WEBVTT

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 Father, we ask that your Holy Spirit would first do a work in us.

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 May your Holy Spirit fall upon us and do a work within us

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 so that we might use the best of our mind and the best of our heart

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 and the best of our will to think upon your word and to receive your word.

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 But Father, we ask that your Holy Spirit would do a second and deeper work within us

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 to humble us so that we will know, Father, that the best of our mind and heart and will

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 is never enough, that we are dependent upon you to move and work and act in our lives,

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 for you to bring your word deeply into us to form us.

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 So, Father, we ask for this double work of your Holy Spirit.

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 Father, please have your Holy Spirit poured out upon us and deep within us.

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 Make us good soil so that your word will come into our lives

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 and bear much fruit in our lives for your glory.

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 And this we ask in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. Amen.

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 Please be seated.

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 Our service has a bit of a different...

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 The sermon always has a bit of a structure for this current series.

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 Usually, the rest of the year, we'd be looking at bigger chunks of the Bible week in, week out.

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 It would be the text that one of either myself or the other reader would read.

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 But we're just looking at every week just a very, very short verse.

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 And so, just to see it in context, I ask you to get your Bibles out.

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 I'm going to read the text now that we're going to look at.

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 And I'll start a bit earlier so you get the context.

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 And then I'll sort of point out the part that we're going to look at this morning.

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 So, if you have your Bibles, please turn in them to 1 Thessalonians 5, verses 9 to 21.

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 If you've forgotten your Bible, there's always some Bibles here at the front,

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 which you're welcome to use and or to keep afterwards if you'd like.

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 And here's how the scripture text goes.

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 1 Thessalonians 5, verses 9 to 21.

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 And by the way, this is all part of a series entitled Practical Discipleship.

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 And today we're going to talk about choosing to listen to God.

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 Choosing to listen to God.

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 And here's the text.

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 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

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 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep,

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 that means either alive or dead, it's a metaphor,

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 we might live with him.

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 That's with Jesus.

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 Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up just as you are doing.

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 We ask you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you

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 and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,

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 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.

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 Be at peace among yourselves.

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 And we urge you, brothers and sisters,

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 admonish the disorderly,

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 encourage the faint-hearted,

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 help the weak,

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 be patient with them all,

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 see that no one repays anyone evil for evil,

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 but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

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 Rejoice always,

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 pray without ceasing,

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 give thanks in all circumstances,

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 for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

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 Do not quench the Holy Spirit.

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 Do not despise prophecies.

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 But test everything.

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 Hold fast what is good.

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 This is the word of the Lord.

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 Thanks be to God.

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 And the text that we're going to be looking at today

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 is those last few words which I read,

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 verses 19, 20, and 21.

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 Do not quench the Holy Spirit.

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 Do not despise prophecies.

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 But test everything.

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 Hold fast what is good.

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 Now I'm going to do something unusual in my sermon today.

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 I'm going to let you know where I hope we end up.

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 You know,

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 there used to be a joke that a three-point sermon was,

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 I'm going to tell you what I'm going to say,

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 and I'm going to say what I'm going to say,

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 and then I'm going to tell you what I just said.

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 And that was sort of a three-point sermon.

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 And I'm not quite doing that,

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 but I want to,

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 Jeremy,

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 if you could put it up,

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 I want,

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 by the end of the sermon,

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 to have us be able to say this prayer together

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 or have the Holy Spirit convict many of us

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 to want to pray a prayer like this

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 and to study something like this

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 and pray something like this every day,

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 that what this prayer describes as a reality

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 would become more and more and more a reality in our lives.

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 And so,

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 sorry,

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 I want to end up with this

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 is that we would be able to say something like,

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 dear God,

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 please help me to listen to you every day

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 as I humbly read your word written.

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 Please help me to pray every day

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 for your guidance and your wisdom.

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 Please help me to listen for your answer.

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 Please help me to dwell on your word written

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 in the company of your people

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 as I prayerfully consider your personal word to me.

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 As I hear you,

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 please help me to trust you

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 and put your word into action.

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 Please help me to do all things for your glory.

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 In Jesus' name,

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 Amen.

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 Now,

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 it sounds like a very simple prayer.

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 And,

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 you know,

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 with any of these things,

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 if I was to preach the same sermon,

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 maybe several times,

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 I could probably make the language a little bit better.

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 But here's the problem.

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 On one hand,

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 we can all say,

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 George,

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 I understand that.

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 Yes,

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 amen,

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 sign me up.

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 I'll pray it.

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 And let's go on and get on with the rest of the service.

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 Maybe sing a few more praise songs

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 or something like that.

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 But here's the problem.

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 The problem is both within the church

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 and outside of the church.

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 Quite a few years ago,

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 there was a person who had a connection

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 to many people in our church.

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 And I was sort of drawn into it.

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 And people in my congregation,

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 in this congregation,

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 were very excited

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 because she had very powerful prophetic gifts.

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 And I,

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 they brought me to meet her.

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 And first,

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 they were telling me all of the things

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 that she was saying,

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 you know,

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 the prophetic gifts and words

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 that she was bringing into the congregation.

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 And I went to meet her.

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 And here's the problem.

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 The very,

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 very first thing that I thought

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 when I met her

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 was that she was mentally ill.

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 And

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 this,

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 this was problematic.

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 I don't know what you,

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 where you are,

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 but

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 for my more charismatically inclined friends

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 that were listening to her,

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 they had a lot of suspicion

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 that Anglicans don't believe in prophecy.

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 In fact,

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 Anglicans don't really believe God speaks it.

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 In fact,

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 Anglicans don't even believe the Bible.

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 So I was very,

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 very,

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 I was very conscious

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 that if I was to be hesitant

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 or try to speak a little bit

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 about what might be going on here,

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 that they would very quickly dismiss me.

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 At the same time,

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 I was also very aware

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 that the fact that,

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 you know,

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 God's an,

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 God is an untamed God.

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 His character is completely

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 and utterly rock solid certain.

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 But God doesn't just stay

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 according to our categories.

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 He doesn't work through committees.

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 In fact,

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 most of the times

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 in the New Testament

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 or the Old Testament

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 where there's a committee giving advice,

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 the advice is usually wrong.

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 And so,

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 but we tend to think

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 that God speaks through institutions

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 or committees

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 or we're more comfortable with that.

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 But, you know,

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 God,

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 you know,

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 if you read the Old Testament,

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 God's prophets

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 do all sorts of wild and crazy things.

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 So I have to be careful.

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 I don't want to limit God.

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 On the other hand,

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 there's things about this person

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 that make me believe

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 that she in fact

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 is having a psychotic incident

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 and that she's mentally ill.

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 And it's very,

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 very difficult.

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 I don't want to quench

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 the Holy Spirit.

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 I don't want to despise prophecies.

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 But on the other hand,

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 just because somebody says

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 they're speaking from God

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 doesn't mean they are.

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 And on the other hand,

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 we all know of different people

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 who really just do

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 completely and utterly

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 deny the fact

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 that God can speak

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 into individual lives

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 in a fresh way today.

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 So how do we sort of balance that?

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 How is it that we hear

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 this word of the Scripture?

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 Do you want to put

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 the Bible passage up for us,

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 Andrew?

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 Just say it with me.

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 Do not quench the Spirit.

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 Do not despise prophecies.

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 But test everything.

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 Hold fast what is good.

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 So, you know,

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 within the church,

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 how do we sort of

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 handle this text

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 when, you know,

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 there's some problems

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 with this text, right?

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 And we all know

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 other types of...

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 I mean, when I was

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 a younger man,

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 one of my early...

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 in my early Christian years,

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 a fellow who became

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 a Christian around

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 the same time as myself,

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 he got involved

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 in a church

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 that ended up

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 getting really...

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 I mean, it was a very,

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 very controlling church

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 that believed in shepherding,

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 that the elder

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 or several of the elders

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 got words from God

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 and they would tell

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 these words from God

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 to the different people

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 in the congregation

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 and basically control

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 all of the decisions

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 that these people made

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 and, in fact,

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 even controlled them

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 so that they would have

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 very little contact

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 with outside Christian groups.

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 It was a very power-hungry

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 and abusive situation

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 and I was very concerned

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 for my friend

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 and eventually,

00:09:32.460 --> 00:09:33.460
 after a couple of years

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 of putting up with this,

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 they finally crossed a line

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 and his normal common sense

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 came to bear.

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 But it scarred him

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 for many years

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 in terms of believing

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 that God would speak

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 prophetically

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 or speak into people's lives

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 because of the abuse of power,

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 the appearance of wisdom

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 and discipleship-making power

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 of this guy.

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 It just deeply confused him

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 for a long time.

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 But outside of the church,

00:09:58.240 --> 00:09:59.480
 we have problems as well.

00:09:59.920 --> 00:10:01.400
 It really became evident,

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 actually,

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 in a funny way

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 that God works.

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 That God works.

00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:06.620
 When I was in the Starbucks

00:10:06.620 --> 00:10:07.759
 yesterday trying to put

00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:08.639
 the finishing touches

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 to my sermon

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 and early on in my time,

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 a fellow came along beside me

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 and asked me what I'm doing.

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 He's a regular person

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 that I talk to

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 and he saw that I'm reading the Bible.

00:10:19.500 --> 00:10:20.500
 I'm going to do a sermon

00:10:20.500 --> 00:10:22.419
 on prophecies, etc.

00:10:22.539 --> 00:10:22.980
 And he said,

00:10:23.039 --> 00:10:23.879
 George,

00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:25.299
 you know,

00:10:25.399 --> 00:10:26.799
 he didn't say you're guys

00:10:26.799 --> 00:10:27.720
 like you were a joke,

00:10:27.860 --> 00:10:28.460
 but you could tell

00:10:28.460 --> 00:10:29.379
 that's what he thought,

00:10:29.659 --> 00:10:30.000
 you know.

00:10:30.419 --> 00:10:30.819
 He said,

00:10:30.899 --> 00:10:31.799
 come on, George.

00:10:32.019 --> 00:10:33.419
 Like there's all these prophets

00:10:33.419 --> 00:10:34.580
 out there in the world

00:10:34.580 --> 00:10:36.000
 and there's all these people

00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:37.480
 saying all these different things

00:10:37.480 --> 00:10:37.940
 and, you know,

00:10:38.020 --> 00:10:39.620
 Islam says it's a prophetic word

00:10:39.620 --> 00:10:40.240
 from God

00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:41.500
 and Mormons say that

00:10:41.500 --> 00:10:42.440
 and you say that.

00:10:43.040 --> 00:10:43.920
 Why on earth

00:10:43.920 --> 00:10:45.300
 do you ever possibly believe

00:10:45.300 --> 00:10:45.920
 that your word

00:10:45.920 --> 00:10:46.860
 is the correct one?

00:10:47.259 --> 00:10:48.000
 Like why on earth

00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:49.980
 would you ever possibly believe that?

00:10:50.060 --> 00:10:50.879
 Like the whole idea

00:10:50.879 --> 00:10:51.580
 is absurd.

00:10:52.440 --> 00:10:53.440
 At the same time,

00:10:54.240 --> 00:10:55.340
 he would tell me

00:10:55.340 --> 00:10:56.520
 about how the fact is

00:10:56.520 --> 00:10:57.960
 that the human race,

00:10:58.220 --> 00:10:58.920
 as you can see,

00:10:58.980 --> 00:10:59.720
 he said in countries

00:10:59.720 --> 00:11:00.240
 like Canada,

00:11:00.460 --> 00:11:01.020
 United States,

00:11:01.080 --> 00:11:01.759
 it's evolving

00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:03.040
 and moving to a new level.

00:11:03.039 --> 00:11:04.799
 It's moving to a new type

00:11:04.799 --> 00:11:05.439
 of reality

00:11:05.439 --> 00:11:07.419
 where institutional religion

00:11:07.419 --> 00:11:08.500
 has no power,

00:11:08.679 --> 00:11:10.439
 where people can be spiritual

00:11:10.439 --> 00:11:11.539
 without being in those

00:11:11.539 --> 00:11:12.480
 types of connections

00:11:12.480 --> 00:11:14.179
 and this is just the way

00:11:14.179 --> 00:11:15.679
 things are moving, George.

00:11:15.740 --> 00:11:16.779
 This is the future

00:11:16.779 --> 00:11:17.699
 and you should get

00:11:17.699 --> 00:11:18.480
 with the program.

00:11:20.339 --> 00:11:21.699
 And shortly after that,

00:11:21.839 --> 00:11:23.039
 there was another fellow

00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:23.939
 came in and sat

00:11:23.939 --> 00:11:24.539
 in a different spot.

00:11:24.579 --> 00:11:25.559
 I'd never seen him before,

00:11:25.939 --> 00:11:26.519
 but he noticed

00:11:26.519 --> 00:11:27.399
 that I was reading a Bible.

00:11:27.500 --> 00:11:28.519
 I could tell that he noticed

00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:29.519
 that I was reading a Bible

00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:30.799
 and I could hear him

00:11:30.799 --> 00:11:31.480
 sort of go up.

00:11:31.480 --> 00:11:34.060
 As he passed me

00:11:34.060 --> 00:11:35.779
 and he sat directly

00:11:35.779 --> 00:11:36.639
 in front of me

00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:40.659
 and he opened like this

00:11:40.659 --> 00:11:44.039
 and put down a magazine

00:11:44.039 --> 00:11:45.560
 that said skeptical thinking.

00:11:49.879 --> 00:11:51.379
 And he'd continue

00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:51.920
 for the,

00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:53.220
 I was there longer

00:11:53.220 --> 00:11:53.840
 than he was.

00:11:53.899 --> 00:11:55.300
 He'd keep looking over at me

00:11:55.300 --> 00:11:55.659
 and I could,

00:11:55.740 --> 00:11:56.620
 he didn't say harumph

00:11:56.620 --> 00:11:57.340
 every time,

00:11:57.399 --> 00:11:58.060
 but I could tell

00:11:58.059 --> 00:11:58.639
 that he was,

00:11:58.979 --> 00:12:00.279
 the eyeballs kept hitting

00:12:00.279 --> 00:12:01.079
 the top of the,

00:12:01.159 --> 00:12:01.539
 of the,

00:12:01.619 --> 00:12:02.819
 of his skull

00:12:02.819 --> 00:12:04.299
 and he was saying harumph.

00:12:04.719 --> 00:12:06.239
 He was reading skeptical thinking.

00:12:06.439 --> 00:12:07.459
 I was reading the Bible.

00:12:08.699 --> 00:12:09.599
 At the same time,

00:12:09.659 --> 00:12:10.699
 not in this particular day,

00:12:10.759 --> 00:12:11.299
 but just within

00:12:11.299 --> 00:12:12.239
 the last week or two,

00:12:12.279 --> 00:12:13.599
 I was talking to another person

00:12:13.599 --> 00:12:14.699
 once again in Starbucks.

00:12:14.899 --> 00:12:15.799
 I wouldn't talk to anybody

00:12:15.799 --> 00:12:17.019
 if I wasn't in Starbucks.

00:12:18.139 --> 00:12:19.259
 No, I'll talk to you.

00:12:19.319 --> 00:12:19.839
 I promise.

00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:20.500
 You don't have to meet me

00:12:20.500 --> 00:12:20.859
 in Starbucks

00:12:20.859 --> 00:12:21.899
 for me to talk to you.

00:12:21.899 --> 00:12:23.199
 But, you know,

00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:25.659
 this particular barista

00:12:25.659 --> 00:12:28.579
 is always listening

00:12:28.579 --> 00:12:29.620
 to different types

00:12:29.620 --> 00:12:30.480
 of prophecies

00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:31.539
 and prophetic words

00:12:31.539 --> 00:12:32.319
 about the future,

00:12:32.459 --> 00:12:33.360
 all from completely

00:12:33.360 --> 00:12:34.600
 non-Christian sources.

00:12:35.419 --> 00:12:36.519
 So here's the problem.

00:12:37.059 --> 00:12:37.419
 When we have,

00:12:37.500 --> 00:12:38.740
 say this text with me again.

00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:41.039
 Do not quench the spirit.

00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:43.659
 Do not despise prophecies,

00:12:43.980 --> 00:12:45.319
 but test everything.

00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:47.399
 Hold fast what is good.

00:12:47.860 --> 00:12:48.840
 So how do we listen

00:12:48.840 --> 00:12:49.600
 to this text?

00:12:49.799 --> 00:12:50.879
 How do we learn from it?

00:12:50.879 --> 00:12:52.299
 What is it that the text is saying

00:12:52.299 --> 00:12:53.580
 when we live on one hand

00:12:53.580 --> 00:12:54.179
 in a world

00:12:54.179 --> 00:12:55.340
 where many people

00:12:55.340 --> 00:12:56.240
 will just completely

00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:57.139
 and utterly dismiss

00:12:57.139 --> 00:12:58.460
 this idea whatsoever

00:12:58.460 --> 00:13:01.139
 in differing types of ways,

00:13:01.220 --> 00:13:02.259
 not always dismissing it

00:13:02.259 --> 00:13:02.840
 in the same way.

