WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:29.199 I have to tell you that when I 00:00:29.199 --> 00:00:33.839 put my message together this morning, one of the things I always do is I tuck 00:00:33.839 --> 00:00:37.420 the text into where I'm going to be preaching. 00:00:38.979 --> 00:00:47.700 And this is Father's Day, and I happened to look down later and realize that I'd put it into Ephesians chapter 6. 00:00:50.219 --> 00:00:54.659 And if you are thinking we're going to be in Ephesians chapter 6 this morning, 00:00:54.659 --> 00:01:00.640 there's a high probability that unless I default to that, we won't get near it. 00:01:04.099 --> 00:01:08.159 I want you to turn your Bibles this morning to Deuteronomy chapter 6. 00:01:13.420 --> 00:01:15.299 And I want you to join me in prayer. 00:01:15.299 --> 00:01:29.359 Father God, we pray this morning to ask that the Holy Spirit, 00:01:30.459 --> 00:01:35.700 who our Savior told us, would be given to us as a gift, 00:01:36.700 --> 00:01:38.479 as an enabler, 00:01:39.099 --> 00:01:41.400 to abide with us, 00:01:41.400 --> 00:01:45.080 to help us comprehend the beauty of the Scriptures, 00:01:45.800 --> 00:01:49.780 to help us grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus, 00:01:50.780 --> 00:01:52.340 to help us sing, 00:01:53.340 --> 00:01:56.880 to help us be godly fathers and mothers 00:01:56.880 --> 00:02:00.020 and godly young people and godly witnesses 00:02:00.020 --> 00:02:02.480 in a wicked and perverse world. 00:02:02.480 --> 00:02:07.120 Lord, we pray this morning that 00:02:07.120 --> 00:02:10.340 our helper 00:02:10.340 --> 00:02:12.599 would do just that 00:02:12.599 --> 00:02:15.080 and help us 00:02:15.080 --> 00:02:17.620 to perceive 00:02:17.620 --> 00:02:20.020 beautiful things in the Word 00:02:20.020 --> 00:02:23.939 that we might delight 00:02:23.939 --> 00:02:25.699 in your wisdom, 00:02:26.360 --> 00:02:29.800 that we might have a reverence and fear 00:02:29.800 --> 00:02:30.819 for your person, 00:02:30.819 --> 00:02:34.659 that we might have a humble desire 00:02:34.659 --> 00:02:36.060 to grow to be more 00:02:36.060 --> 00:02:38.479 like the Lord Jesus, 00:02:39.479 --> 00:02:42.519 and that each of us, 00:02:42.699 --> 00:02:43.919 recognizing that 00:02:43.919 --> 00:02:45.759 you have appointed 00:02:45.759 --> 00:02:47.560 specific tasks, 00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:51.799 would be humble to receive 00:02:51.799 --> 00:02:53.759 the direction that you have for us 00:02:53.759 --> 00:02:54.539 in the arena 00:02:54.539 --> 00:02:57.139 of life that you've placed us. 00:02:57.139 --> 00:03:01.379 and Lord, 00:03:02.259 --> 00:03:05.179 I do pray 00:03:05.179 --> 00:03:08.859 that at the conclusion of our time 00:03:08.859 --> 00:03:10.839 of studying the Word together, 00:03:12.539 --> 00:03:14.879 that the thing that would be recognized 00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:19.119 is the evidence of the ministry 00:03:19.119 --> 00:03:21.039 of the Holy Spirit. 00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:24.579 and I ask this in Jesus' name. 00:03:25.359 --> 00:03:25.719 Amen. 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:32.219 As I take up Father's Day 00:03:32.219 --> 00:03:33.439 this morning, 00:03:33.579 --> 00:03:35.239 I think of the fact that 00:03:35.239 --> 00:03:36.819 it's a day that's important. 00:03:37.959 --> 00:03:39.199 It's a day that 00:03:39.199 --> 00:03:40.659 really has 00:03:40.659 --> 00:03:42.799 far more significance and weight 00:03:42.799 --> 00:03:44.719 than you may realize, 00:03:44.819 --> 00:03:45.719 and I have to confess 00:03:45.719 --> 00:03:46.560 that I remember 00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:48.079 when I first discovered 00:03:48.079 --> 00:03:48.959 that I was a father, 00:03:48.960 --> 00:03:51.120 I really had not given much thought 00:03:51.120 --> 00:03:52.400 to the responsibilities 00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:53.680 that went along with it. 00:03:53.920 --> 00:03:55.120 Judith and I got married 00:03:55.120 --> 00:03:57.000 June 27th, 00:03:57.000 --> 00:03:58.860 and three months later 00:03:58.860 --> 00:03:59.819 she came to me 00:03:59.819 --> 00:04:00.200 and she says, 00:04:00.260 --> 00:04:00.980 Honey, guess what? 00:04:01.319 --> 00:04:03.360 And I had no idea 00:04:03.360 --> 00:04:04.879 that what she was going to tell me 00:04:04.879 --> 00:04:06.540 is that I was going to be a father 00:04:06.540 --> 00:04:07.780 in nine months or so. 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:09.060 In fact, 00:04:09.240 --> 00:04:09.540 Heather, 00:04:09.760 --> 00:04:10.960 my oldest daughter, 00:04:11.680 --> 00:04:12.480 was born 00:04:12.480 --> 00:04:13.920 on our first anniversary. 00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:14.039 anniversary. 00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:16.879 And I had to learn 00:04:16.879 --> 00:04:17.519 very quickly 00:04:17.519 --> 00:04:18.139 to keep 00:04:18.139 --> 00:04:20.000 a year's gap 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:21.560 between Heather's birth 00:04:21.560 --> 00:04:22.860 and our anniversary 00:04:22.860 --> 00:04:23.819 because I remember 00:04:23.819 --> 00:04:24.579 at one point 00:04:24.579 --> 00:04:26.139 actually going to preach 00:04:26.139 --> 00:04:27.939 at a youth conference 00:04:27.939 --> 00:04:29.019 and I ended up 00:04:29.019 --> 00:04:30.199 getting the dates 00:04:30.199 --> 00:04:31.259 rather mixed up 00:04:31.259 --> 00:04:31.779 and it caused 00:04:31.779 --> 00:04:33.500 a lot of anxiety. 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:35.639 But my wife 00:04:35.639 --> 00:04:37.240 came to my aid 00:04:37.240 --> 00:04:37.779 and she 00:04:37.779 --> 00:04:39.079 let everybody know 00:04:39.079 --> 00:04:39.599 publicly 00:04:39.599 --> 00:04:40.259 that we had 00:04:40.259 --> 00:04:41.219 a full year 00:04:41.219 --> 00:04:42.240 of marriage 00:04:42.240 --> 00:04:42.960 behind us 00:04:42.960 --> 00:04:43.639 before Heather 00:04:43.639 --> 00:04:44.300 had been born. 00:04:44.960 --> 00:04:46.400 I had no idea 00:04:46.400 --> 00:04:47.079 what went into 00:04:47.079 --> 00:04:47.759 being a father 00:04:47.759 --> 00:04:50.280 and the truth 00:04:50.280 --> 00:04:50.620 of the matter 00:04:50.620 --> 00:04:51.340 is that 00:04:51.340 --> 00:04:52.319 I really 00:04:52.319 --> 00:04:54.680 only afterwards 00:04:54.680 --> 00:04:55.500 began to think 00:04:55.500 --> 00:04:56.040 seriously 00:04:56.040 --> 00:04:56.780 of what God 00:04:56.780 --> 00:04:57.360 had to say 00:04:57.360 --> 00:04:58.480 about the responsibilities 00:04:58.480 --> 00:04:59.240 and studying 00:04:59.240 --> 00:05:01.660 and it was an arduous 00:05:01.660 --> 00:05:02.199 and has been 00:05:02.199 --> 00:05:03.000 an arduous journey. 00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:03.660 I can tell you 00:05:03.660 --> 00:05:05.319 that I am not done 00:05:05.319 --> 00:05:06.160 being a father. 00:05:07.600 --> 00:05:08.319 I am father 00:05:08.319 --> 00:05:09.240 to four children. 00:05:10.400 --> 00:05:11.400 I am grandfather 00:05:11.399 --> 00:05:12.620 to I think 00:05:12.620 --> 00:05:13.319 am I right 00:05:13.319 --> 00:05:14.060 thirteen 00:05:14.060 --> 00:05:15.139 Heather 00:05:15.139 --> 00:05:16.879 Todd 00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:19.099 I don't know 00:05:19.099 --> 00:05:19.859 I've got plenty 00:05:19.859 --> 00:05:20.479 of them out there 00:05:20.479 --> 00:05:21.120 so it's like 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:23.500 but we 00:05:23.500 --> 00:05:25.560 are very thankful 00:05:25.560 --> 00:05:26.359 for the blessing 00:05:26.359 --> 00:05:27.639 of taking the word 00:05:27.639 --> 00:05:28.459 of God this morning 00:05:28.459 --> 00:05:29.159 and opening it up 00:05:29.159 --> 00:05:30.000 and looking 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:30.839 and I want to tell you 00:05:30.839 --> 00:05:31.359 up front 00:05:31.359 --> 00:05:32.379 that what I'm going 00:05:32.379 --> 00:05:33.000 to talk about 00:05:33.000 --> 00:05:33.519 this morning 00:05:33.519 --> 00:05:34.259 is not new 00:05:34.259 --> 00:05:35.039 to any of you. 00:05:35.739 --> 00:05:36.279 Well I hope 00:05:36.279 --> 00:05:37.599 not new to any of you 00:05:37.600 --> 00:05:39.020 but I have 00:05:39.020 --> 00:05:40.780 no apology 00:05:40.780 --> 00:05:42.100 for the fact 00:05:42.100 --> 00:05:42.680 that we're going 00:05:42.680 --> 00:05:43.300 to be reviewing 00:05:43.300 --> 00:05:44.240 something that is 00:05:44.240 --> 00:05:44.800 foundational. 00:05:46.180 --> 00:05:47.260 I know 00:05:47.260 --> 00:05:48.760 that those 00:05:48.760 --> 00:05:50.260 of our congregation 00:05:50.260 --> 00:05:51.160 that are officers 00:05:51.160 --> 00:05:54.540 are responsible 00:05:54.540 --> 00:05:55.420 for carrying 00:05:55.420 --> 00:05:56.160 a firearm. 00:05:56.520 --> 00:05:57.340 It's part of their 00:05:57.340 --> 00:05:58.520 life and their duty 00:05:58.520 --> 00:06:00.020 but whether you 00:06:00.020 --> 00:06:00.960 realize it or not 00:06:00.960 --> 00:06:01.640 they have to 00:06:01.640 --> 00:06:02.540 re-qualify 00:06:02.540 --> 00:06:03.780 with that firearm 00:06:03.780 --> 00:06:05.520 at least three times 00:06:05.519 --> 00:06:06.019 a year. 00:06:07.859 --> 00:06:08.759 My son 00:06:08.759 --> 00:06:10.719 who is in the army 00:06:10.719 --> 00:06:14.240 has to pass 00:06:14.240 --> 00:06:16.240 a physical test 00:06:16.240 --> 00:06:17.060 every year. 00:06:17.939 --> 00:06:18.579 In fact 00:06:18.579 --> 00:06:19.240 as a captain 00:06:19.240 --> 00:06:20.240 in the battery command 00:06:20.240 --> 00:06:20.959 that he has 00:06:20.959 --> 00:06:22.039 he had the 00:06:22.039 --> 00:06:23.159 unfortunate responsibility 00:06:23.159 --> 00:06:24.159 of dismissing 00:06:24.159 --> 00:06:24.779 two soldiers 00:06:24.779 --> 00:06:26.359 who after repeated 00:06:26.359 --> 00:06:27.339 efforts at trying 00:06:27.339 --> 00:06:27.979 to pass 00:06:27.979 --> 00:06:29.379 their physical 00:06:29.379 --> 00:06:30.500 PT skills 00:06:30.500 --> 00:06:31.560 never did it 00:06:31.560 --> 00:06:32.759 and they kept 00:06:32.759 --> 00:06:33.240 on being 00:06:33.240 --> 00:06:34.180 just kind of 00:06:34.180 --> 00:06:34.740 shuffled off 00:06:34.740 --> 00:06:35.339 shuffled off 00:06:35.339 --> 00:06:36.939 and he eventually 00:06:36.939 --> 00:06:37.479 had to say 00:06:37.479 --> 00:06:38.019 you know what 00:06:38.019 --> 00:06:38.839 the army 00:06:38.839 --> 00:06:40.679 as much as it 00:06:40.679 --> 00:06:41.779 dearly loves you 00:06:41.779 --> 00:06:42.879 is not willing 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:43.799 to let you 00:06:43.799 --> 00:06:44.699 continue being 00:06:44.699 --> 00:06:45.339 a slug 00:06:45.339 --> 00:06:47.099 and you're 00:06:47.099 --> 00:06:47.539 dismissed. 