WEBVTT

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 The reading is from Matthew chapter 14, verse 22 to 36.

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 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side,

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 while he dismissed the crowds.

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 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.

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 When evening came, he was there alone.

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 But the boat by this time was a long way from the land,

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 beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.

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 And in the fourth watch of the night, he came to them, walking on the sea.

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 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified and said,

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 It is a ghost.

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 And they cried out in fear.

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 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying,

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 Take heart, it is I, do not be afraid.

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 And Peter answered him,

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 Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.

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 He said, Come.

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 So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.

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 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid.

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 And beginning to sink, he cried out,

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 Lord, save me.

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 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him,

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 O you of little faith, why did you doubt?

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 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

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 And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, Truly you are the Son of God.

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 And when they had crossed over, they came to the land at Gesenarat.

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 And when the men of that place recognised him,

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 they sent around all that region and brought to him all who were sick,

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 and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment.

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 And as many touched it, were made well.

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 Join me in prayer then, just before we turn to God's word.

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 Lord, I pray you will feed us with your word this morning.

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 Keep us from distractions.

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 Keep us from carelessness in the hearing of your word.

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 Make your spirit work within us, Lord,

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 both to enliven us and to enlighten us.

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 In Jesus' name I pray.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 All right, well, I'm going to start with a once upon a time story.

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 Once upon a time, back in the day,

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 before satellite navigation in cars and in the phones,

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 which is probably cut out, most of the young people are ready,

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 we actually had to send directions to people

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 if they were coming to visit us in Newcastle

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 and didn't know the Newcastle district.

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 We actually sent them directions.

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 And the directions were always a mix.

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 A mix of some big landmarks

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 and some more specific street signs.

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 Landmarks, of course, being big,

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 are things that they can't miss.

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 So the sign on the M1 for the link road

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 and then the F1 motel and the sports fields at Wall's End,

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 roundabouts, the Ellamore Vale shops and so on and so forth.

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 So when they saw the big landmarks,

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 they knew they were still going in the right direction.

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 That then allowed them freedom to look for specific signposts

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 and so eventually they would get to our place.

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 Now, just park that illustration for a minute

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 and I'm going to follow up with a question now.

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 And hopefully the two combined will help us get back

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 into a study of Matthew's Gospel.

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 It's been 10 months and we've been in Matthew's Gospel

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 and we're sort of picking it up at not a natural break.

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 But hopefully these two things will get us back into it.

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 So here's the question.

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 When you come to read something like the Gospel,

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 like Matthew's Gospel or Mark or Luke or John,

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 how actually do you read it?

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 Now that might seem like a very Irish thing to say,

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 but what I'm meaning is how do you actually engage with it?

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 How do you approach it?

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 How do you study it?

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 What are you expecting to find in it?

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 Now, so many Christians,

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 and I have to say sadly so many Bible teachers,

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 seem to approach the Gospel such as Matthew

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 as just a series of stand-alone stories.

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 And those stand-alone stories really aren't connected any more

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 than sort of, well, to a little bit of a travel log of Jesus

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 through his three years of ministry,

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 almost like a trip diary.

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 Now, the problem with a focus like that

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 is that it often leaves people just digging into individual incidents,

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 trying to find application,

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 trying to find in the details of individual stories

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 something that we can sort of live by.

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 And oftentimes it's reduced to, you know,

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 don't be like this and do be like that,

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 often focused on the characters in the incidents.

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 And all the while doing that,

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 we become oblivious to a big picture

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 that's been a big portrait of Jesus

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 that's been developed brushstroke by brushstroke

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 through each of those incidents.

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 So, back to my illustration and bring them both together again.

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 As we move back into the study of Matthew's Gospel this morning

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 after a 10-month break,

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 I want to suggest to you that we really need to be

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 understanding that Matthew has very highly compiled this.

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 It's very carefully crafted and designed.

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 He's arranged the account of the life of ministry of Jesus

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 like a set of directions.

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 There are big landmark directions,

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 and then there's more detailed signpost directions.

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 And these two things combine

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 to ensure that we arrive at the right conclusion

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 about Jesus,

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 which is what the biography is all about.

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 And so, Matthew's account

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 of the life and ministry of Jesus

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 is, as I say, carefully organized and compiled.

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 It steps us through

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 critical pieces of information

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 from time to time,

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 highlighting big landmarks,

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 but then oftentimes just following through

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 with the smaller detailed signposts.

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 Now, here's the thing,

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 that each of these incidents are stand-alone.

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 That's true, they do stand-alone,

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 but they should never be taken alone.

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 Because the narrative is designed

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 as one movement,

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 one big picture,

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 building towards one great conclusion

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 about the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 So, yes, we read individual incidents,

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 we see them stand-alone,

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 but we must never just take them alone.

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 We must be asking all the time,

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 what is the big picture

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 that has been developed brushstroke

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 by brushstroke

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 through each of these incidents?

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 So, in summary then,

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 Matthew's account

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 is not

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 about the people

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 that Jesus met.

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 Matthew's account,

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 as is all the other biographers of Jesus,

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 is about the Jesus

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 that people met.

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 Now, there's a very different emphasis there,

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 isn't there?

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 So, we need to read the Gospels

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 looking for the Jesus

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 that people met

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 and what they learned about Jesus

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 from their actual individual encounters with him,

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 personal encounters with him.

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 Now,

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 does this really matter?

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 Well, I think it does.

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 It matters heaps.

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 It matters both

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 for our own understanding of

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 and response to Jesus,

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 but I think it also matters

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 for our ability

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 to introduce unbelievers

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 to the text of the Gospels.

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 We need to be able to help

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 unbelieving friends

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 who might want to read about Jesus

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 to know how to read about Jesus,

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 how to read these accounts

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 to maximize their understanding of Jesus,

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 how they're meant to be read.

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 So, with that introduction,

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 let's then refresh our big picture

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 of Matthew's account

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 of the life and ministry of Jesus.

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 So, you need to turn back with me now

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 to Matthew chapter 4.

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 And I have to confess,

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 I've done something really stupid

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 here yesterday.

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 I had a sheet with all the Bible verses

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 I'm going to reference on it,

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 but I didn't print that sheet.

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 I printed a parallel sheet

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 somehow or other.

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 I'm not quite sure how I did it,

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 but anyway,

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 the sheet you have this morning

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 doesn't have any Bible references on it.

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 So, Matthew chapter 4,

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 verses 12 through to 17,

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 and verse 23,

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 that's the start

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 of Matthew's account

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 of the formal part

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 of Jesus' ministry.

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 And at that start,

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 Jesus declares

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 that he was Messiah.

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 He was God's long-awaited,

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 long-promised king and saviour

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 who had come into this world

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 to establish God's kingdom,

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 that is,

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 God's rule

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 over the hearts and minds

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 of God's people.

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 And in verse 23,

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 he gives us his MO.

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 He said that he'll be doing it

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 through teaching

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 and preaching

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 and healing.

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 In other words,

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 he would teach about himself

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 and how he would

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 fulfil his mission

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 and he would demonstrate

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 his power

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 to fulfil his mission

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 by undoing

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 the effects of sin

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 through physical healing.

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 His mission

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 was about,

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 principally about,

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 undoing the effects of sin

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 and establishing God's kingdom

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 and he would demonstrate

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 this as it was developing

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 by undoing the effects of sin

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 through physical healing.

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 Now,

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 the interesting thing then

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 is that as we track

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 Jesus' ministry through,

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 what we find is

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 there's a growing opposition,

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 massive unbelief,

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 conflict developed,

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 especially from the Jewish

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 religious leaders

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 whom we would have assumed

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 would be the first

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 to recognise

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 and embrace Jesus.

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 but in fact,

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 they came to the conclusion

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 that Jesus

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 was an evil fraud

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 and they came to the conclusion

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 the only option

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 they had

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 was to get rid of him,

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 to murder him.

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 Things don't seem

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 to be developing

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 as the Lord Jesus

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 thought they might

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 or are they?

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 Well,

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 jump forward then

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 to Matthew chapter 13.

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 In response

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 to this growing opposition

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 and belief

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 and conflict,

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 Jesus teaches

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 his disciples

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 a series

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 of parables,

00:10:57.019 --> 00:10:58.039
 a series of stories

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 that have a sort of

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 deeper meaning into them.

