:07.839 In the next 00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:09.380 50 to 70 years 00:26:09.380 --> 00:26:09.920 the center 00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:10.599 of Christianity 00:26:10.599 --> 00:26:11.400 is predicted 00:26:11.400 --> 00:26:12.579 to complete 00:26:12.579 --> 00:26:13.240 this shift 00:26:13.240 --> 00:26:14.039 away from 00:26:14.039 --> 00:26:15.099 European countries 00:26:15.099 --> 00:26:16.140 and from 00:26:16.140 --> 00:26:17.079 the United States. 00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:18.759 It will migrate 00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:20.720 as it always migrates. 00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:23.759 Jesus truly 00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:24.440 is 00:26:24.440 --> 00:26:25.460 the blessing 00:26:25.460 --> 00:26:26.700 to the nations. 00:26:27.900 --> 00:26:28.940 He is 00:26:28.940 --> 00:26:29.600 the one 00:26:29.600 --> 00:26:30.539 who has come 00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:31.299 for every 00:26:31.299 --> 00:26:32.120 people 00:26:32.120 --> 00:26:32.860 place 00:26:32.860 --> 00:26:33.579 tribe 00:26:33.579 --> 00:26:34.420 and tongue 00:26:34.420 --> 00:26:35.339 and nation. 00:26:37.400 --> 00:26:39.000 He is the fulfillment 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:40.519 of this promise 00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:41.480 to Abraham. 00:26:43.860 --> 00:26:44.779 And so 00:26:44.779 --> 00:26:45.440 how do we respond 00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:45.759 to him? 00:26:46.420 --> 00:26:47.299 What do we do 00:26:47.299 --> 00:26:48.180 with a God 00:26:48.180 --> 00:26:48.960 who has come 00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:50.019 for people 00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:50.700 who speak 00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:51.880 every language? 00:26:53.220 --> 00:26:53.799 Well we do 00:26:53.799 --> 00:26:54.400 what Abraham 00:26:54.400 --> 00:26:55.980 models for us here. 00:26:56.079 --> 00:26:57.140 We answer his call 00:26:57.140 --> 00:26:58.079 to follow him. 00:27:00.460 --> 00:27:01.539 Abraham experiences 00:27:01.539 --> 00:27:02.740 tremendous loss here. 00:27:02.840 --> 00:27:03.400 He gives up 00:27:03.400 --> 00:27:04.100 his family. 00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:05.700 He gives up 00:27:05.700 --> 00:27:06.160 the place 00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:06.799 that he's known. 00:27:06.920 --> 00:27:07.400 He gives up 00:27:07.400 --> 00:27:08.019 permanence. 00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:09.400 And instead 00:27:09.400 --> 00:27:10.380 he takes on 00:27:10.380 --> 00:27:11.680 this nomadic life. 00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:14.420 And he does it 00:27:14.420 --> 00:27:14.980 by the way 00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:16.299 with a bleak picture 00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:17.279 with bad odds. 00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:20.279 everything would 00:27:20.279 --> 00:27:21.200 say that Abraham 00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:22.259 is headed into failure. 00:27:23.440 --> 00:27:24.299 Everything would 00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:25.460 predict that this 00:27:25.460 --> 00:27:27.180 is a bad idea 00:27:27.180 --> 00:27:28.000 and yet God's 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:28.779 promise here 00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:29.339 is that he's 00:27:29.339 --> 00:27:30.079 going to provide 00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:30.740 for them 00:27:30.740 --> 00:27:31.519 what no one else 00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:31.879 can. 00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:33.240 The hope 00:27:33.240 --> 00:27:33.740 of those 00:27:33.740 --> 00:27:34.299 at the Tower 00:27:34.299 --> 00:27:34.819 of Babel 00:27:34.819 --> 00:27:35.220 is that they 00:27:35.220 --> 00:27:35.839 would make 00:27:35.839 --> 00:27:36.740 a name 00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:37.619 for themselves. 