00:06:48.679 --> 00:06:49.819 So this business 00:06:49.819 --> 00:06:50.799 of re-qualifying 00:06:50.799 --> 00:06:51.659 is important. 00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:52.679 I know that 00:06:52.679 --> 00:06:53.839 those who are 00:06:53.839 --> 00:06:54.799 involved in medicine 00:06:54.799 --> 00:06:56.419 cannot kind of 00:06:56.419 --> 00:06:57.120 rest on their 00:06:57.120 --> 00:06:57.859 laurels and say 00:06:57.859 --> 00:06:58.339 well hey what 00:06:58.339 --> 00:06:59.379 I have a degree 00:06:59.379 --> 00:07:00.359 that was minted 00:07:00.359 --> 00:07:01.859 in 1994 00:07:01.859 --> 00:07:03.659 and that's the way 00:07:03.660 --> 00:07:04.040 it is. 00:07:04.120 --> 00:07:04.460 They have to 00:07:04.460 --> 00:07:05.560 continue to 00:07:05.560 --> 00:07:06.360 re-qualify 00:07:06.360 --> 00:07:07.040 and to review 00:07:07.040 --> 00:07:07.880 and to remind 00:07:07.880 --> 00:07:09.000 themselves of the 00:07:09.000 --> 00:07:10.040 essential duties 00:07:10.040 --> 00:07:11.439 that go with the 00:07:11.439 --> 00:07:12.439 discharge of their 00:07:12.439 --> 00:07:13.380 office and so it 00:07:13.380 --> 00:07:15.380 is today that as 00:07:15.380 --> 00:07:16.360 we look at the 00:07:16.360 --> 00:07:17.560 subject of fatherhood 00:07:17.560 --> 00:07:18.100 we're going to look 00:07:18.100 --> 00:07:19.300 at basic passages 00:07:19.300 --> 00:07:21.300 that talk about 00:07:21.300 --> 00:07:22.200 some of the 00:07:22.200 --> 00:07:23.780 absolutely foundational 00:07:23.780 --> 00:07:25.020 issues to being 00:07:25.020 --> 00:07:25.580 a father. 00:07:26.720 --> 00:07:27.520 I confess 00:07:27.520 --> 00:07:28.960 there's much more 00:07:28.960 --> 00:07:29.600 that the scriptures 00:07:29.600 --> 00:07:30.480 have to say 00:07:30.480 --> 00:07:31.540 about the role 00:07:31.540 --> 00:07:32.040 of a father 00:07:32.040 --> 00:07:32.439 and I'm not 00:07:32.439 --> 00:07:32.860 going to talk 00:07:32.860 --> 00:07:33.439 about the fact 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:33.939 that a dad 00:07:33.939 --> 00:07:34.379 is supposed to 00:07:34.379 --> 00:07:35.080 be the breadwinner. 00:07:35.700 --> 00:07:36.259 I'm not going 00:07:36.259 --> 00:07:36.700 to talk about 00:07:36.700 --> 00:07:37.240 the fact that 00:07:37.240 --> 00:07:38.000 he is to be 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:39.480 the model of 00:07:39.480 --> 00:07:40.439 loving for his 00:07:40.439 --> 00:07:41.180 wife and his 00:07:41.180 --> 00:07:41.600 family. 00:07:41.860 --> 00:07:42.379 I'm not going 00:07:42.379 --> 00:07:42.879 to talk about 00:07:42.879 --> 00:07:43.400 the fact that 00:07:43.400 --> 00:07:44.000 he's the family 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:44.560 protector. 00:07:45.640 --> 00:07:46.460 But I am going 00:07:46.460 --> 00:07:47.040 to concentrate 00:07:47.040 --> 00:07:47.780 this morning 00:07:47.780 --> 00:07:48.560 on just two 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:49.560 simple principles 00:07:49.560 --> 00:07:50.500 and we're going 00:07:50.500 --> 00:07:51.100 to rely on 00:07:51.100 --> 00:07:51.500 those two 00:07:51.500 --> 00:07:51.920 principles 00:07:51.920 --> 00:07:53.759 for foundational 00:07:53.759 --> 00:07:54.379 direction 00:07:54.379 --> 00:07:55.680 in the duty 00:07:55.680 --> 00:07:56.680 and the obligation 00:07:56.680 --> 00:07:57.420 that a man 00:07:57.420 --> 00:07:58.700 has when he 00:07:58.700 --> 00:07:59.800 is a father. 00:07:59.800 --> 00:08:00.420 So what are 00:08:00.420 --> 00:08:00.960 those two? 00:08:01.720 --> 00:08:02.420 Number one, 00:08:02.560 --> 00:08:03.360 God calls the 00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:03.980 man to be 00:08:03.980 --> 00:08:04.699 the spiritual 00:08:04.699 --> 00:08:06.120 leader in his 00:08:06.120 --> 00:08:07.460 home and number 00:08:07.460 --> 00:08:08.639 two, God calls 00:08:08.639 --> 00:08:09.800 the man to be 00:08:09.800 --> 00:08:10.620 the spiritual 00:08:10.620 --> 00:08:12.560 intercessor in 00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:13.180 his home. 00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:15.340 Dad is to be 00:08:15.340 --> 00:08:15.939 the spiritual 00:08:15.939 --> 00:08:16.319 leader. 00:08:16.460 --> 00:08:16.860 I want you to 00:08:16.860 --> 00:08:17.280 look in your 00:08:17.280 --> 00:08:18.460 Bible over the 00:08:18.460 --> 00:08:19.160 passage that I 00:08:19.160 --> 00:08:19.900 referenced early 00:08:19.900 --> 00:08:20.600 in Deuteronomy 00:08:20.600 --> 00:08:21.500 chapter 6. 00:08:22.860 --> 00:08:23.420 Do you know 00:08:23.420 --> 00:08:24.220 why we turn in 00:08:24.220 --> 00:08:24.840 our Bibles? 00:08:26.120 --> 00:08:26.400 Does anybody 00:08:26.400 --> 00:08:27.040 know why? 00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:29.280 It is so that 00:08:29.279 --> 00:08:30.339 you yourself, 00:08:30.559 --> 00:08:31.500 where you sit, 00:08:31.619 --> 00:08:32.799 can look at the 00:08:32.799 --> 00:08:33.919 Scriptures yourself 00:08:33.919 --> 00:08:35.079 and be fully 00:08:35.079 --> 00:08:35.939 persuaded that 00:08:35.939 --> 00:08:36.600 what you are 00:08:36.600 --> 00:08:38.059 hearing is not 00:08:38.059 --> 00:08:39.360 what I think. 00:08:41.199 --> 00:08:42.500 It is what the 00:08:42.500 --> 00:08:43.519 Bible says. 00:08:44.339 --> 00:08:45.740 And my obligation 00:08:45.740 --> 00:08:46.799 and my responsibility 00:08:46.799 --> 00:08:47.899 is to open it up 00:08:47.899 --> 00:08:48.679 and make it clear 00:08:48.679 --> 00:08:49.459 and make it plain 00:08:49.459 --> 00:08:50.459 and help you 00:08:50.459 --> 00:08:51.039 understand, 00:08:51.279 --> 00:08:52.299 thus saith the 00:08:52.299 --> 00:08:52.620 Lord. 00:08:53.959 --> 00:08:54.740 And we are 00:08:54.740 --> 00:08:55.319 looking at a 00:08:55.319 --> 00:08:57.759 passage that is 00:08:57.759 --> 00:08:59.340 fundamental to the 00:08:59.340 --> 00:09:00.399 responsibility of 00:09:00.399 --> 00:09:01.659 being a father. 00:09:02.379 --> 00:09:03.220 Picking up there 00:09:03.220 --> 00:09:04.259 in verse 4, 00:09:05.139 --> 00:09:05.860 mark what it 00:09:05.860 --> 00:09:06.139 says, 00:09:06.220 --> 00:09:06.980 Hear, O Israel, 00:09:07.100 --> 00:09:07.919 the Lord our 00:09:07.919 --> 00:09:08.899 God, the Lord 00:09:08.899 --> 00:09:09.620 is one. 00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:12.279 Now, I want to 00:09:12.279 --> 00:09:13.120 take a second and 00:09:13.120 --> 00:09:13.960 have you think with 00:09:13.960 --> 00:09:15.539 me that as this 00:09:15.539 --> 00:09:17.439 great passage begins, 00:09:17.659 --> 00:09:19.340 incidentally, if you 00:09:19.340 --> 00:09:21.539 were a Jew and you 00:09:21.539 --> 00:09:22.379 were a Jew who was 00:09:22.379 --> 00:09:23.279 trying to get extra 00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:25.179 points, you would say 00:09:25.179 --> 00:09:27.019 this passage in the 00:09:27.019 --> 00:09:28.279 morning when the 00:09:28.279 --> 00:09:30.279 first break of dawn 00:09:30.279 --> 00:09:31.399 and you got out of 00:09:31.399 --> 00:09:31.719 bed. 00:09:32.199 --> 00:09:32.979 You would say, it 00:09:32.979 --> 00:09:33.479 was called the 00:09:33.479 --> 00:09:34.959 Shema, hear. 00:09:35.339 --> 00:09:36.500 That's the word in 00:09:36.500 --> 00:09:37.859 Hebrew, Shema. 00:09:38.239 --> 00:09:39.079 It would be, hear, 00:09:39.239 --> 00:09:40.039 O Israel, the Lord 00:09:40.039 --> 00:09:41.099 our God, the Lord is 00:09:41.099 --> 00:09:41.500 one. 00:09:42.959 --> 00:09:43.779 Incidentally, if you 00:09:43.779 --> 00:09:44.659 really wanted to get 00:09:44.659 --> 00:09:46.139 extra, extra points, 00:09:46.479 --> 00:09:48.279 the last thing out of 00:09:48.279 --> 00:09:49.439 your mouth as you 00:09:49.439 --> 00:09:51.500 were dying would be, 00:09:52.699 --> 00:09:54.099 hear, O Israel, the 00:09:54.100 --> 00:09:55.159 Lord our God, the 00:09:55.159 --> 00:09:56.040 Lord is one. 00:09:56.420 --> 00:09:57.840 This passage was so 00:09:57.840 --> 00:09:59.600 foundational to the 00:09:59.600 --> 00:10:01.200 nation of Israel and 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:02.879 to their walk with God 00:10:02.879 --> 00:10:04.379 that they valued it 00:10:04.379 --> 00:10:05.159 supremely. 00:10:06.360 --> 00:10:07.360 And here we have a 00:10:07.360 --> 00:10:08.460 passage in which God 00:10:08.460 --> 00:10:09.620 speaks to fathers in 00:10:09.620 --> 00:10:11.159 particular and he says, 00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:12.320 first of all, you 00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:14.000 listen to me. 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:16.420 Hear, O Israel. 00:10:17.320 --> 00:10:18.139 By the way, who's 00:10:18.139 --> 00:10:18.540 talking? 00:10:19.040 --> 00:10:20.240 The Lord our God. 00:10:21.240 --> 00:10:22.279 Then he makes a 00:10:22.279 --> 00:10:23.360 foundational theological 00:10:23.360 --> 00:10:24.800 statement, the Lord is 00:10:24.800 --> 00:10:25.240 one. 00:10:26.600 --> 00:10:29.560 And in that, we have 00:10:29.560 --> 00:10:31.300 the uniqueness of God, 00:10:31.960 --> 00:10:33.759 we have the exceptional 00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:35.320 characteristic of him. 00:10:35.740 --> 00:10:36.919 Remember, he says, I am 00:10:36.919 --> 00:10:38.659 who I am, foundational in 00:10:38.659 --> 00:10:39.560 that little statement, the 00:10:39.560 --> 00:10:40.279 Lord is one. 00:10:40.980 --> 00:10:42.240 But then behind that, we 00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:43.240 have a very interesting 00:10:43.240 --> 00:10:43.639 statement. 