00:13:02.939 --> 00:13:03.840
 And within the church,

00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:04.539
 on one hand,

00:13:04.620 --> 00:13:06.879
 we realize that sometimes

00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:08.000
 there's great abuses

00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:09.019
 to text like this.

00:13:09.059 --> 00:13:09.879
 So what is it

00:13:09.879 --> 00:13:10.679
 that we have to do?

00:13:10.779 --> 00:13:11.899
 How do we understand

00:13:11.899 --> 00:13:12.500
 all of this?

00:13:12.939 --> 00:13:14.159
 Well, here's the first thing

00:13:14.159 --> 00:13:16.700
 that we need to understand.

00:13:17.019 --> 00:13:18.200
 If you could put the point up.

00:13:18.860 --> 00:13:19.720
 I'll get my glasses

00:13:19.720 --> 00:13:20.600
 so I can read it.

00:13:21.620 --> 00:13:22.860
 Actually, I can see it up there.

00:13:22.980 --> 00:13:24.120
 It is deeply human

00:13:24.120 --> 00:13:24.980
 to want to hear

00:13:24.980 --> 00:13:25.980
 the voice of God

00:13:25.980 --> 00:13:28.100
 and it is deeply human

00:13:28.100 --> 00:13:29.279
 to want to silence

00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:30.299
 the voice of God.

00:13:31.879 --> 00:13:33.439
 It is deeply human

00:13:33.439 --> 00:13:34.519
 to want to hear

00:13:34.519 --> 00:13:35.539
 the voice of God

00:13:35.539 --> 00:13:37.639
 and it is deeply human

00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:38.720
 to want to silence

00:13:38.720 --> 00:13:39.659
 the voice of God.

00:13:40.439 --> 00:13:41.299
 Many of you know

00:13:41.299 --> 00:13:42.480
 from your own experience

00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:43.580
 how this is true

00:13:43.580 --> 00:13:44.820
 at a very, very simple level.

00:13:44.940 --> 00:13:45.919
 How many of us

00:13:45.919 --> 00:13:48.379
 come into a situation

00:13:48.379 --> 00:13:49.899
 and we call out to God

00:13:49.899 --> 00:13:50.720
 and we wish that

00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:51.740
 he would just give us

00:13:51.740 --> 00:13:52.620
 the word

00:13:52.620 --> 00:13:54.759
 to say in this situation?

00:13:56.620 --> 00:13:57.759
 And sometimes he does

00:13:57.759 --> 00:13:58.740
 and sometimes we leave

00:13:58.740 --> 00:13:59.360
 disappointed.

00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:01.439
 Yet at the same time,

00:14:01.960 --> 00:14:03.820
 and unless I'm just

00:14:03.820 --> 00:14:04.720
 vastly more wicked

00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:05.559
 than the rest of you,

00:14:06.200 --> 00:14:07.139
 how many times

00:14:07.139 --> 00:14:07.919
 are we proceeding

00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:09.000
 on a course of action

00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:10.000
 and it almost seems

00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:11.159
 as if God is telling us

00:14:11.159 --> 00:14:11.960
 not to do it

00:14:11.960 --> 00:14:13.620
 and we tell him

00:14:13.620 --> 00:14:14.539
 to be quiet?

00:14:14.539 --> 00:14:17.799
 Or we realize

00:14:17.799 --> 00:14:18.360
 that we're doing

00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:19.679
 a particular course of action

00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:20.519
 and it's almost as if

00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:21.879
 we hear God speaking to us

00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:23.199
 to do something,

00:14:23.459 --> 00:14:24.679
 to maybe call somebody up

00:14:24.679 --> 00:14:25.519
 and we don't do it.

00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:26.980
 We don't want him

00:14:26.980 --> 00:14:27.559
 to interfere

00:14:27.559 --> 00:14:28.459
 with what we're doing.

00:14:29.899 --> 00:14:31.500
 And so if Christians

00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:33.459
 are honest within themselves,

00:14:33.599 --> 00:14:34.099
 they understand

00:14:34.099 --> 00:14:35.319
 that it's deeply human

00:14:35.319 --> 00:14:35.899
 to want to hear

00:14:35.899 --> 00:14:36.579
 the voice of God.

00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:37.399
 We might think

00:14:37.399 --> 00:14:38.679
 it's just a spiritual thing,

00:14:38.740 --> 00:14:39.539
 it's just a thing

00:14:39.539 --> 00:14:40.699
 for those who are Christians,

00:14:41.480 --> 00:14:43.039
 but I think the Bible teaches

00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:43.919
 that it's not just

00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:45.019
 a Christian thing,

00:14:45.099 --> 00:14:46.740
 that it's a deeply human thing

00:14:46.740 --> 00:14:47.419
 to want to hear

00:14:47.419 --> 00:14:48.319
 the voice of God

00:14:48.319 --> 00:14:49.699
 and it's deeply human

00:14:49.699 --> 00:14:50.599
 to want to silence

00:14:50.599 --> 00:14:51.539
 the voice of God.

00:14:53.699 --> 00:14:55.719
 I mean, you go into chapters

00:14:55.719 --> 00:14:57.620
 and the wide range of things

00:14:57.620 --> 00:14:58.799
 on Wicca,

00:14:59.099 --> 00:15:01.659
 on different New Age spiritualities

00:15:01.659 --> 00:15:02.819
 are all different ways

00:15:02.819 --> 00:15:04.219
 in a sense to connect

00:15:04.219 --> 00:15:05.059
 to the divine.

00:15:06.439 --> 00:15:07.059
 You know, even,

00:15:08.059 --> 00:15:08.599
 and this is,

00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:09.679
 I'd have a hard time,

00:15:09.719 --> 00:15:10.439
 and I'm just going to say it

00:15:10.439 --> 00:15:11.139
 to you very briefly

00:15:11.139 --> 00:15:12.139
 and you might have to

00:15:12.139 --> 00:15:13.019
 puzzle about it

00:15:13.019 --> 00:15:14.159
 to get your mind around it,

00:15:14.679 --> 00:15:15.899
 but in effect,

00:15:16.460 --> 00:15:18.740
 often a lot of university studies

00:15:18.740 --> 00:15:19.960
 and a lot of things

00:15:19.960 --> 00:15:20.639
 which are believed

00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:21.419
 in newspapers,

00:15:21.419 --> 00:15:22.319
 which are all very,

00:15:22.439 --> 00:15:23.199
 very secular,

00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:25.720
 without them realizing it,

00:15:25.939 --> 00:15:26.919
 what they're believing

00:15:26.919 --> 00:15:29.919
 is a secular prophetic word.

00:15:30.740 --> 00:15:31.539
 And I'll explain

00:15:31.539 --> 00:15:32.319
 what I mean by this.

00:15:32.419 --> 00:15:32.679
 In fact,

00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:33.699
 I'm not making

00:15:33.699 --> 00:15:34.799
 a political comment here

00:15:34.799 --> 00:15:36.100
 because it's a bit,

00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:37.039
 it sounds a bit political

00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:38.179
 in our current context,

00:15:38.299 --> 00:15:40.319
 but it's a bigger type

00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:40.879
 of problem.

00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:42.860
 That many people

00:15:42.860 --> 00:15:44.460
 think they understand

00:15:44.460 --> 00:15:46.280
 where history is going

00:15:46.280 --> 00:15:47.879
 and that history

00:15:47.879 --> 00:15:50.440
 is going to a particular place.

00:15:51.060 --> 00:15:51.980
 And whether it's going

00:15:51.980 --> 00:15:53.340
 to be a classless society,

00:15:53.480 --> 00:15:53.879
 whether it's going

00:15:53.879 --> 00:15:54.379
 to be a place

00:15:54.379 --> 00:15:55.860
 of complete sexual liberation,

00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:57.260
 whether it's going

00:15:57.260 --> 00:15:57.860
 to be a place

00:15:57.860 --> 00:15:58.560
 which is portrayed

00:15:58.560 --> 00:16:00.120
 in all of the Star Trek movies,

00:16:00.840 --> 00:16:02.540
 that basically our politics

00:16:02.540 --> 00:16:03.879
 and our secular humanism

00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:04.760
 and our technology

00:16:04.760 --> 00:16:05.460
 and our technique

00:16:05.460 --> 00:16:06.060
 has caused,

00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:08.000
 has solved all human problems

00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:09.299
 and human wars,

00:16:09.820 --> 00:16:11.820
 or whether it's

00:16:11.820 --> 00:16:13.700
 a classless society,

00:16:14.659 --> 00:16:16.539
 whatever it is,

00:16:16.940 --> 00:16:18.759
 whenever we have this sense,

00:16:18.860 --> 00:16:20.120
 whether it's through capitalism

00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:20.820
 or whether it's

00:16:20.820 --> 00:16:21.720
 through technology

00:16:21.720 --> 00:16:23.320
 or whether it's

00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:24.799
 in terms of social processes

00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:26.519
 or social movements,

00:16:26.820 --> 00:16:27.860
 that history is going

00:16:27.860 --> 00:16:29.779
 inevitably in a particular direction

00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:30.919
 and we know that,

00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:33.639
 only God could know that.

00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:38.939
 And so a Karl Marx

00:16:38.939 --> 00:16:42.220
 is a secular prophet.

00:16:43.319 --> 00:16:45.039
 Without us realizing it,

00:16:45.100 --> 00:16:46.240
 he's making a claim

00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:47.419
 of a type of knowledge

00:16:47.419 --> 00:16:48.600
 that only God

00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:50.039
 could possibly have.

00:16:51.919 --> 00:16:53.460
 And much of what passes

00:16:53.460 --> 00:16:55.039
 for wisdom in the newspapers,

00:16:55.779 --> 00:16:56.740
 much of what passes

00:16:56.740 --> 00:16:58.299
 for wisdom in politics,

00:16:59.039 --> 00:17:00.500
 is in fact a belief

00:17:00.500 --> 00:17:01.659
 that they know

00:17:01.659 --> 00:17:02.939
 the voice of God.

00:17:03.639 --> 00:17:05.279
 And they know

00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:06.619
 what God is calling

00:17:06.619 --> 00:17:07.839
 human beings to do

00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:09.099
 and they know

00:17:09.099 --> 00:17:10.440
 where God is calling

00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:11.379
 human beings

00:17:11.379 --> 00:17:12.539
 to develop into.

00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:15.019
 One of my friends

00:17:15.019 --> 00:17:15.859
 that I was talking

00:17:15.859 --> 00:17:16.539
 about yesterday,

00:17:17.619 --> 00:17:18.720
 in fact even in his language

00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:19.839
 about how human beings

00:17:19.839 --> 00:17:20.539
 are evolving

00:17:20.539 --> 00:17:21.480
 and how human beings

00:17:21.480 --> 00:17:22.099
 are changing

00:17:22.099 --> 00:17:23.200
 and where history is going.

00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:25.299
 I mean on one level,

00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:26.740
 and we didn't have a chance

00:17:26.740 --> 00:17:27.619
 to talk about this,

00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:28.319
 on one hand,

00:17:28.420 --> 00:17:29.579
 he dismisses

00:17:29.579 --> 00:17:30.839
 the scripture text,

00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:31.940
 but he believes

00:17:31.940 --> 00:17:33.539
 he has some prophetic knowledge

00:17:33.539 --> 00:17:34.160
 which has come

00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:35.400
 from the editorial pages

00:17:35.400 --> 00:17:36.420
 of the Ottawa Citizen

00:17:36.420 --> 00:17:38.140
 or the New York Times

00:17:38.140 --> 00:17:40.000
 or from some professor

00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:40.460
 that he had

00:17:40.460 --> 00:17:41.440
 when he was in university.

00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:42.120
 I'm not saying this

00:17:42.120 --> 00:17:42.840
 to dismiss him,

00:17:42.940 --> 00:17:43.200
 by the way,

00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:44.160
 and I apologize

00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:44.960
 if I sound like

00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:45.799
 I'm dismissing it.

00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:47.220
 I'm just saying

00:17:47.220 --> 00:17:48.400
 that in fact,

00:17:48.700 --> 00:17:49.360
 on one hand,

00:17:49.400 --> 00:17:50.259
 within our culture,

00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:51.660
 we want to hear

00:17:51.660 --> 00:17:53.580
 and hear the voice of God

00:17:53.580 --> 00:17:54.019
 and in a sense

00:17:54.019 --> 00:17:54.720
 be able to act

00:17:54.720 --> 00:17:55.539
 on the voice of God,

00:17:55.580 --> 00:17:56.539
 yet at the same time,

00:17:56.900 --> 00:17:57.559
 we want to be able

00:17:57.559 --> 00:17:58.240
 to say to God,

00:17:58.359 --> 00:17:59.720
 you can't speak into this.

00:18:00.059 --> 00:18:00.899
 How dare you try

00:18:00.899 --> 00:18:01.759
 to speak into this?

00:18:01.859 --> 00:18:02.639
 How dare you try

00:18:02.639 --> 00:18:03.659
 to impose these types

00:18:03.659 --> 00:18:04.679
 of limits on me?

00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:07.159
 Even the whole move

00:18:07.159 --> 00:18:08.339
 for many of our culture

00:18:08.339 --> 00:18:09.819
 who are very deeply attracted

00:18:09.819 --> 00:18:10.879
 by being spiritual

00:18:10.879 --> 00:18:11.799
 but not religious,

00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:12.720
 you know,

00:18:12.779 --> 00:18:13.519
 partly it is

00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:14.200
 that they still want

00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:14.839
 to be able to hear

00:18:14.839 --> 00:18:15.440
 from God,

00:18:15.539 --> 00:18:16.619
 but they also don't want

00:18:16.619 --> 00:18:17.379
 to hear from God.

00:18:18.399 --> 00:18:18.859
 You see,

00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:20.440
 the Bible teaches

00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:22.559
 that it's deeply human

00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:23.339
 to want to hear

00:18:23.339 --> 00:18:24.220
 the voice of God

00:18:24.220 --> 00:18:25.339
 and it's deeply human

00:18:25.339 --> 00:18:26.680
 to want to silence

00:18:26.680 --> 00:18:27.660
 the voice of God.

00:18:28.200 --> 00:18:29.400
 If you go back later on

00:18:29.400 --> 00:18:30.860
 and read Genesis chapter 1,

00:18:30.980 --> 00:18:31.620
 2, and 3,

00:18:31.940 --> 00:18:33.860
 you capture in a nutshell

00:18:33.860 --> 00:18:34.640
 the beginning

00:18:34.640 --> 00:18:35.960
 of the grand narrative

00:18:35.960 --> 00:18:36.680
 of the Bible

00:18:36.680 --> 00:18:37.299
 and that's what

00:18:37.299 --> 00:18:38.299
 the grand narrative

00:18:38.299 --> 00:18:39.620
 of the Bible teaches us.

00:18:40.460 --> 00:18:42.319
 That in Genesis 1 and 2,

00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:43.279
 it's taught to us

00:18:43.279 --> 00:18:45.339
 that God creates us

00:18:45.339 --> 00:18:46.120
 and he makes us

00:18:46.120 --> 00:18:46.799
 in his image

00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:47.720
 and in his likeness

00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:49.000
 that every human being

00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:49.799
 bears the image

00:18:49.799 --> 00:18:50.440
 and likeness

00:18:50.440 --> 00:18:51.779
 of the living God

00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:53.039
 and so it is

00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:53.900
 that there's this

00:18:53.900 --> 00:18:55.300
 natural thing

00:18:55.300 --> 00:18:56.900
 as me a creature

00:18:56.900 --> 00:18:59.000
 and to know my creator

00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:00.420
 that I bear the image

00:19:00.420 --> 00:19:01.340
 and likeness of God

00:19:01.340 --> 00:19:02.240
 and so do you

00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:03.280
 and that that

00:19:03.280 --> 00:19:04.259
 which is within me

00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:05.300
 which bears the image

00:19:05.300 --> 00:19:06.300
 and likeness of God

00:19:06.300 --> 00:19:07.300
 that it longs

00:19:07.300 --> 00:19:07.900
 to commune

00:19:07.900 --> 00:19:09.320
 to that which is

00:19:09.320 --> 00:19:11.240
 it is an image of.