00:27:38.519 --> 00:27:39.119 God tells 00:27:39.119 --> 00:27:39.879 Abraham here 00:27:39.879 --> 00:27:41.180 verse 2 00:27:41.180 --> 00:27:43.480 I will make 00:27:43.480 --> 00:27:44.279 your name 00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:44.839 great. 00:27:44.839 --> 00:27:47.439 I am going 00:27:47.439 --> 00:27:48.119 to be the one 00:27:48.119 --> 00:27:48.959 who fulfills 00:27:48.959 --> 00:27:49.679 your greatest 00:27:49.679 --> 00:27:50.459 hopes 00:27:50.459 --> 00:27:51.480 and dreams. 00:27:52.740 --> 00:27:53.319 And it's been 00:27:53.319 --> 00:27:53.959 pointed out here 00:27:53.959 --> 00:27:54.679 that God's 00:27:54.679 --> 00:27:55.379 I wills 00:27:55.379 --> 00:27:56.119 in this passage 00:27:56.119 --> 00:27:57.519 far outstrip 00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:58.299 and eclipse 00:27:58.299 --> 00:27:59.899 anything he asks 00:27:59.899 --> 00:28:00.699 of Abram. 00:28:01.980 --> 00:28:02.659 Abram is just 00:28:02.659 --> 00:28:03.199 told go 00:28:03.199 --> 00:28:04.079 and then we see 00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:04.720 this list 00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:05.459 of I wills. 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:06.319 The land 00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:06.879 that I will show 00:28:06.879 --> 00:28:07.039 you. 00:28:07.199 --> 00:28:07.619 I will make 00:28:07.619 --> 00:28:08.079 of you a great 00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:08.359 nation. 00:28:08.500 --> 00:28:09.240 I will bless 00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:09.439 you. 00:28:09.899 --> 00:28:10.659 You will be a 00:28:10.659 --> 00:28:10.919 blessing. 00:28:11.059 --> 00:28:11.539 I will bless 00:28:11.539 --> 00:28:12.139 those who bless 00:28:12.139 --> 00:28:12.240 you. 00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:12.839 I will curse 00:28:12.839 --> 00:28:13.419 and you all 00:28:13.419 --> 00:28:13.919 the families 00:28:13.919 --> 00:28:14.480 of the earth 00:28:14.480 --> 00:28:15.199 will be blessed. 00:28:15.480 --> 00:28:17.000 God always 00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:17.679 empowers 00:28:17.679 --> 00:28:18.259 and enables 00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:19.159 what he commands. 00:28:20.599 --> 00:28:21.579 God always 00:28:21.579 --> 00:28:22.519 gives all 00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:23.279 the resources 00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:24.039 for what he 00:28:24.039 --> 00:28:24.439 has called 00:28:24.439 --> 00:28:24.939 us to do. 00:28:25.139 --> 00:28:26.059 God always 00:28:26.059 --> 00:28:27.199 bankrolls 00:28:27.199 --> 00:28:27.899 our obedience 00:28:27.899 --> 00:28:28.919 with his promises. 00:28:30.399 --> 00:28:31.279 True for 00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:31.679 Abraham 00:28:31.679 --> 00:28:32.799 and true 00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:33.419 for us 00:28:33.419 --> 00:28:33.959 as well. 00:28:34.699 --> 00:28:35.339 We see 00:28:35.339 --> 00:28:36.119 his blessing 00:28:36.119 --> 00:28:37.119 to the nations 00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:38.359 and so we 00:28:38.359 --> 00:28:38.919 follow him 00:28:38.919 --> 00:28:39.480 and we trust 00:28:39.480 --> 00:28:39.740 him. 00:28:39.740 --> 00:28:43.680 people are 00:28:43.680 --> 00:28:44.920 often fascinated 00:28:44.920 --> 00:28:46.039 by founding 00:28:46.039 --> 00:28:46.599 stories 00:28:46.599 --> 00:28:48.180 especially 00:28:48.180 --> 00:28:48.799 when those 00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:49.620 founding stories 00:28:49.620 --> 00:28:50.460 show something 00:28:50.460 --> 00:28:51.359 small becoming 00:28:51.359 --> 00:28:52.299 something great 00:28:52.299 --> 00:28:53.180 and so one of 00:28:53.180 --> 00:28:54.380 the most famous 00:28:54.380 --> 00:28:56.079 ones is Apple 00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:56.920 computers starting 00:28:56.920 --> 00:28:57.620 in this garage 00:28:57.620 --> 00:28:58.460 with a pirate 00:28:58.460 --> 00:28:59.980 flag flying on 00:28:59.980 --> 00:29:00.799 the wall back 00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:01.680 in 1976. 00:29:03.039 --> 00:29:03.819 Now what most 00:29:03.819 --> 00:29:04.940 people don't 00:29:04.940 --> 00:29:05.680 remember is that 00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:06.140 there weren't 00:29:06.140 --> 00:29:06.900 just two founders 00:29:06.900 --> 00:29:07.339 to Apple. 