00:10:43.860 --> 00:10:45.340 Often when we think about 00:10:45.340 --> 00:10:47.279 our walk with God, we 00:10:47.279 --> 00:10:48.800 tend to break it down into 00:10:48.800 --> 00:10:50.500 a matter of the do's and 00:10:50.500 --> 00:10:50.820 don'ts. 00:10:50.820 --> 00:10:51.400 Would you recognize 00:10:51.400 --> 00:10:51.820 that? 00:10:52.260 --> 00:10:53.340 This morning as I was 00:10:53.340 --> 00:10:54.960 having my devotional life, I 00:10:54.960 --> 00:10:56.100 was reading in the book of 00:10:56.100 --> 00:10:57.300 Exodus and I happened to be 00:10:57.300 --> 00:10:58.640 in Exodus chapter 20. 00:10:59.200 --> 00:10:59.980 Does anybody know what 00:10:59.980 --> 00:11:01.100 Exodus 20 is about? 00:11:01.800 --> 00:11:03.000 Anybody tell me, what is 00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:03.960 Exodus 20 about? 00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:06.460 It's the Ten Commandments. 00:11:06.520 --> 00:11:07.140 How many of you could 00:11:07.140 --> 00:11:08.220 recite them with one hand 00:11:08.220 --> 00:11:08.940 behind your back? 00:11:10.300 --> 00:11:11.440 You should be able to, 00:11:11.500 --> 00:11:11.760 right? 00:11:12.700 --> 00:11:13.840 And I want you to think 00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:15.760 with me this morning of the 00:11:15.760 --> 00:11:17.400 fact that tendency is for us 00:11:17.399 --> 00:11:18.439 to think about our 00:11:18.439 --> 00:11:19.860 relationship with God as 00:11:19.860 --> 00:11:20.959 being a matter of the do's 00:11:20.959 --> 00:11:21.519 and don'ts. 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:23.120 That's not the way it is. 00:11:24.459 --> 00:11:26.100 God wants us to understand 00:11:26.100 --> 00:11:27.699 first of all that we are to 00:11:27.699 --> 00:11:29.279 be in a relationship with 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:31.039 him that is governed and 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:33.079 controlled and colored and 00:11:33.079 --> 00:11:35.860 influenced by our love for 00:11:35.860 --> 00:11:36.079 him. 00:11:36.819 --> 00:11:38.340 Here in the passage in verse 00:11:38.340 --> 00:11:40.240 five it says, you shall love 00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:42.399 the Lord your God with all 00:11:42.399 --> 00:11:43.600 your heart, with all your 00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:44.579 soul, and with all your 00:11:44.579 --> 00:11:44.819 might. 00:11:44.939 --> 00:11:46.059 How many of you are doing 00:11:46.059 --> 00:11:47.000 well at loving him? 00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:48.019 Don't raise your hand and 00:11:48.019 --> 00:11:48.919 wait, I am. 00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:49.979 That's not what I'm looking 00:11:49.979 --> 00:11:50.219 for. 00:11:51.599 --> 00:11:52.819 Truth of the matter is, is 00:11:52.819 --> 00:11:54.919 that on our own we do not 00:11:54.919 --> 00:11:57.699 love anyone very well except 00:11:57.699 --> 00:11:59.259 who? 00:11:59.479 --> 00:12:00.539 Who do you love well? 00:12:02.099 --> 00:12:03.379 You're a little bit like that 00:12:03.379 --> 00:12:04.679 wicked witch, remember? 00:12:05.939 --> 00:12:07.500 Mirror, mirror on the wall, 00:12:07.619 --> 00:12:09.059 who's the fairest of the… 00:12:09.059 --> 00:12:11.219 Are you guys into Disney or 00:12:11.219 --> 00:12:11.399 not? 00:12:11.439 --> 00:12:12.179 What's the deal with you? 00:12:12.239 --> 00:12:13.279 You know, it's like, hello, 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:16.299 go home, forget Frozen, go 00:12:16.299 --> 00:12:17.299 back to the classics. 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:19.639 You know, it's like, okay. 00:12:23.100 --> 00:12:24.519 We're a little bit like that 00:12:24.519 --> 00:12:25.179 wicked witch. 00:12:25.279 --> 00:12:26.639 Now I give my age away, I 00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:26.980 suppose. 00:12:27.419 --> 00:12:28.839 And, you know, here it's all 00:12:28.839 --> 00:12:29.419 about me. 00:12:30.539 --> 00:12:31.959 God says you're to love me. 00:12:33.019 --> 00:12:34.539 And incidentally, the thing 00:12:34.539 --> 00:12:36.159 that brings us into a loving 00:12:36.159 --> 00:12:38.480 relationship with God is not 00:12:38.480 --> 00:12:40.500 our own volition but the grace 00:12:40.500 --> 00:12:42.440 of God that, first of all, 00:12:42.519 --> 00:12:43.980 reveals his love to us by 00:12:43.980 --> 00:12:46.460 telling us the truth about our 00:12:46.460 --> 00:12:48.279 nature and how desperately 00:12:48.279 --> 00:12:50.379 lost we are and then drawing 00:12:50.379 --> 00:12:52.059 us to the cross and helping 00:12:52.059 --> 00:12:54.039 us see at the cross the 00:12:54.039 --> 00:12:56.580 unconditional, unchanging love 00:12:56.580 --> 00:12:57.940 of God in Christ Jesus. 00:12:58.919 --> 00:13:03.139 And we, having been saved by 00:13:03.139 --> 00:13:04.960 his grace and having our hearts 00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:07.500 changed, then have the ability 00:13:07.500 --> 00:13:08.320 to love him. 00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:12.220 And we grow in our love, in 00:13:12.220 --> 00:13:14.879 particular, in proportion to our 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:17.500 understanding of his love for 00:13:17.500 --> 00:13:18.019 us. 00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:20.919 In this passage, it says there, 00:13:21.539 --> 00:13:22.679 you shall love the Lord your 00:13:22.679 --> 00:13:24.159 God with all your heart and with 00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:25.500 all your soul and with all your 00:13:25.500 --> 00:13:25.840 might. 00:13:26.340 --> 00:13:28.500 And as you look at this passage, 00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:30.019 I want you to understand that out 00:13:30.019 --> 00:13:31.919 of that then is to flow in verse 00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:33.580 six, and these words that I command 00:13:33.580 --> 00:13:35.179 you shall be in your heart. 00:13:36.399 --> 00:13:36.879 You know what? 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:37.399 Listen to me. 00:13:38.740 --> 00:13:41.019 If you really don't have an 00:13:41.019 --> 00:13:42.279 intimate and affectionate 00:13:42.279 --> 00:13:44.139 relationship with the Lord of 00:13:44.139 --> 00:13:46.620 this universe, what he has to say 00:13:46.620 --> 00:13:49.120 is not that important. 00:13:50.500 --> 00:13:50.960 Agreed? 00:13:54.919 --> 00:13:57.139 Several years ago, my wife said to 00:13:57.139 --> 00:14:00.000 me, at one moment in our morning 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:02.440 conversations, she said to me, 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:04.080 honey, I'm concerned. 00:14:04.340 --> 00:14:05.740 Now, that's always a warning for me 00:14:05.740 --> 00:14:06.899 that something is coming of 00:14:06.899 --> 00:14:07.399 significance. 00:14:08.539 --> 00:14:11.039 Because Judith is not a chattery 00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:12.639 individual, and when she says I'm 00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:14.720 concerned and then paused, I knew 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:16.279 that I ought to pick up on the lead 00:14:16.279 --> 00:14:18.180 and show some concern. 00:14:19.320 --> 00:14:20.560 What are you concerned about? 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:23.779 She says, well, I don't know if you're 00:14:23.779 --> 00:14:25.899 getting the early signals of 00:14:25.899 --> 00:14:28.940 Alzheimer's or you're not listening to 00:14:28.940 --> 00:14:29.940 me. 00:14:29.940 --> 00:14:32.140 Now, the choices were pretty brutal. 00:14:35.140 --> 00:14:37.040 I have an exceptionally intelligent 00:14:37.040 --> 00:14:39.460 wife, and she had me cornered with that 00:14:39.460 --> 00:14:39.860 statement. 00:14:41.220 --> 00:14:44.080 I chose to confess that I wasn't 00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:44.500 listening. 00:14:46.520 --> 00:14:47.700 I think that was a fair 00:14:47.700 --> 00:14:49.240 admission. 00:14:50.340 --> 00:14:52.700 And what it reminded me of, in part, 00:14:52.820 --> 00:14:53.920 was that, you know what? 00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:56.759 When we really care, we really listen. 00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:57.860 Would you agree with that statement? 00:14:57.979 --> 00:15:00.079 When we really care, we really listen. 00:15:02.959 --> 00:15:04.959 Why is it that mothers are the first 00:15:04.959 --> 00:15:06.659 ones to interpret their children's 00:15:06.659 --> 00:15:07.259 babblings? 00:15:08.860 --> 00:15:10.959 You say to a mom, what did he say? 00:15:12.079 --> 00:15:14.079 Oh, well, she understands, and it's not 00:15:14.079 --> 00:15:15.799 just because she gave birth to him, it's 00:15:15.799 --> 00:15:17.759 because she cares and loves that kid, and 00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:19.919 she can understand because her heart's in it. 00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:24.219 And God says, listen, you've got to love 00:15:24.219 --> 00:15:24.479 me. 00:15:25.919 --> 00:15:28.159 And then the words that I command you 00:15:28.159 --> 00:15:29.519 shall be in your heart. 00:15:31.219 --> 00:15:33.120 You see, as we look at this passage, the 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:34.479 thing I want you to understand is that 00:15:34.479 --> 00:15:36.559 dad is to be the spiritual leader, and in 00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:39.199 order to be the leader, he has to have an 00:15:39.199 --> 00:15:41.439 interest and an affection in the Lord, but 00:15:41.439 --> 00:15:43.120 also an understanding of his word. 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:45.299 Here's what God makes clear. 00:15:45.379 --> 00:15:47.259 He says that the dad must know and care 00:15:47.259 --> 00:15:49.500 deeply about what he's expected to teach 00:15:49.500 --> 00:15:52.159 The remainder of this text really deals 00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:54.539 with the responsibility that dad has of 00:15:54.539 --> 00:15:57.879 being the spiritual teacher in his home. 00:15:58.940 --> 00:16:01.820 But the starting place to what you teach 00:16:01.820 --> 00:16:06.879 is not just acquiring the information. 