WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.359
 Well, is everyone enjoying the heat wave we're experiencing today?

00:00:05.320 --> 00:00:08.720
 I'm afraid that I'm going to be disappointed to come later in the week,

00:00:08.820 --> 00:00:13.120
 but at least today, there's some semblance that spring is coming.

00:00:14.259 --> 00:00:19.740
 And with spring comes a very exciting feature of the season, weddings.

00:00:21.160 --> 00:00:23.320
 Spring is wedding season.

00:00:24.280 --> 00:00:26.339
 And I love weddings.

00:00:26.539 --> 00:00:28.699
 I'm with Captain Jack Sparrow on this.

00:00:28.780 --> 00:00:29.679
 I love weddings.

00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:30.919
 They're wonderful.

00:00:31.859 --> 00:00:36.719
 And my favorite time in a wedding, although the party afterwards is great,

00:00:36.799 --> 00:00:38.399
 the reception is great, the food is great,

00:00:38.399 --> 00:00:42.719
 my favorite thing in a wedding is watching the bride come down the aisle,

00:00:43.399 --> 00:00:46.340
 locking eyes with her groom, and her groom just beaming,

00:00:47.079 --> 00:00:51.519
 just ready to say the vows and to begin their marriage.

00:00:52.439 --> 00:00:59.659
 But imagine with me for a moment that what the groom's face would look like

00:00:59.659 --> 00:01:05.500
 if he saw his bride walking down the aisle with a smartphone in her hand,

00:01:06.379 --> 00:01:12.879
 head down, engrossed in a text conversation with a friend,

00:01:12.879 --> 00:01:17.119
 or scrolling Facebook laughing at cat videos.

00:01:17.199 --> 00:01:24.039
 Or she sees an old college friend in the congregation and she stops and has a chat and catches up.

00:01:24.040 --> 00:01:26.940
 I mean, that's ridiculous, isn't it?

00:01:27.860 --> 00:01:28.300
 But why?

00:01:28.500 --> 00:01:29.300
 Why is that ridiculous?

00:01:29.400 --> 00:01:30.600
 Why is it so inappropriate?

00:01:31.160 --> 00:01:32.120
 Why would that never happen?

00:01:33.080 --> 00:01:36.320
 I mean, the bride has the freedom to have relationships with other people, right?

00:01:36.319 --> 00:01:41.859
 She has the freedom to have commitments that are apart from her groom.

00:01:41.859 --> 00:01:46.760
 But in that unique time and place,

00:01:47.359 --> 00:01:53.340
 it is her exclusive relationship with the bridegroom that should govern all of her actions.

00:01:54.280 --> 00:01:58.680
 And she's walking down the aisle to say her vows and to be with him for the rest of her life.

00:01:58.739 --> 00:02:00.980
 And it should be that way throughout her marriage,

00:02:01.079 --> 00:02:03.980
 that she will have other relationships, other commitments,

00:02:03.980 --> 00:02:07.719
 but that relationship will be the relationship,

00:02:08.360 --> 00:02:13.460
 the commitment that defines all other relationships and commitments,

00:02:13.700 --> 00:02:16.980
 and that holds the highest place in her heart.

00:02:17.379 --> 00:02:19.460
 That is true in human marriages,

00:02:19.740 --> 00:02:24.400
 and it is also true in the heavenly marriage.

00:02:25.240 --> 00:02:28.719
 You see, even from early on in the story of the Bible,

00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:34.199
 God's relationship with his people is often portrayed as a marriage.

00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:38.199
 We're in the middle of a series on the church.

00:02:39.000 --> 00:02:39.699
 It's behind me.

00:02:41.039 --> 00:02:44.400
 And how the Bible speaks about the church.

00:02:45.319 --> 00:02:49.199
 God uses many different pictures and images and metaphors

00:02:49.199 --> 00:02:53.099
 to help us understand his relationship with his church

00:02:53.099 --> 00:02:54.439
 and our relationship to him.

00:02:55.340 --> 00:02:56.280
 For the past two Sundays,

00:02:56.280 --> 00:02:59.840
 Pastor Mike has helped us see that the church is God's flock.

00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:02.939
 We are following one unique shepherd,

00:03:03.539 --> 00:03:04.280
 Jesus Christ.

00:03:05.159 --> 00:03:05.759
 And this morning,

00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:07.580
 we get to explore a different image

00:03:07.580 --> 00:03:09.979
 that God uses to describe his relationship

00:03:09.979 --> 00:03:12.460
 with his people, the church.

00:03:12.539 --> 00:03:14.039
 And this is what we're going to see this morning.

00:03:15.099 --> 00:03:16.479
 If you're going to write something down right now.

00:03:17.319 --> 00:03:19.060
 God intends to have

00:03:19.060 --> 00:03:21.900
 an exclusively devoted relationship

00:03:21.900 --> 00:03:23.800
 with his people,

00:03:23.800 --> 00:03:26.840
 like a bridegroom with his bride.

00:03:27.260 --> 00:03:29.580
 God intends to have,

00:03:29.640 --> 00:03:31.160
 and has always intended to have,

00:03:31.500 --> 00:03:34.780
 an exclusively devoted relationship

00:03:34.780 --> 00:03:36.600
 with his people,

00:03:37.160 --> 00:03:38.420
 just like in a marriage,

00:03:38.620 --> 00:03:40.460
 like a bridegroom with a bride.

00:03:41.620 --> 00:03:43.760
 The Bible is, in one sense,

00:03:43.800 --> 00:03:44.400
 a love story.

00:03:45.080 --> 00:03:47.620
 A love story that begins,

00:03:47.700 --> 00:03:49.080
 is between God and his people.

00:03:49.080 --> 00:03:49.440
 And really,

00:03:49.620 --> 00:03:51.040
 the Bible begins with a marriage,

00:03:51.180 --> 00:03:51.560
 Adam and Eve,

00:03:51.640 --> 00:03:52.860
 and it ends with a marriage

00:03:52.860 --> 00:03:54.360
 with Christ and his church.

00:03:54.860 --> 00:03:56.960
 It goes from Genesis to Revelation.

00:03:57.220 --> 00:03:57.420
 And so,

00:03:57.800 --> 00:03:59.600
 what I'm going to do this morning

00:03:59.600 --> 00:04:00.380
 is just lead us through

00:04:00.380 --> 00:04:01.660
 the love story of Scripture.

00:04:02.160 --> 00:04:03.080
 It's got four chapters.

00:04:03.680 --> 00:04:04.620
 And it'll be pretty brief.

00:04:04.940 --> 00:04:06.340
 We're not going to camp too long

00:04:06.340 --> 00:04:06.780
 in each of them

00:04:06.780 --> 00:04:08.580
 because I want to make four connections

00:04:08.580 --> 00:04:10.700
 after we walk through the love story

00:04:10.700 --> 00:04:12.680
 of how this love story meets us

00:04:12.680 --> 00:04:15.420
 right here where we are in 2020.

00:04:15.419 --> 00:04:17.939
 So, four chapters of the love story

00:04:17.939 --> 00:04:19.120
 and then four connections

00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:21.599
 that help us answer the so what.

00:04:21.759 --> 00:04:23.439
 Why does this love story do something,

00:04:23.539 --> 00:04:24.339
 what does it have to do with me?

00:04:25.000 --> 00:04:28.939
 So, let's look in Deuteronomy chapter 7

00:04:28.939 --> 00:04:31.120
 to start our time together

00:04:31.120 --> 00:04:33.019
 in chapter 1 of the love story.

00:04:33.860 --> 00:04:35.019
 Deuteronomy chapter 7.

00:04:35.240 --> 00:04:38.379
 And here is chapter 1 of the love story.

00:04:38.479 --> 00:04:38.919
 It's this.

00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:42.699
 This marriage was initiated by God.

00:04:43.459 --> 00:04:44.259
 That's chapter 1.

00:04:44.259 --> 00:04:48.539
 Now, this marriage was initiated by God.

00:04:49.379 --> 00:04:50.259
 Now, we're not going to get

00:04:50.259 --> 00:04:51.259
 to Deuteronomy 7 immediately.

00:04:51.420 --> 00:04:53.259
 I just want to point one thing out there.

00:04:53.339 --> 00:04:54.779
 Before I do, I've got to set the stage.

00:04:56.079 --> 00:04:58.099
 When our ancestors, Adam and Eve,

00:04:58.560 --> 00:04:59.699
 did the unthinkable

00:04:59.699 --> 00:05:01.699
 and rejected God,

00:05:02.180 --> 00:05:03.279
 God dealt with their sin.

00:05:04.139 --> 00:05:05.740
 He sent them away from His presence.

00:05:06.259 --> 00:05:07.159
 But amazingly,

00:05:07.339 --> 00:05:09.779
 He did not destroy the rebels

00:05:09.779 --> 00:05:12.300
 as He definitely could have.

00:05:12.300 --> 00:05:15.400
 Instead, He began pursuing them.

00:05:16.819 --> 00:05:17.759
 And lots of things happen

00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:19.300
 from Genesis 3

00:05:19.300 --> 00:05:20.300
 when they sinned

00:05:21.020 --> 00:05:22.620
 all the way to Genesis 12.

00:05:23.300 --> 00:05:25.580
 But what happens in Genesis 12

00:05:25.580 --> 00:05:27.680
 is really foundational.

00:05:27.960 --> 00:05:29.420
 It shifts everything in the Bible.

00:05:29.420 --> 00:05:32.500
 God initiates a relationship

00:05:32.500 --> 00:05:33.379
 with one guy.

00:05:34.379 --> 00:05:34.740
 Abram.

00:05:35.699 --> 00:05:37.100
 He's just one ordinary sinner.

00:05:37.240 --> 00:05:38.080
 Nothing special.

00:05:38.900 --> 00:05:40.180
 And the way He initiates

00:05:40.180 --> 00:05:41.060
 a relationship with him

00:05:41.060 --> 00:05:43.360
 is He makes a covenant with him.

00:05:43.740 --> 00:05:44.220
 A covenant,

00:05:45.000 --> 00:05:46.879
 it's a really important word

00:05:46.879 --> 00:05:47.360
 in the Bible.

00:05:48.500 --> 00:05:50.040
 It's not just a contract,

00:05:50.540 --> 00:05:51.660
 like a business contract.

00:05:51.740 --> 00:05:53.420
 It's not just kind of an agreement.

00:05:53.420 --> 00:05:57.120
 It's a relationally binding commitment

00:05:57.120 --> 00:05:59.840
 that God makes with His people.

00:05:59.960 --> 00:06:02.140
 He makes certain promises to Abraham.

00:06:02.680 --> 00:06:06.140
 He agrees to do good to them,

00:06:06.580 --> 00:06:07.780
 to be their God,

00:06:07.860 --> 00:06:10.300
 and brings them into the land of Canaan

00:06:10.300 --> 00:06:11.680
 where He's going to dwell with them.

00:06:11.700 --> 00:06:13.560
 He makes all these promises to Abraham.

00:06:13.759 --> 00:06:15.720
 And it's all just initiated by God.

00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:16.960
 I'm going to do this to you.

00:06:18.060 --> 00:06:19.700
 And then the covenant also includes,

00:06:20.020 --> 00:06:20.800
 it's mutual.

00:06:20.800 --> 00:06:22.639
 It has certain commitments

00:06:22.639 --> 00:06:23.740
 that Abraham and his descendants

00:06:23.740 --> 00:06:24.340
 have to make

00:06:24.340 --> 00:06:27.120
 that they get to follow through on.

00:06:27.220 --> 00:06:28.160
 And that gets expanded

00:06:28.160 --> 00:06:30.100
 and quite literally set in stone

00:06:30.100 --> 00:06:31.259
 at Mount Sinai,

00:06:31.480 --> 00:06:32.900
 about 400 years after Abraham,

00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:35.819
 after God rescued His people from Egypt.

00:06:36.080 --> 00:06:37.939
 And this word covenant

00:06:37.939 --> 00:06:38.860
 is really important

00:06:38.860 --> 00:06:39.800
 because it defines

00:06:39.800 --> 00:06:40.620
 the kind of relationship

00:06:40.620 --> 00:06:42.560
 that God initiates with His people.

00:06:42.819 --> 00:06:43.259
 And really,

00:06:43.400 --> 00:06:44.780
 the best modern day equivalent

00:06:44.780 --> 00:06:46.600
 that we can compare

00:06:46.600 --> 00:06:48.759
 this unique relationship to

00:06:48.759 --> 00:06:49.759
 is a marriage.

00:06:49.759 --> 00:06:50.240
 marriage.

00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:51.339
 It was mutual.

00:06:51.980 --> 00:06:53.719
 It was meant to be exclusive,

00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:54.740
 which is very important,

00:06:54.779 --> 00:06:55.480
 as we'll see in a moment.

00:06:55.800 --> 00:06:57.039
 And it was serious.

00:06:58.019 --> 00:06:58.759
 This is not something

00:06:58.759 --> 00:07:00.439
 that Abraham was to take lightly.

00:07:00.579 --> 00:07:00.920
 It's not something

00:07:00.920 --> 00:07:01.819
 that God took lightly.

00:07:02.759 --> 00:07:04.980
 But God initiated it.

00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:07.939
 He pursued His people

00:07:07.939 --> 00:07:09.120
 and He won them.

00:07:10.620 --> 00:07:11.319
 Before we move

00:07:11.319 --> 00:07:12.219
 to the second chapter

00:07:12.219 --> 00:07:12.939
 of the love story,

00:07:13.240 --> 00:07:14.480
 let's look at something

00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:15.379
 in Deuteronomy 7.

00:07:15.579 --> 00:07:16.399
 That's why I took us there.

00:07:16.399 --> 00:07:18.179
 We need to ask the question,

00:07:18.339 --> 00:07:18.579
 why?

00:07:19.620 --> 00:07:21.539
 Why did God initiate

00:07:21.539 --> 00:07:22.659
 this relationship?

00:07:23.479 --> 00:07:24.439
 Why did God

00:07:24.439 --> 00:07:26.579
 pursue this people?

00:07:27.060 --> 00:07:28.139
 Why does He love them?

00:07:28.979 --> 00:07:29.699
 Especially given

00:07:29.699 --> 00:07:31.019
 what He knows about them.

00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:32.639
 Let's look at

00:07:32.639 --> 00:07:33.719
 Deuteronomy 7,

00:07:34.519 --> 00:07:35.839
 starting in verse 6.

00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:37.679
 For you are a people

00:07:37.679 --> 00:07:39.120
 holy to the Lord your God.

00:07:39.579 --> 00:07:40.419
 The Lord your God

00:07:40.419 --> 00:07:41.219
 has chosen you

00:07:41.219 --> 00:07:41.979
 to be a people

00:07:41.979 --> 00:07:43.579
 for His treasured possession.