00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:07.940 There were three 00:29:07.940 --> 00:29:08.359 founders. 00:29:08.359 --> 00:29:08.439 founders. 00:29:09.099 --> 00:29:09.619 The third 00:29:09.619 --> 00:29:10.219 founder was 00:29:10.219 --> 00:29:10.679 this man 00:29:10.679 --> 00:29:11.279 named Ronald 00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:13.019 Wayne and 00:29:13.019 --> 00:29:13.759 less than two 00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:14.719 weeks after the 00:29:14.719 --> 00:29:15.719 founding of Apple 00:29:15.719 --> 00:29:16.500 Ronald decided 00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:17.019 that he wanted 00:29:17.019 --> 00:29:17.619 to pull out 00:29:17.619 --> 00:29:19.879 and so he 00:29:19.879 --> 00:29:21.139 sold his 10% 00:29:21.139 --> 00:29:22.039 share in the 00:29:22.039 --> 00:29:23.939 company for a 00:29:23.939 --> 00:29:24.759 grand whopping 00:29:24.759 --> 00:29:25.819 total of $800. 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:29.039 It's estimated 00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:30.719 that in 2013 00:29:30.719 --> 00:29:31.939 10% of Apple 00:29:31.939 --> 00:29:32.339 would have been 00:29:32.339 --> 00:29:33.939 worth $35 billion. 00:29:33.940 --> 00:29:34.019 million. 00:29:35.860 --> 00:29:36.860 Now maybe he 00:29:36.860 --> 00:29:37.700 thought it was a 00:29:37.700 --> 00:29:38.480 bleak picture 00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:40.299 and bad odds 00:29:40.299 --> 00:29:41.640 to be a part 00:29:41.640 --> 00:29:42.840 of a computer 00:29:42.840 --> 00:29:44.080 company that 00:29:44.080 --> 00:29:44.600 was starting in 00:29:44.600 --> 00:29:45.320 a garage with a 00:29:45.320 --> 00:29:45.960 pirate flag on 00:29:45.960 --> 00:29:46.259 the wall. 00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.960 At the end 00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:50.440 of 2020 00:29:50.440 --> 00:29:52.200 Apple was worth 00:29:52.200 --> 00:29:54.200 $65.34 00:29:54.200 --> 00:29:54.799 billion. 00:29:57.720 --> 00:29:58.940 Small to big 00:29:58.940 --> 00:30:00.400 in a way that 00:30:00.400 --> 00:30:00.840 would have been 00:30:00.840 --> 00:30:01.680 hard, maybe 00:30:01.680 --> 00:30:03.500 impossible to 00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:04.220 imagine at the 00:30:04.220 --> 00:30:04.519 time. 00:30:06.759 --> 00:30:07.600 Brothers and 00:30:07.600 --> 00:30:08.440 sisters, in this 00:30:08.440 --> 00:30:09.240 passage in 00:30:09.240 --> 00:30:09.940 Genesis chapter 00:30:09.940 --> 00:30:11.259 12, we get to 00:30:11.259 --> 00:30:12.860 see the greatest 00:30:12.860 --> 00:30:14.460 founding story of 00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:15.140 all time. 00:30:17.100 --> 00:30:18.019 Something that 00:30:18.019 --> 00:30:19.519 makes $65 billion 00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:20.940 look incredibly 00:30:20.940 --> 00:30:21.960 small. 00:30:21.960 --> 00:30:23.920 when we 00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:24.420 celebrate 00:30:24.420 --> 00:30:25.000 Advent, we 00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:25.680 are celebrating 00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:26.400 that something 00:30:26.400 --> 00:30:27.460 much greater 00:30:27.460 --> 00:30:27.920 and more 00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:28.579 glorious and 00:30:28.579 --> 00:30:29.340 more powerful 00:30:29.340 --> 00:30:30.000 than Apple 00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:31.100 stock is 00:30:31.100 --> 00:30:31.440 here. 00:30:32.880 --> 00:30:34.079 In fact, we 00:30:34.079 --> 00:30:34.860 see something 00:30:34.860 --> 00:30:35.480 that is meant 00:30:35.480 --> 00:30:36.259 to be a 00:30:36.259 --> 00:30:36.900 blessing to 00:30:36.900 --> 00:30:37.480 the entire 00:30:37.480 --> 00:30:38.259 nations, not 00:30:38.259 --> 00:30:39.660 providing wonderful 00:30:39.660 --> 00:30:40.900 electronic experiences, 00:30:41.059 --> 00:30:41.620 but providing 00:30:41.620 --> 00:30:42.620 salvation and 00:30:42.620 --> 00:30:43.120 redemption, 00:30:43.799 --> 00:30:44.980 reconciliation in 00:30:44.980 --> 00:30:45.700 our relationship 00:30:45.700 --> 00:30:46.519 