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 And in those parables

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 in chapter 13,

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 I don't have time

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 to sort of dip into them now,

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 but essentially

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 Jesus is saying,

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 look,

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 in spite of what

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 now appears,

00:11:12.279 --> 00:11:14.319
 be assured

00:11:14.319 --> 00:11:15.179
 that my kingdom

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 is real,

00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:17.139
 has already been established,

00:11:18.139 --> 00:11:20.199
 it will be successful

00:11:20.199 --> 00:11:21.740
 exactly as God

00:11:21.740 --> 00:11:22.480
 intended it to be

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 and it will be

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 worldwide.

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 In other words,

00:11:30.699 --> 00:11:31.339
 Jesus is saying

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 to his disciples,

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 look,

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 the portrait

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 of me

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 and my mission

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 is still

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 being painted.

00:11:37.539 --> 00:11:40.679
 Jesus said,

00:11:41.059 --> 00:11:41.279
 look,

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 you can expect

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 that as people

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 encounter me,

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 some will

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 just turn up

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 their nose

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 and

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 in arrogant

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 rejection

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 walk away

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 from me.

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 But at the same time,

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 says Jesus,

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 some people

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 will understand.

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 Some people,

00:12:02.219 --> 00:12:03.399
 the lights

00:12:03.399 --> 00:12:03.959
 will go on

00:12:03.959 --> 00:12:04.360
 and they'll just

00:12:04.360 --> 00:12:05.279
 turn to Jesus

00:12:05.279 --> 00:12:06.159
 and it'll

00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:06.860
 produce great

00:12:06.860 --> 00:12:07.379
 faith.

00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:13.360
 Then through

00:12:13.360 --> 00:12:14.159
 the end of

00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:14.779
 chapter 13

00:12:14.779 --> 00:12:15.860
 into chapter 14,

00:12:16.819 --> 00:12:17.419
 I believe

00:12:17.419 --> 00:12:18.259
 Jesus presents

00:12:18.259 --> 00:12:18.799
 a series

00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:19.939
 of very

00:12:19.939 --> 00:12:21.019
 live,

00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:22.139
 what we might

00:12:22.139 --> 00:12:22.879
 call these days

00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:23.539
 immersive

00:12:23.539 --> 00:12:24.419
 experiences,

00:12:24.620 --> 00:12:25.439
 immersive teaching

00:12:25.439 --> 00:12:25.980
 experiences

00:12:25.980 --> 00:12:28.419
 of case studies

00:12:28.419 --> 00:12:29.539
 that prove

00:12:29.539 --> 00:12:29.959
 his point.

00:12:30.379 --> 00:12:31.039
 So immediately

00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:31.720
 after the

00:12:31.720 --> 00:12:32.480
 teaching and

00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:32.819
 parables,

00:12:33.419 --> 00:12:34.100
 he finds

00:12:34.100 --> 00:12:34.860
 himself being

00:12:34.860 --> 00:12:35.899
 rejected

00:12:35.899 --> 00:12:36.659
 in his

00:12:36.659 --> 00:12:37.139
 hometown

00:12:37.139 --> 00:12:37.860
 as Nazareth

00:12:37.860 --> 00:12:39.240
 and the

00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:39.539
 cause of

00:12:39.539 --> 00:12:39.980
 the rejection,

00:12:40.700 --> 00:12:41.620
 this Jesus,

00:12:41.720 --> 00:12:42.279
 he's way too

00:12:42.279 --> 00:12:42.800
 ordinary to

00:12:42.800 --> 00:12:43.360
 be Messiah.

00:12:45.940 --> 00:12:46.500
 Then,

00:12:46.779 --> 00:12:47.519
 he's rejected

00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:48.120
 by Herod

00:12:48.120 --> 00:12:50.120
 who sees an

00:12:50.120 --> 00:12:50.600
 identification

00:12:50.600 --> 00:12:51.340
 between John

00:12:51.340 --> 00:12:51.680
 the Baptist

00:12:51.680 --> 00:12:52.240
 and Jesus

00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:53.399
 and Herod

00:12:53.399 --> 00:12:53.899
 rejects him

00:12:53.899 --> 00:12:54.200
 because,

00:12:54.580 --> 00:12:54.800
 well,

00:12:55.180 --> 00:12:56.899
 this John

00:12:56.899 --> 00:12:57.240
 the Baptist

00:12:57.240 --> 00:12:57.500
 and this

00:12:57.500 --> 00:12:57.980
 Jesus guy,

00:12:58.060 --> 00:12:58.600
 they're way

00:12:58.600 --> 00:12:59.600
 too fussy

00:12:59.600 --> 00:13:00.200
 about sin

00:13:00.200 --> 00:13:00.860
 and righteousness

00:13:00.860 --> 00:13:02.240
 and I'm not

00:13:02.240 --> 00:13:03.000
 going to have

00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:03.360
 that.

00:13:04.860 --> 00:13:11.759
 But on

00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:12.019
 the other

00:13:12.019 --> 00:13:12.399
 hand,

00:13:14.220 --> 00:13:14.500
 Matthew

00:13:14.500 --> 00:13:15.279
 records then

00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:15.800
 a series

00:13:15.800 --> 00:13:16.519
 of three

00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:17.000
 miracles.

00:13:18.379 --> 00:13:18.700
 Actually,

00:13:18.800 --> 00:13:19.240
 much more,

00:13:19.399 --> 00:13:20.360
 it's clustered

00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:20.700
 as three

00:13:20.700 --> 00:13:20.980
 miracles,

00:13:21.100 --> 00:13:21.519
 much more

00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:22.159
 than three

00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:22.519
 in here.

00:13:23.019 --> 00:13:23.480
 Immersive

00:13:23.480 --> 00:13:23.899
 teaching

00:13:23.899 --> 00:13:24.560
 experiences

00:13:24.560 --> 00:13:27.379
 for thousands

00:13:27.379 --> 00:13:27.879
 of random

00:13:27.879 --> 00:13:29.220
 people and

00:13:29.220 --> 00:13:29.700
 his own

00:13:29.700 --> 00:13:30.100
 disciples.

00:13:31.100 --> 00:13:31.620
 And these

00:13:31.620 --> 00:13:32.600
 three miracles

00:13:32.600 --> 00:13:34.240
 add immensely

00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:35.620
 to the

00:13:35.620 --> 00:13:36.120
 big picture

00:13:36.120 --> 00:13:36.759
 portrait of

00:13:36.759 --> 00:13:37.279
 King Jesus

00:13:37.279 --> 00:13:38.659
 and they

00:13:38.659 --> 00:13:39.080
 result in

00:13:39.080 --> 00:13:39.919
 new understanding,

00:13:40.419 --> 00:13:40.940
 new faith,

00:13:41.019 --> 00:13:41.259
 and new

00:13:41.259 --> 00:13:41.720
 worship of

00:13:41.720 --> 00:13:41.960
 Jesus.

00:13:42.139 --> 00:13:42.299
 So,

00:13:42.519 --> 00:13:43.159
 let's jump

00:13:43.159 --> 00:13:43.480
 into the

00:13:43.480 --> 00:13:43.940
 text then

00:13:43.940 --> 00:13:44.159
 now.

00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:45.279
 What do

00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:45.680
 the teachers

00:13:45.680 --> 00:13:46.279
 about Jesus?

00:13:46.700 --> 00:13:46.879
 Well,

00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:47.919
 very simply,

00:13:48.039 --> 00:13:48.419
 the teachers

00:13:48.419 --> 00:13:49.000
 that Jesus

00:13:49.000 --> 00:13:49.460
 is the

00:13:49.460 --> 00:13:50.060
 powerful

00:13:50.060 --> 00:13:51.159
 Lord of

00:13:51.159 --> 00:13:51.720
 the universe.

00:13:53.539 --> 00:13:53.700
 So,

00:13:54.100 --> 00:13:54.620
 miracles are

00:13:54.620 --> 00:13:55.399
 signposts.