00:07:43.579 --> 00:07:45.579
 out of all the peoples

00:07:45.579 --> 00:07:46.359
 who are on the face

00:07:46.359 --> 00:07:46.979
 of the earth.

00:07:47.180 --> 00:07:47.859
 Now listen here.

00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:49.259
 It was not because

00:07:49.259 --> 00:07:50.680
 you were more in number

00:07:50.680 --> 00:07:51.939
 than any other people

00:07:51.939 --> 00:07:52.419
 that the Lord

00:07:52.419 --> 00:07:53.419
 set His love on you

00:07:53.419 --> 00:07:54.099
 and chose you.

00:07:54.439 --> 00:07:55.339
 For you are the fewest

00:07:55.339 --> 00:07:55.979
 of all peoples.

00:07:56.139 --> 00:07:57.120
 But it is because

00:07:57.120 --> 00:07:58.399
 the Lord loves you

00:07:58.399 --> 00:07:59.779
 and is keeping the oath

00:07:59.779 --> 00:08:01.399
 He swore to your fathers.

00:08:02.419 --> 00:08:03.079
 Did you get that?

00:08:03.919 --> 00:08:04.879
 Why does God love them?

00:08:05.779 --> 00:08:06.599
 Because He loves them.

00:08:08.759 --> 00:08:09.839
 It was nothing

00:08:09.839 --> 00:08:12.240
 because Israel was big

00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:13.139
 or powerful

00:08:13.139 --> 00:08:14.420
 or sophisticated

00:08:14.420 --> 00:08:15.960
 or technologically advanced.

00:08:16.660 --> 00:08:17.540
 He loved them

00:08:17.540 --> 00:08:18.519
 because He loved them.

00:08:20.300 --> 00:08:22.139
 There was nothing in them

00:08:22.139 --> 00:08:24.220
 that attracted them to Him.

00:08:24.939 --> 00:08:25.740
 He didn't need them

00:08:25.740 --> 00:08:26.699
 for some particular reason.

00:08:26.980 --> 00:08:28.900
 He simply set His love

00:08:28.900 --> 00:08:29.480
 on them

00:08:29.480 --> 00:08:30.720
 because of His free,

00:08:31.139 --> 00:08:32.039
 sovereign choice

00:08:32.039 --> 00:08:32.820
 to do so.

00:08:33.539 --> 00:08:35.180
 It's just by grace.

00:08:36.860 --> 00:08:37.639
 So that's chapter 1.

00:08:38.279 --> 00:08:40.399
 God initiates the marriage

00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:41.959
 and it's by grace.

00:08:42.840 --> 00:08:43.379
 Chapter 2.

00:08:44.559 --> 00:08:46.019
 This marriage is troubled

00:08:46.019 --> 00:08:47.579
 by unfaithfulness.

00:08:48.620 --> 00:08:50.019
 This marriage is troubled

00:08:50.019 --> 00:08:51.699
 by unfaithfulness.

00:08:51.980 --> 00:08:53.480
 Flip back a couple of books

00:08:53.480 --> 00:08:54.259
 to your left

00:08:54.259 --> 00:08:55.799
 to the book of Exodus.

00:08:56.799 --> 00:08:57.740
 Chapter 20.

00:09:00.799 --> 00:09:01.600
 Sorry, we're going to be

00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:02.299
 flipping around a lot

00:09:02.299 --> 00:09:02.740
 this morning.

00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:05.259
 Get to know our Bibles

00:09:05.259 --> 00:09:05.740
 pretty well.

00:09:06.319 --> 00:09:07.480
 Exodus chapter 20.

00:09:07.480 --> 00:09:10.220
 And God spoke

00:09:10.220 --> 00:09:11.240
 all these words

00:09:11.240 --> 00:09:11.759
 saying,

00:09:12.639 --> 00:09:13.860
 I am the Lord your God

00:09:13.860 --> 00:09:14.779
 who brought you

00:09:14.779 --> 00:09:16.220
 out of the land of Egypt,

00:09:16.379 --> 00:09:17.680
 out of the house of slavery.

00:09:17.740 --> 00:09:18.800
 He's speaking to Israel here.

00:09:19.500 --> 00:09:20.279
 You shall have

00:09:20.279 --> 00:09:21.539
 no other gods

00:09:21.539 --> 00:09:22.360
 before me.

00:09:23.220 --> 00:09:24.240
 You shall not make

00:09:24.240 --> 00:09:24.860
 for yourself

00:09:24.860 --> 00:09:25.899
 a carved image

00:09:25.899 --> 00:09:26.940
 or any likeness

00:09:26.940 --> 00:09:27.360
 of anything

00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:28.340
 that is in heaven above

00:09:28.340 --> 00:09:29.920
 or that is in the earth beneath

00:09:29.920 --> 00:09:31.220
 or that is in the water

00:09:31.220 --> 00:09:32.220
 under the earth.

00:09:32.320 --> 00:09:33.440
 You shall not bow down

00:09:33.440 --> 00:09:33.840
 to them

00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:34.860
 or serve them

00:09:34.860 --> 00:09:37.860
 for I, the Lord your God,

00:09:37.940 --> 00:09:40.320
 am a jealous God.

00:09:41.220 --> 00:09:42.379
 That's marriage talk.

00:09:43.720 --> 00:09:45.539
 Now, the word jealous

00:09:45.539 --> 00:09:46.659
 should maybe raise

00:09:46.659 --> 00:09:47.100
 some questions

00:09:47.100 --> 00:09:47.639
 in our minds.

00:09:48.039 --> 00:09:48.240
 Wait a minute,

00:09:48.279 --> 00:09:48.779
 I thought jealousy

00:09:48.779 --> 00:09:49.259
 is a sin.

00:09:49.919 --> 00:09:50.560
 God's jealous?

00:09:50.860 --> 00:09:51.639
 Isn't that bad?

00:09:52.759 --> 00:09:53.620
 But let me assure you,

00:09:53.720 --> 00:09:55.100
 it is right and good

00:09:55.100 --> 00:09:55.840
 for husbands

00:09:55.840 --> 00:09:56.600
 to be jealous

00:09:56.600 --> 00:09:57.600
 for their wives.

00:09:58.240 --> 00:09:59.019
 That's why this is

00:09:59.019 --> 00:10:00.000
 a marriage word.

00:10:01.159 --> 00:10:02.019
 And it's also good

00:10:02.019 --> 00:10:02.840
 and right for wives

00:10:02.840 --> 00:10:03.420
 to be jealous

00:10:03.419 --> 00:10:04.279
 for their husbands.

00:10:04.620 --> 00:10:05.659
 Marriage can't function

00:10:05.659 --> 00:10:06.779
 without the right kind

00:10:06.779 --> 00:10:07.339
 of jealousy

00:10:07.339 --> 00:10:09.199
 of a husband

00:10:09.199 --> 00:10:10.459
 desiring the singular

00:10:10.459 --> 00:10:11.479
 exclusive affection

00:10:11.479 --> 00:10:12.079
 of his wife

00:10:12.079 --> 00:10:13.219
 and the wife desiring

00:10:13.219 --> 00:10:14.339
 the same from her husband.

00:10:15.360 --> 00:10:16.959
 Marriage can't function

00:10:16.959 --> 00:10:17.599
 without it.

00:10:17.740 --> 00:10:18.659
 I am jealous

00:10:18.659 --> 00:10:19.959
 for my wife.

00:10:20.740 --> 00:10:21.979
 I am a jealous husband.

00:10:22.120 --> 00:10:23.639
 My wife is a jealous wife.

00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:24.599
 And, you know,

00:10:24.699 --> 00:10:25.539
 normally I'm a pretty

00:10:25.539 --> 00:10:26.360
 easygoing guy.

00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:27.319
 I'm pretty calm,

00:10:27.439 --> 00:10:27.939
 pretty measured.

00:10:28.279 --> 00:10:29.259
 But if another man

00:10:29.259 --> 00:10:30.039
 were to make advances

00:10:30.039 --> 00:10:30.719
 on my wife,

00:10:31.699 --> 00:10:32.959
 my normally calm demeanor

00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:33.680
 would get fiery

00:10:33.680 --> 00:10:34.360
 pretty quick.

00:10:35.379 --> 00:10:36.139
 And that's right.

00:10:36.639 --> 00:10:37.820
 It should be that way.

00:10:39.019 --> 00:10:40.240
 Because we are in

00:10:40.240 --> 00:10:40.940
 an exclusively

00:10:40.940 --> 00:10:42.519
 devoted relationship.

00:10:43.560 --> 00:10:44.500
 That's why the thought

00:10:44.500 --> 00:10:45.160
 of a bride

00:10:45.160 --> 00:10:46.200
 walking down the aisle

00:10:46.200 --> 00:10:47.280
 looking at her smartphone

00:10:47.280 --> 00:10:48.160
 is so inappropriate.

00:10:48.160 --> 00:10:49.639
 It doesn't fit

00:10:49.639 --> 00:10:50.460
 with the kind of

00:10:50.460 --> 00:10:51.600
 exclusive relationship

00:10:51.600 --> 00:10:53.120
 that she is entering into.

00:10:54.560 --> 00:10:55.740
 And God is saying,

00:10:56.300 --> 00:10:56.920
 no other gods.

00:10:57.340 --> 00:10:58.500
 I'm your only God.

00:10:58.500 --> 00:11:00.659
 And sadly,

00:11:00.860 --> 00:11:01.879
 it did not take Israel

00:11:01.879 --> 00:11:02.639
 very long

00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:03.539
 to violate

00:11:03.539 --> 00:11:05.399
 that covenant promise.

00:11:06.179 --> 00:11:07.539
 Only a few days

00:11:07.539 --> 00:11:08.399
 after God spoke

00:11:08.399 --> 00:11:08.980
 these words,

00:11:09.059 --> 00:11:10.340
 and the very same place

00:11:10.340 --> 00:11:12.039
 at the foot of Mount Sinai,

00:11:12.120 --> 00:11:13.480
 his people intentionally

00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:14.360
 crafted

00:11:14.360 --> 00:11:15.659
 and started worshipping

00:11:15.659 --> 00:11:16.799
 a golden cow.

00:11:18.820 --> 00:11:19.399
 In essence,

00:11:19.559 --> 00:11:20.460
 they started

00:11:20.460 --> 00:11:21.379
 worshipping an idol.

00:11:21.440 --> 00:11:22.259
 They started worshipping

00:11:22.259 --> 00:11:22.740
 another god.

00:11:22.960 --> 00:11:23.700
 They were committing

00:11:23.700 --> 00:11:25.140
 spiritual adultery.

00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:28.860
 And the astounding fact

00:11:28.860 --> 00:11:29.660
 is they're doing it

00:11:29.660 --> 00:11:30.660
 right at the place

00:11:30.660 --> 00:11:31.520
 they had just made

00:11:31.520 --> 00:11:32.340
 their covenant vows

00:11:32.340 --> 00:11:32.879
 before God.

00:11:32.920 --> 00:11:33.660
 It's like a bride

00:11:33.660 --> 00:11:34.400
 who's at the altar

00:11:34.400 --> 00:11:35.160
 and she's starting

00:11:35.160 --> 00:11:36.240
 to flirt with another man

00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:37.000
 who's not her husband.

00:11:37.660 --> 00:11:38.620
 It's unthinkable.

00:11:40.200 --> 00:11:40.820
 And tragically,

00:11:40.980 --> 00:11:42.220
 this just set the tone

00:11:42.220 --> 00:11:42.680
 for the next

00:11:42.680 --> 00:11:43.480
 several hundred years.

00:11:44.180 --> 00:11:44.980
 Israel continued

00:11:44.980 --> 00:11:45.680
 doing this.

00:11:46.640 --> 00:11:47.280
 God's marriage

00:11:47.280 --> 00:11:48.240
 started falling apart

00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:49.280
 from the very beginning.

00:11:50.360 --> 00:11:50.920
 And none of it

00:11:50.920 --> 00:11:51.460
 was his fault.

00:11:52.540 --> 00:11:53.360
 He had initiated

00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:53.820
 the marriage.

00:11:53.940 --> 00:11:54.300
 He had paid

00:11:54.300 --> 00:11:55.180
 the dowry price.

00:11:55.500 --> 00:11:56.200
 He had given his wife

00:11:56.200 --> 00:11:56.820
 everything she could

00:11:56.820 --> 00:11:57.460
 have ever wanted

00:11:57.460 --> 00:11:57.980
 or needed.

00:11:58.279 --> 00:11:58.899
 He rescued her

00:11:58.899 --> 00:11:59.620
 from slavery

00:11:59.620 --> 00:12:00.580
 from crying out loud

00:12:00.580 --> 00:12:01.279
 and her heart

00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:02.580
 was far from him.

00:12:04.320 --> 00:12:05.200
 On that note,

00:12:05.500 --> 00:12:06.519
 start trying to find

00:12:06.519 --> 00:12:07.419
 the book of Hosea.

00:12:08.779 --> 00:12:10.139
 It is a minor prophet

00:12:10.139 --> 00:12:11.399
 kind of right in the middle

00:12:11.399 --> 00:12:11.940
 of your Bible.

00:12:12.500 --> 00:12:13.800
 It's the first minor prophet

00:12:13.800 --> 00:12:14.840
 so it's right after

00:12:14.840 --> 00:12:16.480
 Isaiah, Jeremiah,

00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:17.399
 Lamentations,

00:12:17.620 --> 00:12:18.860
 Ezekiel, Daniel,

00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:20.139
 then Hosea.

00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:22.060
 Start trying to find

00:12:22.059 --> 00:12:23.759
 the book of Hosea.

00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:25.239
 This book,

00:12:26.379 --> 00:12:27.619
 this prophet,

00:12:27.879 --> 00:12:29.119
 is extremely helpful

00:12:29.119 --> 00:12:30.759
 in helping us understand,

00:12:31.539 --> 00:12:32.199
 get a glimpse

00:12:32.199 --> 00:12:33.439
 into God's heart

00:12:33.439 --> 00:12:34.659
 as the heavenly husband.

00:12:36.699 --> 00:12:37.659
 While we're finding it,

00:12:37.699 --> 00:12:38.739
 let me set the scene for you.

00:12:39.159 --> 00:12:41.159
 Hosea was one of God's spokesmen,

00:12:41.259 --> 00:12:41.959
 one of his prophets,

00:12:42.619 --> 00:12:43.459
 when the kingdoms

00:12:43.459 --> 00:12:44.659
 of Israel and Judah

00:12:44.659 --> 00:12:45.859
 are starting to really spiral,

00:12:46.919 --> 00:12:47.779
 spiritually speaking,

00:12:47.779 --> 00:12:48.139
 at least.

00:12:49.159 --> 00:12:51.100
 And although all of God's prophets

00:12:51.100 --> 00:12:53.100
 were God's spokesmen,

00:12:53.419 --> 00:12:54.600
 calling his people back

00:12:54.600 --> 00:12:55.720
 to covenant faithfulness,

00:12:55.839 --> 00:12:57.360
 Hosea was very unique.

