WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.060 Back in November, when we did our Thanksgiving meal, 00:00:05.879 --> 00:00:09.480 I was sitting during the service while others were sharing 00:00:09.480 --> 00:00:13.259 about what they were thankful for that year. 00:00:14.099 --> 00:00:17.300 And I was really thinking, and I should have said it then, but I didn't, 00:00:17.400 --> 00:00:18.620 so I'm going to say it now. 00:00:19.740 --> 00:00:23.519 Over the years, I've been thinking about how, 00:00:24.140 --> 00:00:26.500 and I'm not sure when it exactly happened, 00:00:26.500 --> 00:00:33.179 but at this point, I realize what a loving church family that I have here 00:00:33.179 --> 00:00:36.079 and how you've become my family. 00:00:36.579 --> 00:00:38.659 And I love you so much. 00:00:39.420 --> 00:00:42.679 And my last church, many of you know parts of my story, 00:00:42.780 --> 00:00:45.400 and some of you don't, but we went through a very difficult time, 00:00:46.100 --> 00:00:49.900 went through some great conflict and division, 00:00:50.560 --> 00:00:56.079 and it really left me scarred and left me hurt a little bit. 00:00:56.079 --> 00:01:00.059 And I have healed over the years by being here, 00:01:00.460 --> 00:01:03.500 by individuals loving me and my family. 00:01:04.120 --> 00:01:05.359 And I just thank you for that. 00:01:05.420 --> 00:01:08.200 And I just wanted you to know that because, you know, 00:01:08.259 --> 00:01:13.659 I feel so close to you and you as my church family today. 00:01:14.459 --> 00:01:17.180 If you have your Bibles, I'd like to ask you to look with me, 00:01:17.579 --> 00:01:19.359 if you would, at 2 Kings. 00:01:20.060 --> 00:01:23.780 We're going to be looking at a couple different verses in 2 Kings. 00:01:23.780 --> 00:01:28.120 We're going to start there, what you see on the board, in chapter 18. 00:01:28.420 --> 00:01:31.680 But we'll be looking at a couple verses in chapter 17, 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:35.460 and we'll be looking at some in chapter 19 as well. 00:01:35.700 --> 00:01:38.820 I will have them on the board in just a moment, 00:01:38.980 --> 00:01:42.980 but I always encourage you to look those up in your Bibles as well 00:01:42.980 --> 00:01:45.219 and read along in the Scripture. 00:01:45.219 --> 00:01:51.099 That gives you an opportunity to make sure that what we have there really is what's in the Word. 00:01:51.239 --> 00:01:55.760 It also keeps you bringing your Bibles, carrying your Bibles, using your Bibles. 00:01:55.879 --> 00:02:01.180 I hate to hear churches today that the people have basically quit carrying their Bibles with them 00:02:01.180 --> 00:02:03.640 and quit studying it for themselves. 00:02:03.759 --> 00:02:05.120 But never take anyone's Word. 00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:06.140 Never take my Word. 00:02:06.259 --> 00:02:10.139 Never take Fred's Word if it doesn't align with the Word of God 00:02:10.139 --> 00:02:13.740 because that is ultimately superior and supreme. 00:02:13.740 --> 00:02:21.260 But we're going to be looking in 2 Kings chapter 18, verses 17 through 25. 00:02:22.719 --> 00:02:25.800 The king of Assyria sent his supreme commander, 00:02:26.379 --> 00:02:29.719 his chief officer and his field commander with a large army 00:02:29.719 --> 00:02:33.260 from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. 00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:38.020 They came up to Jerusalem and stopped at the aqueduct of the upper pool 00:02:38.020 --> 00:02:40.340 on the road to the washerman's field. 00:02:40.340 --> 00:02:42.120 They called for the king. 00:02:42.599 --> 00:02:47.000 And Elikim, son of Hilkiah, the palace administrator, 00:02:47.680 --> 00:02:53.000 Shebna, the secretary, and Joah, son of Asaph, the recorder, went out to them. 00:02:53.420 --> 00:02:55.219 The field commander said to them, 00:02:55.759 --> 00:03:01.159 Tell Hezekiah, this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says. 00:03:01.159 --> 00:03:05.180 On what are you basing this confidence of yours? 00:03:05.780 --> 00:03:12.139 You say you have strategy and military strength, but you speak only empty words. 00:03:12.620 --> 00:03:16.979 On whom are you depending that you rebel against me? 00:03:17.539 --> 00:03:22.819 Look now, you are depending on Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff, 00:03:23.199 --> 00:03:27.039 which pierces a man's hand and wounds him if he leans on it. 00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:31.919 Such is Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to all who depend on him. 00:03:32.519 --> 00:03:35.899 And if you say to me, we are depending on the Lord our God, 00:03:36.399 --> 00:03:41.859 isn't he the one whose high places and altars has Akiah removed, 00:03:42.299 --> 00:03:44.319 saying to Judah in Jerusalem, 00:03:44.899 --> 00:03:48.259 You must worship before this altar in Jerusalem. 00:03:49.000 --> 00:03:53.639 Come now, make a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria. 00:03:53.639 --> 00:03:58.399 I will give you 2,000 horses if you can put riders on them. 00:03:59.399 --> 00:04:04.519 How can you repulse one officer of the least of my master's officials, 00:04:04.919 --> 00:04:08.779 even though you are depending on Egypt for chariots and horsemen? 00:04:09.319 --> 00:04:14.979 Furthermore, have I come to attack and destroy this place without word from the Lord? 00:04:15.379 --> 00:04:20.159 The Lord Himself told me to march against this country and destroy it. 00:04:20.439 --> 00:04:21.919 Let's call the Lord in prayer. 00:04:21.920 --> 00:04:26.939 Father, we thank you for this day, 00:04:27.939 --> 00:04:31.860 this opportunity to be together as the body of Christ. 00:04:32.500 --> 00:04:35.200 And I pray that as we study your word today, 00:04:35.879 --> 00:04:38.780 I pray that it is not my words that are heard, 00:04:39.540 --> 00:04:43.200 but it's the Holy Spirit speaking through your word 00:04:43.200 --> 00:04:45.500 to each and every heart here today. 00:04:45.500 --> 00:04:49.519 And I pray that this is a message that will uplift, 00:04:50.220 --> 00:04:51.480 that will encourage, 00:04:52.019 --> 00:04:55.319 and give us faith and hope to enter into a new year, 00:04:55.860 --> 00:04:57.620 holding tightly to your hand 00:04:57.620 --> 00:05:04.240 and going forth with confidence that you will be with us as you have in the past. 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:07.720 And we praise you and we thank you, Lord, in Jesus' name. 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:08.560 Amen. 00:05:09.819 --> 00:05:13.060 This morning we're going to see that King Hezekiah, 00:05:13.600 --> 00:05:14.960 that was the king of Judah, 00:05:15.180 --> 00:05:18.220 found himself in a very difficult position. 00:05:18.900 --> 00:05:22.000 You know, Judah had found themselves besieged, 00:05:22.079 --> 00:05:23.060 I should say Jerusalem, 00:05:23.060 --> 00:05:26.920 because the Assyrians had invaded the southern kingdom 00:05:26.920 --> 00:05:31.439 and had already conquered all of the fortified cities of Judah, 00:05:31.819 --> 00:05:32.660 say Jerusalem. 00:05:32.860 --> 00:05:34.720 And now they've surrounded Jerusalem 00:05:34.720 --> 00:05:37.280 and they've besieged it. 00:05:37.819 --> 00:05:39.720 At this time, the Assyrian army 00:05:39.720 --> 00:05:43.040 was the largest and most powerful army, 00:05:43.180 --> 00:05:45.220 certainly of the world. 00:05:45.779 --> 00:05:48.480 And they had already conquered the northern kingdom, 00:05:48.480 --> 00:05:54.860 which the northern kingdom of Israel consisted of 10 of the 12 tribes of Israel. 00:05:55.379 --> 00:05:58.340 And therefore, the southern kingdom was much smaller, 00:05:58.980 --> 00:06:03.319 consisting of only two of the 12 tribes of Israel. 00:06:03.480 --> 00:06:06.100 And Assyria has already conquered the larger tribe, 00:06:06.680 --> 00:06:07.600 or the kingdom. 00:06:07.939 --> 00:06:10.300 And therefore, you can see the position, 00:06:10.560 --> 00:06:11.340 or the predicament, 00:06:11.700 --> 00:06:14.200 that King Hezekiah finds himself in 00:06:14.200 --> 00:06:15.860 at this particular time, 00:06:15.860 --> 00:06:18.680 where the Assyrians have surrounded Jerusalem 00:06:18.680 --> 00:06:20.340 and have besieged them, 00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:23.319 and basically have given them very little choice, 00:06:23.540 --> 00:06:26.740 either surrender to the Assyrians, 00:06:26.860 --> 00:06:28.379 or to be destroyed, 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:30.439 and certainly annihilated. 