00:13:55.399 --> 00:13:57.340
 when you

00:13:57.340 --> 00:13:57.639
 say a

00:13:57.639 --> 00:13:57.879
 miracle,

00:13:58.000 --> 00:13:58.159
 it's

00:13:58.159 --> 00:13:58.759
 pointing to

00:13:58.759 --> 00:13:59.079
 something,

00:13:59.279 --> 00:13:59.500
 it's

00:13:59.500 --> 00:13:59.879
 pointing to

00:13:59.879 --> 00:14:00.059
 something

00:14:00.059 --> 00:14:00.259
 about

00:14:00.259 --> 00:14:00.759
 Jesus,

00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:03.600
 pointing to

00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:03.980
 a truth

00:14:03.980 --> 00:14:04.220
 about

00:14:04.220 --> 00:14:04.579
 Jesus.

00:14:05.179 --> 00:14:05.559
 And these

00:14:05.559 --> 00:14:06.500
 signposts

00:14:06.500 --> 00:14:07.179
 here that

00:14:07.179 --> 00:14:07.539
 we're looking

00:14:07.539 --> 00:14:07.879
 at this

00:14:07.879 --> 00:14:08.120
 morning,

00:14:08.519 --> 00:14:09.259
 they're so

00:14:09.259 --> 00:14:10.740
 large that

00:14:10.740 --> 00:14:11.240
 it's impossible

00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:11.659
 to miss

00:14:11.659 --> 00:14:11.819
 them.

00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:13.740
 It's

00:14:13.740 --> 00:14:14.299
 impossible to

00:14:14.299 --> 00:14:14.699
 misread

00:14:14.699 --> 00:14:14.919
 them.

00:14:16.980 --> 00:14:17.279
 Jesus

00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:17.879
 does,

00:14:18.819 --> 00:14:19.439
 as a matter

00:14:19.439 --> 00:14:19.879
 of course,

00:14:19.919 --> 00:14:20.819
 without fanfare,

00:14:21.519 --> 00:14:22.259
 things that

00:14:22.259 --> 00:14:23.379
 only God

00:14:23.379 --> 00:14:24.120
 could do.

00:14:24.120 --> 00:14:25.759
 it's

00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:26.139
 that simple.

00:14:28.100 --> 00:14:28.940
 He's not

00:14:28.940 --> 00:14:30.360
 limited by

00:14:30.360 --> 00:14:31.139
 the laws of

00:14:31.139 --> 00:14:31.519
 nature,

00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:32.659
 but in

00:14:32.659 --> 00:14:33.500
 fact has

00:14:33.500 --> 00:14:34.159
 power to

00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:35.360
 control the

00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:35.720
 laws of

00:14:35.720 --> 00:14:36.019
 nature.

00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:37.519
 And so we

00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:38.120
 start just

00:14:38.120 --> 00:14:39.039
 tracking through

00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:39.560
 the three

00:14:39.560 --> 00:14:40.279
 miracles together

00:14:40.279 --> 00:14:41.060
 very briefly.

00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:42.960
 We've got

00:14:42.960 --> 00:14:44.039
 this massive

00:14:44.039 --> 00:14:45.200
 hungry crowd.

00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:47.360
 The

00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:47.899
 disciples don't

00:14:47.899 --> 00:14:48.259
 know what to

00:14:48.259 --> 00:14:48.519
 do with

00:14:48.519 --> 00:14:48.659
 them.

00:14:50.659 --> 00:14:51.799
 And Jesus

00:14:51.799 --> 00:14:53.360
 calmly

00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:54.100
 suspends

00:14:54.100 --> 00:14:54.940
 the laws

00:14:54.940 --> 00:14:55.519
 of nature

00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:56.620
 so that

00:14:56.620 --> 00:14:57.200
 the finite

00:14:57.200 --> 00:14:58.540
 resource of

00:14:58.540 --> 00:14:58.879
 a few

00:14:58.879 --> 00:14:59.320
 loaves and

00:14:59.320 --> 00:14:59.600
 a couple

00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:00.000
 of fish

00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:01.899
 are extended

00:15:01.899 --> 00:15:02.779
 to feed

00:15:02.779 --> 00:15:03.680
 this massive

00:15:03.680 --> 00:15:04.159
 crowd

00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:06.500
 and still

00:15:06.500 --> 00:15:07.340
 have far,

00:15:07.460 --> 00:15:07.740
 far more

00:15:07.740 --> 00:15:08.159
 left over

00:15:08.159 --> 00:15:08.460
 than they

00:15:08.460 --> 00:15:08.980
 started with.

00:15:13.980 --> 00:15:14.840
 Only a few

00:15:14.840 --> 00:15:15.379
 hours later,

00:15:15.720 --> 00:15:16.340
 move into the

00:15:16.340 --> 00:15:17.220
 next miracle.

00:15:17.220 --> 00:15:18.820
 Jesus sent

00:15:18.820 --> 00:15:20.180
 the disciples

00:15:20.180 --> 00:15:20.720
 on ahead.

00:15:21.480 --> 00:15:21.800
 He was

00:15:21.800 --> 00:15:22.019
 going to

00:15:22.019 --> 00:15:22.360
 pray for

00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:22.660
 a while

00:15:22.660 --> 00:15:23.420
 and they

00:15:23.420 --> 00:15:23.899
 got caught

00:15:23.899 --> 00:15:24.639
 in what's

00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:25.019
 called a

00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:25.820
 contrary wind

00:15:25.820 --> 00:15:26.080
 on the

00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:26.220
 lake.

00:15:26.259 --> 00:15:26.460
 In other

00:15:26.460 --> 00:15:26.600
 words,

00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:27.200
 a wind

00:15:27.200 --> 00:15:27.460
 that was

00:15:27.460 --> 00:15:27.920
 swirling.

00:15:28.019 --> 00:15:28.160
 They could

00:15:28.160 --> 00:15:28.560
 neither go

00:15:28.560 --> 00:15:28.879
 forward,

00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:30.080
 neither could

00:15:30.080 --> 00:15:30.300
 they go

00:15:30.300 --> 00:15:30.639
 back.

00:15:31.100 --> 00:15:31.259
 They were

00:15:31.259 --> 00:15:32.500
 aiming to

00:15:32.500 --> 00:15:33.000
 go down.

00:15:35.399 --> 00:15:35.840
 Again,

00:15:36.180 --> 00:15:37.100
 Jesus suspends

00:15:37.100 --> 00:15:37.779
 the laws of

00:15:37.779 --> 00:15:38.379
 nature and

00:15:38.379 --> 00:15:38.940
 just comes

00:15:38.940 --> 00:15:39.240
 to his

00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:40.899
 disciples in

00:15:40.899 --> 00:15:41.340
 the darkest

00:15:41.340 --> 00:15:41.800
 part of the

00:15:41.800 --> 00:15:42.940
 night when

00:15:42.940 --> 00:15:43.279
 their need

00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:43.580
 was the

00:15:43.580 --> 00:15:43.920
 greatest.

00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:45.259
 he just

00:15:45.259 --> 00:15:45.740
 turned up

00:15:45.740 --> 00:15:46.339
 on the

00:15:46.339 --> 00:15:46.579
 water.

00:15:51.240 --> 00:15:51.919
 And not

00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:52.559
 only that,

00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:53.899
 but in

00:15:53.899 --> 00:15:55.059
 response to

00:15:55.059 --> 00:15:56.120
 Peter,

00:15:56.679 --> 00:15:57.599
 he suspends

00:15:57.599 --> 00:15:58.219
 the laws of

00:15:58.219 --> 00:15:58.659
 nature for

00:15:58.659 --> 00:15:58.939
 Peter.

00:15:59.439 --> 00:15:59.639
 He says,

00:15:59.719 --> 00:16:00.019
 come on,

00:16:00.479 --> 00:16:00.740
 you want to

00:16:00.740 --> 00:16:01.139
 come over

00:16:01.139 --> 00:16:01.339
 here?

00:16:01.779 --> 00:16:01.959
 Yeah,

00:16:02.099 --> 00:16:02.439
 come on,

00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:02.879
 out you

00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:03.039
 come,

00:16:03.319 --> 00:16:03.679
 jump out of

00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:03.899
 the boat,

00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:04.620
 hope you

00:16:04.620 --> 00:16:04.819
 come.

00:16:06.199 --> 00:16:06.719
 Peter walked

00:16:06.719 --> 00:16:07.059
 on water.