00:12:58.519 --> 00:12:59.419
 If you're there,

00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:01.039
 look at Hosea chapter 1,

00:13:01.939 --> 00:13:03.379
 we'll start in verse 2.

00:13:05.899 --> 00:13:07.299
 You will see why Hosea

00:13:07.299 --> 00:13:08.139
 is very unique.

00:13:08.600 --> 00:13:10.159
 When the Lord first spoke

00:13:10.159 --> 00:13:11.139
 through Hosea,

00:13:11.459 --> 00:13:13.079
 the Lord said to Hosea,

00:13:13.080 --> 00:13:13.920
 go,

00:13:14.700 --> 00:13:15.580
 take to yourself

00:13:15.580 --> 00:13:16.980
 a wife of whoredom

00:13:16.980 --> 00:13:18.660
 and have children

00:13:18.660 --> 00:13:19.600
 of whoredom

00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:21.080
 because the land

00:13:21.080 --> 00:13:22.720
 commits great whoredom

00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:25.180
 by forsaking the Lord.

00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:27.960
 Well, you don't hear that word

00:13:27.960 --> 00:13:29.660
 very often these days,

00:13:30.160 --> 00:13:30.600
 whoredom.

00:13:31.300 --> 00:13:32.480
 It doesn't sound like

00:13:32.480 --> 00:13:33.320
 a very good word

00:13:33.320 --> 00:13:34.000
 and it's not.

00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:35.960
 He is asking Hosea

00:13:35.960 --> 00:13:37.480
 to go and find a wife

00:13:37.480 --> 00:13:38.040
 who was,

00:13:38.420 --> 00:13:40.120
 if not already a prostitute,

00:13:40.520 --> 00:13:41.780
 who was at least prone

00:13:41.779 --> 00:13:42.980
 to waywardness,

00:13:43.419 --> 00:13:43.980
 unfaithfulness,

00:13:44.339 --> 00:13:45.319
 and prostitution

00:13:45.319 --> 00:13:46.879
 and marry her.

00:13:48.220 --> 00:13:49.399
 God wanted to use

00:13:49.399 --> 00:13:50.399
 his prophet's life

00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:51.939
 as a real life example

00:13:51.939 --> 00:13:53.399
 of what his people

00:13:53.399 --> 00:13:54.220
 were doing to him.

00:13:55.259 --> 00:13:56.759
 They were playing the whore.

00:13:57.559 --> 00:13:58.559
 They were acting

00:13:58.559 --> 00:13:59.659
 as a prostitute

00:13:59.659 --> 00:14:00.439
 although they were

00:14:00.439 --> 00:14:01.299
 a married woman.

00:14:02.699 --> 00:14:04.039
 So Hosea actually went out

00:14:04.039 --> 00:14:04.679
 and he found

00:14:04.679 --> 00:14:05.539
 a wayward woman

00:14:05.539 --> 00:14:06.139
 named Gomer

00:14:06.139 --> 00:14:07.399
 and he married her.

00:14:09.659 --> 00:14:10.779
 This means that Hosea

00:14:10.779 --> 00:14:11.259
 got to know

00:14:11.259 --> 00:14:12.720
 on a very personal level

00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:14.039
 the kind of pain

00:14:14.039 --> 00:14:14.539
 and grief

00:14:14.539 --> 00:14:15.339
 that God felt

00:14:15.339 --> 00:14:16.379
 as a betrayed husband.

00:14:17.959 --> 00:14:18.939
 And Hosea also knew

00:14:18.939 --> 00:14:19.500
 very well

00:14:19.500 --> 00:14:20.500
 what he was getting into.

00:14:21.399 --> 00:14:22.539
 God told him to do it

00:14:22.539 --> 00:14:23.559
 and he did it.

00:14:24.439 --> 00:14:25.480
 And God did the same thing.

00:14:25.879 --> 00:14:26.459
 He knew what he was

00:14:26.459 --> 00:14:27.059
 walking into

00:14:27.059 --> 00:14:28.100
 when he married Israel.

00:14:28.819 --> 00:14:29.839
 He knew he had married

00:14:29.839 --> 00:14:30.759
 an unfaithful wife.

00:14:30.860 --> 00:14:31.860
 He had purposefully

00:14:31.860 --> 00:14:33.360
 committed himself

00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:34.339
 to a people

00:14:34.339 --> 00:14:35.240
 who were not

00:14:35.240 --> 00:14:36.600
 and would not

00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:38.199
 be exclusively devoted

00:14:38.199 --> 00:14:38.679
 to him

00:14:38.679 --> 00:14:40.419
 as he was to them.

00:14:41.740 --> 00:14:42.220
 Now,

00:14:42.620 --> 00:14:44.059
 I might be wrong

00:14:44.059 --> 00:14:45.139
 but people don't

00:14:45.139 --> 00:14:45.919
 normally do this,

00:14:45.980 --> 00:14:46.299
 do they?

00:14:47.919 --> 00:14:48.279
 Hmm,

00:14:48.699 --> 00:14:49.740
 I think I'd like a spouse.

00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:51.159
 I want to go look

00:14:51.159 --> 00:14:52.339
 for the most unfaithful

00:14:52.339 --> 00:14:53.439
 and uncommitted person

00:14:53.439 --> 00:14:54.480
 I can possibly find

00:14:54.480 --> 00:14:55.100
 and marry them.

00:14:55.939 --> 00:14:56.899
 Who does that?

00:14:59.000 --> 00:15:00.059
 It tells us something

00:15:00.059 --> 00:15:00.899
 about the character

00:15:00.899 --> 00:15:02.159
 and love of God

00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:03.720
 that he would pursue

00:15:03.720 --> 00:15:04.439
 a flaky,

00:15:04.919 --> 00:15:05.480
 uncommitted,

00:15:05.899 --> 00:15:06.460
 undevoted,

00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:08.279
 and unfaithful people.

00:15:09.740 --> 00:15:10.820
 And God didn't just

00:15:10.820 --> 00:15:11.840
 sweep this unfaithfulness

00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:12.659
 under the rug.

00:15:12.779 --> 00:15:14.060
 He didn't just say,

00:15:14.200 --> 00:15:14.860
 oh, it's okay,

00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:15.860
 just come back with me,

00:15:15.920 --> 00:15:16.180
 please.

00:15:16.539 --> 00:15:18.600
 No, he judged his people

00:15:18.600 --> 00:15:19.399
 rather harshly

00:15:19.399 --> 00:15:21.620
 according to their sin.

00:15:21.680 --> 00:15:22.340
 If you read the rest

00:15:22.340 --> 00:15:22.860
 of Hosea

00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:24.019
 or any of the prophets,

00:15:24.259 --> 00:15:25.139
 you will see that God

00:15:25.139 --> 00:15:26.320
 has very harsh words

00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:27.879
 for his unfaithful people.

00:15:28.519 --> 00:15:29.019
 God's judgment

00:15:29.019 --> 00:15:29.940
 would fall on them,

00:15:30.019 --> 00:15:30.800
 he would be carried away

00:15:30.800 --> 00:15:31.480
 into exile,

00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:32.639
 and it seems like

00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:33.420
 the marriage is over.

00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:34.580
 It seems like the marriage

00:15:34.580 --> 00:15:35.320
 is in shambles.

00:15:36.160 --> 00:15:38.040
 And they would be carried away

00:15:38.040 --> 00:15:40.860
 and live in their unfaithfulness.

00:15:42.139 --> 00:15:43.879
 But we are only on chapter 2.

00:15:44.540 --> 00:15:45.500
 Let's look at chapter 3.

00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:47.720
 The love story continues.

00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:50.300
 Chapter 3 is this.

00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:52.820
 This marriage is transformed

00:15:52.820 --> 00:15:54.940
 by God's costly grace.

00:15:55.660 --> 00:15:57.340
 This marriage is transformed

00:15:57.340 --> 00:15:59.640
 by God's costly grace.

00:16:00.500 --> 00:16:01.680
 Look just across the page

00:16:01.680 --> 00:16:02.740
 at Hosea chapter 2.

00:16:02.740 --> 00:16:04.680
 Hosea 2,

00:16:04.860 --> 00:16:06.200
 we'll start in verse 14.

00:16:08.700 --> 00:16:09.419
 Therefore, behold,

00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:10.519
 I will allure her

00:16:10.519 --> 00:16:12.500
 and bring her into the wilderness

00:16:12.500 --> 00:16:14.100
 and speak tenderly to her.

00:16:14.560 --> 00:16:15.820
 And there I will give her

00:16:15.820 --> 00:16:16.539
 her vineyards

00:16:16.539 --> 00:16:18.320
 and make the valley of Echor

00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:19.200
 a door of hope.

00:16:19.539 --> 00:16:21.019
 And there she shall answer

00:16:21.019 --> 00:16:22.460
 as in the days of her youth,

00:16:22.519 --> 00:16:23.299
 as at the time

00:16:23.299 --> 00:16:24.259
 when she came out

00:16:24.259 --> 00:16:25.360
 of the land of Egypt.

00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:27.180
 Skip down to verse 19.

00:16:27.179 --> 00:16:29.419
 And I will betroth you

00:16:29.419 --> 00:16:30.339
 to me forever.

00:16:30.899 --> 00:16:32.299
 I will betroth you to me

00:16:32.299 --> 00:16:32.959
 in righteousness

00:16:32.959 --> 00:16:34.079
 and in justice,

00:16:34.479 --> 00:16:35.559
 in steadfast love

00:16:35.559 --> 00:16:36.199
 and in mercy.

00:16:36.459 --> 00:16:37.859
 I will betroth you to me

00:16:37.859 --> 00:16:38.719
 in faithfulness

00:16:38.719 --> 00:16:40.919
 and you shall know the Lord.

00:16:42.620 --> 00:16:43.219
 Wow.

00:16:44.379 --> 00:16:46.659
 After all that steady,

00:16:46.899 --> 00:16:47.639
 adulterous,

00:16:47.839 --> 00:16:48.639
 unfaithful behavior,

00:16:48.839 --> 00:16:50.000
 this is what God says?

00:16:51.259 --> 00:16:52.859
 I'm going to go after you again?

00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:53.019
 Again,

00:16:53.419 --> 00:16:55.279
 that's incredible.

00:16:56.340 --> 00:16:57.120
 He's promising

00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:59.200
 that after he judges their sin,

00:16:59.379 --> 00:17:00.879
 he's going to start afresh

00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:02.360
 with his unfaithful wife.

00:17:03.220 --> 00:17:04.000
 He's going to get her

00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:04.940
 alone with himself

00:17:04.940 --> 00:17:05.799
 in a place where they can

00:17:05.799 --> 00:17:06.680
 start their relationship

00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:07.779
 all over again.

00:17:07.980 --> 00:17:09.180
 He's going to betroth her

00:17:09.180 --> 00:17:10.740
 to him forever.

00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:12.240
 And there will be transformation.

00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:13.000
 Did you notice that

00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:14.019
 in verse 19 and 20?

00:17:14.860 --> 00:17:15.819
 The relationship will now

00:17:15.819 --> 00:17:16.380
 be characterized

00:17:16.380 --> 00:17:18.440
 by righteousness and justice,

00:17:18.900 --> 00:17:20.240
 steadfast love and mercy,

00:17:20.660 --> 00:17:21.620
 faithfulness.

00:17:21.619 --> 00:17:23.879
 and they will know him

00:17:23.879 --> 00:17:25.099
 as they have never

00:17:25.099 --> 00:17:25.979
 known him before.

00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:28.019
 It's almost like God's

00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:29.359
 putting a date on his calendar

00:17:29.359 --> 00:17:30.379
 in permanent marker

00:17:30.379 --> 00:17:32.000
 for he and his wife

00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:33.779
 to renew their wedding vows.

00:17:34.459 --> 00:17:36.019
 And he's going to make it happen.

00:17:36.619 --> 00:17:37.659
 They're going to start afresh.

00:17:38.919 --> 00:17:40.059
 But notice what comes next

00:17:40.059 --> 00:17:41.039
 in Hosea chapter 3.

00:17:42.979 --> 00:17:43.979
 Look at verse 1,

00:17:44.119 --> 00:17:44.979
 Hosea chapter 3.

00:17:45.079 --> 00:17:46.079
 And the Lord said to me,

00:17:46.579 --> 00:17:47.219
 Go again,

00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:49.159
 love a woman who is loved

00:17:49.159 --> 00:17:49.919
 by another man

00:17:49.919 --> 00:17:51.039
 and is an adulteress,

00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:52.420
 even as the Lord

00:17:52.420 --> 00:17:53.680
 loves the children of Israel,

00:17:53.819 --> 00:17:55.299
 though they turn to other gods

00:17:55.299 --> 00:17:56.819
 and love cakes of raisins.

00:17:57.480 --> 00:17:58.659
 So I bought her

00:17:58.659 --> 00:18:00.740
 for 15 shekels of silver

00:18:00.740 --> 00:18:01.799
 and a homer

00:18:01.799 --> 00:18:02.940
 and a lethic of barley.

00:18:05.879 --> 00:18:06.799
 The camera lens

00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:07.779
 shifts back to Hosea

00:18:07.779 --> 00:18:09.480
 and God calls him

00:18:09.480 --> 00:18:11.240
 to go after his unfaithful wife

00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:12.019
 who has left him

00:18:12.019 --> 00:18:12.700
 for another man

00:18:12.700 --> 00:18:14.420
 and to love her

00:18:14.420 --> 00:18:16.579
 by buying her back.

00:18:16.579 --> 00:18:19.819
 It cost Hosea money

00:18:19.819 --> 00:18:21.240
 to make a transaction

00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:23.199
 and buy his own wife back.

00:18:23.899 --> 00:18:24.419
 Now whether it was

00:18:24.419 --> 00:18:26.740
 because she was enslaved

00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:27.299
 to someone

00:18:27.299 --> 00:18:28.179
 or had become indebted

00:18:28.179 --> 00:18:28.460
 to someone,

00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:28.899
 we don't know,

00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:30.439
 but it cost Hosea

00:18:30.439 --> 00:18:31.119
 to get her back.

00:18:32.139 --> 00:18:32.740
 And the implication

00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:33.500
 of chapter 3

00:18:33.500 --> 00:18:35.179
 is that the renewal

00:18:35.179 --> 00:18:36.079
 and transformation

00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:37.019
 that God's promising

00:18:37.019 --> 00:18:37.859
 in chapter 2

00:18:37.859 --> 00:18:39.740
 is going to cost God something,

00:18:39.859 --> 00:18:41.379
 just as it cost Hosea something.