with God, and 00:30:46.519 --> 00:30:47.240 therefore our 00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:48.759 reconciliation with 00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:49.380 one another, 00:30:49.519 --> 00:30:50.380 knowing that God 00:30:50.380 --> 00:30:51.680 is coming to 00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:53.000 wipe every tear 00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:53.799 away from our 00:30:53.799 --> 00:30:54.240 eyes and 00:30:54.240 --> 00:30:54.920 restore and 00:30:54.920 --> 00:30:55.759 remake this 00:30:55.759 --> 00:30:56.680 world better 00:30:56.680 --> 00:30:57.140 than it has 00:30:57.140 --> 00:30:57.720 ever been in 00:30:57.720 --> 00:30:58.320 the past, that 00:30:58.320 --> 00:30:59.480 he has come to 00:30:59.480 --> 00:31:00.380 heal and 00:31:00.380 --> 00:31:01.380 redeem and 00:31:01.380 --> 00:31:01.900 restore. 00:31:03.039 --> 00:31:04.279 And we have 00:31:04.279 --> 00:31:05.039 the chance to 00:31:05.039 --> 00:31:06.160 take part in 00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:07.240 that now, like 00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:09.039 Abraham, following 00:31:09.039 --> 00:31:11.420 God's call, because 00:31:11.420 --> 00:31:12.420 we have seen 00:31:12.420 --> 00:31:13.320 his power. 00:31:15.080 --> 00:31:16.400 We see a 00:31:16.400 --> 00:31:17.039 world of 00:31:17.039 --> 00:31:17.700 wickedness where 00:31:17.700 --> 00:31:18.660 the nations are 00:31:18.660 --> 00:31:20.340 scattered, and 00:31:20.340 --> 00:31:21.440 we see that God 00:31:21.440 --> 00:31:22.660 continues to 00:31:22.660 --> 00:31:24.220 pursue, offering 00:31:24.220 --> 00:31:26.039 his blessing to 00:31:26.039 --> 00:31:27.759 every single one 00:31:27.759 --> 00:31:28.080 of them. 00:31:29.600 --> 00:31:30.600 Jesus is the 00:31:30.600 --> 00:31:31.740 one who has 00:31:31.740 --> 00:31:33.059 come as the 00:31:33.059 --> 00:31:34.100 blessing for you 00:31:34.100 --> 00:31:35.519 and for me. 00:31:35.900 --> 00:31:36.400 Let's pray. 00:31:37.799 --> 00:31:38.740 Our Father in 00:31:38.740 --> 00:31:40.200 heaven, we thank 00:31:40.200 --> 00:31:41.539 you for the 00:31:41.539 --> 00:31:42.380 glorious and 00:31:42.380 --> 00:31:43.360 wonderful work 00:31:43.360 --> 00:31:44.539 that you have 00:31:44.539 --> 00:31:45.120 done in our 00:31:45.120 --> 00:31:46.559 lives and that 00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:47.039 you do around 00:31:47.039 --> 00:31:47.440 the world. 00:31:47.860 --> 00:31:48.539 We thank you 00:31:48.539 --> 00:31:49.080 that you have 00:31:49.080 --> 00:31:50.100 come not for 00:31:50.099 --> 00:31:51.299 people who 00:31:51.299 --> 00:31:51.939 just speak one 00:31:51.939 --> 00:31:52.519 language, but 00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:52.939 people who 00:31:52.939 --> 00:31:53.419 speak every 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.740 language. 00:31:54.439 --> 00:31:54.959 We thank you 00:31:54.959 --> 00:31:55.159 that you 00:31:55.159 --> 00:31:55.759 haven't come 00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:57.179 just for one 00:31:57.179 --> 00:31:57.679 country, but 00:31:57.679 --> 00:31:58.219 you've come for 00:31:58.219 --> 00:31:58.799 every country. 00:31:59.240 --> 00:31:59.819 We thank you 00:31:59.819 --> 00:32:00.199 that you've 00:32:00.199 --> 00:32:01.439 given us hope 00:32:01.439 --> 00:32:02.240 and confidence 00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:03.000 in you as we 00:32:03.000 --> 00:32:04.019 see your power 00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:04.679 at work in a 00:32:04.679 --> 00:32:06.059 way that it is 00:32:06.059 --> 00:32:06.659 not visible 00:32:06.659 --> 00:32:07.359 anywhere else, 00:32:07.419 --> 00:32:08.079 that we know 00:32:08.079 --> 00:32:08.779 that you are 00:32:08.779 --> 00:32:09.679 the one and 00:32:09.679 --> 00:32:10.199 true God. 00:32:10.419 --> 00:32:10.899 We ask that 00:32:10.899 --> 00:32:11.500 you would use 00:32:11.500 --> 00:32:12.839 that truth to 00:32:12.839 --> 00:32:13.819 encourage us and 00:32:13.819 --> 00:32:14.559 challenge us and 00:32:14.559 --> 00:32:15.039 change us. 00:32:15.439 --> 00:32:15.939 And we ask 00:32:15.939 --> 00:32:16.679 these things in the 00:32:16.679 --> 00:32:17.359 mighty name of 00:32:17.359 --> 00:32:17.859 Jesus Christ.