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:10.100 It is having a relationship with the 00:16:10.100 --> 00:16:12.659 foundational person of the universe and 00:16:12.659 --> 00:16:15.080 having an affection for that person and 00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:17.980 having a heart that wants to hear what he 00:16:17.980 --> 00:16:19.120 has to say. 00:16:21.539 --> 00:16:23.680 We live in a wicked and perverse world, don't 00:16:23.680 --> 00:16:23.860 we? 00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:28.560 I remember earlier this week just being 00:16:28.560 --> 00:16:32.639 both frightened and sobered. 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:37.139 When I stopped at one point in doing some 00:16:37.139 --> 00:16:38.879 research and I was on the computer and I 00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:43.860 stopped and realized that it is so easy to 00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:46.720 access things on the web that are just 00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:48.860 absolutely perverse and wicked. 00:16:48.980 --> 00:16:49.759 Do you understand that? 00:16:49.759 --> 00:17:00.279 I went to YouTube and I have no idea what, here I am 00:17:00.279 --> 00:17:02.299 telling you what I was doing on YouTube, but 00:17:02.299 --> 00:17:05.400 spending time as I'm sitting there with my father 00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:09.900 sleeping, I thought I would kind of find out long 00:17:09.900 --> 00:17:11.579 range rifle shots at deer. 00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:12.539 You know, important things. 00:17:12.539 --> 00:17:18.579 And so I clicked on that and I'm scrolling down and 00:17:18.579 --> 00:17:21.839 right there on the right side are pictures that are 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:23.279 absolutely wicked and perverse. 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:26.200 Now, thankfully, they're in these microscopic little 00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:28.220 things, but it's like, whoa, you know. 00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:31.059 You Google something. 00:17:32.579 --> 00:17:35.180 Out of sincere interest to discover, and there in the 00:17:35.180 --> 00:17:37.720 Google string, there are things that you, I don't want to 00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:38.299 click on that. 00:17:38.399 --> 00:17:38.839 Am I right? 00:17:38.839 --> 00:17:43.639 You go to Fox News, you go to MSN, wherever you go, the 00:17:43.639 --> 00:17:45.099 world is a wicked place. 00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:51.779 But I want you to understand that the greatest challenge to 00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:54.359 fatherhood today is not the wicked and perverse culture we 00:17:54.359 --> 00:17:54.899 live in. 00:17:55.839 --> 00:17:56.439 Listen to me. 00:17:57.659 --> 00:18:01.220 The greatest challenge comes from fathers who are not deeply 00:18:01.220 --> 00:18:03.259 committed and enthralled with God. 00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:10.660 The greatest challenge to fathers today is fathers that are not 00:18:10.660 --> 00:18:13.920 deeply committed and enthralled with God. 00:18:14.680 --> 00:18:18.740 A father that is actually more engaged in baseball than he is 00:18:18.740 --> 00:18:22.700 with his own devotional life, or a father that is more passionate 00:18:22.700 --> 00:18:26.500 about boating on the weekend than he is in helping his children 00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:29.039 grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:33.940 should not be surprised if at the end of the day he sees his 00:18:33.940 --> 00:18:38.039 children go further into idolatry than he has. 00:18:40.659 --> 00:18:43.619 And so as you look at this passage, let me help you understand that 00:18:43.619 --> 00:18:45.960 the first thing that the Bible says to us is, 00:18:46.119 --> 00:18:49.859 Dads, you are the spiritual teachers of your home, and you're 00:18:49.859 --> 00:18:54.899 responsible to teach, but things come first in order, and before you 00:18:54.899 --> 00:18:57.420 teach, you have to know, and you have to have the right 00:18:57.420 --> 00:18:59.000 relationship with the Lord Jesus. 00:19:00.180 --> 00:19:02.880 You have to have the right passion for the things of God. 00:19:03.880 --> 00:19:09.200 And so ask yourself the question, what does your devotional life 00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:10.180 look like? 00:19:10.259 --> 00:19:13.080 Now, do devotions make men automatic saints? 00:19:13.180 --> 00:19:13.840 What's the answer? 00:19:15.180 --> 00:19:16.480 Get this, no. 00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:20.940 But I will tell you something. 00:19:22.039 --> 00:19:27.039 A daily devotional life is protective in a profound way. 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:32.960 Mothers, wives, if you see your husband's devotional life beginning to fall off, 00:19:33.299 --> 00:19:36.319 guess what you know is beginning to take place in their life? 00:19:38.639 --> 00:19:43.019 They're an accident waiting for a place to happen. 00:19:44.619 --> 00:19:47.399 Now, what should you do when you see that happening? 00:19:48.599 --> 00:19:52.319 Should you pick up the Bible and slam it on their chest in the morning? 00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:54.740 You know, it's like, bang, get this done. 00:19:54.740 --> 00:19:56.680 No, that's not my suggestion to you. 00:19:56.779 --> 00:20:02.140 But try with prayer and a godly life to be an encouragement and expect the Spirit of God 00:20:02.140 --> 00:20:03.120 to respond accordingly. 00:20:05.160 --> 00:20:09.539 You look at that passage there in Deuteronomy, it says, hey, you've got to know the Lord, 00:20:09.620 --> 00:20:11.480 you've got to love the Lord, you've got to know the Word. 00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:17.500 And so if you're going to be effective in being the spiritual leader in your home, 00:20:18.259 --> 00:20:20.720 your children should know about your devotional life. 00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:22.759 They should know about it. 00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:29.559 Let me have you turn to a passage that several months ago the Lord just really tagged me with. 00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:34.220 In fact, if you were to go into my office this morning or tonight or this afternoon, 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:35.839 you would see it on the wall. 00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:41.199 When I sit there and prepare week by week and spend time in the office, 00:20:41.559 --> 00:20:45.959 there are actually three different things that are set on the wall across from me 00:20:45.959 --> 00:20:50.019 so I can see them and they're reminding me of my responsibilities. 00:20:50.339 --> 00:20:54.559 One is from John chapter 5 verse 39, and it says this, 00:20:54.659 --> 00:20:58.119 how does this sermon testify to Christ? 00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:02.419 Second thing is Isaiah chapter 50 verse 4. 00:21:02.480 --> 00:21:03.459 Let me read it to you. 00:21:03.460 --> 00:21:07.720 The Lord has given me the tongue of those who are taught. 00:21:08.019 --> 00:21:11.519 Incidentally, this passage is a reference. 00:21:11.900 --> 00:21:12.460 It is messianic. 00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:14.819 It is a reference to the Lord Jesus. 00:21:16.660 --> 00:21:19.380 The Lord has given me the tongue of those who are taught 00:21:19.380 --> 00:21:22.460 that I may know how to sustain with the Word him who is weary. 00:21:22.819 --> 00:21:27.519 Do you want, Dad, to be able to encourage, to sustain, to counsel, 00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:31.140 to direct your son in the moments that are important? 00:21:32.259 --> 00:21:32.660 Yes. 00:21:33.460 --> 00:21:34.600 How will you do that? 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:38.360 Morning by morning he awakens. 00:21:39.259 --> 00:21:40.299 I like that. 00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:43.400 Morning by morning he awakens. 00:21:43.620 --> 00:21:48.720 He awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. 00:21:50.600 --> 00:21:55.180 Dad, I don't think it would be a bad idea for you to take that verse 00:21:55.180 --> 00:22:05.539 and write it out with your own hand and post it on the mirror and ask the Lord to do what needs to be done 00:22:05.539 --> 00:22:11.340 to help your devotional life begin to take upon the characteristics of this passage. 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:14.440 Will your children need your advice? 00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:15.220 What's the answer? 00:22:16.019 --> 00:22:16.500 Yeah. 00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:20.360 Will they need your counsel and your encouragement? 00:22:20.359 --> 00:22:21.279 Yes. 00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:23.859 And so what are you going to give them? 00:22:24.979 --> 00:22:29.599 Your rehashed experiences, many of which you wish you didn't have anyway? 00:22:30.500 --> 00:22:36.539 Or would you rather that out of a heart that is enriched by the Spirit of God and by the Word of God, 00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:45.240 you may bring forth the sweetness of the Spirit of God and the wisdom that is from above that your children may know how to walk uprightly? 00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:54.859 Let me explain also that your children should see you frame life's challenges in the Scriptures. 00:22:55.019 --> 00:22:56.720 Let me say that slowly so you can follow me. 00:22:58.240 --> 00:23:01.059 Your children, we're talking about being the spiritual leader, 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:06.920 your children should see you frame life's challenges in the Scriptures. 