00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:43.039
 He would love her

00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:44.159
 with costly grace

00:18:44.159 --> 00:18:45.240
 in order to get her back

00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:46.900
 into an exclusively devoted

00:18:46.900 --> 00:18:48.680
 relationship with him,

00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:49.920
 just as Hosea had done

00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:51.599
 with his unfaithful wife.

00:18:53.460 --> 00:18:55.519
 Now flip to Matthew chapter 9.

00:18:58.400 --> 00:18:59.740
 So when a person,

00:18:59.960 --> 00:19:01.160
 a very unique person,

00:19:01.779 --> 00:19:02.900
 shows up on the scene

00:19:02.900 --> 00:19:04.059
 hundreds of years later

00:19:04.059 --> 00:19:05.359
 and God's people

00:19:05.359 --> 00:19:06.180
 are still waiting

00:19:06.180 --> 00:19:08.579
 for this vow renewal

00:19:08.579 --> 00:19:09.339
 to happen,

00:19:10.380 --> 00:19:11.259
 for this transformation

00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:11.960
 to happen,

00:19:12.700 --> 00:19:13.960
 and this person claims

00:19:13.960 --> 00:19:16.240
 that he is the bridegroom,

00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:17.980
 our ears should perk up.

00:19:19.579 --> 00:19:21.240
 Look at Matthew chapter 9,

00:19:22.180 --> 00:19:23.539
 starting in verse 14.

00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:27.140
 Then the disciples of John

00:19:27.140 --> 00:19:28.460
 came to him, Jesus,

00:19:28.900 --> 00:19:29.340
 saying,

00:19:30.180 --> 00:19:31.779
 Why do we and the Pharisees fast

00:19:31.779 --> 00:19:33.180
 but your disciples do not fast?

00:19:33.940 --> 00:19:35.000
 And Jesus said to them,

00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:37.660
 Can the wedding guests mourn

00:19:37.660 --> 00:19:39.340
 as long as the bridegroom

00:19:39.340 --> 00:19:40.360
 is with them?

00:19:40.359 --> 00:19:42.439
 The days will come

00:19:42.439 --> 00:19:43.219
 when the bridegroom

00:19:43.219 --> 00:19:44.299
 is taken away from them

00:19:44.299 --> 00:19:44.939
 and then,

00:19:45.679 --> 00:19:46.559
 then they will fast.

00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:50.759
 Jesus is using the issue

00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:51.699
 of fasting here

00:19:51.699 --> 00:19:53.299
 to make a really powerful point

00:19:53.299 --> 00:19:54.139
 about who he is.

00:19:54.359 --> 00:19:55.519
 He is linking himself

00:19:55.519 --> 00:19:57.039
 to Yahweh of the Old Testament,

00:19:57.459 --> 00:19:58.079
 the betrayed

00:19:58.079 --> 00:19:59.759
 but determined bridegroom

00:19:59.759 --> 00:20:00.919
 who's going to renew

00:20:00.919 --> 00:20:01.619
 his relationship

00:20:01.619 --> 00:20:03.199
 with his unfaithful bride.

00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:04.199
 And he's here.

00:20:05.059 --> 00:20:05.639
 He came.

00:20:06.759 --> 00:20:08.500
 The one that they were longing for

00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:09.500
 is finally here.

00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:10.720
 He's ready to renew.

00:20:10.980 --> 00:20:11.920
 He's ready to transform

00:20:11.920 --> 00:20:12.920
 and bring about

00:20:12.920 --> 00:20:14.640
 an exclusively devoted relationship

00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:16.059
 with his bride again.

00:20:16.660 --> 00:20:17.759
 But what would be the cost?

00:20:19.420 --> 00:20:20.660
 How would God the Son,

00:20:20.839 --> 00:20:21.480
 the bridegroom,

00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:22.660
 get his bride back

00:20:22.660 --> 00:20:24.279
 in a renewed,

00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:25.180
 transformed,

00:20:25.700 --> 00:20:27.140
 exclusively devoted relationship

00:20:27.140 --> 00:20:28.220
 with himself?

00:20:28.500 --> 00:20:29.519
 This is where we want to turn

00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:30.480
 to Ephesians 5,

00:20:30.599 --> 00:20:31.660
 the text that Tim and Danielle

00:20:31.660 --> 00:20:32.299
 read for us

00:20:32.299 --> 00:20:33.319
 just a few moments ago.

00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:35.180
 Ephesians chapter 5.

00:20:35.180 --> 00:20:35.620
 Ephesians 5.

00:20:38.019 --> 00:20:39.080
 Thanks for bearing with me

00:20:39.080 --> 00:20:39.960
 with all the page flipping.

00:20:43.799 --> 00:20:44.940
 Ephesians chapter 5.

00:20:45.019 --> 00:20:46.220
 Let's start at verse 25.

00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:50.299
 Husbands,

00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:52.160
 love your wives

00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:54.759
 as Christ loved the church

00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:58.360
 and gave himself up for her

00:20:58.360 --> 00:21:00.700
 that he might sanctify her,

00:21:01.019 --> 00:21:02.080
 having cleansed her

00:21:02.080 --> 00:21:03.680
 by the washing of water

00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:04.380
 with the word,

00:21:04.560 --> 00:21:05.960
 so that he might present

00:21:05.960 --> 00:21:07.039
 the church to himself

00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:07.779
 in splendor,

00:21:07.900 --> 00:21:09.380
 without spot or wrinkle

00:21:09.380 --> 00:21:10.400
 or any such thing,

00:21:10.539 --> 00:21:12.340
 and that she might be holy

00:21:12.340 --> 00:21:13.860
 and without blemish.

00:21:15.400 --> 00:21:16.779
 So Christ loved the church how?

00:21:17.620 --> 00:21:20.340
 By giving himself up for her.

00:21:20.600 --> 00:21:22.060
 He voluntarily took

00:21:22.060 --> 00:21:23.940
 the costly road of Calvary,

00:21:24.380 --> 00:21:25.680
 paying the ransom price

00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:26.759
 of his own life

00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:27.960
 to win her back.

00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:30.500
 It wasn't 15 shekels like Homer.

00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:31.620
 It was his blood.

00:21:32.860 --> 00:21:33.640
 Homer, sorry.

00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:34.240
 Hosea.

00:21:34.620 --> 00:21:36.200
 Let's put those two together.

00:21:38.900 --> 00:21:40.460
 God is all in

00:21:40.460 --> 00:21:42.240
 when it comes to his relationship

00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:42.920
 with his bride.

00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:45.140
 He has withheld nothing.

00:21:46.560 --> 00:21:48.539
 He paid the highest price imaginable

00:21:48.539 --> 00:21:50.320
 to win an unfaithful bride

00:21:50.320 --> 00:21:50.980
 back to him.

00:21:51.080 --> 00:21:52.080
 And notice the transformation

00:21:52.080 --> 00:21:53.480
 in verse 26 and 27.

00:21:53.940 --> 00:21:54.940
 He paid the price.

00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:57.000
 He gave himself to sanctify her,

00:21:57.080 --> 00:21:58.039
 to make her holy,

00:21:58.400 --> 00:21:59.500
 pure, righteous,

00:21:59.500 --> 00:22:00.980
 just as he is holy,

00:22:01.380 --> 00:22:02.440
 pure, and righteous.

00:22:03.120 --> 00:22:04.059
 He paid the price

00:22:04.059 --> 00:22:05.559
 to make her fit for himself

00:22:05.559 --> 00:22:07.380
 to be a perfect match for him.

00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:08.620
 And he does this

00:22:08.620 --> 00:22:09.880
 by cleansing her

00:22:09.880 --> 00:22:12.799
 through the washing of water.

00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:14.859
 just as a bride

00:22:14.859 --> 00:22:16.220
 would ritually bathe

00:22:16.220 --> 00:22:17.539
 before her wedding

00:22:17.539 --> 00:22:18.119
 with her husband

00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:19.159
 in ancient cultures.

00:22:19.960 --> 00:22:21.019
 Only Jesus' cleansing

00:22:21.019 --> 00:22:21.599
 of his bride

00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:22.480
 is done spiritually.

00:22:22.740 --> 00:22:23.180
 And it's done

00:22:23.180 --> 00:22:24.079
 by the speaking

00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:25.220
 of the word

00:22:25.220 --> 00:22:26.159
 of the gospel.

00:22:27.099 --> 00:22:28.259
 That I gave myself

00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:28.759
 for you.

00:22:28.859 --> 00:22:29.960
 That cleanses her.

00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:30.879
 It sets her apart

00:22:30.879 --> 00:22:31.980
 when she believes

00:22:31.980 --> 00:22:33.779
 that he gave himself

00:22:33.779 --> 00:22:34.299
 for her.

00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:35.180
 And notice that Jesus

00:22:35.180 --> 00:22:36.680
 is doing all of this

00:22:36.680 --> 00:22:37.639
 for his bride.

00:22:38.259 --> 00:22:39.539
 He made her fit

00:22:39.539 --> 00:22:40.319
 for himself.

00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:40.939
 He didn't say,

00:22:41.139 --> 00:22:41.339
 all right,

00:22:41.399 --> 00:22:42.099
 clean yourself up.

00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:44.159
 He is doing it for her.

00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:45.559
 Picture this.

00:22:46.439 --> 00:22:47.079
 A dashing,

00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:48.240
 cultured,

00:22:48.619 --> 00:22:49.559
 educated millionaire

00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:50.740
 walks the streets

00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:51.220
 of Chicago.

00:22:52.039 --> 00:22:52.859
 And he finds

00:22:52.859 --> 00:22:53.439
 an ugly,

00:22:53.919 --> 00:22:54.419
 smelly,

00:22:54.939 --> 00:22:55.259
 dirty,

00:22:56.099 --> 00:22:56.740
 foul-mannered,

00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:58.000
 ungrateful wretch

00:22:58.000 --> 00:22:58.439
 of a woman.

00:22:59.439 --> 00:23:00.639
 And he woos her

00:23:00.639 --> 00:23:02.720
 with gentlemanly kindness,

00:23:04.019 --> 00:23:04.559
 generosity.

00:23:05.059 --> 00:23:06.439
 He proposes marriage

00:23:06.440 --> 00:23:06.860
 to her.

00:23:07.259 --> 00:23:07.920
 And he pays

00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:08.440
 for the most

00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:09.840
 lavish makeovers,

00:23:10.460 --> 00:23:11.660
 the finest clothes,

00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:13.200
 the best education

00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:14.160
 money could buy

00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:15.279
 in order to make

00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:16.420
 her a bride fit

00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:17.000
 for him.

00:23:17.059 --> 00:23:17.559
 Now, it's not

00:23:17.559 --> 00:23:18.460
 a perfect illustration,

00:23:18.640 --> 00:23:19.380
 but at least it gets

00:23:19.380 --> 00:23:20.940
 at the kind

00:23:20.940 --> 00:23:21.880
 of costly grace

00:23:21.880 --> 00:23:22.539
 that Christ

00:23:22.539 --> 00:23:23.680
 has shown his bride.

00:23:24.820 --> 00:23:25.340
 And notice that

00:23:25.340 --> 00:23:25.960
 it doesn't say

00:23:25.960 --> 00:23:27.120
 that Christ loved

00:23:27.120 --> 00:23:27.799
 his church

00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:28.860
 and gave himself

00:23:28.860 --> 00:23:29.360
 up for her

00:23:29.360 --> 00:23:31.200
 because she was holy,

00:23:31.539 --> 00:23:32.820
 because she was lovely.

00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:33.779
 It says,

00:23:34.120 --> 00:23:34.759
 Christ loved the church

00:23:34.759 --> 00:23:35.759
 and gave himself for her

00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:36.779
 so that he might

00:23:36.779 --> 00:23:38.379
 make her lovely.

00:23:39.299 --> 00:23:39.980
 His love

00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:41.559
 makes her lovely,

00:23:42.119 --> 00:23:43.160
 makes her holy.

00:23:44.379 --> 00:23:44.980
 So the marriage

00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:45.839
 is transformed

00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:47.779
 by God's costly grace

00:23:47.779 --> 00:23:49.400
 through Jesus Christ,

00:23:50.039 --> 00:23:50.619
 the bridegroom,

00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:51.640
 giving himself up

00:23:51.640 --> 00:23:52.420
 for her.

00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:53.039
 And that leads us

00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:53.740
 to chapter four.

00:23:55.160 --> 00:23:55.879
 This marriage

00:23:55.879 --> 00:23:56.619
 is destined

00:23:56.619 --> 00:23:59.180
 for eternal bliss.

00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:00.940
 This marriage

00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:01.539
 is destined

00:24:01.539 --> 00:24:03.599
 for eternal bliss.

00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:05.339
 start making your way

00:24:05.339 --> 00:24:05.779
 to the end

00:24:05.779 --> 00:24:06.279
 of the Bible,

00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:08.459
 Revelation 19.

00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:11.079
 Revelation 19.

00:24:12.279 --> 00:24:13.219
 As you're turning there,

00:24:13.319 --> 00:24:14.699
 let me remind you

00:24:14.699 --> 00:24:15.139
 of something

00:24:15.139 --> 00:24:16.079
 that Jesus said

00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:17.819
 in John chapter 14.

00:24:18.339 --> 00:24:18.939
 Don't turn there,

00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:20.039
 just head to Revelation,

00:24:20.199 --> 00:24:21.939
 but let me help us

00:24:21.939 --> 00:24:22.740
 remember this.

00:24:23.459 --> 00:24:24.480
 He has just told

00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:25.099
 his disciples

00:24:25.099 --> 00:24:26.699
 in John chapter 14

00:24:26.699 --> 00:24:27.699
 that he's going away

00:24:27.699 --> 00:24:29.319
 and that they won't

00:24:29.319 --> 00:24:30.219
 be able to follow him

00:24:30.219 --> 00:24:31.439
 and they're very troubled,

00:24:31.539 --> 00:24:32.119
 they're very upset.

00:24:32.119 --> 00:24:34.179
 But he turns right around

00:24:34.179 --> 00:24:34.799
 and he says,

00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:35.879
 don't let your hearts

00:24:35.879 --> 00:24:36.359
 be troubled.

00:24:37.199 --> 00:24:37.879
 Believe in God,

00:24:38.339 --> 00:24:39.299
 believe also in me.

00:24:40.139 --> 00:24:41.339
 In my Father's house

00:24:41.339 --> 00:24:42.299
 are many rooms.

00:24:43.239 --> 00:24:44.059
 If it were not so,

00:24:44.159 --> 00:24:45.119
 would I have told you

00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:45.519
 that I go

00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:46.259
 to prepare a place

00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:46.619
 for you?

00:24:47.259 --> 00:24:48.119
 And if I go

00:24:48.119 --> 00:24:48.859
 and prepare a place

00:24:48.859 --> 00:24:49.239
 for you,

00:24:49.479 --> 00:24:50.399
 I will come again

00:24:50.399 --> 00:24:52.079
 and take you to myself

00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:53.139
 that where I am

00:24:53.139 --> 00:24:54.139
 you may be also.

