WEBVTT

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 Good morning, everybody. It's good to see you. If you're new-ish to Watermark, my name is Kevin. I'm one of the leaders here.

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 And Echo's going to come read the scripture in a few minutes, but Echo, before you do that, I'm going to just introduce our theme.

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 If you are new to Watermark, I wonder what you think the Sunday service is all about.

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 And in particular, what is up with preaching?

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 What's the point with sermon? You've got some guy up there, and he speaks for hopefully 30 minutes, sometimes a little longer.

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 I wonder what your expectation is of the sermon, of preaching.

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 Well, churches can do some really interesting things when it comes to sermons.

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 These days, for some reason, it's fashionable. We all do series, right?

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 We take six or eight weeks, and we do something that's all joined together.

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 And I found a couple of interesting series. I think we've got them up on the screen.

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 Here's one. Okay, I think it should be coming sometime.

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 One church did a series on you drive me crazy, dealing with difficult people.

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 Okay, that maybe is a good topic. Some of us think we should do that.

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 What about It's Your Time? It's Your Time to Shine.

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 COVID is done. Time to shine.

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 Relationships. Okay, that's It's Complicated.

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 Do you know how many series there are called It's Complicated from Facebook, right?

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 And then Game Changers. I don't know what that's about, but that looks interesting.

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 I'd be interested to find out what that is about.

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 Well, if you've been coming to Watermark for a while, one of the things you'll know is that we don't really do that.

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 Our series aren't very hip and cool.

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 And the next series we're going to do starting next week is simply called Ecclesiastes.

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 It's about as creative as it is.

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 And then after that, we're going to do Matthew.

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 And then after that, we're going to do Ephesians.

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 And nothing spicy like Sex and the City or Keeping Up with the Corinthians.

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 And part of the reason for that, if we're honest, is, sorry to speak for Chris and Niels, but certainly for myself,

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 I think we're just not smart enough or cool enough to do that.

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 And I think we all know there's nothing worse than someone who's not cool trying to be cool, right?

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 That just doesn't go down well.

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 But actually, there's a deeper reason than just our personality or our personal preference.

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 And that is actually, it's a matter of conviction.

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 See, ever since Watermark started 12 years ago when Tobin was here, right from the earliest days,

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 one of the founding principles of Watermark Church is that we're going to be a church that is rooted on God's Word,

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 that our Sunday services are going to center around God's Word and God speaking to us from His Word.

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 And generally, what that means is what we call expositional sermons or expository preaching.

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 I know that's a big word, but the word expositional or expository simply means to open something up,

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 to make something that's maybe not that clear clear, to expose something.

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 Think of a journalist that writes an expose, right?

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 They find some scoop, and they dig in, and they find the story, and they write this expose exposing what's hidden.

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 They bring it out into the light.

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 But, well, expository preaching is when we preach, we go to a book of the Bible, a passage of Scripture,

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 and the goal is to say, what is in here that maybe is hidden or hard to see?

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 Or let's find out what was the author trying to say in this passage,

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 and therefore, what is God saying in this passage?

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 And we try and open it up to make clear what God is saying so that we can hear God's Word.

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 So expository preaching has the main point of the sermon, generally, is the main point of the passage.

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 And the opposite of this, of course, is a topical sermon,

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 where I come up with a topic or a theme, like how to deal with your baggage,

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 or how to deal with difficult parents, or how to win at life.

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 And I come up with some ideas and some thoughts and some points.

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 But then, because I'm, you know, this is a church, we've got to find a Bible verse.

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 So I go to my Bible, and I find a verse to back up what I'm saying.

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 Okay, well, there's a place for that from time to time.

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 But generally, what we want to do is come to God's Word and say,

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 what does God's Word say so that we can hear from that?

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 Okay, now, why do we do that?

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 I mean, surely we're in the 21st century.

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 Surely we want to be more relevant, more modern, more attrational than that.

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 Why do something so old-fashioned, like just preach through Ecclesiastes?

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 Well, I'm so glad you've asked that question.

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 And we're going to hear from Echoes, going to come and read God's Word,

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 and then we're going to find out why.

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 Okay, so let's listen to the reading of God's Word.

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 As we consider why we usually preach through entire books of the Bible,

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 we'll read from three passages of Scripture today.

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 Isaiah chapter 60 and 6, 2 Timothy, and 2 Corinthians.

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 Please follow along on the screen or your bulletin.

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 Starting in Isaiah chapter 66, verse 1, we read,

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 Thus says the Lord, Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.

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 What is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?

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 All these things my hand has made, so all these things came to be, declares the Lord.

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 But this is the one to whom I will look.

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 He who is humble and contract in spirit, and trembles at my word.

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 Then in 2 Timothy chapter 3, verse 14 to 16,

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 But as for you, continuing what you have learned and have firmly believed,

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 knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings,

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 which are able to make you wise for salvation through facing Christ Jesus.

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 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.

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 Lastly, in 2 Corinthians chapter 4, verses 1 to 6,

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 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart,

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 but we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways.

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 We refuse to practice cunning or to temper with God's word.

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 But by the open statement of the truth, we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.

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 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.

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 In their case, the God of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers

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 to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

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 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.

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 For God, who said,

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 Let light shine out of darkness, has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in face of Jesus Christ.

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 This is the word of God.

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 Echo, you did so well there.

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 That was not easy passages to read, so well done.

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 Great.

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 Why do we do this?

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 Why do we as a church choose to preach through books of the Bible like this?

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 Well, there's a couple reasons.

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 The first reason is because of what the church is.

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 Because of what the church is.

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 Look at the first passage in the bulletin with me.

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 And look at what God says here.

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 Now, the context is, the book of Isaiah kind of chronicles the nation of Israel.

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 And the first half really deals with their problem.

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 They're in a bad way.

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 They get taken to exile.

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 What's speaking about them going to exile?

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 And the second half talks about the way that they're going to return to God.

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 They're going to come back.

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 God starts off Isaiah 40.

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 Comfort, comfort to my people.

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 And at the end, it's kind of talking about the resolution to what has been their problem.

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 And in chapter 64, Israel repents.

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 They turn to God.

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 And they say, God, we are committed to following you.

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 And look at how he responds in chapter 66.

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 He says,

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 Thus says the Lord,

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 Heaven is my throne.

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 The earth is my footstool.

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 What is the house that you would build for me?

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 What is the place of my rest?

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 All these things my hand has made.

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 And all these things came to be.

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 So what's God saying here?

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 Well, he says,

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 Heaven is my throne.

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 He's saying,

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 All these things came to be through my hand.

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 God is saying,

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 I am the creator,

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 the sustainer,

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 of everything and everyone.

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 You look at the night sky,

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 you see the stars?

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 My hand brought them about.

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 The galaxies,

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 the Milky Way,

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 the universe,

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 the multiple universes,

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 however many there are.

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 All these things came to be because I brought them about.

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 And you look at the minuscule things.

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 If you could,

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 you know,

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 down in 600 BC,

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 see atoms and molecules,

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 if they're telescopes.

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 You see all those things?

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 Those things,

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 my hand brought them about.

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 And so,

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 he says,

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 The gold that you want to use to build the temple,

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 the silver that you want to use,

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 all these things came about by my hand.

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 Verse 1,

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 You see,

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 the people of Israel are running around.

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 They're thinking,

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 Oh God,

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 God's in a bad way.

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 The temple is ruined.

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 605 BC,

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 the Babylonians smashed the temple.

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 God is restless.

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 He doesn't have a place to rest.

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 He must be in anxiety in heaven.

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 So,

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 let's build him a temple,

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 a really good temple.

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 And if we can build him a great temple,

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 a house,

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 finally,

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 God will be at rest.

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 And then,

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 things will be okay.

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 And God says,

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 Actually,

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 everything that you want to use to build my house,

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 actually,

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 I'm the one that brought it into existence.

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 And so,

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 before you get too excited about thinking about building me a house,

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 just remember who it is that built me a universe.

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 It's me,

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 says God.

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 God says,

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 Don't you see,

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 I am the sovereign God,

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 the creator.

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 Everything around you,

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 I brought it into being.

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 And it's the same thing that Solomon says in Psalm 127,

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 a very famous song.

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 Unless the Lord builds the house,

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 those who build it labor in vain.

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 Unless the Lord watches over the city,

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 his people,

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 the watchman stays awake in vain.

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 Friends,

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 the church,

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 God's house,

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 is not simply a human organization.

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 It's a divine,

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 even a supernatural organism,

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 an institution.

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 It's not the product of human ingenuity,

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 of human wisdom.

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 God,

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 himself,

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 is both the foundation,

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 and the head,

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 the builder,

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 and the sustainer,

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 of everything,

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 but including his house,

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 his body,

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 the church.

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 In the church,

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 if there's any real life that happens,

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 any real change,

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 supernatural change,

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 it's not because the leaders are great,

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 or because the leaders are smart,

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 it's because there's a great God,

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 who's at work in that church.

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 The church is God's building,

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 it's his house that he establishes.

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 So Israel is saying,

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 we're going to build you a house.

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 And God says,

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 I don't need you to build me a house,

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 you need me to build you a house.

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 I,

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 all these things my hand has made,

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 says the Lord.

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 John Piper very famously said this,

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 you can build a great big church,

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 by human wisdom,

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 and human ingenuity,

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 but all you'll do,

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 is build a monument,

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 to your own futility.

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 Think about that.

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 You can build something wonderful,

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 and big,

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 and impressive,

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 and people say,

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 wow,

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 look at that.

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 But if it's built on human wisdom,

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 human ingenuity,

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 in 20,

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 and 30,

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 and 50 years time,

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 people are going to say,

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 remember there's that church,

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 Watermark?

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 Those guys thought they were so good,

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 they were so impressive.

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 Whatever happened to that church?

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 All it will become,

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 is a monument,

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 to your own futility.

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 You see,

00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:38.799
 the nature of the church,

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 it is God's church,

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 it's God's people,

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 it's a family,

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 with God as the head,

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 and the center,

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 and the foundation,

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 of the church,

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 and its leaders,

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 are merely its servants.

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 Which is why,

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 one of the reasons,

00:12:51.459 --> 00:12:52.299
 we've said this before,

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 I really struggle,

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 when people call me,

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 Pastor Kevin.

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 Right?

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 If you're new to Watermark,

00:12:57.479 --> 00:12:58.199
 don't call me,

00:12:58.259 --> 00:12:58.799
 Pastor Kevin.

00:12:58.919 --> 00:12:59.120
 Okay?

00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:00.379
 Because I feel,

00:13:00.459 --> 00:13:00.859
 it kind of like,

00:13:00.899 --> 00:13:01.419
 elevates,

00:13:01.479 --> 00:13:03.039
 like there's the regular congregation,

00:13:03.240 --> 00:13:03.939
 normal Christians,

00:13:04.059 --> 00:13:05.319
 and then there's the pastor.

00:13:05.479 --> 00:13:05.719
 Right?

00:13:06.200 --> 00:13:06.980
 And then there's God,

00:13:07.060 --> 00:13:07.519
 just above them.

00:13:07.960 --> 00:13:08.320
 Actually,

00:13:08.899 --> 00:13:09.200
 no,

00:13:09.300 --> 00:13:10.120
 we're all sinners,

00:13:10.240 --> 00:13:10.840
 we're all broken.

00:13:11.460 --> 00:13:11.720
 Okay,

00:13:11.820 --> 00:13:11.940
 yeah,

00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:12.160
 sure,

00:13:12.259 --> 00:13:12.899
 I've got a role,

00:13:13.019 --> 00:13:13.700
 the other pastors,

00:13:13.820 --> 00:13:14.399
 have got a role,

00:13:14.800 --> 00:13:15.240
 that's right,

00:13:15.279 --> 00:13:16.460
 but this is God's church.