00:19:12.600 --> 00:19:13.100
 And we see

00:19:13.100 --> 00:19:13.540
 at the beginning

00:19:13.540 --> 00:19:15.100
 of Genesis chapter 3

00:19:15.100 --> 00:19:16.980
 and the end of chapter 2

00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:17.519
 that God

00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:19.120
 God made human beings

00:19:19.120 --> 00:19:20.280
 to converse with him

00:19:20.280 --> 00:19:21.200
 and to have communion

00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:21.740
 with him

00:19:21.740 --> 00:19:22.800
 and so because

00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:23.980
 we always bear

00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:24.419
 the image

00:19:24.419 --> 00:19:25.359
 and likeness of God

00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:25.899
 there is this

00:19:25.899 --> 00:19:27.519
 always draw and pull

00:19:27.519 --> 00:19:29.039
 to that which we image

00:19:29.039 --> 00:19:30.680
 and to the creator himself

00:19:30.680 --> 00:19:32.259
 and then in Genesis 3

00:19:32.259 --> 00:19:33.720
 we see that as human beings

00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:34.700
 in the person of Adam

00:19:34.700 --> 00:19:35.279
 and Eve

00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:36.940
 that they choose

00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:38.359
 to be like God

00:19:38.359 --> 00:19:39.799
 as God themselves

00:19:39.799 --> 00:19:41.259
 to supplant God

00:19:41.259 --> 00:19:42.000
 to become not

00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:43.319
 not only God's equal

00:19:43.319 --> 00:19:44.960
 but maybe even God's superior

00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:46.460
 to be like God themselves

00:19:46.460 --> 00:19:47.720
 that the human race

00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:48.619
 becomes bent

00:19:48.619 --> 00:19:50.039
 and the image of God

00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:50.519
 within us

00:19:50.519 --> 00:19:52.159
 is not completely removed

00:19:52.159 --> 00:19:53.739
 it isn't completely

00:19:53.739 --> 00:19:55.679
 cut out of us

00:19:55.679 --> 00:19:56.479
 it now becomes

00:19:56.479 --> 00:19:57.559
 something which is bent

00:19:57.559 --> 00:19:58.519
 and in Genesis 3

00:19:58.519 --> 00:19:58.959
 it's told

00:19:58.959 --> 00:20:00.799
 in a very very powerful story

00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:03.000
 that now human beings

00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:06.719
 well on one hand

00:20:06.719 --> 00:20:08.500
 they want to hide from God

00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:10.239
 and now when they speak to God

00:20:10.239 --> 00:20:11.699
 their speech is bent

00:20:11.699 --> 00:20:14.039
 it's filled with blaming

00:20:14.039 --> 00:20:16.000
 and they feel uncomfortable

00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:17.059
 standing before God

00:20:17.059 --> 00:20:18.599
 because of their nakedness

00:20:18.619 --> 00:20:20.399
 and death enters

00:20:20.399 --> 00:20:22.159
 into human affairs

00:20:22.159 --> 00:20:24.000
 and different types of bondage

00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:25.319
 enters into human affairs

00:20:25.319 --> 00:20:27.459
 and so we see

00:20:27.459 --> 00:20:29.839
 that at a very very fundamental level

00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:30.619
 that human beings

00:20:30.619 --> 00:20:31.419
 that exist now

00:20:31.419 --> 00:20:34.459
 that desire to speak with God

00:20:34.459 --> 00:20:35.559
 and to hear God

00:20:35.559 --> 00:20:36.639
 is always there

00:20:36.639 --> 00:20:38.179
 it doesn't matter who you are

00:20:38.179 --> 00:20:39.500
 there is that desire

00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:41.339
 to commune and know with God

00:20:41.339 --> 00:20:42.239
 and at the same time

00:20:42.239 --> 00:20:44.519
 there is this desire

00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:45.639
 to silence God

00:20:45.639 --> 00:20:46.779
 it's a human thing

00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:49.000
 it's a human issue

00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:51.680
 a human issue

00:20:51.680 --> 00:20:52.539
 that the Bible

00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:54.220
 I think more wisely

00:20:54.220 --> 00:20:55.799
 than any other system of thought

00:20:55.799 --> 00:20:56.740
 accounts for

00:20:56.740 --> 00:20:59.879
 why it is

00:20:59.879 --> 00:21:01.079
 that in an age like ours

00:21:01.079 --> 00:21:01.819
 with science

00:21:01.819 --> 00:21:02.420
 and all of that

00:21:02.420 --> 00:21:03.759
 there is still such an interest

00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:05.940
 in alternative spiritualities

00:21:05.940 --> 00:21:06.680
 and astrology

00:21:06.680 --> 00:21:08.519
 and all sorts of other things

00:21:08.519 --> 00:21:09.339
 that on one hand

00:21:09.339 --> 00:21:10.599
 don't fit with science

00:21:10.599 --> 00:21:12.579
 and are completely contradictory to it

00:21:12.579 --> 00:21:14.379
 yet we hold both

00:21:14.380 --> 00:21:16.140
 the Bible makes clear

00:21:16.140 --> 00:21:17.220
 it is deeply human

00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:18.860
 to want to hear the voice of God

00:21:18.860 --> 00:21:20.400
 and it is deeply human

00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:22.120
 to want to silence

00:21:22.120 --> 00:21:23.380
 the voice of God

00:21:23.380 --> 00:21:25.040
 let's put the scripture text up again

00:21:25.040 --> 00:21:25.340
 Jeremy

00:21:25.340 --> 00:21:26.860
 say it with me

00:21:26.860 --> 00:21:28.980
 do not quench the spirit

00:21:28.980 --> 00:21:31.520
 do not despise prophecies

00:21:31.520 --> 00:21:33.180
 but test everything

00:21:33.180 --> 00:21:35.320
 hold fast what is good

00:21:35.320 --> 00:21:36.860
 so here's the

00:21:36.860 --> 00:21:37.860
 here's the

00:21:37.860 --> 00:21:38.820
 here's the problem

00:21:38.819 --> 00:21:42.500
 some people will say

00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:44.460
 I've had many many people

00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:45.179
 say to me

00:21:45.179 --> 00:21:46.240
 well George

00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:46.919
 you know

00:21:46.919 --> 00:21:50.319
 here's the problem

00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:50.779
 George

00:21:50.779 --> 00:21:52.200
 you know all these gods

00:21:52.200 --> 00:21:53.720
 that say things to you

00:21:53.720 --> 00:21:54.839
 and then people have wars

00:21:54.839 --> 00:21:55.879
 over these gods

00:21:55.879 --> 00:21:57.519
 and they think they're better

00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:58.339
 than other people

00:21:58.339 --> 00:22:00.200
 because they hear the word of God

00:22:00.200 --> 00:22:00.399
 and

00:22:00.399 --> 00:22:01.220
 but George

00:22:01.220 --> 00:22:02.519
 don't you actually think

00:22:02.519 --> 00:22:03.480
 that

00:22:03.480 --> 00:22:03.879
 I mean

00:22:03.879 --> 00:22:04.839
 the high

00:22:04.839 --> 00:22:05.639
 like even George

00:22:05.639 --> 00:22:06.539
 your own mystics

00:22:06.539 --> 00:22:07.480
 Christian mystics

00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:08.380
 sometimes talk

00:22:08.380 --> 00:22:09.579
 as if the highest type

00:22:09.579 --> 00:22:10.519
 of union with God

00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:11.579
 is completely and utterly

00:22:11.579 --> 00:22:13.279
 speechless and wordless

00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:14.620
 doesn't George

00:22:14.620 --> 00:22:15.759
 even your own tradition

00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:17.160
 sometimes teach

00:22:17.160 --> 00:22:18.579
 that the highest form

00:22:18.579 --> 00:22:19.319
 of spirituality

00:22:19.319 --> 00:22:21.799
 is a form of silent union

00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:22.440
 with God

00:22:22.440 --> 00:22:23.980
 where there are no words

00:22:23.980 --> 00:22:25.680
 George

00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:26.120
 don't you think

00:22:26.120 --> 00:22:26.559
 it's actually

00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:27.519
 probably far

00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:28.559
 just far more helpful

00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:30.079
 given the problem

00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:30.660
 that words

00:22:30.660 --> 00:22:31.819
 supposedly from God

00:22:31.819 --> 00:22:32.960
 have come in the human race

00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:33.920
 to think that

00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:34.759
 the real God

00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:35.740
 that does exist

00:22:35.740 --> 00:22:36.519
 must be a God

00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:37.740
 that's a wordless God

00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:38.279
 that's just

00:22:38.279 --> 00:22:39.200
 like that God

00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:40.000
 is everything

00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:41.079
 that God is in you

00:22:41.079 --> 00:22:41.720
 or in me

00:22:41.720 --> 00:22:43.539
 that God is just

00:22:43.539 --> 00:22:44.779
 like this energy

00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:45.660
 which unites

00:22:45.660 --> 00:22:46.700
 and brings people together

00:22:46.700 --> 00:22:47.599
 it's like a force

00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:48.599
 that brings people

00:22:48.599 --> 00:22:49.420
 together

00:22:49.420 --> 00:22:51.460
 and that's a far

00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:52.680
 higher form of God

00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:53.440
 and it's a very

00:22:53.440 --> 00:22:54.579
 very common belief

00:22:54.579 --> 00:22:56.460
 but here's what

00:22:56.460 --> 00:22:57.420
 the Bible is telling us

00:22:57.420 --> 00:22:57.980
 if you could put up

00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:58.639
 the next point

00:22:58.639 --> 00:23:00.960
 and I think that

00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:02.139
 reason tells us this

00:23:02.139 --> 00:23:03.819
 a God that cannot speak

00:23:03.819 --> 00:23:04.980
 cannot be God

00:23:04.980 --> 00:23:07.460
 the true and living God

00:23:07.460 --> 00:23:08.440
 speaks and listens

00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:09.120
 and acts

00:23:09.120 --> 00:23:11.860
 a God that cannot speak

00:23:11.860 --> 00:23:13.000
 cannot be God

00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:14.420
 the true and living God

00:23:14.420 --> 00:23:15.380
 speaks and listens

00:23:15.380 --> 00:23:15.960
 and acts

00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:17.839
 if I was to try

00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:18.819
 telling my wife

00:23:18.819 --> 00:23:20.680
 that I was no longer

00:23:20.680 --> 00:23:21.900
 going to talk to her

00:23:21.900 --> 00:23:23.319
 because we were going

00:23:23.319 --> 00:23:23.880
 to just have

00:23:23.880 --> 00:23:25.099
 wordless communion

00:23:25.099 --> 00:23:26.099
 because that's higher

00:23:26.099 --> 00:23:30.200
 well hopefully she'd just

00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:30.779
 laugh and say

00:23:30.779 --> 00:23:31.759
 George stop being silly

00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:34.180
 you can try stop

00:23:34.180 --> 00:23:34.700
 talking to me

00:23:34.700 --> 00:23:35.240
 but I'm not going

00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:36.279
 to stop talking to you

00:23:36.279 --> 00:23:37.619
 and she'd be wise

00:23:37.619 --> 00:23:39.839
 to say something like that

00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:41.319
 you know in fact

00:23:41.319 --> 00:23:42.059
 there are times

00:23:42.059 --> 00:23:42.920
 in a couple

00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:44.059
 that you know

00:23:44.059 --> 00:23:44.720
 whether it's a married

00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:45.980
 couple or a couple

00:23:45.980 --> 00:23:47.160
 dating or just a couple

00:23:47.160 --> 00:23:48.379
 of very very good friends

00:23:48.379 --> 00:23:49.900
 where they can

00:23:49.900 --> 00:23:51.660
 enjoy a very very

00:23:51.660 --> 00:23:52.700
 silent time

00:23:52.700 --> 00:23:53.220
 of communion

00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:53.960
 with each other

00:23:53.960 --> 00:23:54.839
 but those silent

00:23:54.839 --> 00:23:55.720
 times of communion

00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:56.940
 are built upon words

00:23:56.940 --> 00:23:58.900
 the fact of the matter

00:23:58.900 --> 00:24:00.200
 is is if we were

00:24:00.200 --> 00:24:01.960
 to watch a science fiction movie

00:24:01.960 --> 00:24:03.700
 and we were to be invited

00:24:03.700 --> 00:24:04.539
 to some type of

00:24:04.539 --> 00:24:05.740
 higher form of being

00:24:05.740 --> 00:24:06.279
 and that's what

00:24:06.279 --> 00:24:07.240
 everybody tells us

00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:08.259
 and it can't

00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:09.840
 it can't do anything

00:24:09.840 --> 00:24:10.779
 or say anything

00:24:10.779 --> 00:24:11.840
 it can't even communicate

00:24:11.840 --> 00:24:13.340
 directly into our minds

00:24:13.340 --> 00:24:14.380
 we would all

00:24:14.380 --> 00:24:15.559
 we would all think

00:24:15.559 --> 00:24:16.600
 and the viewers

00:24:16.600 --> 00:24:17.039
 would all think

00:24:17.039 --> 00:24:17.740
 well why is that

00:24:17.740 --> 00:24:18.960
 higher than us

00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:22.500
 it can't even speak

00:24:22.500 --> 00:24:26.640
 if it can't even speak

00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:28.759
 how can it be higher than

00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:31.140
 or in a different type

00:24:31.140 --> 00:24:32.319
 of science fiction movie

00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:33.039
 if there's some

00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:34.900
 creature that comes

00:24:34.900 --> 00:24:35.319
 to earth

00:24:35.319 --> 00:24:36.799
 to devour us

00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:37.720
 and do all these things

00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:39.299
 and it can't speak

00:24:39.299 --> 00:24:41.119
 it might be something

00:24:41.119 --> 00:24:42.200
 that we're afraid of

00:24:42.200 --> 00:24:42.920
 it might be something

00:24:42.920 --> 00:24:44.059
 that we have to fight

00:24:44.059 --> 00:24:45.400
 but who would think

00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:46.960
 that it's higher than us

00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:48.859
 if it can't even speak

00:24:48.859 --> 00:24:51.420
 and if we understand this

00:24:51.420 --> 00:24:52.240
 at just a sort of

00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:53.839
 a very very practical level

00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:54.879
 then why is it

00:24:54.879 --> 00:24:55.900
 that we would think

00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:57.780
 that a God

00:24:57.780 --> 00:24:59.220
 that can't speak

00:24:59.220 --> 00:25:00.000
 or listen

00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:00.800
 or act

00:25:00.800 --> 00:25:03.180
 how could that God

00:25:03.180 --> 00:25:04.040
 be higher than us

00:25:04.040 --> 00:25:04.840
 and if it's not higher

00:25:04.840 --> 00:25:05.140
 than us

00:25:05.140 --> 00:25:06.000
 how could it be God

00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:08.519
 one of the things

00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:09.320
 that if you go back

00:25:09.320 --> 00:25:10.400
 and read the Old Testament

00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:11.840
 one of the things

00:25:11.840 --> 00:25:13.180
 which is a regular comment

00:25:13.180 --> 00:25:14.100
 of the Old Testament

00:25:14.100 --> 00:25:15.540
 prophets about idols

00:25:15.540 --> 00:25:17.680
 is they can't speak

00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:19.700
 it's a sign

00:25:19.700 --> 00:25:20.540
 that they

00:25:20.540 --> 00:25:22.340
 aren't real

00:25:22.339 --> 00:25:24.939
 Isaiah has a very very funny

00:25:24.939 --> 00:25:25.879
 inviting comment

00:25:25.879 --> 00:25:26.500
 about a guy

00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:27.539
 who goes out into the woods

00:25:27.539 --> 00:25:28.720
 and he cuts down a tree

00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:30.000
 and part of the tree

00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:31.659
 he uses

00:25:31.659 --> 00:25:32.619
 to make a fire

00:25:32.619 --> 00:25:33.339
 so he could eat

00:25:33.339 --> 00:25:33.959
 and the other part

00:25:33.959 --> 00:25:34.419
 of the tree

00:25:34.419 --> 00:25:36.299
 he turns into an idol

00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:37.019
 and he bows down

00:25:37.019 --> 00:25:37.899
 and worships it

00:25:37.899 --> 00:25:39.480
 to give him thanks

00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:40.119
 for everything

00:25:40.119 --> 00:25:41.879
 without the person

00:25:41.879 --> 00:25:42.599
 realizing that

00:25:42.599 --> 00:25:42.980
 one moment

00:25:42.980 --> 00:25:43.939
 you cut the tree down

00:25:43.939 --> 00:25:44.740
 you made the idol

00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:45.919
 why are you now praying to it

00:25:45.919 --> 00:25:47.359
 and why are you bowing down to it

00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:49.439
 so

00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:51.680
 maybe our atheist friends

00:25:51.680 --> 00:25:52.220
 are correct

00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:53.320
 and there is no God

00:25:53.320 --> 00:25:55.360
 maybe they are correct

00:25:55.360 --> 00:25:56.519
 I think they're wrong

00:25:56.519 --> 00:25:57.660
 but maybe they are correct

00:25:57.660 --> 00:25:58.559
 and there is no God

00:25:58.559 --> 00:26:00.880
 but surely common sense

00:26:00.880 --> 00:26:01.480
 and the Bible

00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:02.200
 teaches us

00:26:02.200 --> 00:26:03.279
 that if what we think

00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:03.779
 is God

00:26:03.779 --> 00:26:04.840
 can't speak

00:26:04.840 --> 00:26:07.140
 it surely can't be God

00:26:07.140 --> 00:26:09.180
 we need to look

00:26:09.180 --> 00:26:09.960
 somewhere else

00:26:09.960 --> 00:26:10.500
 for God

00:26:10.500 --> 00:26:13.000
 and the Bible teaches

00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:13.680
 that the true

00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:14.420
 and living God

00:26:14.420 --> 00:26:15.539
 that truly lives

00:26:15.539 --> 00:26:16.519
 and truly exists

00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:17.080
 is a God

00:26:17.080 --> 00:26:17.900
 who speaks

00:26:17.900 --> 00:26:19.440
 he is a God

00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:20.140
 who listens

00:26:20.140 --> 00:26:21.380
 he is a God

00:26:21.380 --> 00:26:22.180
 who acts

00:26:22.180 --> 00:26:23.759
 if you go back

00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:24.420
 later on

00:26:24.420 --> 00:26:24.920
 and read

00:26:24.920 --> 00:26:26.220
 1 Thessalonians 5

00:26:26.220 --> 00:26:27.940
 9 to 21

00:26:27.940 --> 00:26:29.080
 and you'll see

00:26:29.080 --> 00:26:29.720
 that just before

00:26:29.720 --> 00:26:30.380
 this part here

00:26:30.380 --> 00:26:31.019
 which is all about

00:26:31.019 --> 00:26:31.860
 listening to God

00:26:31.860 --> 00:26:33.600
 the three verses prior

00:26:33.600 --> 00:26:34.040
 and we spent

00:26:34.040 --> 00:26:35.040
 three Sundays on it

00:26:35.040 --> 00:26:35.540
 you can go back

00:26:35.540 --> 00:26:36.500
 and listen to the sermons

00:26:36.500 --> 00:26:37.440
 are all about

00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:38.540
 us speaking to God