00:24:55.979 --> 00:24:57.039
 In ancient cultures,

00:24:57.159 --> 00:24:58.059
 when a bridegroom

00:24:58.059 --> 00:24:59.359
 proposed to his bride

00:24:59.359 --> 00:25:01.299
 and the betrothal price

00:25:01.299 --> 00:25:01.839
 had been paid

00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:02.740
 to the bride's family,

00:25:03.299 --> 00:25:03.839
 the bridegroom

00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:04.779
 would leave

00:25:04.779 --> 00:25:05.659
 his bride's house

00:25:05.659 --> 00:25:06.819
 and go back

00:25:06.819 --> 00:25:07.859
 to his father's house

00:25:07.859 --> 00:25:09.319
 to build a place

00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:10.359
 in his father's house

00:25:10.359 --> 00:25:11.419
 for the new couple

00:25:11.419 --> 00:25:12.679
 to consummate their marriage

00:25:12.679 --> 00:25:13.559
 once the wedding

00:25:13.559 --> 00:25:14.159
 took place.

00:25:14.979 --> 00:25:15.859
 And once he finished

00:25:15.859 --> 00:25:16.819
 preparing a place,

00:25:17.179 --> 00:25:18.000
 he would leave

00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:18.839
 his father's house,

00:25:19.299 --> 00:25:20.839
 return to his bride's house,

00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:22.179
 and take her back

00:25:22.179 --> 00:25:23.179
 in a wonderful,

00:25:23.419 --> 00:25:24.379
 exciting ceremony

00:25:24.379 --> 00:25:26.419
 back to his father's house

00:25:26.419 --> 00:25:27.479
 where the wedding feast

00:25:27.479 --> 00:25:28.319
 would begin.

00:25:28.319 --> 00:25:31.599
 Jesus is the bridegroom

00:25:31.599 --> 00:25:33.299
 who came to us,

00:25:33.639 --> 00:25:34.240
 his bride,

00:25:34.899 --> 00:25:36.399
 paid the betrothal price

00:25:36.399 --> 00:25:37.439
 and went away

00:25:37.439 --> 00:25:38.759
 to prepare a place

00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:39.559
 for us

00:25:39.559 --> 00:25:40.879
 in his father's house

00:25:40.879 --> 00:25:42.119
 and he's coming again

00:25:42.119 --> 00:25:43.279
 so that we might forever

00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:44.599
 be with him

00:25:44.599 --> 00:25:45.720
 face to face

00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:47.639
 and the eternal wedding feast

00:25:47.639 --> 00:25:48.460
 would begin.

00:25:49.480 --> 00:25:50.619
 If you're in Revelation 19,

00:25:51.220 --> 00:25:52.519
 look at verse 6,

00:25:52.579 --> 00:25:53.819
 in the middle of verse 6.

00:25:55.579 --> 00:25:56.139
 Hallelujah.

00:25:56.139 --> 00:25:56.399
 Hallelujah.

00:25:56.400 --> 00:25:58.420
 for the Lord God,

00:25:58.540 --> 00:25:58.980
 our God,

00:25:59.040 --> 00:26:00.259
 the Almighty reigns.

00:26:00.759 --> 00:26:01.720
 Let us rejoice

00:26:01.720 --> 00:26:02.640
 and exult

00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:04.160
 and give him the glory

00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:06.320
 for the marriage

00:26:06.320 --> 00:26:07.200
 of the Lamb

00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:08.100
 has come

00:26:08.100 --> 00:26:09.660
 and his bride

00:26:09.660 --> 00:26:10.620
 has made herself

00:26:10.620 --> 00:26:11.220
 ready.

00:26:12.120 --> 00:26:12.759
 It was granted

00:26:12.759 --> 00:26:13.180
 to her

00:26:13.180 --> 00:26:14.160
 to clothe herself

00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:15.140
 with fine linen,

00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:16.560
 bright and pure,

00:26:17.220 --> 00:26:17.960
 for the fine linen

00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:19.060
 is the righteous deeds

00:26:19.060 --> 00:26:20.380
 of the saints.

00:26:20.380 --> 00:26:22.460
 So we,

00:26:22.620 --> 00:26:23.100
 the church,

00:26:23.680 --> 00:26:24.860
 are now awaiting

00:26:24.860 --> 00:26:26.580
 our bridegroom's return

00:26:26.580 --> 00:26:28.740
 because our exclusively

00:26:28.740 --> 00:26:30.280
 devoted marriage

00:26:30.280 --> 00:26:31.340
 relationship with God

00:26:31.340 --> 00:26:32.040
 will be fully

00:26:32.040 --> 00:26:33.080
 and finally

00:26:33.080 --> 00:26:33.940
 consummated

00:26:33.940 --> 00:26:35.100
 in eternal joy

00:26:35.100 --> 00:26:36.360
 at the wedding feast

00:26:36.360 --> 00:26:38.180
 and we will see him

00:26:38.180 --> 00:26:40.620
 and we will be with him

00:26:40.620 --> 00:26:42.200
 and we will know him

00:26:42.200 --> 00:26:43.300
 and be fully known

00:26:43.300 --> 00:26:44.040
 by him

00:26:44.040 --> 00:26:45.420
 and the transformation

00:26:45.420 --> 00:26:46.860
 will be fully complete.

00:26:47.380 --> 00:26:48.240
 We will be presented

00:26:48.240 --> 00:26:49.220
 to our bridegroom

00:26:49.220 --> 00:26:50.599
 without spot,

00:26:51.180 --> 00:26:52.019
 without blemish,

00:26:52.819 --> 00:26:53.799
 without sin,

00:26:53.960 --> 00:26:54.599
 without shame

00:26:54.599 --> 00:26:56.339
 and we will know

00:26:56.339 --> 00:26:57.359
 and enjoy him forever.

00:26:58.940 --> 00:27:00.220
 That is the love story.

00:27:01.420 --> 00:27:02.339
 It is a love story

00:27:02.339 --> 00:27:03.859
 of exclusive devotion

00:27:03.859 --> 00:27:05.180
 that God has

00:27:05.180 --> 00:27:05.960
 for his bride

00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:07.259
 and that he expects

00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:08.519
 from his bride

00:27:08.519 --> 00:27:10.140
 and this love story

00:27:10.140 --> 00:27:11.539
 includes us.

00:27:12.599 --> 00:27:13.099
 With the remainder

00:27:13.099 --> 00:27:13.640
 of our time,

00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:14.059
 I want to make

00:27:14.059 --> 00:27:14.839
 four connections

00:27:14.839 --> 00:27:16.500
 that this love story

00:27:16.500 --> 00:27:17.339
 has with us

00:27:17.339 --> 00:27:18.399
 right here

00:27:18.399 --> 00:27:19.379
 and right now.

00:27:19.959 --> 00:27:20.720
 The first connection

00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:21.220
 is this.

00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:23.059
 This marriage

00:27:23.059 --> 00:27:24.319
 portrays God's

00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:25.919
 unflinching commitment

00:27:25.919 --> 00:27:27.879
 to an unworthy people.

00:27:28.720 --> 00:27:30.159
 God's unflinching

00:27:30.159 --> 00:27:30.699
 commitment

00:27:30.699 --> 00:27:32.419
 to an unworthy

00:27:32.419 --> 00:27:33.619
 people.

00:27:34.220 --> 00:27:35.159
 Just think about Hosea.

00:27:36.139 --> 00:27:36.779
 Like God,

00:27:37.500 --> 00:27:38.679
 he goes into a marriage

00:27:38.679 --> 00:27:39.799
 with an unfaithful woman

00:27:39.799 --> 00:27:40.500
 with his eyes

00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:41.139
 wide open.

00:27:41.839 --> 00:27:42.319
 He knows what

00:27:42.319 --> 00:27:42.919
 he's getting into

00:27:42.919 --> 00:27:44.359
 and like God,

00:27:44.439 --> 00:27:45.079
 he experiences

00:27:45.079 --> 00:27:45.720
 the grief

00:27:45.720 --> 00:27:46.380
 in the pain

00:27:46.380 --> 00:27:47.299
 of being betrayed

00:27:47.299 --> 00:27:48.920
 after giving himself

00:27:48.920 --> 00:27:49.980
 in faithfulness

00:27:49.980 --> 00:27:51.960
 to an unfaithful woman.

00:27:52.839 --> 00:27:53.460
 And like God,

00:27:53.559 --> 00:27:54.920
 he willingly pursues

00:27:54.920 --> 00:27:55.920
 his unfaithful

00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:57.140
 and adulterous wife

00:27:57.140 --> 00:27:57.880
 again

00:27:57.880 --> 00:28:00.019
 at great personal cost.

00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:02.339
 Church,

00:28:02.460 --> 00:28:03.539
 the reason God loves us

00:28:03.539 --> 00:28:04.319
 is not the reason

00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:05.420
 we tend to love others.

00:28:06.640 --> 00:28:07.819
 We tend to commit

00:28:07.819 --> 00:28:09.019
 ourselves to others

00:28:09.019 --> 00:28:10.059
 or have affection

00:28:10.059 --> 00:28:10.740
 for others

00:28:10.740 --> 00:28:12.480
 because we enjoy them.

00:28:13.140 --> 00:28:13.980
 We see some goodness

00:28:13.980 --> 00:28:14.440
 in them

00:28:14.440 --> 00:28:15.660
 because they can provide

00:28:15.660 --> 00:28:17.039
 some benefit to us.

00:28:17.660 --> 00:28:18.599
 Not with God.

00:28:20.360 --> 00:28:21.839
 He saw our stone

00:28:21.839 --> 00:28:22.660
 cold hearts,

00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:24.599
 our pride,

00:28:24.740 --> 00:28:26.160
 our rotten selfishness,

00:28:26.519 --> 00:28:27.039
 our obsession

00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:27.819
 with ourselves,

00:28:28.220 --> 00:28:29.460
 our stubborn self-righteous,

00:28:29.579 --> 00:28:30.220
 and he said,

00:28:30.779 --> 00:28:31.319
 I will choose

00:28:31.319 --> 00:28:32.140
 to do good to them

00:28:32.140 --> 00:28:33.559
 because I choose

00:28:33.559 --> 00:28:34.079
 to do so.

00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:36.900
 The only reason

00:28:36.900 --> 00:28:38.059
 I'm going to do this

00:28:38.059 --> 00:28:38.740
 is because of my

00:28:38.740 --> 00:28:40.200
 sheer love for them

00:28:40.200 --> 00:28:41.059
 and my free,

00:28:41.400 --> 00:28:41.819
 sovereign choice

00:28:41.819 --> 00:28:42.360
 to love them.

00:28:42.359 --> 00:28:43.740
 not because there's

00:28:43.740 --> 00:28:44.579
 anything good in them

00:28:44.579 --> 00:28:45.879
 but because of

00:28:45.879 --> 00:28:47.159
 my love for them

00:28:47.159 --> 00:28:47.899
 and I will make them

00:28:47.899 --> 00:28:49.740
 lovely through my love.

00:28:51.039 --> 00:28:51.359
 Christian,

00:28:51.479 --> 00:28:52.000
 that is how God

00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:52.559
 has loved you

00:28:52.559 --> 00:28:54.419
 and that's how God

00:28:54.419 --> 00:28:55.559
 continues to love you.

00:28:56.819 --> 00:28:57.639
 It's not because

00:28:57.639 --> 00:28:58.740
 you've progressed nicely.

00:29:00.099 --> 00:29:00.859
 It's not because

00:29:00.859 --> 00:29:01.639
 you finally stopped

00:29:01.639 --> 00:29:02.219
 doing this

00:29:02.219 --> 00:29:02.819
 or you finally

00:29:02.819 --> 00:29:03.819
 started doing that.

00:29:05.079 --> 00:29:06.240
 He loved you

00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:07.199
 when you were still

00:29:07.199 --> 00:29:07.759
 his enemy,

00:29:08.399 --> 00:29:09.559
 unreconciled to him,

00:29:10.599 --> 00:29:11.459
 stuck in your sin

00:29:11.460 --> 00:29:12.680
 and he sent Jesus

00:29:12.680 --> 00:29:13.600
 to win you

00:29:13.600 --> 00:29:14.680
 back to him

00:29:14.680 --> 00:29:16.120
 by going to the cross

00:29:16.120 --> 00:29:16.720
 for you.

00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:18.660
 He loved you

00:29:18.660 --> 00:29:19.720
 before you knew him,

00:29:20.200 --> 00:29:21.100
 before you ever knew

00:29:21.100 --> 00:29:22.120
 that you could love him.

00:29:23.299 --> 00:29:24.539
 This is the great

00:29:24.539 --> 00:29:25.420
 love of God

00:29:25.420 --> 00:29:26.880
 and his commitment

00:29:26.880 --> 00:29:28.059
 to unworthy people

00:29:28.059 --> 00:29:28.700
 like us.

00:29:30.779 --> 00:29:31.860
 It was his initiation,

00:29:32.180 --> 00:29:33.240
 his sovereign choice

00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:33.900
 to love you,

00:29:33.980 --> 00:29:34.740
 to love us

00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:35.559
 like that.

00:29:37.160 --> 00:29:37.779
 In a moment,

00:29:37.840 --> 00:29:38.279
 we're going to sing

00:29:38.279 --> 00:29:39.700
 a song that has a line,

00:29:39.700 --> 00:29:41.299
 two wonders here

00:29:41.299 --> 00:29:42.259
 that I confess,

00:29:42.759 --> 00:29:43.539
 my worth

00:29:43.539 --> 00:29:45.460
 and my unworthiness.

00:29:46.860 --> 00:29:48.220
 We know we are unworthy

00:29:48.220 --> 00:29:49.180
 because of our sin

00:29:49.180 --> 00:29:50.980
 and yet his love for us

00:29:50.980 --> 00:29:52.140
 gives us worth.

00:29:55.140 --> 00:29:55.660
 Next,

00:29:56.299 --> 00:29:57.580
 second connection.

00:29:57.840 --> 00:29:58.900
 This marriage highlights

00:29:58.900 --> 00:30:00.779
 our radical new identity

00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:02.700
 in our bridegroom.

00:30:03.559 --> 00:30:04.539
 This marriage highlights

00:30:04.539 --> 00:30:06.140
 our radical new identity

00:30:06.140 --> 00:30:07.380
 in our bridegroom.

00:30:07.380 --> 00:30:09.340
 flip back to Ephesians

00:30:09.340 --> 00:30:10.000
 chapter 5,

00:30:10.060 --> 00:30:10.520
 if you will.

00:30:11.460 --> 00:30:12.080
 I want to highlight

00:30:12.080 --> 00:30:13.660
 something for us there.

00:30:14.760 --> 00:30:15.860
 Ephesians chapter 5,

00:30:16.300 --> 00:30:17.220
 where we were earlier.