00:06:30.980 --> 00:06:33.420 And so what would King Hezekiah do? 00:06:34.500 --> 00:06:36.680 Would he trust in the Lord 00:06:36.680 --> 00:06:40.139 to deliver Judah from the hands of the Assyrians? 00:06:40.740 --> 00:06:42.040 Now when we think about that, 00:06:42.080 --> 00:06:43.460 he's going to trust the Lord, 00:06:43.459 --> 00:06:48.319 but the Lord raised up the Assyrians 00:06:48.319 --> 00:06:51.779 to defeat and destroy the northern kingdom. 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:54.379 And so King Hezekiah, though, 00:06:54.419 --> 00:06:57.519 was not like the other kings of Israel or Judah. 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:01.159 He had submitted himself to the Lord. 00:07:01.659 --> 00:07:05.039 But would he trust God to deliver them? 00:07:05.639 --> 00:07:08.259 And if God did not do that, 00:07:08.359 --> 00:07:10.319 if God failed to deliver them, 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:13.039 then they risk being annihilated. 00:07:13.040 --> 00:07:14.400 They risked being destroyed 00:07:14.400 --> 00:07:16.580 and even exiled like other nations. 00:07:16.900 --> 00:07:19.560 Or could King Hezekiah 00:07:19.560 --> 00:07:23.800 decide to simply surrender to the Assyrians? 00:07:24.420 --> 00:07:27.140 They would be exported to other lands, 00:07:27.460 --> 00:07:29.500 but at least they would live, 00:07:29.700 --> 00:07:31.920 and they wouldn't be destroyed. 00:07:32.660 --> 00:07:33.800 In that day and time, 00:07:33.900 --> 00:07:36.800 when a conquering nation or military 00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:39.120 conquered a people, 00:07:39.640 --> 00:07:41.020 they would export them. 00:07:41.019 --> 00:07:42.779 They would take the leading people 00:07:42.779 --> 00:07:44.740 of that society or civilization, 00:07:44.879 --> 00:07:45.879 they'd take the skilled, 00:07:46.579 --> 00:07:47.539 they'd take the educated, 00:07:48.740 --> 00:07:50.699 they would take the important, 00:07:50.779 --> 00:07:52.019 maybe royal families, 00:07:52.500 --> 00:07:53.839 and important individuals, 00:07:54.039 --> 00:07:55.219 and they would move them 00:07:55.219 --> 00:07:57.939 and settle them into another land, 00:07:58.019 --> 00:08:00.000 maybe where they had already conquered. 00:08:00.819 --> 00:08:01.519 And eventually, 00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:03.539 those people groups would mix. 00:08:03.540 --> 00:08:06.640 And people say the northern kingdom 00:08:06.640 --> 00:08:09.000 would lose their identity altogether. 00:08:09.500 --> 00:08:10.800 And that's what has happened 00:08:10.800 --> 00:08:12.040 to the northern kingdom. 00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:14.020 The Assyrians came in, 00:08:14.180 --> 00:08:14.720 conquered them, 00:08:14.960 --> 00:08:16.460 put fish hooks in their mouths, 00:08:16.820 --> 00:08:18.260 and led them out, 00:08:18.520 --> 00:08:19.900 and settled them in lands 00:08:19.900 --> 00:08:21.220 that they had already conquered. 00:08:21.759 --> 00:08:22.879 But the northern kingdom 00:08:22.879 --> 00:08:24.060 has lost its identity. 00:08:24.920 --> 00:08:25.660 To us, 00:08:25.740 --> 00:08:26.540 the northern kingdom 00:08:26.540 --> 00:08:27.740 doesn't exist anymore. 00:08:27.740 --> 00:08:29.800 And from this point forward, 00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:32.159 all references to Israel, 00:08:32.240 --> 00:08:32.960 even today, 00:08:33.580 --> 00:08:34.659 is really a reference 00:08:34.659 --> 00:08:35.980 to the two tribes 00:08:35.980 --> 00:08:37.600 that made up the southern kingdom, 00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:38.899 or Judah. 00:08:39.419 --> 00:08:41.039 But verse 7 tells us 00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:43.100 that the Lord allowed that to happen. 00:08:43.700 --> 00:08:44.060 Why? 00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:46.240 Because of the sin 00:08:46.240 --> 00:08:47.799 of the northern kingdom. 00:08:48.220 --> 00:08:49.879 They had allowed themselves 00:08:49.879 --> 00:08:52.299 to abandon their faith in the Lord, 00:08:53.100 --> 00:08:54.500 and had gotten far away 00:08:54.500 --> 00:08:55.980 from keeping the covenant 00:08:55.980 --> 00:08:57.840 that God had made with Abraham. 00:08:58.500 --> 00:09:00.519 And they were worshiping other gods. 00:09:00.639 --> 00:09:01.039 And so, 00:09:01.379 --> 00:09:03.720 God raised up the Assyrians 00:09:03.720 --> 00:09:04.419 to come in 00:09:04.419 --> 00:09:05.440 and to conquer them 00:09:05.440 --> 00:09:07.220 and to lead them away. 00:09:07.399 --> 00:09:07.600 So, 00:09:08.100 --> 00:09:10.139 what would King Hezekiah do 00:09:10.139 --> 00:09:11.139 in this situation? 00:09:12.360 --> 00:09:14.200 Would he trust in the Lord, 00:09:15.120 --> 00:09:16.799 or would he surrender 00:09:16.799 --> 00:09:18.480 to the Assyrians 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:19.519 and allow his people 00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:20.460 to be deported 00:09:20.460 --> 00:09:22.120 and maybe completely lose 00:09:22.120 --> 00:09:23.000 their identity? 00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:24.399 Often, 00:09:24.519 --> 00:09:25.120 the struggles 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:26.379 that we face 00:09:26.379 --> 00:09:27.340 in life today, 00:09:27.419 --> 00:09:28.259 maybe they're not 00:09:28.259 --> 00:09:29.440 to the magnitude 00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:31.559 of what King Hezekiah 00:09:31.559 --> 00:09:32.899 found himself facing, 00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:34.159 but often, 00:09:34.279 --> 00:09:34.860 the struggles 00:09:34.860 --> 00:09:35.940 that we face 00:09:35.940 --> 00:09:37.240 in our lives today 00:09:37.240 --> 00:09:38.299 often seem 00:09:38.299 --> 00:09:40.220 bigger than ourselves. 00:09:40.840 --> 00:09:41.899 They seem greater 00:09:41.899 --> 00:09:43.279 than our abilities 00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:44.240 maybe to handle. 00:09:45.059 --> 00:09:45.220 You know, 00:09:45.259 --> 00:09:46.179 what are some of the struggles 00:09:46.179 --> 00:09:47.519 that you may have been facing? 00:09:48.419 --> 00:09:50.100 Maybe health issues, 00:09:51.080 --> 00:09:52.379 financial issues, 00:09:52.379 --> 00:09:54.360 marital issues, 00:09:54.899 --> 00:09:55.879 maybe struggling 00:09:55.879 --> 00:09:57.759 with a wayward child, 00:09:58.320 --> 00:10:00.000 maybe job issues. 00:10:00.539 --> 00:10:02.460 We face many different challenges 00:10:02.460 --> 00:10:03.259 and struggles 00:10:03.259 --> 00:10:04.679 in our lives today, 00:10:04.820 --> 00:10:05.679 and many of those 00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:07.919 seem to be greater 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:09.679 than our own abilities 00:10:09.679 --> 00:10:11.519 to be able to handle. 00:10:12.299 --> 00:10:12.720 However, 00:10:12.860 --> 00:10:14.539 what I want us to see today 00:10:14.539 --> 00:10:15.539 as we study 00:10:15.539 --> 00:10:17.139 this situation 00:10:17.139 --> 00:10:19.120 that Hezekiah finds himself in, 00:10:19.120 --> 00:10:21.500 that if we will focus 00:10:21.500 --> 00:10:22.620 upon the Lord 00:10:22.620 --> 00:10:24.580 and His ability, 00:10:24.580 --> 00:10:27.279 then we will have faith 00:10:27.279 --> 00:10:27.860 and confidence 00:10:27.860 --> 00:10:29.000 that He will see us 00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:30.200 through these times, 00:10:30.759 --> 00:10:31.519 that the Lord 00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:32.659 will be with us 00:10:32.659 --> 00:10:33.840 in those moments. 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:34.580 My secretary 00:10:34.580 --> 00:10:35.480 at my last church 00:10:35.480 --> 00:10:36.879 had a little cartoon 00:10:36.879 --> 00:10:37.860 beside her desk 00:10:37.860 --> 00:10:40.279 that I always enjoyed seeing. 00:10:40.379 --> 00:10:40.639 It said, 00:10:41.060 --> 00:10:42.299 instead of focusing 00:10:42.299 --> 00:10:43.399 upon how big 00:10:43.399 --> 00:10:44.340 the storm is, 00:10:44.680 --> 00:10:45.320 tell the storm 00:10:45.320 --> 00:10:46.680 how big your God is, 00:10:47.240 --> 00:10:48.120 and it's focusing 00:10:48.120 --> 00:10:50.060 on the Lord 00:10:50.060 --> 00:10:51.780 and God's ability 00:10:51.780 --> 00:10:52.680 to see us 00:10:52.680 --> 00:10:53.500 through those storms 00:10:53.500 --> 00:10:53.980 of life, 00:10:54.080 --> 00:10:54.620 see us through 00:10:54.620 --> 00:10:55.560 those difficulties 00:10:55.560 --> 00:10:57.980 and those hardships. 