00:26:38.540 --> 00:26:40.400
 and if we

00:26:40.400 --> 00:26:41.660
 if we can speak

00:26:41.660 --> 00:26:42.420
 to God

00:26:42.420 --> 00:26:43.100
 if the Bible

00:26:43.100 --> 00:26:43.680
 is telling us

00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:44.820
 to speak to God

00:26:44.820 --> 00:26:46.320
 it not only implies

00:26:46.320 --> 00:26:47.420
 that he can hear

00:26:47.420 --> 00:26:48.060
 and understand

00:26:48.060 --> 00:26:49.279
 but it definitely

00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:50.000
 implies that he

00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:50.940
 can speak to us

00:26:50.940 --> 00:26:51.880
 and so after

00:26:51.880 --> 00:26:52.940
 three texts

00:26:52.940 --> 00:26:53.660
 which tell us

00:26:53.660 --> 00:26:54.539
 to speak to God

00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:55.240
 speak to God

00:26:55.240 --> 00:26:55.920
 speak to God

00:26:55.920 --> 00:26:56.460
 now we have

00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:57.160
 a Bible text

00:26:57.160 --> 00:26:57.740
 saying to us

00:26:57.740 --> 00:26:59.019
 listen to the God

00:26:59.019 --> 00:26:59.920
 who speaks

00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:01.279
 the true and living

00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:02.100
 God speaks

00:27:02.100 --> 00:27:02.600
 and listens

00:27:02.600 --> 00:27:03.100
 and acts

00:27:03.100 --> 00:27:03.940
 put the Bible

00:27:03.940 --> 00:27:04.759
 passage up again

00:27:04.759 --> 00:27:05.380
 please Jeremy

00:27:05.380 --> 00:27:06.600
 let's say it together

00:27:06.600 --> 00:27:08.140
 do not quench

00:27:08.140 --> 00:27:08.860
 the spirit

00:27:08.860 --> 00:27:10.400
 do not despise

00:27:10.400 --> 00:27:11.240
 prophecies

00:27:11.240 --> 00:27:12.900
 but test everything

00:27:12.900 --> 00:27:14.200
 hold fast

00:27:14.200 --> 00:27:15.000
 what is good

00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:17.000
 now some of you

00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:17.619
 might be saying

00:27:17.619 --> 00:27:18.240
 okay George

00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:18.819
 I'm a little bit

00:27:18.819 --> 00:27:19.319
 confused

00:27:19.319 --> 00:27:20.220
 you're still missing

00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:20.880
 the sort of

00:27:20.880 --> 00:27:21.539
 the point

00:27:21.539 --> 00:27:23.539
 that that fellow

00:27:23.539 --> 00:27:24.380
 in Starbucks

00:27:24.380 --> 00:27:25.000
 gave you

00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:27.119
 that you know

00:27:27.119 --> 00:27:30.140
 it sounds awfully

00:27:30.140 --> 00:27:30.599
 narrow

00:27:30.599 --> 00:27:31.339
 to just think

00:27:31.339 --> 00:27:31.980
 that only your

00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:32.799
 God speaks

00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:33.400
 why doesn't

00:27:33.400 --> 00:27:34.000
 all the other

00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:34.180
 you know

00:27:34.180 --> 00:27:34.619
 all the other

00:27:34.619 --> 00:27:35.059
 there's lots

00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:35.759
 of other religions

00:27:35.759 --> 00:27:36.839
 and you know

00:27:36.839 --> 00:27:37.799
 is you know

00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:38.599
 is Muslims

00:27:38.599 --> 00:27:39.740
 believe that Muhammad

00:27:39.740 --> 00:27:41.339
 God spoke to Muhammad

00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:41.920
 directly

00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:43.200
 and Mormons

00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:43.940
 believe that

00:27:43.940 --> 00:27:44.820
 that God

00:27:44.820 --> 00:27:45.480
 brought these

00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:45.860
 books

00:27:45.860 --> 00:27:49.060
 to Joseph Smith

00:27:49.060 --> 00:27:49.519
 like what

00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:52.100
 like George

00:27:52.100 --> 00:27:52.600
 what do you do

00:27:52.600 --> 00:27:53.000
 with that

00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:53.400
 well there's

00:27:53.400 --> 00:27:53.960
 several things

00:27:53.960 --> 00:27:54.420
 that we do

00:27:54.420 --> 00:27:55.580
 and the first

00:27:55.580 --> 00:27:56.279
 thing is this

00:27:56.279 --> 00:27:57.360
 if you put

00:27:57.360 --> 00:27:57.900
 the point up

00:27:57.900 --> 00:27:58.220
 Jeremy

00:27:58.220 --> 00:28:00.300
 since humans

00:28:00.300 --> 00:28:01.420
 speak as God

00:28:01.420 --> 00:28:02.660
 and the devil

00:28:02.660 --> 00:28:03.680
 speaks as God

00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:04.980
 and the true

00:28:04.980 --> 00:28:05.700
 and living God

00:28:05.700 --> 00:28:06.740
 truly speaks

00:28:06.740 --> 00:28:08.460
 we need to test

00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:09.779
 every claim

00:28:09.779 --> 00:28:11.400
 of divine speech

00:28:11.400 --> 00:28:15.019
 since humans

00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:15.960
 speak as God

00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:16.880
 and the devil

00:28:16.880 --> 00:28:17.860
 speaks as God

00:28:17.860 --> 00:28:18.560
 and the true

00:28:18.560 --> 00:28:19.500
 and living God

00:28:19.500 --> 00:28:20.700
 truly speaks

00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:22.280
 we need to test

00:28:22.280 --> 00:28:23.259
 every claim

00:28:23.259 --> 00:28:24.280
 of divine speech

00:28:24.280 --> 00:28:25.460
 that's the very

00:28:25.460 --> 00:28:26.120
 very interesting

00:28:26.120 --> 00:28:26.759
 thing about the

00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:27.560
 Bible passage

00:28:27.560 --> 00:28:28.259
 that we're looking

00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:28.860
 at is the

00:28:28.860 --> 00:28:29.640
 Bible passage

00:28:29.640 --> 00:28:30.800
 says it

00:28:30.800 --> 00:28:31.560
 doesn't say

00:28:31.560 --> 00:28:32.900
 don't listen

00:28:32.900 --> 00:28:33.259
 to the

00:28:33.259 --> 00:28:33.920
 don't even

00:28:33.920 --> 00:28:34.740
 pretend to think

00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:35.140
 that God

00:28:35.140 --> 00:28:35.700
 speaks

00:28:35.700 --> 00:28:36.560
 it isn't like

00:28:36.560 --> 00:28:36.960
 the fellow

00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:37.820
 reading skeptical