00:30:19.880 --> 00:30:20.940
 And let's look at

00:30:20.940 --> 00:30:21.780
 verse 28.

00:30:23.480 --> 00:30:24.400
 Ephesians 5,

00:30:24.460 --> 00:30:24.940
 verse 28.

00:30:25.940 --> 00:30:27.100
 In the same way,

00:30:27.180 --> 00:30:27.980
 husbands should love

00:30:27.980 --> 00:30:28.480
 their wives

00:30:28.480 --> 00:30:29.520
 as their own bodies.

00:30:30.300 --> 00:30:31.580
 He who loves his wife

00:30:31.580 --> 00:30:32.360
 loves himself.

00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:34.360
 No one ever hated

00:30:34.360 --> 00:30:35.100
 his own flesh,

00:30:35.099 --> 00:30:35.879
 but nourishes

00:30:35.879 --> 00:30:37.139
 and cherishes it

00:30:37.139 --> 00:30:38.419
 just as Christ

00:30:38.419 --> 00:30:39.579
 does the church

00:30:39.579 --> 00:30:41.039
 because we are members

00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:42.099
 of his body.

00:30:42.779 --> 00:30:43.399
 And here he quotes

00:30:43.399 --> 00:30:44.079
 Genesis 2.

00:30:45.119 --> 00:30:45.379
 Therefore,

00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:46.559
 a man shall leave

00:30:46.559 --> 00:30:47.879
 his father and mother

00:30:47.879 --> 00:30:48.719
 and hold fast

00:30:48.719 --> 00:30:49.439
 to his wife

00:30:49.439 --> 00:30:50.159
 and the two

00:30:50.159 --> 00:30:52.480
 shall become one flesh.

00:30:53.219 --> 00:30:54.179
 This mystery

00:30:54.179 --> 00:30:54.899
 is profound

00:30:54.899 --> 00:30:55.719
 and I am saying

00:30:55.719 --> 00:30:56.579
 that it refers

00:30:56.579 --> 00:30:57.539
 to Christ

00:30:57.539 --> 00:30:58.679
 and the church.

00:30:58.680 --> 00:31:01.880
 Paul tells husbands

00:31:01.880 --> 00:31:02.480
 to care for

00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:02.920
 and cherish

00:31:02.920 --> 00:31:03.539
 their wives

00:31:03.539 --> 00:31:04.240
 because they have

00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:04.620
 been brought

00:31:04.620 --> 00:31:06.019
 into a one flesh

00:31:06.019 --> 00:31:07.420
 union with them.

00:31:08.180 --> 00:31:08.799
 Marriage is a

00:31:08.799 --> 00:31:09.660
 marvelous mystery.

00:31:10.420 --> 00:31:11.000
 Two bodies,

00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:11.799
 two people

00:31:11.799 --> 00:31:13.240
 become wonderfully

00:31:13.240 --> 00:31:13.960
 one,

00:31:14.820 --> 00:31:15.180
 united

00:31:15.180 --> 00:31:16.860
 through exclusive

00:31:16.860 --> 00:31:17.420
 devotion

00:31:17.420 --> 00:31:18.480
 to one another.

00:31:19.680 --> 00:31:20.259
 But then

00:31:20.259 --> 00:31:21.180
 he makes our head

00:31:21.180 --> 00:31:21.519
 spin

00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:22.320
 by quoting

00:31:22.320 --> 00:31:22.980
 Genesis 2.

00:31:23.700 --> 00:31:24.160
 And he says

00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:25.140
 that the great mystery

00:31:25.140 --> 00:31:26.200
 of the one flesh

00:31:26.200 --> 00:31:27.360
 union of human marriage

00:31:27.359 --> 00:31:29.219
 was meant all along

00:31:29.219 --> 00:31:30.099
 to point to

00:31:30.099 --> 00:31:31.119
 the wonderful union

00:31:31.119 --> 00:31:31.759
 of Christ

00:31:31.759 --> 00:31:32.639
 and his bride.

00:31:35.219 --> 00:31:35.939
 When you stand

00:31:35.939 --> 00:31:37.559
 by a body of water

00:31:37.559 --> 00:31:38.539
 you look in

00:31:38.539 --> 00:31:38.839
 and you see

00:31:38.839 --> 00:31:39.379
 your reflection.

00:31:40.539 --> 00:31:41.219
 Our marriages

00:31:41.219 --> 00:31:42.319
 here on earth,

00:31:42.379 --> 00:31:43.099
 our human marriages

00:31:43.099 --> 00:31:44.759
 are just a reflection

00:31:44.759 --> 00:31:46.859
 of the ultimate marriage

00:31:46.859 --> 00:31:47.859
 that Christ

00:31:47.859 --> 00:31:48.819
 has made

00:31:48.819 --> 00:31:49.979
 with his church.

00:31:50.479 --> 00:31:51.599
 When we put our faith

00:31:51.599 --> 00:31:52.559
 in Christ's church

00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:53.979
 we are joined to him.

00:31:54.159 --> 00:31:54.740
 We are spiritually

00:31:54.740 --> 00:31:55.799
 made one with him.

00:31:56.419 --> 00:31:56.979
 We become

00:31:56.980 --> 00:31:57.740
 knit together

00:31:57.740 --> 00:31:58.779
 in an intimate

00:31:58.779 --> 00:31:59.519
 relationship

00:31:59.519 --> 00:32:00.519
 with him.

00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:02.019
 When Jess and I

00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:02.519
 got married

00:32:02.519 --> 00:32:03.960
 there were a lot

00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:04.779
 of personal changes

00:32:04.779 --> 00:32:05.440
 that had to happen.

00:32:06.259 --> 00:32:06.900
 I had to merge

00:32:06.900 --> 00:32:07.420
 bank accounts

00:32:07.420 --> 00:32:07.740
 with her.

00:32:08.420 --> 00:32:08.900
 I had to change

00:32:08.900 --> 00:32:09.559
 my residence.

00:32:10.000 --> 00:32:10.339
 I had to put

00:32:10.339 --> 00:32:11.079
 her name

00:32:11.079 --> 00:32:12.140
 on my car registration,

00:32:12.279 --> 00:32:12.880
 on my insurance.

00:32:13.880 --> 00:32:14.680
 And the bride

00:32:14.680 --> 00:32:15.579
 has even more to do.

00:32:15.940 --> 00:32:16.039
 Right?

00:32:16.200 --> 00:32:17.140
 She has to change

00:32:17.140 --> 00:32:17.660
 her own name.

00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:18.500
 Jess had to go

00:32:18.500 --> 00:32:19.019
 through the process

00:32:19.019 --> 00:32:19.960
 of changing her name

00:32:19.960 --> 00:32:21.059
 and then making sure

00:32:21.059 --> 00:32:21.799
 that change was

00:32:21.799 --> 00:32:22.779
 on everything

00:32:22.779 --> 00:32:24.000
 from her driver's license

00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:25.319
 to her Facebook account.

00:32:25.319 --> 00:32:27.799
 When a marriage

00:32:27.799 --> 00:32:28.579
 takes place

00:32:28.579 --> 00:32:30.200
 two people's lives

00:32:30.200 --> 00:32:30.700
 merge.

00:32:31.859 --> 00:32:32.500
 What is his

00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:33.279
 becomes hers.

00:32:33.379 --> 00:32:33.899
 What is hers

00:32:33.899 --> 00:32:34.740
 becomes his.

00:32:35.899 --> 00:32:36.480
 And so it is

00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:36.939
 with the union

00:32:36.939 --> 00:32:37.399
 of Christ

00:32:37.399 --> 00:32:38.039
 and his people.

00:32:38.399 --> 00:32:38.839
 Only it's not

00:32:38.839 --> 00:32:39.839
 a very fair exchange.

00:32:40.839 --> 00:32:41.799
 When he married her

00:32:41.799 --> 00:32:43.339
 he took all her sin

00:32:43.339 --> 00:32:44.679
 all her shame

00:32:44.679 --> 00:32:45.799
 her debt

00:32:45.799 --> 00:32:47.099
 her condemnation

00:32:47.099 --> 00:32:48.839
 and all that was hers

00:32:48.839 --> 00:32:49.960
 he absorbed.

00:32:50.879 --> 00:32:51.519
 Paid it all.

00:32:51.519 --> 00:32:54.019
 And all that was his

00:32:54.019 --> 00:32:55.240
 became hers.

00:32:56.339 --> 00:32:57.460
 His spotless record

00:32:57.460 --> 00:32:58.660
 his perfect righteousness

00:32:58.660 --> 00:32:59.859
 the father's

00:32:59.859 --> 00:33:00.779
 endless approval

00:33:00.779 --> 00:33:01.759
 and delight in him

00:33:01.759 --> 00:33:03.420
 now is ours

00:33:03.420 --> 00:33:05.680
 through our radical

00:33:05.680 --> 00:33:06.359
 new identity

00:33:06.359 --> 00:33:07.240
 with our bridegroom.

00:33:08.660 --> 00:33:09.599
 Do you realize church

00:33:09.599 --> 00:33:10.279
 that you are

00:33:10.279 --> 00:33:11.160
 your beloved's

00:33:11.160 --> 00:33:12.279
 and your beloved's

00:33:12.279 --> 00:33:12.819
 is yours.

00:33:13.960 --> 00:33:15.099
 As the apostle Paul

00:33:15.099 --> 00:33:16.259
 said in 1 Corinthians 6

00:33:16.259 --> 00:33:16.859
 you are not

00:33:16.859 --> 00:33:18.000
 your own anymore.

00:33:18.779 --> 00:33:19.700
 You have a radical

00:33:19.700 --> 00:33:20.319
 new identity.

00:33:20.319 --> 00:33:20.960
 You were bought

00:33:20.960 --> 00:33:21.939
 at a high price

00:33:21.939 --> 00:33:22.859
 and you are now

00:33:22.859 --> 00:33:24.519
 one with your bridegroom.

00:33:25.319 --> 00:33:26.359
 And he cares for you.

00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:27.879
 He nourishes you

00:33:27.879 --> 00:33:29.759
 as the husband

00:33:29.759 --> 00:33:30.879
 cares and nourishes

00:33:30.879 --> 00:33:31.759
 for his wife

00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:33.039
 even as his own body.

00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:34.960
 We must think

00:33:34.960 --> 00:33:35.579
 of ourselves

00:33:35.579 --> 00:33:36.759
 as in the most

00:33:36.759 --> 00:33:38.000
 intimate of relationships

00:33:38.000 --> 00:33:39.519
 with our heavenly bridegroom

00:33:39.519 --> 00:33:40.539
 because he cares for us

00:33:40.539 --> 00:33:41.319
 in this kind of way.

00:33:41.720 --> 00:33:42.399
 We have a radical

00:33:42.399 --> 00:33:43.659
 new identity

00:33:43.659 --> 00:33:44.379
 now.

00:33:45.839 --> 00:33:46.359
 Thirdly

00:33:46.359 --> 00:33:47.980
 third connection

00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:48.460
 is this.

00:33:48.460 --> 00:33:50.559
 this marriage's

00:33:50.559 --> 00:33:51.079
 purpose

00:33:51.079 --> 00:33:52.400
 reorients

00:33:52.400 --> 00:33:53.340
 our priorities.

00:33:54.420 --> 00:33:55.140
 This marriage's

00:33:55.140 --> 00:33:55.500
 purpose

00:33:55.500 --> 00:33:56.480
 reorients

00:33:56.480 --> 00:33:57.380
 our priorities.

00:33:58.579 --> 00:33:59.279
 Look again

00:33:59.279 --> 00:33:59.980
 at Ephesians 5

00:33:59.980 --> 00:34:00.360
 25.

00:34:02.019 --> 00:34:02.860
 Notice again

00:34:02.860 --> 00:34:03.460
 the purpose

00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:03.940
 for which

00:34:03.940 --> 00:34:04.799
 Christ loved

00:34:04.799 --> 00:34:05.240
 the church

00:34:05.240 --> 00:34:05.920
 and gave himself

00:34:05.920 --> 00:34:06.259
 up for.

00:34:06.319 --> 00:34:07.019
 Look for three

00:34:07.019 --> 00:34:07.940
 that's.

00:34:08.599 --> 00:34:09.320
 The word that

00:34:09.320 --> 00:34:10.340
 shows up three times.

00:34:11.260 --> 00:34:11.599
 In verse

00:34:11.599 --> 00:34:12.740
 26

00:34:12.740 --> 00:34:14.059
 that he might

00:34:14.059 --> 00:34:15.119
 sanctify her

00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:16.480
 verse 27

00:34:16.480 --> 00:34:17.740
 so that he might

00:34:17.740 --> 00:34:18.440
 present the church

00:34:18.440 --> 00:34:18.920
 to himself

00:34:18.920 --> 00:34:19.579
 in splendor

00:34:19.579 --> 00:34:20.380
 and then later

00:34:20.380 --> 00:34:22.119
 that she might

00:34:22.119 --> 00:34:23.019
 be holy

00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:24.300
 and without blemish.

00:34:25.500 --> 00:34:26.059
 So why did

00:34:26.059 --> 00:34:26.880
 Christ lovingly

00:34:26.880 --> 00:34:27.539
 give himself up

00:34:27.539 --> 00:34:28.260
 for his church?

00:34:28.539 --> 00:34:29.460
 To make her

00:34:29.460 --> 00:34:30.199
 a lovely bride

00:34:30.199 --> 00:34:31.320
 fit for himself.

00:34:32.179 --> 00:34:33.019
 He died

00:34:33.019 --> 00:34:33.860
 to make her

00:34:33.860 --> 00:34:34.599
 holy.

00:34:35.260 --> 00:34:35.800
 The purpose

00:34:35.800 --> 00:34:36.539
 of this marriage

00:34:36.539 --> 00:34:37.219
 is holy

00:34:37.219 --> 00:34:38.260
 and exclusive

00:34:38.260 --> 00:34:38.960
 intimacy

00:34:38.960 --> 00:34:40.119
 between God

00:34:40.119 --> 00:34:40.860
 and his people.

00:34:40.860 --> 00:34:43.260
 this is not

00:34:43.260 --> 00:34:44.120
 just a

00:34:44.120 --> 00:34:44.840
 relationship

00:34:44.840 --> 00:34:45.800
 in our lives.

00:34:46.140 --> 00:34:47.140
 It is the

00:34:47.140 --> 00:34:48.039
 relationship

00:34:48.039 --> 00:34:49.640
 in our lives.

00:34:50.059 --> 00:34:50.519
 It is a

00:34:50.519 --> 00:34:50.940
 relationship

00:34:50.940 --> 00:34:51.920
 of exclusive

00:34:51.920 --> 00:34:52.920
 devotion

00:34:52.920 --> 00:34:54.880
 having high

00:34:54.880 --> 00:34:55.420
 and holy

00:34:55.420 --> 00:34:55.900
 affection

00:34:55.900 --> 00:34:56.800
 for our

00:34:56.800 --> 00:34:57.240
 bridegroom.