00:10:58.780 --> 00:10:59.340 And I think that 00:10:59.340 --> 00:11:00.220 if we will go 00:11:00.220 --> 00:11:01.440 into the new year, 00:11:01.540 --> 00:11:02.320 2018, 00:11:03.320 --> 00:11:04.740 and whatever challenges 00:11:04.740 --> 00:11:05.540 we face, 00:11:06.280 --> 00:11:07.340 whatever difficulties 00:11:07.340 --> 00:11:08.400 we encounter, 00:11:09.080 --> 00:11:10.240 whatever struggles 00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:11.960 stand before us, 00:11:11.960 --> 00:11:13.820 keep our faith 00:11:13.820 --> 00:11:15.040 in the Lord, 00:11:15.400 --> 00:11:17.060 that He will deliver us 00:11:17.060 --> 00:11:18.019 through those times. 00:11:18.120 --> 00:11:19.280 He will deliver us 00:11:19.280 --> 00:11:20.320 through those circumstances 00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:22.120 and He will use 00:11:22.120 --> 00:11:23.440 those circumstances 00:11:23.440 --> 00:11:25.280 to bring glory 00:11:25.280 --> 00:11:26.280 and honor to Him. 00:11:26.820 --> 00:11:28.060 Sometimes God uses 00:11:28.060 --> 00:11:28.940 those circumstances 00:11:28.940 --> 00:11:30.019 in our lives 00:11:30.019 --> 00:11:30.960 to help us 00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:32.400 to grow in our faith 00:11:32.400 --> 00:11:34.300 or to bring us 00:11:34.300 --> 00:11:35.620 in a nearer 00:11:35.620 --> 00:11:36.879 relationship with Him. 00:11:36.960 --> 00:11:37.800 Do you remember Paul 00:11:37.800 --> 00:11:38.680 in the New Testament? 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:40.300 And he had a thorn 00:11:40.300 --> 00:11:41.040 in the flesh. 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:43.199 What was the purpose 00:11:43.199 --> 00:11:43.699 of that? 00:11:45.639 --> 00:11:46.860 Why did God 00:11:46.860 --> 00:11:48.159 allow that 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:49.079 into his life? 00:11:50.399 --> 00:11:51.439 It was because 00:11:51.439 --> 00:11:52.059 he was getting 00:11:52.059 --> 00:11:53.240 puffed up with pride. 00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:54.319 He had experienced 00:11:54.319 --> 00:11:55.699 things that no one 00:11:55.699 --> 00:11:56.699 else had experienced 00:11:56.699 --> 00:11:57.719 in his relationship 00:11:57.719 --> 00:11:58.639 with God. 00:11:59.099 --> 00:12:00.439 And God was using him 00:12:00.439 --> 00:12:01.039 in mighty 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:02.319 and miraculous ways 00:12:02.319 --> 00:12:03.959 and he was in danger 00:12:03.959 --> 00:12:04.919 of being puffed up 00:12:04.919 --> 00:12:05.719 with pride 00:12:05.719 --> 00:12:06.379 and arrogance 00:12:06.379 --> 00:12:07.339 and so God 00:12:07.339 --> 00:12:07.980 brought a thorn 00:12:07.980 --> 00:12:08.939 into his flesh 00:12:08.939 --> 00:12:10.159 that we're not sure 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:11.000 what exactly 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:11.959 what it was 00:12:11.959 --> 00:12:13.019 but we do know 00:12:13.019 --> 00:12:14.179 that he used it 00:12:14.179 --> 00:12:15.319 to humble Paul 00:12:15.319 --> 00:12:16.319 bringing back 00:12:16.319 --> 00:12:17.179 to his knees 00:12:17.179 --> 00:12:18.219 and back into 00:12:18.219 --> 00:12:19.299 that relationship 00:12:19.299 --> 00:12:20.360 with him. 00:12:20.939 --> 00:12:21.740 Sometimes God 00:12:21.740 --> 00:12:22.740 allows those things 00:12:22.740 --> 00:12:23.959 to happen in our lives. 00:12:24.419 --> 00:12:25.360 You know after we 00:12:25.360 --> 00:12:27.159 receive Jesus Christ 00:12:27.159 --> 00:12:27.879 as our Lord 00:12:27.879 --> 00:12:28.579 and our Savior 00:12:28.579 --> 00:12:30.299 sometimes we think 00:12:30.299 --> 00:12:31.159 that's the end 00:12:31.159 --> 00:12:32.500 and we just sit back 00:12:32.500 --> 00:12:33.259 and we wait now 00:12:33.259 --> 00:12:34.100 for God to come 00:12:34.100 --> 00:12:35.120 and take us to heaven 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:35.459 right? 00:12:35.460 --> 00:12:37.560 But what is God's 00:12:37.560 --> 00:12:39.019 purpose for our lives 00:12:39.019 --> 00:12:40.920 once we've received 00:12:40.920 --> 00:12:42.379 Jesus as our Lord 00:12:42.379 --> 00:12:42.900 and Savior? 00:12:46.200 --> 00:12:47.160 The one thing 00:12:47.160 --> 00:12:47.900 that he desires 00:12:47.900 --> 00:12:48.879 to do in every one 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:49.560 of our lives 00:12:49.560 --> 00:12:50.860 is to mold us 00:12:50.860 --> 00:12:51.759 and shape us 00:12:51.759 --> 00:12:52.780 into the image 00:12:52.780 --> 00:12:53.879 of Jesus Christ. 00:12:54.540 --> 00:12:55.300 The Holy Spirit 00:12:55.300 --> 00:12:56.080 comes to live 00:12:56.080 --> 00:12:56.660 within us 00:12:56.660 --> 00:12:57.320 and he begins 00:12:57.320 --> 00:12:57.879 working 00:12:57.879 --> 00:13:00.019 and molding 00:13:00.019 --> 00:13:00.860 and shaping us 00:13:00.860 --> 00:13:01.340 to become 00:13:01.340 --> 00:13:01.879 in the image 00:13:01.879 --> 00:13:02.360 of Christ. 00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:03.800 And if it takes 00:13:03.800 --> 00:13:04.500 difficulties, 00:13:05.300 --> 00:13:06.019 if it takes 00:13:06.019 --> 00:13:06.639 hardships, 00:13:07.340 --> 00:13:08.080 if it takes 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:08.680 struggles, 00:13:09.080 --> 00:13:09.919 he will not 00:13:09.919 --> 00:13:11.399 hesitate to put us 00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:12.539 through those things 00:13:12.539 --> 00:13:13.860 because his ultimate 00:13:13.860 --> 00:13:14.580 goal is not 00:13:14.580 --> 00:13:15.159 our happiness 00:13:15.159 --> 00:13:16.279 but his ultimate 00:13:16.279 --> 00:13:17.220 goal is us 00:13:17.220 --> 00:13:18.379 being in the image 00:13:18.379 --> 00:13:19.840 of Jesus Christ. 00:13:19.940 --> 00:13:20.500 And sometimes 00:13:20.500 --> 00:13:21.060 some of us 00:13:21.060 --> 00:13:21.779 are hard-headed 00:13:21.779 --> 00:13:22.500 and stubborn 00:13:22.500 --> 00:13:24.259 and wayward 00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:24.840 and sometimes 00:13:24.840 --> 00:13:25.919 God has to use 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:27.000 those things 00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:28.399 to humble us 00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:30.139 and to bring us 00:13:30.139 --> 00:13:31.500 to a point 00:13:31.500 --> 00:13:31.899 where we're 00:13:31.899 --> 00:13:33.240 depending on him, 00:13:33.819 --> 00:13:34.860 leaning on him 00:13:34.860 --> 00:13:37.179 and surrendering 00:13:37.179 --> 00:13:37.939 to areas 00:13:37.939 --> 00:13:38.559 in our lives 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:39.039 where he's 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:39.679 trying to mold 00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:40.360 and shape us 00:13:40.360 --> 00:13:41.980 into the image 00:13:41.980 --> 00:13:42.899 of Christ. 00:13:43.799 --> 00:13:44.840 But what struggles 00:13:44.840 --> 00:13:45.860 are you facing 00:13:45.860 --> 00:13:46.299 today? 00:13:47.100 --> 00:13:47.919 What challenges 00:13:47.919 --> 00:13:49.459 have you endured 00:13:49.459 --> 00:13:50.199 recently 00:13:50.199 --> 00:13:51.600 that you do not 00:13:51.600 --> 00:13:52.199 believe God 00:13:52.199 --> 00:13:52.759 can handle? 