00:13:16.980 --> 00:13:17.980
 It's one of the reasons,

00:13:17.980 --> 00:13:19.440
 why often,

00:13:19.580 --> 00:13:20.440
 we'll introduce ourselves,

00:13:20.560 --> 00:13:20.720
 and say,

00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:21.600
 Kevin,

00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:22.779
 I'm one of the leaders here,

00:13:22.920 --> 00:13:23.399
 Nielsen,

00:13:23.500 --> 00:13:24.500
 one of the leaders here.

00:13:25.100 --> 00:13:25.220
 Yeah,

00:13:25.259 --> 00:13:25.399
 okay,

00:13:25.480 --> 00:13:26.639
 my job description,

00:13:26.800 --> 00:13:27.580
 says senior pastor,

00:13:27.639 --> 00:13:28.019
 but actually,

00:13:28.340 --> 00:13:29.660
 Jesus is the senior pastor,

00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:30.600
 it's his church,

00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:33.080
 and we are its servants.

00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:35.519
 Think about this,

00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:38.759
 when I go visit my parents' home,

00:13:38.819 --> 00:13:39.759
 in Cape Town,

00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:40.100
 right,

00:13:40.179 --> 00:13:40.819
 so I go there,

00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:41.340
 I know,

00:13:41.500 --> 00:13:42.919
 my dad's going to say three things,

00:13:42.960 --> 00:13:43.759
 when I walk in the door.

00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:44.579
 Firstly,

00:13:45.079 --> 00:13:45.500
 son,

00:13:45.679 --> 00:13:46.939
 it's so good to see you,

00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:48.100
 welcome home.

00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:49.100
 Secondly,

00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:50.939
 make yourself at home.

00:13:51.159 --> 00:13:51.279
 Okay,

00:13:51.299 --> 00:13:51.899
 he's going to say that.

00:13:51.960 --> 00:13:52.579
 And the third thing,

00:13:52.620 --> 00:13:52.939
 he's going to say,

00:13:53.240 --> 00:13:54.500
 you know where everything is,

00:13:54.559 --> 00:13:54.699
 right?

00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:55.519
 Here's the fridge,

00:13:55.980 --> 00:13:56.860
 there's the chocolates,

00:13:57.259 --> 00:13:58.019
 there's the snacks,

00:13:58.500 --> 00:14:00.340
 there's the Cape Town wine cabinet,

00:14:00.500 --> 00:14:01.879
 make yourself at home,

00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:02.299
 right?

00:14:03.039 --> 00:14:03.759
 So imagine,

00:14:04.039 --> 00:14:05.019
 two weeks later,

00:14:05.659 --> 00:14:06.639
 my dad walks in,

00:14:06.699 --> 00:14:08.299
 and I'm repainting the one wall,

00:14:09.179 --> 00:14:11.000
 and then I knock out the one wall,

00:14:11.079 --> 00:14:12.879
 I just want to make my room a little bit bigger there,

00:14:12.939 --> 00:14:14.259
 and then I can bring in a contractor,

00:14:14.359 --> 00:14:15.579
 we're going to change the bathroom.

00:14:16.120 --> 00:14:16.319
 He says,

00:14:16.339 --> 00:14:17.039
 what are you doing?

00:14:17.759 --> 00:14:18.000
 Hey,

00:14:18.039 --> 00:14:18.519
 you said,

00:14:18.579 --> 00:14:19.479
 make yourself at home.

00:14:19.480 --> 00:14:21.060
 I don't like the wall here,

00:14:21.180 --> 00:14:22.060
 and I don't like that,

00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:23.159
 I thought I'd just change it.

00:14:23.680 --> 00:14:24.659
 What's he going to say?

00:14:25.180 --> 00:14:25.340
 He says,

00:14:25.460 --> 00:14:25.500
 hey,

00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:26.120
 when I said,

00:14:26.220 --> 00:14:27.060
 make yourself at home,

00:14:27.100 --> 00:14:27.600
 I didn't say,

00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:28.920
 this is your home,

00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:29.120
 okay?

00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:29.920
 It's still my home.

00:14:29.980 --> 00:14:32.519
 I get to determine how I want this home.

00:14:33.420 --> 00:14:33.639
 Well,

00:14:33.659 --> 00:14:33.920
 friends,

00:14:34.039 --> 00:14:36.840
 the church is God's house.

00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:39.300
 It belongs to Him,

00:14:39.379 --> 00:14:40.340
 to God Almighty.

00:14:41.159 --> 00:14:41.580
 And we,

00:14:41.779 --> 00:14:42.360
 the leaders,

00:14:42.480 --> 00:14:43.379
 we're servants here,

00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:44.620
 but we don't own the church.

00:14:44.620 --> 00:14:45.039
 It's not,

00:14:45.220 --> 00:14:46.220
 Watermark isn't my church,

00:14:46.300 --> 00:14:47.100
 it's His church.

00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:49.019
 We are servants here.

00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:50.279
 And so,

00:14:50.360 --> 00:14:51.100
 that means that,

00:14:51.480 --> 00:14:52.879
 this is God's family.

00:14:53.019 --> 00:14:55.659
 He's the one who determines how we build,

00:14:55.720 --> 00:14:56.980
 and what happens in here.

00:14:57.659 --> 00:14:58.240
 This week,

00:14:58.279 --> 00:14:59.820
 I was reading in my devotions,

00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:00.279
 Exodus.

00:15:00.500 --> 00:15:00.639
 And,

00:15:01.039 --> 00:15:02.399
 if you've read Exodus lately,

00:15:02.539 --> 00:15:03.940
 the second half of Exodus,

00:15:04.259 --> 00:15:05.659
 it can be a little challenging,

00:15:05.940 --> 00:15:06.180
 okay?

00:15:06.600 --> 00:15:08.200
 There's chapter after chapter,

00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:09.980
 about lots of instructions,

00:15:10.180 --> 00:15:11.759
 how to build the tabernacle.

00:15:11.860 --> 00:15:13.980
 The tabernacle was the precursor to the temple.

00:15:14.259 --> 00:15:14.840
 And so,

00:15:14.940 --> 00:15:15.879
 for chapter after chapter,

00:15:15.980 --> 00:15:16.180
 it says,

00:15:16.560 --> 00:15:16.700
 you know,

00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:18.680
 the curtain must be this many cubits,

00:15:18.679 --> 00:15:20.519
 and this many silver clasps,

00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:22.239
 and they must be fit into the base,

00:15:22.319 --> 00:15:23.979
 and the base must be made of this material.

00:15:24.359 --> 00:15:25.639
 And then the priest's clothing,

00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:26.979
 they must be made out of this,

00:15:27.019 --> 00:15:28.819
 and you must have little patterns here,

00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:29.839
 and bells over there.

00:15:30.199 --> 00:15:30.919
 And after a while,

00:15:30.979 --> 00:15:31.419
 you think,

00:15:31.979 --> 00:15:32.319
 okay,

00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:32.839
 I get it.

00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:34.179
 Just tell us there was a temple,

00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:35.339
 tell us there was a church,

00:15:35.399 --> 00:15:36.079
 and there was a curtain,

00:15:36.339 --> 00:15:37.899
 and just give us the basics,

00:15:38.039 --> 00:15:38.179
 okay?

00:15:38.199 --> 00:15:39.359
 Do we need all this detail?

00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:40.939
 And you read on,

00:15:40.979 --> 00:15:41.359
 and on,

00:15:41.419 --> 00:15:41.620
 and on.

00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:42.339
 Sometimes you think,

00:15:42.340 --> 00:15:43.540
 what's going on here?

00:15:44.300 --> 00:15:45.500
 And in chapter 40,

00:15:46.220 --> 00:15:46.500
 about,

00:15:46.620 --> 00:15:48.080
 I think it's about 15 times,

00:15:48.139 --> 00:15:48.420
 it says,

00:15:48.560 --> 00:15:50.200
 and Moses did what God commanded.

00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:52.420
 And Moses did what God commanded.

00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:54.540
 And Moses did what God commanded.

00:15:55.060 --> 00:15:55.820
 And Moses did.

00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:58.680
 Until you get to the last paragraph

00:15:58.680 --> 00:15:59.920
 of the book of Exodus,

00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:00.879
 and what does it say?

00:16:01.659 --> 00:16:03.320
 The glory of God

00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:04.439
 filled the temple

00:16:04.439 --> 00:16:05.879
 with such power,

00:16:06.439 --> 00:16:07.460
 and such authority,

00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:09.539
 the priest could hardly minister.

00:16:10.519 --> 00:16:10.799
 In other words,

00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:12.179
 God came down,

00:16:12.279 --> 00:16:13.139
 and filled it,

00:16:13.220 --> 00:16:14.519
 and suddenly you realize,

00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:16.340
 God knew what he was saying,

00:16:16.340 --> 00:16:17.059
 all along.

00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:19.340
 God had a plan for his temple,

00:16:19.460 --> 00:16:20.439
 how he wanted it,

00:16:20.659 --> 00:16:22.559
 because he wanted to meet with his people,

00:16:22.659 --> 00:16:23.899
 and bless them there.

00:16:25.139 --> 00:16:26.620
 And God coming down,

00:16:26.679 --> 00:16:28.860
 was contingent upon Moses building,

00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:30.639
 how God wanted him to build.

00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:31.740
 Okay?

00:16:31.960 --> 00:16:32.980
 The first thing is,

00:16:33.200 --> 00:16:35.500
 the church is God's church.

00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:37.519
 And we build according

00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:38.720
 to the maker's instructions.

00:16:39.700 --> 00:16:40.399
 Second thing,

00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:43.259
 why do we do what we do?

00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:44.439
 Why do we do things this way?

00:16:44.439 --> 00:16:46.439
 Because of what the Bible is.

00:16:46.820 --> 00:16:46.879
 Okay?

00:16:47.460 --> 00:16:50.399
 I wonder what you think of the Bible.

00:16:50.600 --> 00:16:50.779
 I mean,

00:16:50.840 --> 00:16:52.419
 what is the Bible really?

00:16:53.200 --> 00:16:53.960
 Yeah, sure,

00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:56.639
 it's a collection of 66 ancient documents

00:16:56.639 --> 00:17:00.419
 written between 2,000 and 4,000 years ago.

00:17:00.419 --> 00:17:01.459
 Different genres,

00:17:01.599 --> 00:17:02.240
 different authors,

00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:03.079
 different languages.

00:17:03.779 --> 00:17:04.639
 Some poetry,

00:17:04.879 --> 00:17:05.539
 some history,

00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:06.960
 some wisdom literature,

00:17:07.180 --> 00:17:07.960
 some biography.

00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:10.259
 But what is it really,

00:17:10.339 --> 00:17:11.079
 in its essence?

00:17:11.639 --> 00:17:12.659
 What is the Bible?

00:17:13.879 --> 00:17:14.460
 Maybe you think,

00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:16.460
 the Bible is great wisdom.

00:17:16.639 --> 00:17:18.200
 It gives us direction,

00:17:18.339 --> 00:17:19.259
 how to live a happy,

00:17:19.339 --> 00:17:20.500
 and meaningful life.

00:17:21.379 --> 00:17:21.940
 Maybe you think,

00:17:22.159 --> 00:17:24.500
 the Bible is a book of inspiration,

00:17:24.659 --> 00:17:25.079
 encouragement.