00:34:58.180 --> 00:34:58.620
 So let me

00:34:58.620 --> 00:34:59.079
 ask you

00:34:59.079 --> 00:35:00.500
 does

00:35:00.500 --> 00:35:01.640
 the purpose

00:35:01.640 --> 00:35:02.099
 for which

00:35:02.099 --> 00:35:02.900
 Christ died

00:35:02.900 --> 00:35:03.460
 for you

00:35:03.460 --> 00:35:04.700
 show up

00:35:04.700 --> 00:35:05.620
 as a priority

00:35:05.620 --> 00:35:06.760
 in your life?

00:35:06.760 --> 00:35:08.960
 the purpose

00:35:08.960 --> 00:35:10.780
 of being

00:35:10.780 --> 00:35:11.700
 in a holy

00:35:11.700 --> 00:35:12.360
 exclusive

00:35:12.360 --> 00:35:13.040
 affectionate

00:35:13.040 --> 00:35:13.520
 relationship

00:35:13.520 --> 00:35:14.120
 with Jesus

00:35:14.120 --> 00:35:16.000
 does that

00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:16.760
 show up

00:35:16.760 --> 00:35:17.500
 as a priority

00:35:17.500 --> 00:35:18.820
 in your life?

00:35:19.420 --> 00:35:19.760
 Are you

00:35:19.760 --> 00:35:20.280
 responding

00:35:20.280 --> 00:35:21.020
 to his love

00:35:21.020 --> 00:35:21.520
 by making

00:35:21.520 --> 00:35:22.680
 your relationship

00:35:22.680 --> 00:35:23.180
 with him

00:35:23.180 --> 00:35:24.240
 your highest

00:35:24.240 --> 00:35:25.140
 priority?

00:35:26.340 --> 00:35:27.260
 This is a way

00:35:27.260 --> 00:35:27.840
 we need to think

00:35:27.840 --> 00:35:28.440
 about being

00:35:28.440 --> 00:35:29.380
 Jesus' disciples.

00:35:30.940 --> 00:35:31.960
 Having our hearts

00:35:31.960 --> 00:35:32.800
 fully bound

00:35:32.800 --> 00:35:33.220
 to him.

00:35:33.680 --> 00:35:34.320
 Not holding

00:35:34.320 --> 00:35:34.960
 any area

00:35:34.960 --> 00:35:35.540
 of our lives

00:35:35.540 --> 00:35:36.460
 back from him.

00:35:36.840 --> 00:35:37.519
 Giving ourselves

00:35:37.519 --> 00:35:38.559
 body and soul

00:35:38.559 --> 00:35:39.420
 to his person

00:35:39.420 --> 00:35:40.659
 to his purposes

00:35:40.659 --> 00:35:42.039
 to his priorities.

00:35:43.480 --> 00:35:44.220
 The problem

00:35:44.220 --> 00:35:44.619
 is this is

00:35:44.619 --> 00:35:45.440
 really hard.

00:35:46.980 --> 00:35:47.659
 Just try

00:35:47.659 --> 00:35:48.199
 fulfilling the

00:35:48.199 --> 00:35:48.460
 command

00:35:48.460 --> 00:35:49.280
 love the Lord

00:35:49.280 --> 00:35:49.659
 your God

00:35:49.659 --> 00:35:50.039
 with all your

00:35:50.039 --> 00:35:50.420
 heart, soul,

00:35:50.480 --> 00:35:50.900
 mind and strength.

00:35:51.019 --> 00:35:51.860
 It is really

00:35:51.860 --> 00:35:52.260
 hard

00:35:52.260 --> 00:35:53.599
 because sin

00:35:53.599 --> 00:35:54.159
 is still present

00:35:54.159 --> 00:35:54.619
 with us.

00:35:55.699 --> 00:35:56.260
 We see

00:35:56.260 --> 00:35:56.980
 everything that

00:35:56.980 --> 00:35:57.420
 we see

00:35:57.420 --> 00:35:58.360
 with our eyes

00:35:58.360 --> 00:35:59.579
 tells us

00:35:59.579 --> 00:36:00.740
 that Jesus

00:36:00.740 --> 00:36:01.199
 isn't really

00:36:01.199 --> 00:36:01.740
 that important.

00:36:02.159 --> 00:36:03.199
 He's unseen

00:36:03.199 --> 00:36:03.599
 by us.

00:36:03.639 --> 00:36:04.119
 He's invisible.

00:36:04.280 --> 00:36:05.039
 It's by faith.

00:36:05.039 --> 00:36:06.659
 fighting the

00:36:06.659 --> 00:36:07.259
 fight of faith

00:36:07.259 --> 00:36:08.279
 to be exclusively

00:36:08.279 --> 00:36:09.039
 devoted to Jesus

00:36:09.039 --> 00:36:09.659
 whom we can't

00:36:09.659 --> 00:36:10.460
 see right now

00:36:10.460 --> 00:36:11.019
 who is away

00:36:11.019 --> 00:36:11.519
 from us

00:36:11.519 --> 00:36:12.179
 it's really

00:36:12.179 --> 00:36:12.599
 difficult.

00:36:14.320 --> 00:36:15.079
 In James

00:36:15.079 --> 00:36:15.860
 chapter 4

00:36:15.860 --> 00:36:17.159
 I'm not going

00:36:17.159 --> 00:36:17.619
 to turn there

00:36:17.619 --> 00:36:19.599
 but in James

00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:20.119
 chapter 4

00:36:20.119 --> 00:36:21.139
 he calls the

00:36:21.139 --> 00:36:21.619
 church out.

00:36:22.659 --> 00:36:23.619
 He calls the

00:36:23.619 --> 00:36:23.940
 church

00:36:23.940 --> 00:36:25.300
 adulterous.

00:36:26.279 --> 00:36:27.239
 He exposes

00:36:27.239 --> 00:36:29.179
 heart level

00:36:29.179 --> 00:36:30.820
 identity level

00:36:30.820 --> 00:36:31.920
 issues in the

00:36:31.920 --> 00:36:32.440
 church that he's

00:36:32.440 --> 00:36:33.019
 writing to

00:36:33.019 --> 00:36:34.039
 and he says

00:36:34.039 --> 00:36:34.739
 you're committing

00:36:34.739 --> 00:36:35.559
 spiritual adultery

00:36:35.559 --> 00:36:35.940
 church.

00:36:36.639 --> 00:36:37.280
 You are

00:36:37.280 --> 00:36:38.920
 not living

00:36:38.920 --> 00:36:39.599
 in exclusive

00:36:39.599 --> 00:36:40.679
 devotion to

00:36:40.679 --> 00:36:41.320
 your bridegroom.

00:36:41.480 --> 00:36:42.099
 They believe

00:36:42.099 --> 00:36:42.820
 the right things

00:36:42.820 --> 00:36:43.559
 they attended

00:36:43.559 --> 00:36:43.920
 church

00:36:43.920 --> 00:36:44.320
 they're doing

00:36:44.320 --> 00:36:44.719
 the Christian

00:36:44.719 --> 00:36:45.099
 thing

00:36:45.099 --> 00:36:45.840
 but what their

00:36:45.840 --> 00:36:46.559
 hearts truly

00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:47.679
 wanted and craved

00:36:47.679 --> 00:36:48.599
 was far

00:36:48.599 --> 00:36:49.340
 from God.

00:36:50.559 --> 00:36:51.019
 They were committing

00:36:51.019 --> 00:36:51.840
 spiritual adultery

00:36:51.840 --> 00:36:52.739
 even as Christians.

00:36:54.539 --> 00:36:55.320
 Adultery begins

00:36:55.320 --> 00:36:55.820
 in the heart.

00:36:57.280 --> 00:36:57.940
 A person becomes

00:36:57.940 --> 00:36:58.739
 dissatisfied with

00:36:58.739 --> 00:36:59.320
 their marriage

00:36:59.320 --> 00:37:00.320
 they think they

00:37:00.320 --> 00:37:01.119
 could be satisfied

00:37:01.119 --> 00:37:01.719
 with something

00:37:01.719 --> 00:37:02.639
 else, someone

00:37:02.639 --> 00:37:03.619
 else and they

00:37:03.619 --> 00:37:04.099
 start looking

00:37:04.099 --> 00:37:05.440
 start wanting

00:37:05.440 --> 00:37:06.380
 start desiring

00:37:06.380 --> 00:37:07.299
 start wondering

00:37:07.299 --> 00:37:08.739
 start imagining

00:37:08.739 --> 00:37:09.719
 being with

00:37:09.719 --> 00:37:10.400
 someone else.

00:37:11.259 --> 00:37:11.900
 Their desires

00:37:11.900 --> 00:37:12.579
 their passions

00:37:12.579 --> 00:37:13.639
 draw them away

00:37:13.639 --> 00:37:14.719
 from the one

00:37:14.719 --> 00:37:15.199
 that they should

00:37:15.199 --> 00:37:16.039
 be exclusively

00:37:16.039 --> 00:37:17.179
 devoted to.

00:37:18.219 --> 00:37:18.779
 So Christian

00:37:18.779 --> 00:37:20.880
 how is your

00:37:20.880 --> 00:37:22.460
 heart seeking

00:37:22.460 --> 00:37:23.859
 satisfaction apart

00:37:23.859 --> 00:37:25.119
 from your

00:37:25.119 --> 00:37:25.960
 heavenly bridegroom?

00:37:28.299 --> 00:37:29.039
 You're walking

00:37:29.039 --> 00:37:29.739
 down the aisle

00:37:29.739 --> 00:37:31.959
 but are your

00:37:31.959 --> 00:37:32.899
 eyes fixed

00:37:32.899 --> 00:37:33.979
 on the one

00:37:33.979 --> 00:37:34.899
 standing at the

00:37:34.899 --> 00:37:35.459
 altar who's

00:37:35.459 --> 00:37:36.179
 waiting for you?

00:37:37.959 --> 00:37:39.139
 He is everything

00:37:39.139 --> 00:37:39.759
 that you could

00:37:39.759 --> 00:37:40.839
 possibly need

00:37:40.839 --> 00:37:41.859
 or want

00:37:41.859 --> 00:37:42.939
 or hope for.

00:37:44.219 --> 00:37:45.339
 Are you allured

00:37:45.339 --> 00:37:46.019
 by pleasure?

00:37:47.739 --> 00:37:48.339
 Are you driven

00:37:48.339 --> 00:37:49.139
 by comfort

00:37:49.139 --> 00:37:50.039
 a longing for

00:37:50.039 --> 00:37:50.659
 security

00:37:50.659 --> 00:37:51.919
 in things that

00:37:51.919 --> 00:37:52.639
 are not in

00:37:52.639 --> 00:37:52.979
 Christ?

00:37:54.439 --> 00:37:55.979
 Are you enticed

00:37:55.979 --> 00:37:56.679
 by the prospect

00:37:56.679 --> 00:37:57.419
 of having more

00:37:57.419 --> 00:37:58.099
 earthly goods?

00:37:58.099 --> 00:38:00.799
 do you not

00:38:00.799 --> 00:38:01.299
 believe that he

00:38:01.299 --> 00:38:02.219
 can provide for

00:38:02.219 --> 00:38:02.679
 you everything

00:38:02.679 --> 00:38:03.400
 that you need?

00:38:05.259 --> 00:38:06.259
 Are you enticed

00:38:06.259 --> 00:38:06.819
 by the thought

00:38:06.819 --> 00:38:07.539
 of your

00:38:07.539 --> 00:38:08.500
 reputation

00:38:08.500 --> 00:38:10.380
 or by the

00:38:10.380 --> 00:38:11.039
 approval of

00:38:11.039 --> 00:38:11.380
 others?

00:38:12.440 --> 00:38:13.159
 What does

00:38:13.159 --> 00:38:13.719
 your heart

00:38:13.719 --> 00:38:14.839
 desire besides

00:38:14.839 --> 00:38:15.480
 your all

00:38:15.480 --> 00:38:16.159
 satisfying

00:38:16.159 --> 00:38:16.819
 bridegroom?

00:38:17.960 --> 00:38:18.799
 Is he

00:38:18.799 --> 00:38:20.179
 your priority?

00:38:22.980 --> 00:38:23.960
 This is hard.

00:38:24.480 --> 00:38:25.339
 It's by faith.

00:38:25.340 --> 00:38:27.220
 this life of

00:38:27.220 --> 00:38:28.059
 exclusive devotion

00:38:28.059 --> 00:38:30.079
 is through

00:38:30.079 --> 00:38:32.820
 unseen things.

00:38:33.620 --> 00:38:34.400
 We have to

00:38:34.400 --> 00:38:35.140
 dedicate ourselves

00:38:35.140 --> 00:38:35.740
 to the Lord

00:38:35.740 --> 00:38:36.820
 and it takes

00:38:36.820 --> 00:38:37.579
 work.

00:38:37.820 --> 00:38:38.539
 It takes effort.

00:38:39.420 --> 00:38:40.340
 It takes engaging

00:38:40.340 --> 00:38:41.240
 with him in prayer.

00:38:41.820 --> 00:38:42.640
 It takes engaging

00:38:42.640 --> 00:38:43.280
 with him in his

00:38:43.280 --> 00:38:43.620
 word.

00:38:44.900 --> 00:38:45.720
 Is he,

00:38:46.000 --> 00:38:46.680
 your heavenly

00:38:46.680 --> 00:38:47.220
 bridegroom,

00:38:47.720 --> 00:38:49.400
 the object of

00:38:49.400 --> 00:38:50.380
 your gaze as you

00:38:50.380 --> 00:38:50.960
 walk down the

00:38:50.960 --> 00:38:51.579
 aisle of this

00:38:51.579 --> 00:38:51.860
 life?

00:38:51.860 --> 00:38:54.240
 He died to

00:38:54.240 --> 00:38:54.660
 make you a

00:38:54.660 --> 00:38:55.300
 lovely bride

00:38:55.300 --> 00:38:56.599
 and he's

00:38:56.599 --> 00:38:57.300
 waving to you

00:38:57.300 --> 00:38:57.820
 from the

00:38:57.820 --> 00:38:58.019
 altar,

00:38:58.120 --> 00:38:58.500
 trying to get

00:38:58.500 --> 00:38:58.980
 your attention.

00:39:00.340 --> 00:39:00.800
 He wants your

00:39:00.800 --> 00:39:01.620
 gaze to be fixed

00:39:01.620 --> 00:39:02.640
 and undistracted

00:39:02.640 --> 00:39:03.760
 so that you

00:39:03.760 --> 00:39:03.980
 can be

00:39:03.980 --> 00:39:04.920
 exclusively devoted

00:39:04.920 --> 00:39:05.620
 to him.