00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:11.019 In other words, when you yourself are challenged, 00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:13.940 when things aren't going your way, 00:23:14.700 --> 00:23:18.940 when there's a struggle and turmoil in your own life, 00:23:19.200 --> 00:23:27.119 they should see you go to the resource that is eternally valuable, prized, and reliable. 00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:34.400 I have to think about the passage in Galatians that I've recited so many times, 00:23:34.839 --> 00:23:36.319 Nevertheless, what saith the Scriptures? 00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:41.119 Paul, as he was arguing in the book of Galatians about the issue of the difference between law and grace, 00:23:41.319 --> 00:23:42.679 when he wants to hammer it, 00:23:43.819 --> 00:23:46.659 he recites something said by the Supreme Court, 00:23:47.779 --> 00:23:48.099 God. 00:23:48.980 --> 00:23:52.119 Nevertheless, what do the Scriptures say? 00:23:52.539 --> 00:23:56.179 And so when you have opportunity to face the challenges of life, 00:23:56.700 --> 00:23:58.399 what your children should see 00:23:58.399 --> 00:24:02.720 is that the authority you rely upon is God's Word. 00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:06.160 And by the way, do we always know what's in God's Word? 00:24:06.220 --> 00:24:07.220 And the answer is what? 00:24:07.420 --> 00:24:08.200 Come on, help me here. 00:24:08.740 --> 00:24:09.100 No. 00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:13.960 So what's wrong when you're not sure to say, 00:24:14.180 --> 00:24:18.579 give me a minute, I want to think this through and pray about it 00:24:18.579 --> 00:24:22.420 and find out what God's Word has to say about it. 00:24:24.759 --> 00:24:25.240 Third, 00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:32.480 your children should know that your genuine affection for the Lord and His people 00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:36.539 is at the very heart of your being in existence. 00:24:37.660 --> 00:24:43.120 Your children should know that your genuine affection for the Lord and His people 00:24:43.120 --> 00:24:46.420 is at the very heart of your existence. 00:24:46.420 --> 00:24:53.900 Is that what your kids know? 00:24:55.960 --> 00:24:57.640 Is that what they respect about you? 00:25:00.019 --> 00:25:03.560 Is that the thing that when it's all said and done, 00:25:03.560 --> 00:25:09.100 when their last memories of you are pushed together in a very small pile, 00:25:09.099 --> 00:25:13.480 will they say, 00:25:13.859 --> 00:25:16.639 the thing I remember about my dad 00:25:16.639 --> 00:25:19.379 is that he loved Christ. 00:25:20.639 --> 00:25:22.219 He loved Christ's people. 00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:25.299 I hate to use him as an example, 00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:27.359 but he's the best one I know. 00:25:29.099 --> 00:25:31.039 My dad is in a nursing home. 00:25:31.859 --> 00:25:33.359 He has Alzheimer's. 00:25:33.959 --> 00:25:35.639 There are days he's with us, 00:25:35.679 --> 00:25:37.259 and there are days that he is not. 00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:40.440 But several weeks ago, 00:25:41.140 --> 00:25:43.180 stopped in to see him on Sunday morning, 00:25:43.400 --> 00:25:45.619 and he said, 00:25:45.700 --> 00:25:46.980 when do I get to go to church? 00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:49.299 Do you follow that? 00:25:50.259 --> 00:25:51.559 Let me tell you something. 00:25:52.900 --> 00:25:56.319 That kind of heart doesn't happen by accident. 00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:04.619 It happens out of a relentless pursuit of the things of God. 00:26:07.259 --> 00:26:09.160 And so, Father, 00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:10.579 I want you to understand that 00:26:10.579 --> 00:26:13.920 your love will play out, 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:15.039 and your kids will know it. 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:18.180 Let me see one more thing in this passage 00:26:18.180 --> 00:26:19.900 before we move to the issue of intercession. 00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:21.160 Look at verse 7. 00:26:21.859 --> 00:26:22.259 It says, 00:26:22.599 --> 00:26:24.480 You shall teach them diligently. 00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:27.160 Diligently. 00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:30.839 Dad is to be persistent in his teaching. 00:26:33.259 --> 00:26:34.400 Persistent in his teaching. 00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:38.380 The Hebrew word actually means 00:26:38.380 --> 00:26:40.240 to say it twice. 00:26:43.040 --> 00:26:46.500 I know Pastor Andrew was 00:26:46.500 --> 00:26:48.780 kind of gathering from our young people. 00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:49.980 I'm going to tell a story here 00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:50.680 and be embarrassed, 00:26:50.800 --> 00:26:51.540 or have you embarrassed? 00:26:51.660 --> 00:26:52.440 I don't know how it'll work out. 00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:52.800 But anyway, 00:26:53.280 --> 00:26:55.220 here I am doing ministry, 00:26:55.340 --> 00:26:56.560 so I'd like to kind of find out 00:26:56.560 --> 00:26:57.560 what some of the concerns 00:26:57.560 --> 00:26:59.320 and questions are 00:26:59.320 --> 00:27:00.660 that our young people have. 00:27:00.660 --> 00:27:03.660 And he sent out a survey 00:27:03.660 --> 00:27:05.080 and got all these different answers, 00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:07.779 and then one of our youth leaders said, 00:27:07.860 --> 00:27:09.840 Well, I thought we covered that this last year. 00:27:11.120 --> 00:27:11.540 Well, yeah. 00:27:13.040 --> 00:27:14.060 Truth of the matter is, 00:27:14.080 --> 00:27:15.279 it's probably every one of those things 00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:17.040 I've covered from the pulpit as well. 00:27:18.580 --> 00:27:20.640 I'll never forget what Alistair Begg said 00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:22.840 when I was at one of his preaching conferences. 00:27:23.240 --> 00:27:23.540 He said, 00:27:23.660 --> 00:27:25.779 Never underestimate the ability of your people 00:27:25.779 --> 00:27:28.660 to forget some of the important things you've said. 00:27:30.440 --> 00:27:31.099 And, you know, 00:27:31.139 --> 00:27:32.160 it's given me great comfort. 00:27:32.259 --> 00:27:33.139 You probably don't remember 00:27:33.139 --> 00:27:35.519 that I preached this sermon back in 05. 00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:39.779 Now, I want you to know 00:27:39.779 --> 00:27:40.799 it's not the same sermon. 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:48.879 Because preaching relies upon 00:27:48.879 --> 00:27:50.539 the ministry of the Holy Spirit, 00:27:50.839 --> 00:27:53.799 and His ministry through me to you 00:27:53.799 --> 00:27:56.539 and in you is different today than in 05. 00:27:58.059 --> 00:27:58.919 Same spirit, 00:27:59.500 --> 00:28:00.460 same word, 00:28:01.119 --> 00:28:02.440 but different need today. 00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:05.519 So, I want you to understand, Dad, 00:28:05.579 --> 00:28:07.119 that if you're going to be effective 00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:08.180 in this responsibility 00:28:08.180 --> 00:28:10.639 being the family teacher of spiritual, 00:28:10.779 --> 00:28:12.079 be repetitious! 00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:14.700 Now, am I saying 00:28:14.700 --> 00:28:16.460 just be redundant 00:28:16.460 --> 00:28:18.059 to the point of ad nauseum? 00:28:18.059 --> 00:28:23.839 How many of you know 00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:26.240 that when we sing a song that we like, 00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:27.299 we really get into it? 00:28:27.339 --> 00:28:27.980 Do you understand that? 00:28:28.960 --> 00:28:30.500 But how many of you also know 00:28:30.500 --> 00:28:32.039 if we sang the same song 00:28:32.039 --> 00:28:33.720 for about 30 weeks in a row, 00:28:33.919 --> 00:28:36.259 I don't care how wonderful it was, 00:28:36.379 --> 00:28:38.940 the first or second or third or fourth time, 00:28:39.220 --> 00:28:41.000 eventually, guess what you would do? 00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:42.759 You would tune out. 00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:45.400 And, Dad, 00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:46.839 you have to have a little bit of variety 00:28:46.839 --> 00:28:48.220 in the way you approach the business 00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:49.180 of being repetitious 00:28:49.180 --> 00:28:50.579 in your teaching. 00:28:52.539 --> 00:28:54.339 Pretend that it's a brand new thought, 00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:56.879 because the truth of the matter is, 00:28:56.900 --> 00:28:57.640 is your child, 00:28:57.759 --> 00:28:58.559 your young boy, 00:28:58.619 --> 00:28:59.259 or your girl 00:28:59.259 --> 00:29:00.559 has probably 00:29:00.559 --> 00:29:02.140 completely forgotten 00:29:02.140 --> 00:29:03.279 what you had to say, 00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:04.559 but bring it up again. 00:29:04.559 --> 00:29:04.619 Again, 00:29:05.619 --> 00:29:09.839 things that are important 00:29:09.839 --> 00:29:13.599 are often said 00:29:13.599 --> 00:29:14.619 over and over again. 00:29:16.179 --> 00:29:17.319 And I've got to tell you 00:29:17.319 --> 00:29:19.939 that the business 00:29:19.939 --> 00:29:21.039 of being repetitious 00:29:21.039 --> 00:29:23.339 with an inventive 00:29:23.339 --> 00:29:24.539 and creative spirit 00:29:24.539 --> 00:29:25.339 with an affection 00:29:25.339 --> 00:29:26.439 for the outcome 00:29:26.439 --> 00:29:28.659 is profoundly effective. 00:29:30.679 --> 00:29:31.480 Well, let me come 00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:32.279 to the second thing. 00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:33.919 Dad is to be 00:29:33.919 --> 00:29:35.480 the family intercessor. 