00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:25.920
 You're feeling down,

00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:27.700
 you're feeling overwhelmed by life.

00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:28.100
 Well,

00:17:28.120 --> 00:17:28.820
 you go to the Bible,

00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:29.960
 it's going to give you some promises

00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:30.880
 and some encouragement.

00:17:32.100 --> 00:17:32.539
 Maybe you think,

00:17:32.620 --> 00:17:34.740
 the Bible is a religious manual

00:17:34.740 --> 00:17:36.000
 to guide you

00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:37.560
 in your religious search

00:17:37.560 --> 00:17:38.380
 through life.

00:17:39.380 --> 00:17:39.700
 Well,

00:17:39.779 --> 00:17:41.060
 those who come to the Bible

00:17:41.060 --> 00:17:42.360
 will certainly discover

00:17:42.360 --> 00:17:43.019
 all those things.

00:17:43.120 --> 00:17:44.039
 Great encouragement,

00:17:44.660 --> 00:17:45.519
 great direction.

00:17:46.279 --> 00:17:46.700
 But actually,

00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:48.279
 the Bible is more than that.

00:17:48.900 --> 00:17:52.200
 The Bible is God's word to us.

00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:53.700
 Look at our second passage,

00:17:53.779 --> 00:17:54.620
 in our bulletin here,

00:17:54.619 --> 00:17:55.339
 in 2 Timothy.

00:17:56.479 --> 00:17:57.159
 Paul writes,

00:17:57.319 --> 00:17:58.319
 and look at what he says here.

00:17:58.399 --> 00:17:58.699
 He says,

00:17:58.779 --> 00:17:59.279
 I know,

00:17:59.419 --> 00:18:00.759
 Timothy's writing to this young man,

00:18:00.819 --> 00:18:01.439
 this young pastor.

00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:02.259
 He says,

00:18:02.299 --> 00:18:03.559
 I know how from childhood

00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:05.000
 you've been acquainted

00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:06.479
 with the sacred writings,

00:18:06.579 --> 00:18:08.119
 that means the Jewish scriptures,

00:18:08.579 --> 00:18:10.719
 which are able to make you wise

00:18:10.719 --> 00:18:11.599
 for salvation

00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:12.939
 through faith in Christ.

00:18:13.739 --> 00:18:13.879
 Okay,

00:18:13.959 --> 00:18:14.099
 now,

00:18:14.339 --> 00:18:14.619
 pause here.

00:18:14.699 --> 00:18:16.159
 That's the primary purpose

00:18:16.159 --> 00:18:16.859
 of the scriptures,

00:18:17.339 --> 00:18:18.679
 to lead us

00:18:18.679 --> 00:18:20.179
 to salvation,

00:18:20.539 --> 00:18:22.159
 saving faith in Jesus Christ,

00:18:22.359 --> 00:18:23.859
 to reveal to us

00:18:23.859 --> 00:18:25.159
 our need for God,

00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:26.779
 and the good news

00:18:26.779 --> 00:18:28.899
 that Jesus has gone to the cross

00:18:28.899 --> 00:18:31.199
 so that we can find salvation in Him.

00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:32.679
 That's the main purpose

00:18:32.679 --> 00:18:33.559
 of the scriptures.

00:18:34.419 --> 00:18:35.279
 But notice here,

00:18:35.659 --> 00:18:37.459
 Timothy only had the Old Testament.

00:18:37.719 --> 00:18:38.279
 The New Testament

00:18:38.279 --> 00:18:39.359
 hadn't been formed

00:18:39.359 --> 00:18:39.879
 or finished,

00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:41.339
 formed by the stage.

00:18:41.979 --> 00:18:42.259
 And so,

00:18:42.339 --> 00:18:42.939
 Paul writes,

00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:43.240
 he says,

00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:44.500
 even the Old Testament

00:18:44.500 --> 00:18:46.259
 is meant to lead Timothy

00:18:46.259 --> 00:18:48.000
 to saving faith in Jesus.

00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:48.819
 So,

00:18:48.900 --> 00:18:49.740
 the whole Bible,

00:18:49.960 --> 00:18:50.480
 New Testament

00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:51.519
 and Old Testament

00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:53.319
 are all about Jesus,

00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:53.740
 right?

00:18:54.299 --> 00:18:54.839
 Do you see that?

00:18:55.180 --> 00:18:55.359
 It says,

00:18:55.460 --> 00:18:55.880
 the scriptures,

00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:56.559
 the Old Testament

00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:57.559
 are meant to lead you

00:18:57.559 --> 00:18:58.579
 to faith in Christ.

00:18:58.880 --> 00:18:59.799
 Verse 16,

00:19:00.579 --> 00:19:01.819
 for all scripture

00:19:01.819 --> 00:19:04.220
 is breathed out by God

00:19:04.220 --> 00:19:05.599
 and is profitable

00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:07.019
 for reproof,

00:19:07.140 --> 00:19:07.500
 correction,

00:19:07.940 --> 00:19:08.380
 training

00:19:08.380 --> 00:19:09.720
 in righteousness.

00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:11.980
 Paul says here

00:19:11.980 --> 00:19:12.619
 something amazing.

00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:12.900
 He says,

00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:13.660
 the scripture

00:19:13.660 --> 00:19:16.039
 is breathed out by God,

00:19:16.039 --> 00:19:17.779
 which is his way of saying

00:19:17.779 --> 00:19:18.740
 the scripture

00:19:18.740 --> 00:19:20.159
 is not just inspired

00:19:20.159 --> 00:19:21.059
 by man.

00:19:21.420 --> 00:19:22.420
 It's not like the apostles

00:19:22.420 --> 00:19:23.399
 or the prophets

00:19:23.399 --> 00:19:25.159
 sat down to write

00:19:25.159 --> 00:19:25.420
 and said,

00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:25.659
 God,

00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:26.940
 I really need your inspiration

00:19:26.940 --> 00:19:28.559
 or they found some inspiration

00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:29.359
 from the mountains

00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:30.119
 and the weather

00:19:30.119 --> 00:19:31.039
 and God

00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:31.619
 and they wrote

00:19:31.619 --> 00:19:32.779
 this very inspiring book.

00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:33.680
 That's not what he means.

00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:35.200
 It means that actually

00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:37.720
 when the authors write,

00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:38.680
 the human authors

00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:40.619
 are actually God's mouthpiece.

00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:42.259
 They're God's spokesperson

00:19:42.259 --> 00:19:43.079
 as it were.

00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:45.339
 And the apostle Peter writes,

00:19:45.399 --> 00:19:45.639
 he says,

00:19:45.640 --> 00:19:46.580
 no prophecy

00:19:46.580 --> 00:19:47.420
 was ever produced

00:19:47.420 --> 00:19:48.580
 by the will of man,

00:19:48.740 --> 00:19:50.480
 but men spoke by God

00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:51.900
 as they were carried along

00:19:51.900 --> 00:19:52.980
 by the Holy Spirit.

00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:54.460
 And so what that means

00:19:54.460 --> 00:19:54.860
 is that,

00:19:55.200 --> 00:19:55.340
 yes,

00:19:55.400 --> 00:19:56.460
 there's a human author,

00:19:56.820 --> 00:19:57.759
 but actually behind

00:19:57.759 --> 00:19:58.440
 the human author

00:19:58.440 --> 00:20:00.920
 there's the divine author

00:20:00.920 --> 00:20:02.540
 using that human author's

00:20:02.540 --> 00:20:03.240
 personality,

00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:04.180
 his giftings,

00:20:04.200 --> 00:20:04.860
 his vocabulary,

00:20:05.020 --> 00:20:05.560
 his style

00:20:05.560 --> 00:20:06.900
 to actually say

00:20:06.900 --> 00:20:08.540
 what God wants him to say.

00:20:09.240 --> 00:20:10.280
 And so this book,

00:20:10.600 --> 00:20:10.820
 yeah,

00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:11.759
 it's got lots of

00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:13.060
 human author personality

00:20:13.060 --> 00:20:13.560
 and style,

00:20:13.960 --> 00:20:15.200
 but it's God's word,

00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:15.920
 to us.

00:20:16.660 --> 00:20:17.519
 The scriptures,

00:20:18.140 --> 00:20:19.220
 you could say it like this,

00:20:19.299 --> 00:20:21.180
 when the Bible speaks,

00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:22.360
 God speaks.

00:20:23.340 --> 00:20:24.720
 I once heard somebody say,

00:20:24.819 --> 00:20:25.880
 slightly cheekily,

00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:26.380
 but anyway,

00:20:26.900 --> 00:20:27.960
 if you want to hear

00:20:27.960 --> 00:20:29.000
 God speaking,

00:20:29.660 --> 00:20:30.779
 read God's word.

00:20:31.140 --> 00:20:32.140
 If you want to hear

00:20:32.140 --> 00:20:33.519
 God speaking audibly,

00:20:33.860 --> 00:20:34.000
 okay,

00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:34.420
 you want to hear

00:20:34.420 --> 00:20:35.460
 an audible voice,

00:20:36.039 --> 00:20:37.680
 read God's word out loud.

00:20:38.140 --> 00:20:38.660
 Yeah,

00:20:38.980 --> 00:20:39.819
 slightly cheeky,

00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:40.700
 but now,

00:20:40.740 --> 00:20:41.200
 now of course,

00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:42.599
 the Bible isn't the only way

00:20:42.599 --> 00:20:43.379
 that God speaks.

00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:44.599
 He can speak through

00:20:44.599 --> 00:20:45.659
 nature and creation.

00:20:46.339 --> 00:20:46.939
 Psalm 19,

00:20:47.059 --> 00:20:48.339
 the heavens declare

00:20:48.339 --> 00:20:49.639
 the glory of God.

00:20:50.139 --> 00:20:51.179
 But even Psalm 19

00:20:51.179 --> 00:20:52.019
 goes on to say

00:20:52.019 --> 00:20:53.359
 nature isn't enough.

00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:54.819
 That's why we need

00:20:54.819 --> 00:20:55.619
 God's word.

00:20:55.799 --> 00:20:57.299
 God's law is perfect,

00:20:57.439 --> 00:20:58.539
 reviving the soul.

00:20:59.159 --> 00:21:00.399
 God's word is just

00:21:00.399 --> 00:21:01.419
 opening the eyes.

00:21:01.919 --> 00:21:02.819
 God speaks through nature.

00:21:03.639 --> 00:21:04.480
 But God also speaks

00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:05.460
 through the Holy Spirit,

00:21:05.619 --> 00:21:05.779
 right?

00:21:05.799 --> 00:21:06.519
 If you're a Christian,

00:21:06.599 --> 00:21:07.339
 you've got the Holy Spirit

00:21:07.339 --> 00:21:08.179
 living inside of you.

00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:10.000
 Sometimes God the Spirit

00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:10.720
 will speak to you

00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:11.439
 and guide you,

00:21:11.839 --> 00:21:12.519
 put an impression

00:21:12.519 --> 00:21:13.220
 on your heart,

00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:14.199
 maybe give you a picture.

00:21:14.279 --> 00:21:14.779
 That's true.

00:21:15.240 --> 00:21:17.079
 But the most authoritative way,

00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:18.819
 the most direct way

00:21:18.819 --> 00:21:19.839
 that God speaks to us,

00:21:19.859 --> 00:21:21.000
 the way we can be sure

00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:22.399
 it's God and not just me,

00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:24.619
 is through His word.

00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:26.459
 And what that means is

00:21:26.459 --> 00:21:29.399
 God's word is profoundly meaningful.