00:13:55.459 --> 00:13:56.480 Is there anything 00:13:56.480 --> 00:13:57.379 in your life 00:13:57.379 --> 00:13:58.759 that's too big 00:13:58.759 --> 00:13:59.319 for God? 00:13:59.320 --> 00:14:00.800 you know, 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:01.820 Romans 8.28 00:14:01.820 --> 00:14:02.780 tells us 00:14:02.780 --> 00:14:04.500 that all things 00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:05.900 work for the good 00:14:05.900 --> 00:14:06.800 of those who 00:14:06.800 --> 00:14:07.360 love the Lord. 00:14:07.420 --> 00:14:08.060 It doesn't say 00:14:08.060 --> 00:14:08.980 God caused 00:14:08.980 --> 00:14:09.680 everything, 00:14:11.280 --> 00:14:12.680 but it says 00:14:12.680 --> 00:14:13.720 God is working 00:14:13.720 --> 00:14:15.320 in every situation 00:14:15.320 --> 00:14:16.520 and every circumstance 00:14:16.520 --> 00:14:18.040 bringing about 00:14:18.040 --> 00:14:18.800 the good 00:14:18.800 --> 00:14:19.600 of those who 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:20.300 love the Lord. 00:14:21.060 --> 00:14:21.400 Also, 00:14:21.540 --> 00:14:22.400 Luke 1.37 00:14:22.400 --> 00:14:22.960 says, 00:14:23.100 --> 00:14:23.720 for nothing 00:14:23.720 --> 00:14:25.500 is impossible 00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:27.060 with God. 00:14:27.059 --> 00:14:29.119 what challenges, 00:14:29.779 --> 00:14:30.759 what struggles, 00:14:31.339 --> 00:14:32.459 what hardships 00:14:32.459 --> 00:14:33.739 then are you 00:14:33.739 --> 00:14:34.819 facing or will 00:14:34.819 --> 00:14:35.739 you face in your 00:14:35.739 --> 00:14:36.919 life that is 00:14:36.919 --> 00:14:37.479 greater than 00:14:37.479 --> 00:14:38.339 God's ability 00:14:38.339 --> 00:14:39.000 to handle? 00:14:42.619 --> 00:14:43.959 I know of none. 00:14:44.819 --> 00:14:45.959 I know at times 00:14:45.959 --> 00:14:47.339 the Lord may bring 00:14:47.339 --> 00:14:48.000 us to the edge 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:48.559 where we think 00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:49.539 we cannot handle 00:14:49.539 --> 00:14:50.279 another thing, 00:14:50.679 --> 00:14:51.379 but we have to 00:14:51.379 --> 00:14:52.939 look back at the 00:14:52.939 --> 00:14:54.099 times in our lives 00:14:54.099 --> 00:14:54.759 where God has 00:14:54.759 --> 00:14:55.579 already brought us 00:14:55.580 --> 00:14:57.000 through and be 00:14:57.000 --> 00:14:58.500 reminded of the 00:14:58.500 --> 00:14:59.259 things that God 00:14:59.259 --> 00:15:00.120 has done in our 00:15:00.120 --> 00:15:01.259 lives and look 00:15:01.259 --> 00:15:02.280 back and see how 00:15:02.280 --> 00:15:03.020 He has been 00:15:03.020 --> 00:15:04.139 working in our 00:15:04.139 --> 00:15:06.060 lives and bringing 00:15:06.060 --> 00:15:07.000 us to where we 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:08.120 are even now and 00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:09.340 trust and have 00:15:09.340 --> 00:15:10.860 faith that despite 00:15:10.860 --> 00:15:12.480 our understanding 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:15.800 that God is still 00:15:15.800 --> 00:15:16.680 working in those 00:15:16.680 --> 00:15:17.540 situations and 00:15:17.540 --> 00:15:18.660 circumstances in our 00:15:18.660 --> 00:15:20.200 lives, helping us 00:15:20.200 --> 00:15:21.280 to grow in our 00:15:21.280 --> 00:15:23.040 faith, grow in our 00:15:23.040 --> 00:15:24.340 character, grow in 00:15:24.340 --> 00:15:25.860 our endurance, even 00:15:25.860 --> 00:15:27.060 preparing us maybe 00:15:27.060 --> 00:15:28.120 for future works 00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:29.180 that He would have 00:15:29.180 --> 00:15:29.980 us to do and 00:15:29.980 --> 00:15:32.360 ultimately He's 00:15:32.360 --> 00:15:33.160 working to bring 00:15:33.160 --> 00:15:34.340 glory and honor 00:15:34.340 --> 00:15:36.480 among Himself. 00:15:37.800 --> 00:15:38.399 You know, Israel 00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:39.420 had been led into 00:15:39.420 --> 00:15:40.420 the promised land 00:15:40.420 --> 00:15:42.120 by Joshua back in 00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:43.600 Deuteronomy and 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:44.600 God had clearly 00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:45.740 instructed them in 00:15:45.740 --> 00:15:47.639 Deuteronomy 28 that 00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:48.600 if they were faithful 00:15:48.600 --> 00:15:49.900 and they were 00:15:49.900 --> 00:15:50.960 obedient to His 00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:52.580 commands, He would 00:15:52.580 --> 00:15:54.300 always bless them. 00:15:54.800 --> 00:15:55.720 But that wasn't the 00:15:55.720 --> 00:15:56.900 full message, was it? 00:15:57.900 --> 00:15:59.060 What else did He go 00:15:59.060 --> 00:15:59.900 on to tell them? 00:16:00.820 --> 00:16:02.000 He said that if you 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:03.360 fail to be obedient, 00:16:04.100 --> 00:16:05.240 if you fail to be 00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:06.259 faithful, then what? 00:16:07.100 --> 00:16:08.820 He said, I will curse 00:16:08.820 --> 00:16:09.540 you. 00:16:10.540 --> 00:16:11.400 Unfortunately, the 00:16:11.400 --> 00:16:12.600 northern kingdom forgot 00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:13.759 that second part of 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:14.400 that message. 00:16:15.160 --> 00:16:15.920 Really, they forgot 00:16:15.920 --> 00:16:16.900 the first part as 00:16:16.900 --> 00:16:17.200 well. 00:16:18.100 --> 00:16:19.379 And they had moved 00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:21.300 far away from being 00:16:21.299 --> 00:16:22.639 faithful and obedient 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:24.240 to the Lord. 00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:25.500 They had abandoned 00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:26.859 the faith of the 00:16:26.859 --> 00:16:27.659 God of Abraham 00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:28.599 and the God of 00:16:28.599 --> 00:16:29.959 Moses who had led 00:16:29.959 --> 00:16:31.719 them out of Egypt. 00:16:32.259 --> 00:16:33.199 And they had begun 00:16:33.199 --> 00:16:34.219 to worship other 00:16:34.219 --> 00:16:35.579 gods and they had 00:16:35.579 --> 00:16:36.659 become, you know, 00:16:36.719 --> 00:16:38.000 trying to be more 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:38.979 like the nations 00:16:38.979 --> 00:16:40.139 around them and 00:16:40.139 --> 00:16:41.199 worshiping the gods 00:16:41.199 --> 00:16:41.859 that the nations 00:16:41.859 --> 00:16:43.439 around them had, 00:16:44.579 --> 00:16:45.839 were worshiping. 00:16:46.319 --> 00:16:47.359 And as a loving 00:16:47.359 --> 00:16:49.539 God will, God didn't 00:16:49.539 --> 00:16:50.519 just punish them 00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:51.099 immediately. 00:16:51.319 --> 00:16:51.919 What did He do? 00:16:52.219 --> 00:16:53.339 He sent prophets. 00:16:54.299 --> 00:16:55.419 He sent the prophets 00:16:55.419 --> 00:16:57.519 to them with words 00:16:57.519 --> 00:16:58.519 of warning and 00:16:58.519 --> 00:16:59.579 message for them to 00:16:59.579 --> 00:17:01.039 return to being 00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:02.299 faithful to the God 00:17:02.299 --> 00:17:04.059 of Abraham, the one 00:17:04.059 --> 00:17:05.519 true and only God, 00:17:06.059 --> 00:17:07.339 to return to being 00:17:07.339 --> 00:17:08.359 faithful and obedient 00:17:08.359 --> 00:17:09.319 to the covenant that 00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:10.200 God had made with 00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:12.460 them and He would 00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:13.839 bless them once again. 00:17:14.359 --> 00:17:16.000 But the Jews were 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:17.200 very hard-headed and 00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:18.480 stubborn and they 00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:20.240 refused to listen to 00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:21.059 the prophets. 00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:24.000 The northern kingdom 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:25.539 had gotten so wicked 00:17:25.539 --> 00:17:28.500 and so vile that they 00:17:28.500 --> 00:17:29.799 did something that we 00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:31.200 can't even begin to 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:32.420 imagine today. 00:17:33.220 --> 00:17:33.920 And that was they 00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:34.980 were, they got into 00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:36.460 child sacrifices. 00:17:37.160 --> 00:17:37.940 They would take their 00:17:37.940 --> 00:17:40.680 own children and burn 00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:42.180 them on altars to 00:17:42.180 --> 00:17:43.960 false gods. 00:17:44.819 --> 00:17:46.680 And so God raised up 00:17:46.680 --> 00:17:47.820 the Assyrian nation 00:17:47.820 --> 00:17:48.960 and He led them to 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:50.180 conquer the northern 00:17:50.180 --> 00:17:51.140 kingdom of Israel. 