00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:37.619 Dad is to be 00:29:37.619 --> 00:29:39.359 the family intercessor. 00:29:40.220 --> 00:29:41.159 Here I am. 00:29:42.220 --> 00:29:43.199 I am... 00:29:43.199 --> 00:29:45.319 I'm an empty nester. 00:29:45.439 --> 00:29:45.980 I've got to tell you, 00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:46.879 it's a wonderful thing. 00:29:47.379 --> 00:29:48.379 Judith and I enjoy 00:29:48.379 --> 00:29:49.359 one another's company 00:29:49.359 --> 00:29:49.879 in the morning. 00:29:50.119 --> 00:29:51.000 And here's the deal. 00:29:51.220 --> 00:29:52.279 We don't have to worry 00:29:52.279 --> 00:29:52.819 about whether 00:29:52.819 --> 00:29:53.939 anybody forgot 00:29:53.939 --> 00:29:54.699 their barrettes 00:29:54.699 --> 00:29:55.759 or, you know, 00:29:55.819 --> 00:29:57.099 whether their hair 00:29:57.099 --> 00:29:57.720 or teeth 00:29:57.720 --> 00:29:58.339 are cared for. 00:29:58.939 --> 00:30:00.119 We're just together. 00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:01.759 Let's have coffee. 00:30:01.879 --> 00:30:02.459 Let's sit there. 00:30:02.539 --> 00:30:03.019 Let's pray. 00:30:03.139 --> 00:30:04.179 Let's chatter a little bit. 00:30:04.359 --> 00:30:05.559 It's fun, fun, fun. 00:30:05.559 --> 00:30:09.359 But that doesn't mean 00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:10.039 that I'm done 00:30:10.039 --> 00:30:10.720 being a daddy. 00:30:12.619 --> 00:30:13.759 This morning as 00:30:13.759 --> 00:30:18.099 I was finishing up 00:30:18.099 --> 00:30:19.019 my devotional time, 00:30:20.019 --> 00:30:22.379 first thing I do 00:30:22.379 --> 00:30:23.599 is I spend time 00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:24.399 praying and thanking 00:30:24.399 --> 00:30:24.799 the Lord 00:30:24.799 --> 00:30:25.440 for the blessing 00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:26.940 of knowing Him 00:30:26.940 --> 00:30:28.659 and who He is. 00:30:28.660 --> 00:30:30.740 and I pray 00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:31.420 for my children. 00:30:33.460 --> 00:30:34.580 And then I take out 00:30:34.580 --> 00:30:35.080 and if you were 00:30:35.080 --> 00:30:35.680 to look at 00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:36.779 where I have things 00:30:36.779 --> 00:30:37.200 together, 00:30:37.400 --> 00:30:39.519 there is a watch care list. 00:30:39.600 --> 00:30:39.900 How many of you 00:30:39.900 --> 00:30:40.320 understand what 00:30:40.320 --> 00:30:41.440 a watch care list is? 00:30:42.300 --> 00:30:43.920 I use the watch care list 00:30:43.920 --> 00:30:44.620 to kind of govern 00:30:44.620 --> 00:30:45.620 my prayers for you. 00:30:47.060 --> 00:30:47.779 This morning 00:30:47.779 --> 00:30:48.580 it was Gibbs. 00:30:50.400 --> 00:30:50.840 Actually, 00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:51.660 it's Limkill now 00:30:51.660 --> 00:30:52.240 since, Nathan, 00:30:52.340 --> 00:30:53.019 you've taken over 00:30:53.019 --> 00:30:54.840 that office. 00:30:56.019 --> 00:30:56.620 I'm going to have 00:30:56.620 --> 00:30:57.140 to change that 00:30:57.140 --> 00:30:57.720 on my list. 00:30:57.720 --> 00:30:59.019 But I'm praying 00:30:59.019 --> 00:30:59.660 through the list 00:30:59.660 --> 00:31:00.400 and praying for 00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:01.519 each of the individuals 00:31:01.519 --> 00:31:03.700 and intercession 00:31:03.700 --> 00:31:04.960 is very, very important. 00:31:07.120 --> 00:31:07.960 I want you to look 00:31:07.960 --> 00:31:08.500 at a passage 00:31:08.500 --> 00:31:09.860 that kind of amplifies 00:31:09.860 --> 00:31:10.980 the importance of this 00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:11.740 and turn back 00:31:11.740 --> 00:31:12.299 if you would. 00:31:12.660 --> 00:31:13.420 Well, turn forward. 00:31:13.539 --> 00:31:13.940 You're in the book 00:31:13.940 --> 00:31:14.539 of Deuteronomy. 00:31:14.680 --> 00:31:16.480 Go to Job chapter 1. 00:31:17.539 --> 00:31:18.519 Job chapter 1. 00:31:20.600 --> 00:31:21.339 Job is a very 00:31:21.339 --> 00:31:22.319 interesting book 00:31:22.319 --> 00:31:23.839 that 00:31:23.839 --> 00:31:28.579 has a lot to say 00:31:28.579 --> 00:31:30.559 about suffering. 00:31:32.659 --> 00:31:34.139 And what it has 00:31:34.139 --> 00:31:35.159 to say about suffering 00:31:35.159 --> 00:31:36.019 is that sometimes 00:31:36.019 --> 00:31:37.179 we don't know. 00:31:38.099 --> 00:31:39.220 But what we do know 00:31:39.220 --> 00:31:40.079 is who God is. 00:31:41.859 --> 00:31:42.339 Anyway, 00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:43.419 in that context, 00:31:43.559 --> 00:31:44.459 as the book 00:31:44.459 --> 00:31:46.659 introduces Job, 00:31:48.740 --> 00:31:49.679 you look there 00:31:49.679 --> 00:31:50.539 in verse 1, 00:31:50.639 --> 00:31:51.319 chapter 1, 00:31:51.319 --> 00:31:51.839 it says, 00:31:52.299 --> 00:31:53.079 there was a man 00:31:53.079 --> 00:31:54.359 in the land of Uz. 00:31:56.220 --> 00:31:56.960 Can you think 00:31:56.960 --> 00:31:58.220 of any place 00:31:58.220 --> 00:32:00.500 like Uz? 00:32:00.679 --> 00:32:01.000 You know, 00:32:01.059 --> 00:32:01.319 anyway, 00:32:01.419 --> 00:32:02.179 there was a man 00:32:02.179 --> 00:32:03.179 in the land of Uz 00:32:03.179 --> 00:32:04.220 whose name was Job, 00:32:04.419 --> 00:32:05.339 and that man 00:32:05.339 --> 00:32:06.220 was blameless 00:32:06.220 --> 00:32:07.099 and upright, 00:32:07.379 --> 00:32:08.919 one who feared God 00:32:08.919 --> 00:32:10.659 and turned away 00:32:10.659 --> 00:32:11.559 from evil. 00:32:11.559 --> 00:32:14.679 that is a fairly 00:32:14.679 --> 00:32:15.539 good 00:32:15.539 --> 00:32:17.220 picture 00:32:17.220 --> 00:32:18.899 of a godly man. 00:32:18.940 --> 00:32:19.339 Would you agree 00:32:19.339 --> 00:32:19.659 with me? 00:32:22.740 --> 00:32:24.419 The next little piece 00:32:24.419 --> 00:32:25.419 we find out 00:32:25.419 --> 00:32:27.179 about this godly man 00:32:27.179 --> 00:32:30.159 is given to us 00:32:30.159 --> 00:32:31.339 in verse 5. 00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:34.240 And when the days 00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:34.899 of the feast 00:32:34.899 --> 00:32:35.919 had run their course, 00:32:36.099 --> 00:32:36.980 Job would send 00:32:36.980 --> 00:32:38.299 and consecrate them, 00:32:38.579 --> 00:32:39.720 and he would rise 00:32:39.720 --> 00:32:41.000 early in the morning 00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:41.960 and offer burnt 00:32:41.960 --> 00:32:42.900 offerings according 00:32:42.900 --> 00:32:43.559 to the number 00:32:43.559 --> 00:32:44.339 of them all. 00:32:45.500 --> 00:32:46.579 For Job said, 00:32:46.680 --> 00:32:47.180 it may be 00:32:47.180 --> 00:32:47.900 that my children 00:32:47.900 --> 00:32:48.559 have sinned 00:32:48.559 --> 00:32:49.359 and cursed God 00:32:49.359 --> 00:32:50.119 in their hearts. 00:32:50.619 --> 00:32:51.799 Thus Job 00:32:51.799 --> 00:32:53.480 did continually. 00:32:54.799 --> 00:32:55.240 Do you know 00:32:55.240 --> 00:32:55.819 what he was doing? 00:32:57.079 --> 00:32:57.839 He was praying 00:32:57.839 --> 00:32:58.500 for his children. 00:33:03.339 --> 00:33:04.619 My wife and I were, 00:33:05.640 --> 00:33:06.519 I don't know why, 00:33:06.720 --> 00:33:07.220 but yesterday 00:33:07.220 --> 00:33:07.980 we were talking 00:33:07.980 --> 00:33:09.120 about my childhood. 00:33:10.160 --> 00:33:11.200 It was very checkered. 00:33:11.839 --> 00:33:12.599 I won't give you 00:33:12.599 --> 00:33:13.640 the checkering of it, 00:33:13.740 --> 00:33:14.519 but I will tell you 00:33:14.519 --> 00:33:15.740 I made a comment 00:33:15.740 --> 00:33:16.319 to Judith 00:33:16.319 --> 00:33:17.160 that if it had not 00:33:17.160 --> 00:33:17.839 been for the prayers 00:33:17.839 --> 00:33:18.539 of my parents, 00:33:18.740 --> 00:33:20.220 I have no doubt 00:33:20.220 --> 00:33:21.440 that I would be dead. 00:33:24.140 --> 00:33:25.039 Job prayed 00:33:25.039 --> 00:33:27.220 for his children 00:33:27.220 --> 00:33:28.660 every day. 00:33:29.539 --> 00:33:30.440 Look at the passage. 00:33:30.579 --> 00:33:31.759 It says that he got up 00:33:31.759 --> 00:33:33.099 early 00:33:33.099 --> 00:33:35.279 in the morning. 00:33:37.519 --> 00:33:38.599 And as we look 00:33:38.599 --> 00:33:39.379 at this text, 00:33:39.480 --> 00:33:40.059 we find out 00:33:40.059 --> 00:33:40.959 that the one 00:33:40.959 --> 00:33:43.039 illustration 00:33:43.039 --> 00:33:44.219 that Scripture 00:33:44.219 --> 00:33:45.219 gives us 00:33:45.219 --> 00:33:47.240 of Job's character 00:33:47.240 --> 00:33:48.219 revolves around 00:33:48.219 --> 00:33:49.279 his prayer life. 00:33:50.279 --> 00:33:51.059 Listen to me. 00:33:51.699 --> 00:33:52.439 Everybody look up, 00:33:52.659 --> 00:33:52.919 please. 00:33:54.379 --> 00:33:55.699 Your prayer life 00:33:55.699 --> 00:33:57.299 says it all 00:33:57.299 --> 00:33:58.980 about where you are 00:33:58.980 --> 00:33:59.539 spiritually. 00:34:00.439 --> 00:34:01.439 Do you understand that? 00:34:01.440 --> 00:34:03.920 your prayer life 00:34:03.920 --> 00:34:04.759 says it all 00:34:04.759 --> 00:34:06.920 about where you are 00:34:06.920 --> 00:34:07.500 spiritually. 00:34:12.300 --> 00:34:13.220 And as we look 00:34:13.220 --> 00:34:14.119 at this passage, 00:34:15.320 --> 00:34:16.780 we see here 00:34:16.780 --> 00:34:17.320 a father 00:34:17.320 --> 00:34:18.559 who is interceding 00:34:18.559 --> 00:34:19.579 for his children. 00:34:20.800 --> 00:34:21.679 So what we take 00:34:21.679 --> 00:34:22.099 from that 00:34:22.099 --> 00:34:22.900 is that a father 00:34:22.900 --> 00:34:24.019 is to pray 00:34:24.019 --> 00:34:25.079 consistently 00:34:25.079 --> 00:34:26.659 for his 00:34:26.659 --> 00:34:27.619 kids. 00:34:27.619 --> 00:34:31.679 You know, 00:34:32.059 --> 00:34:32.639 we're not 00:34:32.639 --> 00:34:33.500 consistent about 00:34:33.500 --> 00:34:34.179 things we don't 00:34:34.179 --> 00:34:34.599 care about. 00:34:34.639 --> 00:34:34.980 Would you agree 00:34:34.980 --> 00:34:35.259 with that? 00:34:36.259 --> 00:34:37.460 How many of you 00:34:37.460 --> 00:34:38.159 have said 00:34:38.159 --> 00:34:39.559 on many occasions 00:34:39.559 --> 00:34:40.900 I should 00:34:40.900 --> 00:34:41.759 clean 00:34:41.759 --> 00:34:42.699 the garage? 