00:16:10.939 --> 00:16:11.839
 And finally,

00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:14.800
 when it's

00:16:14.800 --> 00:16:15.200
 all over,

00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:15.820
 Jesus,

00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:16.200
 they get

00:16:16.200 --> 00:16:16.519
 back in

00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:16.759
 the boat

00:16:16.759 --> 00:16:17.280
 and suddenly

00:16:17.280 --> 00:16:18.340
 that contrary

00:16:18.340 --> 00:16:18.620
 wind,

00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:19.440
 that storm

00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:20.280
 that ordinarily

00:16:20.280 --> 00:16:20.660
 would take

00:16:20.660 --> 00:16:21.259
 hours to

00:16:21.259 --> 00:16:21.700
 subside,

00:16:22.200 --> 00:16:22.399
 it's all

00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:22.720
 calm.

00:16:23.720 --> 00:16:24.200
 And they

00:16:24.200 --> 00:16:25.540
 safely arrived

00:16:25.540 --> 00:16:25.980
 at the

00:16:25.980 --> 00:16:26.240
 shore.

00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:30.220
 The signposts

00:16:30.220 --> 00:16:30.960
 are unmistakable.

00:16:33.399 --> 00:16:34.040
 King Jesus

00:16:34.040 --> 00:16:35.160
 is a king

00:16:35.160 --> 00:16:35.820
 like no

00:16:35.820 --> 00:16:36.320
 other king.

00:16:39.680 --> 00:16:40.300
 More than

00:16:40.300 --> 00:16:40.540
 that,

00:16:40.780 --> 00:16:41.280
 King Jesus

00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:42.000
 is God.

00:16:43.799 --> 00:16:44.379
 And in

00:16:44.379 --> 00:16:45.059
 the context

00:16:45.059 --> 00:16:45.980
 of conflict

00:16:45.980 --> 00:16:46.600
 and opposition,

00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:47.399
 then we

00:16:47.399 --> 00:16:47.799
 need to

00:16:47.799 --> 00:16:48.519
 say something

00:16:48.519 --> 00:16:48.939
 like,

00:16:50.039 --> 00:16:50.600
 King Jesus

00:16:50.600 --> 00:16:51.279
 is God

00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:52.500
 and therefore

00:16:52.500 --> 00:16:53.500
 he's not

00:16:53.500 --> 00:16:54.100
 to be messed

00:16:54.100 --> 00:16:54.459
 with.

00:16:55.500 --> 00:16:56.100
 Such is

00:16:56.100 --> 00:16:56.759
 his power

00:16:56.759 --> 00:16:58.019
 that who

00:16:58.019 --> 00:16:58.439
 in their

00:16:58.439 --> 00:16:59.399
 right mind

00:16:59.399 --> 00:17:00.059
 would think

00:17:00.059 --> 00:17:00.439
 they could

00:17:00.439 --> 00:17:01.220
 oppose or

00:17:01.220 --> 00:17:02.019
 reject or

00:17:02.019 --> 00:17:02.559
 get rid of

00:17:02.559 --> 00:17:03.720
 Jesus and

00:17:03.720 --> 00:17:04.200
 thwart his

00:17:04.200 --> 00:17:04.579
 purposes.

00:17:04.579 --> 00:17:11.019
 more

00:17:11.019 --> 00:17:11.480
 personally,

00:17:12.119 --> 00:17:12.299
 these

00:17:12.299 --> 00:17:15.699
 miracles

00:17:15.699 --> 00:17:16.839
 teach us

00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:17.299
 that Jesus

00:17:17.299 --> 00:17:18.000
 is a

00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:18.779
 compassionate

00:17:18.779 --> 00:17:19.559
 saviour.

00:17:20.939 --> 00:17:21.759
 He's a

00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:22.119
 sovereign

00:17:22.119 --> 00:17:22.639
 lord,

00:17:23.199 --> 00:17:23.879
 so big

00:17:23.879 --> 00:17:24.379
 out here,

00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:25.139
 but he's

00:17:25.139 --> 00:17:25.599
 also so

00:17:25.599 --> 00:17:26.159
 personal,

00:17:26.359 --> 00:17:27.159
 so compassionate,

00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:27.980
 so immediate

00:17:27.980 --> 00:17:28.919
 as a

00:17:28.919 --> 00:17:29.339
 saviour.

00:17:30.460 --> 00:17:31.220
 Verse 14,

00:17:31.220 --> 00:17:31.660
 14,

00:17:31.660 --> 00:17:32.220
 if you

00:17:32.220 --> 00:17:32.440
 look in

00:17:32.440 --> 00:17:32.839
 the text,

00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:35.180
 this doesn't

00:17:35.180 --> 00:17:36.319
 often come to

00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:36.700
 the surface

00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:37.200
 when we deal

00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:37.440
 with the

00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:37.740
 feeding of

00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:38.380
 the 5,000,

00:17:38.819 --> 00:17:39.600
 but before he

00:17:39.600 --> 00:17:40.059
 even thinks

00:17:40.059 --> 00:17:40.579
 about feeding

00:17:40.579 --> 00:17:40.860
 them,

00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:42.720
 verse 14,

00:17:42.779 --> 00:17:43.160
 when he went

00:17:43.160 --> 00:17:43.700
 ashore,

00:17:44.579 --> 00:17:45.140
 he saw a

00:17:45.140 --> 00:17:45.799
 great crowd.

00:17:45.799 --> 00:17:49.139
 What's his

00:17:49.139 --> 00:17:49.740
 thoughts when

00:17:49.740 --> 00:17:50.099
 he sees a

00:17:50.099 --> 00:17:50.539
 great crowd?

00:17:51.240 --> 00:17:51.819
 He had

00:17:51.819 --> 00:17:52.700
 compassion on

00:17:52.700 --> 00:17:53.619
 them and

00:17:53.619 --> 00:17:54.399
 healed their

00:17:54.399 --> 00:17:54.700
 sick.

00:17:57.259 --> 00:17:57.839
 When we

00:17:57.839 --> 00:17:58.639
 just ponder

00:17:58.639 --> 00:17:59.119
 that for a

00:17:59.119 --> 00:17:59.259
 minute,

00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:00.659
 here he is,

00:18:00.700 --> 00:18:01.460
 he's surrounded

00:18:01.460 --> 00:18:02.639
 by crowds and

00:18:02.639 --> 00:18:03.099
 yet another

00:18:03.099 --> 00:18:03.480
 crowd.

00:18:04.899 --> 00:18:05.379
 And Jesus

00:18:05.379 --> 00:18:05.720
 would have

00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:06.299
 known full

00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:06.759
 well that

00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:07.240
 this crowd

00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:07.720
 was really

00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:08.399
 interested in

00:18:08.399 --> 00:18:08.879
 him as a

00:18:08.879 --> 00:18:09.159
 sort of

00:18:09.159 --> 00:18:09.680
 celebrity,

00:18:10.599 --> 00:18:11.220
 but had

00:18:11.220 --> 00:18:11.839
 very little

00:18:11.839 --> 00:18:12.460
 understanding

00:18:12.460 --> 00:18:13.539
 of him as

00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:13.980
 king and

00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:14.339
 saviour.

00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:16.779
 And it

00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:16.919
 would have

00:18:16.919 --> 00:18:17.419
 been real

00:18:17.419 --> 00:18:17.680
 easy,

00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:18.059
 I think,

00:18:18.159 --> 00:18:18.299
 if it

00:18:18.299 --> 00:18:18.519
 had been

00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:18.759
 me,

00:18:18.819 --> 00:18:19.099
 just to

00:18:19.099 --> 00:18:20.180
 get a

00:18:20.180 --> 00:18:20.700
 bit annoyed.

00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:22.139
 That's a

00:18:22.139 --> 00:18:22.659
 sanitized

00:18:22.659 --> 00:18:22.960
 version.

00:18:24.039 --> 00:18:24.720
 But Jesus

00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:25.379
 had compassion

00:18:25.379 --> 00:18:25.799
 on them.

00:18:29.319 --> 00:18:29.879
 And he

00:18:29.879 --> 00:18:30.319
 healed them.

00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:32.619
 Now what

00:18:32.619 --> 00:18:33.119
 was he doing

00:18:33.119 --> 00:18:33.559
 in doing

00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:33.859
 that?

00:18:34.460 --> 00:18:34.720
 Well the

00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:35.099
 compassion

00:18:35.099 --> 00:18:35.639
 speaks for

00:18:35.639 --> 00:18:36.000
 itself.