00:28:37.820 --> 00:28:38.400
 thinking

00:28:38.400 --> 00:28:39.480
 harrumphing at me

00:28:39.480 --> 00:28:41.620
 but at the

00:28:41.620 --> 00:28:42.360
 same time

00:28:42.360 --> 00:28:43.279
 it's not

00:28:43.279 --> 00:28:44.140
 be gullible

00:28:44.140 --> 00:28:46.299
 in a sense

00:28:46.299 --> 00:28:46.980
 it's like

00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:48.420
 when I was

00:28:48.420 --> 00:28:48.920
 having that

00:28:48.920 --> 00:28:49.620
 trying to

00:28:49.620 --> 00:28:50.140
 prayerfully

00:28:50.140 --> 00:28:50.720
 discern what

00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:50.980
 to do

00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:51.339
 with those

00:28:51.339 --> 00:28:52.039
 people in the

00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:52.960
 congregation

00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:53.539
 this is quite

00:28:53.539 --> 00:28:54.019
 a few years

00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:54.220
 ago

00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:54.700
 who thought

00:28:54.700 --> 00:28:55.099
 that their

00:28:55.099 --> 00:28:55.660
 friend was

00:28:55.660 --> 00:28:56.200
 having many

00:28:56.200 --> 00:28:57.220
 prophetic words

00:28:57.220 --> 00:28:58.700
 and by the way

00:28:58.700 --> 00:28:59.220
 it eventually

00:28:59.220 --> 00:28:59.880
 did come out

00:28:59.880 --> 00:29:00.380
 that in fact

00:29:00.380 --> 00:29:00.759
 she was

00:29:00.759 --> 00:29:01.299
 suffering a

00:29:01.299 --> 00:29:01.839
 psychotic

00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:02.460
 episode

00:29:02.460 --> 00:29:02.920
 that she

00:29:02.920 --> 00:29:03.279
 did have

00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:03.620
 a mental

00:29:03.620 --> 00:29:04.019
 illness

00:29:04.019 --> 00:29:04.500
 problem

00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:05.620
 and it

00:29:05.620 --> 00:29:06.440
 got cleared

00:29:06.440 --> 00:29:06.680
 up

00:29:06.680 --> 00:29:07.120
 and I

00:29:07.120 --> 00:29:07.500
 don't think

00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:07.860
 it caused

00:29:07.860 --> 00:29:08.519
 any spiritual

00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:09.320
 damage to

00:29:09.320 --> 00:29:09.700
 anybody

00:29:09.700 --> 00:29:10.960
 at least

00:29:10.960 --> 00:29:11.279
 none of the

00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:11.620
 Christians

00:29:11.620 --> 00:29:12.340
 it might have

00:29:12.340 --> 00:29:12.860
 caused some

00:29:12.860 --> 00:29:13.420
 to some of

00:29:13.420 --> 00:29:13.940
 the skeptical

00:29:13.940 --> 00:29:14.560
 friends

00:29:14.560 --> 00:29:15.180
 giving them

00:29:15.180 --> 00:29:15.799
 yet one more

00:29:15.799 --> 00:29:16.580
 reason why not

00:29:16.580 --> 00:29:17.120
 to believe the

00:29:17.120 --> 00:29:17.740
 Christian faith

00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:18.820
 but God

00:29:18.820 --> 00:29:19.080
 and his

00:29:19.080 --> 00:29:19.580
 providence

00:29:19.580 --> 00:29:20.000
 can work

00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:20.519
 all of those

00:29:20.519 --> 00:29:21.060
 things out

00:29:21.060 --> 00:29:23.539
 but the

00:29:23.539 --> 00:29:24.240
 Bible doesn't

00:29:24.240 --> 00:29:24.740
 tell us

00:29:24.740 --> 00:29:25.519
 to just shut

00:29:25.519 --> 00:29:26.160
 up and to

00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:26.480
 pretend

00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:27.580
 to think

00:29:27.580 --> 00:29:28.060
 that nothing

00:29:28.060 --> 00:29:28.600
 happens

00:29:28.600 --> 00:29:29.220
 nor does it

00:29:29.220 --> 00:29:30.240
 say it's just

00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:30.900
 to be gullible

00:29:30.900 --> 00:29:32.000
 to any claim

00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:34.480
 it goes beyond

00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:35.120
 this text

00:29:35.120 --> 00:29:35.700
 but the fact

00:29:35.700 --> 00:29:35.980
 of the matter

00:29:35.980 --> 00:29:36.660
 is that the

00:29:36.660 --> 00:29:37.200
 devil can

00:29:37.200 --> 00:29:37.759
 speak into

00:29:37.759 --> 00:29:38.220
 people's

00:29:38.220 --> 00:29:38.640
 lives

00:29:38.640 --> 00:29:40.480
 and you

00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:40.740
 know as

00:29:40.740 --> 00:29:41.180
 we've seen

00:29:41.180 --> 00:29:41.500
 already

00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:42.299
 Karl Marx

00:29:42.299 --> 00:29:43.099
 in effect

00:29:43.099 --> 00:29:43.579
 is making

00:29:43.579 --> 00:29:43.980
 a claim

00:29:43.980 --> 00:29:44.360
 to have a

00:29:44.360 --> 00:29:44.680
 type of

00:29:44.680 --> 00:29:45.059
 knowledge

00:29:45.059 --> 00:29:45.519
 like God

00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:45.759
 has

00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:46.000
 and you

00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:46.259
 could go

00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:46.660
 through all

00:29:46.660 --> 00:29:47.099
 sorts of

00:29:47.099 --> 00:29:49.120
 speakers

00:29:49.120 --> 00:29:50.860
 Hitler thought

00:29:50.860 --> 00:29:51.500
 that he in a

00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:51.960
 sense knew

00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:52.539
 the future

00:29:52.539 --> 00:29:53.539
 completely and

00:29:53.539 --> 00:29:54.200
 utterly wrong

00:29:54.200 --> 00:29:56.200
 but in a

00:29:56.200 --> 00:29:57.380
 world where

00:29:57.380 --> 00:29:57.740
 there are

00:29:57.740 --> 00:29:58.519
 many words

00:29:58.519 --> 00:29:59.259
 that claim

00:29:59.259 --> 00:29:59.700
 to come

00:29:59.700 --> 00:30:00.319
 from God

00:30:00.319 --> 00:30:00.700
 what the

00:30:00.700 --> 00:30:01.240
 Bible is

00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:02.079
 saying is

00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:02.759
 that there

00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:03.480
 are words

00:30:03.480 --> 00:30:03.900
 that come

00:30:03.900 --> 00:30:04.539
 from God

00:30:04.539 --> 00:30:06.899
 so the

00:30:06.899 --> 00:30:07.440
 Bible is

00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:07.879
 telling us

00:30:07.879 --> 00:30:08.440
 that that's

00:30:08.440 --> 00:30:09.119
 the situation

00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:09.740
 that we live

00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:09.920
 in

00:30:09.920 --> 00:30:11.099
 the situation

00:30:11.099 --> 00:30:11.579
 that we live

00:30:11.579 --> 00:30:11.960
 in is that

00:30:11.960 --> 00:30:12.200
 there are

00:30:12.200 --> 00:30:12.819
 many people

00:30:12.819 --> 00:30:13.500
 who think

00:30:13.500 --> 00:30:14.539
 that they are

00:30:14.539 --> 00:30:15.759
 speaking words

00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:16.399
 of God

00:30:16.399 --> 00:30:17.819
 and whether

00:30:17.819 --> 00:30:18.220
 they're just

00:30:18.220 --> 00:30:18.759
 coming from

00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:19.440
 themselves or

00:30:19.440 --> 00:30:19.819
 whether they're

00:30:19.819 --> 00:30:20.259
 coming from

00:30:20.259 --> 00:30:20.619
 the devil

00:30:20.619 --> 00:30:21.220
 but the fact

00:30:21.220 --> 00:30:21.680
 is there is

00:30:21.680 --> 00:30:22.039
 a God

00:30:22.039 --> 00:30:22.779
 who speaks

00:30:22.779 --> 00:30:25.159
 and so we

00:30:25.159 --> 00:30:26.079
 have to test

00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:27.259
 we have to

00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:27.819
 test

00:30:27.819 --> 00:30:28.980
 we don't

00:30:28.980 --> 00:30:29.359
 we aren't

00:30:29.359 --> 00:30:29.779
 gullible

00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:30.379
 we shouldn't

00:30:30.379 --> 00:30:30.759
 be gullible

00:30:30.759 --> 00:30:31.279
 let's put the

00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:31.960
 scripture text

00:30:31.960 --> 00:30:32.599
 back up again

00:30:32.599 --> 00:30:33.879
 say it with

00:30:33.879 --> 00:30:34.119
 me

00:30:34.119 --> 00:30:35.119
 do not

00:30:35.119 --> 00:30:35.839
 quench the

00:30:35.839 --> 00:30:36.279
 spirit

00:30:36.279 --> 00:30:37.259
 do not

00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:37.879
 despise

00:30:37.879 --> 00:30:38.779
 prophecies

00:30:38.779 --> 00:30:39.759
 but test

00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:40.519
 everything

00:30:40.519 --> 00:30:41.699
 hold fast

00:30:41.699 --> 00:30:42.219
 what is

00:30:42.219 --> 00:30:42.539
 good

00:30:42.539 --> 00:30:44.319
 one time

00:30:44.319 --> 00:30:44.799
 when a

00:30:44.799 --> 00:30:45.339
 fellow at

00:30:45.339 --> 00:30:45.839
 a Starbucks

00:30:45.839 --> 00:30:46.539
 was asking

00:30:46.539 --> 00:30:47.179
 me

00:30:47.179 --> 00:30:48.139
 like why

00:30:48.139 --> 00:30:48.579
 it was

00:30:48.579 --> 00:30:48.839
 that I

00:30:48.839 --> 00:30:49.119
 thought

00:30:49.119 --> 00:30:49.899
 that my

00:30:49.899 --> 00:30:50.419
 God was

00:30:50.419 --> 00:30:50.759
 different

00:30:50.759 --> 00:30:51.439
 my religion

00:30:51.439 --> 00:30:52.139
 was different

00:30:52.139 --> 00:30:53.319
 what I

00:30:53.319 --> 00:30:53.819
 said to

00:30:53.819 --> 00:30:54.240
 him was

00:30:54.240 --> 00:30:54.659
 what is

00:30:54.659 --> 00:30:55.139
 different

00:30:55.139 --> 00:30:55.819
 is Jesus

00:30:55.819 --> 00:30:58.779
 that the

00:30:58.779 --> 00:30:59.740
 Christian faith

00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:00.619
 out of all

00:31:00.619 --> 00:31:00.859
 of the

00:31:00.859 --> 00:31:01.279
 different

00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:01.859
 types

00:31:01.859 --> 00:31:02.379
 of all

00:31:02.379 --> 00:31:02.619
 of the

00:31:02.619 --> 00:31:02.959
 different

00:31:02.959 --> 00:31:03.839
 religions

00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:04.879
 and philosophies

00:31:04.879 --> 00:31:05.679
 and theologies

00:31:05.679 --> 00:31:06.819
 and spiritualities

00:31:06.819 --> 00:31:07.679
 which may claim

00:31:07.679 --> 00:31:08.479
 about speaking

00:31:08.479 --> 00:31:09.039
 to God

00:31:09.039 --> 00:31:09.879
 God speaking

00:31:09.879 --> 00:31:10.319
 into their

00:31:10.319 --> 00:31:10.679
 lives

00:31:10.679 --> 00:31:11.919
 that only

00:31:11.919 --> 00:31:12.539
 Jesus

00:31:12.539 --> 00:31:13.959
 only Jesus

00:31:13.959 --> 00:31:14.799
 only in

00:31:14.799 --> 00:31:15.119
 Jesus

00:31:15.119 --> 00:31:15.699
 does God

00:31:15.699 --> 00:31:16.539
 actually provide

00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:17.039
 in a sense

00:31:17.039 --> 00:31:18.099
 an historical

00:31:18.099 --> 00:31:18.799
 test

00:31:18.799 --> 00:31:20.679
 that can be

00:31:20.679 --> 00:31:21.219
 studied

00:31:21.219 --> 00:31:23.000
 to ground

00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:25.099
 the claims

00:31:25.099 --> 00:31:25.799
 the Christian

00:31:25.799 --> 00:31:26.240
 claim

00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:27.299
 and that not

00:31:27.299 --> 00:31:28.319
 only is there

00:31:28.319 --> 00:31:29.099
 a historical

00:31:29.099 --> 00:31:29.859
 claim of

00:31:29.859 --> 00:31:30.819
 something central

00:31:30.819 --> 00:31:31.339
 happening to

00:31:31.339 --> 00:31:31.719
 the person

00:31:31.719 --> 00:31:32.240
 of Jesus

00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:33.199
 but it just

00:31:33.199 --> 00:31:33.740
 doesn't happen

00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:34.219
 out of the

00:31:34.219 --> 00:31:34.500
 blue

00:31:34.500 --> 00:31:35.619
 it doesn't

00:31:35.619 --> 00:31:36.259
 happen with

00:31:36.259 --> 00:31:36.939
 a whole pile

00:31:36.939 --> 00:31:37.559
 of completely

00:31:37.559 --> 00:31:37.979
 and utterly

00:31:37.979 --> 00:31:38.559
 absurd

00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:40.099
 beliefs

00:31:40.099 --> 00:31:41.459
 that can't

00:31:41.459 --> 00:31:42.319
 really explain

00:31:42.319 --> 00:31:43.459
 or make

00:31:43.459 --> 00:31:44.339
 anything

00:31:44.339 --> 00:31:45.000
 understandable

00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:45.419
 I don't know

00:31:45.419 --> 00:31:45.679
 like the

00:31:45.679 --> 00:31:46.279
 existence of

00:31:46.279 --> 00:31:46.740
 aliens

00:31:46.740 --> 00:31:47.919
 or that there

00:31:47.919 --> 00:31:48.319
 are pink

00:31:48.319 --> 00:31:48.679
 elephants

00:31:48.679 --> 00:31:50.959
 or the trees

00:31:50.959 --> 00:31:51.359
 speak

00:31:51.359 --> 00:31:52.639
 it's not like

00:31:52.639 --> 00:31:53.079
 there's a whole

00:31:53.079 --> 00:31:53.699
 pile of

00:31:53.699 --> 00:31:55.759
 ancient mythology

00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:56.179
 I don't know

00:31:56.179 --> 00:31:56.559
 that the whole

00:31:56.559 --> 00:31:58.119
 world is resting

00:31:58.119 --> 00:31:58.779
 on a turtle

00:31:58.779 --> 00:32:00.359
 but that in

00:32:00.359 --> 00:32:01.439
 a system of

00:32:01.439 --> 00:32:02.039
 thought where

00:32:02.039 --> 00:32:02.779
 the Bible

00:32:02.779 --> 00:32:03.439
 contains

00:32:03.439 --> 00:32:04.119
 just as I

00:32:04.119 --> 00:32:04.319
 said

00:32:04.319 --> 00:32:04.739
 with the

00:32:04.739 --> 00:32:05.299
 Genesis 1

00:32:05.299 --> 00:32:05.839
 2 and 3

00:32:05.839 --> 00:32:06.339
 it's such a

00:32:06.339 --> 00:32:07.479
 powerful story

00:32:07.479 --> 00:32:08.439
 that explains

00:32:08.439 --> 00:32:09.919
 so much

00:32:09.919 --> 00:32:10.699
 of human

00:32:10.699 --> 00:32:11.119
 life

00:32:11.119 --> 00:32:11.979
 and affairs

00:32:11.979 --> 00:32:12.959
 and it's

00:32:12.959 --> 00:32:13.519
 also not

00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:13.919
 just a

00:32:13.919 --> 00:32:14.639
 powerful

00:32:14.639 --> 00:32:15.379
 stories

00:32:15.379 --> 00:32:15.819
 but there's

00:32:15.819 --> 00:32:16.299
 powerful

00:32:16.299 --> 00:32:16.959
 doctrines

00:32:16.959 --> 00:32:17.479
 the doctrine

00:32:17.479 --> 00:32:17.799
 of the

00:32:17.799 --> 00:32:18.319
 fall

00:32:18.319 --> 00:32:19.379
 the doctrine

00:32:19.379 --> 00:32:20.379
 that good

00:32:20.379 --> 00:32:20.879
 and evil

00:32:20.879 --> 00:32:21.379
 that good

00:32:21.379 --> 00:32:22.119
 is rooted

00:32:22.119 --> 00:32:22.679
 in God's

00:32:22.679 --> 00:32:23.099
 character

00:32:23.099 --> 00:32:23.579
 that there's

00:32:23.579 --> 00:32:24.539
 these powerful

00:32:24.539 --> 00:32:25.379
 ideas that

00:32:25.379 --> 00:32:26.039
 emerge from

00:32:26.039 --> 00:32:26.500
 the Bible

00:32:26.500 --> 00:32:27.339
 that explain

00:32:27.339 --> 00:32:28.799
 so much

00:32:28.799 --> 00:32:29.480
 of what

00:32:29.480 --> 00:32:30.480
 human experience

00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:30.980
 and human

00:32:30.980 --> 00:32:31.579
 knowledge is

00:32:31.579 --> 00:32:31.839
 like

00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:32.180
 and it's

00:32:32.180 --> 00:32:32.900
 also part

00:32:32.900 --> 00:32:33.299
 of not only

00:32:33.299 --> 00:32:34.279
 powerful stories

00:32:34.279 --> 00:32:34.920
 and powerful

00:32:34.920 --> 00:32:35.380
 ideas

00:32:35.380 --> 00:32:36.460
 and a powerful

00:32:36.460 --> 00:32:38.359
 overarching story

00:32:38.359 --> 00:32:38.920
 of God

00:32:38.920 --> 00:32:39.500
 making all

00:32:39.500 --> 00:32:40.220
 things good

00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:40.839
 and then human

00:32:40.839 --> 00:32:41.539
 beings bringing

00:32:41.539 --> 00:32:42.279
 evil into the

00:32:42.279 --> 00:32:42.779
 world so that

00:32:42.779 --> 00:32:43.380
 all things are

00:32:43.380 --> 00:32:43.680
 bent

00:32:43.680 --> 00:32:44.660
 and then God

00:32:44.660 --> 00:32:45.220
 beginning to

00:32:45.220 --> 00:32:45.859
 promise that

00:32:45.859 --> 00:32:46.599
 he himself

00:32:46.599 --> 00:32:47.119
 will do

00:32:47.119 --> 00:32:47.819
 what human

00:32:47.819 --> 00:32:48.440
 beings cannot

00:32:48.440 --> 00:32:48.759
 do

00:32:48.759 --> 00:32:49.119
 and we have

00:32:49.119 --> 00:32:49.660
 the age of

00:32:49.660 --> 00:32:50.420
 Israel

00:32:50.420 --> 00:32:50.920
 and of the

00:32:50.920 --> 00:32:51.339
 prophets

00:32:51.339 --> 00:32:51.779
 and of the

00:32:51.779 --> 00:32:52.240
 giving of the

00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:52.539
 law

00:32:52.539 --> 00:32:53.200
 and the age

00:32:53.200 --> 00:32:53.799
 of the promise

00:32:53.799 --> 00:32:54.480
 and then we

00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:55.039
 have the coming

00:32:55.039 --> 00:32:55.539
 of Jesus

00:32:55.539 --> 00:32:56.279
 which is God

00:32:56.279 --> 00:32:56.920
 keeping his

00:32:56.920 --> 00:32:57.500
 promise

00:32:57.500 --> 00:32:58.940
 in this first

00:32:58.940 --> 00:32:59.299
 stage

00:32:59.299 --> 00:33:00.160
 God keeps his

00:33:00.160 --> 00:33:00.519
 promise

00:33:00.519 --> 00:33:01.460
 and fulfills

00:33:01.460 --> 00:33:02.000
 all of these

00:33:02.000 --> 00:33:02.720
 prophecies

00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:04.980
 and this is

00:33:04.980 --> 00:33:06.000
 vindicated in the

00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:06.799
 person of Jesus

00:33:06.799 --> 00:33:07.920
 by Jesus saying

00:33:07.920 --> 00:33:08.839
 I have come to

00:33:08.839 --> 00:33:09.379
 die

00:33:09.379 --> 00:33:11.460
 and I will die

00:33:11.460 --> 00:33:12.319
 and I will rise

00:33:12.319 --> 00:33:12.920
 from the dead

00:33:12.920 --> 00:33:13.539
 and then Jesus

00:33:13.539 --> 00:33:14.599
 dies and rises

00:33:14.599 --> 00:33:15.259
 from the dead

00:33:15.259 --> 00:33:16.460
 and it ushers in

00:33:16.460 --> 00:33:17.319
 this other period

00:33:17.319 --> 00:33:18.039
 of the already

00:33:18.039 --> 00:33:18.720
 not yet

00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:19.339
 where people

00:33:19.339 --> 00:33:20.019
 can know

00:33:20.019 --> 00:33:20.680
 Jesus

00:33:20.680 --> 00:33:21.359
 and in a sense

00:33:21.359 --> 00:33:21.940
 hear God's

00:33:21.940 --> 00:33:22.960
 final word for him

00:33:22.960 --> 00:33:23.460
 and it's the age

00:33:23.460 --> 00:33:24.019
 of the church

00:33:24.019 --> 00:33:24.680
 and the promise

00:33:24.680 --> 00:33:25.559
 of Jesus coming

00:33:25.559 --> 00:33:26.500
 and the end

00:33:26.500 --> 00:33:27.099
 of the story

00:33:27.099 --> 00:33:27.599
 which is the

00:33:27.599 --> 00:33:28.200
 beginning of the

00:33:28.200 --> 00:33:28.859
 story which goes

00:33:28.859 --> 00:33:29.339
 on for all

00:33:29.339 --> 00:33:29.679
 eternity

00:33:29.679 --> 00:33:30.639
 is the return

00:33:30.639 --> 00:33:31.200
 of Jesus

00:33:31.200 --> 00:33:32.960
 and the creation

00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:33.359
 of the new

00:33:33.359 --> 00:33:33.859
 heaven and the

00:33:33.859 --> 00:33:34.319
 new earth

00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:35.200
 new heaven and

00:33:35.200 --> 00:33:35.480
 earth

00:33:35.480 --> 00:33:37.220
 and in the

00:33:37.220 --> 00:33:37.759
 midst of

00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:39.480
 powerful stories

00:33:39.480 --> 00:33:40.539
 and of powerful

00:33:40.539 --> 00:33:41.399
 ideas and of

00:33:41.399 --> 00:33:42.720
 powerful philosophy

00:33:42.720 --> 00:33:43.799
 and of a large

00:33:43.799 --> 00:33:44.879
 overarching story

00:33:44.879 --> 00:33:45.960
 there stands

00:33:45.960 --> 00:33:46.619
 the person

00:33:46.619 --> 00:33:47.240
 of Jesus

00:33:47.240 --> 00:33:48.319
 put the point

00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:48.819
 up please

00:33:48.819 --> 00:33:50.279
 true and

00:33:50.279 --> 00:33:51.259
 in a world

00:33:51.259 --> 00:33:52.079
 with millions

00:33:52.079 --> 00:33:52.799
 claiming to

00:33:52.799 --> 00:33:53.339
 speak for

00:33:53.339 --> 00:33:53.740
 God

00:33:53.740 --> 00:33:54.939
 the death

00:33:54.939 --> 00:33:55.619
 and resurrection

00:33:55.619 --> 00:33:56.379
 of Jesus

00:33:56.379 --> 00:33:57.059
 Messiah

00:33:57.059 --> 00:33:57.859
 is

00:33:57.859 --> 00:33:58.639
 vindication

00:33:58.639 --> 00:33:59.700
 that the

00:33:59.700 --> 00:34:00.279
 person

00:34:00.279 --> 00:34:01.119
 work

00:34:01.119 --> 00:34:02.079
 and words

00:34:02.079 --> 00:34:02.659
 of Jesus

00:34:02.659 --> 00:34:03.720
 are true

00:34:03.720 --> 00:34:04.419
 and trustworthy

00:34:04.419 --> 00:34:06.740
 in a world

00:34:06.740 --> 00:34:07.559
 with millions

00:34:07.559 --> 00:34:08.299
 claiming to

00:34:08.299 --> 00:34:08.860
 speak for

00:34:08.860 --> 00:34:09.199
 God

00:34:09.199 --> 00:34:10.319
 the death

00:34:10.319 --> 00:34:10.900
 and resurrection

00:34:10.900 --> 00:34:11.639
 of Jesus

00:34:11.639 --> 00:34:12.239
 Messiah

00:34:12.239 --> 00:34:13.019
 is

00:34:13.019 --> 00:34:13.799
 vindication

00:34:13.800 --> 00:34:16.840
 that the person, work, and words of Jesus

00:34:16.840 --> 00:34:18.360
 are true and trustworthy.

00:34:21.340 --> 00:34:24.180
 I think it was just after the Second World War,

00:34:25.300 --> 00:34:28.019
 there was a lawyer who decided he would put to death

00:34:28.019 --> 00:34:30.539
 all nonsense of these claims of Christians

00:34:30.539 --> 00:34:33.220
 of the historical reality of the death of Jesus

00:34:33.220 --> 00:34:35.519
 upon the cross and his resurrection.

00:34:36.560 --> 00:34:38.680
 And he figured with his legal training,

00:34:38.780 --> 00:34:41.460
 I think he was an Oxford grad or something like that as well,

00:34:41.539 --> 00:34:43.260
 that he would be able to assess the evidence

00:34:43.260 --> 00:34:45.720
 and write the definitive book to show that it was nonsense.

00:34:46.520 --> 00:34:49.480
 And as he studied the evidence as it existed in those days,

00:34:50.080 --> 00:34:52.180
 the surprising conclusion he came to

00:34:52.180 --> 00:34:54.800
 was that not only was there solid historical evidence

00:34:54.800 --> 00:34:58.260
 that Jesus lived, solid historical evidence that Jesus died,

00:34:58.840 --> 00:35:01.080
 solid historical evidence that he was buried,

00:35:01.520 --> 00:35:03.780
 that there was also solid historical evidence

00:35:03.780 --> 00:35:05.060
 that the grave was empty,

00:35:05.280 --> 00:35:08.600
 and that the most reasonable, rational explanation

00:35:08.600 --> 00:35:12.040
 for the empty tomb was the resurrection of Jesus.

00:35:12.039 --> 00:35:14.159
 And the book that he was to write,

00:35:14.380 --> 00:35:15.779
 to disprove the Christian faith,

00:35:16.079 --> 00:35:17.079
 is available now.