00:17:51.140 --> 00:17:53.259 Look at chapter 17 00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:56.680 verses 3 through 8. 00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:02.220 Salmanazar, king of 00:18:02.220 --> 00:18:03.600 Assyria, came up to 00:18:03.600 --> 00:18:05.660 attack Hoswe who had 00:18:05.660 --> 00:18:08.240 been Salmanazar's 00:18:08.880 --> 00:18:10.480 vassal and had paid 00:18:10.480 --> 00:18:11.120 him tribute. 00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:13.100 But the king of Assyria 00:18:13.100 --> 00:18:15.580 discovered that Hoswe was 00:18:15.579 --> 00:18:17.179 a traitor for he had 00:18:17.179 --> 00:18:18.599 sent envoys to 00:18:18.599 --> 00:18:20.240 Saul, king of Egypt, 00:18:20.639 --> 00:18:21.759 and he no longer paid 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:24.119 tribute to the king of 00:18:24.119 --> 00:18:26.000 Assyria as he had done 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:26.839 year by year. 00:18:27.179 --> 00:18:29.279 Therefore Salmanazar seized 00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:30.779 him and put him in 00:18:30.779 --> 00:18:31.159 prison. 00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:33.079 The king of Assyria 00:18:33.079 --> 00:18:34.799 invaded the entire land, 00:18:35.319 --> 00:18:36.740 marched against Samaria 00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:38.259 and laid siege to it for 00:18:38.259 --> 00:18:39.079 three years. 00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:40.679 In the ninth year of 00:18:40.679 --> 00:18:42.439 Hoswe, the king of Assyria 00:18:42.439 --> 00:18:44.199 captured Samaria and 00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:45.480 deported the Israelites 00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:46.759 to Assyria. 00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:48.500 He settled them in 00:18:48.500 --> 00:18:50.700 Halah, in Gozan, on the 00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:52.319 harbor river, and in the 00:18:52.319 --> 00:18:53.640 towns of the Medes. 00:18:54.080 --> 00:18:55.500 All this took place 00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:57.059 because the Israelites 00:18:57.059 --> 00:18:59.000 had sinned against the 00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:00.220 Lord their God who had 00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:01.360 brought them up out of 00:19:01.360 --> 00:19:02.720 Egypt from under the 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:04.100 power of Pharaoh, king 00:19:04.100 --> 00:19:04.519 of Egypt. 00:19:04.940 --> 00:19:06.080 They worshipped other 00:19:06.080 --> 00:19:07.360 gods and followed the 00:19:07.360 --> 00:19:08.740 practices of the nations 00:19:08.740 --> 00:19:10.039 the Lord had driven out 00:19:10.039 --> 00:19:12.039 before them as well as 00:19:12.039 --> 00:19:13.259 the practices that the 00:19:13.259 --> 00:19:15.339 kings of Israel had 00:19:15.339 --> 00:19:16.220 introduced. 00:19:17.220 --> 00:19:18.000 You know, the northern 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:19.339 kingdom had forgotten 00:19:19.339 --> 00:19:21.259 the covenant that God 00:19:21.259 --> 00:19:23.019 had made with them and 00:19:23.019 --> 00:19:26.019 as a result, God punished 00:19:26.019 --> 00:19:27.220 them and destroyed them. 00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:29.019 And during this same 00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:31.500 time frame, king Hezekiah, 00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:33.259 king of Judah, the 00:19:33.259 --> 00:19:34.420 southern kingdom. 00:19:35.259 --> 00:19:36.200 You know, Hezekiah's 00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:39.240 father was a very evil 00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:41.579 king and he did many 00:19:41.579 --> 00:19:43.079 wrong things in the eyes 00:19:43.079 --> 00:19:43.799 of the Lord. 00:19:44.380 --> 00:19:45.920 And yet Hezekiah was not 00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:46.720 like his father. 00:19:47.380 --> 00:19:48.279 The scriptures tell us 00:19:48.279 --> 00:19:49.500 that there were no other 00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:51.240 kings from the time of 00:19:51.240 --> 00:19:52.960 David on that were like 00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:53.960 Hezekiah. 00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:55.799 He honored God and 00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:57.120 actually tore down the 00:19:57.120 --> 00:19:58.680 Asherah poles and the 00:19:58.680 --> 00:20:00.799 places of false worship 00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:01.779 throughout the land. 00:20:02.200 --> 00:20:03.620 He did everything within 00:20:03.620 --> 00:20:05.480 his power as king to lead 00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:07.180 his nation back to 00:20:07.180 --> 00:20:08.579 honoring, you know, the 00:20:08.579 --> 00:20:09.980 one true God and to 00:20:09.980 --> 00:20:11.319 being faithful to him. 00:20:11.779 --> 00:20:13.279 And as a result, God 00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:15.059 honored him and God 00:20:15.059 --> 00:20:16.819 blessed him and he was 00:20:16.819 --> 00:20:18.559 successful in all that 00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:19.099 he did. 00:20:19.859 --> 00:20:21.559 It was his faith in the 00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:23.500 Lord that led him then 00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:25.480 to quit paying, you know, 00:20:25.539 --> 00:20:27.639 tribute to the king of 00:20:27.639 --> 00:20:28.199 Assyria. 00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:30.659 He trusted in the Lord and 00:20:30.659 --> 00:20:32.759 he refused to pay that 00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:33.659 price anymore. 00:20:33.879 --> 00:20:35.319 However, when he failed to 00:20:35.319 --> 00:20:37.460 pay the price the Assyrians 00:20:37.460 --> 00:20:39.460 had set before him, then the 00:20:39.460 --> 00:20:41.940 Assyrians invaded back in to 00:20:41.940 --> 00:20:43.660 Judah, conquered all the 00:20:43.660 --> 00:20:45.440 fortified cities and now 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:47.160 have besieged Jerusalem. 00:20:47.160 --> 00:20:49.579 You know, this reminds us 00:20:49.579 --> 00:20:53.140 that our faith at times cost 00:20:53.140 --> 00:20:53.880 us something. 00:20:54.940 --> 00:20:56.779 At times, our faith in the 00:20:56.779 --> 00:20:58.740 Lord comes at a price. 00:20:58.819 --> 00:21:00.860 And I mention that because so 00:21:00.860 --> 00:21:02.720 often we take a stand for the 00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:03.759 Lord and we think, well, 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:05.099 everything should be perfect, 00:21:05.299 --> 00:21:07.539 well, and good, and yet we 00:21:07.539 --> 00:21:08.900 run into even greater 00:21:08.900 --> 00:21:09.619 difficulties. 00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:10.559 We're at war. 00:21:11.299 --> 00:21:12.960 We're in a spiritual battle. 00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:14.579 I believe right now the 00:21:14.579 --> 00:21:16.539 United States is in a 00:21:16.539 --> 00:21:18.539 spiritual battle for the soul 00:21:18.539 --> 00:21:19.460 of this nation. 00:21:19.940 --> 00:21:21.059 And there will be times when 00:21:21.059 --> 00:21:24.339 we take a stand for God that 00:21:24.339 --> 00:21:26.759 we may suffer consequences of 00:21:26.759 --> 00:21:27.019 that. 00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:30.519 But we do it in justice to 00:21:30.519 --> 00:21:32.480 ourselves as well as others 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:35.480 when we say that if I accept 00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:37.220 Christ and I do what he tells 00:21:37.220 --> 00:21:38.440 me to do, I'll never have any 00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:39.460 problems in life. 00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:41.740 It'll be a walk in the park and 00:21:41.740 --> 00:21:43.139 everything will be well and 00:21:43.139 --> 00:21:43.400 good. 00:21:43.480 --> 00:21:44.579 And those of you that have been 00:21:44.579 --> 00:21:46.440 Christians for any length of 00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:48.160 time at all know that's not 00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:48.500 true. 00:21:49.139 --> 00:21:50.480 We will face challenges. 