00:18:37.159 --> 00:18:37.799
 But in

00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:38.559
 his generosity

00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:39.440
 and grace,

00:18:40.359 --> 00:18:40.799
 he took

00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:41.460
 this random

00:18:41.460 --> 00:18:43.460
 crowd and

00:18:43.460 --> 00:18:43.899
 he gave

00:18:43.899 --> 00:18:44.599
 them an

00:18:44.599 --> 00:18:45.059
 immersive

00:18:45.059 --> 00:18:45.779
 experience.

00:18:45.799 --> 00:18:47.039
 immersive

00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:47.519
 teaching

00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:48.519
 experience of

00:18:48.519 --> 00:18:49.319
 his character

00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:50.619
 and his

00:18:50.619 --> 00:18:51.000
 mission.

00:18:54.139 --> 00:18:54.299
 Now,

00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:55.819
 sickness and

00:18:55.819 --> 00:18:56.700
 disease right

00:18:56.700 --> 00:18:57.180
 throughout the

00:18:57.180 --> 00:18:58.259
 Bible is

00:18:58.259 --> 00:18:59.759
 obviously and

00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:00.639
 primarily the

00:19:00.639 --> 00:19:02.220
 symptom of

00:19:02.220 --> 00:19:02.879
 things not

00:19:02.879 --> 00:19:03.519
 being right in

00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:04.059
 God's world,

00:19:04.339 --> 00:19:05.500
 particularly the

00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:06.359
 symptom of the

00:19:06.359 --> 00:19:07.200
 consequences of

00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:07.500
 sin.

00:19:09.940 --> 00:19:10.659
 And healing

00:19:10.659 --> 00:19:11.759
 therefore was

00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:13.180
 the obvious

00:19:13.180 --> 00:19:14.639
 consequence of

00:19:14.639 --> 00:19:15.419
 the effects of

00:19:15.420 --> 00:19:15.880
 sin being

00:19:15.880 --> 00:19:18.460
 reversed and

00:19:18.460 --> 00:19:18.980
 people being

00:19:18.980 --> 00:19:20.320
 restored to

00:19:20.320 --> 00:19:20.759
 what they were

00:19:20.759 --> 00:19:21.580
 created to be

00:19:21.580 --> 00:19:22.100
 in God's

00:19:22.100 --> 00:19:22.420
 kingdom.

00:19:25.820 --> 00:19:26.560
 Healing, as I

00:19:26.560 --> 00:19:27.000
 said from

00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:27.680
 chapter 4,

00:19:27.740 --> 00:19:28.180
 verse 23,

00:19:28.360 --> 00:19:29.160
 is at the

00:19:29.160 --> 00:19:30.100
 heart, the

00:19:30.100 --> 00:19:31.660
 essence of

00:19:31.660 --> 00:19:32.500
 Christ's mission

00:19:32.500 --> 00:19:33.220
 as Messiah,

00:19:33.420 --> 00:19:33.840
 as God's

00:19:33.840 --> 00:19:34.259
 king and

00:19:34.259 --> 00:19:34.560
 savior.

00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:34.659
 fear.

00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:38.619
 Jump then to

00:19:38.619 --> 00:19:40.319
 verse 34, 36,

00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:41.679
 and I want you

00:19:41.679 --> 00:19:42.099
 to see these

00:19:42.099 --> 00:19:42.839
 two verses as

00:19:42.839 --> 00:19:44.019
 bookends of

00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:44.559
 the three

00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:45.000
 miracles.

00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:47.440
 Again, it's

00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:47.940
 even more

00:19:47.940 --> 00:19:48.339
 random.

00:19:48.819 --> 00:19:49.220
 They get to

00:19:49.220 --> 00:19:50.919
 Gennesaret and

00:19:50.919 --> 00:19:53.079
 then the all

00:19:53.079 --> 00:19:53.839
 points bulletin

00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:54.220
 goes out,

00:19:54.599 --> 00:19:55.319
 Jesus is here,

00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:56.460
 bring all your

00:19:56.460 --> 00:19:57.940
 sick people and

00:19:57.940 --> 00:19:59.099
 you don't even

00:19:59.099 --> 00:19:59.679
 have to speak to

00:19:59.679 --> 00:20:00.539
 him, just brush

00:20:00.539 --> 00:20:01.019
 against his

00:20:01.019 --> 00:20:01.539
 clothes.

00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:04.480
 And again,

00:20:04.740 --> 00:20:05.759
 Jesus graciously,

00:20:07.019 --> 00:20:07.559
 generously,

00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:09.579
 healed them.

00:20:11.559 --> 00:20:12.680
 As many as

00:20:12.680 --> 00:20:13.279
 touched his

00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:14.460
 clothes were

00:20:14.460 --> 00:20:15.059
 made well.

00:20:20.859 --> 00:20:21.859
 See, Jesus

00:20:21.859 --> 00:20:22.519
 has given a

00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:24.119
 signpost about

00:20:24.119 --> 00:20:24.659
 himself.

00:20:27.139 --> 00:20:27.659
 He's

00:20:27.659 --> 00:20:28.539
 highlighting the

00:20:28.539 --> 00:20:30.059
 primary focus of

00:20:30.059 --> 00:20:30.779
 his mission as

00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:31.440
 Messiah, as

00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:32.059
 God's king and

00:20:32.059 --> 00:20:32.380
 savior.

00:20:33.860 --> 00:20:34.700
 Bookending here

00:20:34.700 --> 00:20:35.259
 with healing.

00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:36.880
 But there's much

00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:37.920
 more Jesus is

00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:38.539
 teaching within

00:20:38.539 --> 00:20:39.240
 these miracles.

00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:42.059
 So go back to

00:20:42.059 --> 00:20:42.519
 the feeding of

00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:43.400
 the 5,000 again.

00:20:43.539 --> 00:20:44.220
 So it's called a

00:20:44.220 --> 00:20:45.259
 desolate place,

00:20:45.320 --> 00:20:45.880
 in other words,

00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:46.720
 a wilderness.

00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:49.000
 So I think very

00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:50.580
 likely that as

00:20:50.580 --> 00:20:52.160
 Jesus fed these

00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:54.559
 people, it would

00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:55.080
 have evoked

00:20:55.080 --> 00:20:56.960
 memories from the

00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:58.100
 Old Testament of

00:20:58.100 --> 00:20:59.960
 God feeding his

00:20:59.960 --> 00:21:00.900
 people with

00:21:00.900 --> 00:21:01.360
 manna,

00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:03.480
 in the time of

00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:03.960
 the Exodus.

00:21:06.539 --> 00:21:07.180
 You remember

00:21:07.180 --> 00:21:08.400
 back then, they

00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:08.759
 were in a

00:21:08.759 --> 00:21:09.539
 physical wilderness,

00:21:10.460 --> 00:21:11.299
 lost and

00:21:11.299 --> 00:21:11.759
 wandering.

00:21:13.600 --> 00:21:14.680
 Even worse, they

00:21:14.680 --> 00:21:15.039
 were in a

00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:15.740
 spiritual wilderness.

00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:16.720
 They were there in

00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:17.440
 the wilderness because

00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:18.900
 they had rejected

00:21:18.900 --> 00:21:19.700
 God and God

00:21:19.700 --> 00:21:20.660
 said, this wilderness

00:21:20.660 --> 00:21:21.420
 is going to be the

00:21:21.420 --> 00:21:22.000
 death of you.

00:21:23.299 --> 00:21:24.440
 They were there in

00:21:24.440 --> 00:21:27.100
 punishment because of

00:21:27.100 --> 00:21:27.340
 their sin.

00:21:27.339 --> 00:21:29.539
 And yet, at that

00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:30.839
 point of lostness for

00:21:30.839 --> 00:21:33.240
 his people, he fed

00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:33.439
 them.

00:21:34.399 --> 00:21:36.259
 He was literally

00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:36.980
 their life.

00:21:38.159 --> 00:21:38.699
 He was their

00:21:38.699 --> 00:21:39.399
 sustenance.

00:21:41.199 --> 00:21:42.240
 Even though his

00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:42.819
 people didn't

00:21:42.819 --> 00:21:44.379
 appreciate the life

00:21:44.379 --> 00:21:45.079
 and the sustenance

00:21:45.079 --> 00:21:45.699
 that he gave them.