00:35:17.179 --> 00:35:18.920
 The name's author is Frank Morrison,

00:35:19.099 --> 00:35:21.259
 and it's called Who Moved the Stone?

00:35:23.259 --> 00:35:27.039
 And about 50 years after, 40 years after that book was written,

00:35:27.420 --> 00:35:29.559
 another man, also legal training,

00:35:29.779 --> 00:35:32.659
 an investigative journalist, winning many awards,

00:35:32.820 --> 00:35:34.480
 decided he would do the same thing

00:35:34.480 --> 00:35:36.780
 because to his complete and utter horror,

00:35:36.900 --> 00:35:38.320
 his wife had become a Christian.

00:35:38.940 --> 00:35:42.260
 And he decided that he was going to write the definitive book

00:35:42.260 --> 00:35:44.940
 to show that there's no evidence

00:35:44.940 --> 00:35:47.940
 for this Jesus person having risen from the dead.

00:35:48.480 --> 00:35:50.159
 And the man's name is Lee Strobel,

00:35:50.159 --> 00:35:52.799
 and the book he wrote is called The Case for Christ.

00:35:54.879 --> 00:35:58.219
 Without realizing it, he retraced the steps of Frank Morrison,

00:35:58.219 --> 00:36:02.079
 and after a deep study, came to the conclusion

00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:05.420
 that not only is it reasonable to believe

00:36:05.420 --> 00:36:08.659
 that the death, that the resurrection,

00:36:08.839 --> 00:36:10.399
 not only is it reasonable to believe

00:36:10.399 --> 00:36:12.719
 that Jesus, the reason the grave was empty

00:36:12.719 --> 00:36:14.519
 was because Jesus had risen from the dead,

00:36:14.519 --> 00:36:17.239
 but that is the most reasonable answer.

00:36:18.500 --> 00:36:20.619
 I think it's G.K. Chesterton who once said,

00:36:21.460 --> 00:36:25.099
 Christians believe in miracles because of evidence.

00:36:26.320 --> 00:36:29.199
 Many people disbelieve in miracles because of doctrine.

00:36:32.179 --> 00:36:34.519
 G.K. Chesterton wrote over 100 years ago.

00:36:36.900 --> 00:36:39.119
 And that's the thing which makes it different.

00:36:40.179 --> 00:36:43.380
 Jesus, in the historical records of his life,

00:36:43.380 --> 00:36:46.660
 says, I have come to die, I will die,

00:36:46.800 --> 00:36:48.039
 I will rise from the dead.

00:36:49.140 --> 00:36:51.480
 And he tells in the historical record

00:36:51.480 --> 00:36:54.160
 the purpose of his dying and rising.

00:36:55.860 --> 00:36:58.780
 The accounts of how he institutes the Lord's Supper

00:36:58.780 --> 00:37:00.700
 shortly before his death and resurrection

00:37:00.700 --> 00:37:03.160
 is that he's doing this for the forgiveness of sins.

00:37:03.680 --> 00:37:05.980
 He says he comes to seek and save the lost.

00:37:06.640 --> 00:37:09.460
 He says he comes to free the captives.

00:37:09.860 --> 00:37:11.980
 He comes to give life.

00:37:11.980 --> 00:37:13.980
 He comes to reveal God.

00:37:13.980 --> 00:37:22.079
 Jesus claims that in him and in his death upon the cross,

00:37:22.539 --> 00:37:26.099
 there is the most perfect and complete revelation

00:37:26.099 --> 00:37:28.000
 of who God is.

00:37:31.480 --> 00:37:33.840
 That the great longing that many of us have

00:37:33.840 --> 00:37:35.579
 that God is love is true.

00:37:36.460 --> 00:37:38.240
 The great mystery that we have

00:37:38.240 --> 00:37:39.679
 as to how God can be loved

00:37:39.679 --> 00:37:41.659
 and how God can be completely good

00:37:41.659 --> 00:37:42.739
 and completely just,

00:37:43.339 --> 00:37:45.379
 without compromising any of those things,

00:37:45.960 --> 00:37:48.279
 Jesus teaches that it's only in the cross

00:37:48.279 --> 00:37:50.259
 that these mysteries come together.

00:37:50.379 --> 00:37:52.819
 And we see how God can both be completely good

00:37:52.819 --> 00:37:53.859
 and completely just

00:37:53.859 --> 00:37:55.059
 and completely loving

00:37:55.059 --> 00:37:56.519
 and completely merciful

00:37:56.519 --> 00:37:58.719
 and completely graceful of grace.

00:37:58.960 --> 00:38:00.359
 Only in the cross

00:38:00.359 --> 00:38:01.980
 is that made clear.

00:38:02.639 --> 00:38:04.199
 Only in the person of Jesus

00:38:04.199 --> 00:38:05.619
 is that made clear.

00:38:07.799 --> 00:38:09.299
 And so the Bible teaches

00:38:09.299 --> 00:38:13.559
 that the resurrection of Jesus Messiah

00:38:13.559 --> 00:38:15.559
 is the vindication of the person,

00:38:15.739 --> 00:38:17.059
 work, and words of Jesus

00:38:17.059 --> 00:38:18.259
 are true and trustworthy.

00:38:19.379 --> 00:38:21.259
 And that's why it is that we as Christians,

00:38:21.480 --> 00:38:22.859
 put up the scripture text again.

00:38:23.859 --> 00:38:25.759
 That's why we listen to this text

00:38:25.759 --> 00:38:27.039
 and say it with me.

00:38:27.039 --> 00:38:28.940
 Do not quench the spirit.

00:38:29.480 --> 00:38:31.340
 Do not despise prophecies,

00:38:31.659 --> 00:38:32.820
 but test everything.

00:38:33.259 --> 00:38:34.579
 Pull fast what is good.

00:38:34.920 --> 00:38:36.099
 Put up the next point, please.

00:38:37.340 --> 00:38:40.059
 The Bible is the true and final word

00:38:40.059 --> 00:38:42.199
 from the true and living God.

00:38:42.679 --> 00:38:43.960
 And the Bible's account

00:38:43.960 --> 00:38:45.840
 of the person and work of Jesus

00:38:45.840 --> 00:38:48.119
 is the key to knowing God

00:38:48.119 --> 00:38:49.679
 and his word written.

00:38:51.639 --> 00:38:54.380
 The Bible is the true and final word

00:38:54.380 --> 00:38:55.920
 from the true and living God.

00:38:55.920 --> 00:38:57.480
 And the Bible's account

00:38:57.480 --> 00:38:59.240
 of the person and work of Jesus

00:38:59.240 --> 00:39:01.280
 is the key to knowing God

00:39:01.280 --> 00:39:02.420
 and his word written.

00:39:03.780 --> 00:39:04.960
 Jesus, if you go back

00:39:04.960 --> 00:39:06.340
 and listen to the records

00:39:06.340 --> 00:39:07.900
 of Jesus' life,

00:39:08.039 --> 00:39:09.579
 that Jesus goes back

00:39:09.579 --> 00:39:10.559
 and he says that that

00:39:10.559 --> 00:39:12.099
 which we now call the Old Testament

00:39:12.099 --> 00:39:13.900
 is the very word

00:39:13.900 --> 00:39:15.019
 that comes from God.

00:39:15.380 --> 00:39:16.280
 Why do I believe

00:39:16.280 --> 00:39:17.079
 that the Old Testament

00:39:17.079 --> 00:39:19.079
 is a prophecy in a sense,

00:39:19.159 --> 00:39:20.539
 a direct word from God

00:39:20.539 --> 00:39:21.880
 into our human situation?

00:39:22.500 --> 00:39:23.380
 Not because of,

00:39:23.880 --> 00:39:24.920
 I believe it ultimately

00:39:24.920 --> 00:39:26.380
 because that's what Jesus said.

00:39:26.460 --> 00:39:27.440
 Why do I believe Jesus?

00:39:27.599 --> 00:39:28.019
 Because I,

00:39:28.200 --> 00:39:29.360
 in his death and resurrection,

00:39:29.820 --> 00:39:32.579
 in the context of profound words

00:39:32.579 --> 00:39:33.800
 and stories in the Bible

00:39:33.800 --> 00:39:35.440
 and of ideas and doctrines

00:39:35.440 --> 00:39:36.619
 that make so much sense

00:39:36.619 --> 00:39:37.800
 and explain so much thing

00:39:37.800 --> 00:39:38.480
 in a profound metanarrative,

00:39:39.480 --> 00:39:40.680
 that Jesus is in the midst

00:39:40.680 --> 00:39:41.220
 of all that,

00:39:41.380 --> 00:39:42.320
 vindicating that

00:39:42.320 --> 00:39:44.079
 and providing historical evidence

00:39:44.079 --> 00:39:44.480
 for it.

00:39:44.539 --> 00:39:45.780
 And it's a revelation

00:39:45.780 --> 00:39:47.200
 that's not just a revelation

00:39:47.200 --> 00:39:48.019
 that's about knowledge,

00:39:48.019 --> 00:39:48.900
 but it's a revelation

00:39:48.900 --> 00:39:51.179
 about being coming united

00:39:51.179 --> 00:39:51.800
 with God

00:39:51.800 --> 00:39:52.800
 through what Jesus does

00:39:52.800 --> 00:39:53.320
 on the cross,

00:39:53.400 --> 00:39:54.719
 that God speaks to us

00:39:54.719 --> 00:39:55.599
 to save us.

00:39:55.679 --> 00:39:56.619
 He speaks to us

00:39:56.619 --> 00:39:58.300
 to call us back to himself

00:39:58.300 --> 00:39:59.539
 that we might be his.

00:39:59.780 --> 00:40:00.920
 And it's in the context

00:40:00.920 --> 00:40:01.639
 of his love

00:40:01.639 --> 00:40:02.460
 and his desire

00:40:02.460 --> 00:40:04.159
 to have us be his

00:40:04.159 --> 00:40:05.840
 that he reveals himself.

00:40:07.860 --> 00:40:08.780
 And Jesus says

00:40:08.780 --> 00:40:09.820
 the words of the Old Testament

00:40:09.820 --> 00:40:10.960
 are words that come from God.

00:40:11.019 --> 00:40:11.759
 And Jesus says

00:40:11.759 --> 00:40:12.500
 that my words

00:40:12.500 --> 00:40:13.480
 will not be forgotten.

00:40:13.559 --> 00:40:14.159
 That's the reason

00:40:14.159 --> 00:40:15.159
 why Christians believe

00:40:15.159 --> 00:40:16.379
 that the New Testament

00:40:16.379 --> 00:40:17.920
 is ultimately

00:40:17.920 --> 00:40:19.519
 from God himself.

00:40:20.719 --> 00:40:22.079
 And it's only by knowing

00:40:22.079 --> 00:40:23.339
 and understanding Jesus

00:40:23.339 --> 00:40:24.339
 and what he did for us

00:40:24.339 --> 00:40:24.980
 on the cross

00:40:24.980 --> 00:40:25.759
 and his resurrection

00:40:25.759 --> 00:40:26.920
 that the Bible makes sense

00:40:26.920 --> 00:40:27.440
 and that God

00:40:27.440 --> 00:40:28.359
 can be truly known.

00:40:29.359 --> 00:40:30.179
 And that God

00:40:30.179 --> 00:40:31.059
 can be truly known.

00:40:32.199 --> 00:40:36.359
 Now here's the issue for us

00:40:36.359 --> 00:40:38.079
 as we sort of bring

00:40:38.079 --> 00:40:39.539
 this sermon to a close.

00:40:40.359 --> 00:40:40.819
 You could put up

00:40:40.819 --> 00:40:41.539
 the next point.

00:40:41.539 --> 00:40:46.519
 God is always more willing

00:40:46.519 --> 00:40:47.639
 to speak to me

00:40:47.639 --> 00:40:49.079
 than I am willing

00:40:49.079 --> 00:40:49.940
 to listen to him.

00:40:51.599 --> 00:40:53.159
 God is always more willing

00:40:53.159 --> 00:40:54.219
 to speak to me

00:40:54.219 --> 00:40:55.360
 than I am willing

00:40:55.360 --> 00:40:56.219
 to listen to him.

00:40:58.199 --> 00:40:59.440
 Every single one of us

00:40:59.440 --> 00:41:00.480
 can probably share

00:41:00.480 --> 00:41:02.079
 lots of stories of abuse

00:41:02.079 --> 00:41:03.119
 of people who say

00:41:03.119 --> 00:41:03.759
 they have the words

00:41:03.759 --> 00:41:04.380
 of prophecy

00:41:04.380 --> 00:41:05.219
 or they hear the words

00:41:05.219 --> 00:41:05.779
 from God.

00:41:07.099 --> 00:41:07.940
 That we could probably

00:41:07.940 --> 00:41:08.900
 have a very interesting

00:41:08.900 --> 00:41:10.360
 coffee time discussion

00:41:10.360 --> 00:41:13.599
 of really, really,

00:41:13.740 --> 00:41:15.260
 really dumb things

00:41:15.260 --> 00:41:17.099
 and really, really evil things

00:41:17.099 --> 00:41:18.300
 that Christians have done

00:41:18.300 --> 00:41:19.620
 claiming to hear from God.

00:41:20.180 --> 00:41:20.980
 We could probably share

00:41:20.980 --> 00:41:22.120
 many, many stories

00:41:22.120 --> 00:41:22.900
 like that.

00:41:24.099 --> 00:41:26.000
 But my suspicion is

00:41:26.000 --> 00:41:27.539
 that when we get to heaven

00:41:27.539 --> 00:41:30.320
 and God speaks into my life

00:41:30.320 --> 00:41:31.420
 and speaks into my life

00:41:31.420 --> 00:41:32.079
 about, you know,

00:41:32.140 --> 00:41:33.200
 he's letting me into heaven

00:41:33.200 --> 00:41:34.579
 because of what Jesus

00:41:34.579 --> 00:41:35.220
 has done for me

00:41:35.220 --> 00:41:35.500
 on the cross,

00:41:35.579 --> 00:41:36.300
 we're still going to help

00:41:36.300 --> 00:41:37.039
 make clear to me

00:41:37.039 --> 00:41:37.940
 the meaning of my life

00:41:37.940 --> 00:41:38.519
 and what went on

00:41:38.519 --> 00:41:38.980
 in my life.

00:41:38.980 --> 00:41:40.659
 And I bet God

00:41:40.659 --> 00:41:41.559
 will confront me

00:41:41.559 --> 00:41:42.940
 far more about the times

00:41:42.940 --> 00:41:43.539
 that I refused

00:41:43.539 --> 00:41:44.440
 to listen to him

00:41:44.440 --> 00:41:46.920
 than about the times

00:41:46.920 --> 00:41:47.719
 that it was abused.

00:41:51.699 --> 00:41:54.480
 That I will probably

00:41:54.480 --> 00:41:55.199
 be shocked

00:41:55.199 --> 00:41:56.059
 if God was just

00:41:56.059 --> 00:41:57.039
 to replay my life

00:41:57.039 --> 00:41:57.300
 and say,

00:41:57.420 --> 00:41:57.539
 you know,

00:41:57.659 --> 00:41:58.039
 George,

00:41:58.159 --> 00:41:58.539
 see that?

00:41:58.980 --> 00:42:01.179
 I told you not to do that

00:42:01.179 --> 00:42:01.719
 and you went ahead

00:42:01.719 --> 00:42:02.139
 and did it.

00:42:02.460 --> 00:42:03.400
 And you heard me,

00:42:03.440 --> 00:42:03.740
 didn't you?

00:42:05.380 --> 00:42:05.980
 And George,

00:42:06.019 --> 00:42:06.639
 you were doing this

00:42:06.639 --> 00:42:07.980
 and I told you

00:42:07.980 --> 00:42:08.559
 you should be going

00:42:08.559 --> 00:42:10.000
 and maybe saying that word

00:42:10.000 --> 00:42:11.239
 or maybe making that apology

00:42:11.239 --> 00:42:12.199
 and you didn't do it,

00:42:12.239 --> 00:42:12.519
 did you?

00:42:12.619 --> 00:42:13.319
 But you knew that,

00:42:13.379 --> 00:42:13.920
 didn't you, George?

00:42:16.879 --> 00:42:17.639
 And you know,

00:42:17.679 --> 00:42:17.879
 George,

00:42:17.920 --> 00:42:18.759
 that time you asked me

00:42:18.759 --> 00:42:19.339
 for wisdom

00:42:19.339 --> 00:42:20.579
 about a particular point

00:42:20.579 --> 00:42:21.219
 in your sermon

00:42:21.219 --> 00:42:22.219
 and George,

00:42:22.319 --> 00:42:23.279
 didn't I right away

00:42:23.279 --> 00:42:24.379
 put an idea in your head

00:42:24.379 --> 00:42:25.319
 and didn't you completely

00:42:25.319 --> 00:42:26.379
 and utterly ignore it

00:42:26.379 --> 00:42:27.179
 and do something

00:42:27.179 --> 00:42:27.799
 that you thought

00:42:27.799 --> 00:42:29.519
 would make a bigger,

00:42:29.879 --> 00:42:31.719
 in your feeble,

00:42:32.039 --> 00:42:33.900
 God can say that to me,

00:42:34.279 --> 00:42:35.359
 your feeble mind

00:42:35.360 --> 00:42:35.900
 that you thought

00:42:35.900 --> 00:42:36.539
 would be better

00:42:36.539 --> 00:42:39.180
 and you asked for my help

00:42:39.180 --> 00:42:40.079
 and I gave you help

00:42:40.079 --> 00:42:40.519
 right away

00:42:40.519 --> 00:42:41.720
 and you didn't use it,

00:42:41.760 --> 00:42:42.079
 did you?