00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:32.000
 When we engage with Scripture,

00:21:32.199 --> 00:21:33.179
 when we search it

00:21:33.179 --> 00:21:34.039
 and explore it

00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:34.859
 and mine it

00:21:34.859 --> 00:21:36.000
 and open it up,

00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:37.559
 we get to hear

00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:38.900
 what the sovereign,

00:21:39.380 --> 00:21:40.019
 eternal,

00:21:40.599 --> 00:21:41.500
 uncreated,

00:21:42.059 --> 00:21:44.019
 forever existed being

00:21:44.019 --> 00:21:46.759
 thinks and what His heart is.

00:21:47.420 --> 00:21:47.799
 Friends,

00:21:47.880 --> 00:21:48.980
 when you read Scripture,

00:21:49.559 --> 00:21:51.019
 the one who made you

00:21:51.019 --> 00:21:52.359
 or knew you

00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:54.180
 before you were even conceived,

00:21:55.059 --> 00:21:56.039
 the one who knows

00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:57.160
 everything about you,

00:21:57.220 --> 00:21:57.980
 the best of you

00:21:57.980 --> 00:21:58.859
 and the worst of you,

00:21:59.099 --> 00:22:00.220
 the one who knows you

00:22:00.220 --> 00:22:01.700
 better than you know yourself

00:22:01.700 --> 00:22:03.599
 and who loves you

00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:05.400
 better than anyone loves you,

00:22:05.400 --> 00:22:07.700
 reveals His heart to you

00:22:07.700 --> 00:22:08.980
 in Scripture.

00:22:09.960 --> 00:22:10.820
 And so this isn't just

00:22:10.820 --> 00:22:12.280
 a manual or a guide

00:22:12.280 --> 00:22:13.200
 or a book of wisdom.

00:22:13.620 --> 00:22:16.080
 It is profoundly personal

00:22:16.080 --> 00:22:17.720
 because it's God

00:22:17.720 --> 00:22:18.720
 revealing His heart.

00:22:18.900 --> 00:22:20.259
 It's not only meaningful,

00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:21.480
 it's powerful.

00:22:22.540 --> 00:22:23.640
 God's word actually

00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:24.740
 accomplishes stuff.

00:22:24.800 --> 00:22:26.400
 It actually has the power to it.

00:22:27.040 --> 00:22:27.800
 In the Bible,

00:22:27.980 --> 00:22:30.100
 the Bible uses many metaphors

00:22:30.100 --> 00:22:31.840
 to describe the Scriptures.

00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:33.019
 Paul says,

00:22:33.179 --> 00:22:34.000
 it's like a sword

00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:35.759
 that cuts through the fog

00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:36.559
 and the confusion.

00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:37.799
 You're kind of not sure,

00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:38.919
 who am I?

00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:40.339
 What is my purpose in life?

00:22:40.779 --> 00:22:41.779
 The Scripture is like a sword

00:22:41.779 --> 00:22:42.819
 that can cut through there

00:22:42.819 --> 00:22:44.379
 and go straight to the matters at hand.

00:22:45.079 --> 00:22:45.659
 Jeremiah says,

00:22:45.720 --> 00:22:46.980
 the Bible is like a hammer

00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:49.559
 that breaks open hardness

00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:51.579
 and hard hearts

00:22:51.579 --> 00:22:53.559
 and can speak to our hearts.

00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:54.879
 Jeremiah says,

00:22:55.099 --> 00:22:56.819
 the Bible is like a fire bomb

00:22:56.819 --> 00:22:58.579
 that is about to combust

00:22:58.579 --> 00:23:00.319
 and is bubbling below the surface

00:23:00.319 --> 00:23:02.240
 and can change your whole life.

00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:04.339
 The writer to Hebrews says,

00:23:04.659 --> 00:23:05.439
 the Scripture is like

00:23:05.439 --> 00:23:06.939
 a surgeon's scalpel

00:23:06.939 --> 00:23:08.220
 that cuts straight

00:23:08.220 --> 00:23:08.960
 through the flesh

00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:09.939
 and the muscle

00:23:09.939 --> 00:23:11.000
 and gets straight

00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:12.439
 to the heart of the matter.

00:23:14.199 --> 00:23:14.599
 I remember,

00:23:14.839 --> 00:23:16.099
 let me show you the Scripture.

00:23:16.220 --> 00:23:17.759
 One Thessalonian says this,

00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:18.299
 Paul writes,

00:23:18.639 --> 00:23:19.839
 when you received

00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:20.699
 the Word of God,

00:23:20.779 --> 00:23:21.740
 which you heard from us,

00:23:22.139 --> 00:23:23.159
 you accepted it

00:23:23.159 --> 00:23:24.759
 not as the Word of man,

00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:26.199
 but as it really is,

00:23:26.200 --> 00:23:27.180
 the Word of God,

00:23:27.580 --> 00:23:29.660
 which is at work in you.

00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:31.039
 See, God's Word

00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:32.259
 is not just profound,

00:23:32.500 --> 00:23:33.420
 it does something,

00:23:33.480 --> 00:23:34.160
 it changes you,

00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:34.980
 it's at work in you.

00:23:35.539 --> 00:23:37.220
 I remember about 10 years ago,

00:23:37.799 --> 00:23:40.480
 I was leading a congregation

00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:41.400
 in Cape Town

00:23:41.400 --> 00:23:43.140
 and a friend of mine

00:23:43.140 --> 00:23:44.059
 who leads another church,

00:23:44.180 --> 00:23:44.440
 Ian,

00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:45.819
 was preaching at our church

00:23:45.819 --> 00:23:46.900
 and he was preaching

00:23:46.900 --> 00:23:48.080
 from John chapter 21.

00:23:48.279 --> 00:23:48.640
 Now if you know

00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:49.620
 John chapter 21,

00:23:49.819 --> 00:23:51.120
 it's the end of the Gospel of John,

00:23:51.720 --> 00:23:53.620
 Peter and his friends,

00:23:53.620 --> 00:23:54.539
 Jesus died,

00:23:54.620 --> 00:23:55.220
 he's risen again,

00:23:55.220 --> 00:23:56.019
 Peter and his friends

00:23:56.019 --> 00:23:56.519
 are fishing

00:23:56.519 --> 00:23:58.319
 and Jesus comes to them

00:23:58.319 --> 00:23:59.259
 and Jesus says

00:23:59.259 --> 00:24:00.500
 this interesting thing to Peter,

00:24:00.600 --> 00:24:01.839
 he says to him three times,

00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:03.140
 Peter, do you love me?

00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:04.579
 Peter, do you love me?

00:24:04.660 --> 00:24:05.779
 Peter says, yes, I love you.

00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:07.960
 Jesus says, Peter, do you love me?

00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:09.360
 He says, yes, Lord, I love you.

00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:11.579
 Third time, Peter, do you love me?

00:24:12.420 --> 00:24:13.900
 And my friend Ian is saying,

00:24:14.059 --> 00:24:16.180
 why does Jesus ask Peter

00:24:16.180 --> 00:24:17.819
 three times, do you love me?

00:24:18.360 --> 00:24:19.620
 And I'm sitting in the front row,

00:24:19.740 --> 00:24:20.380
 I'm the pastor,

00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:21.360
 I'm in to know the answer

00:24:21.360 --> 00:24:22.079
 and I think,

00:24:22.400 --> 00:24:23.539
 that's a great question.

00:24:24.120 --> 00:24:25.160
 I've always wondered about that,

00:24:25.220 --> 00:24:26.519
 why does God say that?

00:24:26.600 --> 00:24:27.839
 Three times, do you love me?

00:24:27.860 --> 00:24:29.279
 And just ask him once, right?

00:24:30.460 --> 00:24:31.339
 And Ian says,

00:24:31.460 --> 00:24:32.380
 well, let's just go back

00:24:32.380 --> 00:24:33.360
 to John chapter 19.

00:24:33.460 --> 00:24:35.180
 You remember how Peter says,

00:24:35.600 --> 00:24:37.120
 Lord, I'll never betray you.

00:24:37.180 --> 00:24:38.220
 Everyone else will deny you,

00:24:38.279 --> 00:24:39.519
 but I'll die with you.

00:24:40.200 --> 00:24:41.360
 And a few hours later,

00:24:41.600 --> 00:24:42.600
 Peter denies Jesus.

00:24:42.680 --> 00:24:43.339
 But how many times

00:24:43.339 --> 00:24:44.039
 does he deny him?

00:24:44.460 --> 00:24:45.240
 Not just once,

00:24:45.660 --> 00:24:46.420
 not just twice,

00:24:46.860 --> 00:24:47.680
 three times.

00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:49.560
 And so Peter denies Jesus

00:24:49.560 --> 00:24:50.160
 three times.

00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:51.100
 And three times,

00:24:51.240 --> 00:24:52.080
 Jesus comes

00:24:52.080 --> 00:24:54.400
 and he elicits this response

00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:54.940
 from Peter,

00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:55.700
 saying,

00:24:55.779 --> 00:24:57.080
 Peter, I know you love me

00:24:57.080 --> 00:24:57.980
 and I've still got a calling

00:24:57.980 --> 00:24:58.620
 on your life.

00:24:59.140 --> 00:25:00.580
 Just because you sinned

00:25:00.580 --> 00:25:02.500
 doesn't mean I've written you off.

00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:06.000
 And as Ian opened that up for me,

00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:08.340
 it was like this fire bomb

00:25:08.340 --> 00:25:09.640
 in my heart exploded

00:25:09.640 --> 00:25:10.820
 and it was like,

00:25:10.980 --> 00:25:12.040
 God spoke to me and said,

00:25:12.140 --> 00:25:12.380
 Kevin,

00:25:13.060 --> 00:25:13.960
 I know you're a sinner.

00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:15.520
 I know you mess up.

00:25:15.980 --> 00:25:17.220
 I know you deny me,

00:25:17.540 --> 00:25:19.580
 but your sin doesn't write you off

00:25:19.580 --> 00:25:20.320
 in my eyes.

00:25:20.780 --> 00:25:21.920
 I still love you

00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:23.120
 and I know you love me

00:25:23.120 --> 00:25:24.960
 and I haven't written you off.

00:25:25.740 --> 00:25:27.160
 I can still picture

00:25:27.160 --> 00:25:28.920
 sitting in that chair today

00:25:28.920 --> 00:25:31.160
 how God's word spoke to me

00:25:31.160 --> 00:25:32.259
 so powerfully

00:25:32.259 --> 00:25:34.300
 because it wasn't the word of man,

00:25:34.420 --> 00:25:35.140
 it's the word of God.

00:25:35.660 --> 00:25:36.840
 I remember a few years later,

00:25:37.220 --> 00:25:39.360
 listening or watching a video

00:25:39.359 --> 00:25:40.519
 of John Piper

00:25:40.519 --> 00:25:42.039
 preaching Isaiah 46.

00:25:42.559 --> 00:25:44.599
 And he just works through Isaiah 46

00:25:44.599 --> 00:25:46.339
 comparing the sovereign God

00:25:46.339 --> 00:25:47.519
 to the gods of Babylon.

00:25:48.159 --> 00:25:49.079
 And he opens up

00:25:49.079 --> 00:25:50.919
 and he shows what God is saying.

00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:51.959
 And as I sat there,

00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:53.659
 tears rolled down my eyes

00:25:53.659 --> 00:25:54.859
 and as I realized,

00:25:55.379 --> 00:25:56.939
 this God that we serve

00:25:56.939 --> 00:26:00.459
 is completely unlike any other God.

00:26:00.919 --> 00:26:02.500
 He is sovereign

00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:05.019
 and glorious and majestic.

00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:06.899
 But you know what's happening?