00:34:44.579 --> 00:34:45.099 Or 00:34:45.099 --> 00:34:46.440 your car 00:34:46.440 --> 00:34:47.380 has become 00:34:47.380 --> 00:34:49.000 kind of a 00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:50.440 rolling disaster 00:34:50.440 --> 00:34:52.659 and you 00:34:52.659 --> 00:34:53.440 have seen 00:34:53.440 --> 00:34:54.599 all kinds 00:34:54.599 --> 00:34:55.260 of things 00:34:55.260 --> 00:34:56.400 in the 00:34:56.400 --> 00:34:57.980 cup holders 00:34:57.980 --> 00:34:58.639 and in the 00:34:58.639 --> 00:34:59.300 back seat 00:34:59.300 --> 00:35:00.260 and you've 00:35:00.260 --> 00:35:00.599 thought to 00:35:00.599 --> 00:35:01.019 yourself, 00:35:01.260 --> 00:35:01.980 I should 00:35:01.980 --> 00:35:02.840 clean 00:35:02.840 --> 00:35:03.539 the car. 00:35:03.760 --> 00:35:03.980 You know, 00:35:04.420 --> 00:35:05.099 here's the 00:35:05.099 --> 00:35:05.480 fact. 00:35:06.320 --> 00:35:07.019 If it's 00:35:07.019 --> 00:35:07.559 important, 00:35:08.000 --> 00:35:08.280 what? 00:35:08.880 --> 00:35:09.480 We do it. 00:35:10.760 --> 00:35:11.780 And so as we 00:35:11.780 --> 00:35:12.539 think about this 00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:12.880 matter, 00:35:13.000 --> 00:35:13.440 I want you to 00:35:13.440 --> 00:35:14.220 understand that 00:35:14.220 --> 00:35:15.579 intercessory prayer 00:35:15.579 --> 00:35:16.400 is essential. 00:35:17.280 --> 00:35:18.260 It's essential. 00:35:18.260 --> 00:35:19.520 Well, 00:35:19.560 --> 00:35:20.060 let's see some 00:35:20.060 --> 00:35:20.820 illustrations of 00:35:20.820 --> 00:35:21.580 just how important 00:35:21.580 --> 00:35:22.300 prayer is. 00:35:23.060 --> 00:35:24.260 I'll recite one 00:35:24.260 --> 00:35:25.100 I've referred to 00:35:25.100 --> 00:35:26.840 a number of 00:35:26.840 --> 00:35:27.340 different times, 00:35:27.400 --> 00:35:27.920 but just to kind 00:35:27.920 --> 00:35:28.300 of set the 00:35:28.300 --> 00:35:28.580 frame, 00:35:29.080 --> 00:35:29.920 in Exodus 00:35:29.920 --> 00:35:30.900 chapter 17 00:35:30.900 --> 00:35:31.440 verse 9 00:35:31.440 --> 00:35:31.960 through 13, 00:35:32.100 --> 00:35:32.400 we have 00:35:32.400 --> 00:35:33.960 Moses and 00:35:33.960 --> 00:35:36.460 he takes 00:35:36.460 --> 00:35:37.040 the nation 00:35:37.040 --> 00:35:37.460 of Israel, 00:35:37.560 --> 00:35:37.920 some of the 00:35:37.920 --> 00:35:38.660 select soldiers 00:35:38.660 --> 00:35:38.940 and says, 00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:39.100 hey, 00:35:39.400 --> 00:35:40.020 go whoop on 00:35:40.020 --> 00:35:40.560 those people. 00:35:40.660 --> 00:35:40.920 He says, 00:35:40.960 --> 00:35:41.400 I'm not going 00:35:41.400 --> 00:35:41.900 to be there. 00:35:42.100 --> 00:35:42.440 I'm going 00:35:42.440 --> 00:35:42.720 to be on 00:35:42.720 --> 00:35:43.140 top of the 00:35:43.140 --> 00:35:43.360 hill. 00:35:43.720 --> 00:35:44.540 And what 00:35:44.540 --> 00:35:44.980 does he do 00:35:44.980 --> 00:35:45.440 on top of 00:35:45.440 --> 00:35:45.600 the hill? 00:35:45.640 --> 00:35:45.960 He holds 00:35:45.960 --> 00:35:46.800 up his arms. 00:35:48.260 --> 00:35:49.360 He's praying. 00:35:50.280 --> 00:35:50.900 Every time his 00:35:50.900 --> 00:35:51.740 arms fall down, 00:35:52.800 --> 00:35:53.940 his troops 00:35:53.940 --> 00:35:54.660 suffer. 00:35:55.540 --> 00:35:56.520 They end up 00:35:56.520 --> 00:35:57.160 where Moses 00:35:57.160 --> 00:35:58.260 sits on a stone 00:35:58.260 --> 00:35:59.480 and Aaron and 00:35:59.480 --> 00:35:59.680 Hur, 00:35:59.780 --> 00:36:00.100 I believe, 00:36:00.180 --> 00:36:00.600 are on one 00:36:00.600 --> 00:36:01.080 side and the 00:36:01.080 --> 00:36:01.500 other and they 00:36:01.500 --> 00:36:02.080 hold his arms 00:36:02.080 --> 00:36:02.520 up and the 00:36:02.520 --> 00:36:03.160 battle comes 00:36:03.160 --> 00:36:03.640 to their 00:36:03.640 --> 00:36:03.940 favor. 00:36:04.800 --> 00:36:05.300 I want you 00:36:05.300 --> 00:36:05.580 to look at 00:36:05.580 --> 00:36:06.540 another illustration 00:36:06.540 --> 00:36:07.460 of the 00:36:07.460 --> 00:36:08.120 significance 00:36:08.120 --> 00:36:08.700 and the 00:36:08.700 --> 00:36:09.060 kind of 00:36:09.060 --> 00:36:10.040 passion that 00:36:10.040 --> 00:36:10.600 should be 00:36:10.600 --> 00:36:11.080 in your 00:36:11.080 --> 00:36:11.980 intercessory 00:36:11.980 --> 00:36:12.760 prayer for 00:36:12.760 --> 00:36:13.380 your children. 00:36:13.920 --> 00:36:14.220 Turn, 00:36:14.400 --> 00:36:14.940 if you would, 00:36:15.000 --> 00:36:15.300 you're in 00:36:15.300 --> 00:36:15.520 Job, 00:36:15.600 --> 00:36:16.100 but go back 00:36:16.100 --> 00:36:16.580 to Exodus 00:36:16.580 --> 00:36:17.460 chapter 32. 00:36:18.260 --> 00:36:19.100 Exodus 00:36:19.100 --> 00:36:19.960 chapter 32. 00:36:20.080 --> 00:36:20.380 By the 00:36:20.380 --> 00:36:20.680 way, 00:36:21.380 --> 00:36:21.940 how many 00:36:21.940 --> 00:36:22.120 of you 00:36:22.120 --> 00:36:22.800 realize that 00:36:22.800 --> 00:36:23.220 the nation 00:36:23.220 --> 00:36:23.620 of Israel 00:36:23.620 --> 00:36:24.240 was a pretty 00:36:24.240 --> 00:36:25.260 perverse and 00:36:25.260 --> 00:36:25.980 painful group 00:36:25.980 --> 00:36:26.340 of people 00:36:26.340 --> 00:36:26.780 to lead? 00:36:28.120 --> 00:36:28.600 They just 00:36:28.600 --> 00:36:29.060 loved on 00:36:29.060 --> 00:36:29.540 Moses all 00:36:29.540 --> 00:36:29.900 the time. 00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:30.180 You know, 00:36:30.220 --> 00:36:30.500 it's like, 00:36:30.720 --> 00:36:31.140 Moses, 00:36:31.320 --> 00:36:31.760 whatever you 00:36:31.760 --> 00:36:31.960 say, 00:36:32.040 --> 00:36:32.400 we're with 00:36:32.400 --> 00:36:32.540 you, 00:36:32.680 --> 00:36:33.580 we love 00:36:33.580 --> 00:36:33.780 you, 00:36:34.080 --> 00:36:34.780 we appreciate 00:36:34.780 --> 00:36:35.280 the fact 00:36:35.280 --> 00:36:35.600 that we've 00:36:35.600 --> 00:36:35.980 not had 00:36:35.980 --> 00:36:36.480 water for 00:36:36.480 --> 00:36:36.960 three days, 00:36:37.040 --> 00:36:37.280 but we 00:36:37.280 --> 00:36:37.800 know God's 00:36:37.800 --> 00:36:38.240 helping us 00:36:38.240 --> 00:36:38.740 and he'll 00:36:38.740 --> 00:36:39.120 care for 00:36:39.120 --> 00:36:39.240 us. 00:36:39.280 --> 00:36:39.380 No, 00:36:39.400 --> 00:36:39.720 that's not 00:36:39.720 --> 00:36:39.960 the way 00:36:39.960 --> 00:36:40.240 they were. 00:36:40.680 --> 00:36:41.180 And when 00:36:41.180 --> 00:36:42.000 he goes 00:36:42.000 --> 00:36:42.580 off to get 00:36:42.580 --> 00:36:43.660 the law, 00:36:43.659 --> 00:36:46.559 one of 00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:47.319 the passages 00:36:47.319 --> 00:36:47.799 I don't 00:36:47.799 --> 00:36:48.679 understand was 00:36:48.679 --> 00:36:49.460 that when 00:36:49.460 --> 00:36:50.059 Moses was 00:36:50.059 --> 00:36:50.539 gone, 00:36:50.899 --> 00:36:51.339 remember they 00:36:51.339 --> 00:36:51.739 came to 00:36:51.739 --> 00:36:52.079 Aaron and 00:36:52.079 --> 00:36:52.259 says, 00:36:52.339 --> 00:36:52.440 hey, 00:36:52.500 --> 00:36:52.920 we need 00:36:52.920 --> 00:36:53.440 gods to 00:36:53.440 --> 00:36:53.759 take us 00:36:53.759 --> 00:36:54.079 back, 00:36:54.199 --> 00:36:54.719 and he 00:36:54.719 --> 00:36:54.899 says, 00:36:54.980 --> 00:36:55.079 well, 00:36:55.139 --> 00:36:55.420 give me 00:36:55.420 --> 00:36:56.079 your rings 00:36:56.079 --> 00:36:56.599 and your 00:36:56.599 --> 00:36:57.399 earrings and 00:36:57.399 --> 00:36:57.719 stuff, 00:36:57.920 --> 00:36:58.319 and he 00:36:58.319 --> 00:36:58.719 makes a 00:36:58.719 --> 00:36:59.379 golden calf. 00:36:59.440 --> 00:36:59.539 Well, 00:36:59.559 --> 00:36:59.859 then when 00:36:59.859 --> 00:37:00.500 Moses shows 00:37:00.500 --> 00:37:01.000 up on the 00:37:01.000 --> 00:37:01.299 scene, 00:37:02.599 --> 00:37:03.819 I don't 00:37:03.819 --> 00:37:04.539 know how 00:37:04.539 --> 00:37:05.559 Aaron got 00:37:05.559 --> 00:37:05.960 away with 00:37:05.960 --> 00:37:06.159 this, 00:37:06.179 --> 00:37:06.359 and I'm 00:37:06.359 --> 00:37:06.659 not sure 00:37:06.659 --> 00:37:07.339 I'll ask 00:37:07.339 --> 00:37:07.699 when I get 00:37:07.699 --> 00:37:08.039 to heaven 00:37:08.039 --> 00:37:08.279 either. 00:37:08.280 --> 00:37:09.300 But here's 00:37:09.300 --> 00:37:09.600 the deal. 00:37:09.840 --> 00:37:10.340 He says, 00:37:10.880 --> 00:37:11.300 I threw 00:37:11.300 --> 00:37:11.580 it into 00:37:11.580 --> 00:37:12.060 the fire 00:37:12.060 --> 00:37:12.500 and this 00:37:12.500 --> 00:37:13.080 came out. 00:37:16.800 --> 00:37:17.280 Anyway, 00:37:17.660 --> 00:37:18.440 God says, 00:37:18.640 --> 00:37:18.940 Moses, 00:37:19.240 --> 00:37:20.160 let me deal 00:37:20.160 --> 00:37:20.460 with these 00:37:20.460 --> 00:37:20.760 people. 00:37:22.160 --> 00:37:22.760 I'm going 00:37:22.760 --> 00:37:23.260 to destroy 00:37:23.260 --> 00:37:23.440 them. 00:37:23.980 --> 00:37:24.340 And here 00:37:24.340 --> 00:37:25.019 is Moses. 00:37:26.600 --> 00:37:27.000 Exodus 00:37:27.000 --> 00:37:27.720 32, 00:37:28.220 --> 00:37:30.500 verse 31. 00:37:31.440 --> 00:37:32.400 So Moses 00:37:32.400 --> 00:37:33.140 returned to 00:37:33.140 --> 00:37:33.600 the Lord 00:37:33.600 --> 00:37:34.080 and said, 00:37:34.160 --> 00:37:34.660 alas, 00:37:34.760 --> 00:37:35.360 this people 00:37:35.360 --> 00:37:35.980 has sinned 00:37:35.980 --> 00:37:36.440 a great 00:37:36.440 --> 00:37:36.820 sin. 00:37:36.820 --> 00:37:38.460 they've 00:37:38.460 --> 00:37:38.920 made for 00:37:38.920 --> 00:37:39.700 themselves 00:37:39.700 --> 00:37:41.380 gods of 00:37:41.380 --> 00:37:41.880 gold. 00:37:43.460 --> 00:37:44.360 But now, 00:37:44.660 --> 00:37:45.240 if you 00:37:45.240 --> 00:37:46.080 will forgive 00:37:46.080 --> 00:37:47.340 their sins, 00:37:48.080 --> 00:37:48.500 now look, 00:37:49.320 --> 00:37:50.160 how many 00:37:50.160 --> 00:37:50.840 of you have 00:37:50.840 --> 00:37:51.320 a little 00:37:51.320 --> 00:37:52.220 hyphen and 00:37:52.220 --> 00:37:52.880 a space 00:37:52.880 --> 00:37:53.840 in your 00:37:53.840 --> 00:37:54.780 translation of 00:37:54.780 --> 00:37:55.120 the scriptures? 00:37:55.200 --> 00:37:55.519 Raise your 00:37:55.519 --> 00:37:56.440 hand if you 00:37:56.440 --> 00:37:57.080 have a hyphen 00:37:57.080 --> 00:37:57.820 and a space. 