00:39:06.660 --> 00:39:07.099
 Lastly,

00:39:07.240 --> 00:39:07.900
 and very briefly,

00:39:09.320 --> 00:39:09.940
 this marriage

00:39:09.940 --> 00:39:10.980
 reminds us of

00:39:10.980 --> 00:39:11.740
 how we are to

00:39:11.740 --> 00:39:12.880
 feel about

00:39:12.880 --> 00:39:13.740
 Christ's bride.

00:39:15.019 --> 00:39:15.680
 This marriage

00:39:15.680 --> 00:39:16.300
 reminds us of

00:39:16.300 --> 00:39:16.940
 how we are to

00:39:16.940 --> 00:39:18.039
 feel about

00:39:18.039 --> 00:39:18.820
 Christ's bride.

00:39:19.720 --> 00:39:20.280
 We're in the

00:39:20.280 --> 00:39:20.640
 middle of a

00:39:20.640 --> 00:39:21.180
 series on the

00:39:21.180 --> 00:39:21.460
 church.

00:39:22.260 --> 00:39:22.700
 And as Pastor

00:39:22.700 --> 00:39:23.039
 Mike has

00:39:23.039 --> 00:39:23.440
 mentioned the

00:39:23.440 --> 00:39:23.880
 past few

00:39:23.880 --> 00:39:24.140
 weeks,

00:39:24.460 --> 00:39:25.120
 we want the

00:39:25.120 --> 00:39:25.740
 way God

00:39:25.740 --> 00:39:26.460
 thinks about

00:39:26.460 --> 00:39:27.400
 and God

00:39:27.400 --> 00:39:28.160
 feels about

00:39:28.160 --> 00:39:29.220
 and prioritizes

00:39:29.220 --> 00:39:29.660
 the local

00:39:29.660 --> 00:39:30.220
 church to be

00:39:30.220 --> 00:39:30.700
 the way that

00:39:30.700 --> 00:39:31.720
 we think about

00:39:31.720 --> 00:39:33.019
 and feel about

00:39:33.019 --> 00:39:33.800
 and prioritize

00:39:33.800 --> 00:39:34.539
 the local

00:39:34.539 --> 00:39:34.940
 church.

00:39:35.700 --> 00:39:36.200
 And if he

00:39:36.200 --> 00:39:36.920
 came from

00:39:36.920 --> 00:39:37.500
 heaven to

00:39:37.500 --> 00:39:38.019
 seek her

00:39:38.019 --> 00:39:38.320
 out,

00:39:38.640 --> 00:39:39.360
 to buy her

00:39:39.360 --> 00:39:39.660
 out of

00:39:39.660 --> 00:39:40.039
 spiritual

00:39:40.039 --> 00:39:40.539
 adultery,

00:39:40.760 --> 00:39:41.519
 to transform

00:39:41.519 --> 00:39:42.240
 her by his

00:39:42.240 --> 00:39:43.019
 costly grace,

00:39:43.320 --> 00:39:43.880
 and to prepare

00:39:43.880 --> 00:39:44.579
 her to be a

00:39:44.579 --> 00:39:45.480
 lovely bride for

00:39:45.480 --> 00:39:46.200
 all of eternity,

00:39:46.539 --> 00:39:47.220
 then we know

00:39:47.220 --> 00:39:48.000
 how much he

00:39:48.000 --> 00:39:48.599
 thinks about

00:39:48.599 --> 00:39:48.800
 her.

00:39:49.280 --> 00:39:49.920
 And we know

00:39:49.920 --> 00:39:50.780
 how deeply he

00:39:50.780 --> 00:39:51.340
 feels about

00:39:51.340 --> 00:39:52.000
 her and how

00:39:52.000 --> 00:39:52.780
 highly he

00:39:52.780 --> 00:39:53.720
 prioritizes her.

00:39:54.320 --> 00:39:54.840
 And if he

00:39:54.840 --> 00:39:55.940
 prizes her in

00:39:55.940 --> 00:39:56.400
 this way,

00:39:56.820 --> 00:39:57.539
 then we also

00:39:57.539 --> 00:39:57.940
 should.

00:39:59.059 --> 00:40:00.059
 Every member

00:40:00.059 --> 00:40:00.620
 of her,

00:40:01.079 --> 00:40:01.700
 we should

00:40:01.700 --> 00:40:02.400
 prioritize.

00:40:04.000 --> 00:40:04.700
 Take a moment

00:40:04.700 --> 00:40:05.360
 and just take a

00:40:05.360 --> 00:40:05.660
 look around.

00:40:06.500 --> 00:40:07.160
 Just look at the

00:40:07.160 --> 00:40:07.860
 faces around you.

00:40:07.980 --> 00:40:08.539
 This is fun.

00:40:09.579 --> 00:40:10.360
 Don't feel awkward

00:40:10.360 --> 00:40:11.360
 looking at people

00:40:11.360 --> 00:40:13.140
 and you're not

00:40:13.140 --> 00:40:14.420
 invading their

00:40:14.420 --> 00:40:15.039
 personal space.

00:40:15.039 --> 00:40:16.539
 take a look

00:40:16.539 --> 00:40:16.800
 around.

00:40:18.480 --> 00:40:19.039
 This is

00:40:19.039 --> 00:40:19.719
 Christ's bride.

00:40:21.139 --> 00:40:22.039
 He died

00:40:22.039 --> 00:40:22.679
 for her.

00:40:24.960 --> 00:40:25.759
 You will be

00:40:25.759 --> 00:40:26.400
 in eternal

00:40:26.400 --> 00:40:27.079
 and intimate

00:40:27.079 --> 00:40:27.619
 fellowship

00:40:27.619 --> 00:40:28.759
 with Christ

00:40:28.759 --> 00:40:29.420
 together,

00:40:29.420 --> 00:40:30.279
 with all of

00:40:30.279 --> 00:40:30.880
 these gathered

00:40:30.880 --> 00:40:31.239
 together,

00:40:31.380 --> 00:40:31.860
 and millions,

00:40:32.019 --> 00:40:32.179
 millions,

00:40:32.340 --> 00:40:32.840
 millions more.

00:40:33.960 --> 00:40:34.920
 We are his

00:40:34.920 --> 00:40:35.800
 treasured bride.

00:40:36.500 --> 00:40:37.279
 We must care

00:40:37.279 --> 00:40:38.300
 for and nourish

00:40:38.300 --> 00:40:38.920
 and promote

00:40:38.920 --> 00:40:39.539
 the well-being

00:40:39.539 --> 00:40:40.079
 of his people

00:40:40.079 --> 00:40:40.500
 because that's

00:40:40.500 --> 00:40:41.179
 what he does.

00:40:41.179 --> 00:40:42.919
 We must commit

00:40:42.919 --> 00:40:43.699
 ourselves to her

00:40:43.699 --> 00:40:44.319
 because that's

00:40:44.319 --> 00:40:45.379
 what he does.

00:40:47.379 --> 00:40:48.219
 It shows up

00:40:48.219 --> 00:40:49.119
 in very simple,

00:40:49.339 --> 00:40:50.000
 ordinary ways.

00:40:50.679 --> 00:40:51.199
 Being here,

00:40:51.980 --> 00:40:52.819
 Sunday after Sunday,

00:40:53.399 --> 00:40:54.079
 as best you can.

00:40:54.799 --> 00:40:55.440
 Being present,

00:40:56.019 --> 00:40:56.859
 engaging with people.

00:40:57.719 --> 00:40:58.099
 Get to know

00:40:58.099 --> 00:40:58.619
 their stories,

00:40:58.699 --> 00:40:59.299
 as Pastor Mike

00:40:59.299 --> 00:41:00.619
 helped us with

00:41:00.619 --> 00:41:01.139
 last week.

00:41:01.879 --> 00:41:02.719
 Talking to each

00:41:02.719 --> 00:41:02.940
 other,

00:41:03.559 --> 00:41:04.059
 seeing what their

00:41:04.059 --> 00:41:04.559
 needs are,

00:41:05.480 --> 00:41:06.039
 asking God if

00:41:06.039 --> 00:41:06.279
 there's a way

00:41:06.279 --> 00:41:06.799
 you can serve

00:41:06.799 --> 00:41:07.000
 them.

00:41:08.379 --> 00:41:09.359
 Serving in

00:41:09.359 --> 00:41:10.399
 ministry roles

00:41:10.400 --> 00:41:11.480
 is one way

00:41:11.480 --> 00:41:12.000
 you can do it.

00:41:12.119 --> 00:41:12.780
 You can help

00:41:12.780 --> 00:41:13.740
 all the ministry

00:41:13.740 --> 00:41:14.420
 teams we have,

00:41:14.599 --> 00:41:15.440
 but it's just

00:41:15.440 --> 00:41:15.900
 being here.

00:41:16.220 --> 00:41:16.840
 It's being present.

00:41:16.960 --> 00:41:17.220
 It's saying,

00:41:17.300 --> 00:41:17.559
 I'm here,

00:41:17.619 --> 00:41:18.119
 I'm engaged.

00:41:21.579 --> 00:41:22.200
 Let's commit

00:41:22.200 --> 00:41:22.880
 ourselves to

00:41:22.880 --> 00:41:23.539
 Christ's bride

00:41:23.539 --> 00:41:24.300
 the way he has.

00:41:25.840 --> 00:41:26.539
 And one day,

00:41:27.340 --> 00:41:28.119
 perhaps not too

00:41:28.119 --> 00:41:28.660
 far off,

00:41:29.519 --> 00:41:30.440
 he will present

00:41:30.440 --> 00:41:31.539
 us to himself

00:41:31.539 --> 00:41:32.800
 in splendor,

00:41:33.800 --> 00:41:35.119
 without spot

00:41:35.119 --> 00:41:35.760
 or blemish,

00:41:35.860 --> 00:41:36.320
 and we will

00:41:36.320 --> 00:41:37.400
 see his face,

00:41:38.599 --> 00:41:39.300
 and we will

00:41:39.300 --> 00:41:39.960
 know him,

00:41:39.960 --> 00:41:40.480
 and be

00:41:40.480 --> 00:41:41.019
 astounded

00:41:41.019 --> 00:41:41.480
 by his

00:41:41.480 --> 00:41:41.820
 love.

00:41:43.280 --> 00:41:43.920
 We will

00:41:43.920 --> 00:41:44.679
 not get

00:41:44.679 --> 00:41:45.800
 enough of

00:41:45.800 --> 00:41:47.179
 his incredible

00:41:47.179 --> 00:41:47.800
 love.

00:41:48.920 --> 00:41:49.579
 Ten million

00:41:49.579 --> 00:41:50.460
 years in,

00:41:51.059 --> 00:41:51.699
 we will still

00:41:51.699 --> 00:41:52.340
 be desiring

00:41:52.340 --> 00:41:53.079
 more of it.

00:41:54.019 --> 00:41:54.679
 So let's

00:41:54.679 --> 00:41:55.280
 live for that

00:41:55.280 --> 00:41:55.559
 day,

00:41:55.840 --> 00:41:56.079
 church.

00:41:58.159 --> 00:41:58.900
 Let's walk

00:41:58.900 --> 00:41:59.579
 down the aisle

00:41:59.579 --> 00:42:00.340
 with our gaze

00:42:00.340 --> 00:42:01.099
 fixed on our

00:42:01.099 --> 00:42:02.599
 unseen bridegroom,

00:42:03.119 --> 00:42:03.559
 who we see

00:42:03.559 --> 00:42:04.179
 by faith.

00:42:05.940 --> 00:42:06.159
 Oh,

00:42:06.220 --> 00:42:06.900
 beautiful and

00:42:06.900 --> 00:42:07.599
 cherished bride

00:42:07.599 --> 00:42:08.099
 of Christ,

00:42:08.099 --> 00:42:09.199
 be exclusively

00:42:09.199 --> 00:42:09.960
 devoted to

00:42:09.960 --> 00:42:10.179
 him.

00:42:11.259 --> 00:42:11.960
 Let's pray.

00:42:19.739 --> 00:42:20.619
 We thank you,

00:42:20.719 --> 00:42:21.360
 Father, that you

00:42:21.360 --> 00:42:22.199
 have engaged

00:42:22.199 --> 00:42:24.139
 yourself fully,

00:42:25.659 --> 00:42:25.960
 committed

00:42:25.960 --> 00:42:26.980
 yourself fully

00:42:26.980 --> 00:42:28.219
 to an

00:42:28.219 --> 00:42:28.679
 unworthy

00:42:28.679 --> 00:42:29.139
 people,

00:42:29.940 --> 00:42:30.900
 to make them

00:42:30.900 --> 00:42:31.219
 worthy,

00:42:31.880 --> 00:42:32.619
 to make them

00:42:32.619 --> 00:42:32.960
 lovely.

00:42:33.960 --> 00:42:34.480
 Lord, if there

00:42:34.480 --> 00:42:35.460
 are some in

00:42:35.460 --> 00:42:37.179
 this sound

00:42:37.179 --> 00:42:37.740
 of my voice

00:42:37.740 --> 00:42:39.139
 that are

00:42:39.139 --> 00:42:39.480
 feeling

00:42:39.480 --> 00:42:40.079
 particularly

00:42:40.079 --> 00:42:40.699
 unworthy,

00:42:42.159 --> 00:42:42.579
 would you

00:42:42.579 --> 00:42:43.900
 make your

00:42:43.900 --> 00:42:45.960
 exclusively

00:42:45.960 --> 00:42:46.880
 devoted love

00:42:46.880 --> 00:42:47.320
 known to

00:42:47.320 --> 00:42:47.559
 them?

00:42:49.920 --> 00:42:50.619
 Father, for

00:42:50.619 --> 00:42:51.420
 those who

00:42:51.420 --> 00:42:53.019
 are feeling

00:42:53.019 --> 00:42:53.760
 distant from

00:42:53.760 --> 00:42:54.179
 you, would

00:42:54.179 --> 00:42:54.900
 you draw

00:42:54.900 --> 00:42:55.340
 near to

00:42:55.340 --> 00:42:56.860
 them, help

00:42:56.860 --> 00:42:57.380
 them to draw

00:42:57.380 --> 00:42:58.000
 near to you

00:42:58.000 --> 00:42:58.619
 by faith?

00:43:00.240 --> 00:43:00.920
 God, help

00:43:00.920 --> 00:43:01.440
 us to be an

00:43:01.440 --> 00:43:02.380
 exclusively devoted

00:43:02.380 --> 00:43:03.559
 people to

00:43:03.559 --> 00:43:03.820
 you.

00:43:05.280 --> 00:43:05.900
 In Jesus'

00:43:06.079 --> 00:43:06.420
 name we

00:43:06.420 --> 00:43:06.599
 pray.

00:43:06.780 --> 00:43:07.019
 Amen.

00:43:07.019 --> 00:43:07.140
 Amen.

00:43:07.140 --> 00:43:07.200
 Amen.