00:26:07.179 --> 00:26:08.139
 In those moments,

00:26:08.140 --> 00:26:09.580
 that wasn't just human wisdom.

00:26:10.060 --> 00:26:11.160
 That was God.

00:26:11.259 --> 00:26:12.980
 As his word was opened up,

00:26:13.080 --> 00:26:14.140
 God spoke to me

00:26:14.140 --> 00:26:15.360
 and changed my life.

00:26:15.940 --> 00:26:16.960
 And that's what Paul,

00:26:17.120 --> 00:26:18.380
 that's what was happening.

00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:19.020
 And Paul says,

00:26:19.480 --> 00:26:21.259
 this scripture is at work in you.

00:26:21.300 --> 00:26:22.060
 It's powerful.

00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:23.100
 It changes you.

00:26:23.980 --> 00:26:25.759
 God's word is powerful.

00:26:25.980 --> 00:26:26.480
 It's meaningful.

00:26:27.140 --> 00:26:28.740
 But it's also deeply personal

00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:31.460
 because it's where we encounter

00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:32.880
 the personal God

00:26:32.880 --> 00:26:34.820
 who knows us and loves us.

00:26:34.819 --> 00:26:35.759
 In other words,

00:26:35.879 --> 00:26:36.859
 in God's word,

00:26:37.639 --> 00:26:38.720
 God shares with us

00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:39.899
 not just his instructions,

00:26:40.339 --> 00:26:41.579
 not just his rules,

00:26:41.859 --> 00:26:43.359
 not just his good news,

00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:44.859
 but also his heart.

00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:46.500
 His heart.

00:26:48.259 --> 00:26:49.839
 When the Bible speaks,

00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:51.179
 God speaks,

00:26:51.339 --> 00:26:52.240
 which is why

00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:53.939
 God takes the way

00:26:53.939 --> 00:26:55.220
 that we take his word

00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:56.379
 very seriously.

00:26:57.019 --> 00:26:58.519
 Look at Isaiah 66

00:26:58.519 --> 00:26:59.559
 with me again.

00:27:00.119 --> 00:27:00.740
 God says this,

00:27:00.740 --> 00:27:01.700
 heaven is my throne,

00:27:02.120 --> 00:27:03.240
 the earth is my footstool.

00:27:03.319 --> 00:27:04.099
 What is the house

00:27:04.099 --> 00:27:05.120
 that you would build for me?

00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:06.799
 What is the place of my rest?

00:27:06.900 --> 00:27:07.660
 All these things,

00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.660
 my hand is made

00:27:08.660 --> 00:27:09.859
 and so they came to be.

00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:12.000
 But then look what God says.

00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:12.920
 He says,

00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:13.759
 Israel,

00:27:13.900 --> 00:27:15.339
 you're not going to build me a house.

00:27:15.420 --> 00:27:16.960
 I'm going to build you a house.

00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:18.660
 You're not going to build me a temple.

00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:19.839
 I'm going to build you a temple,

00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:20.380
 says God.

00:27:21.180 --> 00:27:22.299
 But what kind of people

00:27:22.299 --> 00:27:23.539
 is God going to use?

00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:24.279
 I mean,

00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:25.640
 who does God trust

00:27:25.640 --> 00:27:27.359
 to do the work

00:27:27.359 --> 00:27:28.319
 of building his temple?

00:27:29.240 --> 00:27:29.500
 Sure,

00:27:29.539 --> 00:27:30.640
 he's not just going to use anyone.

00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:32.620
 He's going to use specific people.

00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:32.819
 Well,

00:27:32.839 --> 00:27:33.620
 look at what he says.

00:27:34.120 --> 00:27:35.099
 This is the one

00:27:35.099 --> 00:27:36.480
 to whom I will look.

00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:37.319
 What he means is

00:27:37.319 --> 00:27:37.920
 this is the one

00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:39.380
 that I will esteem and honor.

00:27:40.140 --> 00:27:41.420
 He who is humble

00:27:41.420 --> 00:27:43.099
 and contrite in spirit.

00:27:43.319 --> 00:27:43.460
 Okay,

00:27:43.460 --> 00:27:44.180
 that makes sense.

00:27:44.299 --> 00:27:45.900
 God's going to use humble people.

00:27:46.299 --> 00:27:48.660
 But how does God define humility

00:27:48.660 --> 00:27:49.880
 or contrition?

00:27:50.279 --> 00:27:50.819
 What does it mean

00:27:50.819 --> 00:27:52.099
 to be humble before God?

00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:52.900
 Well,

00:27:52.900 --> 00:27:53.779
 look at the next line.

00:27:54.339 --> 00:27:55.620
 Those who tremble

00:27:55.620 --> 00:27:56.779
 at my word.

00:27:58.220 --> 00:27:58.799
 Those who

00:27:58.799 --> 00:28:00.420
 don't sit in judgment

00:28:00.420 --> 00:28:01.519
 over my word

00:28:01.519 --> 00:28:02.500
 is those who come

00:28:02.500 --> 00:28:03.400
 to my word

00:28:03.400 --> 00:28:03.680
 and say,

00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:03.940
 God,

00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:05.100
 what do you want to say?

00:28:06.560 --> 00:28:07.000
 Friends,

00:28:07.080 --> 00:28:07.960
 the reason why we

00:28:07.960 --> 00:28:09.019
 in Sundays

00:28:09.019 --> 00:28:09.940
 want to work through

00:28:09.940 --> 00:28:10.480
 God's word

00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:11.500
 and come to God's word

00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:11.680
 and say,

00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:12.480
 what does God

00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:13.620
 have to say to us

00:28:13.620 --> 00:28:15.120
 is because

00:28:15.120 --> 00:28:16.320
 it keeps us,

00:28:16.880 --> 00:28:19.200
 as God has presented it,

00:28:19.600 --> 00:28:20.680
 we don't want to hear

00:28:20.680 --> 00:28:21.840
 the opinions of man.

00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:22.600
 We want to hear

00:28:22.600 --> 00:28:23.700
 what God has to say

00:28:23.700 --> 00:28:25.740
 because of what the Bible is.

00:28:25.740 --> 00:28:26.539
 The Bible is

00:28:26.539 --> 00:28:27.579
 God's word

00:28:27.579 --> 00:28:28.620
 to us.

00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:30.400
 And that leads us

00:28:30.400 --> 00:28:31.279
 to the third thing

00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:32.519
 which is what is preaching.

00:28:32.640 --> 00:28:33.440
 What is the church?

00:28:33.559 --> 00:28:34.299
 It's God's church.

00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:35.079
 What is the Bible?

00:28:35.279 --> 00:28:36.059
 It's God's word.

00:28:36.140 --> 00:28:36.859
 What is preaching?

00:28:37.460 --> 00:28:39.099
 It's God speaking to us.

00:28:40.680 --> 00:28:41.599
 Look at a passage.

00:28:41.779 --> 00:28:42.120
 I'm afraid

00:28:42.120 --> 00:28:43.460
 it's not in your bulletin.

00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:43.819
 I'm sorry,

00:28:44.019 --> 00:28:45.339
 but it should be on the screen.

00:28:45.460 --> 00:28:46.400
 Look at 1 Corinthians

00:28:46.400 --> 00:28:47.480
 chapter 2 with me.

00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:48.859
 The Apostle Paul

00:28:48.859 --> 00:28:49.500
 writes this

00:28:49.500 --> 00:28:50.099
 and he says,

00:28:50.099 --> 00:28:51.699
 When I came to you,

00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:52.679
 brothers and sisters,

00:28:52.679 --> 00:28:54.519
 I did not come proclaiming

00:28:54.519 --> 00:28:55.740
 to you the testimony of God

00:28:55.740 --> 00:28:57.359
 with lofty speech

00:28:57.359 --> 00:28:59.359
 or profound human wisdom.

00:28:59.819 --> 00:29:01.119
 For I decided to know

00:29:01.119 --> 00:29:02.159
 nothing amongst you

00:29:02.159 --> 00:29:03.459
 except Jesus Christ

00:29:03.459 --> 00:29:04.279
 and Him crucified.

00:29:04.939 --> 00:29:05.899
 And I was with you

00:29:05.899 --> 00:29:06.439
 in weakness

00:29:06.439 --> 00:29:07.279
 and in fear

00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:08.199
 and much trembling.

00:29:08.679 --> 00:29:09.319
 And my speech

00:29:09.319 --> 00:29:09.939
 and my message

00:29:09.939 --> 00:29:11.339
 were not with plausible

00:29:11.339 --> 00:29:12.219
 words of wisdom,

00:29:12.719 --> 00:29:13.799
 but in demonstration

00:29:13.799 --> 00:29:15.099
 of the Spirit and power

00:29:15.099 --> 00:29:17.279
 so that your faith

00:29:17.279 --> 00:29:18.679
 might not rest

00:29:18.679 --> 00:29:19.980
 on the wisdom of man

00:29:19.980 --> 00:29:20.900
 but on the wisdom,

00:29:21.019 --> 00:29:22.279
 on the power of God.

00:29:23.660 --> 00:29:24.559
 Paul says here

00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:26.180
 that what is preaching?

00:29:26.360 --> 00:29:27.500
 Preaching is not giving

00:29:27.500 --> 00:29:28.880
 a religious pep talk.

00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:29.720
 It's not saying,

00:29:29.960 --> 00:29:30.180
 come on,

00:29:30.220 --> 00:29:31.000
 you can do it.

00:29:31.420 --> 00:29:32.360
 It's not just a bit

00:29:32.360 --> 00:29:33.299
 of inspiration

00:29:33.299 --> 00:29:34.319
 or encouragement.

00:29:34.900 --> 00:29:36.120
 Hopefully it should be

00:29:36.120 --> 00:29:37.099
 a little bit encouraging.

00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:40.940
 That's what a TED talk is, right?

00:29:40.960 --> 00:29:41.940
 I like TED talks.

00:29:42.039 --> 00:29:43.240
 Nothing wrong with TED talks.

00:29:43.539 --> 00:29:45.000
 But that's not preaching.

00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:47.500
 Preaching is when we as a church

00:29:47.500 --> 00:29:48.720
 come to God's Word

00:29:48.720 --> 00:29:49.940
 and we open it up

00:29:49.940 --> 00:29:51.720
 speaking for God

00:29:51.720 --> 00:29:52.980
 on behalf of God

00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:53.779
 to make clear

00:29:53.779 --> 00:29:54.860
 what God has said.

00:29:55.400 --> 00:29:57.240
 So that as a body

00:29:57.240 --> 00:29:58.940
 we can encounter God

00:29:58.940 --> 00:29:59.900
 in His Word

00:29:59.900 --> 00:30:02.100
 as He has revealed Himself.

00:30:03.059 --> 00:30:04.320
 Look at the third passage

00:30:04.320 --> 00:30:05.460
 in our bulletin today.

00:30:05.620 --> 00:30:07.460
 Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4,

00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:07.860
 he says,

00:30:08.420 --> 00:30:09.400
 Having this ministry

00:30:09.400 --> 00:30:10.559
 by the mercy of God,

00:30:10.620 --> 00:30:11.820
 we do not lose heart.

00:30:12.500 --> 00:30:13.740
 Okay, just side note there.

00:30:14.320 --> 00:30:15.059
 All ministry,

00:30:15.220 --> 00:30:15.840
 Christian leadership,

00:30:16.019 --> 00:30:17.420
 is by the mercy of God.

00:30:17.840 --> 00:30:19.200
 It's God's gift.

00:30:19.200 --> 00:30:21.019
 It's not because we are brilliant

00:30:21.019 --> 00:30:22.660
 or smart or amazing.