00:37:58.660 --> 00:37:58.900 Okay? 00:37:59.820 --> 00:38:00.420 Do you 00:38:00.420 --> 00:38:00.840 know why 00:38:00.840 --> 00:38:01.519 that's there? 00:38:06.820 --> 00:38:08.720 that is 00:38:08.720 --> 00:38:09.780 an indication 00:38:09.780 --> 00:38:10.420 of the 00:38:10.420 --> 00:38:11.420 extreme 00:38:11.420 --> 00:38:13.120 respect 00:38:13.120 --> 00:38:15.360 that the 00:38:15.360 --> 00:38:15.920 ancient 00:38:15.920 --> 00:38:17.160 Hebrews had 00:38:17.160 --> 00:38:18.100 for every 00:38:18.100 --> 00:38:18.960 letter and 00:38:18.960 --> 00:38:20.440 space in 00:38:20.440 --> 00:38:21.180 the Old 00:38:21.180 --> 00:38:21.880 Testament. 00:38:25.160 --> 00:38:27.000 And in the 00:38:27.000 --> 00:38:27.600 original 00:38:27.600 --> 00:38:28.400 manuscript, 00:38:29.140 --> 00:38:30.940 there was a 00:38:30.940 --> 00:38:31.460 space. 00:38:31.460 --> 00:38:31.740 space. 00:38:33.519 --> 00:38:34.260 I don't 00:38:34.260 --> 00:38:34.679 know what 00:38:34.679 --> 00:38:35.619 is in 00:38:35.619 --> 00:38:36.300 that space 00:38:36.300 --> 00:38:36.920 other than 00:38:36.920 --> 00:38:37.440 probably a 00:38:37.440 --> 00:38:37.860 little bit of 00:38:37.860 --> 00:38:38.260 speculation. 00:38:38.800 --> 00:38:39.199 How many 00:38:39.199 --> 00:38:39.480 of you have 00:38:39.480 --> 00:38:39.920 been praying 00:38:39.920 --> 00:38:40.760 passionately for 00:38:40.760 --> 00:38:41.619 something and 00:38:41.619 --> 00:38:42.360 been overwhelmed? 00:38:42.460 --> 00:38:43.079 Remember what it 00:38:43.079 --> 00:38:44.099 says in the 00:38:44.099 --> 00:38:44.720 passage in 00:38:44.720 --> 00:38:45.039 Romans? 00:38:45.460 --> 00:38:46.199 It says that 00:38:46.199 --> 00:38:47.019 sometimes there 00:38:47.019 --> 00:38:47.760 are things that 00:38:47.760 --> 00:38:49.280 the Holy Spirit 00:38:49.280 --> 00:38:50.420 prays with groanings 00:38:50.420 --> 00:38:51.039 that cannot be 00:38:51.039 --> 00:38:51.360 uttered, 00:38:51.360 --> 00:38:51.619 right? 00:38:53.199 --> 00:38:54.240 Our heart is so 00:38:54.240 --> 00:38:55.220 caught up in 00:38:55.220 --> 00:38:56.220 the depths and 00:38:56.220 --> 00:38:57.380 the passion of 00:38:57.380 --> 00:38:58.320 our concern for 00:38:58.320 --> 00:38:58.940 someone that we 00:38:58.940 --> 00:39:00.220 love that we're 00:39:00.220 --> 00:39:00.980 choked off. 00:39:01.460 --> 00:39:04.460 here's Moses 00:39:04.460 --> 00:39:05.380 pleading for the 00:39:05.380 --> 00:39:05.880 nation of 00:39:05.880 --> 00:39:06.780 Israel that 00:39:06.780 --> 00:39:07.400 they not be 00:39:07.400 --> 00:39:08.220 destroyed for 00:39:08.220 --> 00:39:09.199 their perverse 00:39:09.199 --> 00:39:09.800 and wicked 00:39:09.800 --> 00:39:10.400 heart. 00:39:11.019 --> 00:39:11.639 And he comes 00:39:11.639 --> 00:39:12.039 to this point 00:39:12.039 --> 00:39:12.380 and he says, 00:39:12.460 --> 00:39:15.199 listen, if you 00:39:15.199 --> 00:39:15.800 forgive their 00:39:15.800 --> 00:39:18.840 sin, they 00:39:18.840 --> 00:39:19.380 can't say 00:39:19.380 --> 00:39:19.820 anything. 00:39:21.240 --> 00:39:22.280 But if not, 00:39:22.360 --> 00:39:23.019 listen to this, 00:39:24.400 --> 00:39:25.920 please blot 00:39:25.920 --> 00:39:28.699 me out of 00:39:28.699 --> 00:39:31.139 your book. 00:39:31.460 --> 00:39:46.679 I've got to 00:39:46.679 --> 00:39:47.099 tell you, 00:39:47.460 --> 00:39:50.840 intercession is a 00:39:50.840 --> 00:39:51.280 deep, 00:39:52.740 --> 00:39:54.440 burdensome 00:39:54.440 --> 00:39:57.000 plea for those 00:39:57.000 --> 00:39:57.639 that you love. 00:40:01.119 --> 00:40:01.980 And as we 00:40:01.980 --> 00:40:02.480 read this 00:40:02.480 --> 00:40:03.139 passage, it 00:40:03.139 --> 00:40:04.239 reminds us that 00:40:04.239 --> 00:40:07.699 intercession is 00:40:07.699 --> 00:40:08.360 something that's 00:40:08.360 --> 00:40:08.860 profound. 00:40:11.059 --> 00:40:12.820 Well, one 00:40:12.820 --> 00:40:13.480 other passage, 00:40:13.699 --> 00:40:14.940 and we'll close 00:40:14.940 --> 00:40:15.739 with this issue of 00:40:15.739 --> 00:40:16.480 intercession and 00:40:16.480 --> 00:40:17.900 remind ourselves 00:40:17.900 --> 00:40:19.579 that it's what 00:40:19.579 --> 00:40:20.320 Jesus is doing 00:40:20.320 --> 00:40:21.079 for us today. 00:40:21.679 --> 00:40:22.280 Do you know 00:40:22.280 --> 00:40:22.500 that? 00:40:22.500 --> 00:40:24.639 I love, 00:40:24.900 --> 00:40:26.139 I love, 00:40:26.579 --> 00:40:27.420 I do. 00:40:27.719 --> 00:40:28.579 I love Hebrews 00:40:28.579 --> 00:40:29.260 chapter 7, 00:40:29.320 --> 00:40:29.940 verse 25. 00:40:30.300 --> 00:40:30.679 It says, 00:40:30.860 --> 00:40:31.619 he ever liveth 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:32.400 to do what? 00:40:32.960 --> 00:40:33.539 What's he doing 00:40:33.539 --> 00:40:34.840 for Tim Kenoyer 00:40:34.840 --> 00:40:35.320 this morning? 00:40:35.679 --> 00:40:36.739 He is interceding 00:40:36.739 --> 00:40:37.559 before the Father 00:40:37.559 --> 00:40:38.400 on my behalf. 00:40:38.659 --> 00:40:39.539 He's interceding 00:40:39.539 --> 00:40:40.280 on your behalf. 00:40:40.619 --> 00:40:41.559 Does he know 00:40:41.559 --> 00:40:42.659 how weak and 00:40:42.659 --> 00:40:43.079 frail? 00:40:43.440 --> 00:40:44.380 Does he know 00:40:44.380 --> 00:40:45.639 where your mind 00:40:45.639 --> 00:40:46.679 has been today? 00:40:47.139 --> 00:40:48.219 Does he know 00:40:48.219 --> 00:40:49.859 the struggle 00:40:49.859 --> 00:40:50.459 you have with 00:40:50.459 --> 00:40:51.159 idolatry? 00:40:51.239 --> 00:40:51.859 He does know 00:40:51.859 --> 00:40:52.519 all those things. 00:40:52.559 --> 00:40:53.059 And what is he 00:40:53.059 --> 00:40:53.299 doing? 00:40:53.659 --> 00:40:54.839 He is there 00:40:54.839 --> 00:40:55.459 before the 00:40:55.459 --> 00:40:56.259 Father's throne 00:40:56.259 --> 00:40:57.480 today, and he 00:40:57.480 --> 00:40:58.399 is pleading 00:40:58.399 --> 00:41:00.259 your case. 00:41:10.259 --> 00:41:11.059 So here's what 00:41:11.059 --> 00:41:11.500 I want you to 00:41:11.500 --> 00:41:12.059 do, dads. 00:41:15.719 --> 00:41:16.159 Remember? 00:41:18.219 --> 00:41:18.959 The purpose 00:41:18.959 --> 00:41:19.579 of preaching 00:41:19.579 --> 00:41:22.199 is to tell you 00:41:22.199 --> 00:41:22.719 what God 00:41:22.719 --> 00:41:23.339 has to say. 00:41:23.719 --> 00:41:24.359 Isn't that right? 00:41:25.859 --> 00:41:26.859 My responsibility 00:41:26.859 --> 00:41:27.839 is to open up 00:41:27.839 --> 00:41:28.980 the Word of God 00:41:28.980 --> 00:41:29.379 and say, 00:41:29.639 --> 00:41:30.359 here's what 00:41:30.359 --> 00:41:30.899 the Bible 00:41:30.899 --> 00:41:31.779 has to say, 00:41:32.019 --> 00:41:32.739 and this morning 00:41:32.739 --> 00:41:33.779 I speak to you 00:41:33.779 --> 00:41:34.939 who are fathers. 00:41:36.959 --> 00:41:37.699 And I say, 00:41:37.779 --> 00:41:38.239 you've got two 00:41:38.239 --> 00:41:39.000 responsibilities 00:41:39.000 --> 00:41:39.639 that I want you 00:41:39.639 --> 00:41:40.139 to think about 00:41:40.139 --> 00:41:40.619 this morning. 00:41:40.719 --> 00:41:41.219 Number one 00:41:41.219 --> 00:41:42.359 is the responsibility 00:41:42.359 --> 00:41:43.079 of being the 00:41:43.079 --> 00:41:44.119 family instructor 00:41:44.119 --> 00:41:44.719 and teacher 00:41:44.719 --> 00:41:45.659 in the matters 00:41:45.659 --> 00:41:46.599 of righteousness. 00:41:48.219 --> 00:41:49.539 Number two, 00:41:50.539 --> 00:41:51.839 you are to be 00:41:51.839 --> 00:41:52.739 the intercessor 00:41:52.739 --> 00:41:53.659 before the throne 00:41:53.659 --> 00:41:54.239 of God 00:41:54.239 --> 00:41:54.799 on behalf 00:41:54.799 --> 00:41:55.539 of your children. 00:42:00.259 --> 00:42:01.000 So it's a 00:42:01.000 --> 00:42:01.799 practical question 00:42:01.799 --> 00:42:02.119 to say, 00:42:02.199 --> 00:42:02.480 how are you 00:42:02.480 --> 00:42:03.139 doing at both 00:42:03.139 --> 00:42:03.719 those things? 00:42:06.439 --> 00:42:07.159 It's a fair 00:42:07.159 --> 00:42:07.579 question. 00:42:07.579 --> 00:42:11.000 And this morning 00:42:11.000 --> 00:42:12.639 as we think 00:42:12.639 --> 00:42:13.900 clearly of what 00:42:13.900 --> 00:42:15.019 God has to say, 00:42:15.179 --> 00:42:16.079 it really comes 00:42:16.079 --> 00:42:16.860 down to those 00:42:16.860 --> 00:42:17.619 who are fathers 00:42:17.619 --> 00:42:19.819 saying, 00:42:19.960 --> 00:42:20.139 yes, 00:42:20.199 --> 00:42:20.440 God, 00:42:20.480 --> 00:42:21.039 I hear what you 00:42:21.039 --> 00:42:21.779 say and I want 00:42:21.779 --> 00:42:22.460 to be sincere 00:42:22.460 --> 00:42:23.059 and righteous. 00:42:23.460 --> 00:42:24.299 I want to do 00:42:24.299 --> 00:42:24.980 what you've called 00:42:24.980 --> 00:42:25.579 me to do 00:42:25.579 --> 00:42:26.659 and I'm willing 00:42:26.659 --> 00:42:27.819 to go on notice. 00:42:27.820 --> 00:42:36.059 how many of you 00:42:36.059 --> 00:42:36.840 realize it's one 00:42:36.840 --> 00:42:37.280 thing to make 00:42:37.280 --> 00:42:38.100 private decisions 00:42:38.100 --> 00:42:38.820 that nobody else 00:42:38.820 --> 00:42:39.400 knows about? 00:42:39.500 --> 00:42:39.780 Do you follow 00:42:39.780 --> 00:42:39.980 that? 00:42:41.100 --> 00:42:41.480 Oh, 00:42:41.519 --> 00:42:41.800 we've all 00:42:41.800 --> 00:42:42.200 done that. 00:42:44.280 --> 00:42:44.640 Yeah, 00:42:45.460 --> 00:42:46.360 yeah, 00:42:46.600 --> 00:42:47.860 if it works 00:42:47.860 --> 00:42:48.039 out, 00:42:48.080 --> 00:42:48.400 I think I'll 00:42:48.400 --> 00:42:48.720 be a little 00:42:48.720 --> 00:42:49.260 better at my 00:42:49.260 --> 00:42:49.980 devotions next 00:42:49.980 --> 00:42:50.280 day. 00:42:50.280 --> 00:42:56.460 I want to 00:42:56.460 --> 00:42:56.920 challenge you 00:42:56.920 --> 00:42:57.480 this morning, 00:42:58.620 --> 00:42:59.200 fathers. 00:43:02.600 --> 00:43:03.540 God being my 00:43:03.540 --> 00:43:03.840 helper, 00:43:04.840 --> 00:43:06.320 I'm going to be 00:43:06.320 --> 00:43:06.800 the spiritual 00:43:06.800 --> 00:43:07.360 leader in my 00:43:07.360 --> 00:43:07.540 home. 00:43:09.500 --> 00:43:10.460 God being my 00:43:10.460 --> 00:43:10.780 helper, 00:43:12.200 --> 00:43:12.940 I'm going to be 00:43:12.940 --> 00:43:14.940 the family 00:43:14.940 --> 00:43:15.680 intercessor 00:43:15.680 --> 00:43:18.040 in my home. 00:43:20.280 --> 00:43:20.860 Let's close 00:43:20.860 --> 00:43:21.220 in prayer.