00:42:44.160 --> 00:42:45.160
 And my guess is

00:42:45.160 --> 00:42:46.340
 that when we get to heaven,

00:42:46.559 --> 00:42:47.320
 God's going to spend

00:42:47.320 --> 00:42:48.940
 vastly more time

00:42:48.940 --> 00:42:52.039
 with us refusing to listen

00:42:52.039 --> 00:42:54.039
 than those times

00:42:54.039 --> 00:42:56.320
 that we invented

00:42:56.320 --> 00:42:57.440
 listening or abused it.

00:42:58.400 --> 00:42:59.720
 God is always more willing

00:42:59.720 --> 00:43:00.599
 to speak to me

00:43:00.599 --> 00:43:01.200
 than I am willing

00:43:01.200 --> 00:43:02.079
 to listen to him.

00:43:02.760 --> 00:43:03.820
 The Holy Spirit,

00:43:03.820 --> 00:43:05.360
 to put the text back up,

00:43:05.480 --> 00:43:05.680
 Jeremy,

00:43:06.140 --> 00:43:07.039
 say it together with me,

00:43:07.100 --> 00:43:08.240
 do not quench the spirit,

00:43:08.780 --> 00:43:10.400
 do not despise prophecies,

00:43:10.519 --> 00:43:11.720
 but test everything,

00:43:12.180 --> 00:43:13.380
 hold fast what is good.

00:43:14.460 --> 00:43:14.840
 You see,

00:43:15.180 --> 00:43:16.519
 don't despise the fact

00:43:16.519 --> 00:43:17.480
 that God speaks.

00:43:19.000 --> 00:43:20.460
 God is far more willing

00:43:20.460 --> 00:43:21.360
 to speak to you and me

00:43:21.360 --> 00:43:21.800
 than we are,

00:43:21.940 --> 00:43:22.700
 than I am to listen

00:43:22.700 --> 00:43:23.480
 than you are to listen

00:43:23.480 --> 00:43:25.320
 and the Holy Spirit

00:43:25.320 --> 00:43:25.840
 is the means

00:43:25.840 --> 00:43:27.620
 by which God speaks to us,

00:43:28.300 --> 00:43:29.760
 brings God's word home to us

00:43:29.760 --> 00:43:31.180
 and brings us personal words

00:43:31.180 --> 00:43:31.740
 of direction,

00:43:31.900 --> 00:43:32.800
 guidance as well.

00:43:32.800 --> 00:43:35.920
 And so to not want

00:43:35.920 --> 00:43:37.019
 to hear God speak

00:43:37.019 --> 00:43:37.440
 is to,

00:43:37.560 --> 00:43:38.640
 in a sense,

00:43:38.680 --> 00:43:39.740
 to say that the Holy Spirit

00:43:39.740 --> 00:43:41.380
 has no role in our lives

00:43:41.380 --> 00:43:44.280
 and that God's to have

00:43:44.280 --> 00:43:45.300
 no role in our lives.

00:43:46.160 --> 00:43:48.200
 Here's the final point.

00:43:48.840 --> 00:43:49.240
 Put it up,

00:43:49.300 --> 00:43:49.740
 please, Jeremy.

00:43:50.680 --> 00:43:52.760
 God can speak directly to us

00:43:52.760 --> 00:43:54.519
 and he can speak

00:43:54.519 --> 00:43:55.440
 through other people,

00:43:55.840 --> 00:43:56.920
 but each word,

00:43:57.000 --> 00:43:57.860
 I would now maybe say

00:43:57.860 --> 00:43:58.740
 personal word

00:43:58.740 --> 00:43:59.800
 if I was to write it again,

00:43:59.800 --> 00:44:01.080
 each personal word

00:44:01.080 --> 00:44:03.019
 must always be weighed

00:44:03.019 --> 00:44:04.820
 by the prayerful,

00:44:05.180 --> 00:44:06.600
 communal reading

00:44:06.600 --> 00:44:08.100
 of God's word written.

00:44:12.500 --> 00:44:13.120
 You see,

00:44:13.300 --> 00:44:13.980
 the main way

00:44:13.980 --> 00:44:14.860
 that we start to be able

00:44:14.860 --> 00:44:16.019
 to hear the word of God

00:44:16.019 --> 00:44:17.120
 is by actually learning

00:44:17.120 --> 00:44:18.320
 how to just hear the Bible

00:44:18.320 --> 00:44:20.780
 because we know

00:44:20.780 --> 00:44:21.940
 we can depend upon this

00:44:21.940 --> 00:44:22.360
 being the way

00:44:22.360 --> 00:44:23.300
 that God speaks.

00:44:23.300 --> 00:44:26.600
 You know,

00:44:26.760 --> 00:44:28.100
 if you think

00:44:28.100 --> 00:44:29.960
 that God is telling you

00:44:29.960 --> 00:44:31.000
 to cheat on your wife,

00:44:32.220 --> 00:44:35.660
 I don't have to spend time

00:44:35.660 --> 00:44:36.100
 in prayer

00:44:36.100 --> 00:44:36.840
 discerning whether

00:44:36.840 --> 00:44:37.440
 that's the case.

00:44:37.500 --> 00:44:38.060
 It's very clear

00:44:38.060 --> 00:44:38.660
 from the Bible

00:44:38.660 --> 00:44:40.600
 that God's not calling you

00:44:40.600 --> 00:44:41.480
 to cheat on your wife.

00:44:42.700 --> 00:44:43.140
 Okay?

00:44:43.580 --> 00:44:44.680
 We don't have to pray

00:44:44.680 --> 00:44:46.080
 and fast over this issue.

00:44:46.760 --> 00:44:47.920
 He's not calling you

00:44:47.920 --> 00:44:48.780
 to cheat on your wife.

00:44:49.080 --> 00:44:49.360
 Okay?

00:44:50.039 --> 00:44:51.180
 But whether he's calling you

00:44:51.180 --> 00:44:52.559
 to do something more specific,

00:44:52.740 --> 00:44:53.500
 whether he's calling you

00:44:53.500 --> 00:44:54.280
 to become a missionary

00:44:54.280 --> 00:44:55.320
 or whether he's calling you

00:44:55.320 --> 00:44:56.200
 to take this job

00:44:56.200 --> 00:44:57.200
 or whether he's calling you

00:44:57.200 --> 00:44:58.960
 to do a particular thing,

00:44:59.539 --> 00:44:59.940
 you know,

00:45:00.039 --> 00:45:01.240
 those are the types of things

00:45:01.240 --> 00:45:03.180
 that over time

00:45:03.180 --> 00:45:04.420
 as you build your muscles

00:45:04.420 --> 00:45:05.360
 and being able to hear,

00:45:05.740 --> 00:45:07.640
 you learn by hearing

00:45:07.640 --> 00:45:08.860
 by actually hearing the word

00:45:08.860 --> 00:45:09.640
 and hearing the word

00:45:09.640 --> 00:45:10.500
 shared and talked

00:45:10.500 --> 00:45:11.240
 with other people

00:45:11.240 --> 00:45:12.400
 and hearing it opened

00:45:12.400 --> 00:45:13.160
 in church

00:45:13.160 --> 00:45:14.000
 and other places

00:45:14.000 --> 00:45:15.019
 where hopefully

00:45:15.019 --> 00:45:16.460
 the people are trustworthy.

00:45:16.460 --> 00:45:19.159
 And then that means

00:45:19.159 --> 00:45:19.860
 that not everything

00:45:19.860 --> 00:45:20.920
 that comes into you

00:45:20.920 --> 00:45:22.240
 as a word from God

00:45:22.240 --> 00:45:23.019
 is something

00:45:23.019 --> 00:45:23.500
 that you necessarily

00:45:23.500 --> 00:45:23.980
 have to get

00:45:23.980 --> 00:45:25.079
 some type of feedback in.

00:45:25.220 --> 00:45:26.340
 Just this week,

00:45:26.420 --> 00:45:27.079
 I had a meeting

00:45:27.079 --> 00:45:27.880
 a little while ago,

00:45:28.320 --> 00:45:29.440
 a couple of weeks ago,

00:45:29.639 --> 00:45:31.380
 and I realized,

00:45:32.079 --> 00:45:32.940
 it was that God

00:45:32.940 --> 00:45:33.679
 just spoke to me

00:45:33.679 --> 00:45:34.480
 on Friday

00:45:34.480 --> 00:45:35.179
 and he said,

00:45:35.340 --> 00:45:35.800
 you know, George,

00:45:35.860 --> 00:45:36.480
 in that meeting,

00:45:36.639 --> 00:45:37.500
 you said this,

00:45:38.420 --> 00:45:40.400
 and I know it was in joke,

00:45:40.599 --> 00:45:41.960
 and I know everybody laughed,

00:45:42.099 --> 00:45:44.460
 but you shouldn't have said that

00:45:44.460 --> 00:45:45.579
 and you need to apologize.

00:45:45.579 --> 00:45:46.900
 And I don't need to get

00:45:46.900 --> 00:45:47.799
 prayerful discernment

00:45:47.799 --> 00:45:48.259
 over that.

00:45:50.039 --> 00:45:50.360
 Hopefully,

00:45:50.420 --> 00:45:51.239
 I'm going to see this person

00:45:51.239 --> 00:45:52.400
 within the next couple of days.

00:45:52.519 --> 00:45:52.779
 If not,

00:45:52.799 --> 00:45:53.500
 I'm going to call them

00:45:53.500 --> 00:45:54.279
 and I'm going to apologize.

00:45:55.299 --> 00:45:56.079
 I don't need to get

00:45:56.079 --> 00:45:57.019
 prayerful discernment

00:45:57.019 --> 00:45:58.119
 or communal discernment

00:45:58.119 --> 00:45:59.360
 because that's a very simple

00:45:59.360 --> 00:45:59.960
 type of thing.

00:46:01.340 --> 00:46:02.420
 But in general,

00:46:02.559 --> 00:46:03.219
 as God speaks

00:46:03.219 --> 00:46:04.759
 not only about specific types

00:46:04.759 --> 00:46:05.039
 of things,

00:46:05.079 --> 00:46:05.599
 you need to go in

00:46:05.599 --> 00:46:06.119
 to apologize.

00:46:06.319 --> 00:46:07.000
 You need to do this,

00:46:07.059 --> 00:46:07.739
 you need to do that.

00:46:08.099 --> 00:46:08.759
 Those are things

00:46:08.759 --> 00:46:09.840
 that as you read God's word,

00:46:09.920 --> 00:46:10.840
 you can just hear them

00:46:10.840 --> 00:46:11.759
 as personal words

00:46:11.759 --> 00:46:12.279
 and direction,

00:46:12.480 --> 00:46:12.799
 guidance,

00:46:12.900 --> 00:46:13.739
 and wisdom from God

00:46:13.739 --> 00:46:14.779
 that you are to go towards.

00:46:14.780 --> 00:46:15.820
 But other things

00:46:15.820 --> 00:46:16.620
 which might be very,

00:46:16.760 --> 00:46:17.280
 very bigger

00:46:17.280 --> 00:46:18.420
 and have bigger types

00:46:18.420 --> 00:46:19.300
 of consequences,

00:46:19.300 --> 00:46:20.580
 those are often things

00:46:20.580 --> 00:46:21.740
 that you need to have

00:46:21.740 --> 00:46:22.540
 some time on.

00:46:22.860 --> 00:46:23.720
 A couple of years ago,

00:46:23.800 --> 00:46:24.800
 there was a woman

00:46:24.800 --> 00:46:26.300
 during one of the church services.

00:46:26.300 --> 00:46:27.480
 After the sermon was over,

00:46:27.560 --> 00:46:28.380
 she came up to me

00:46:28.380 --> 00:46:29.620
 and she said to me,

00:46:29.640 --> 00:46:29.900
 George,

00:46:29.960 --> 00:46:31.980
 I think God is calling me

00:46:31.980 --> 00:46:32.720
 to confess

00:46:32.720 --> 00:46:34.080
 before the church

00:46:34.080 --> 00:46:35.620
 my adultery.

00:46:36.680 --> 00:46:37.320
 So she came up.

00:46:37.360 --> 00:46:38.120
 I was sitting in the front row.

00:46:38.160 --> 00:46:39.000
 She came up behind me

00:46:39.000 --> 00:46:39.580
 and she said that.

00:46:39.640 --> 00:46:40.060
 And I said,

00:46:40.060 --> 00:46:40.320
 well,

00:46:41.320 --> 00:46:43.380
 why don't we both pray

00:46:43.380 --> 00:46:44.700
 about this for a week or two?

00:46:46.420 --> 00:46:47.380
 And if it seems

00:46:47.380 --> 00:46:48.280
 as if God is still

00:46:48.280 --> 00:46:49.119
 calling you to do this,

00:46:49.200 --> 00:46:49.880
 we'll let you do it.

00:46:51.740 --> 00:46:54.400
 And so there was

00:46:54.400 --> 00:46:55.920
 some behind-the-scenes

00:46:55.920 --> 00:46:56.700
 conversation

00:46:56.700 --> 00:46:57.420
 and we ended up

00:46:57.420 --> 00:46:57.940
 discerning that

00:46:57.940 --> 00:46:59.059
 that was what she should do

00:46:59.059 --> 00:46:59.680
 and she did it.

00:47:01.840 --> 00:47:03.019
 But that's a pretty

00:47:03.019 --> 00:47:03.960
 dramatic step,

00:47:04.039 --> 00:47:04.280
 you know?

00:47:04.920 --> 00:47:05.800
 Not just something

00:47:05.800 --> 00:47:07.360
 just because in a sermon

00:47:07.360 --> 00:47:08.400
 you get an idea

00:47:08.400 --> 00:47:09.099
 or in a church service

00:47:09.099 --> 00:47:09.760
 yet I should just

00:47:09.760 --> 00:47:10.340
 jump up and do it.

00:47:10.380 --> 00:47:13.260
 That has bigger repercussions

00:47:13.260 --> 00:47:14.619
 and it was the right

00:47:14.619 --> 00:47:15.139
 thing to do.

00:47:15.200 --> 00:47:16.260
 I feel very comfortable

00:47:16.260 --> 00:47:17.500
 that there was that time

00:47:17.500 --> 00:47:18.559
 of extra discernment

00:47:18.559 --> 00:47:18.960
 about it.

00:47:19.380 --> 00:47:20.400
 And she did the right thing

00:47:20.400 --> 00:47:21.539
 in coming to speak to me

00:47:21.539 --> 00:47:22.820
 and I had her speak

00:47:22.820 --> 00:47:24.780
 to obviously another person

00:47:24.780 --> 00:47:25.220
 about it

00:47:25.220 --> 00:47:25.980
 and it ended up

00:47:25.980 --> 00:47:26.980
 it was the right thing

00:47:26.980 --> 00:47:27.440
 to do.

00:47:29.280 --> 00:47:29.880
 And that's why

00:47:29.880 --> 00:47:30.980
 it says God can speak

00:47:30.980 --> 00:47:32.099
 directly to us

00:47:32.099 --> 00:47:32.880
 and he can speak

00:47:32.880 --> 00:47:33.720
 through other people

00:47:33.720 --> 00:47:35.099
 but each personal word

00:47:35.099 --> 00:47:36.260
 must always be weighed

00:47:36.260 --> 00:47:37.539
 by the prayerful communal

00:47:37.539 --> 00:47:38.940
 reading of God's word written.

00:47:40.920 --> 00:47:41.920
 Now we're going to close

00:47:41.920 --> 00:47:42.699
 with two prayers

00:47:42.699 --> 00:47:43.679
 and we're going to close

00:47:43.679 --> 00:47:44.159
 with a prayer

00:47:44.159 --> 00:47:45.559
 hopefully after all of this

00:47:45.559 --> 00:47:46.739
 you would like to join

00:47:46.739 --> 00:47:47.579
 with me in praying

00:47:47.579 --> 00:47:49.139
 that every day

00:47:49.139 --> 00:47:50.079
 you will spend time

00:47:50.079 --> 00:47:50.900
 in God's word

00:47:50.900 --> 00:47:52.219
 and that you'll learn

00:47:52.219 --> 00:47:53.400
 to speak to God

00:47:53.400 --> 00:47:54.699
 and listen to God

00:47:54.699 --> 00:47:56.039
 and recognize the voice

00:47:56.039 --> 00:47:56.480
 of God

00:47:56.480 --> 00:47:57.239
 and receive wisdom

00:47:57.239 --> 00:47:58.279
 and guidance from God.

00:47:58.980 --> 00:48:00.279
 But there's one other prayer

00:48:00.279 --> 00:48:01.320
 that some of us

00:48:01.320 --> 00:48:02.599
 might want to pray first.

00:48:03.719 --> 00:48:04.779
 Could you put it up please?