00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:24.220
 It's the mercy of God.

00:30:24.920 --> 00:30:25.060
 It says,

00:30:25.560 --> 00:30:26.200
 But we have renounced

00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:27.200
 disgraceful,

00:30:27.800 --> 00:30:28.820
 underhanded ways.

00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:30.820
 We refuse to practice cunning

00:30:30.820 --> 00:30:32.779
 or to tamper with God's Word.

00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:33.620
 Rather,

00:30:33.740 --> 00:30:35.140
 by the open statement of truth,

00:30:35.259 --> 00:30:36.320
 we commend ourselves

00:30:36.320 --> 00:30:37.300
 to everyone's conscience

00:30:37.300 --> 00:30:38.560
 in the sight of God.

00:30:38.559 --> 00:30:40.659
 Paul's writing here

00:30:40.659 --> 00:30:41.179
 and he says,

00:30:41.659 --> 00:30:42.659
 When he left Corinth,

00:30:42.839 --> 00:30:43.639
 a whole bunch of other

00:30:43.639 --> 00:30:44.559
 preachers were coming

00:30:44.559 --> 00:30:45.159
 and they're saying,

00:30:45.819 --> 00:30:47.440
 No, you can't trust Paul.

00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:47.659
 I mean,

00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:49.139
 he doesn't speak very well.

00:30:49.599 --> 00:30:50.859
 He's not that clever.

00:30:50.980 --> 00:30:52.139
 Don't trust him.

00:30:52.579 --> 00:30:52.759
 Come on,

00:30:52.799 --> 00:30:53.319
 I'll tell you

00:30:53.319 --> 00:30:54.539
 what you really need to believe.

00:30:55.039 --> 00:30:55.579
 And what they do,

00:30:55.659 --> 00:30:56.859
 they bring the Scriptures

00:30:56.859 --> 00:30:58.079
 and they say,

00:30:58.159 --> 00:30:58.819
 Oh, Paul,

00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:00.700
 he wasn't really speaking the truth.

00:31:00.759 --> 00:31:01.559
 What you need to do

00:31:01.559 --> 00:31:02.819
 is if you really want God

00:31:02.819 --> 00:31:03.279
 to love you,

00:31:03.319 --> 00:31:04.419
 you've got to be circumcised.

00:31:04.740 --> 00:31:06.019
 You've got to serve like this.

00:31:06.079 --> 00:31:07.000
 You've got to give like this.

00:31:07.059 --> 00:31:07.680
 You've got to do

00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:09.220
 a whole lot of religious hoops.

00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:11.279
 They were adding to God's Word.

00:31:11.879 --> 00:31:12.920
 And what does Paul call that?

00:31:13.259 --> 00:31:13.759
 He says,

00:31:13.879 --> 00:31:14.759
 Disgraceful,

00:31:14.900 --> 00:31:16.059
 underhanded ways.

00:31:16.559 --> 00:31:17.400
 Look at verse 5.

00:31:17.920 --> 00:31:18.240
 He says,

00:31:18.519 --> 00:31:18.879
 Rather,

00:31:19.680 --> 00:31:21.660
 we proclaim not ourselves,

00:31:21.839 --> 00:31:23.420
 but Jesus Christ as Lord,

00:31:23.779 --> 00:31:25.759
 with ourselves as your servants.

00:31:26.599 --> 00:31:26.720
 Now,

00:31:26.960 --> 00:31:28.000
 just side note here,

00:31:28.119 --> 00:31:29.160
 Paul makes an interesting argument.

00:31:29.839 --> 00:31:30.240
 He says,

00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:31.700
 When I come to you and say,

00:31:31.900 --> 00:31:32.299
 Okay, Watermark,

00:31:32.440 --> 00:31:33.420
 listen to me.

00:31:33.559 --> 00:31:35.900
 I've got a wonderful message for you.

00:31:36.019 --> 00:31:36.139
 Okay?

00:31:36.339 --> 00:31:37.440
 It's not in God's Word,

00:31:37.819 --> 00:31:38.859
 but listen to me.

00:31:39.319 --> 00:31:40.220
 What am I doing there?

00:31:40.700 --> 00:31:43.440
 I'm actually setting myself up as Lord.

00:31:44.160 --> 00:31:44.680
 But Paul says,

00:31:44.920 --> 00:31:46.039
 We didn't do that.

00:31:46.139 --> 00:31:47.480
 We didn't proclaim ourselves.

00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:49.900
 We proclaimed Jesus Christ as Lord.

00:31:49.960 --> 00:31:51.240
 And how do you know we did that?

00:31:51.539 --> 00:31:53.720
 We proclaimed His Word.

00:31:54.279 --> 00:31:54.779
 So in other words,

00:31:54.960 --> 00:31:57.079
 the authority that you speak from

00:31:57.079 --> 00:31:58.839
 is the Lord of that church.

00:31:59.019 --> 00:32:00.079
 Does that make sense?

00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:01.079
 Okay.

00:32:02.579 --> 00:32:03.279
 Not really.

00:32:03.480 --> 00:32:04.299
 Should I explain that again?

00:32:04.799 --> 00:32:06.899
 If I come in my own authority,

00:32:07.659 --> 00:32:08.980
 who's the Lord of this church?

00:32:09.460 --> 00:32:10.079
 It's me.

00:32:10.799 --> 00:32:11.879
 But when I come and say,

00:32:11.960 --> 00:32:12.099
 Listen,

00:32:12.179 --> 00:32:12.819
 don't listen to me.

00:32:12.879 --> 00:32:13.879
 I'm just a servant here.

00:32:14.079 --> 00:32:15.659
 But this is what God is saying.

00:32:16.240 --> 00:32:17.299
 Who's the Lord of this church?

00:32:17.859 --> 00:32:18.619
 Jesus is.

00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:20.740
 Because we're listening to His Word,

00:32:20.839 --> 00:32:22.399
 not the Word of man.

00:32:23.740 --> 00:32:24.119
 Friends,

00:32:24.319 --> 00:32:25.439
 Can I confess something?

00:32:25.639 --> 00:32:27.359
 It is so easy,

00:32:27.819 --> 00:32:28.859
 so easy,

00:32:29.339 --> 00:32:32.399
 for pastors to tamper with God's Word

00:32:32.399 --> 00:32:34.859
 and to make it say what they want it to say.

00:32:35.479 --> 00:32:37.139
 Because if I want you to do something,

00:32:37.619 --> 00:32:39.299
 all I need to do is just come to it and say,

00:32:39.439 --> 00:32:41.699
 Find a Bible verse and take it out of context

00:32:41.699 --> 00:32:43.199
 and twist it and say,

00:32:43.279 --> 00:32:44.859
 God says you need to do this.

00:32:44.939 --> 00:32:46.000
 You need to serve me.

00:32:46.539 --> 00:32:48.319
 You need to do this.

00:32:48.799 --> 00:32:50.279
 And how are you going to argue with God?

00:32:50.959 --> 00:32:52.919
 If I pull off the God card,

00:32:52.920 --> 00:32:54.320
 it's pretty hard to argue with that.

00:32:55.160 --> 00:32:56.360
 But Paul writes and he says,

00:32:56.620 --> 00:32:58.240
 That's not what Christian ministry is.

00:32:58.320 --> 00:33:01.160
 We refuse to tamper with God's Word

00:33:01.160 --> 00:33:03.259
 that is disgraceful and unhandled.

00:33:03.740 --> 00:33:05.680
 Rather, we proclaim not ourselves,

00:33:05.800 --> 00:33:06.759
 but Christ Jesus.

00:33:06.900 --> 00:33:07.980
 So imagine this.

00:33:08.140 --> 00:33:09.220
 Imagine you're a businessman,

00:33:09.380 --> 00:33:10.080
 you're a businesswoman,

00:33:10.519 --> 00:33:12.900
 and you've got an important client

00:33:12.900 --> 00:33:14.340
 somewhere in Asia, in Japan.

00:33:14.779 --> 00:33:16.259
 And you've got a big deal,

00:33:16.600 --> 00:33:17.900
 and you need to go and negotiate

00:33:17.900 --> 00:33:19.320
 and handle this deal.

00:33:20.360 --> 00:33:21.920
 And you're going to fly there,

00:33:21.920 --> 00:33:22.640
 you're going to come back,

00:33:22.700 --> 00:33:23.720
 do the one-week quarantine.

00:33:24.820 --> 00:33:26.279
 But just before you fly out,

00:33:26.380 --> 00:33:27.140
 you get COVID.

00:33:27.400 --> 00:33:28.840
 And so, oh boy, okay,

00:33:28.920 --> 00:33:29.400
 you're in lockdown.

00:33:29.580 --> 00:33:30.320
 You can't go.

00:33:30.820 --> 00:33:32.539
 But it's an important transaction,

00:33:32.779 --> 00:33:34.600
 and so you send a messenger

00:33:34.600 --> 00:33:37.080
 to go and represent your interests.

00:33:37.840 --> 00:33:38.580
 And so you say,

00:33:38.660 --> 00:33:40.160
 Listen, this is what we need to do,

00:33:40.259 --> 00:33:41.240
 this is what we need to say,

00:33:41.380 --> 00:33:42.720
 go and represent our interests.

00:33:43.360 --> 00:33:44.300
 And the messenger,

00:33:44.600 --> 00:33:45.700
 the representative,

00:33:45.880 --> 00:33:46.840
 goes there and says,

00:33:47.400 --> 00:33:48.500
 Actually, I don't really like

00:33:48.500 --> 00:33:49.640
 what that guy was saying.

00:33:49.640 --> 00:33:50.880
 I think I've got a better idea.

00:33:51.520 --> 00:33:53.400
 And so he goes to speak to the client

00:33:53.400 --> 00:33:54.680
 with his own message

00:33:54.680 --> 00:33:55.759
 and his own ideas,

00:33:55.800 --> 00:33:57.460
 and he changes the terms, right?

00:33:57.800 --> 00:33:58.200
 He says, listen,

00:33:58.300 --> 00:33:59.259
 scrap what he was thinking.

00:33:59.460 --> 00:34:00.860
 I think actually this.

00:34:01.560 --> 00:34:03.040
 How are you going to feel about that?

00:34:04.060 --> 00:34:04.640
 Okay, you're going to be

00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:05.820
 a little bit upset, right?

00:34:06.860 --> 00:34:07.300
 Why?

00:34:07.500 --> 00:34:09.180
 Because he's meant to represent you,

00:34:09.240 --> 00:34:10.760
 but he's coming with his own message.

00:34:11.820 --> 00:34:13.500
 Friends, do you know how easy it is

00:34:13.500 --> 00:34:14.780
 for pastors to do that?

00:34:14.780 --> 00:34:18.980
 To pretend to represent God's word,

00:34:19.160 --> 00:34:20.920
 but to come with my own word.

00:34:21.780 --> 00:34:24.600
 It is so easy for us to use God's word

00:34:24.600 --> 00:34:25.840
 to manipulate people.

00:34:27.060 --> 00:34:28.060
 But look at what pastors is.

00:34:28.060 --> 00:34:29.960
 We have renounced such disgraceful,

00:34:30.040 --> 00:34:30.920
 underhanded ways.

00:34:31.060 --> 00:34:33.980
 We refuse to tamper with God's word.

00:34:34.500 --> 00:34:36.000
 Rather, we proclaim to you,

00:34:36.540 --> 00:34:37.360
 Christ is Lord.

00:34:38.740 --> 00:34:41.280
 So, how do we protect the church

00:34:41.280 --> 00:34:42.440
 from doing that?