00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:52.000
 I think Jesus is

00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:52.380
 saying to the

00:21:52.380 --> 00:21:53.299
 crowd, I want you

00:21:53.299 --> 00:21:54.200
 guys to remember

00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:55.279
 that story and

00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:56.380
 then remember what

00:21:56.380 --> 00:21:57.240
 was said back then

00:21:57.240 --> 00:21:57.980
 that there would be a

00:21:57.980 --> 00:21:59.019
 new and greater

00:21:59.019 --> 00:21:59.819
 Moses who would

00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:01.160
 come and do

00:22:01.160 --> 00:22:02.660
 that which Moses

00:22:02.660 --> 00:22:03.100
 could only

00:22:03.100 --> 00:22:04.059
 approximate, could

00:22:04.059 --> 00:22:04.799
 only start, could

00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:05.460
 never finish.

00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:07.880
 And I'm he.

00:22:07.880 --> 00:22:12.760
 And I've come to

00:22:12.760 --> 00:22:13.680
 effect a new

00:22:13.680 --> 00:22:14.580
 exodus, a new

00:22:14.580 --> 00:22:15.680
 deliverance from sin

00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:16.820
 and death into new

00:22:16.820 --> 00:22:17.220
 life.

00:22:19.160 --> 00:22:21.400
 I'm the one that

00:22:21.400 --> 00:22:22.340
 you need to look to

00:22:22.340 --> 00:22:24.140
 to satisfy your

00:22:24.140 --> 00:22:25.100
 spiritual hunger.

00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:31.240
 And in the same

00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:33.180
 way, going into the

00:22:33.180 --> 00:22:33.980
 miracle of the

00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:34.740
 walking in the

00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:35.360
 water, in the same

00:22:35.360 --> 00:22:36.500
 way, Jesus comes to

00:22:36.500 --> 00:22:37.860
 rescue and the

00:22:37.859 --> 00:22:38.959
 deliver his people

00:22:38.959 --> 00:22:40.719
 in the context

00:22:40.719 --> 00:22:42.919
 here is scary.

00:22:43.399 --> 00:22:44.079
 It's the darkest

00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:44.719
 part of the night,

00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:45.179
 somewhere between

00:22:45.179 --> 00:22:46.539
 3am and 6am.

00:22:48.139 --> 00:22:49.799
 And they're at the

00:22:49.799 --> 00:22:50.579
 end of their own

00:22:50.579 --> 00:22:51.059
 resources.

00:22:51.319 --> 00:22:51.819
 They've battled

00:22:51.819 --> 00:22:52.479
 all night against

00:22:52.479 --> 00:22:53.279
 this squall, this

00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:54.740
 storm, and they're

00:22:54.740 --> 00:22:55.379
 getting nowhere.

00:22:57.059 --> 00:22:58.019
 And they're real

00:22:58.019 --> 00:22:59.039
 danger of death.

00:23:05.939 --> 00:23:06.939
 And worse than

00:23:06.939 --> 00:23:07.839
 that, they're

00:23:07.859 --> 00:23:08.559
 in the common

00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:09.579
 understanding of the

00:23:09.579 --> 00:23:10.459
 day and throughout

00:23:10.459 --> 00:23:11.279
 the Old Testament,

00:23:12.159 --> 00:23:13.099
 water was

00:23:13.099 --> 00:23:14.219
 associated with the

00:23:14.219 --> 00:23:16.079
 chaos and turmoil

00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:17.159
 of sinful world.

00:23:17.459 --> 00:23:18.159
 In fact, sailors

00:23:18.159 --> 00:23:18.879
 believed that the

00:23:18.879 --> 00:23:20.459
 whitecaps actually

00:23:20.459 --> 00:23:22.359
 were evidence of

00:23:22.359 --> 00:23:25.259
 evil spirits in the

00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:26.379
 waves in the sea

00:23:26.379 --> 00:23:28.459
 waiting to grab hold

00:23:28.459 --> 00:23:29.500
 of sailors and drag

00:23:29.500 --> 00:23:31.039
 them down into the

00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:31.839
 abyss of death.

00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:31.939
 death.

00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:36.039
 These guys were

00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:36.579
 terrified.

00:23:37.220 --> 00:23:38.139
 Experienced sailors,

00:23:39.139 --> 00:23:40.159
 they were on their

00:23:40.159 --> 00:23:41.500
 home patch of the

00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:42.899
 Sea of Galilee, but

00:23:42.899 --> 00:23:43.699
 they were terrified.

00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:48.619
 And again, throughout

00:23:48.619 --> 00:23:50.519
 the Old Testament, the

00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:53.319
 idea repeatedly is that

00:23:53.319 --> 00:23:54.519
 the Lord comes to

00:23:54.519 --> 00:23:55.419
 rescue his people.

00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:56.379
 And the picture of the

00:23:56.379 --> 00:23:58.099
 sea and the turmoil of

00:23:58.099 --> 00:23:59.099
 the sea is often

00:23:59.099 --> 00:24:01.879
 used as a picture of

00:24:01.879 --> 00:24:03.619
 God's compassion and

00:24:03.619 --> 00:24:04.539
 commitment to his

00:24:04.539 --> 00:24:06.839
 people in this world

00:24:06.839 --> 00:24:07.240
 of sin.

00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:11.799
 And Jesus, verse 27,

00:24:12.299 --> 00:24:13.679
 comes to them in their

00:24:13.679 --> 00:24:14.359
 point of need,

00:24:16.419 --> 00:24:17.759
 delivers them from

00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:19.359
 almost certain death

00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:22.619
 into perfect safety on

00:24:22.619 --> 00:24:22.859
 land.

00:24:22.859 --> 00:24:23.579
 That's the movement.

00:24:26.539 --> 00:24:27.740
 And in one short

00:24:27.740 --> 00:24:30.279
 sentence, verse 27, he

00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:31.719
 teaches them so much in

00:24:31.719 --> 00:24:32.519
 the midst of that

00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:34.879
 immersive experience of

00:24:34.879 --> 00:24:35.679
 fear and terror.

00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:37.119
 Verse 27, he says,

00:24:37.659 --> 00:24:38.240
 three things.

00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:40.699
 Take heart or be of

00:24:40.699 --> 00:24:41.139
 good cheer.

00:24:42.359 --> 00:24:43.919
 It is I, or that can

00:24:43.919 --> 00:24:45.299
 be taken literally as I

00:24:45.299 --> 00:24:45.719
 am.

00:24:46.879 --> 00:24:47.819
 Do not be afraid.

00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:52.319
 Now, that little phrase

00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:53.480
 take heart, be of good

00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:53.720
 cheer.

00:24:54.119 --> 00:24:55.179
 Jesus uses that three

00:24:55.179 --> 00:24:55.679
 times.

00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:57.359
 It's used three times in

00:24:57.359 --> 00:24:58.859
 the Bible, each time by

00:24:58.859 --> 00:24:59.220
 Jesus.

00:24:59.859 --> 00:25:01.039
 In Mark chapter 9, verse

00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:02.139
 2, and these were the

00:25:02.139 --> 00:25:03.019
 references I should have

00:25:03.019 --> 00:25:04.439
 on your page, but Mark

00:25:04.439 --> 00:25:06.379
 chapter 9, verse 2, Jesus

00:25:06.379 --> 00:25:07.779
 says to the guy who is

00:25:07.779 --> 00:25:09.000
 paralyzed, brought before

00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:10.619
 him, be of good cheer.

00:25:11.059 --> 00:25:11.379
 Why?

00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:13.819
 Your sins are forgiven.

00:25:16.259 --> 00:25:17.939
 In John chapter 16, verse

00:25:17.939 --> 00:25:20.179
 33, on the eve of his

00:25:20.179 --> 00:25:22.299
 crucifixion, Jesus says to

00:25:22.299 --> 00:25:24.000
 his disciples who were in

00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:26.319
 torment and totally

00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:27.599
 traumatized and confused,

00:25:28.159 --> 00:25:29.839
 Jesus says to them, be of

00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:30.419
 good cheer.

00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:34.419
 I have overcome the world.

00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:39.200
 In Acts 23, verse 11, in a

00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:41.279
 vision to Paul, when Paul's

00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:42.639
 life was under great threat,

00:25:43.940 --> 00:25:45.720
 the Lord Jesus, I believe,

00:25:45.819 --> 00:25:48.460
 appeared to him and said, be of

00:25:48.460 --> 00:25:50.159
 good cheer as you have

00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:53.019
 witness to me in Jerusalem, so

00:25:53.019 --> 00:25:54.759
 you will witness to me in

00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.060
 Rome.