00:21:50.740 --> 00:21:52.079 We will face difficulties. 00:21:52.299 --> 00:21:53.839 We will face hardships. 00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:56.639 But our faith in God is not 00:21:56.639 --> 00:21:58.559 that if we follow him, he'll 00:21:58.559 --> 00:22:00.459 handle everything and we'll 00:22:00.459 --> 00:22:01.720 never have a struggle in our 00:22:01.720 --> 00:22:02.339 life, is it? 00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:05.039 So what is our faith supposed 00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:05.839 to be in? 00:22:07.019 --> 00:22:09.099 Our faith should be that when 00:22:09.099 --> 00:22:10.919 we give our life to the Lord, 00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:13.119 we put our life in his hands 00:22:13.119 --> 00:22:14.959 and we trust him to take our 00:22:14.959 --> 00:22:17.819 life and do with us what he 00:22:17.819 --> 00:22:19.539 will to bring glory and honor 00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:21.699 to his name, to bring about 00:22:21.700 --> 00:22:24.259 his will and to advance the 00:22:24.259 --> 00:22:24.559 kingdom. 00:22:25.380 --> 00:22:26.860 And sometimes that may be 00:22:26.860 --> 00:22:29.019 going through difficulties. 00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:30.380 Sometimes that may be 00:22:30.380 --> 00:22:30.819 hardships. 00:22:31.420 --> 00:22:32.840 I personally think the world 00:22:32.840 --> 00:22:35.500 needs to see that we're 00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:37.720 willing to worship God, Jesus 00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:39.680 Christ, if he doesn't do 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:40.860 anything for us. 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:42.840 We don't need to be like the 00:22:42.840 --> 00:22:44.259 people of the New Testament who 00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:46.360 follow Jesus around just because 00:22:46.360 --> 00:22:48.539 he fed the hungry or raised, you 00:22:48.539 --> 00:22:50.580 know, the dead or healed the 00:22:50.579 --> 00:22:52.839 sick, many of them follow just 00:22:52.839 --> 00:22:54.480 to see what he would do for 00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:54.759 them. 00:22:55.619 --> 00:22:57.639 We need to follow Christ because 00:22:57.639 --> 00:22:59.419 of what he's already done for 00:22:59.419 --> 00:23:02.199 us upon the cross and for that 00:23:02.199 --> 00:23:03.740 and that alone. 00:23:04.059 --> 00:23:06.000 If he never does another thing in 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:08.299 my life and I live a miserable, 00:23:08.659 --> 00:23:11.240 wretched life due to hardships, 00:23:11.379 --> 00:23:12.819 not due to sin, but due to just 00:23:12.819 --> 00:23:15.399 struggles I face, then praise be to 00:23:15.399 --> 00:23:17.259 the Lord Jesus Christ because of 00:23:17.259 --> 00:23:19.920 what he's already done for me. 00:23:20.259 --> 00:23:23.519 Oftentimes I hear people say we're 00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:26.440 in the safest place when we're in 00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:28.099 the center of God's will. 00:23:28.599 --> 00:23:30.039 I want to share with you today 00:23:30.039 --> 00:23:31.079 that's not true. 00:23:32.019 --> 00:23:32.859 Ask Jesus. 00:23:33.539 --> 00:23:35.200 Was Jesus in the center of God's 00:23:35.200 --> 00:23:36.339 will when he went to the cross? 00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:39.619 That wasn't the safe place. 00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:42.279 Ask many of our missionaries who 00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:44.099 serve in dangerous places today. 00:23:44.819 --> 00:23:45.920 Ask many believers. 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:47.519 I was reading a story in Voice of 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:49.259 the Martyrs just the other day 00:23:49.259 --> 00:23:51.539 where they wouldn't say somewhere 00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:52.200 in Asia. 00:23:53.640 --> 00:23:55.460 Believers have to have church in 00:23:55.460 --> 00:23:58.420 their cars and they have to drive 00:23:58.420 --> 00:24:00.960 around while they do a church 00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:02.140 service, which you can see there's 00:24:02.140 --> 00:24:03.539 only going to be two, three, four of 00:24:03.539 --> 00:24:04.560 them in a car. 00:24:05.100 --> 00:24:06.920 But that's the only place that they 00:24:06.920 --> 00:24:09.960 can meet that they don't fear being 00:24:09.960 --> 00:24:12.920 heard or, you know, people coming in 00:24:12.920 --> 00:24:14.960 and killing them for their faith. 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:20.120 A few years back, my wife and my 00:24:20.120 --> 00:24:22.019 daughter Ashley were looking at going 00:24:22.019 --> 00:24:22.920 to Honduras. 00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:26.319 And Ashley was only 12 at the time. 00:24:27.079 --> 00:24:28.920 And they were set to leave at something 00:24:28.920 --> 00:24:30.200 like 3 o'clock in the morning. 00:24:30.620 --> 00:24:32.420 Well, at 9 o'clock that night, the team 00:24:32.420 --> 00:24:35.000 leader calls me and he says, we need to 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:37.299 have a meeting at the church in an hour. 00:24:37.299 --> 00:24:39.240 So I said, okay. 00:24:39.899 --> 00:24:43.039 And I went up there with my wife and 00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:43.359 daughter. 00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:46.960 They said, Honduras has had a coup and 00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:48.599 they've run the president out of the 00:24:48.599 --> 00:24:51.519 country and there's rioting, you know, 00:24:51.619 --> 00:24:53.460 and conflict and we don't know whether 00:24:54.079 --> 00:24:54.960 we should go or not. 00:24:55.019 --> 00:24:56.339 And I was thinking there were several 00:24:56.339 --> 00:24:58.139 teenagers going on that trip and I 00:24:58.139 --> 00:25:00.379 thought there's no way parents are 00:25:00.379 --> 00:25:02.079 going to let their teenagers go on a 00:25:02.079 --> 00:25:04.220 trip like that to a third world country 00:25:04.220 --> 00:25:07.480 who is experiencing a coup and having 00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:09.299 rioting and fighting going on. 00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:11.600 But when I got up there to my great 00:25:11.600 --> 00:25:14.160 surprise, you know, all of them were 00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:15.720 like, oh, let's go. 00:25:15.960 --> 00:25:16.940 You can send my kids. 00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:19.160 You're in the safest place when you're 00:25:19.160 --> 00:25:21.160 in the center of God's will. 00:25:21.900 --> 00:25:23.200 And I said, that is not true. 00:25:24.299 --> 00:25:26.839 I said, it is not true at all. 00:25:27.360 --> 00:25:28.180 And they're like, well, you're just 00:25:28.180 --> 00:25:30.299 afraid to let your wife and daughter go. 00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:32.079 I said, I'm letting them make that 00:25:32.079 --> 00:25:34.720 decision and I will let them do what 00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:36.960 they feel the Lord leads them to do. 00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:39.500 But I also shared with them what you 00:25:39.500 --> 00:25:41.639 have to do is if you feel God's leading 00:25:41.639 --> 00:25:43.419 you to go, then go. 00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:47.379 Put your life in God's hands and trust 00:25:47.379 --> 00:25:50.099 that whatever happens, whether you live 00:25:50.099 --> 00:25:52.419 or die, whether you're attacked, put in 00:25:52.419 --> 00:25:55.680 jail or you suffer, you're in God's hands 00:25:55.680 --> 00:25:58.299 and you're trusting that he's using those 00:25:58.299 --> 00:26:02.460 circumstances to fulfill his will and to 00:26:02.460 --> 00:26:04.960 bring glory and honor unto himself. 