00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:43.480
 How do we protect the church

00:34:43.480 --> 00:34:44.719
 against manipulation?

00:34:45.699 --> 00:34:47.219
 Well, one way is we come

00:34:47.219 --> 00:34:48.440
 to God's word and say,

00:34:48.539 --> 00:34:49.840
 God, what do you want to say

00:34:49.840 --> 00:34:50.300
 in your word?

00:34:50.960 --> 00:34:51.800
 And so, we open up

00:34:51.800 --> 00:34:53.199
 at Ecclesiastes chapter 1

00:34:53.199 --> 00:34:53.800
 and say, God,

00:34:53.860 --> 00:34:55.059
 what is your word saying here?

00:34:55.619 --> 00:34:56.880
 What's your message to us

00:34:56.880 --> 00:34:57.440
 as a church,

00:34:57.460 --> 00:34:58.619
 and how can we apply that?

00:34:58.679 --> 00:34:59.320
 And the next week,

00:34:59.360 --> 00:35:00.019
 we say, okay, well,

00:35:00.460 --> 00:35:01.599
 what is Ecclesiastes 2?

00:35:01.659 --> 00:35:02.880
 What are you saying here?

00:35:03.300 --> 00:35:04.300
 What is the author saying?

00:35:04.360 --> 00:35:05.079
 What are you saying?

00:35:05.500 --> 00:35:06.639
 And how can we apply that?

00:35:06.820 --> 00:35:07.760
 And the next week,

00:35:08.079 --> 00:35:09.460
 well, what is God saying here,

00:35:09.840 --> 00:35:10.760
 and how does that speak

00:35:10.760 --> 00:35:11.820
 to us as a church?

00:35:11.820 --> 00:35:13.440
 Friends, when you come

00:35:13.440 --> 00:35:14.180
 to church on Sunday,

00:35:14.300 --> 00:35:14.940
 you don't want to hear

00:35:14.940 --> 00:35:15.840
 what I have to say.

00:35:16.420 --> 00:35:17.720
 Who cares what I think?

00:35:18.380 --> 00:35:18.620
 Okay?

00:35:19.000 --> 00:35:19.900
 What I think is

00:35:19.900 --> 00:35:20.740
 completely irrelevant.

00:35:21.559 --> 00:35:22.840
 When we come to church

00:35:22.840 --> 00:35:23.220
 on Sunday,

00:35:23.300 --> 00:35:24.600
 we gather because we want

00:35:24.600 --> 00:35:25.680
 to hear what God

00:35:25.680 --> 00:35:26.460
 has to say.

00:35:27.039 --> 00:35:28.000
 And how do we do that?

00:35:28.320 --> 00:35:29.840
 Well, we come to His word.

00:35:29.980 --> 00:35:31.220
 We open up His word.

00:35:31.300 --> 00:35:32.460
 We expose His word

00:35:32.460 --> 00:35:33.059
 and say, God,

00:35:33.120 --> 00:35:33.900
 what are you saying

00:35:33.900 --> 00:35:35.600
 to us as a church?

00:35:36.340 --> 00:35:36.660
 Okay.

00:35:37.180 --> 00:35:37.920
 Well, practically,

00:35:38.160 --> 00:35:39.080
 what does this mean?

00:35:40.079 --> 00:35:40.920
 Let me suggest four

00:35:40.920 --> 00:35:42.019
 very quick practical

00:35:42.019 --> 00:35:43.000
 applications of this.

00:35:43.059 --> 00:35:43.880
 First thing is this.

00:35:44.500 --> 00:35:45.599
 When you come to church,

00:35:45.739 --> 00:35:47.840
 come ready to hear God speak.

00:35:48.139 --> 00:35:48.299
 Okay?

00:35:48.539 --> 00:35:49.420
 It's very easy

00:35:49.420 --> 00:35:50.579
 to come to church on Sunday

00:35:50.579 --> 00:35:52.139
 and you're still mourning

00:35:52.139 --> 00:35:53.759
 the loss of your soccer team

00:35:53.759 --> 00:35:54.860
 the night before.

00:35:55.059 --> 00:35:55.340
 Okay?

00:35:55.699 --> 00:35:56.840
 Or you come to church

00:35:56.840 --> 00:35:57.319
 on Sunday

00:35:57.319 --> 00:35:57.940
 and you're thinking

00:35:57.940 --> 00:35:58.960
 about the stock price

00:35:58.960 --> 00:35:59.579
 and you're hoping

00:35:59.579 --> 00:36:00.480
 that things are going

00:36:00.480 --> 00:36:00.980
 to rebound

00:36:00.980 --> 00:36:02.159
 and things are going

00:36:02.159 --> 00:36:03.039
 to hopefully pick up.

00:36:03.299 --> 00:36:03.980
 Or you're thinking

00:36:03.980 --> 00:36:04.880
 about that meeting

00:36:04.880 --> 00:36:05.699
 you've got tomorrow

00:36:05.699 --> 00:36:06.900
 and you just go

00:36:06.900 --> 00:36:07.500
 through the motions.

00:36:07.659 --> 00:36:08.000
 So, friends,

00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:09.320
 come to church ready.

00:36:09.440 --> 00:36:10.719
 Say, God Almighty,

00:36:11.340 --> 00:36:12.639
 the creator of the universe,

00:36:12.780 --> 00:36:13.619
 God, come and speak

00:36:13.619 --> 00:36:14.219
 to me today.

00:36:14.719 --> 00:36:15.820
 In the call to worship,

00:36:15.940 --> 00:36:16.800
 in the songs we sing,

00:36:16.840 --> 00:36:17.420
 in the communion,

00:36:17.980 --> 00:36:18.860
 God, speak to me

00:36:18.860 --> 00:36:20.000
 through your word today.

00:36:20.440 --> 00:36:22.039
 I want to meet with you.

00:36:22.679 --> 00:36:23.300
 Each Sunday

00:36:23.300 --> 00:36:24.219
 on the way to church,

00:36:24.260 --> 00:36:24.780
 on the bus,

00:36:24.800 --> 00:36:25.780
 as you walk down the ramp,

00:36:26.199 --> 00:36:27.579
 God, I want to encounter you today.

00:36:27.679 --> 00:36:28.500
 Speak to me today.

00:36:29.119 --> 00:36:29.519
 Secondly,

00:36:29.860 --> 00:36:30.840
 bring your Bible.

00:36:31.699 --> 00:36:32.539
 We here brought

00:36:32.539 --> 00:36:33.340
 the biggest Bible

00:36:33.340 --> 00:36:33.900
 I've ever seen

00:36:33.900 --> 00:36:35.019
 in my life today, right?

00:36:35.460 --> 00:36:37.260
 Bring a Bible to church.

00:36:37.260 --> 00:36:38.900
 Now, the reason why

00:36:38.900 --> 00:36:39.460
 is this.

00:36:39.540 --> 00:36:40.160
 There's a verse

00:36:40.160 --> 00:36:41.380
 in Acts chapter 17

00:36:41.380 --> 00:36:42.640
 and listen to what it says.

00:36:42.780 --> 00:36:43.040
 It says,

00:36:43.540 --> 00:36:44.280
 the Bereans

00:36:44.280 --> 00:36:46.400
 received the word of God

00:36:46.400 --> 00:36:47.160
 that Paul preached

00:36:47.160 --> 00:36:48.080
 with all eagerness,

00:36:48.400 --> 00:36:49.840
 examining the scriptures

00:36:49.840 --> 00:36:50.520
 daily

00:36:50.520 --> 00:36:51.660
 to see

00:36:51.660 --> 00:36:52.380
 if the things

00:36:52.380 --> 00:36:53.220
 that Paul said

00:36:53.220 --> 00:36:53.760
 were true

00:36:53.760 --> 00:36:54.720
 were really true.

00:36:55.220 --> 00:36:56.280
 So, Paul's in the synagogue

00:36:56.280 --> 00:36:56.980
 and he's preaching

00:36:56.980 --> 00:36:57.360
 and he says,

00:36:57.620 --> 00:36:58.920
 remember how God said this

00:36:58.920 --> 00:36:59.900
 in Isaiah 53

00:36:59.900 --> 00:37:00.340
 and they say,

00:37:00.400 --> 00:37:00.760
 wait, wait, wait,

00:37:00.820 --> 00:37:02.300
 let's just check Isaiah 53

00:37:02.300 --> 00:37:03.780
 and they're searching

00:37:03.780 --> 00:37:05.039
 that what Paul said

00:37:05.039 --> 00:37:05.440
 is true

00:37:05.440 --> 00:37:06.460
 is actually true.

00:37:07.120 --> 00:37:07.420
 Friends,

00:37:07.519 --> 00:37:08.400
 bring your Bible

00:37:08.400 --> 00:37:08.880
 to church.

00:37:08.960 --> 00:37:09.780
 I promise you,

00:37:09.840 --> 00:37:10.780
 I'm not going to lie to you,

00:37:11.120 --> 00:37:12.240
 but just double check

00:37:12.240 --> 00:37:13.680
 and actually flick there

00:37:13.680 --> 00:37:13.900
 and say,

00:37:13.980 --> 00:37:14.740
 okay, 2 Corinthians,

00:37:14.860 --> 00:37:15.560
 what's the context?

00:37:15.620 --> 00:37:16.840
 What's actually going on here

00:37:16.840 --> 00:37:18.220
 when Paul says that?

00:37:18.580 --> 00:37:19.400
 And search that

00:37:19.400 --> 00:37:20.060
 what we say

00:37:20.060 --> 00:37:20.780
 is in God's word

00:37:20.780 --> 00:37:22.039
 is actually in God's word.

00:37:22.660 --> 00:37:23.300
 Bring your Bible

00:37:23.300 --> 00:37:23.780
 to church.

00:37:24.140 --> 00:37:25.019
 Third thing is this,

00:37:25.460 --> 00:37:26.800
 when moving churches,

00:37:27.460 --> 00:37:28.519
 find a church

00:37:28.519 --> 00:37:29.500
 that will teach you

00:37:29.500 --> 00:37:30.100
 God's word.

00:37:30.099 --> 00:37:31.719
 Now, this is more applicable

00:37:31.719 --> 00:37:33.039
 to us than any other time

00:37:33.039 --> 00:37:34.339
 because so many people

00:37:34.339 --> 00:37:35.179
 are moving, right?

00:37:35.440 --> 00:37:36.539
 You want to go to the USA?

00:37:37.179 --> 00:37:37.539
 Okay.

00:37:37.719 --> 00:37:38.539
 You want to go to England?

00:37:39.219 --> 00:37:40.059
 Okay, Chris and Fiona,

00:37:40.219 --> 00:37:40.719
 I was going to say

00:37:40.719 --> 00:37:41.579
 find a good church,

00:37:41.659 --> 00:37:42.279
 but I guess they don't

00:37:42.279 --> 00:37:43.059
 have too many choices.

00:37:43.599 --> 00:37:44.119
 They're going to go

00:37:44.119 --> 00:37:44.559
 to the church

00:37:44.559 --> 00:37:45.319
 that they're working at.

00:37:46.219 --> 00:37:48.460
 But if you're moving overseas,

00:37:49.059 --> 00:37:49.960
 find a church

00:37:49.960 --> 00:37:51.039
 that is going to teach you

00:37:51.039 --> 00:37:51.619
 God's word.

00:37:51.980 --> 00:37:52.980
 Now, just a quick hint,

00:37:53.420 --> 00:37:54.440
 don't find a church

00:37:54.440 --> 00:37:55.739
 based on their social media.

00:37:55.920 --> 00:37:57.259
 Okay, that doesn't help.