00:25:57.800 --> 00:26:00.519
 Now, in each of those cases,

00:26:00.600 --> 00:26:03.460
 the context is Jesus undoing

00:26:03.460 --> 00:26:05.960
 the effects of sin and building

00:26:05.960 --> 00:26:06.540
 his kingdom.

00:26:08.880 --> 00:26:10.840
 Sin would not have, sin or

00:26:10.840 --> 00:26:12.480
 sinful people would not have the

00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:14.360
 last word in God's world.

00:26:14.359 --> 00:26:17.099
 God's saving purpose in Jesus

00:26:17.099 --> 00:26:17.500
 would.

00:26:22.379 --> 00:26:24.319
 Then the next phrase is, it is

00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:24.659
 I.

00:26:24.959 --> 00:26:26.599
 Jesus identifies himself, it is

00:26:26.599 --> 00:26:28.379
 I, or, as I say in the Greek, it

00:26:28.379 --> 00:26:29.419
 could be I am.

00:26:30.719 --> 00:26:32.399
 And I'm going to run with that for

00:26:32.399 --> 00:26:32.679
 a moment.

00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:33.719
 You're probably already guessing

00:26:33.719 --> 00:26:34.059
 why.

00:26:34.059 --> 00:26:38.039
 Jesus says to his disciples in the

00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:41.639
 terror of having exhausted their

00:26:41.639 --> 00:26:43.619
 own resources and facing almost

00:26:43.619 --> 00:26:44.440
 certain death.

00:26:46.139 --> 00:26:46.960
 I am.

00:26:48.099 --> 00:26:49.200
 Do not be afraid.

00:26:51.299 --> 00:26:54.000
 You remember the first context

00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:54.299
 of that?

00:26:54.919 --> 00:26:56.879
 Moses was saying, Lord, what the

00:26:56.879 --> 00:26:57.539
 heck are you doing?

00:26:57.599 --> 00:26:59.599
 You're sending me to rescue your

00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:00.220
 people from Israel.

00:27:00.399 --> 00:27:03.519
 That is a humanly possible task.

00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:04.879
 People won't even listen to me.

00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:05.639
 It's so ridiculous.

00:27:05.779 --> 00:27:06.579
 What will I say to them?

00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:10.440
 Just say, I am sent you.

00:27:11.460 --> 00:27:15.220
 In other words, I am the power that

00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:17.400
 makes the humanly impossible possible.

00:27:18.940 --> 00:27:19.400
 Actual.

00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:25.740
 So I think what Jesus is trying to

00:27:25.740 --> 00:27:28.980
 say to his disciples here is, the

00:27:28.980 --> 00:27:32.759
 same God who rescued his people from

00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:34.980
 Egypt from a picture of bondage and

00:27:34.980 --> 00:27:37.819
 sin, humanly impossible, same God

00:27:37.819 --> 00:27:42.759
 who did that, is before you now to

00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:46.240
 rescue you in your point of need.

00:27:48.940 --> 00:27:51.759
 To rescue and deliver you from fear

00:27:51.759 --> 00:27:53.879
 of death into the good life of

00:27:53.879 --> 00:27:54.379
 security.

00:27:54.380 --> 00:27:59.740
 But it doesn't stop there even more.

00:28:00.540 --> 00:28:03.120
 When Peter is there before the Lord

00:28:03.120 --> 00:28:06.360
 and suddenly becomes aware of his own

00:28:06.360 --> 00:28:08.860
 circumstances, his trust in the Lord

00:28:08.860 --> 00:28:11.060
 falters and he starts to go down.

00:28:13.780 --> 00:28:15.700
 When he starts to see a situation in

00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:17.920
 terms of his own ability and resources

00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:21.020
 starts to sink, once again, Jesus

00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:25.839
 graciously reached out, reassured Peter

00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:29.539
 by grabbing him tightly and encouraging

00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:30.900
 him to trust more.

00:28:33.359 --> 00:28:36.200
 It's almost as if Jesus is just having a

00:28:36.200 --> 00:28:38.920
 little bit of fun with the silliness

00:28:38.920 --> 00:28:41.299
 of what Peter's done.

00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:45.099
 That is, that Peter, having experienced the

00:28:45.099 --> 00:28:47.779
 power of Jesus to suspend the laws of

00:28:47.779 --> 00:28:49.399
 nature so he could actually walk in the

00:28:49.399 --> 00:28:52.259
 water, then couldn't trust Jesus to keep

00:28:52.259 --> 00:28:53.399
 him safe while he was doing it.

00:28:55.680 --> 00:28:57.740
 I think maybe that's really what Jesus

00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:58.920
 is saying to Peter.

00:28:59.039 --> 00:28:59.539
 Come on, Peter.

00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:00.980
 I can do this.

00:29:01.460 --> 00:29:02.379
 Trust me to do that.

00:29:08.379 --> 00:29:10.519
 Jesus wanted Peter to learn that his

00:29:10.519 --> 00:29:13.119
 understanding of and confidence in Jesus

00:29:13.119 --> 00:29:15.079
 was too small.

00:29:18.039 --> 00:29:21.079
 Twice in one day, in one day,

00:29:22.039 --> 00:29:25.799
 Peter had witnessed the power of Jesus

00:29:25.799 --> 00:29:28.159
 over the laws of nature.

00:29:30.439 --> 00:29:31.359
 Unlimited power.

00:29:32.419 --> 00:29:34.539
 And twice in one day, he had witnessed the

00:29:34.539 --> 00:29:37.539
 compassion of Jesus to save, to heal, to

00:29:37.539 --> 00:29:39.539
 deliver his people into safety.

00:29:39.539 --> 00:29:43.200
 Yet he faltered.

00:29:45.920 --> 00:29:48.960
 See, Peter couldn't apply the theory or

00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:51.899
 what his eyes saw in one situation to his

00:29:51.899 --> 00:29:52.680
 own circumstance.

00:29:53.159 --> 00:29:54.759
 That's essentially what it comes back to.

00:29:56.139 --> 00:29:57.359
 Yeah, I can see it out there and that's

00:29:57.359 --> 00:29:58.200
 wonderful out there.

00:29:58.399 --> 00:30:00.359
 Wow, how great is the Lord.

00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:04.039
 I'm sinking.

00:30:05.920 --> 00:30:06.960
 Where do I go from here?

00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:07.000
 Where do I go from here?

00:30:09.539 --> 00:30:14.279
 And I think we're like Peter.

00:30:15.159 --> 00:30:17.240
 This is really all about Jesus.

00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:18.759
 But just allow me one comment here.

00:30:18.879 --> 00:30:24.500
 I think like Peter, our problem is so often

00:30:24.500 --> 00:30:28.079
 not that we're outrageous in our expectation

00:30:28.079 --> 00:30:33.759
 of Christ, but that we're just not confident

00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:34.319
 enough.

00:30:36.319 --> 00:30:37.759
 Far too untrusting.

00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:44.579
 We look at our circumstances and we just

00:30:44.579 --> 00:30:48.720
 think, wow, they're too awful for Jesus to

00:30:48.720 --> 00:30:50.740
 protect us and deliver us from.

00:30:58.879 --> 00:31:01.440
 And so, my friends, the only fitting response

00:31:01.440 --> 00:31:04.759
 to King Jesus is total worship.

00:31:04.759 --> 00:31:07.099
 You look at verse 33.

00:31:09.799 --> 00:31:12.500
 And those in the boat worshipped him saying,

00:31:13.500 --> 00:31:15.920
 truly, you are the son of God.

00:31:18.359 --> 00:31:22.200
 Now, my friends, the focus of this miracle is not,

00:31:22.299 --> 00:31:25.599
 I believe, that Jesus walked on water.

00:31:25.599 --> 00:31:28.339
 That's significant.

00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:31.819
 Nor is the focus, and especially not the focus,

00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:33.939
 is that Peter walks on water.

00:31:34.539 --> 00:31:35.919
 That's incredible as well.

00:31:37.919 --> 00:31:41.799
 Nor is the focus of the miracle that Jesus calms the storm.

00:31:41.799 --> 00:31:51.180
 The ultimate focus of the miracle is that all this immersive teaching experience,

00:31:51.399 --> 00:31:54.419
 all the learning, all the new understanding of Jesus,

00:31:55.839 --> 00:32:00.440
 overflows into worship.