00:48:04.880 --> 00:48:05.579
 The first prayer.

00:48:07.539 --> 00:48:08.940
 You know the fundamental way

00:48:08.940 --> 00:48:11.340
 that we really definitively hear

00:48:11.340 --> 00:48:12.300
 the voice of God?

00:48:13.019 --> 00:48:14.159
 It comes from the book

00:48:14.159 --> 00:48:15.639
 of Revelation chapter 3

00:48:15.639 --> 00:48:17.320
 and there's this image

00:48:17.320 --> 00:48:19.420
 of how the Christian life begins

00:48:19.420 --> 00:48:20.679
 and many of us

00:48:20.679 --> 00:48:21.639
 have spent many years

00:48:21.639 --> 00:48:22.259
 in church

00:48:22.259 --> 00:48:25.460
 and maybe we've been

00:48:25.460 --> 00:48:26.380
 in and out of churches

00:48:26.380 --> 00:48:27.820
 and we might even have

00:48:27.820 --> 00:48:29.320
 a great fondness for Jesus

00:48:29.320 --> 00:48:31.960
 and we see it

00:48:31.960 --> 00:48:32.960
 but the Bible

00:48:32.960 --> 00:48:33.860
 paints this picture

00:48:33.860 --> 00:48:34.759
 in Revelation 3

00:48:34.760 --> 00:48:35.620
 of Jesus standing

00:48:35.620 --> 00:48:36.620
 at the door of our life

00:48:36.620 --> 00:48:38.360
 and he knocks on the door

00:48:38.360 --> 00:48:40.820
 and he's saying

00:48:40.820 --> 00:48:41.760
 George

00:48:41.760 --> 00:48:43.420
 please let me come in

00:48:43.420 --> 00:48:44.100
 to be your savior

00:48:44.100 --> 00:48:44.660
 and your Lord.

00:48:46.860 --> 00:48:48.640
 And I might be very content

00:48:48.640 --> 00:48:50.020
 looking through the keyhole

00:48:50.020 --> 00:48:50.720
 and getting a glimpse

00:48:50.720 --> 00:48:52.000
 of Jesus every once in a while

00:48:52.000 --> 00:48:52.860
 and getting very excited.

00:48:52.960 --> 00:48:53.720
 I might like to talk

00:48:53.720 --> 00:48:54.680
 to Jesus through the door.

00:48:54.760 --> 00:48:55.480
 I might like to slip

00:48:55.480 --> 00:48:56.180
 Jesus' notes

00:48:56.180 --> 00:48:57.280
 through underneath the door.

00:48:57.280 --> 00:49:00.600
 and I might actually

00:49:00.600 --> 00:49:02.280
 think I've had

00:49:02.280 --> 00:49:02.980
 more profound

00:49:02.980 --> 00:49:04.240
 mystical experiences

00:49:04.240 --> 00:49:04.980
 than other people

00:49:04.980 --> 00:49:06.100
 because I know of times

00:49:06.100 --> 00:49:07.220
 when I've slipped notes

00:49:07.220 --> 00:49:08.080
 through the door to Jesus

00:49:08.080 --> 00:49:08.940
 and he's done

00:49:08.940 --> 00:49:10.140
 remarkable things.

00:49:11.880 --> 00:49:13.140
 But all the time

00:49:13.140 --> 00:49:14.280
 and maybe there are

00:49:14.280 --> 00:49:15.060
 some here today

00:49:15.060 --> 00:49:16.220
 who realize that Jesus

00:49:16.220 --> 00:49:17.300
 even though this

00:49:17.300 --> 00:49:18.019
 doesn't seem to be

00:49:18.019 --> 00:49:19.220
 a very evangelistic sermon

00:49:19.220 --> 00:49:19.840
 that even now

00:49:19.840 --> 00:49:20.840
 you realize that Jesus

00:49:20.840 --> 00:49:21.620
 has been knocking

00:49:21.620 --> 00:49:22.640
 on the door of your life.

00:49:24.080 --> 00:49:25.160
 And the Bible says

00:49:25.160 --> 00:49:26.540
 that when he knocks

00:49:26.540 --> 00:49:27.260
 on the door of a life

00:49:27.260 --> 00:49:28.160
 that what he's asking

00:49:28.160 --> 00:49:29.080
 is he's asking

00:49:29.080 --> 00:49:29.800
 and you can maybe

00:49:29.800 --> 00:49:30.980
 if you're an imaginative person

00:49:30.980 --> 00:49:31.840
 you can just picture it

00:49:31.840 --> 00:49:33.820
 that inside of who you are

00:49:33.820 --> 00:49:35.960
 you hear the voice

00:49:35.960 --> 00:49:36.920
 the knocking of Jesus

00:49:36.920 --> 00:49:37.940
 and you open the door

00:49:37.940 --> 00:49:40.560
 and Jesus looks at him

00:49:40.560 --> 00:49:40.780
 and said

00:49:40.780 --> 00:49:41.420
 I've been knocking

00:49:41.420 --> 00:49:42.020
 on your door

00:49:42.020 --> 00:49:43.560
 for all your life.

00:49:44.300 --> 00:49:45.020
 Can I come in

00:49:45.020 --> 00:49:45.660
 and be your savior

00:49:45.660 --> 00:49:46.220
 and your Lord?

00:49:47.240 --> 00:49:48.140
 And you look at Jesus

00:49:48.140 --> 00:49:48.660
 and you say

00:49:48.660 --> 00:49:50.540
 Jesus please come

00:49:50.540 --> 00:49:51.280
 into my life.

00:49:51.720 --> 00:49:52.580
 I've opened the door.

00:49:52.720 --> 00:49:53.480
 Come into my life

00:49:53.480 --> 00:49:54.280
 and be my savior

00:49:54.280 --> 00:49:54.820
 and my Lord.

00:49:54.820 --> 00:49:57.220
 And if there is

00:49:57.220 --> 00:49:58.519
 a person here today

00:49:58.519 --> 00:50:00.300
 who's heard that knocking

00:50:00.300 --> 00:50:01.660
 but not responded to it

00:50:01.660 --> 00:50:02.700
 there's no better time

00:50:02.700 --> 00:50:03.400
 than right now

00:50:03.400 --> 00:50:05.280
 to ask Jesus

00:50:05.280 --> 00:50:06.300
 to come into your life.

00:50:07.559 --> 00:50:08.160
 So I'd like everybody

00:50:08.160 --> 00:50:08.740
 to stand

00:50:08.740 --> 00:50:11.440
 and if

00:50:11.440 --> 00:50:12.500
 I'm not asking

00:50:12.500 --> 00:50:13.360
 to pray it out loud

00:50:13.360 --> 00:50:14.220
 it's just between you

00:50:14.220 --> 00:50:14.580
 and God

00:50:14.580 --> 00:50:15.200
 it's between you

00:50:15.200 --> 00:50:15.700
 and Jesus

00:50:15.700 --> 00:50:17.340
 and I only put this

00:50:17.340 --> 00:50:17.840
 prayer up here

00:50:17.840 --> 00:50:19.539
 to help put into words

00:50:19.539 --> 00:50:21.340
 how you could say

00:50:21.340 --> 00:50:21.800
 to Jesus

00:50:21.800 --> 00:50:22.820
 but I'm going to say it

00:50:22.820 --> 00:50:23.820
 and if the God

00:50:23.820 --> 00:50:25.019
 is speaking into your life

00:50:25.019 --> 00:50:25.559
 if you realize

00:50:25.559 --> 00:50:26.559
 that Jesus is knocking

00:50:26.559 --> 00:50:27.360
 at the door of your life

00:50:27.360 --> 00:50:28.360
 and you've never done it

00:50:28.360 --> 00:50:30.200
 could you pray this

00:50:30.200 --> 00:50:31.420
 along with me please

00:50:31.420 --> 00:50:32.720
 knowing that you're not

00:50:32.720 --> 00:50:33.539
 praying it to me

00:50:33.539 --> 00:50:34.300
 but you're praying it

00:50:34.300 --> 00:50:34.820
 to Jesus

00:50:34.820 --> 00:50:36.600
 and if you ask Jesus

00:50:36.600 --> 00:50:37.559
 to come into your life

00:50:37.559 --> 00:50:38.420
 the savior and Lord

00:50:38.420 --> 00:50:38.960
 he will.

00:50:41.640 --> 00:50:42.539
 Dear Jesus

00:50:42.539 --> 00:50:44.600
 I hear you knocking

00:50:44.600 --> 00:50:45.800
 on the door to my life

00:50:45.800 --> 00:50:47.800
 please help me

00:50:47.800 --> 00:50:48.840
 to open the door

00:50:48.840 --> 00:50:49.960
 of my life to you.

00:50:49.960 --> 00:50:52.880
 please come into my life

00:50:52.880 --> 00:50:53.820
 as my savior

00:50:53.820 --> 00:50:54.980
 and my Lord

00:50:54.980 --> 00:50:57.480
 please save me

00:50:57.480 --> 00:50:59.740
 please be my Lord

00:50:59.740 --> 00:51:01.400
 I thank you

00:51:01.400 --> 00:51:02.480
 that you will make

00:51:02.480 --> 00:51:04.199
 your home in me

00:51:04.199 --> 00:51:06.579
 and never leave me

00:51:06.579 --> 00:51:07.840
 or forsake me

00:51:07.840 --> 00:51:08.800
 Amen

00:51:08.800 --> 00:51:11.559
 You've prayed that prayer

00:51:11.559 --> 00:51:12.820
 for the first time

00:51:12.820 --> 00:51:14.059
 or maybe in a way

00:51:14.059 --> 00:51:15.059
 that really feels like

00:51:15.059 --> 00:51:15.900
 it's the first time

00:51:15.900 --> 00:51:17.220
 one of the best things

00:51:17.220 --> 00:51:17.619
 you can do

00:51:17.619 --> 00:51:18.980
 before the service is over

00:51:18.980 --> 00:51:20.179
 but before you leave

00:51:20.179 --> 00:51:20.760
 this building

00:51:20.760 --> 00:51:21.840
 is just tell somebody

00:51:21.840 --> 00:51:22.639
 that you've prayed it

00:51:22.639 --> 00:51:24.980
 and it's a very

00:51:24.980 --> 00:51:26.119
 very powerful thing

00:51:26.119 --> 00:51:27.940
 and then give me a call

00:51:27.940 --> 00:51:28.800
 or any of the

00:51:28.800 --> 00:51:30.119
 Daniel or Jeremiah

00:51:30.119 --> 00:51:30.920
 up at the front

00:51:30.920 --> 00:51:33.500
 or maybe the coffee people

00:51:33.500 --> 00:51:34.820
 and we'd love to maybe

00:51:34.820 --> 00:51:35.800
 just chat with you

00:51:35.800 --> 00:51:36.179
 later on

00:51:36.179 --> 00:51:36.760
 about getting you

00:51:36.760 --> 00:51:37.900
 moving along in the way

00:51:37.900 --> 00:51:38.679
 talk to Brian

00:51:38.679 --> 00:51:39.019
 who's

00:51:39.019 --> 00:51:40.179
 he'll be helping

00:51:40.179 --> 00:51:40.760
 with communion

00:51:40.760 --> 00:51:41.800
 he'd love to talk to you

00:51:41.800 --> 00:51:42.840
 as well after the service

00:51:42.840 --> 00:51:43.559
 if that's a prayer

00:51:43.559 --> 00:51:44.019
 that you've done

00:51:44.019 --> 00:51:44.760
 for the first time

00:51:44.760 --> 00:51:46.900
 and if you pray that

00:51:46.900 --> 00:51:47.580
 for the first time

00:51:47.580 --> 00:51:48.360
 then you really need

00:51:48.360 --> 00:51:49.600
 to pray this second prayer

00:51:49.600 --> 00:51:51.040
 you can put it up

00:51:51.040 --> 00:51:52.480
 you can see it in two parts

00:51:52.480 --> 00:51:55.340
 and I'm inviting you

00:51:55.340 --> 00:51:56.340
 to pray along with me

00:51:56.340 --> 00:51:56.880
 out loud

00:51:56.880 --> 00:52:00.020
 if this is what's

00:52:00.020 --> 00:52:01.240
 the cry of your heart

00:52:01.240 --> 00:52:03.720
 to hear God speak

00:52:03.720 --> 00:52:04.280
 into your life

00:52:04.280 --> 00:52:05.200
 you know the fact

00:52:05.200 --> 00:52:06.040
 that there's all these

00:52:06.040 --> 00:52:06.720
 other claims

00:52:06.720 --> 00:52:07.400
 of other things

00:52:07.400 --> 00:52:07.920
 you might have

00:52:07.920 --> 00:52:08.880
 intellectual doubts

00:52:08.880 --> 00:52:09.560
 from outside

00:52:09.560 --> 00:52:10.240
 you might have been

00:52:10.240 --> 00:52:12.180
 burned by people

00:52:12.179 --> 00:52:13.359
 who claim to be prophets

00:52:13.359 --> 00:52:14.239
 in your past

00:52:14.239 --> 00:52:15.739
 but God is calling you

00:52:15.739 --> 00:52:16.460
 to not just

00:52:16.460 --> 00:52:18.539
 not to despise prophecies

00:52:18.539 --> 00:52:19.519
 and set them aside

00:52:19.519 --> 00:52:20.699
 and quench the Holy Spirit

00:52:20.699 --> 00:52:21.739
 but to realize

00:52:21.739 --> 00:52:22.299
 that not only

00:52:22.299 --> 00:52:23.119
 has God spoken

00:52:23.119 --> 00:52:23.799
 definitively

00:52:23.799 --> 00:52:24.659
 through his word

00:52:24.659 --> 00:52:25.119
 to you

00:52:25.119 --> 00:52:25.859
 but he gives you

00:52:25.859 --> 00:52:26.779
 personal words

00:52:26.779 --> 00:52:27.319
 of guidance

00:52:27.319 --> 00:52:27.919
 and wisdom

00:52:27.919 --> 00:52:28.579
 and direction

00:52:28.579 --> 00:52:31.139
 and he wants you

00:52:31.139 --> 00:52:32.000
 to hear it

00:52:32.000 --> 00:52:35.039
 so if God

00:52:35.039 --> 00:52:35.639
 is putting it

00:52:35.639 --> 00:52:36.139
 on your heart

00:52:36.139 --> 00:52:36.579
 to pray

00:52:36.579 --> 00:52:37.480
 then please join me

00:52:37.480 --> 00:52:37.960
 in praying

00:52:37.960 --> 00:52:39.339
 dear God

00:52:39.339 --> 00:52:40.859
 please help me

00:52:40.859 --> 00:52:41.980
 to listen to you

00:52:41.980 --> 00:52:42.740
 every day

00:52:42.740 --> 00:52:44.280
 as I humbly

00:52:44.280 --> 00:52:45.300
 read your word

00:52:45.300 --> 00:52:45.639
 written

00:52:45.639 --> 00:52:47.300
 please help me

00:52:47.300 --> 00:52:48.679
 to pray every day

00:52:48.679 --> 00:52:49.840
 for your guidance

00:52:49.840 --> 00:52:50.760
 and your wisdom

00:52:50.760 --> 00:52:52.460
 please help me

00:52:52.460 --> 00:52:53.039
 to listen

00:52:53.039 --> 00:52:54.139
 for your answer

00:52:54.139 --> 00:52:55.960
 please help me

00:52:55.960 --> 00:52:56.519
 to dwell

00:52:56.519 --> 00:52:57.340
 on your word

00:52:57.340 --> 00:52:57.679
 written

00:52:57.679 --> 00:52:58.800
 in the company

00:52:58.800 --> 00:52:59.639
 of your people

00:52:59.639 --> 00:53:01.360
 as I prayerfully

00:53:01.360 --> 00:53:01.960
 consider

00:53:01.960 --> 00:53:02.960
 your personal

00:53:02.960 --> 00:53:03.920
 word to me

00:53:03.920 --> 00:53:05.820
 as I hear you

00:53:05.820 --> 00:53:06.900
 please help me

00:53:06.900 --> 00:53:07.860
 to trust you

00:53:07.860 --> 00:53:09.400
 and put your word

00:53:09.400 --> 00:53:10.260
 into action

00:53:10.260 --> 00:53:11.800
 please help me

00:53:11.800 --> 00:53:12.940
 to do all things

00:53:12.940 --> 00:53:13.700
 for your glory

00:53:13.700 --> 00:53:15.340
 in Jesus' name

00:53:15.340 --> 00:53:16.120
 amen

00:53:16.120 --> 00:53:17.960
 father this is the cry

00:53:17.960 --> 00:53:18.560
 of our heart

00:53:18.560 --> 00:53:19.460
 I ask that your

00:53:19.460 --> 00:53:20.180
 holy spirit

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 would come and move

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 mightily in our lives

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 and seal this to us

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 and help us to live

00:53:24.820 --> 00:53:25.400
 this prayer

00:53:25.400 --> 00:53:26.560
 as individuals

00:53:26.560 --> 00:53:28.000
 and as a church

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 and this we ask

00:53:29.080 --> 00:53:30.120
 in Jesus' name

00:53:30.119 --> 00:53:46.739
 on