00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:07.839 You know, mission teams, we need to 00:26:07.839 --> 00:26:08.480 understand that. 00:26:08.539 --> 00:26:10.099 When you go on a mission trip, there's 00:26:10.099 --> 00:26:12.859 no guarantee that something bad won't 00:26:12.859 --> 00:26:13.299 happen. 00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:15.899 And I mention that because the first time 00:26:15.899 --> 00:26:18.680 it does go wrong, I don't want to 00:26:18.680 --> 00:26:20.839 stand in back going, well, we trusted 00:26:20.839 --> 00:26:21.240 God. 00:26:21.319 --> 00:26:22.859 Why did God allow that to happen? 00:26:23.579 --> 00:26:26.339 Sometimes God uses circumstances and 00:26:26.339 --> 00:26:29.099 situations like that to accomplish his 00:26:29.099 --> 00:26:29.319 will. 00:26:29.399 --> 00:26:30.399 We don't understand. 00:26:31.359 --> 00:26:32.859 We may not even like it. 00:26:33.559 --> 00:26:35.240 But when we go, whether it's on a 00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:38.159 mission trip or across the street, we put 00:26:38.159 --> 00:26:41.099 our life in God's hands and we trust 00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:42.039 God. 00:26:42.699 --> 00:26:46.099 We trust that he will use us to fulfill 00:26:46.099 --> 00:26:48.839 his will and his purposes in our life. 00:26:48.839 --> 00:26:52.980 We trust that he's using our lives and 00:26:52.980 --> 00:26:54.980 the situations and the circumstances that 00:26:54.980 --> 00:26:58.180 we find ourselves in to bring glory unto 00:26:58.180 --> 00:27:02.640 himself and to advance the kingdom of 00:27:02.640 --> 00:27:03.099 God. 00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:06.519 Hezekiah sent a message to the king of 00:27:06.519 --> 00:27:08.660 Assyria stating that he had sinned against 00:27:08.660 --> 00:27:09.019 him. 00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:12.120 And if they would withdraw, then Judah 00:27:12.120 --> 00:27:14.420 would pay them the price that they had 00:27:14.420 --> 00:27:14.839 asked. 00:27:15.140 --> 00:27:17.920 This is the one little blemish on Hezekiah's 00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:21.620 record here is that he stepped back and 00:27:21.620 --> 00:27:23.819 instead of having complete faith and trust in 00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:25.980 the Lord, he agreed to pay the price. 00:27:26.059 --> 00:27:27.519 And so he went throughout the land. 00:27:28.019 --> 00:27:30.019 He took all the silver and gold he could find, 00:27:30.119 --> 00:27:33.559 including that which was in the temple, and he 00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:35.159 gave it to the king of Assyria. 00:27:35.279 --> 00:27:37.220 However, what happens? 00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:39.899 The Assyrian king doesn't do what he said he 00:27:39.899 --> 00:27:40.359 would do. 00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:43.480 He did not withdraw, but rather he besieged 00:27:44.179 --> 00:27:44.859 Jerusalem. 00:27:44.859 --> 00:27:48.559 And so Hezekiah finds himself in a very awkward 00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:51.819 crisis here with a fundamental question that is 00:27:51.819 --> 00:27:54.299 still as true today as it was then. 00:27:55.639 --> 00:27:58.119 That question is, what do you believe about God? 00:27:58.819 --> 00:28:02.059 Not what you say, but what do you really believe down in your 00:28:02.059 --> 00:28:03.099 heart about God? 00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:06.159 Is God worthy to be trusted? 00:28:06.160 --> 00:28:14.300 Can He really fulfill His promises that He has given us today in His 00:28:14.300 --> 00:28:14.840 word? 00:28:15.900 --> 00:28:17.620 Do we really believe that? 00:28:18.860 --> 00:28:24.100 If Hezekiah trusted in the Lord and the Lord wasn't able to deliver 00:28:24.100 --> 00:28:29.920 them, then Judah would have been conquered by the Assyrians and 00:28:29.920 --> 00:28:30.460 destroyed. 00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:36.759 But Hezekiah, being the man of God that he was, he went to Isaiah, the 00:28:36.759 --> 00:28:40.420 prophet, to seek, you know, His word and His advice. 00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:47.819 Look over in chapter 19, verses 5 through 7, and we will see the 00:28:47.819 --> 00:28:49.259 message here. 00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:55.180 When King Hezekiah's officials came to Isaiah, Isaiah said to them, 00:28:55.640 --> 00:28:58.140 Tell your master this is what the Lord says. 00:28:58.140 --> 00:29:02.759 Do not be afraid of what you have heard, those words with which the 00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:06.220 underling of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. 00:29:06.900 --> 00:29:11.600 Listen, I am going to put a spirit in him that when he hears a certain 00:29:11.600 --> 00:29:16.800 report, he will return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down 00:29:16.800 --> 00:29:18.280 with the sword. 00:29:19.660 --> 00:29:26.259 You know, Isaiah told King Hezekiah not to fear the king of Assyria because 00:29:26.259 --> 00:29:31.359 God would send him home and then would have him struck down with the sword. 00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:37.180 But then Isaiah, he goes to the temple and he cries out unto the Lord on his own, 00:29:37.799 --> 00:29:41.119 which is a really, really good example for us to follow. 00:29:41.480 --> 00:29:45.779 When we're facing times when we're seeking wisdom, seeking, you know, direction, 00:29:46.099 --> 00:29:51.500 facing challenges, it's a good thing to go to spiritual leaders or spiritually mature 00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:57.519 individuals that we trust and go to them asking them for advice, even praying with them. 00:29:57.519 --> 00:30:01.259 But then go directly to God ourselves. 00:30:02.059 --> 00:30:09.619 Don't necessarily just take the word of others, but learn to go to God ourselves and seek God's 00:30:09.619 --> 00:30:13.299 direction and seek God's wisdom in our own life. 00:30:13.380 --> 00:30:18.359 Well, the Lord heard Hezekiah's prayer and he responded once again through Isaiah. 00:30:18.359 --> 00:30:23.819 Flip over again, chapter 19, look down at verse 32 through 36. 00:30:25.959 --> 00:30:29.959 Therefore, this is what the Lord says concerning the king of Assyria. 00:30:30.559 --> 00:30:33.899 He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow here. 00:30:34.319 --> 00:30:39.659 He will not come before it was shield or build a siege ramp against it. 00:30:40.139 --> 00:30:42.359 By the way that He came, He will return. 00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:45.799 He will not enter this city, declares the Lord. 00:30:45.799 --> 00:30:51.859 I will defend this city and save it for my sake and for the sake of David, my servant. 00:30:52.379 --> 00:30:59.419 That night, the angel of the Lord went out and put to death 185,000 men in the Assyrian 00:30:59.419 --> 00:30:59.859 camp. 00:31:00.159 --> 00:31:04.159 When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies. 00:31:04.700 --> 00:31:08.700 So Sennacherib, king of Assyria, broke camp and withdrew. 00:31:08.879 --> 00:31:13.399 He returned to Nineveh and he stayed there. 00:31:13.400 --> 00:31:24.000 You know, until recently, it wasn't believed by non-Christians that Nineveh even existed. 00:31:25.180 --> 00:31:31.620 You know, there were archaeologists and others who doubted the stories of the Bible and that 00:31:31.620 --> 00:31:32.840 Nineveh even existed. 00:31:32.980 --> 00:31:39.420 But recently, and I think this is amazing, the more scientists and the more archaeologists 00:31:39.420 --> 00:31:42.620 discover, the more they prove the Word of God to be true. 00:31:43.060 --> 00:31:49.220 And it hasn't been long ago that they found evidence that Nineveh really did exist. 00:31:49.360 --> 00:31:56.080 Now, I couldn't find it, but Jim Gilstrap told me when he was in seminary that his professors 00:31:56.080 --> 00:32:03.340 shared with them that, you know, in the archaeological finds of Nineveh that they had recordings 00:32:03.339 --> 00:32:10.459 of the Assyrian army losing 185,000 soldiers in one night. 