00:32:00.440 --> 00:32:12.080
 Because that's the only appropriate response to understanding Jesus as they've experienced him in these moments.

00:32:12.079 --> 00:32:24.159
 They've seen him as a sovereign Lord with limitless power.

00:32:25.339 --> 00:32:30.679
 They've experienced him personally as a compassionate Savior and King.

00:32:34.279 --> 00:32:36.079
 There can be no other option.

00:32:38.539 --> 00:32:40.480
 Jesus has shown himself to be God.

00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:44.039
 And ought to be worshipped.

00:32:48.519 --> 00:32:50.880
 And we can see how that develops, can't we?

00:32:50.940 --> 00:32:53.599
 Because initially, we have terror.

00:32:56.900 --> 00:33:01.720
 But terror is replaced with confidence and trust and security.

00:33:02.640 --> 00:33:03.579
 And what's the difference?

00:33:05.259 --> 00:33:06.599
 The actions of Jesus.

00:33:06.599 --> 00:33:16.240
 And so, terror being replaced with confidence and trust and relief and thankfulness,

00:33:17.139 --> 00:33:20.480
 that is an expression of worship.

00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:31.880
 As Peter learned from the hand of Jesus,

00:33:32.519 --> 00:33:34.819
 that having enabled him to walk on the water,

00:33:35.640 --> 00:33:38.559
 that he would be able to keep him safe while he was walking on the water,

00:33:39.400 --> 00:33:45.640
 that new aha moment would overflow in worship.

00:33:45.640 --> 00:33:53.320
 As Peter developed a greater confidence and a greater trusting and dependence on the Lord Jesus.

00:33:53.319 --> 00:33:58.000
 And likewise, when we get to Gennesaret,

00:33:58.759 --> 00:34:01.740
 I don't know whether you've ever thought or not, but I've pondered it a fair bit this week.

00:34:02.679 --> 00:34:06.779
 Why did Jesus allow the crowd, as it were, to set the agenda for them?

00:34:07.119 --> 00:34:10.860
 Why didn't he chastise them for bringing these hordes?

00:34:10.860 --> 00:34:14.200
 We're not told they sought Jesus' permission.

00:34:14.340 --> 00:34:15.400
 They just saw, well, there's Jesus.

00:34:15.620 --> 00:34:17.000
 Come on, guys, bring your sick.

00:34:17.480 --> 00:34:18.120
 They'll get healed.

00:34:18.740 --> 00:34:19.940
 It seems a bit arrogant.

00:34:20.220 --> 00:34:21.820
 It seems a bit presumptive, doesn't it?

00:34:23.000 --> 00:34:23.599
 Is that the right word?

00:34:23.900 --> 00:34:24.300
 Whatever.

00:34:24.740 --> 00:34:26.380
 Fill it in the right word if that's not the right word.

00:34:27.340 --> 00:34:29.059
 It just feels a bit off.

00:34:29.720 --> 00:34:32.539
 And yet Jesus doesn't chip them for that.

00:34:32.539 --> 00:34:37.219
 Why?

00:34:37.440 --> 00:34:38.940
 I think I've come to the conclusion.

00:34:39.059 --> 00:34:41.099
 This might be right, might be wrong, but this is what I think.

00:34:41.719 --> 00:34:45.059
 I think their actions were an expression of worship.

00:34:46.159 --> 00:34:48.360
 They clearly didn't understand everything about Jesus,

00:34:49.079 --> 00:34:56.960
 but they understood enough to know that they wanted their actions to be commensurate with what they did believe about Jesus.

00:34:56.960 --> 00:35:03.119
 And so they brought their sick to be healed, trusting him to be the one who would heal them.

00:35:04.240 --> 00:35:06.720
 That is an act of worship, an expression of worship.

00:35:08.519 --> 00:35:19.820
 And all of this together, then, is real-time evidence that Jesus' kingdom is being built in the hearts and minds of countless thousands of people.

00:35:20.760 --> 00:35:22.820
 Random people, special disciples.

00:35:23.579 --> 00:35:24.460
 Makes no difference.

00:35:24.460 --> 00:35:33.119
 For people who encounter Jesus, the Jesus they meet changes their lives forever.

00:35:34.340 --> 00:35:36.800
 And draws from them worship.

00:35:38.960 --> 00:35:42.300
 I just want to finish with just a very brief challenge then.

00:35:44.740 --> 00:35:46.240
 Everybody worships something.

00:35:46.239 --> 00:35:54.919
 The definition of worship in that sense is that everybody ascribes ultimate value to something or someone.

00:35:56.479 --> 00:35:57.739
 That's what it is to be human.

00:35:58.579 --> 00:35:59.119
 We worship.

00:36:02.399 --> 00:36:07.359
 So, the question then becomes, what shapes and drives your worship?

00:36:07.360 --> 00:36:07.440
 Worship.

00:36:11.579 --> 00:36:28.660
 If you're a Christian, then we're told in Romans chapter 12 that worship is a whole of person, whole of life, response of thankfulness, confidence, and trust in Jesus.

00:36:28.659 --> 00:36:40.099
 There is no other adequate response if we approach Jesus as Savior and Lord.

00:36:40.099 --> 00:36:47.619
 So, I say to you again as a Christian, what shapes and drives your worship?

00:36:52.039 --> 00:36:58.819
 If you're not a believer here this morning, and chances are we've got quite a few who aren't yet believers here this morning.

00:36:58.820 --> 00:37:06.840
 There's no point in saying that you understand who Jesus is.

00:37:07.440 --> 00:37:10.440
 That you appreciate what Jesus came into the world to do.

00:37:12.720 --> 00:37:19.680
 That makes no sense if, having said that, you then continue to be king in your own life.

00:37:19.679 --> 00:37:26.319
 Or you continue to give your worship and allow it to be shaped by someone or something other than Christ.

00:37:31.019 --> 00:37:37.639
 See, true understanding will be expressed in coming to Jesus.

00:37:40.519 --> 00:37:42.279
 Recognizing your great need.

00:37:43.219 --> 00:37:44.339
 Recognizing your sinfulness.

00:37:44.539 --> 00:37:48.079
 Recognizing that he alone is the one who can save you and deliver you.

00:37:48.079 --> 00:37:52.199
 Recognizing his compassion and his desire to do that.

00:37:54.159 --> 00:37:56.599
 And then living your life under his control.

00:38:01.380 --> 00:38:04.279
 Back to those who are Christians this morning.

00:38:05.960 --> 00:38:13.420
 Well, the evidence of growing faith and confidence in Christ is better worship.

00:38:13.420 --> 00:38:20.680
 Now, we need to be really careful today when we say we're looking for better worship.

00:38:21.300 --> 00:38:26.400
 I would say to you this morning, better worship is not about new hyped up experiences.

00:38:27.260 --> 00:38:28.360
 They may have a part.

00:38:28.920 --> 00:38:30.780
 But that's not essentially what better worship is.

00:38:31.440 --> 00:38:34.659
 Better worship will be the result of studying God's word.

00:38:35.340 --> 00:38:40.960
 And seeing the power and loving concern of Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

00:38:40.960 --> 00:38:46.579
 That will overflow in better worship.

00:38:48.000 --> 00:38:50.840
 As you express greater love for.

00:38:51.920 --> 00:38:53.280
 Greater commitment to.

00:38:54.260 --> 00:38:56.139
 Greater service of the Lord Jesus.

00:38:59.340 --> 00:39:00.679
 Pray with me again, please.

00:39:00.679 --> 00:39:08.799
 Very simple prayer.

00:39:08.940 --> 00:39:10.419
 Lord, help us to hear your words.

00:39:12.419 --> 00:39:14.079
 Keep us from hiding from them.

00:39:15.779 --> 00:39:18.379
 Keep us from excusing ourselves before them.

00:39:20.319 --> 00:39:22.739
 Burn them deep into our hearts and minds.

00:39:22.739 --> 00:39:27.039
 And bring us to you for forgiveness as we need forgiveness.

00:39:28.619 --> 00:39:32.839
 And new worship as we desire to reflect our thankfulness to you.

00:39:33.179 --> 00:39:33.819
 In Jesus' name.

00:39:33.820 --> 00:40:03.800
 Thank you.