00:37:57.599 --> 00:37:59.279
 Or how cool the pastor is

00:37:59.280 --> 00:38:00.160
 or how amazing

00:38:00.160 --> 00:38:00.920
 the music is.

00:38:01.480 --> 00:38:02.800
 And just because

00:38:02.800 --> 00:38:03.940
 their website says

00:38:03.940 --> 00:38:04.960
 they believe in the Bible

00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:06.540
 doesn't actually mean

00:38:06.540 --> 00:38:07.160
 they're going to teach

00:38:07.160 --> 00:38:07.720
 you God's word.

00:38:07.820 --> 00:38:08.580
 Okay, no church

00:38:08.580 --> 00:38:09.100
 is going to say

00:38:09.100 --> 00:38:10.280
 we don't believe the Bible,

00:38:10.380 --> 00:38:11.140
 we think it's rubbish,

00:38:11.280 --> 00:38:11.940
 don't come here.

00:38:12.820 --> 00:38:14.160
 Every church is going to say

00:38:14.160 --> 00:38:15.300
 we love the Bible.

00:38:15.519 --> 00:38:17.260
 Okay, find a church

00:38:17.260 --> 00:38:18.380
 that is going to teach

00:38:18.380 --> 00:38:19.420
 you God's word

00:38:19.420 --> 00:38:20.320
 week by week,

00:38:20.440 --> 00:38:21.280
 chapter by chapter

00:38:21.280 --> 00:38:22.460
 through His word.

00:38:23.280 --> 00:38:24.080
 Find a church

00:38:24.080 --> 00:38:24.700
 that's going to teach

00:38:24.700 --> 00:38:25.220
 you God's word.

00:38:25.219 --> 00:38:26.239
 Finally,

00:38:26.859 --> 00:38:28.279
 be a man or a woman

00:38:28.279 --> 00:38:29.319
 of prayer.

00:38:29.599 --> 00:38:31.019
 Oh my goodness.

00:38:31.819 --> 00:38:32.419
 Be a man or a woman

00:38:32.419 --> 00:38:33.159
 of prayer as well.

00:38:33.599 --> 00:38:34.739
 Be a man or a woman

00:38:34.739 --> 00:38:35.500
 of the word.

00:38:35.919 --> 00:38:36.059
 Okay?

00:38:37.659 --> 00:38:38.099
 Friends,

00:38:38.219 --> 00:38:39.639
 you will only become

00:38:39.639 --> 00:38:40.819
 a man or a woman

00:38:40.819 --> 00:38:41.399
 of God

00:38:41.399 --> 00:38:42.559
 to the degree

00:38:42.559 --> 00:38:43.359
 to which

00:38:43.359 --> 00:38:45.099
 this book

00:38:45.099 --> 00:38:45.819
 owns you.

00:38:47.299 --> 00:38:48.559
 If you want to have a,

00:38:48.699 --> 00:38:50.019
 if you want to be anchored

00:38:50.019 --> 00:38:51.379
 in the storms of life,

00:38:51.419 --> 00:38:53.000
 if you want a rock

00:38:53.000 --> 00:38:54.280
 that is going to build

00:38:54.280 --> 00:38:55.159
 your life upon,

00:38:55.780 --> 00:38:56.860
 when the storms come,

00:38:56.920 --> 00:38:57.500
 if you don't want to be

00:38:57.500 --> 00:38:58.460
 blown over,

00:38:59.400 --> 00:39:00.679
 make sure you're a man

00:39:00.679 --> 00:39:01.260
 or a woman

00:39:01.260 --> 00:39:02.559
 of the book

00:39:02.559 --> 00:39:03.860
 of God's word.

00:39:03.960 --> 00:39:04.519
 Day in autumn,

00:39:04.639 --> 00:39:05.239
 one of my heroes

00:39:05.239 --> 00:39:05.900
 says like this,

00:39:05.980 --> 00:39:06.860
 to read the scripture

00:39:06.860 --> 00:39:08.000
 is to read Christ.

00:39:08.579 --> 00:39:09.559
 To read the scripture

00:39:09.559 --> 00:39:10.739
 is to hear Christ.

00:39:11.500 --> 00:39:12.760
 Make the worshipful

00:39:12.760 --> 00:39:13.659
 reading of scripture

00:39:13.659 --> 00:39:15.860
 your central daily habit

00:39:15.860 --> 00:39:17.019
 without which

00:39:17.019 --> 00:39:17.900
 you have not lived

00:39:17.900 --> 00:39:18.679
 a normal day.

00:39:19.400 --> 00:39:19.659
 Friends,

00:39:19.659 --> 00:39:20.219
 it may be that

00:39:20.219 --> 00:39:21.059
 if you get to the end

00:39:21.059 --> 00:39:21.420
 of the day

00:39:21.420 --> 00:39:22.039
 and you haven't even

00:39:22.039 --> 00:39:22.980
 gotten to God's word,

00:39:23.400 --> 00:39:23.980
 there's something

00:39:23.980 --> 00:39:24.980
 off about that day.

00:39:25.079 --> 00:39:25.500
 There's something

00:39:25.500 --> 00:39:26.579
 that doesn't feel right

00:39:26.579 --> 00:39:28.099
 because you're so used

00:39:28.099 --> 00:39:29.400
 to feasting,

00:39:29.500 --> 00:39:30.659
 starting off your day,

00:39:31.079 --> 00:39:31.940
 having your heart

00:39:31.940 --> 00:39:33.780
 mesmerized by the

00:39:33.780 --> 00:39:34.559
 wonder of God

00:39:34.559 --> 00:39:35.820
 in his word.

00:39:36.320 --> 00:39:36.579
 Friends,

00:39:36.679 --> 00:39:37.639
 God's word is living

00:39:37.639 --> 00:39:38.119
 and active.

00:39:38.280 --> 00:39:38.780
 It's meaningful,

00:39:38.980 --> 00:39:39.519
 it's powerful,

00:39:39.679 --> 00:39:40.179
 it's personal,

00:39:40.280 --> 00:39:40.659
 it's true.

00:39:41.059 --> 00:39:41.980
 It's the life source

00:39:41.980 --> 00:39:42.480
 of Christians

00:39:42.480 --> 00:39:43.400
 and it's the life source

00:39:43.400 --> 00:39:44.019
 of the church.

00:39:44.420 --> 00:39:45.820
 That's why you and I

00:39:45.820 --> 00:39:47.019
 must become people

00:39:47.019 --> 00:39:47.460
 of the word.

00:39:47.460 --> 00:39:48.840
 That's why we must be

00:39:48.840 --> 00:39:49.800
 a church of the word.

00:39:50.199 --> 00:39:51.840
 That's why we preach

00:39:51.840 --> 00:39:53.059
 through books of the Bible.

00:39:54.059 --> 00:39:54.960
 Thus says the Lord,

00:39:55.059 --> 00:39:55.940
 heaven is my throne,

00:39:56.440 --> 00:39:57.740
 the earth is my footstool,

00:39:58.340 --> 00:39:59.000
 what is the house

00:39:59.000 --> 00:39:59.640
 that you would build

00:39:59.640 --> 00:39:59.920
 for me?

00:40:00.019 --> 00:40:00.860
 What is the place

00:40:00.860 --> 00:40:01.579
 of my rest?

00:40:01.900 --> 00:40:02.820
 All these things

00:40:02.820 --> 00:40:03.920
 my hand has made

00:40:03.920 --> 00:40:05.059
 and so they came to be.

00:40:05.500 --> 00:40:06.680
 But this is the one

00:40:06.680 --> 00:40:07.559
 that I will look to,

00:40:08.019 --> 00:40:09.200
 he who is humble

00:40:09.200 --> 00:40:10.700
 and contrite in spirit

00:40:10.700 --> 00:40:12.220
 and trembles

00:40:12.220 --> 00:40:13.440
 at my word.

00:40:13.820 --> 00:40:14.720
 Let's pray together.

00:40:14.719 --> 00:40:16.899
 Oh, heavenly father,

00:40:17.299 --> 00:40:17.679
 as we,

00:40:18.179 --> 00:40:19.859
 as we as a church family,

00:40:21.259 --> 00:40:22.480
 revisit some of these

00:40:22.480 --> 00:40:23.339
 foundational truths

00:40:23.339 --> 00:40:23.980
 of why we do

00:40:23.980 --> 00:40:24.779
 the things we do.

00:40:25.439 --> 00:40:26.539
 God, I pray,

00:40:26.759 --> 00:40:27.879
 I pray God

00:40:27.879 --> 00:40:28.599
 that you will put

00:40:28.599 --> 00:40:29.579
 the fear of God

00:40:29.579 --> 00:40:30.019
 on us,

00:40:30.480 --> 00:40:31.439
 on us as a church

00:40:31.439 --> 00:40:32.059
 and particularly

00:40:32.059 --> 00:40:32.779
 us as leaders,

00:40:33.299 --> 00:40:33.919
 that God,

00:40:34.059 --> 00:40:35.459
 we will never do

00:40:35.459 --> 00:40:37.059
 what Paul says

00:40:37.059 --> 00:40:38.539
 the other leaders

00:40:38.539 --> 00:40:38.939
 were doing.

00:40:39.539 --> 00:40:40.480
 Twisting God's word,

00:40:40.659 --> 00:40:41.919
 tampering with your word,

00:40:41.920 --> 00:40:44.079
 playing fast and loose

00:40:44.079 --> 00:40:44.840
 with your word.

00:40:45.659 --> 00:40:46.519
 God, I pray

00:40:46.519 --> 00:40:47.420
 you put the fear

00:40:47.420 --> 00:40:48.019
 of God in us,

00:40:48.059 --> 00:40:49.240
 that we will be a church

00:40:49.240 --> 00:40:51.000
 that will sniff that out,

00:40:51.539 --> 00:40:52.639
 that will reject that

00:40:52.639 --> 00:40:53.559
 and renounce that,

00:40:54.099 --> 00:40:54.780
 and will be those

00:40:54.780 --> 00:40:56.420
 who tremble at your word.

00:40:56.539 --> 00:40:57.599
 God, make us men

00:40:57.599 --> 00:40:58.619
 and women of your word.

00:40:59.300 --> 00:40:59.720
 But I want you

00:40:59.720 --> 00:41:00.539
 to anchor us

00:41:00.539 --> 00:41:00.900
 in the word,

00:41:00.960 --> 00:41:01.740
 that when the storms

00:41:01.740 --> 00:41:02.579
 of life come,

00:41:02.680 --> 00:41:04.180
 when things are difficult,

00:41:04.340 --> 00:41:05.220
 we will know

00:41:05.220 --> 00:41:06.500
 what our rock is.

00:41:06.559 --> 00:41:08.619
 We will be firmly rooted,

00:41:08.720 --> 00:41:09.579
 that the foundations

00:41:09.579 --> 00:41:10.500
 of our lives

00:41:10.500 --> 00:41:11.860
 will be so deeply

00:41:11.860 --> 00:41:13.260
 fastened into you

00:41:13.260 --> 00:41:14.240
 because we are people

00:41:14.240 --> 00:41:14.800
 of your word,

00:41:15.220 --> 00:41:16.400
 that we will not be shaken,

00:41:16.900 --> 00:41:18.160
 we will not be blown over.

00:41:18.800 --> 00:41:19.400
 God, I pray,

00:41:19.500 --> 00:41:20.019
 help us.

00:41:20.539 --> 00:41:21.260
 In your great

00:41:21.260 --> 00:41:22.840
 and awesome name we pray.

00:41:23.519 --> 00:41:23.860
 Amen.