00:32:10.879 --> 00:32:15.519 How is that possible, certainly in that day and time, other than the Lord? 00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:24.339 The Lord certainly delivered them in a manner that no one could have even imagined, that no 00:32:24.339 --> 00:32:26.740 one else could have done it in the way God did it. 00:32:26.740 --> 00:32:29.359 And God often does that in our lives. 00:32:29.460 --> 00:32:29.700 Why? 00:32:30.740 --> 00:32:34.700 He does it so that He receives the glory, doesn't He? 00:32:35.200 --> 00:32:36.720 He receives the praise. 00:32:36.839 --> 00:32:38.099 Not Judah. 00:32:39.099 --> 00:32:41.660 You know, Judah didn't go out and fight a battle. 00:32:41.660 --> 00:32:49.380 The battle was won without even one single arrow being shot in that day and time. 00:32:50.319 --> 00:32:56.579 You know, no one has ever lived without having problems or crisis to arise in their life. 00:32:56.740 --> 00:33:04.920 We see throughout scriptures men, good, faithful men like Hezekiah facing great challenges. 00:33:05.620 --> 00:33:11.660 It can be hard for us to understand why God allows these things to take place in our lives. 00:33:12.299 --> 00:33:18.640 It can be hard to understand, especially in the midst of them, why God allows them to happen. 00:33:18.640 --> 00:33:25.880 But as we look back, especially once we've gotten through a struggle or a hardship or a difficulty, 00:33:25.880 --> 00:33:33.620 and we look back, I hope we can see the hand of God that was always there, always in the midst of that struggle, 00:33:33.840 --> 00:33:38.980 always in the midst of that difficulty, right there alongside of us. 00:33:39.920 --> 00:33:43.360 You know, we may not always be protected from difficulties and hardships, 00:33:43.600 --> 00:33:47.360 but God has said He will never leave us nor forsake us, 00:33:47.620 --> 00:33:51.060 that He will be there with us in the midst of all of those. 00:33:51.059 --> 00:33:55.799 As we stand here on the very last day of the year 2017, 00:33:56.799 --> 00:33:58.960 and we look back, 00:34:00.559 --> 00:34:04.559 you remember challenges or struggles that you faced throughout the year? 00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:07.559 Can you look back now 00:34:07.559 --> 00:34:13.219 and see how God's hand was in the midst of that all along? 00:34:13.799 --> 00:34:15.920 You might not have been able to see it in the moment, 00:34:15.920 --> 00:34:19.700 but maybe now that we've come through that, 00:34:20.659 --> 00:34:21.900 we can see it. 00:34:22.260 --> 00:34:26.500 You may be in a challenge or a struggle or a difficulty, hardship right now, 00:34:27.019 --> 00:34:30.059 and you may not be able to see the hand of God. 00:34:31.340 --> 00:34:34.980 But wait until we get out of it and look back. 00:34:35.139 --> 00:34:37.139 We will be able to see it. 00:34:37.139 --> 00:34:40.079 And so, if you're in the midst of that right now, 00:34:41.219 --> 00:34:43.199 just hold on to God. 00:34:43.879 --> 00:34:46.420 Have faith and trust in Him. 00:34:47.179 --> 00:34:49.799 And accept His answer. 00:34:50.920 --> 00:34:53.539 Accept how He's working in your life 00:34:53.539 --> 00:34:55.480 to bring about His purposes, 00:34:56.099 --> 00:34:57.639 to bring about His will, 00:34:58.039 --> 00:35:00.759 to bring about the advance of the kingdom of God. 00:35:00.760 --> 00:35:04.080 And I hope that as we look back on 2017, 00:35:05.080 --> 00:35:08.200 and we can see the hand of God in our lives. 00:35:08.640 --> 00:35:10.380 Maybe we didn't go through any struggles. 00:35:11.420 --> 00:35:13.180 Maybe we had a great year, 00:35:13.380 --> 00:35:15.260 and it was all happiness and bliss. 00:35:15.600 --> 00:35:18.380 But I hope we see the hand of God in that as well. 00:35:19.380 --> 00:35:21.200 And as we face a new year, 00:35:21.840 --> 00:35:22.860 2018, 00:35:24.040 --> 00:35:27.200 may it not strike fear in our hearts 00:35:27.200 --> 00:35:28.180 to face a new year, 00:35:28.179 --> 00:35:31.299 because we don't know what this new year will hold for us. 00:35:31.379 --> 00:35:33.299 May we go into that new year 00:35:33.299 --> 00:35:35.379 holding the hand of God, 00:35:36.239 --> 00:35:40.159 allowing Him to hold us completely in His arms if necessary. 00:35:40.599 --> 00:35:42.440 But go forward in faith. 00:35:43.159 --> 00:35:44.659 Go forward in trust. 00:35:45.199 --> 00:35:46.859 Go forward in belief 00:35:46.859 --> 00:35:50.379 that God is going to be with us in those moments. 00:35:51.379 --> 00:35:54.299 Those difficulties that are beyond our abilities. 00:35:54.299 --> 00:35:57.379 He's going to go forward with us. 00:35:57.380 --> 00:35:59.500 And that He's going to take our lives. 00:35:59.579 --> 00:36:02.700 It may not all be perfect happiness and joy, 00:36:03.160 --> 00:36:04.579 but we're going to trust 00:36:04.579 --> 00:36:06.579 that God's going to take our lives. 00:36:06.820 --> 00:36:07.480 Excuse me. 00:36:08.240 --> 00:36:10.559 He's going to use us 00:36:10.559 --> 00:36:13.840 to bring about His purpose, His will, 00:36:13.940 --> 00:36:15.079 and to bring glory to His name. 00:36:15.119 --> 00:36:16.740 Or He may be working in us, 00:36:17.140 --> 00:36:18.760 preparing us for a work 00:36:18.760 --> 00:36:20.440 that He still has for us to do. 00:36:21.140 --> 00:36:23.300 He may be strengthening our faith, 00:36:24.099 --> 00:36:25.500 strengthening our character, 00:36:25.500 --> 00:36:28.739 and helping us to become more and more 00:36:28.739 --> 00:36:31.860 like Jesus in our life. 00:36:32.900 --> 00:36:35.039 King Hezekiah faced what the world 00:36:35.039 --> 00:36:38.619 would say was a hopeless situation. 00:36:38.619 --> 00:36:41.699 Some may have said he was crazy 00:36:41.699 --> 00:36:43.320 to trust in the Lord, 00:36:43.539 --> 00:36:45.840 but he went to God, 00:36:46.599 --> 00:36:48.000 heard the word of the Lord, 00:36:48.579 --> 00:36:51.219 trusted the Lord would see him through, 00:36:51.219 --> 00:36:53.819 and was willing to accept the consequences 00:36:53.819 --> 00:36:54.539 if he didn't, 00:36:54.899 --> 00:36:57.379 but he trusted and believed that he would, 00:36:57.799 --> 00:36:58.699 and God did. 00:36:58.879 --> 00:37:01.059 God did exactly what He said He would do. 00:37:01.579 --> 00:37:03.899 As we go into 2018, 00:37:05.259 --> 00:37:07.799 not only do we trust that God will use us 00:37:07.799 --> 00:37:09.339 and be there with us, 00:37:09.619 --> 00:37:11.179 but we can trust His word. 00:37:12.179 --> 00:37:14.379 We can know that He is faithful 00:37:14.380 --> 00:37:18.280 and that He will be faithful to the word of God, 00:37:18.360 --> 00:37:21.420 and so may we not only be a people of faith, 00:37:22.140 --> 00:37:24.760 but may we also go into 2018 00:37:24.760 --> 00:37:27.700 striving to walk closer to the Lord 00:37:27.700 --> 00:37:29.400 this year than we've ever been. 00:37:29.980 --> 00:37:33.019 Maybe we strive to know His word better 00:37:33.019 --> 00:37:36.059 than we've ever known it before, 00:37:36.240 --> 00:37:37.720 and to obey it, 00:37:38.079 --> 00:37:40.840 and to apply it to our lives. 00:37:41.079 --> 00:37:42.400 Let's go to the Lord in prayer. 00:37:42.400 --> 00:37:47.400 Father, we just thank You so much 00:37:47.400 --> 00:37:48.900 for Your word. 00:37:50.099 --> 00:37:52.820 We thank You for examples throughout Scripture 00:37:52.820 --> 00:37:54.320 like King Hezekiah, 00:37:55.360 --> 00:37:58.380 that He shows us an example of a man 00:37:58.380 --> 00:38:00.119 trusting in You, 00:38:00.660 --> 00:38:04.079 and You honoring that faith and that trust 00:38:04.079 --> 00:38:05.840 and delivering him and Judah 00:38:05.840 --> 00:38:10.340 from an army that was far superior to them. 00:38:10.340 --> 00:38:14.000 And I pray that as we enter into 2018, 00:38:15.340 --> 00:38:18.260 I pray that we can have faith and trust in You, 00:38:19.019 --> 00:38:21.539 but that we will also be an honorable people 00:38:21.539 --> 00:38:22.740 who obey Your word, 00:38:23.579 --> 00:38:24.960 who study Your word, 00:38:25.100 --> 00:38:26.920 and apply Your word to our lives, 00:38:27.340 --> 00:38:28.900 and that You will use us 00:38:28.900 --> 00:38:30.579 throughout our families, 00:38:32.340 --> 00:38:33.559 throughout our community, 00:38:34.340 --> 00:38:37.960 throughout our state and beyond, 00:38:37.960 --> 00:38:40.059 to allow the light of Christ 00:38:40.059 --> 00:38:41.099 to shine through us 00:38:41.099 --> 00:38:42.599 and others to see You 00:38:42.599 --> 00:38:44.420 and come to know You 00:38:44.420 --> 00:38:46.340 as their Lord and Savior as well. 00:38:46.400 --> 00:38:48.820 And it's in Your holy name we pray. 00:38:49.340 --> 00:38:49.659 Amen.